“All that is necessary… is that good men do nothing,” said Edmund Burke. Burke’s powerful reminder has always pricked many consciences. Every election year, a few good Filipinos, moved by Burke but otherwise without any compelling reason to become politicians, find themselves wading in the murky waters of traditional politics. The first thing they learn … Read more
The party-list system is probably the most important feature of this year’s election. But there has been absolutely no indication that the general public and the leaders of the country think so. By the shabby treatment they have so far received from the Comelec, party-list groups are beginning to look more like nuisance candidates — … Read more
This idyllic Kalinga village, nestled on a mountain side overlooking the Chico river, was where Cordillera’s hero, Macli-ing Dulag, was murdered 18 years ago. Macli-ing’s death anniversary, which falls on April 24, has been celebrated over the years as Cordillera People’s Day. People who had done solidarity work in the struggle against the Chico Dam … Read more
At a lecture-forum held in UP the other day to mark the retirement of fellow sociologist, Dr. Manuel Bonifacio, I learned of the untimely passing of another colleague, the quiet historian Diosdado Asuncion. Manny’s retirement gave us a chance to pause so we could appreciate his achievements as a scholar and as a teacher. Ding’s … Read more