At the height of the lahar flows in Pampanga, which buried a great part of the historic town of Bacolor, I took photographs of our old house in the adjacent town of Betis, and reconciled myself to the thought that this home of our memories would someday also vanish. But, almost by a miracle, while … Read more
It all began with troubling images of the way the presidency was being conducted. President Joseph Estrada, elected by a popular vote in 1998, was carrying on as if he was intentionally showing his contempt for formal institutions, the very structures from which he drew his authority. Complaining of aching knees, he stopped going to … Read more
Our national interests in relation to Iraq seem so clear that one needs to ask why our leaders have not been very forthright about our country’s official position on this urgent foreign policy question. We continue to treat the issue primarily in terms of our commitment to the American-led war on terrorism, forgetting that a … Read more
By declaring she will not run in the 2004 election, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has done what is unthinkable in Philippine politics: withdraw proudly when it is no longer possible to run with dignity. Such leave-taking is rare, for the one who is taking a leave is still very much around. The president has freely … Read more