So abiding is the Filipino’s belief in education that we can think of it as occupying almost the same place in our culture as that assigned to religion. It is probably the only thing that makes us modern. We have no fear of the future, and neither are we sentimental about the past. We expect … Read more
We have been hearing the phrase “rule of law” much too often since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the presidency. In the context in which it is used, it appears to be a way of telling people that when they are penalized for being out of line or falling short of the standard, it is nothing personal. … Read more
Shortly before the winds of Typhoon Milenyo began battering Metro Manila, the public utilities that form the lifeline of modern communities ground to a halt. Electricity was the first to be shut off, followed by the telephone service. I expected the water supply to be next. To my pleasant amazement, in the UP campus where … Read more
Institutions are clusters of formal rules and informal norms that draw their power from the shared values and moral instincts of a people. These are the tools by which a society conducts its life. Institutions shape our individual choices, acting as a brake on impulsive and selfish behavior. They are strong or weak, adequate or … Read more
Typhoon “Milenyo” came and went like an haughty star performer with a million-dollar name. Its arrival was announced just the day before, but in less than an hour of its lightning visit, it was gone. In its wake it left a devastation the likes of which Metro Manila hasn’t seen in a decade. In an … Read more