The current debate on the propriety of so-called “political dynasties” in a democracy is quite interesting. While focused on the prospective senatorial candidacies of Alan Peter Cayetano, J. V. Ejercito, and Aquilino Pimentel III — who all have close kin in the present Senate – the issue is bound to affect many others at different … Read more
People pursue public office for a variety of reasons. For some, politics is just another livelihood. For others, it is the best way to protect the wealth of their families. A rare few enter the political arena because they like the feeling of holding in their hands “a nerve fiber of historically important events.” In … Read more
If you were an Iraqi today who cares deeply for his country, what would you do? Your country, previously one of the most modern in the Arab world, has been reduced to rubble. A weak government, installed by the United States, desperately tries to enforce order in a society wracked by sectarian violence and an … Read more
I was one of those who opposed the Visiting Forces Agreement when it was being negotiated during the final months of the Ramos presidency. I was convinced that the country did not need it; we faced no external threat. I also felt vaguely that it was not the right time to invite US troops back … Read more