The Philippines is probably one of the few remaining countries in the world for whom the United States government’s every word functions as a cue in domestic politics. Our obsessive American orientation is legendary. For a long time, we were known as a nation that allowed its presidents to be chosen, and dismissed, by America. … Read more
There’s a popular French saying, “plus ça change, plus c’est pareil.” It means, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” This ironic observation is a testimony to the enduring nature of structures. Events in everyday life may suggest unending flux, but the fluidity can be superficial, masking the unshakable character of an … Read more
Repeatedly, in almost every issue we have faced in this country, the question is asked: “It may not be illegal, but is it moral?” Such a question would not have arisen in an earlier time when a good name, social esteem, or a reputation for decency, meant more to people than being seen as law-abiding. … Read more
No president could have wished for a more rewarding funeral than the one that the Filipino people gave President Cory Aquino last Wednesday. The sendoff Cory got was neither a state nor a family event, but a national funeral befitting someone widely regarded as the mother of the nation. It was the long funeral procession, … Read more
Instead of a highly partisan speech by the incumbent president on the state of the nation, our country might be better served if the mayor in every town, and the barangay captain in every barrio, were required annually to face their people and give a report of the state of their respective communities. The nation, … Read more