Randy David | PUBLIC LIVES For the kind of talent he has, Mike de Leon should be making more films. But he is not. Every film he makes is followed by a long continual absence. It is as if every film he does consumes every drop of his overflowing genius. His film on Rizal never made it to the Centennial. … Read more
The image of newly-appointed DILG Secretary Alfredo Lim and of PNP Chief Panfilo Lacson is that of results-oriented practical men who will not be deterred by legalities in the pursuit of what they think is good for the country. They are the icons of an exhausted nation. The wide public approval of the “Dirty Harry” … Read more
Or, is Metro Manila in a state of war? The Constitution gives the President as Commander-in-Chief the power to call out the armed forces in cases of invasion, rebellion, or lawless violence. By no stretch of the imagination can the situation in the shopping malls today be classified under any of these conditions. If we … Read more
When do you say, “Enough is enough?” It is a question that pops in the mind of decent people who accepted appointments to public office on a firm belief that government service is the highest vocation of a citizen. And now, face to face with the brutal realities of power, they must decide whether to … Read more
If the ratings are bad and they cannot be refuted, tthen the next best thing is to find worthy reasons to account for them. This seems to be how the spin doctors at Malacanang are dealing with President Estrada’s tragic descent to unpopularity. Instead of humbly acknowledging the mistakes that have led to a growing … Read more
Our daughter Kara, the woman who will try everything once, intends to climb Mt. Apo again just before New Year’s Eve so that from the summit, she may report on the first millennial sunrise. I wanted her to stay home. I am quite certain it will rise the same way, I told her; it is … Read more
The dawn of a new millennium may be, for some people, just a day like any other. But for the rest of us who are captives of time, the day must signify something so vital as to make its slow breaking out of the shadows of the previous night a wonder worth watching. Except for … Read more
At no point, even when it was tempting to do so, did I ever doubt the competence, goodness, and sincerity of the doctors who attended to my mother throughout the period of her recent hospitalization. And I still do not. And if I may, I will use this occasion to thank them for their kindness … Read more
Manny Pangilinan, Philippine Long Distance Telephone’s and Smart’s top gun, began his keynote address at the 16th Philippine Advertising Congress in Cebu with these thoughts: “I retain a strong affection for Cebu, and I’m always inspired when I visit this beautiful city. This is where Lapu-Lapu, a Filipino, slew Magellan, a Tisoy. Any contemporary similarity … Read more
When governments are corrupt, irresponsible, incompetent, and shortsighted, it becomes easier to accept the idea that the world might be better off being completely ruled by markets. Markets are supposed to be more honest, more stable in their outcomes, more efficient, and more forward-looking. In a world rendered unpredictable by the vagaries of politics and … Read more