In more ways than one, Noynoy Aquino, Manny Villar, and Erap Estrada – the current frontrunners in the 2010 presidential race — represent the three distinct faces of Philippine politics. Aquino draws heavily from the charisma of his illustrious parents. Villar banks on the power of his personal wealth. And Estrada continues to rely on … Read more
Trust is an interesting concept. It is what people use as a basis for making quick choices and taking risks in a complex field of selections. In short, trust is a way of simplifying decision-making. It is particularly important in societies like ours where formal institutions are not working properly. We find ourselves relying on … Read more
President Macapagal-Arroyo can make all kinds of claims about the accomplishments of her presidency, but what she will be long remembered for is the legacy of political instability she leaves behind. So important is stability to the functioning of a democracy that one of the crucial achievements of any administration is the peaceful and orderly … Read more
The law has been there since 2001, but its provisions have been unevenly enforced. This is true of many of our laws – many provisions remain dormant until the situations for which they were specifically crafted actually surface as problems, or the conditions for their enforcement become available. Such is Republic Act No. 9006, more … Read more
In fifteen measured sessions, the University of the Philippines last week held what it billed as an “academic congress to challenge our next leaders.” The sessions dealt with a wide range of topics – Mindanao, public health, labor export, urban policy, science and technology, public debt, foreign relations, workers’ rights, disaster risk reduction, and elections … Read more
He was only attesting to the instinct for violence of the Ampatuans — and surely had no intention of putting the latter’s political allies in a bad light – certainly not the administration presidential bet, Gilbert Teodoro, with whom he is now aligned. But the testimony the other day of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael “Toto” … Read more
Fascinated by the growing number of Filipinos who have found instant — sometimes suicidal — mobility in very affordable motorbikes from China, I recently got myself a new Chinese-made 125cc underbone for the price of a branded Japanese helmet. Light and handy, the bike handles pretty well on short commutes. My friends, with whom I … Read more
Most questions asked of candidates in presidential debates take the form “What will you do about” or “How do you intend to solve the problem of…?” More often than not, such questions only elicit silly responses to what, in truth, are very complex issues. A trained politician would resort to stock answers uttered in a … Read more
The creation of a special commission to investigate the existence of private armed groups, and to recommend ways of dismantling them, would be nothing short of revolutionary, if the commission were to seriously do its work. Basic information alone on these private armies – for example, who maintains them, how long they have been in … Read more