‘A religion, not a family corporation’

“All should know that the Iglesia is not a family corporation. It is a religion that follows the teachings of God found in the Bible.” As unexpected as it came, this declaration, issued by the top leadership of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) a few days ago, is perhaps the most modern statement ever to … Read more

‘A religion, not a family corporation’

“All should know that the Iglesia is not a family corporation. It is a religion that follows the teachings of God found in the Bible.” As unexpected as it came, this declaration, issued by the top leadership of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) a few days ago, is perhaps the most modern statement ever to … Read more

Where to, Grace?

Sen. Grace Poe’s rise in politics has been, by any measure, meteoric. Not even the opinion surveys—those modern instruments that cultures like ours piously consult as oracles of what the gods favor—gave any hint of its phenomenal trajectory. In 2010, when she first thought of running for the Senate, no political coalition could give her … Read more

Where to, Grace?

Sen. Grace Poe’s rise in politics has been, by any measure, meteoric. Not even the opinion surveys—those modern instruments that cultures like ours piously consult as oracles of what the gods favor—gave any hint of its phenomenal trajectory. In 2010, when she first thought of running for the Senate, no political coalition could give her … Read more

The audit function

The Senate blue ribbon and health committees, both headed by Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, are conducting an inquiry into “highly suspicious” payments made by PhilHealth to private healthcare providers who have extended medical services to its members. The investigation has been prompted by PhilHealth’s own finding of a sudden increase in government health insurance claims. … Read more

The audit function

The Senate blue ribbon and health committees, both headed by Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, are conducting an inquiry into “highly suspicious” payments made by PhilHealth to private healthcare providers who have extended medical services to its members. The investigation has been prompted by PhilHealth’s own finding of a sudden increase in government health insurance claims. … Read more

Binay’s cross

Asked if he had anything to say about candidates for public office who give away religious items to enhance their public image, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, current head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, admonished these politicians not to “abuse and misuse” sacred objects to gain political mileage. He said: “If we speak of … Read more

20 years of opinion

This week, “Public Lives” marks its 20th year. My first piece for the Inquirer saw print on July 9, 1995, a Sunday. I remember choosing a rather pretentious title, “In search of anonymity,” for a column that dealt with a trivial event, the arrest of the British actor Hugh Grant “for lewd conduct” while having … Read more

20 years of opinion

This week, “Public Lives” marks its 20th year. My first piece for the Inquirer saw print on July 9, 1995, a Sunday. I remember choosing a rather pretentious title, “In search of anonymity,” for a column that dealt with a trivial event, the arrest of the British actor Hugh Grant “for lewd conduct” while having … Read more

The Greek way: From Solon to Varoufakis

Last July 5, Greece went back to its Athenian roots and did what is considered unthinkable in modern times—let the people themselves directly decide what to do with their country’s huge public debt. And decide they did. In an unprecedented referendum called to determine whether to accept or reject the harsh terms of a third … Read more