The recent expose of the distribution of cash bundles in the presidential palace at the end of a day-long meeting with legislators and local government executives casts new light on the evolving nature of Philippine politics.  In the early years of the nation’s politics, the top officials of the land commanded enough awe and respect … Read more

What has drawn sustained public attention to the recent distribution of cash gifts to congressmen and local executives is not so much that unaccounted money was given to politicians, but that it was done on such a scandalous scale and right in the presidential palace itself.  No one believes this can happen without the knowledge … Read more

The basic task of social analysis is to interpret what is happening to a society, not to agree or disagree with the actions taken by people. Only if we keep this distinction in mind is it possible to observe ourselves as a people, and to see the various ways by which we judge events. Let … Read more

San Diego.  From the air, they appear as patches of bright red orange in the dark gray mist of the Southern California skyline.   They remind me of the kaingin (slash-and-burn) clearings in the Philippine countryside.  I count about five of them as the plane I boarded in Lima, Peru approaches the Los Angeles airport.   They … Read more

CUSCO — I am in Peru and I’m writing from Cusco, possibly the highest city in the world at 12,000 feet above sea level. Resting on a basin completely surrounded by the Andes Mountains, Cusco is the “navel” of the ancient Inca world known as Tawantinsuyo. A fusion of old dreams and young aspirations has … Read more

Like his former classmates and colleagues in academe who have known him closely or casually, I too was disappointed that former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri failed to seize the moment at the Senate hearing in order to disclose everything he knew about the controversial ZTE broadband deal. I also believe that basic self-respect now … Read more

The brutal suppression by Burma’s military junta of Buddhist monks and civilian protesters has sparked global outrage.  The generals who have ruled this unfortunate country for 45 years remain seemingly impervious to worldwide appeals for moderation.  We in the Philippines who resisted and overthrew a comparatively milder dictatorship can do no less than to encourage … Read more

Under questioning at the Senate on the National Broadband Network contract with ZTE, former Socio-economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri stated that he truly believed it would be beneficial for the government to operate its own network.  Asked whether he thought such a project was best pursued through a government-togovernment loan or through a build-operate-transfer (BOT) … Read more

Thirty-five years ago, Ferdinand Marcos invoked the emergency powers provided by the 1935 Constitution in order to seize control of the main levers of government.  Proclamation 1081 ushered in a dictatorship that lasted almost 14 years.  The events that unfolded on that fateful day in September 1972 were not entirely unexpected. People knew martial law … Read more

It was indeed a historic moment in our nation’s life – the first time a former president has ever been convicted for an offense committed while he was in office.  Because of the stature of the accused, we are led to think that, finally, the rule of law in our society has prevailed. I’m afraid … Read more