True, the successful operation of the Milaor (Cam.Sur) Police Station that led to the arrest of one accused for violation the Bouncing Checks Law (BP 22) is no big deal. But the stature of the person arrested, creates a wider dimension to the otherwise routine police work.  Kudos therefore to PNP Milaor.

The controversy engulfing the plight of Ramiro “Ram” Samar (former head of the Naga City People’s Council (NCPC) who got handcuffed for violation of BP 22,should serve as an eye opener, albeit belatedly, to the incumbent officials of the city. NCPC plays a very important role in the charting the future of LGU Naga’s and for that matter, other LGUs replicating the developmental approach of the region’s premier city.

NCPC had  been  given an imprimatur by virtue of an “Empowerment Ordinance “that became effective sometime in 2017, that recognized  an active role of  the civil society
In governance.

Given such situation, the NCPC plays a very sensitive role in governance. T...

Why did Magellan circumnavigate the world? Who cares really. We were not the beneficiary of this accomplishment. It was Spain and, later Europe that would rake in the privileges of knowing the way to our islands and the resources. Many books have already been written about this, with the article written by George E. Nunn, being one of the most comprehensive. In Nunn’s article, written in 1934 for the American Geographical Society, the footnotes go back to the English translations provided by Lord Stanley of Alderley of the “Diario o derroterro” or log book in the voyages made by Magellan. There are also the narratives of Portuguese navigator in, the ship, Victoria, made in 1519, and many more. 

All these documents point to, objectively, an intrepid sailor and explorer in Magellan. For this he should be honored by Spain and/or Portugal and/or Europe. These were the territories who were the recipient of the boon gathered out of that long, arduous travel. The Philippine historians could p...

The expression ‘life begins at 40’ comes from a book written in 1932 by Walter Pitkin, an American psychologist. The title of his book was Life Begins at Forty. It was written at a time of rapid increase in life expectancy.

The notion that ‘life begins at 40’ is a 20th century concept. Prior to that, it was more accurate to say that ‘death begins at 40’ as most people did not live much beyond that age.

By the 1930s, at the time the self-help book by Pitkin was written, life expectancy in western societies has increased as a result of improvement in the people’s quality of life.  Thus, ‘life begins at 40’ becomes a catchphrase that people often use.

In 2017, Dr. Rubaiul Murshed quoted a new report by Cigna Insurance Services (UK) that life really begins at 60 because people are more physically and emotionally mature. Researchers are now saying that as we grow older, life activities do not end. In fact, we continue to learn something new and we become bolder and wiser.

But how about us w...

Since my childhood days I’ve always loved parades. My attraction for parades started when I used to attend the Peñafrancia Military Parade in my beloved Naga (and I hear it may break the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running parade). Memories of Naga cross my mind this morning as I gaze at the NYC Veteran’s Day Parade on TV.

Three things catch my attention as I watch:

First was a Korean war veteran who refused to talk to a reporter about his experience during the Korean War. When asked why, he said, “How can you talk about it when you were just talking to a soldier beside you and two seconds later you only see parts of him.”

Second was a reporter interviewing Hershel “Woody” Williams, survivor of the Battle of Iwo Jima and the last living Medal of Honor awardee from that battle. He is now in his nineties and one of the Grand Marshalls of the parade. 

Third was President Donald Trump back in New York City delivering a short speech to kick off the annual Veterans Day Para...

Tibaad ako an pinakamaogmang Pilipino ta nagkahelingan na mata sa mata si Presidente Rodrigo Duterte saka Vice-Presidente Leni Robredo.

Pignombrahan kan Presidente an saiyang Vice-Presidente na magin Anti-Drug Czarina, katabang niya sa gyira kontra droga.

An problema sa ilegal na droga arog kan shabu, cocaine asin marijuana pan-kinabanon talaga. An dakulaon na problemang ini kan Pilipinas  mas grabe pa sa ibang nasyones kan kinaban arog kan Estados Unidos de Amerika, Mexico, Colombia, maski duman sa Europa asin ibang nasyones digdi sa Asya lalo na sa Tsina.

Multi-bilyones dolyares na industriya, dakol an nagyayaman huli sa ilegal na aktibidades, dakol man an nagkakagaradan.

Digdi sato sa Pilipinas na-araman ta lang na dakulaon palan an problema sa droga pagtukaw ni Presidente Duterte bilang Presidente kan Pilipinas.

Ngonyan ta lang naaraman na bako lang duman sa Kamaynilaan o Metro Manila an gulpi nang adik o paratsungki kundi maski duman sa Cebu, Davao, Pampanga lakop na palan sa ente...

So, the Vice President’s been busy.  

When news of the position being offered to her started to buzz, I have already heard common folk expressed apprehensions and opinions against her possible acceptance of the task, worrying that it’s all a trap, that it’s all going to fail and explode on her face, then all blame would be crashed on her.  “The position co-chair of ICAD is meaningless, said Barry Gutierrez, spokesperson of the Vice-President. “If you look at the executive order creating (ICAD) the co-chair position is non-existent and has no power,” he explained. Albay Representative Edcel Lagman pointed out that the position of co-chair of ICAD is vastly different from President Duterte’s original offer to her to be the drug czar.”  In the article, “Did Vice-President Leni Robredo just make a Bad Judgment?” by Oscar P. Lagman, the author strongly laments that “As co-chair of a committee she cannot issue directives, much less give orders. She can only formulate policies. ICAD has no le...

Tigsik ko ining pesting tagomata
Pigmumuta, makulog na mapula
Dai makaluwas ta makaulakit pa
Mga transaksyon piyerde talaga

Tigsik ko ining nagviral na isyu
Sa sarong pastor na raot an payo
An linog siya daa an nagpapondo
Takot daa kaya sa iya si Hesukristo

Tigsik ko ining butugon na propeta
Kun tutuong may kapangyarihan siya
An gurubot na trapiko madyikon niya
Singko an kilo kan bagas gibuhon na

Tigsik ko an mga Pinoy na nalalansi
Kan putikon na propeta, pastor na ini
Sarala an mga ebanghelyong pigsasabi
Mala,an kalag ta siya na an maysadiri

Tigsik ko an nangyayaring paglinog
Sa iba-ibang lugar sige an pagyugyog
An pagyugu-yugo maluya nanggayod
Sigurado, dakol na tulak an mabutog
 

Just because Vice President Leni Robredo has accepted her appointment as co-chairperson of an interagency committee against drugs does not mean that the responsibility of President Duterte for crimes committed by people who took hook, line and sinker his instigation to kill outright people suspected of violating the Dangerous Drug Acts, no longer exists. 

The Vice President is very categorical that she is opposed to the senseless killings of mere drug suspects. The principal responsibility of Mr. Duterte lies in his being a person who seems to have planned, instigated, ordered, committed or otherwise aided and abetted in the planning, preparation or execution of the senseless killings of mere suspects.

Malacañang should disabuse itself into believing   survey results supposedly indicating popular acceptance of the anti-drug war. It should have been realized a long time ago that the question asked of the survey respondents is too general.

Any right thinking individual would certainly pr...

When Vice President Leni Robredo was quoted by Reuters criticizing President Rodrigo Duterte’s “failed” anti-drug war, she probably was not expecting such piqued reaction from the president. Duterte’s outburst made Robredo to backtrack from “stopping the drug war” to reassessing it.

Regardless, Duterte’s verbal challenge was already out there for Robredo to lead the anti-drug campaign with full support from the president. For many who are used to Duterte’s insolence viewed his Robredo dare as another trick. Robredo herself initially brushed-off the idea as insincere but after Duterte signed off on her appointment to lead the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs (ICAD) with a cabinet rank, she had to think hard on the repercussion of the offer.

Many of her ardent supporters in Congress, including her spokesman, called it a publicity stunt tailored to set up the veep for a fall and that her ICAD appointment has no teeth to help her bite such a big challenge. After a few days of thi...

There are historians and historians as there are history and histories.

In the National Library, there is an odd and gripping collection of stories about provinces, towns and villages. It is called “Historical Data (Philippines).” The data were collated following an Executive Order dated Dec. 5, 1951, designating teachers, head teachers and principals to compile the data on the history and culture of barrios, towns and provinces.

The presentation of data is uneven. As one reads, one feels the field researchers were following a form given to them.

Having been gathered from the field, the narratives do not have the lofty language that scholars mistake for truth and authority. As with other secondary data, the worldview behind the words and stories are the hidden treasures of these historical data. 

How did the researchers view history? What stories did they consider “historical?”

Formal history basically is concerned with the monumental, the huge achievements of individuals who are raise...