On Tuesday evening, we hosted a dinner party for my brother-in-law who was on vacation in the country for the first time in more than two years. Tables were laid out in the garden and, while having the obligatory after-dinner coffee and tea with cakes, we heard firecracker explosions. These were followed by fireworks shooting ... (more)
The Filipino male and his ego
Posted on December 29, 2009 · 53 Comments
On the evening of December 23, we drove my mother to her house in Caloocan and, on the way back, along Elliptical Road in Quezon City, an Isuzu DMAX swerved sharply from the lane on our right to the lane on our left. My husband hit the brakes and instinctively honked his horn, acts which ... (more)
New Year, fresh start
Posted on December 24, 2009 · 18 Comments
Reading the news these days is like staring at a doomsday scenario. As though the devastation brought by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng weren’t enough, Philvolcs says that Mayon volcano is likely to erupt within the week. On the political front, it looks like Filipinos are still going to vote based on personalities. If those darned ... (more)
The 2009 U.P. Lantern Parade
Posted on December 23, 2009 · 10 Comments
I was a U.P. student for eight years – four as an undergrad and another four as a law student. I have experienced the lantern parade both as a participant and as a mere observer. But last December 18 was the first time I attended the annual event with my family – the first time ... (more)
The ‘deemed-resigned’ issue
Posted on December 11, 2009 · 21 Comments
After thousands of voter’s IDs were recovered from the mansion of Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. in Shariff Aguak, Col. Leo Ferrer, 601st Infantry Brigade commander, was asked whether the IDs were authentic. He said he couldn’t tell — how could he when he didn’t even have a voter’s ID? Well, that makes two of ... (more)
Federalism, political dynasties and private armies
Posted on December 3, 2009 · 18 Comments
I was aboard the cruise ship Legend of the Seas on a much-needed vacation when I heard about the incident at Ampatuan. I was in my state room watching the news on CNN when the familiar voice of Maria Ressa went on the air and what I heard so shocked me that my coffee had ... (more)
Do we really require a moral leader?
Posted on November 26, 2009 · 7 Comments
When the Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky affair broke out in the 1990s and people were talking about impeachment, my position was that Clinton should be held liable for lying, perjury if under oath (he initially denied having relations with Lewinsky), but not for having an affair with her. Most of my friends disagreed because ... (more)
Her ever changing civil status
Posted on November 24, 2009 · 28 Comments
I used to admire Loren Legarda back when she was a young newscaster and TV host. She was refreshing and articulate with a personality that commanded attention. Several years later, she became different. She would newscast in a staccato voice and I couldn’t quite understand if it was the effect of a newfound self-confidence or ... (more)
A benighted and repressive Comelec, Part 2
Posted on November 19, 2009 · 12 Comments
(Continued from last Tuesday’s column) Is it just homophobia that drove the Comelec to deny the petition for accreditation of the Ang Ladlad LGBT Party? Yes, but homophobia is deeper and more serious than most people think. Homophobia is defined as the heterosexual’s extreme and irrational aversion to, and contempt for, homosexuality and homosexual people, ... (more)
A benighted and repressive Comelec
Posted on November 17, 2009 · 28 Comments
Just last week, in the column “Sometimes, TV doesn’t suck”, I asked whether religious persons make fair and objective leaders who will think, decide and act in favor of the common good rather than in compliance with their own religious biases. Today, I have to ask that question again in reaction to the Comelec’s resolution ... (more)
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