What Haiti needs and does not need

Hillary Clinton on Haiti

Last week, I came across a news report where U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was quoted as saying, “It is biblical, the tragedy that continues to stalk Haiti and the … [Read more...]

The ‘deemed-resigned’ issue

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, … [Read more...]

Federalism, political dynasties and private armies

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 … [Read more...]

Stories from Singapore

luckyplaza

When you walk the streets of Singapore, prowl the malls or ride in the train, it isn't unusual to overhear conversations in Filipino. There are, after all, about a hundred … [Read more...]

Do we really require a moral leader?

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 … [Read more...]

Her ever changing civil status

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 … [Read more...]

A benighted and repressive Comelec, Part 2

(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 … [Read more...]

A benighted and repressive Comelec

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 … [Read more...]

Rats in a sinking ship

Disappointed with the delay in the release of “Ingloriuous Basterds” and after discovering that we won't be able to see it as a family because of the R-18 rating, we went … [Read more...]

Citizenship and residence requirements for presidents

Section 2 of Article 7 of the 1987 Constitution says, “No person may be elected President unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, able to … [Read more...]

Electoral campaign

It has often been said that the Philippines has the longest Christmas celebration in the entire world. When the first “ber” month begins, Filipinos can already taste … [Read more...]

Mad world

Which would you consider more shocking--the art student who got herself pregnant several times over a nine-month period and aborted the pregnancies so she could put the fetal … [Read more...]

Now every criminal wants to be pardoned

You must have read or heard about it. The convicted military officers who staged some kind of uprising in 2003 dubbed the Oakwood Mutiny are seeking pardon. It's been all over … [Read more...]

For a while there, even 10-year-olds could marry in Arkansas

This is weird. Funny-weird and dangerously-weird. A law passed in Arkansas inadvertently inserted the word "not" with the result that, instead of establishing the minimum … [Read more...]

Ban milk formula ads

Published as an op-ed column in Manila Standard Today EXECUTIVE Order 51, or the Milk Code, aimed at promoting breast milk and breastfeeding, took effect during the term of … [Read more...]