The “Protocol of Agreement “signed by Spain and the USA in Washington on 12 August 1898 brought about a lull. But, the USA kept sending troops to the Philippines. The USS Arizona arrived with 4 companies of the 18th Infantry, detachments of the Ist Nebraska, 1st Colorado and 10th Pennsylvania Volunteers Infantries. A day after, … Read more
Treaties are contracts between two or more States, but before these are signed elaborate negotiations take place between or among its signatories. Demands and counter demands are embodied in Protocols. According to lawyer-historian Saul Hofileña, Jr: “Protocols serve as reliable evidence of the hidden motives and interests bitterly disputed by the signatories…” In his best-selling … Read more
You may have noticed that our young people are being corrupted in so many despicable ways. They are deliberately being taught to lie which will surely lead them astray. That is why the anguished words of Padre Florentino often comes to mind. Here they are, from the last chapter of El Filibusterismo: “Where are the … Read more
Most of my friends cannot believe that I am living happily ever after with three puspins, pusang pinoy, all rescued from different parts of the city by two other cat lovers of the family. Five years ago, my niece, Carmen, rescued four grubby kittens one of which was a three-colored calico. She asked me to … Read more
That was what National Artist Rio Almario declared, once upon a Bonifacio commemoration organized by the Manila City Hall when Alfredo S. Lim was Mayor. His seemingly heretical pronouncement shocked us all; jaws dropped; eyebrows arched; teachers and barangay officials gasped audibly. But that morning Mr. Almario was irrepressible: Bonifacio never held a gulok, bolo … Read more
As two political dynasties, each with a pervasive air of privilege, act out a tragic-comic zarzuela, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) averts its eye and points a moral compass towards pivotal issues concerning the nation’s future. Last week, the PCCI invited the presidentiables to ask each one what he/she intends to do … Read more
He was only 32, a month older than my daughter, Fatimah, who was also born in 1966. Teodoro Brawner Baguilat, Jr. is a Tuwali Ifugao with Gaddang blood. He was elected councilor of Kiangan in 1992, at the tender age of 26 and after serving a 3-year term, he ran for mayor in 1995 and … Read more
President Rodrigo Duterte seems to have a visceral conviction that political dynasties can be good and bad at the same time. When his third term as Davao City mayor was about to end, he asked barangay captains and other local officials about whom they thought should take his place. The unanimous answer was his daughter, … Read more
With bracing directness, Senator Imee Marcos called VP Leni Robredo an “extraordinary housewife”. That was last October 27, when she was interviewed by the gentlemen anchors of “On the Spot”. They asked her to describe all the presidential aspirants. So, Imee said that Senator Bato de la Rosa is a BFF and model policeman; Senator … Read more
These days, the query—what have you done for the country? (Ano bang nagawa mo para sa bayan?) – is a galling trick question intended to mock and discredit. The malicious interrogator does not want you to state how you perform your civic duties, on the contrary, he wants to embarrass you by implying that you … Read more