Opinion and Commentary
Lu: Brewing Resilience: The Tale of Philippine Coffee's Revival
November 10, 2023, 1:16 pm
In the vibrant ambiance of coffee shops during my frequent meetings, I've marveled at the sight of young professionals and students indulging in various coffee concoctions -- espresso, black coffee, frappe, cappuccino, latte and more. It's a captivating spectacle, witnessing these generations… Read More
Lauengco: Math and Agriculture
November 8, 2023, 1:32 pm
“Go down deep enough into anything and you will find mathematics” - Dean Schlicter On Nov. 7, newly appointed Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced his plan to revive the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS). He stated that for him “the current database was somewhat… Read More
Zaldarriaga: The drive for a greener future
November 7, 2023, 10:30 am
With the growing focus on sustainability, addressing pollution, especially in urban areas, is perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of the drive to go green. Here in the Philippines, the transportation sector is the largest source of urban pollution as it accounts for 13 percent of our… Read More
Delos Reyes: Fly-by-night biotech may be useful for us
November 2, 2023, 5:28 pm
Dire necessity ought to be the mother of invention if not forcible incursion into technology. With prices of crude oil products soaring between the rooftops and beyond the clouds, motorists and commuters are likely to set their sights even keep their fingers crossed on anything that promises… Read More
Lauengco: So, you lost in the barangay elections. What’s next?
November 1, 2023, 12:55 pm
“It is failure that gives you the proper perspective on success.” – Ellen Degeneres The Philippines’ Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections 2023 edition is over and the winners with no pending cases have been proclaimed. Unfortunately, as in all contests, there are always those who… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Fostering meaningful connections in the digital age
October 31, 2023, 10:14 am
Our communication experiences over the years have drastically changed to adapt to fast-paced lifestyles. From e-mails to video calls, communication has never been more accessible and dynamic across all age groups. As a public communicator for nearly 40 years, I have seen and adapted to the many… Read More
Lu: A Look at the Barangay and SK Elections in the Philippines
October 27, 2023, 11:38 am
On Oct. 30, millions of voters will troop to their voting precincts to cast their votes for their preferred candidates. The Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in October came after three postponements since 2018. The incumbent barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials have been… Read More
Samonte: Benefits from clustered farming cited in 1970 FM speech
October 26, 2023, 8:44 pm
In my column two weeks ago about cooperative or clustered farming (Oct. 12, 2023), space limitation prevented me from elaborating on the advantages of such farming method as mentioned in a speech on May 23, 1970 by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos (FM) before the 17th National Convention of the… Read More
Lauengco: Barangay Elections: Last minute campaign guide (Part 3) – E-Day
October 25, 2023, 1:59 pm
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” -- Benjamin Franklin This is the third and final part of my three part last minute campaign guide for barangay election candidates. Election day or E-Day for the Barangay and SK elections 2023 will be on Monday (Oct. 30). For the first time… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Powering access to basic needs
October 23, 2023, 11:35 am
In today’s highly digital age, it may come as a surprise that there are still communities that lack access to basic needs such as water supply, sanitation, and electricity. In fact, around 2 billion people worldwide still don’t have access to safe drinking water, according to the World Bank.… Read More
Lu: Gov’t response to the crisis abroad
October 20, 2023, 9:00 am
The conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has displaced millions of people, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). There are more than 30,000 Filipinos in Israel and 150 in the Gaza Strip. Filipinos in Israel work mostly as caregivers, and they are loved by their employers and… Read More
Samonte: The oddities of 1st barangay polls in May 1982
October 19, 2023, 1:11 pm
As the 10-day official campaign period for the Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) began Wednesday in more than 42,000 barangays nationwide, this writer was reminiscing on the uniqueness or oddities of the first barangay polls held in 1982, a year after then President… Read More
Lauengco: Barangay Elections: Last minute campaign guide (Part 2)
October 18, 2023, 2:46 pm
“Every election is determined by the people who show up.” - Larry Sabato. Tomorrow (Oct. 19) is the start of the official campaign period for the 2023 Barangay Elections. As stated in the previous article (see part 1), the candidates at this point should have completed the requisite… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Powering a brighter, sustainable future with solar
October 16, 2023, 12:44 pm
As more industries normalize their operations, global focus has shifted to economic growth from economic recovery and one key aspect that has become more pronounced especially after the pandemic is the importance of embracing sustainability. Industry movers and shakers worldwide are going green in… Read More
Lu: Policing social media: Navigating complexities of digital expression
October 13, 2023, 9:00 am
In recent weeks, a piece of news has seized my attention, revealing a significant development in the ever-evolving landscape of social media. The “Kapisanan ng Social Media Broadcasters ng Pilipinas” (KSMBP) has taken a bold stance, initiating legal proceedings against certain personalities… Read More
Samonte: FM first thought of collective or cluster farming idea in 1970
October 12, 2023, 2:30 pm
Believe it or not, the collective or cluster farming idea or approach in rice production to make the Philippines sufficient in rice without importation was broached as early as 1970 by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., more popularly known by his acronym FM. Yes, FM disclosed that in his… Read More
Lauengco: Barangay Elections Last Minute Campaign Guide (Part 1)
October 11, 2023, 5:56 pm
“How do you win an election? Get more votes than your opponents” - Anonymous In eight days, the official campaign period for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections will begin. Candidates for the various positions involved will officially have 10 grueling days to convince voters… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Strengthening Philippine tourism
October 10, 2023, 9:40 am
With the accelerating shift towards greater normalcy after the pandemic, new opportunities for recovery and growth are opening across different industries—particularly those badly hit by the global crisis. Here in the Philippines, tourism is among the sectors that have steadily recovered with… Read More
Samonte: The 'New Society' parliaments of 1976-1985
October 5, 2023, 12:56 pm
In my column last week, I partially discussed the niceties, in my view, of the modified unicameral federal system of government introduced through the 1973 Constitution under the "New Society or Bagong Lipunan" concept of then President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. (Dec. 30, 1965-Feb. 25, 1986). I… Read More
Lauengco: Cults: Thoughts and Theories
October 4, 2023, 12:56 pm
“Culture and cult derive from the same word; what a culture worships defines it.” – Michael Knowles Lately, we have seen several news headlines about a series of Senate hearings on an alleged cult based in Surigao del Norte. Since the Senate investigations started, several “horror”… Read More
