Mar 272017
 

Late last year, I read a post on social media about a bride-to-be’s woes on the costs of “taking things to the next level” — i.e., having a wedding. The woman took to social media to express her surprise (read: frustration) at the cost of reserving a church for a wedding (P35,000), having wedding announcements (P1,000 at most and this varies among different parishes), and behold, the opening of the church doors for the bride to enter and attend her wedding ceremony (another P1,000!). The last one struck a nerve. One thousand pesos. For opening the church doors.

Mar 262017
 

In October 2016, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that poverty among Filipinos has declined in the last decade to 21.6% in 2015 from 26.6% in 2006. However, this still translates to over 26 million poor Filipinos with almost half living in extreme poverty and lacking the means to feed themselves. While the statistics reflect slight improvements resulting from the trickle-down of economic growth to lower-income families, poverty remains a persistent and widespread problem.

Mar 252017
 
De Lima: SolGen resorting to ‘basest of technicalities’, not arguments

Senator Leila De Lima (MNS Photo) MANILA, Mar 21 (Mabuhay) – “Desperate.” This is how Senator Leila de Lima described the move of the Solicitor General seeking the dismissal of the senator’s petition to nullify her arrest. Solicitor General Jose Calida told the Supreme Court in a manifestation that De Lima supposedly falsified the notarization of her pleading. The OSG alleged that one Atty. Maria Cecille T. Tresvelles-Cabalo administered the oath on De Lima on February 24, 2017, the day De Lima was arrested upon the order of Branch 204 Presiding Judge Juanita Guerrero. The OSG explained that Cabalo could have only administered De Lima’s oath at PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City since the former’s commission as notary public is for Quezon City. The OSG also noted that Cabalo is a sorority sister of De Lima at San Beda College of Law’s Lambda Rho Sigma, which was co-founded by De Lima In a press release sent by her office on Monday, De Lima pointed out that the Office of the Solicitor General “is scraping the bottom of the barrel for whatever argument is left to support her continued illegal detention” with its repeated attempts to “resort to the basest of technicalities, and in lieu of substantial arguments against the merits of her Supreme Court petition.” “The senator said that the OSG attack is obviously borne out of desperation,” it added. In the same press release, De Lima maintained that Calida’s allegation “has no factual basis.” De Lima, Read More …

Mar 252017
 
Duterte’s birthday wishes: More strength, time with family

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte MANILA, March 23 (PNA) – President Rodrigo Duterte’s birthday wishes are simple – more strength to complete his work and a quiet time with his family. “So my wish really, my prayer to God is that bigyan niya ako ng konting lakas na lang to do our — work, time because it is needed,” he said during a press briefing held at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport upon arriving from his official visits to Myanmar and Thailand. The President, who will be turning 72 on March 28, said that 24 hours is not really enough for the presidency, unless one wants to sleep more than just about four hours. “I only ask God that give me a little bit of time, a little strength to surmount the problems of the country and that I’d be able, not really to solve but maybe mitigate some of the rigors of governance,” Duterte said. He also said that the only gift he would like on his birthday is time with his loved ones. “I would be very glad to spend my time with my newest grandson Stone and the rest of my children and grandchildren. That would have been the greatest gift that I can ask in this planet. Iyon sa akin tama na,” he said. Duterte said that he could no longer ask for more since God has already given him everything. “Naibigay na ng Diyos ang lahat ang dapat ko. I have reached the highest — the Read More …