Editorial

The Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2023-2028 of the administration has set an ambitious target of $240 billion at the end of its six-year term. During the launch of the six-year PEDP, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. quipped that several export plans had been hatched previously, but the country’s exports …

“After their tours of duty, the government may grant them recognition and the Department of Health or Professional Regulation Commission could issue them licenses. One proposal is to integrate them into a quick response corps for new threats. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has hit the nail on the head with …

“A brave soul has been summoned back to God’s army on a day that we Filipinos associate with bravery.” That was the poignant tribute written by a son in honor of a beloved father. Former Senator Rodolfo G. Biazon died in the morning of June 12, according to his son …

Had he been immortal, Jose Rizal, the Philippines’ national hero, would have turned 162 yesterday, 19 June 2023. But Rizal need not be god-like as envisaged by the cult-like organization that has appropriated his name. As the Austrian ethnographer, Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt, so famously said: Rizal was the “greatest man …

Today, June 19, 2023, marks the 162nd anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal’s birth. We not only commemorate his life but also his legacy in various fields such as literature, arts, medicine, and philosophy. He is, after all, widely regarded as the “greatest Malayan who ever lived.” It is disheartening that …

The Marcos administration has proposed a major overhaul of the pension system for military and uniformed personnel or MUP. The plan, which is still in its early stages, would require the MUP to contribute to their retirement fund, increase the retirement age, and remove automatic indexation of pensions to the …

Today is Father’s Day when tributes will flow as we pause to honor the special man in our lives. The man we call “Tatay,” “Daddy,” or “Papa” will be the center of attention, honored for what he had done for his family. It’s become a tradition to remember our fathers …

Taking in people seeking refuge from war or persecution should not even be a subject of debate considering the history of the Philippines as a humanitarian country. Washington DC sent a “concept note” in October 2022, according to the DFA, proposing to have the Philippines as a “temporary site” for …

Filipino culture and tradition has always been partial to women, giving them due respect and conservative deference especially in social events and public places. For decades, this traditional courtesy and caring for Filipino women has been with us, but it was only in 2009 that the government passed a law, …

Should the Philippine government seek more compensation from the US for allowing the latter access to military bases here under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA? Two senators of late — Ronald de la Rosa and Francis Escudero — have spoken up, contending that yes, if the US pays …