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Benghazi Syndrome

Sens. McCain, Graham, and Ayotte

Kaleidoscope By Perry Diaz There is a new virulent disease that infected a group of people in Washington, DC. So far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) cannot isolate the organism that’s causing the mysterious disease. It’s so mysterious that it makes a lot of people wonder when – not if – they would be infected by the disease. But for some strange Read More …

Grace’s wish: To see real mom

Senatorial topnotcher Grace Poe at the thanksgiving/victory dinner with mom Susan Roces, husband Neil Llamanzares and their children Brian, Nika and Hanna…

FUNFARE By Ricky Lo The Philippine Star The phenomenal rise of Grace Poe in the senatorial race is as amazing as her life story that is stranger than fiction. During the campaign, Grace happened to sit beside a priest on the plane to Iloilo. After exchanging pleasantries, the priest told Grace that a lady named Sayong, who was on a vacation in Iloilo from Canada Read More …

How much did Grace Poe spend for her campaign?

Grace-Poe-and-mom-Susan-Roces.3

By Kathlyn dela Cruz ABS-CBNnews.com MANILA, Philippines — Senator-elect Grace Poe, the topnotcher in the 2013 senatorial race, on Friday revealed how much she spent for her campaign. In an interview with ANC’s “Headstart,” Poe said she only spent roughly P60 to P70 million for political advertisements to boost her bid to the Senate. She said the money came from the pockets of her parents Read More …

Danger of ‘honeymoon’

Enrile, Aquino, and Belmonte

“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.” FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT By Alex P. Vidal We always maintain that it is not healthy for democracy if the government’s executive and legislative branches are always in honeymoon stage. More danger lurks if they end up as lovers. Rubber stamp legislatures have been Read More …

Bullying by Sino ship alarms gov’t

Ayungin-Reef

By Jaime Laude The Philippine Star  MANILA, Philippines – The government has expressed concern over last Wednesday’s incident in the disputed Spratly Islands wherein a Chinese warship chased the utility boat of the Kalayaan island town for almost one hour. “Our national government is concerned on the latest incident,” re-elected Kalayaan Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon said after he reported to higher authorities the alleged bullying by Read More …

Aquino faces acid test in China, Taiwan rows

Taiwan Asia Disputed Islands

POSTSCRIPT By Federico D. Pascual Jr.  The Philippine Star NOW THIS?: When communist hordes overran China in 1949 in the concluding chapter of a civil war, the Philippines gave aid and sanctuary to Kuomintang Chinese fleeing the mainland on way to Taiwan. Many of them settled in Manila and flourished in business. Now they are treating us like rubbish just because one of them was Read More …

The Fishing Wars

Fishing-Wars-PREDA

By FR. SHAY CULLEN Last week, a Taiwanese fisherman died when a Philippine Coast Guard patrol boat open-fired after one of the four Taiwanese fishing vessels reportedly tried to ram the coast guard vessel. The incident occurred 43 nautical miles east of Balintang Island, in the West Philippine Sea well inside the 200 mile limit. Recently, the Chinese government sent a fleet of 30 fish Read More …

Seas of troubles

Sea-of-Troubles

Source: The Economist Taiwan and China share the same maritime claims, but have very different interests IN THE convoluted dramas in the seas around China, Taiwan is often cast as a bit player, the optional extra to the lengthy lists of contending parties to the many territorial disputes. But the fatal shooting on May 9th of a 65-year-old Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine coastguard has Read More …