AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR
by William M. Esposo
from Philstar
There is a very basic principle of justice and the rule of law that has been grossly overlooked in the raging debate surrounding the ethics case that was filed against top Opposition presidential candidate, Senator Manny Villar.
And that principle is the right of the accused – any accused – to a fair trial.
A fair trial is not just the granting of the opportunity to the accused to refute charges and present counter evidence. The more important aspect of a fair trial is …

by Ellen Tordesillas

Hardly had the croaking of the the congressmen who were at the Manila Hotel for the launching of what pundits call Palaka (Partido Lakas at Kampi) died down last Thursday when they were summoned by Gloria Arroyo to a room where she gave her marching orders: pass the resolution amending the Constitution.
Arroyo, the source said, offered the congressmen a hefty incentive: over and above their pork barrel, they will be given P20 million each.
There are two resolutions calling for the amendment of the Constitution pending at the Lower …

by Reginald Tamayo
 
We don’t seem to appreciate our being democratic citizens.  There may be instances proving of our being responsible citizens in a democratic country but these are on a daily and retail bases. To act like responsible citizens in this country is likened to a goody that is only available in a vending machine, that is, it is there when it is needed.
 
Besides, many of us appear to be uninformed about our rights and obligations in a democratic country. We don’t simply live up to our responsibilities as democratic …

by Reginald B. Tamayo
I recently watched on television the Senate inquiry on the sex video scandal of Ms. Katrina Halili and Dr. Hayden Kho. I was expecting to see the inquiry to be conducted with due decorum. I was disappointed. What I saw was a circus.
Some people who were there are likened to vultures who were ready to make a kill or simply people who don’t want to miss a circus show in town. There was even a man who even unceremoniously drenched Dr. Kho. These are not encouraging signs …

by Michael Lim Ubac
from Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—“Kokak.”
That one word captures the opposition’s reaction to the so-called marriage of the two biggest political parties in the country. The opposition also said the political union would not translate into votes to ensure the victory of administration candidates in the 2010 elections.
Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said the merger of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) was a union of “trapos” (traditional politicians).
Roxas, a presidential aspirant and the president of the Liberal Party, told reporters that the name …

How to Restore Your Good Name
Keep a record. Because recovering from identity theft can be a long and complicated process, it’s important to keep a record of all communications. Send all letters by certified mail and keep copies. If you think your case might lead to a lawsuit, keep track of how much time you spend dealing with the problem.
Call the police. Report the crime to the police or sheriff’s department that has jurisdiction in your case and request a police report. Though the authorities are often unable to assist …

The young teacher that provided the author, Evan S. Chen, the inspiration that awakened his Filipino soul is my nephew, Josemaria Esposo Claro and this was when Hossie was still teaching in Xavier University in Ortigas Avenue. The Jesuits has since asked Hossie to teach in their San Andres Bukid Special Education Program for poor kids. – The STAR Chair Wrecker, William M. Esposo
 
Youngblood
Being Filipino
by Evan S. Chen
from Philippine Daily Inquirer
When I was young, I never truly considered myself Filipino. Sure, I lived in the Philippines and I carried …

Kapeng BARAKO
by Jesse Jose
from Fil-Am MegaScene

Sheesh.
What’s the big deal?
Bakit pinagkakaguluhan ito?
The people, men, women and children, the media, the tsismis shows led by Boy Abunda and Kris Aquino, the politicians, the police, the NBI, the Dept of Justice, Gabriela, the Philippine Congress …
Even the Philippine Medical Association …
The whole country, actually …
Is riveted to this sex video.
How laughable naman.
How pathetic.
How sad.
Only in the Philippines, I tell ya.
Sure, here in America, people get riveted, too, to sex scandals. Yes, they talk about it. But they don’t talk about it weeks after …

by Lito Banayo
from MALAYA
Prospero Nograles, on the eve of the merger of Lakas (Teddy Boy Locsin’s favourite “party of thieves”) and Kampi (Gloria and Mike Arroyo’s favourite party of what else?) was “ecstatic” over the conjugal union of the two. As of this writing, the mega-event is supposed to be ongoing.
Said Nograles: “For now, winning the elections in 2010 is not our main goal. Changing the character of our politics is”.
Oh my God! After almost nine years of Gloria’s hegemony, during which Nograles has seen himself catapulted to the …

GLIMPSES
Jose Ma. Montelibano
The way I see the political equation is that a weak people attract bad governance. That is why any good governance advocacy will never work unless it carries in it a parallel movement for a strong citizenry. All the way from my boyhood days, I already heard the generation of my parents promote the cause of good governance. Today, 50 years later, most good government advocates insist that never in our history is good governance needed more. This is another way of saying that efforts for good governance …