Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:16
The price of gas peaked over three
dollars a gallon in the summer before settling down to just over two dollars.
It has disrupted many household budgets. Oil price notwithstanding, we still
have a low 4.6 unemployment rate that’s lower than the average in the 1990s. We
have a strong economy that is the envy of Europe.
Our land of [...]
Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:16
“One trait which we lack in the in the Philippines on
a widespread scale is the community spirit: sharing our blessings and gifts
with our fellowmen. “Kanya -kanya tayo.” We are so woefully divided as a
nation” I have now come to realize how true these are.
Hence when natural disaster strikes back
home, such as the Leyte mudslides, Mayon
volcano [...]
Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:16
According to USCIS Director, Emilio
Gonzales, “the current naturalization exam process lacks standardization and
encourages applicants to memorize facts just to pass a test….Our goal is to
inspire immigrants to learn about the civic values of this nation so that after
they take the oath of citizenship they will participate fully in our great
democracy.”
The English reading and writing test [...]
Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:16
***** The most convenient way to
circumvent this prohibition is to amend the charter and switch to a
parliamentary form of government. Under this system, all of them could run for
reelection as much as they want to. They claim that the parliamentary form will
do away with the paralysis that blocks progress under the present system, stop
corruption and [...]
Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:16
It is a grim reality all too familiar in
the Philippines -the vile exploitation and enslavement of the poor by immensely
rich land owners and sugar barons. Like thousands of other impoverished farm
workers from all over the Philippines, the villagers of Cabangan had been
promised good wages and a Christmas bonus. They were transported in a cattle
truck to [...]
Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:16
Christmas season is not only about
stretching your “wallet” but also remembering and re-assessing who among
your friends should get a simple gift from Santa on Christmas day. It is quite
obvious that not everybody will receive one but it is necessary that everyone
get at least a Christmas card. Christmas in America requires that you give to
your closest [...]
Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:16
Earlier, the United States, Australia,
Japan and other countries have issued warnings about the possibility of a
terror attack during the summit. They urged their citizens to stay away
from Cebu city.
The Philippines however insisted the
postponement was due primarily to an approaching storm, not the warnings.
Sources at the Department of Foreign Affairs and police agencies told The
Manila Times [...]
Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:16
“When I walked in and told him ”My
president conveys her best wishes to you," he remarked, “Oh, Gloria, she’s
a close friend of mine," Gaa related to *The Manila Mail.*
Gaa’s visit to the White House was the
culmination of a successful week for the new envoy who 24 hours earlier
presided over a two-day conference of veterans leaders [...]
Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:16
US Ambassador Kristie Kenney said the
Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) provides that the US can maintain custody of an
accused pending the final determination of the case. The case against Smith is
now on appeal.
The Philippine Justice Department agrees
and has filed a motion with the Makati judge to
allow Smith to be confined in the US embassy until the [...]
Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:16
“Now you don’t have to beg. You deserve it and
you’re going to get it. We’re on the verge of victory," the congressman
from San Diego told a meeting of veterans leaders at the Philippine embassy in
Washington hours before he was named chairman by a majority of Democrats who
took control of the House and the Senate in [...]
Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:16
The Free Lance Star of Fredericksburg in
Virginia last month chronicled the first day experience of a Filipino teacher
at North Stafford High School.
Jeff Branscome of the Star interviewed
the new Filipino teacher, Ferdinand Batoon, who said he had to point out to his
students the map of the Philippines where he held a physical education position
in the Department [...]
Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:16
She lashed out against these persons on
the Senate floor, calling her antagonists names that included also some members
of the JBC.
Miriam, along with other potential
candidates, have opted to waive a public interview of applicants for the post.
Not only did she insult the members of
the JBC and the Supreme Court; she vowed to cut or block its [...]
Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:16
The formal announcement of a new chief
justice was delayed due to the last-minute lobbying of Sen. Miriam
Defensor-Santiago, one of the contenders for the post.
Santiago has urged Mrs. Arroyo to discuss
her exclusion from the shortlist of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).
Santiago called on the President to defer
the appointment of Panganiban’s replacement after she was not [...]
Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:16
The country continued to receive more
pledges and deliveries of cash, tents, blankets, generators, water tanks and medicine
from governments and charities from around the world. The US has donated a
quarter of a million dollars for the victims, in addition to providing tents
and other needs of survivors.
The government of Japan, through the
Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA), turned over [...]