By Alex P. Vidal “This virus is an enemy that the entire country underestimated from day one and we have paid the price dearly.”—Andrew Cuomo IT wasn’t true that Jasmin Abella Jamero Layson, the former Iloilo City Hall employee who succumbed to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) at the New York Presbyterian Hospital in
February 24, 2021
By Alex P. Vidal “The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero JASMIN Abella Jamero Layson’s dream of coming home alive to Iloilo City in the Philippines soon to be with her family has been dashed to pieces when she lost her battle against the coronavirus disease
February 23, 2021
By Alex P. Vidal “Our immigration policy should be based in compassion and a desire to help the other.”—Ilhan Omar HERE’S “good” news for those who arrived in the United States before January 1, 2021 and have lost their legal status after overstaying their temporary visitor’s visa. The date is so important because
February 22, 2021
By Alex P. Vidal “It’s all about the money.”—Joe Jackson WE find it so surprising that no local government unit (LGU) in the Philippines has, so far, opposed the proposal of the national government for the LGUs to directly negotiate with the pharmaceutical companies and purchase their own supply of the coronavirus disease
February 20, 2021
By Alex P. Vidal “Farewell, fair cruelty.”—William Shakespeare WHEN then 41-year-old Dean Arturo “Art” R. Jimenez launched his “Business Observer” column in the now defunct the Daily Times on August 29, 1988, he never realized he buttressed the most formidable team in community journalism ever-assembled in the city and province of Iloilo in that
February 19, 2021
By Alex P. Vidal “Being healthy is the crown that only the sick can see. A lot of times, we take it for granted.”—Hasan Minhaj A FORMER Iloilo City Hall employee who was reported to have died of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a New York City hospital on Valentines Day was still alive
February 18, 2021
By Alex P. Vidal “The only thing that hurts more than paying an income tax is not having to pay an income tax.” — Thomas Dewar TO ensure that we qualify for President Joseph Biden’s $1,400 direct payment stimulus check, we have been advised to file our tax returns earlier, or this month until
February 17, 2021
By Alex P. Vidal “The single most important ingredient in the recipe for success is transparency because transparency builds trust.”—Denise Morrison WE are glad that former Iloilo fifth district Rep. Rolex Suplico has sounded the alarm on the possible loopholes if the Local Government Units (LGU) are pushed and allowed to purchase directly
February 16, 2021
By Alex P. Vidal “Gambling: The sure way of getting nothing for something.”—Wilson Mizner IT’S a shame that our legislatures in the city and province of Iloilo have prioritized “on-line sabong” or on-line cockfighting while people are dying, sick, and losing their livelihood amid the pandemic. On important subject matters that required their
February 13, 2021
By Alex P. Vidal “People who are really serious about software should make their own hardware.”—Alan Kay I’M having a problem with my Microsoft 365 subscription for several days now, and it was compounded by the mysterious malfunctioning of the keyboard connected via Bluetooth to my iPad Pro, which I have been using to
February 12, 2021
By Alex P. Vidal “I would curse people who resort to coups against democracy, liberty, republic.”—Fethullah Gulen WE used to admire her for being a symbol of bravery and for championing democracy in her country. Not anymore when her name was attached to genocide and when she decided to “sleep with the enemy.”
February 4, 2021
By Alex P. Vidal “Snow provokes responses that reach right back to childhood.”—Andy Goldsworthy IN 2010 and 2011, I shoveled snow in Canada during the winter season and earned extra bucks. A man from San Jose, California who saw my post on Facebook criticized me for not wearing gloves. My body heat needed
February 3, 2021