“Like air pollution, flood risk is a threat that government should be protecting us against.” —Barry Gardiner AFTER all these years, Ilonggos continued to be hobbled by flood problems as manifested by the sudden deluge in more than 50 villages in Iloilo City on July 17 after rainfall exceeded the ability of
July 22, 2024
“My friends, whoever has had experience of evils knows how whenever a flood of ills comes upon mortals, a man fears everything; but whenever a divine force cheers on our voyage, then we believe that the same fate will always blow fair.” —Aeschylus EVERY time flash floods happened, incumbent public officials—not only
July 20, 2024
“The highest art is always the most religious, and the greatest artist is always a devout person.”—Abraham Lincoln ALTHOUGH I failed to get an instant discount, the book I purchased, Michael Finkel’s The Art Thief, a New York Times bestseller, earned automatic two stamps for my rewards card at the Barnes
July 19, 2024
“May I kiss you then? On this miserable paper? I might as well open the window and kiss the night air.”—Franz Kafka THE much-ballyhooed beso-beso or cheek-to-cheek kiss between warring Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas and Iloilo City lone district Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda witnessed by political VIPs, guests, government
July 18, 2024
“It’s good when you’re out there on a tennis court. There’s nowhere to hide. It’s all you, tactically, physically, mentally.”—Nick Kyrgios FOR two consecutive years now, I was brought directly to the 2024 Wimbledon championship match “live” courtesy of my daughter, Sharmane, who watched the match where it unfolded at the
July 17, 2024
“Since we all know that death is inevitable, I don’t really see the difference between dying now and dying a decade later. So, if I’m threatened with assassination, I welcome it!” —Miriam Defensor-Santiago I WENT to sleep early without posting any story or comment on my social media account about the attempt
July 16, 2024
“I restore myself when I’m alone.” —Marilyn Monroe ATTY. Jose “Joe III” Espinosa III, the former Iloilo City mayor who had a short-lived stint in the city hall, appears to have no more appetite in dipping his fingers into local politics. Espinosa III blamed heavily his brother-in-law, Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo
July 15, 2024
“Man is by nature a political animal.” – Aristotle EVEN if they wanted to, members of the Garin political clan in the first district of Iloilo can’t go against Iloilo Governor Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. in the 2025 midterm elections. Instead of fielding a candidate to oppose Defensor Jr. in the gubernatorial
July 13, 2024
“In politics stupidity is not a handicap.”—Napoleon Bonaparte THE hopes of many Ilonggos that former senate president Franklin “Frank” Drilon could intercede and stop the hemorrhage in the relationship between Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas and Iloilo City lone district Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda have been dashed to pieces when
July 12, 2024
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.” —Ernest Benn OF all those who have “seriously” crossed the path of Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas in recent memory, only Iloilo City lone district Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda and Iloilo
July 11, 2024
“I am convinced, the way one plays chess always reflects the player’s personality. If something defines his character, then it will also define his way of playing.” —Vladimir Kramnik IN what could be his biggest-ever achievement since campaigning in the United States after surviving the 2013 superstorm “Yolanda” in Leyte in the
July 10, 2024
“What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.” ― Salman Rushdie BEFORE going to the Museum of Modern Arts (MoMa) to attend the UNIQLO NYC Nights (it was my third consecutive months to be present) in Midtown Manhattan at 5 o’clock in the afternoon July 5,
July 9, 2024