By: Modesto P. Sa-onoy WHILE the Philippines commemorates its Independence Day from Spain on June 12, the Filipinos in America celebrates on different days. I was told New York marks the day early June while in New Jersey Filipinos commemorated last June 23. I happen to be here and witnessed the June 23rd celebration. The
June 28, 2019
By: Modesto P. Sa-onoy THE budget under the Sugar Industry Development Act that has been pegged at P2 billion a year is being reduced annually since the Duterte administration and the direct supervision of the Department of Agriculture Secretary Manuel Piñol. The latest report says it will be cut down some more to only P67
June 27, 2019
By: Modesto P. Sa-onoy IT SEEMS that somebody or some groups powerful enough within the government or outside of it but wielding super clout are up against the Philippine sugar industry with the intent to either cripple or marginalize it. Tracing historical events since 1987, there is a pattern that pieced together will reveal that
June 26, 2019
By: Modesto P. Sa-onoy THE description of how people here in New York and New Jersey behave in relation to traffic rules does not mean there are no violators. It only suggests that Bacolod and other Philippine cities and towns with growing human and vehicular population can solve the problem of traffic snarls if the
June 25, 2019
By: Modesto P. Sa-onoy THE apartment where we are staying is at the street intersection and facing the balcony is a traffic signal light. Last week I stood at the balcony of the second floor and watched the traffic movement, how the signal lights directed their flow and the compliance by pedestrians and vehicles. We
June 24, 2019
By: Modesto P. Sa-onoy THESE are difficult times in the history of the Universal Church with many critical issues flying from one end of the globe to another. The Church in the Western World and parts of Asia is undergoing a lot of suffering as the fundamental doctrines of the Church are being manipulated from
June 22, 2019
By: Modesto P. Sa-onoy BY THE time this column goes out, we had been out of the country for a few days so that once in a while this column will be a sort of a travelogue. It will be not the kind for tourism since I am here in the US not to enjoy
June 21, 2019
By: Modesto P. Sa-onoy JUST BEFORE we left for abroad for a month “just to take time off”, we passed by the Baciwa office and saw employees demonstrating against the planned privatization of the water district. It was noontime so the workers were using their lunch break to express their opposition to the move and
June 20, 2019
By: Modesto P. Sa-onoy Anywhere in the world where free men live, there is a continuing clash of interest between producers and consumers on the price of a commodity. Each has solid arguments but the bottom line is profit. This conflict cannot be resolved because the warring parties labor on the ground of maximum returns
June 19, 2019
By: Modesto P. Sa-onoy IT HAD been that way for many years – planters want a high price while food processors and consumers want cheaper price. This is natural in an economy under a free enterprise. The Sugar Regulatory Administration was established with the main task to balance the conflicting interest of the two parties.
June 18, 2019
By: Modesto P. Sa-onoy Unquestionably, the free tuition that the national government will extend to all students in accredited colleges and universities is a great leap forward to help poor students get higher education. The efforts of Bacolod Congressman Greg Gasataya had borne fruit with the inclusion of Bacolod City College among the institutions of
June 17, 2019
By: Modesto P. Sa-onoy Under present situation, I don’t believe that the Catholic Church in the Philippines will exercise one of its powers to instill obedience to its doctrines that are being violated by politicians and community leaders with impunity. Here is a report that should answer one question many asked me about what the
June 15, 2019