DO you know that the first professional Filipino photographer, Felix Laureano (1866-1952), was a native of Bugasong, Antique? Yes, according to the biographical book “From Bugasong to Barcelona,” which will be launched at the Little Theater of the University of the Philippines (UP), Iloilo City on Saturday, July 26. It is a
July 23, 2025
THIS has been a typhoon week. As we expect more unavoidable typhoons in the weeks to come, we need to cope with them bravely and to pray for survival. We cannot undo the fact that the Philippines is an occupant of the Pacific Typhoon Belt, where nearly one-third of the world’s tropical
July 21, 2025
A friend from Kalibo recently messaged me for an update on the fatal shooting of former Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. (PAPI) president Johnny Dayang on April 29, 2025. No update. All I could say was that the Kalibo police had launched a hot-pursuit operation against a suspect. I could not imagine anybody
July 18, 2025
THE last time I spent a few days in Anini-y, Antique, it was to gather information materials for its tourism brochure. One of the tourist destinations I covered was Nogas Island. Anybody who has boarded a ship navigating the Iloilo City-to-Manila route must have seen the 64-hectare Nogas Island even at night.
July 16, 2025
“RESPECT the centavo” used to be a government slogan aimed at encouraging the people to value our centavo coins. It does not make sense now that one centavo buys nothing. Blame it on inflation, which means a general increase in prices and fall of the buying power of money. Judging from experience,
July 14, 2025
KUDOS to Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas for signing two executive orders that would empower and save money for her constituents. Let us tackle them separately. Executive Order 15 calls for reorganization of the Task Force Boltahe which would run after power pilferers or individuals who steal electricity with the use of illegal devices known as
July 11, 2025
ENRIQUE K. RAZON Jr., the billionaire behind Primelectric Holdings Inc., is determined to pursue his clean, renewable and affordable energy projects in the entire Western Visayas and Palawan in collaboration with a big foreign investor. This we learned from Primelectric president Roel Z. Castro, who revealed that Mr. Razon has partnered with
July 9, 2025
THE cleanest source of renewable energy, hopefully cheaper, will soon be available in Iloilo City as a result of the deal inked between MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) and Urban Energy Development Corporation (UEDC). UEDC, a subsidiary of Mabuhay Holdings Corporation (circa 1988), is in the process of “growing” two
July 7, 2025
TWO verbs with opposite meanings come to my mind while writing this. Since these words – “lionize” and “ostracize” — are rarely used in conversations, let the dictionary clarify. To lionize is to treat someone as a celebrity or important person even if he does not really deserve to be. The root
July 4, 2025
ALL residents of Iloilo City must have guessed the context to which the above quotation refers. Taking it literally, it’s because of the prevailing conflict between the Treñas and Baronda political clans. The fact is that “You can’t fight City Hall” is an idiom expressing the helplessness of certain individuals when pitted against government
July 2, 2025
SENATE President Francis “Chiz” Escudero wants his “personal version” of the Constitution considered, according to ML Party-list Representative-elect Leila de Lima. In a TV interview, she said, “Ibang-iba sa orihinal.” She was reacting to the statement of the Senate president that the senator judges might pass a resolution to dismiss the impeachment case
June 30, 2025
FOR the first time, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. recently assailed the Department of Education (DepEd) for the failure of its K-12 program to equip high school graduates with skills fit for employment. “There is no advantage. They are not getting jobs,” he told the media on a live TV interview. He
June 27, 2025