WHEN will this ever stop? This was the question that came to my mind on knowing that the price of gasoline had gone beyond ₱62 per liter, or an increase of ₱2.65 per liter. I guess it will cost higher in the forthcoming Christmas. That hurts those of us who have yet
October 16, 2024
IS there a chance for a divorce law to pass despite strong objection from the Roman Catholic Church? “Yes,” according to Rep. Edcel Lagman (1st Dist., Albay), principal author of the Absolute Divorce Act, which was approved by the House of Representatives on May 22, 2024 and is now awaiting Senate deliberation. “I
October 14, 2024
MY column dated October 4, 2024 has turned out right. I said: “The fight has ended before it began. Congresswoman Julienne Baronda has lost her opportunity to defend her House seat against Raisa Treñas-Chu, only daughter of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas.” In other words, both ladies would run unopposed for different
October 11, 2024
THERE was a time when I wrote about a visiting American Jew who expressed surprise why most Filipinos were Christians. He wished there were more Filipinos embracing his religion, Judaism. When I asked him why he chose to be a Jew, he answered, “Why? It’s to follow Jesus Christ. He was a
October 9, 2024
WE heard on a radio newscast that former Congressman Gary Alejano has filed his certificate of candidacy as Magdalo party-list candidate in 2025. He has a mission left unfinished. To recall, sometime in 2018, Alejano requested the Congressional Committee on Health to investigate the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which had raided and closed
October 7, 2024
IN a manner of speaking, the fight has ended before it began. Congresswoman Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda has lost her opportunity to defend her House seat against Raisa Treñas-Chu, only daughter of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas. That “loss” is actually a win for both the Treñas and Baronda families, whose political rift
October 4, 2024
AS I was writing this yesterday – first day of filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) for election 2025 – Iloilo City was abuzz with speculations that former mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog would sever political alliance with Mayor Jerry Treñas. In other words, they would fight each other for the city “throne”. In
October 2, 2024
ACCORDING to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the average annual income of the Filipino family based on its latest survey (2023), assuming it’s still applicable, stands at ₱353.23 thousand. That looks sufficient because, as the same agency shows, the average annual family expenditure is lower at ₱258.05 thousand. Due to the lopsided
September 30, 2024
DURING my lecture on news writing before the young reporters of Bombo Radyo, I confessed that I was a “young once” in a den of young ones; that I had worked with the Bombo reporters of the 1980s, including Dan Dolido (the father of Don Dolido) and the late Eddie Suede. Old
September 27, 2024
WILL former mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog challenge the incumbent, Jerry Treñas, in election 2025? That is the question that hounds every Juan in Iloilo City, especially because Treñas himself has labelled Mabilog “a worthy opponent” should he run for mayor. The rumored clash stems from the announced break-up of the mayor’s alliance with Rep. Julienne
September 25, 2024
IT was a jubilant homecoming for former Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog on his 59th birthday last Friday (Sept. 20) when he set foot at the Iloilo City Hall after seven years of absence. There he was, celebrating it with incumbent Mayor Jerry Treñas and city employees. But it was also the day when
September 23, 2024
AS vice-president, Sara Duterte is said to be “a heartbeat away from the presidency.” As the “spare tire,” she could automatically replace President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos if he dies, resigns or is incapacitated. If she could not wait, she could forcibly edge out Marcos via impeachment. Conversely, fearful of that possibility, Marcos
September 6, 2024