Man of the masses speaks from the heart By Al S. Mendoza    IN his recent TV appearance addressing the Filipino people about the COVID-19 outbreak, President Duterte was in his usual down-to-earth mode. Naturally, no speech. Only words plucked out from the heart. No frills. No bombast. No showboating….

No to kissing, yes to Netflix By Al S. Mendoza   NO classes in Metro Manila and many more parts of the country. No travels either within the Philippines or abroad. No malling—meaning, avoid going to SM, Robinsons, Star Magic, CSI, Ayala Malls, Star Malls, etc. No movies. No handshake….

Corruption just won’t simply die By Al S. Mendoza   IS the “pastillas” scheme true? Is the one-TIN platform true? Is the money-laundering operation true? In these queries, the major players are the Chinese from Mainland China. What is happening? “Pastillas” is a sweet jelly-like candy (a bit similar to…

Heroes & villains cropping up in ABS-CBN case   By Al S. Mendoza   LET us be clear. The issue in the ABS-CBN case is not press freedom but rather legal. Press freedom is not being curtailed at ABS-CBN.  The media giant has never been censored in its airing of news,…

Duterte first PHL president to defy America   By Al S. Mendoza WHEN Barack Obama was still America’s president, he criticized President Duterte’s war on drugs. That was in 2016, Obama’s last year in office. That was in 2016, Mr. Duterte’s first year at Malacanang. I distinctly remember Digong’s reaction…

Power-mad  acting mayor & patriotic mayor By Al S. Mendoza   THE acting mayor of Capas, Tarlac, was in the news recently. Alas, for the wrong reasons. He immediately exhibited a negative reaction to plans of a quarantine procedure for Filipinos repatriated from Hubei. And what is Hubei again? It is…

With Fajardo possibly out in 9 months, SMB defanged By Al S. Mendoza JUST days after Kobe Bryant’s passing in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, Philippine basketball was likewise jolted by a rather impactful blow. It came in the form of an injury suffered by June Mar Fajardo. It…

In Bryant’s death, God was not being unfair By Al S. Mendoza DREAMS do not always come true. Sometimes they happen.  Sometimes not. Most of the time, they don’t. But if it does not happen, it does not mean God made it intentional. It does not mean God wants to frustrate,…

Taal Volcano eruption brings out the good and the bad By Al S. Mendoza THE good and the bad are at their best whenever a calamity strikes. Man, by nature, wears two masks in every scenario of any era. Take the Taal Volcano eruption. After exploding on January 12, a…

Global court leaning on lame logic? By Al S. Mendoza   ISN’T it funny? Lawyer Jude Josue Sabio was told he could not withdraw his complaint against President Duterte filed before the International Criminal Court (ICC) last year. I don’t know what kind of law the ICC uses to act that…