Like you and me, the President is also human By Al S. Mendoza   FROM drug war to police war. What a shift. It’s like changing gears in a most unorthodox form—as in from first gear to third gear done in lightning-quick fashion. The war against illegal drugs was President…

This early, Gonz going great guns at SSS Board By Al S. Mendoza   AGAIN, the question:  What is the government’s main duty? Of course, the answer is the same: To serve the people. That has been the case since time immemorial. Or, since civilization was discovered. And, add to…

Our country is the winner in Miss Universe By Al S. Mendoza   WHO will be crowned Miss Universe tomorrow? Almost definitely, not our very own Maxine Medina, I guess? Woe to Maxine—and to the entire Filipino people as well—that we can’t seem to win the pageant this time. If…

Pacquiao still saleable as ever By Al S. Mendoza   BOB Arum has a new tune for Manny Pacquiao. “Manny is still good up to 2018,” said Arum, Pacquiao’s American promoter the last 10 years or so. The astute businessman that he has always been, Arum is setting the tone…

Let’s wish the Miss U well By Al S. Mendoza   THERE will always be an oppositionist. That is a fact of life that is as true as Pangasinan being home to the best bangus in the world. Thus, we have the “yeses” and “nos” to the Miss Universe pageant…

2 fights this year for Pacquiao By Al S. Mendoza   MANNY Pacquiao has said he will fight twice this year. And then it’s goodbye. Can you believe that? Just before the year ended, he expressed desire to have Floyd Mayweather Jr. as his first foe. The reason is obvious: …

Sweet sorrow of goodbye By Al S. Mendoza   AS there is always sorrow in parting, gladness likewise accompanies it. To everything, almost, there is balance.  Yin yang. And so it is that I said my sweet sorrow of goodbye yesterday to 2016. There is sweetness in each passing year—the…

Journalists’ obvious edge By Gonzalo Duque   MERRY CHRISTMAS! We overheard a chismis regarding our having been president of the Pangasinan Press Club and for how long? Ok, we said, dapat na mag-reorganized na ang club.                   Those of you who have followed the press club event must be having…

Aid is never aid when you put a condition to it  By Al S. Mendoza   HE said:  “Watch your language…Go home!” That was President Duterte once again. Who was in the audience when he said that this week? No less than the American ambassador to the Philippines, who is…

The ball is in Duterte’s hands By Al S. Mendoza   THE fate of the two errant Immigration commissioners rests in the hands of President Duterte. And their case can be answered this way:  Will Digong either detain or retain them? It will all depend on how the President would…