By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo IN the NGO community, an umbrella organization is a big organization large enough to manage the interests of its member NGOs, who, individually, could not access funding on their own because they lack the necessary financial and operational documents required by the funding agencies. The…
By Farah G. Decano THE internet whispers about Filipino actress Ellen Adarna’s separation from Derek Ramsey, suggesting she was mistreated during her postpartum period, with hints of verbal or even physical abuse. While we cannot know the truth of this private matter, this narrative throws a glaring spotlight on…
By Eva C. Visperas THERE are days in local governance that leave you quietly hopeful, and there are days that leave you unsettled. Last week in Pangasinan, we experienced both—and the contrast could not have been sharper. I was in Calasiao on August 29, standing among local officials, transport…
By Rex Catubig NOTE: I’m reprising this column in support of the Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month, and the World Suicide Prevention Day September 10. This is to give face to the menace of suicide that afflicts even the seemingly normal person, robbing the young of their power to…
By Gonzalo Duque WE are getting tired of the exposes relative to the botched flood control projects in the country. We have seen the magnitude of the problem. Can Juan de la Cruz do something about it? My son Nanoy told me that he’s glad that all these shenanigans…
By Leonardo Micua A day before PNP Chief General Nicolas Torre III was relieved of his post by Malacañang, Mayor Belen Fernandez, Vice Mayor Bryan Kua and some members of the Dagupan City council were at the office of Acting City Police Chief, Lt. Colonel Lawrence Keith Calub to test…
By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo ON the bus bound for Pangasinan to attend an important event, I sat beside a woman who, among other things started telling me about her life. When we encountered a flooded portion in Bulacan, she engaged me in a conversation: “Mga corrupt kasi nasa…
By Farah G. Decano THE Philippines’ long-standing struggle with flooding raises a critical question: are our flood control projects truly effective, or are they merely haphazard, politically-motivated undertakings? Many current projects seem to be chosen from a standard menu of schemes, implemented without a comprehensive, science-backed plan. This reactive…
By Eva C. Visperas WHAT makes Vietnam a big hit among tourists? As someone who loves exploring our own Pangasinan and other parts of the Philippines, my trip to Vietnam last month made me ask: Why are they drawing in more tourists than us? Curious and eager to visit…
By Rex Catubig Mention San Roque during the monsoon season, and it conjures fear and triggers the flare up of goosebumps. A dam, sacrilegiously named after the saint, and notorious for unleashing water that turns into horrendous floodwaters as it cascades down the lowlands, is to blame for its…
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