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…
By Leonardo Micua IT is widely understood that flood control projects relating to major rivers draining into the sea fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Despite this public knowledge, critics of Dagupan Mayor Belen Fernandez have been unfairly targeting her, attempting to…
By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo THE poem below was written ten years ago, on 21 July 2015. Time has a way of blurring memories, sometimes deleting, sometimes overlaying events with more recent interpretations, depending on newer experiences, depth of understanding and compassion. Looking back now that the feeling is gone…
By Farah G. Decano PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. recently took a firm public stance against allegedly anomalous flood control projects – a move interpreted as a calculated maneuver. This action has raised questions about whether it is a strategic attempt to divert public attention from the failed impeachment…
By Eva C. Visperas WHEN I was a child — several decades back — I used to look forward to the carnival, or as we called it then, the karnabal. The sights, the sounds, and the thrill of saving a few coins from our baon just to enter the…
By Rex Catubig I was raised on Caton, that handy vernacular alphabet primer that looked like a thin prayer book. While we had the primer on hand, the teacher wrote the alphabet with chalk on the blackboard, said them one by one, and we would repeat after her. It…
By Gonzalo Duque THE theatrics going on in both chambers of Congress are amusing me no end. In the House of Representatives, the Committee on Accounts and its sub-committee, chaired by Rep. Terry Lidon is leading investigations relative to the use of flood control funds. I presume that Senator…
By Leonardo Micua BUSINESS tycoon Ramon Ang, chairman of the board and CEO of San Miguel Corporation, has once again made headlines with a dual proposal for Metro Manila. In addition to offering a flood control solution at no cost to local governments, he intends to build a waste-to-energy…
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