By Leonardo Micua THE United States has effectively taken control of Venezuela and its oil exports following the controversial abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife by U.S. Special Forces, who forcibly removed them from their residence in Caracas in the dead of night. With their hands…
By Farah G. Decano FIRST, I would like to extend a belated 90th Happy Birthday to the five-time Speaker of the House and diplomat par excellence, Jose de Venecia Jr. His father, the late Judge Jose R. de Venecia, was my father’s godfather. I truly regret being unable to attend…
Ina ng Quatro Distrito
By Rex Catubig Note: I am reprising this piece that I wrote four years ago, in the early years of my retirement. Since then, the seasonal activity that was my subject has not really changed much—as if frozen in time, caught in the time capsule of the holiday season….
Baratilyo Excursion
By Gonzalo Duque I wish everybody a hopeful and prayerful New Year. May your families be safe, sound, and remain healthy throughout the 2026 season! * * * * We have seen a lot of changes in our political system and observed that a new breed of leaders is…
New breed of national leaders emerging
By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo WE planned to spend the New Year in several places. We thought of Pangasinan and Baguio. We explored the possibility of Bicol. But here we are, in Teresa Rizal, where we didn’t think of spending it. Sometimes, we are where we are without planning, following…
2026
By Eva C. Visperas WE never learn. That line has been echoing in my head after a morning walk along Lingayen Beach—again. And the longer I stayed, the heavier it felt. Not because of the sun, not because of the walk, but because of what we continue to leave…
Still dirty after all these years
By Gonzalo Duque THEY should put more nuclear power plants not only in Labrador but all over the country, as many as where the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites are located. Kawawang Pilipinas! * * * * Happy New Year to Mayor Belen Fernandez, VM Bryan Kua and…
PhilExport head: Massive corruption driving away investors
By Leonardo Micua HAPPY New Year to one and all! Social media political trolls had their day again last week when a supposed holdup incident was circulated online, allegedly occurring in broad daylight at the busy intersection of A.B. Fernandez Avenue and Arellano Street. The problem: the incident never…
Fabricated holdup in broad daylight
By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo EACH year, each household in Quezon City is given a bagful of food items for Christmas through the Pamaskong Handog (PH) of the Mayor’s Office. Last year, we received the food items consisting of rice, spaghetti with torn plastic, dented cans of Alaska milk, CDO…
Gift-giving
By Eva C. Visperas WHENEVER Christmas comes, my thoughts naturally drift to three celebrations that have shaped my life in deeply personal ways: the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Dagupan City Fiesta, and the birthday of the greatest statesman I have ever met in my 37 years…




