Hacienda Luisita By +Oscar V. Cruz, JCD THERE was the bloody Mendiola Massacre. There were the bitter strikes of the farmers staged in the Hacienda. There were the gross killings in Tarlac intimately connected with the same Hacienda – inclusive of the murder of a good and kind Aglipayan Bishop…

Conversion and healing By Jun Velasco “I sought my GOD but my God I couldn’t see. I sought my soul it eluded me, I sought my brother, I found all three.”.  – Anonymous AS the year draws to a close, we find ourselves in the throes of dramatic if not startling events that have affected us profoundly….

“Freedom!” By Gonzalo Duque WE put quotes on Freedom because we remembered the movie, “Brave Heart,” starring Mel Gibson who was to give his last wish before the ax was to fall on his neck. He shouted “Freedom!” Then the ax fell.

Four-corner Fight By Oscar V. Cruz, JCD REALISTICALLY said, the boxing ring has four corners that keep but two boxers within the reach of one another for only one over-all purpose, viz. for them to pound each other, to draw blood from one another and more desirable, to knock down…

Insane behavior By Jun Velasco IT’S strange that as soon as Manny Pacquiao was declared close winner in his trilogy with Juan Manuel Marquez, many of our countrymen had the temerity to join the Mexicanos’ jeers and mocking of our boxing icon. A most apt reaction came from Bolinao Rural Bank woman executive Leah…

Fear the verdict not of the court, but of history By Gonzalo Duque MOST Pangasinenses are looking forward to the province’s hosting of the Palarong Pambansa next year. This is something Guv’nor Spines and his hard-hitting provincial board will consider another good opportunity to “show off,” we mean, our ability to…

Anti-population Administration By +Oscar V. Cruz, JCD PROBLEM: There is pervasive poverty and consequent lack of food, shelter and clothing. There are more and more protests from more and more sectors of society. There are more and more criminality not only in the streets but also in private residences. Cause:…

Chelation therapy By Jun Velasco “Courage consists not in hazarding without fear, but being resolutely minded in a just cause.”—Plutarch A CHANCE meeting with former Councilor Michael Fernandez should give us an idea of the kind of leader — or public servant — he and his pretty wife, Number One Councilor…

“Promises, promises, promises” By Gonzalo Duque WE had an interesting talk with Barangay Tapuac Chairman Jake Reyes over the weekend. Interesting because he revealed a most welcome balita — Rep. Gina de Venecia thru her Countrywide Development Fund will finish off the chronic and exasperating flooding of our barangay. Bravo!

Accountability of Public Officials By +Oscar V. Cruz, JCD “The President… may be removed from office, on impeachment for, and conviction of… treason…” (Phil. Consitution, Art XI, Sec. 2) The above-cited basic ethico-legal provision carried three salient connotations. First, it speaks of an indictment – “impeachment” – that is not…