Culture of secrecy By Marifi Jara While  the media was busy wringing every possible angle on the unfolding ZTE story, not much attention was given to what could well be a landmark decision involving the freedom of speech that we have, which, thanks to our own efforts  at fighting for…

CBCP’s ‘Communal action’ divisive not premature By Gerry Garcia THE Catholic bishops’ call for “communal action” in view of whistle blower Rodolfo Lozada Jr’s expose’ of corruption in the $329-million national broadband network has been called “premature” by Palace spokesman Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye. Communal action or mass or people…

GMA’s staying power By Jun Velasco GMA’s staying power in Malacañang is the favorite guessing game of most Filipinos these days. The fact that they are making these guesses reflects the sad side of this republic.  The catchword is political instability. The cynics would shrug, “since when has there been…

Appeals for sobriety By Gonzalo Duque THE country seems not to learn its lessons. Or is Philippines Circa 2008 bound for some more chaos and divisions? What’s happening to our country ate Au? Surely, it’s premature if not preposterous to blame the worsening chaos on Jun Lozada’s playing-hero antics.  The…

Goat production in the Ilocos enhanced By Sosimo Ma. Pablico GOAT RAISING has become a farmers’ habit of improving their livelihood and income, thanks to the efforts of the Department of Agriculture regional field unit. Taking off from the experiences of the CASREN (Crop-Animal Systems Research Network) project with Pangasinan…

GMA resignation mission impossible By +Oscar V. Cruz D. D. It is understandable that more groups. Organizations and movements are now in mobilization mode for one and the same finality: To ask and insist for the resignation of the Malacanang occupant. They may have different moral reasons and economic considerations…

Collecting on the MDGs By Marifi Jara Without awareness of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), both on the part of the people and public officials, there will be no accountability in terms of keeping these promises. Our local officials must realize that they need to deliver on what our government…

Choir Olympics in Austria, Germany By Gerry Garcia IT was through  Eva Visperas’ story on page one of  last Wednesday’s Phil. Star issue that we learned of the sudden turn-around of some former JDV followers who voted for the Speaker’s ouster: two law-makers each representing  the 1st and 3rd districts,…

Political storm By Jun Velasco EARLIER, we wrote the head of this column, “Lozada, hero or heel.” We changed our mind. After listening to Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada in the Senate hearing last Friday, we have developed an impression of the guy.  His words came   from the bottom of his heart. …

Sayang! By Gonzalo Duque RECENT events, political ones principally, caught everyone, especially, us Pangasinenses by surprise. Our two highest national officials, PGMA and SJDV, were shown to be at loggerheads.  One of them, SJDV, was toppled from his powerful post, the Speakership. We are saddened by this development. The incident…