Never-say-die Nani By Al S. Mendoza NANI Braganza, the never-say-die mayor of Alaminos City, has never stopped amazing me. Look, he just held his “Hundred Kisses at Hundred Islands” mass wedding ceremony by way of commemorating the Day of Hearts – Valentine’s Day to the purists. Where in the world…

From Arroyo to arrogance By Al S. Mendoza SONS versus a son. Father and son versus sons and parents. The country’s No. 3 versus No. 1. A triad of encounters. Who will win? The sons will. Superiority in numbers. The sons and parents will.  Superiority in numbers. The No. 1…

Culture of merry-making By Al Mendoza I MISSED the fiesta in Binmaley Feb. 1-2 and I hope Mayor Sammy Rosario will forgive me. You see, he had warmly, sincerely, invited me to attend the festivities on Friday, Feb. 1. As usual, work in Manila was the culprit. I will make…

Three airports By Al S. Mendoza SUDDENLY, everybody seems to want an airport. Mayor Rey Velasco wants one in Sta. Barbara and Mayor Nani Braganza wants his in Alaminos City. Nani cites GMA as his No. 1 backer for his airport.  GMA had publicly singled out Alaminos as the site…

The leader’s language By Al S. Mendoza WHAT is a good leader? One sage says a good leader is not what to do but how to be. Does that apply to our beloved Guv Spines? I think so.  Guv Spines says he is a full-bloodied Pangasinense and, to prove that,…

Criticize, praise & drink By Al S. Mendoza LATE is never late and so, here are my New Year’s Resolutions. (1) I will criticize if there’s need to criticize, praise if there’s need to praise. It’s easy to do both.  But will we criticize for the sake of criticizing?  The…

Exchanging Glances By Al Mendoza ON Dec. 29, 2007, Atty. Bonifacio Niño and teacher Silvina Estabillo were wedded for the fourth time in 60 years and, if only for that, I raise a glass to endurance, if not to one’s faith in the power of un-dying love. They first got…

Old or new, laugh By Al S. Mendoza A new year comes to us in two days. What is new? How can it be new? When is new new? Who can make it new? New is something we either usually abhor or welcome with open arms. For example, we abhor…

Love By Al S. Mendoza ON Tuesday, we celebrate Christmas, the most important day in all of Christendom because it commemorates the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. I have five wishes to mark this most important birthday in the Christian calendar.  One, I wish to love my parents (even…

‘Simbang Gabi’ By Al S. Mendoza WE called him Papang (my beloved father). His friends and close kin called him Tonyong (Antonio). Had he not died in 1990, Papang would have turned 91 today.  He was as strong as an ox, until cancer struck. He and Ermin Garcia Sr. were…