Month: January 2006

“But the empress has no new clothes!” would be the wide-eyed declaration of an innocent child who sees things as they are and would simply say so as well. Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, aka Philippine President, but to a majority of Filipinos, a usurper who refuses to step down from power, is our own petulant version…

President Gloria Arroyo, who has yet to overcome the worst political crisis of her regime, is risking further isolation from the people if she would allow the planned reprivatization of the Maynilad Water Services Inc. By Arnold Padilla Bulatlat.com President Gloria Arroyo, who has yet to overcome the worst political crisis of her regime, is…

Two soldiers from the 69th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army paid Philhealth vice-president for Central Luzon Tito Mendiola a visit and interrogated him about his role in the release of T/Sgt. Maron Oronan, prisoner-of-war of the New People’s Army (NPA) released on Jan. 10. BY DABET CASTAÑEDA Bulatlat.com DOLORES, Pampanga – Philhealth vice president…

Leaders of the fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) vowed to launch a nationally-coordinated fluvial protest on Feb. 24 against a new order from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) allowing the 25-year lease of idle coastal areas all over the country to big investors. By Gerry Albert Corpuz…

The appearance of pictures of former President Fidel V. Ramos meeting with opposition leaders Senate President Franklin Drilon, former Sen. Vicente Sotto III, and former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. days after the New Year sparked speculation about an emerging rift within the political camp supporting the embattled President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO…

Hundreds of workers are set to troop to the gates of the House of Representatives in Quezon City when Congress resumes session on Jan. 16. They will press for the immediate passage of wage increase bill in the face of escalating prices and government promise of tax exemptions and other non-wage benefits. BY DABET CASTAÑEDA…

( Photo by Ace Alegre ) A boy demonstrates his acrobatic skills to his playmates at the World War II Veterans Memorial Park in Baguio City, 246 kms. north of Manila. They are all sons of homeless urban settlers in the said city. The way they look, they do not seem to be hungry or…

In Canada, 95 percent of those under the live-in caregive program are Filipino women. Some of them are now being threatened with deportation due to failure to comply with the rules set by the Canadian government which even its citizens find unjust. Not surprisingly, concerned groups and individuals in Canada have shown solidarity with the…