The Supreme Court of the Philippines

By +Oscar V. Cruz D. D.

During these days of frustration in the search for truth and times of exasperation in the pursuit of justice, the Supreme Court of the Philippines stands at the summit of hope especially for those who feel or know that they are victims of the Executive Department in its despotic moves. It is enough to think of certain so called “Presidential” proclamation and “Executive” Orders ultimately undermining human dignity and offending human rights.

When approached and called upon to intervene in putting a stop to excesses of the Executive Department, the Supreme Court, under the leadership of the incumbent Chief Executive, respects no personal status or public stature of respondents in its quest for what is true, right and just. In fact, it is now a public knowledge that the Supreme Court has been lately taking the high moral ground in looking for and safeguarding the intent the law.
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Saved by PhilRice - JICA project

By Sosimo Ma. Pablico

After losing their savings in more than a decade as overseas workers in Hongkong, husband and wife Eduardo and Agnes Asuncion of Currimao, Ilocos Norte have found  the farm as their escape from the memory of scams that almost ruined their lives.

Eduardo worked as dishwasher, sheet metal worker, buildings and grounds maintenance worker, and farm hand in a swine farm for 11 years. Agnes was a domestic helper for 22 years.  Indeed, they tried to save as much as they could while they were in Hong Kong. 

They got three pension plans, CAP educational plans for their two children, and an investment plan with Multitel for which they paid P200,000. CAP stands for College Assurance Plans.
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Pangasinan cyclists strike again

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

The months of July, August and September are supposed to be the rainy season. PAGASA earlier said this year is supposed to be characterized by La Niña, a weather phenomenon of abundant rains. But it has been the other way around. We’ve had El Niño, or dry spell, like what the farmers say.

They’re right and we are obviously encountering some problems now, particularly in our rain-fed rice fields.

And because of this uncommon season, organizers of cycling events like myself are pursuing more races despite the big threat of a bad climate that may impede the success of the bikefest, an outdoor event.
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Quest for Quality

By Marifi Jara

As a little girl, on our family summer visits to my mother’s hometown, Sabangan, San Fabian, I would know that we were close to my grandparents’ home once we hit the rough road.

That last left turn to my most wonderful childhood playground brought us to a pebbled street and the crackling of the stones under the tires was wonderful music to my ears.

Once we go past the Sanitas Elementary School, the cemetery, and houses few and far in between, lola’s enchanted kingdom, with its wooded backyard, would just be a few breaths away.
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Of Queens and Consorts

By Emmanuelle

The following tale and its characters may be true. Definitely, it is not entirely false.  Meteors from heaven, ang tamaan ay huwag sanang magka-bukol. Nagmamarunong lamang po ang may kaunti at ang wala talagang . . . alam. We are the world! We are the baba bebe bibi bobo bubuwit from the other side. Translated roughly - from lower than the equator, the hot babes, the suckling ducklings, the da-da-dumb, the little nice mice.

Keep your fingers crossed. Knock on plastic wood.
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LIM ADMINISTRATION LOST BY DEFAULT

Backdoor transactions doomed ownership

Just as fast as the Barangay Awai land in San Jacinto was bought by then Mayor Benjamin Lim five years ago, it was immediately lost by the city to the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

The 29.993-hectare property that the Dagupan City government bought for P16 million of taxpayers’ money ostensibly for a sanitary landfill had been in fact, subject to compulsory acquisition under the CARP.
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