Productive Inmates

By Gonzalo Duque

YOU should congratulate Mayor Al Fernandez.

The World Bank thru the Department of Health and allied organizations will conduct a two-year study of the sanitation in the city to keep our denizens free from ailments and diseases.

A private firm, Coffey International, headed by former DOH Secretary Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, is the chief implementing agency in collaboration with the Lyceum Northwestern University which shall zero in on research management work.
Read more

Bird bath, ‘alsung’

By Al S. Mendoza

I WATCH birds come and go. Literally. That’s because I have a bird bath in my backyard. 

It’s been there for ten years.

I can see it from my bedroom window. 

I can see it from my meal table.

I can see it from my writing room.

Made of clay, the bird bath, rectangular-shaped, measures 6 x 12 (inches).  Depth: 3 inches.  Water level: 2-1/2 inches.
Read more

Hybrid rice program saves $23.25 M from rice imports

By Sosimo Ma. Pablico

THE government’s hybrid rice commercialization program [HRCP] saved the country from importing US $23.25 million or PhP1.255 billion worth of rice in 2002 to 2004.

This was one of the salient findings of a midterm evaluation of the HRCP by a team of researchers from the Sikap/Strive Foundation and PhilRice [Philippine Rice Research Institute] led by noted economist Dr. Leonardo A. Gonzales.
Read more

The Philippine peso paradox

By +Oscar V. Cruz D. D.

It needs the distinct expertise of a Doctor in Economy—preferably a graduate of a prestigious foreign university—to really know and explain well the paradox of the Philippine Peso. And there must be certain well known economists in the country who probably understand what it is all about. But many Filipinos are at a loss. The simple men in the streets and the plain women at home continue to wonder why. They are confronted with the big enigma of the once simple peso that bought what they wanted and paid for what they needed—and now it is no longer that simple.
Read more

Goofiness and greediness

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

FRESH reports in the boxing world say Top Rank Promotions top honcho Bob Arum is contemplating a plan for a possible collision between two world boxing titans of prize fighting: our very own Manny Pacquiao and Oscar dela Hoya.

That’s after Pacquiao gets lucky to win his next fight either against the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez or WBC lightweight king David Diaz tentatively scheduled on March 15 next year.
Read more

I am home

By Marifi Jara

I got teary-eyed Thursday night watching the early evening news.

No, it was not because of the rash of local news, mostly sad and bad. It was because of the new ad of the Department of Tourism.

For one, they as used as theme tune one (of my three) all-time favorite songs: Land of the Loving played by David Benoit (lyrics written by Mark Winkler and vocals by a woman I don’t know and couldn’t find on the internet. Though I was pleasantly surprised to find that our own Lea Salonga also has a version in one of her albums). It is really a love song but it was skillfully re-mixed to deliver the video’s message.
Read more