Viewpoints

I was delighted to realize that in the recent graduation ceremonies of the Ateneo de Naga University, the Valedictory Address was given by a female student, Ms. Sheanly Plofino and the Commencement Speech was delivered by another woman, Ms. Regina Paz Lopez. I think such is timely especially that March 8, 2011 marked the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Day.

MANILA — After several hours of debate lasting until past midnight, members of the House of Representatives approved the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas N. Gutierrez. With a vote of 210-47 in favor of House Resolution 1089, the impeachment case against Gutierrez would now be tried by the Senate.

Now that Ombudsman Gutierrez has been impeached by the House by an overwhelming vote of 212 to 47, trial in the Senate would then “forthwith proceed.”

After celebrating Women’s Day all over the world for the past 100 years, how are women in the Philippines? Here are some hard figures.

During his first few months in office as DILG Secretary, Jesse Robredo made it a priority to issue a memorandum circular requiring all local government units to fully disclose their budget and how they are spending it to their constituents. Clearly, this initiative is in line with the campaign promise of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to curb graft and corruption through the promotion of transparency and public accountability...Camarines Sur Governor LRay Villafuerte, submitted a petition to the Supreme Court (SC) asking the SC to declare this memorandum as unconstitutional...

The "war on terror" policy pursued by the past Macapagal-Arroyo administration should be declared as good as dead and should be abandoned by the incumbent President. That policy was based hook, line, and sinker on former U.S. President George W. Bush, Jr.'s neo-conservative theory linking Iraq to the 9/11 bombings. Now, an Iraqi defector who was the primary source of so-called intelligence reports that were used to make a case for Bush's Operation Iraqi Freedom has confessed that he made the whole story up.

An unusual collection can be found in a castle somewhere in Austria. Called the Schloss Loosdorf, the site was written in the magazine called “The World of Interiors” and shows the Neoclassical structure and its display of shards, or broken ceramic vessels and plates. History saw the castle occupied first by the Nazis and later by the Russians at the end of World War II. The Russian soldiers discovered the prized ceramic collection of the castle and soon they started breaking them, according to the story, and throwing them.

Baynte singkong taon. Halawig nang panahon. Saro na ining henerasyon. Boot sabihon, si mga namundag kan enot na People Power igwa na nin sadiring mga pamilya ngunyan. Boot sabihon, an mga young professionals ngunyan, an mga estudyante sa kolehiyo ngunyan, mga dai pa namundag kan EDSA I. Boot sabihon, saro naman na henerasyon an napara sa kinaban sa laog nin baynte singkong taon.

I am of the generation whose motto was, “Don’t trust anyone over 30.” Now that we are well over 30, I must confess that we were probably right.

Research group Ibon criticizes the government’s new poverty methodology as unreflective of the real situation of poor Filipinos, saying that the adjustments made on the already flawed methodology has further distorted the picture of poverty in the country.

I do not know whether I should be rejoicing that the “Sangkaka” is now “malled.” But I would continue writing and investigating its provenance and temperament the same way I would devote time to Chilean and South African wine. After all, to write about the lowly “Sangkaka” is infinitely more rewarding and gratifying than struggling with the death of a General and the overrating of a day called Valentine’s Day.