In Legal Terms
The ‘Patay-Sindi’ Republic
July 16, 2022
IN English, it is the turn-off, turn-on republic.
He confronted me with an air of bureaucratic authority. It was not the authority of the duly-elected, but of one whose powers were bestowed by a main proponent who is a member of the political administration.
None Dare Call It Treason
July 9, 2022
TREASON is a war crime, so there must be a war between the Philippines and another State for treason to be committed. When peace reigns, there can be no traitors. The crime of treason is punished by a State as a measure of self-defense. A Filipino citizen or an alien residing in the Philippines, may be held accountable for treason. Treasonous intentions may reside in the hearts of men, but if there is peace, such dormant intentions will not be grounds to convict a person of treason.
Our Country Men – At the National Art Gallery of Singapore
July 2, 2022
I KNOW, I should be writing about murders, homicides, war crimes, crimes against humanity and all that hair-raising stuff, but being a Filipino made me write this piece. I cannot help it, the indio in me made me do it.
Holodomor
June 25, 2022
HOLODOMOR — the very sound of the word is frightening. Now, say it with intensity in base baritone, as if the word is in upper case, in capital letters, and pronounce each syllable slowly; doesn’t it sound terrifying?
A Fish-Eye View
June 18, 2022
CHINA is at it again. Like the North Korean rocket man who fires ICBMs worth millions of dollars at the sea, for no reason at all but to scare his neighbors while his people are starving and remain unvaccinated, China manages to raise alarm levels.
The National Artists Shopping List
June 11, 2022
THE National Artist Award was created to honor our nation’s artistic geniuses. It was established in accordance with Presidential Proclamation 1001 dated April 27, 1972. The rank and title of National Artist is conferred on Filipino citizens who have, through the arts, helped define our national identity.
The Lost Philippine and US Embassies in China
June 4, 2022
THE civil war in China became a full-blown conflict after World War 2 and led to the defeat of the Kuomintang-led (Nationalist Party) government headed by Chiang Kai-shek. Chiang then retreated to Taiwan and established a State and a government in that island across the mainland. The United States and the Philippines recognized the Taiwan government as the Republic of China (ROC) to the exclusion of the People’s Republic of China (PROC), the communist State led by Mao Zedong. The US and the Philippines refused to recognize the mainland State of the PROC for which reason they established their embassies in Taiwan.
A Neutral Corner
May 28, 2022
WHAT are we to do if the synchronicity of events turns into a wider conflict and the threat of war engulfs our shores? One option is neutrality. It was an option which a delegate in the ill-fated Constitutional Convention of 1971 tried to present to our people. Delegate Tomas C. Benitez introduced Resolution 268 entitled “A Resolution to Include in the Declaration of Principles a Provision on the Perpetual Neutralization of the Philippines.”
A 17th Century Mountain of Gold in Cavite, a Chinese Massacre and a License to Kill
May 21, 2022
IN 2020, in the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila, there was a gigantic painting entitled “The Three Mandarins” which was part of the Hocus I. exhibition. The painting illustrates the practice of diplomatic immunity.
Refugeeing for Dummies
May 14, 2022
WHENEVER I meet people who incessantly complain about good ol’ RP, I feel compelled to tell them that, at least, they are not experiencing a big war since what we have are small wars, fought among ourselves to release tension like the smoking vents of Mount Makiling. However, in case everything turns from worse to worst — read on — and learn what “refugeeing” is all about.