Can BENECO Resist Another Takeover Attempt?

This weekend, Girlie and I went up to Baguio City, upon invitation of BENECO, the Benguet Electric Cooperative, to speak at the annual assembly of their MSEAC (Multi-Sectoral Electrification Advisory Council).
“Talk to them about the plan to organize the ECAP – Electric Consumers Advocacy of the Philippines,” suggested Leo, who is in charge of consumer [...]

Fathers and Sons

It’s just before midnight. Girlie and I have come home from an evening celebration of summer solstice, the longest day of the year.
The celebration was really about the 60th birthday off Lito de Dios. We were invited by his wife Oyie to the surprise party she had organized at Our Brother’s Moustache.
Girlie and I were [...]

Senior Citizen Moments

This afternoon, after a hurried lunch, I rushed to the Department of Foreign Affairs to renew my passport, and experienced some pleasant “senior moments.”
I had gone to Makati to apply for a visa to South Africa to attend the board meeting of GCE, the Global Campaign for Education. But the consular staff asked me to [...]

Three Metaphors of Freedom

On June 12, Independence Day, I retrieve three metaphors of freedom from my years in prison.
Ka Pepe Diokno gave us this quote: “No matter how long the night, dawn will surely come.” It’s a comforting thought through the dark times that did not show any immediate promise of ending. Hence the other quote, a challenge [...]

Monday Memories of Love and Death

Rainy days and Mondays…
It must be the rain, but memories of the past week weigh heavy on my mind at the start of this week.
The week opened with Congress ramming through a resolution on “con-ass.” That has provoked angry protests across the political spectrum. I hope the planned June 10 rally in Makati doesn’t get [...]

Return of Murderous Thoughts

How many times have you murdered people in your mind before falling asleep?
I must have done this more than a dozen times when I was very young.
My murderous thoughts were triggered by petty reasons – some personal slight, some unresolved quarrel. But I wouldn’t sleep unless I replayed the offense and the sense of being aggrieved, [...]