I am glad that the Senate is investigating the unusual volume of foreign trips of Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Chairman Camilo Sabio. It has been observed that Sabio always travels accompanied by his wife, his secretary, and favorite Commissioner Bautista, a former ambassador.
There was this foreign trip of Sabio to Brazil or Argentina [...]

THE worst is over for Philippine banks.
The banking industry’s performance in the first quarter of 2009 was impressive indeed, with a few major players posting double-digit growth rates in revenues and profits.
Traditional revenue streams, like interest income and fees and commissions, all posted significant increases.
There was a drop in profits in 2009, though. The main [...]

I am surprised by the article of Dean Amado Valdez of the UE College of Law, stating that President Arroyo must resign, or at least go on terminal leave, if she runs for Congress representing the Second District of Pampanga.
I know the Constitution as much as Dean Valdez does, and we both know there is [...]

THERE are two types of foreign investments that the Philippine economy receives which would be a good gauge of how confident investors are with respect to doing business in our country. These are foreign direct investment (FDI), which are long-term capital, and “hot money” or portfolio investments, which are largely short-term investments in the stock [...]

Quick-to-the-draw critics who have not even read my letter regarding the Marcos jewels to Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Chairman Camilo Sabio jumped into conclusion (or confusion), saying that I advocate the return of the jewelry to former First Lady Imelda Marcos.
This is farthest from truth. One of them is a certain Etta Rosales, [...]

I was a little disturbed by the speech of Chief Justice Reynato Puno on Independence Day when he declared that Filipinos “are not free.” I disagree with this view of the Chief Justice, although we should admit that the nation is suffering from various ailments, especially in governance made more insufferable because of too much [...]

THE economic growth of 0.4 percent in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) during the first quarter of 2009 was indeed an unpleasant surprise for business.
From the perspective of business, it was really unpleasant. Many companies were reporting good results, including double-digit growth rates.
From the perspective of the government, the decade-low GDP growth rate was [...]

We are thankful that the much-ballyhooed anti-Charter change (Cha-cha) rally, said to have been spearheaded and encouraged by Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, did not result in violent street actions. No less than the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, together with responsible Church leaders, had appealed for peaceful protest marches and demonstrations. Of course, the [...]

We celebrate Independence Day tomorrow, June 12, amid a world deep in crisis. As we celebrate this historic date, we remember with pride that a Filipino president, Diosdado Macapagal, restored the dignity of our race when he decreed the transfer of our Freedom Day from July 4, a date dictated upon us by the Americans [...]

I was right. I made an observation in a previous column about the absence of visible signs that the government was implementing stimulus spending. That would have meant incremental expenditures over and above the regular capital expenditures.
The official report on the performance of the economy during the first quarter of 2009 confirmed my observation. Our [...]