Trigger-happy

(The Philippine Star) Updated December 30, 2010 

Fire and get fired, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo has warned cops, firefighters and jail guards who fire their guns to greet the New Year.

'Being singled out' is a dangerous line

POSTSCRIPT By Federico D. Pascual Jr. (The Philippine Star) Updated December 30, 2010 

DANGEROUS DRIFT: In this country, it is normal for anybody, or his lawyer, who loses a court case to complain that he was singled out or that the judge was bought by the other party.

16 major concerns

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The biggest 2010 event for the Filipino nation

AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR By William M. Esposo (The Philippine Star) Updated December 30, 2010 

Easily the biggest event in 2010 in the life of our nation was the ascendancy of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III (P-Noy). It’s the biggest event of 2010 because his ascendancy had immediately positively transformed our country.

Common perks

(The Philippine Star) Updated December 29, 2010 

While the Sandiganbayan deliberates on a plea bargain proposed by accused plunderer Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, it is useful to go over the statements of his wife that led to their family’s downfall.

Remember Garcia sons' $2-M bail?

GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc (The Philippine Star) Updated December 29, 2010 

News from San Francisco stunned Filipinos on March 5, 2009. Ian Carl and Juan Paolo Garcia had been granted bail of $2 million as their trial began for dollar smuggling into the US five years prior.

Counting our blessings

SKETCHES By Ana Marie Pamintuan (The Philippine Star) Updated December 29, 2010 

On the Feast of the Holy Innocents we looked back on the year that’s about to pass, and listed several positive developments.

Lesson from Kiti Bangkok

CTALK By Cito Beltran (The Philippine Star) Updated December 29, 2010

While visiting the Bangkok Safari Park, I decided to conduct a walking interview with our tour guide “Kiti” about his life as a tour guide and the industry he works in.

First Aquino budget law

COMMONSENSE By Marichu A. Villanueva (The Philippine Star) Updated December 29, 2010 

As promised, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III signed the P1.645-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2011 five days before the current budget year ended. The government’s newly approved budget for next year under Republic Act (RA) 10147 became the first statute that President Aquino signed into law after first six months in office.

Staying in business

(The Philippine Star) Updated December 27, 2010 

Firecracker manufacturers told the secretary of health to mind other matters such as dengue and rabies, as they vowed to stay in business despite the “Iwas Paputok” campaign.

The 'smiling' Pinoys

A LAW EACH DAY (Keeps Trouble Away) By Jose C. Sison (The Philippine Star) Updated December 27, 2010 

As expected, the nation’s mood is rosier this year than last year. Sixty nine (69%) percent of adult Filipinos surveyed by SWS during the period between November 27-30, 2010 said that they expected Christmas to be “happy” this year than 62-64 percent of them who said so last year. This is not surprising given the difference in the country’s condition now and last year especially in politics.

Waiting in the wings

COMMONSENSE By Marichu A. Villanueva (The Philippine Star) Updated December 27, 2010

Win some. Lose some. This seemed to be the see-saw situation of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) in its continuing labor problems with their pilots, flight attendants and ground crew. Filipino-Chinese taipan Lucio Tan who is the majority owner of PAL is no stranger to surviving labor disputes that erupt every now and then in the flag carrier through all these years.

Humorous, hideous Christmas stories

GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc (The Philippine Star) Updated December 24, 2010 

Every December 28 in the barrios of Luzon youths roam the dirt roads, stopping at every house door. Shrouded in white blankets, they chant about being the wandering souls of the Holy Innocents whom Herod slaughtered on the first Christmas.

Not home for Christmas

(The Philippine Star) Updated December 24, 2010

In this democratic republic, hundreds of people won’t be home for Christmas, their whereabouts unknown.

Simple joys

SKETCHES By Ana Marie Pamintuan (The Philippine Star) Updated December 24, 2010 

Remember the Christ in Christmas, the bishops are reminding their flock.

The appropriate response

CTALK By Cito Beltran (The Philippine Star) Updated December 24, 2010 

Thanks to my fellow columnist Jarius Bondoc and Mr. Buban of the Office of the Solicitor General, I realized a serious mistake I made while writing about the plea bargain agreement involving the case of retired Major General Carlos Garcia.

Where's the fire truck?

(The Philippine Star) Updated December 23, 2010

After every major deadly fire, the government takes stock of the country’s fire-fighting capability, and always comes up with the same conclusion: there is an acute lack of fire-fighting equipment, starting with fire trucks.

Couture dulls ordeal of Garcia's son in NY

POSTSCRIPT By Federico D. Pascual Jr. (The Philippine Star) Updated December 23, 2010 

(NOTE: Here is the conclusion of the article “Fashion’s Night In” of New York society writer Peter Davis, based on his interview last year with Timothy Mark, youngest of three sons of former military comptroller Carlos F. Garcia,

Pork barrel fiesta

SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH By Ernesto M. Maceda (The Philippine Star) Updated December 23, 2010

It has been known for decades here and in the US that pork barrel funds are a major source of corruption. The going “kickback” or “tongpats” on public works projects is 30 percent. It could go up to 80 percent for ghost projects. The accepted practice is for the pork barrel sponsor to designate the contractor in a rigged bidding procedure.

Not yet formally charged

A LAW EACH DAY (Keeps Trouble Away) By Jose C. Sison (The Philippine Star) Updated December 23, 2010 

When is person considered to have been “formally charged” in an administrative and/or criminal proceedings? This is the issue that cropped up in this case of Atty. Sally, while applying for the position of Clerk of Court of the Regional Trial Court (RTC).