Violent encounters happen anywhere in the world. We see hostage-taking in other countries including the United States. The difference, it is argued, is how the police authorities respond to the situation. There is a chorus of criticisms lambasting the authorities for the bungled hostage negotiations with, and the succeeding assault against, former Senior Inspector Rolando ...
(Full text of President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address [SONA], his first during his term, delivered on 26 July 2010 before the Congress of the Philippines, Batasan Pambansa Complex, Quezon City. English translation is here. Comments and messages below.)
Once a year, something you’ll observe when you visit the Philippines, the country’s President appear before a joint session of Congress. As you may know, and as we’ve discussed before, the Philippine government is divided into three branches for checks-and-balance.
Countless foreigners fell in love, and certainly countless more will fall in love, with the Philippines. Countless foreigners also fell in love, and certainly countless more will fall in love and get married with, a Filipina. And why are we discussing love in a travel blog?
Tips & RemindersToday’s event is hailed as historic. June 30, 2010 is the inauguration of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Vice-President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay. The highest officers of the Republic of the Philippines took their respective oaths of office minutes ago. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
Tips & Reminders
It’s all set for the inauguration of the 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, on June 30, 2010. Also to be inaugurated together with President Noynoy Aquino is Vice-President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay. Both received the highest number of votes during the May 10, 2010 national and local elections and ...
In this blog we talk about food, places and anything that has to do with travel to and in the Philippines. Politics is farthest from the subject matter and thrust of VisitPinas.com. But the 2010 election holds a special place in Philippine history and not because it’s a national holiday (see full list of 2010 ...
Tips & RemindersThe first typhoon in 2009 happened on the second day of the year, which is obviously not the case in 2010 (see also Typhoon Watch 2009). We can’t help but face this reality and prepare. We’ve noted that an average of 20 typhoons hit the Philippines every year. Let’s again track these typhoons as they ...
Tips & Reminders
Have a confirmed reservation. I know this much and my wife made it a point to remind me every hour or so before we headed towards Laiya, Batangas. We haven’t taken a break for some time now and my sense of adventure made my whole body itch. Just go, I thought. And so we embarked ...
All work and no play isn’t good. So, from time to time, we take vacations on weekends to unwind and get ready for more work on the weeks ahead. This time we chose Laiya, a coastal haven found in San Juan, Batangas.
Tips & RemindersWe’re supposed to write mainly about the good things about the Philippines in this blog, but I find myself revisiting this rule when I read about a recent article in The New York Times about a particularly significant song. It reminds me of a previous article I wrote, reproduced below. Consider this a reminder: When ...
Tips & RemindersThere are two long weekends in November. Holidays for the rest of 2009 and for the full year of 2010 had long been announced. Filipinos go home to provinces for undas. With long weekends, our roads will be full. Traffic will be heavy. Patience will run thin. So, wherever you are, please remember these road ...
Holidays, Tips & Reminders, TransportationTitle is really “Bangon“. Great song. Never fails to move me. In the wake of destruction left by Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, and the recent Bagyong Ramil, singer Rico Blanco pitches in his humble way to help. Watch the video. Click the link on how to help. Just please help.
Tips & RemindersThe barrage of search queries that reached this site, whether November 2, 2009 is a regular national holiday, drives home the point that people love vacations and would want to know the long weekends in advance. Before proceeding to list the declared official holidays for 2010, allow us to say that, yes, November 2 is ...
Tips & Reminders