Philstar.com

FROM FAR AND NEAR

+ Follow Column

Robredo-Aquino in 2028

by Ruben Almendras - July 7, 2025 - 12:00am

Three years is too far/too long or too near/too short, depending on age and/or perspective.

A 20% Cebu City traffic improvement

by Ruben D. Almendras - June 30, 2025 - 12:00am

Social media has been showing pictures of Cebu City with its tall buildings, new bridges, malls, hotels, and some nice roadways.

The diminishing Senate stature

by Ruben Almendras - June 23, 2025 - 12:00am

A major component of a functioning/developing democratic society is the strength of its institutions and the respect of the governed for these institutions.

Who’s afraid of the impeachment?

by Ruben D. Almendras - June 16, 2025 - 12:00am

The twists and turns leading to the convening of the Senate impeachment court that will try VP Sara Duterte were/are mind boggling.

Consequences of no impeachment

by Ruben Almendras - June 9, 2025 - 12:00am

The main and social media are ablaze with the news on the possibility that the impeachment trial of VP Sara will be aborted and not proceed.

The lesser evil in politics

by Ruben Almendras - June 2, 2025 - 12:00am

Politics has always been a fertile ground for discussions on moral philosophy since the dawn of formal governments. T

Family dynasty makes politics/elections expensive

by Ruben Almendras - May 26, 2025 - 12:00am

After an expensive mid-term election season of at least ?150 billion, with unsatisfactory political and economic results, we have to redo our “cost-benefit” analysis of this necessary democratic process....

A ?150-billion election

by Ruben Almendras - May 19, 2025 - 12:00am

Presidential elections are generally more expensive, but the last mid-term elections may have been the most expensive mid-term election in Philippine history in nominal and real terms.

Elections: a functional literacy test

by Ruben D. Almendras - May 12, 2025 - 12:00am

It will be election day by the time this column sees print, and the election results will be out in a day or two for the local results, and in a week for the senatorial winners.

Equalizer voters in Philippine elections

by Ruben Almendras - May 5, 2025 - 12:00am

Next week will be the Philippines midterm election to elect 12 senators, congressmen, governors, mayors and other local government officials.

Pope Francis and Duterte

by Ruben Almendras - April 28, 2025 - 12:00am

Almost all of the main and social media news in the last two weeks were about Pope Francis, his life and his death.

Uncritical Filipino voters

by Ruben Almendras - April 21, 2025 - 12:00am

It will be election day in less than a month, and a quiet dread/desperation is palpable in some sectors of the Philippine society, on who will be elected to the local and national positions.

US tariffs effects on the Philippines

by Ruben Almendras - April 14, 2025 - 12:00am

Trump’s “on and off” implementation/deadlines on the massive tariffs on almost 100 countries in the world are mind boggling and almost weird.

Moral dilemma in the Duterte drama

by Ruben D. Almendras - March 31, 2025 - 12:00am

Some of the complications and consequences of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest and eventual trial for crimes against humanity, in the EJK killings during his term in Davao and as president of the Philippines,...

Understanding Duterte extremists

by Ruben D. Almendras - March 24, 2025 - 12:00am

The recent arrest of Duterte and immediate transfer to The Hague for arraignment triggered a flood of main and social media content of almost warlike proportion.

Playing the victim card

by Ruben Almendras - March 17, 2025 - 12:00am

n the battle for public opinion especially in politics, part of the arsenal of astute politicians and their handlers is to “play the victim card”.

Recollections/lessons of the Edsa Revolution

by Ruben Almendras - March 3, 2025 - 12:00am

The 39th Anniversary of the Philippines People Power Revolution that happened in EDSA and other parts of the country was celebrated last February 25 more significantly than in the previous years.

Grave threats or threats from the grave

by Ruben D. Almendras - February 24, 2025 - 12:00am

The impeachment of VP Sara dominated the main and social media last week, and will continue until some of the major issues are resolved, especially the start and the timeline of the impeachment process.

Escudero for president in 2028

by Ruben D. Almendras - February 17, 2025 - 12:00am

There are and will be more news/views in the main and social media about the impeachment of VP Sara Duterte, that we will have to sort out which of them are fake news, propaganda, and relevant and useful for the...

Hyperbole, irony and impeachment

by Ruben D. Almendras - February 10, 2025 - 12:00am

The big news in Philippine politics last week was the impeachment of VP Sara Duterte by the House of Representatives, with at least 215 congress members signing the petition.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ... | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24

Get Updated: