Meeting the China Challenge: We Must Be Bolder

An outdoor screen shows a live news coverage of Chinas President Xi Jinping delivering a speech during the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People, along a street in Beijing on March 13, 2023.

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Published on 16/07/2023 by puertoparrot
Categories: Business, Opinion, Politics
Tags: COVID-19, China, Officials, Power, capital, economy, government

7 Mistakes Tourists to the PH Make on Vacation

The Philippines is one of Asia's top tourist destinations. In 2019, some 8.3 million people visited the country. It's known for its gorgeous natural landscape including white-sand beaches in Boracay, the Chocolate Hills in Bohol, and some of the best dive sites in the world in Palawan. These are just a few of the reasons why so many Americans have chosen to settle down here.

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Published on 21/06/2023 by puertoparrot
Categories: Culture, Opinion, Travel
Tags: Manila, language

P1,000 Bill Named 'Bank Note of the Year'

Bank note collectors and researchers around the world picked the Philippines’ polymer P1,000 bill as its “Bank Note of the Year 2022” in appreciation of its “eye-pleasing” design as well as its underlying promotion of ecological conservation. The Philippines' successful design in eye-pleasing blue combines an endangered species with an environmental motif.

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Published on 04/05/2023 by puertoparrot
Categories: Business, Opinion
Tags: Polymer

Villar Eyes More Empowerment for Filipino Women

Senator Cynthia Villar eyes further empowerment of women, stoppage of gender bias and promotion of equality in the community as the country observes National Women’s Month.

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Published on 07/03/2023 by puertoparrot
Categories: Culture, Opinion, Society

The Power of Millennial Votes in Southeast Asia

In early 2019, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines will go to polls in elections that will either continue the populist/authoritarian dynamics that has gripped the region, and the world, over the past few years or begin to halt it. All three countries have reached a critical crossroad with poll choices that could influence the destiny of the country for decades to come.

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Published on 05/03/2023 by puertoparrot
Categories: Opinion, Politics, Society
Tags: Duterte, President, country

Philippine-American Friendship Day: Ties That Bind

The celebration of Philippine-American Friendship Day evolved from the previous years’ observance of the fourth of July as Independence Day. This day in 1946 marked the end of US sovereignty: the American flag was lowered just as the Philippine flag was raised in a ceremony at the Luneta.

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Published on 03/07/2021 by puertoparrot
Categories: Culture, History, Opinion
Tags: American, Friendship Day

Find the 'genius' Behind Gov't Insistence on Face Shields

Who’s the “genius” that convinced President Rodrigo Duterte to backtrack on his earlier ruling that face shields should be worn only in hospitals? Senate President Vicente Sotto III wants to know.

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Published on 24/06/2021 by puertoparrot
Categories: Health, Opinion
Tags: COVID-19

LGBTQ Filipino Immigrant on Life in the US

When marriage equality became the law of the land in 2015, Ira Briones, a non-binary Filipino immigrant, rushed with their partner to the historic Stonewall Inn to get married. Years later, it still pains them to know their marriage is not officially recognized in their home country.

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Published on 02/06/2021 by puertoparrot
Categories: Lifestyle, Opinion, People

Game Score at Halftime: China 1 Vs Mankind 0

Welcome. We are joined live by nearly billions of people across the world, but the telecast of this soccer game is not being broadcast live only in China. We are just a few minutes away from kick-off of the game to decide the winner of the ultimate trophy -- world domination.

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Published on 02/06/2021 by puertoparrot
Categories: Health, Opinion
Tags: COVID-19, China, Tactics

How to Grow Calamansi

Calamansi, or lemonsito, (Citrofortunella microcarpa) is a popular citrus fruit in the Philippines. It is widely consumed because of its vitamin C content which helps boost the immune system against illnesses. It is also delicious, which is why it appears as the main ingredient in condiments, purees, juices, and more.

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Published on 22/05/2021 by puertoparrot
Categories: Health, Opinion
Tags: Calamansi, Trees

'Silence is No Longer an Option'

Nimfa Lanzanas is a model mother. Eversince the government imprisoned her son Edward, she attended court proceedings and also joined relatives of other political prisoners in a common cause. Exactly what crime Nanay Nimfa has committed, only the government knows. But on what is now infamously known as Bloody Sunday, the government had her arrested and turned Nanay Nimfa into a political prisoner herself.

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Published on 13/03/2021 by puertoparrot
Categories: Opinion, People, Society
Tags: Cavite, government

Opinion: Death in the Family

What were the top killer diseases? There was no update for the years 2019 and 2020 but in the year before that, the PSA reported that heart diseases, cancer and cerebrovascular diseases alone accounted for more than a third of those who died in 2018. Based on our estimate, COVID-19 might explain only about 1.5 percent of total mortalities. Therefore, what is the big deal about the coronavirus? What is the urgency of getting effective, safe and available vaccines?

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Published on 11/03/2021 by puertoparrot
Categories: Health, Opinion, People
Tags: COVID-19, family

The Other Side of the Vax

At the beginning of August, 2020, we wrote in this column the imperative to think and act outside the vax. If other nations’ authorities managed to mitigate the pandemic’s ruthless consequences on their people’s lives and livelihood, keep recession relatively mild and prevent joblessness from leading to suicide without vaccines, it is difficult why the Philippines has failed to do it.

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Published on 03/12/2020 by puertoparrot
Categories: Health, Opinion
Tags: COVID-19, Health, government, vaccine

Why Dreams Die

They taught us in school that we have to dream realistic dreams—because dreaming of becoming Darna just doesn’t pay monthly bills. So we were given a wide variety of options: nurse, accountant, engineer, lawyer, doctor, teacher… or something that “actually pays” and is “economically practical.”

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Published on 01/12/2020 by puertoparrot
Categories: Culture, Education, Opinion

Saying No to an Unjust System

Growing up in a poor family, I have always wanted to become rich and successful. I remember my childhood years when my relatives would often ask me, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I would eagerly answer, “I want to become a businessman and become rich.” I would assume that most people desire prosperity and abundance.

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Published on 15/11/2020 by puertoparrot
Categories: Opinion, Religion
Tags: poverty