Pinoys now climate change-aware

“Legarda’s advocacies on climate change and disaster risk reduction started as far back as 1998 when she first became senator. These concepts are not exactly very popular issues to most people. The high-sounding jargon did not register well with many voters when she twice ran but lost in the vice presidential elections in 2004 and in 2010. Nonetheless, it did not stop Legarda from her staunch advocacy on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures. She has found satisfaction […]

Of museums, new & upcoming

“The efforts of creative individuals such as Marian Pastor Roces, John Silva who just mounted a wonderful exhibit of Philippine churches in Madrid, and indeed, Ed Calma who has lent his architectural expertise to international exhibits and museum projects, cannot remain unnoticed, especially in a country still somewhat inchoate owing to governance issues.
We can add Jeremy Barns, who’s been doing a wonderful job at our National Museum; Nina Lim-Yuson who established Museo Pambata where she still serves as president and […]

Food, fiestas and Filipino vision

“It was her interest in folk culture and crafts that drew my attention. It is seldom that our leaders manifest this affection which she said started when she was young, and with it, an interest in art as well. Though she took up mass communication in Diliman, her graduate thesis was on National Artist Vicente Manansala.”
— F. Sionil Jose, PhilStar
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Alas, it is a shame that most of our political leaders, unlike Thailand’s King and Queen, have little or no interest not just in folk arts but in our cultural development itself. The exceptions in the political leadership are few; in recent times, there are only Senators Letty Shahani, Edgardo J. Angara, Loren Legarda.
— F. Sionil Jose, PhilStar
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No substitute for preparedness

Loren Legarda, who probably “lost (her) voice singing the same tune” about environmental disasters for over a decade now, said every barangay should have officials going around to inform their constituents about the effects of the oncoming typhoon and the corresponding measures every family should undertake. “Are we expecting a storm surge? Then we should warn our communities of the expected height of the waves and how far inland the flooding would reach,” she said, adding that this would ensure […]