Erap’s Story About Manuel Quezon’s Morning Wood
When Joseph “Erap” Estrada was running for President in 1998, we gathered one evening of April 1998 at the residence of the late Danding Cojuangco in Balete Drive, New Manila,…
Golden Age of Copra
In the early decades of the 20th century, Quezon Province experienced what may aptly be called its Golden Age of Copra. Vast coconut plantations stretched across the fertile lands of…
Atong Ang Is Hiding in Plain Sight
The life and rise of Atong Ang, to many observers, has long been intertwined with the shadowy world of gambling, political patronage, and allegations of corruption. He reportedly began as…
Political Dynasties: The Llamado in Elections
In the game of cockfighting, an activity deeply woven into Filipino culture, there exists a fascinating mystery in the manner bets are fielded inside the cockpit arena. Veterans of the…
Robinhood Padilla Is the De Facto Senate President
No doubt, Robin has hijacked the Senate. He showed AP Cayetano (APC) how to be a bully and a macho man. When he taunted Kiko Pangilinan with, “Wag mo ako…
King Maker RR
This is where Enrique Razon Jr. — “Ricky” Razon — comes into the equation. In Philippine politics, businessmen do not merely support candidates out of patriotism or civic duty. Many…
What is a Humphrey Hearing?
A “Humphrey hearing” is a bail hearing used mainly in California criminal proceedings following the landmark case In re Kenneth Humphrey. In re Kenneth Humphrey is a landmark 2021 California…
Elections in the Time of Pandemic of Political Dynasties
In his celebrated novel Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez portrayed how authentic and enduring love could survive amid the ravages of an epidemic. Cholera, in the…