Raul S. Gonzalez, whose recent death the Inquirer reported (5/18/13), was truly an outstanding man of letters. He was a writer, editor, educator, public relations man, and mentor to many now-accomplished writers.
The Commission on Elections’ odd decision to leave the candidates and the whole nation hanging in suspense with its sudden adjournment as a canvassing body on the night of Election Day “to take a much-needed rest” was a public relations blunder. It again opened the electoral process, particularly the counting, to doubt and speculation.
It’s been a December that we Filipinos won’t soon forget.
Recently, a Manila-based American executive found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and was killed by robbers at a 7-11 store. Not too long ago, a Dutch NGO worker was murdered after withdrawing money from a bank in Angeles City. Last year, an Italian missionary became the third priest from his congregation to be killed in Cotabato. A British MP’s money was recently stolen from a Quezon City hotel.
In the aftermath of Tropical Storm “Ondoy” in 2009, local government units made a big show of dredging their drainage systems because experts had said that clogged sewers choked off the savage onrush of rainwater.
