Three years ago, I wrote a column titled “Two injustices, different endings.” The first injustice had to do with the treatment of Filipino war veterans who served in the US Armed Forces at the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941. Alongside US soldiers, the Filipinos fought with loyalty and determination even when the white [...]
Notes on Philippine Military Academy homecoming activities: Vice President Jejomar Binay who also serves as the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) was the guest of honor at the PMA alumni gathering in Baguio City during the weekend. As I mentioned in an earlier column, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas was the guest speaker at the PMA Alumni Annual General Membership meeting held at Camp Aguinaldo last month. Roxas is an honorary member of PMA Class 1984 while Binay belongs to PMA Class 1998, members of whom are marking their Silver Jubilee this year.
Last week, Argentina became the first nation to be censured by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) because of doubts concerning the credibility of its economic data. Specifically the Washington-based lender alleged that President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s government is not addressing reports it understated inflation figures that analysts say are actually more than double the 10.8 percent official rate.
Notes on AFP Day. During the past few weeks, there have been rumors circulating about the health of President Aquino. These were brought about mainly by his inability to attend several important engagements here and abroad. He had to cancel a meeting with IMF chief Christine Lagarde during the latter’s visit to the country last month. He also excused himself from the dinner hosted by New Zealand Prime Minister John Phillip Key in Wellington during his state visit. There were a number of Asean functions that he missed due to health concerns. Some doctors suggested that perhaps he needed a vacation.
Hot off the press is the latest book on Gen. David Petraeus, now director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Written by Paula Broadwell, an honors graduate from the US Military Academy, with MA degrees from the University of Denver and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, the author provides us with a close look at a man she describes as “possibly the most well-known general officer in America since Dwight D. Eisenhower” and “arguably the Army’s most influential general officer since World War II.”
