It is important that we respect and preserve our Christian heritage and our culture in all levels of Government. We can respect other cultures without throwing out our own great culture. Our culture is what has made this country a great place to live in.During the first Council meeting, I moved that we re-introduce the Christian prayer at the beginning of meetings. This is traditional practice in Federal and State Parliament and most other City Councils in Australia. The motion was lost because all Labor Councillors voted against it.

(more…)

Ever since I was diagnosed with having a possible heart enlargement, I have followed a strict regimen of physical exercises. I jog during week days and take a long ride biking to the mountains every Sunday.

But this Sunday turned out to be a special Sunday for me. While I was on my way to the mountains of Busay (Cebu) hoping to strengthen my heart by this exercise, I personally encountered a heart-breaking scene that changed me.

I had already passed by the Marco Polo Plaza (formerly Cebu Plaza Hotel) when I decided to stop to buy bananas at a small carinderia located along the road. I haven’t taken any solid food that morning so I wanted some fruits to have the needed energy to get to my destination – the mountain top.

(more…)

One of our readers who made a trip to the United States wrote us about his pilfered baggage. Upon arrival at his destination in the U.S., he discovered that one of the compartments in his luggage was open. In it was an envelope containing a few hundred American dollars in cash. The combination padlock that was used to secure the baggage was missing. Immediately, he made a complaint at the airline’s customer service counter. He was given a form to fill out and instructed to mail it out to the address indicated.

After waiting for almost a month, he received the following reply from the airline:

(more…)

Federal Member for Chifley, Roger Price has welcomed the Rudd Government’s announcement of a $10.4 billion Economic Security Strategy to strengthen the national economy in the face of the worst global financial crisis since the Great Depression.

“This $10.4 billion strategy will strengthen the national economy and support Australian households, given the risk of a deep and prolonged global economic slowdown. The Australian economy is strong, and remains better placed than most nations, but Australia is not immune from the global financial crisis.”

(more…)

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that the executive clemency granted to murder-convict Claudio Teehankee Jr. went through the proper process and there was no secrecy behind the pardon contrary to claims of some quarters.

In his weekly press conference in Malacanang, Mr. Ermita stressed that the decision of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to grant pardon to Teehankee was based on merit and that the rules governing the grant of executive clemency to prisoners were strictly followed.

Teehankee was convicted in 1992 by the Regional Trial Court of Makati for the murder of Maureen Hultman and Roland Chapman, and the frustrated murder of Jussi Leino.

(more…)