Juan L. Mercado
Juan L. Mercado is a columnist for Philippine Daily Inquirer and Cebu Daily News. He writes a Sunday column for Sun-Star Cebu and its syndicated members, Bohol Chronicle and other community papers. He started his career in journalism in early 1950s and served as correspondent for foreign publications including London’s Financial Times and Honolulu-Star Bulletin. Mercado became the Philippine Press Institute’s founding-director. He also edited DEPTHNews, published by the Magsaysay Award-winning Press Foundation of Asia. Following the “People Power Uprising,” and after 19 years of United Nations service, Mercado returned to the Philippines to resume journalism work. He was cited for excellence in opinion writing by Society of Publishers in Asia. In 2005 and 2007, he received the “best columnist award” from the Catholic Archdiocesan Commission for Mass Media.
“They will beat their swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks,” proclaims a granite tablet fronting New York ’s 43rd street entrance to the UN. “Nation will not take up sword against nation”. These lines are from the prophet Isaiah.
They’re reflected in a statue that dominates the UN park along East River. Sculpted by Evgeniy Vuchetich, it depicts a man shattering a bent sword with hammer. “Never again will they train for war", the prophet Micah wrote.
“Oppression can only survive through silence.” Who’d gag the Ombudsman from testifying before the impeachment court on sealed dollar accounts of Supreme Court chief justice Renato Corona?
“I will obey the Senate,” said Ombudsman Conchita Caprio-Morales, subpoenaed to appear Monday. She’d respond to questions by 23 senator judges. That includes her order to Corona: explain within 72 hours, charges of stashing $10-million.
No, interjected Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez. Senator judges and citizens may have to cool their heels. Suppose some one “questioned Morales order before the SC on the ground of grave abuse of discretion?”, Midas asked. The high court may “rule on legality of the Ombudsman’s order.
“Trees fail to flower,” Aetas huddled at the Bataan mountain top meeting told Fr. Shay Cullen. “Bees are disappearing. Storms blow away our nipa huts as never before.”
With Preda Foundation coworkers, the priest toiled up the two hour steep trail on horseback. PREDA buys Aeta wild mangoes at double what lowland hawkers offer and markets them abroad.
Half a world away , Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research scientists documented what Aetas learned from seat-of-their pants.
Supreme Court chief justice Renato Corona’s defense team barnstormed in Cebu before the impeachment trial resumes Monday. Their man will be acquitted, they predicted.
But the spiels skirted what is on everybody’s mind.
How will Corona respond to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales’ 20 April order: Explain where an estimated P10 million in PSBank and other deposits in BPI came from. His Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SALN) don’t reflect them. (Current exchange rate: P42.1= US$1).
"Know the past to understand the present.” The late astronomer Carl Sagan’s counsel is tailor fit for the dispute over what the Philippines calls the Scarborough/Panatag Shoals. China dubs these rock formations, as Huangyan Island.
On April 10, two Chinese surveillance ships blocked Philippine Navy from inspecting poached marine life on eight Chinese fishing boats. A standoff has continued, overlooked as world attention focuses on blind Chinese dissident. Chen Guangcheng trying to leave Beijing for the US.
“Never grow a wishbone where your backbone should be,” Columnist Dorothy Parker would rib friends in New York’s lower East Side. And backbone is what Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales always had.
Explain within 72 hours the $10 million stashed in two dollar accounts at Philippine Savings Bank, Morales asked impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona. Five Bank of the PI peso deposits appear “grossly disproportionate” to income.
As Supreme Court associate justice, she penned the 8-7 decision that scrubbed President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s draft memo of agreement with Moro Islamic Liberation Front on ancestral domain.
“Every journalist killed or neutralized by terror is an observer less of the human condition. Every attack distorts reality by creating a climate of fear and self-censorship”
That sums up Tuesday night’s strafing of Inquirer columnist Randy David’s home, on University of the Philippines’ campus. Meticulous research and unblemished integrity characterize David’“Public Lives” column. It appears in a broadsheet with the most extensive reach.
Kalapati mababang lipad translates loosely into rooftop skimming pigeons. It is Pinoy shorthand for harlot. “
The axiom resonated at the Philippine Press Institute’s conference Monday. “Attempts at self-regulation are failing”, Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility’s Luis Teodoro warned. Media's ethical lapses court heavy handed government interference.
“Media Accountability and Public Engagement” is the theme 76 newspapers will discuss at Philippine Press Institute’s annual meeting Monday. Harsh facts underpin the antiseptic captions.
President Benigno Aquino will key note this two day meeting. He quit waffling and endorsed the Freedom of Information bill That should buff up his bona-fides. Discussions will then hopscotch from an “Asian Media Barometer” to “Reporting the Environment”.
These debates are possible because“journalists of a tougher mould" fought suppressors. Joaquin "Chino" Roces, Teodoro Locsin Sr., Jose Burgos, S. were imprisoned and their papers padlocked before People Power One smashed Marcos’ shackles. Inquirer didn't buckle when President Joseph Estrada tried to gut it's advertising base.
How are your Chinese lessons?” we asked our grand daughter Kristin, 8. “So, so,” replied this International School second grader. “Why?”
"You’ll need the Mandarin kid,” we said. “So, will Kathie.” Katarina, 5, is in kindergarten. Both grapple with Swedish, their mother’s language. Playmates and their nanny speak Cebuano.
China will irresistibly shape our future, writes Martin Jacques. His Observer op-ed updates his 2009 book “When China Rules the World”. Beijing ’s economy would overtake that of the US in size after 2020.
