Tony La Viña

Why supporting Sonny Angara makes sense - Manila Standard “Rejecting dynasties as a structural problem should not blind us to competence when it is evident” In the long arc of Philippine public service, few

Weighing everything, I fully support Sonny Angara and believe he will be one of the best education secretaries this country will ever have.

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A constitutional scenario involves convening a constitutional convention. When trust in institutions collapses & public pressure becomes overwhelming, governments turn to a broader consultative process for citizens, experts, civil society groups, etc to rethink governance system.

We need to create enforceable rules against political dynasties rather than aspirational statements and developing stronger frameworks for citizen oversight. Theae seek not only to curb potential for abuse but also make it more difficult for political elites to manipulate system.

One possibility is the pursuit of targeted constitutional amendments that address long-standing weaknesses. These amendments often focus on narrowing the broad immunities enjoyed by executive branch, reinforcing the independence of the judiciary, so that judges can act freely.

Constitutional scenarios arise when the public recognizes that corruption is not merely the result of individual misconduct but is embedded in the structure of political power itself. These pathways involve more fundamental reforms.

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We should not pretend that the legal and judicial system will respond more effectively this time. Unless legal and judicial reforms are accelerated, we will see a similar result for the flood control cases.

Moreover, we know that most of the so-called “big fish” escaped accountability, the only exception being the conviction of Imelda Marcos in one case which is still pending appeal.

Unfortunately, this is the case in the Philippines as we have seen in the Marcos Sr., Arroyo, and Napoles corruption cases. Decades later, unbelievably, many of the cases have not been resolved with finality.

When institutions are strong, public pressure can be transformed into meaningful consequences. When institutions are weak, these legal gestures merely create the illusion of action, protecting powerful figures while sacrificing only those who can be easily replaced.

The first visible legal reaction to mass outrage often takes the form of investigations or charges against officials involved in scandals. Whether these lead to genuine accountability depends entirely on the independence of courts and prosecutors.

Legal scenarios involve reforms that take place within existing rules. These routes are the most controlled and predictable, although they are also the most susceptible to political interference. rappler.com/voices/thought…

Hesus, aking Hari, aking kapatid at kaibigan, inaalay ko lahat sa iyo!

Teach me how to be compassionate to the suffering, to the poor, the blind, the lame, and the lepers.

On eagle’s wings, flying back to Manila after a really good trip in Palawan. We did really meaningful work here for people and planet.

Thank you Bryce, Jomar, and Nica for being great travel companions and excellent work colleagues.

Sunrise on the road to Sourh Palawan.

Lopez warned that environmental destruction would directly translate into human and economic losses. Critics dismissed her as emotional and impractical. Seven years later, the evidence — measured in destroyed infrastructure, displaced communities, and disrupted economies — has proven her right.

Lopez, by contrast, argued that protecting ecosystems was a prerequisite for long-term development and social stability.

Her rejection by the Commission revealed a systemic flaw in policymaking: the dominance of short-term, extractive economic thinking over sustainability and equity. Legislators and lobbyists viewed forests, rivers, and minerals as commodities.

When Gina Lopez appeared before the Commission on Appointments in 2017, she was not only defending her appointment as secretary. She was defending the integrity of environmental governance and the idea that natural resources are national assets held in trust for future generations.

As successive storms batter the country, the devastation caused by Typhoon Tino in Cebu and Negros stands as a clear vindication of Lopez’s message. If forecasts hold, Uwan — the next major storm — may once again expose how environmental neglect amplifies disaster risks across Luzon.

The floods, landslides, and collapsed communities across the Philippines are not random acts of nature. They are the cumulative result of weak environmental regulation, inconsistent enforcement, and the capture of public institutions by private and political interests.

Gina Lopez, former secretary of environment and natural resources, once warned that “nature will fight back if we abuse it.” Today, that warning is no longer rhetoric — it is a statement grounded in evidence.

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Their vigilance has forced national attention on practices that deepen erosion, threaten marine life, and worsen flooding.

Their work shows that communities can defend nature even when powerful forces stand against them. Their struggle deserves national support.

Fisherfolk, church leaders, and environmental defenders, organized through the Zambales Ecological Network (ZEN), have stood firm to protect coastal ecosystems and livelihood waters.

We also see resistance taking root.

In Zambales, communities are courageously opposing destructive dredging and mineral extraction justified as reclamation support.

Cities like Cagayan de Oro and Davao now flood in ways unimaginable decades ago because their watersheds have been compromised.

Across Luzon, floodplains in Bulacan and Pampanga are being reclaimed despite sinking land and rising seas.
In Mindanao, upland forests have given way to plantations, logging concessions, and mining.

Harassed, threatened, and challenged legally, it has persisted. In a country where protected areas are routinely violated, Masungi proves that stewardship, science, and public interest can prevail. For this, it is often punished rather than supported.

We need more Masungis, not fewer.

More Masungis to stop floods - Manila Standard “When the rains fall, the truth rises. What drowns us is not simply water. It is governance failure” Floods are no longer seasonal inconveniences in the

Against land grabbers, quarrying interests, & political obstruction, the Masungi Georeserve defends the Upper Marikina watershed. It restores limestone ecosystems, protects reforested mountains, & guards water sources from those who view land only as a commodity. manilastandard.net/opinion/colu...

Happy birthday Sister Mary John Mananzan! How to be you!

When storms strike, Marikina Valley floods quickly and deeply because the mountains meant to hold the water have been opened and weakened.