Page Title
Editor's corner/ Over a cup of tea
Heidi M. Pascual*
Publisher & Editor
* 2006 Journalist of the Year
for the State of Wisconsin
(U.S.-SBA)
Publisher & Editor
* 2006 Journalist of the Year
for the State of Wisconsin
(U.S.-SBA)
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Williams. I am a devoted fan of Robin, not
only because of his extraordinary
performances but also because of his
kind heart and generosity on and off the set.
Robin made us laugh and cry, imparting in
many ways the message that our world is
beautiful, though full of challenges. We did
not even know he was hurting inside so
bad, that he preferred to end it all now than
continue to mask his suffering by being
funny, pretending to enjoy life and making
other people happy. Robin gave his best
and shared with us his skills and talent that
made us feel better as we watched his
performances. He was a consummate
actor till the end. Perhaps he just didn't
want his fans to worry for him; perhaps he
just didn't want to burden his family,
especially his beloved children; perhaps he
felt that all hopes were gone; perhaps he
thought his stars were dimming. We could
only speculate. One thing I know for sure,
Robin's passing hit me hard. Our "Captain"
is gone, but he left a legacy that will stay
with us forever. May Robin rest in peace.
only because of his extraordinary
performances but also because of his
kind heart and generosity on and off the set.
Robin made us laugh and cry, imparting in
many ways the message that our world is
beautiful, though full of challenges. We did
not even know he was hurting inside so
bad, that he preferred to end it all now than
continue to mask his suffering by being
funny, pretending to enjoy life and making
other people happy. Robin gave his best
and shared with us his skills and talent that
made us feel better as we watched his
performances. He was a consummate
actor till the end. Perhaps he just didn't
want his fans to worry for him; perhaps he
just didn't want to burden his family,
especially his beloved children; perhaps he
felt that all hopes were gone; perhaps he
thought his stars were dimming. We could
only speculate. One thing I know for sure,
Robin's passing hit me hard. Our "Captain"
is gone, but he left a legacy that will stay
with us forever. May Robin rest in peace.
beheaded and ISIS kids parading severed heads. My heart ache to learn that in places in Iraq under ISIS control,
Christians and other minorities are being forced to convert to Islam or suffer instant death. One video even involved
children being beheaded by these animals! Reports talk of ISIS as worse than Al Qaeda. Genocide is happening in Iraq
right now. ISIS killed Yashidis to sow terror among other minority people. These jihadists wouldn’t stop at Mosul; they
would keep on advancing, trying to seize control of Iraq. They got lots of arms and equipment left behind by some scared
Iraqi military. And Americans thought Iraqis could be on their own after getting rid of Sadam! There are reports that Al
Qaeda, some Sunni rebels, and smaller militant groups are joining ISIS in droves. Parts of Syria have been captured
and now also under ISIS control. The Saudi King has issued a warning to Europe and U.S. to act fast against ISIS;
otherwise ISIS' next move would be to terrorize the West in their own lands. I imagine the West joining forces now, while
there is still time. I imagine a self-sufficient and “normal” Iraq and Syria, without ISIS, though I doubt if removing ISIS out
of the map would be easy. There will be more bloodshed. I could only imagine a peaceful solution to this.
There we go again – Russia vs the United States – and the stage is Ukraine. The crisis in Ukraine started as a people’s
protest late last year, for closer European integration, but the protest expanded to remove the President Yanukovych and
his government, and amend the constitution. The violent dispersal of protesters led to increased anti-government
actions which later resulted in the president and some top officials fleeing the country. Then, the Crimean crisis
unfolded. Pro-Russian forces took control of the Crimean peninsula and through a referendum, annexed Crimea and
Sevastopol to the Russian Federation. Of course, the U.S. and other member nations of the U.N. opposed this move.
Now, the whole of Ukraine, with a new government recognized by the West, is threatened by pro-Russian separatists.
The Cold War of long ago has been rekindled; unfortunately, the civilians of Ukraine are now caught in between two
contending giants. I imagine that Ukraine would be able to ward off any attempt at conquering and subjugating its
people. I imagine that Russia would stop interfering with Ukraine’s domestic political problems. I imagine the US trying
hard not to be involved militarily in Ukraine. Imagine.
The Ebola virus has killed more than a thousand people in four African countries, and it is now considered an epidemic.
There is still no known cure for people who contracted this virus, and unfortunately, more likely than not, most of them
face death in a few days or weeks. The enemy is a tiny virus capable of killing thousands of people, as it is so
contagious. It has now become a global concern because of the possibility of its spread through air travel and other
means of contact by foreigners visiting Africa and vice versa. A number of health workers treating Ebola-stricken patients
have been infected, with some already dead or on the verge of. I imagine that scientists would find the cure against
Ebola very soon. I imagine a cooperative endeavor among developed countries in this regard, because the
circumstances warrant everyone’s help. I imagine that ultimately, science will solve this threat to mankind.
In Manila, news about the peace agreement recently signed by the Aquino government and the MILF (Moro Islamic
Liberation Front) but was allegedly “edited” by the government, revising 60 percent of the agreement, reportedly drove the
MILF to renew its armed struggle against the establishment. The peace negotiations seem to be an off and on affair
since the Tripoli Agreement during the Marcos regime. At the time, it was Libya arming the Muslim separatists of
Mindanao. Through the years, financiers have changed, but the problem persists. I imagine a peaceful Philippines
where Christians and Muslims accept one another under one flag, and cooperate in building a country whose progress
is continuously being hindered by corruption and natural calamities. I could only imagine.
The history of man is rife with violence, wars, epidemics, political turmoils, etc., recorded by scribes, scientists,
educators, and philosophers during their lifetime. In these modern times, nothing seems to have changed but the
manner people deal with each society’s problem. I say so because many of the same problems still exist today: hatred
among people with historical enmity; battle for superior status in the global stage; economic greed; diseases whose
treatments remain elusive; religious/ideological differences; and others. I imagine changes happening that would
convince peoples to coexist in a harmonious, respectful way. I imagine a peaceful world, free from wars and dreadful
diseases. If only we all imagine and perhaps work together to achieve even a bit of such imagination and make it real. In
times like this, I miss John Lennon.
*************
Robin Williams
I am one of the millions of people all over the world who mourn the passing of great actor and comedian, Robin
Christians and other minorities are being forced to convert to Islam or suffer instant death. One video even involved
children being beheaded by these animals! Reports talk of ISIS as worse than Al Qaeda. Genocide is happening in Iraq
right now. ISIS killed Yashidis to sow terror among other minority people. These jihadists wouldn’t stop at Mosul; they
would keep on advancing, trying to seize control of Iraq. They got lots of arms and equipment left behind by some scared
Iraqi military. And Americans thought Iraqis could be on their own after getting rid of Sadam! There are reports that Al
Qaeda, some Sunni rebels, and smaller militant groups are joining ISIS in droves. Parts of Syria have been captured
and now also under ISIS control. The Saudi King has issued a warning to Europe and U.S. to act fast against ISIS;
otherwise ISIS' next move would be to terrorize the West in their own lands. I imagine the West joining forces now, while
there is still time. I imagine a self-sufficient and “normal” Iraq and Syria, without ISIS, though I doubt if removing ISIS out
of the map would be easy. There will be more bloodshed. I could only imagine a peaceful solution to this.
There we go again – Russia vs the United States – and the stage is Ukraine. The crisis in Ukraine started as a people’s
protest late last year, for closer European integration, but the protest expanded to remove the President Yanukovych and
his government, and amend the constitution. The violent dispersal of protesters led to increased anti-government
actions which later resulted in the president and some top officials fleeing the country. Then, the Crimean crisis
unfolded. Pro-Russian forces took control of the Crimean peninsula and through a referendum, annexed Crimea and
Sevastopol to the Russian Federation. Of course, the U.S. and other member nations of the U.N. opposed this move.
Now, the whole of Ukraine, with a new government recognized by the West, is threatened by pro-Russian separatists.
The Cold War of long ago has been rekindled; unfortunately, the civilians of Ukraine are now caught in between two
contending giants. I imagine that Ukraine would be able to ward off any attempt at conquering and subjugating its
people. I imagine that Russia would stop interfering with Ukraine’s domestic political problems. I imagine the US trying
hard not to be involved militarily in Ukraine. Imagine.
The Ebola virus has killed more than a thousand people in four African countries, and it is now considered an epidemic.
There is still no known cure for people who contracted this virus, and unfortunately, more likely than not, most of them
face death in a few days or weeks. The enemy is a tiny virus capable of killing thousands of people, as it is so
contagious. It has now become a global concern because of the possibility of its spread through air travel and other
means of contact by foreigners visiting Africa and vice versa. A number of health workers treating Ebola-stricken patients
have been infected, with some already dead or on the verge of. I imagine that scientists would find the cure against
Ebola very soon. I imagine a cooperative endeavor among developed countries in this regard, because the
circumstances warrant everyone’s help. I imagine that ultimately, science will solve this threat to mankind.
In Manila, news about the peace agreement recently signed by the Aquino government and the MILF (Moro Islamic
Liberation Front) but was allegedly “edited” by the government, revising 60 percent of the agreement, reportedly drove the
MILF to renew its armed struggle against the establishment. The peace negotiations seem to be an off and on affair
since the Tripoli Agreement during the Marcos regime. At the time, it was Libya arming the Muslim separatists of
Mindanao. Through the years, financiers have changed, but the problem persists. I imagine a peaceful Philippines
where Christians and Muslims accept one another under one flag, and cooperate in building a country whose progress
is continuously being hindered by corruption and natural calamities. I could only imagine.
The history of man is rife with violence, wars, epidemics, political turmoils, etc., recorded by scribes, scientists,
educators, and philosophers during their lifetime. In these modern times, nothing seems to have changed but the
manner people deal with each society’s problem. I say so because many of the same problems still exist today: hatred
among people with historical enmity; battle for superior status in the global stage; economic greed; diseases whose
treatments remain elusive; religious/ideological differences; and others. I imagine changes happening that would
convince peoples to coexist in a harmonious, respectful way. I imagine a peaceful world, free from wars and dreadful
diseases. If only we all imagine and perhaps work together to achieve even a bit of such imagination and make it real. In
times like this, I miss John Lennon.
*************
Robin Williams
I am one of the millions of people all over the world who mourn the passing of great actor and comedian, Robin
Imagine
Every morning while I do my exercises on my treadmill, I watch CNN and other channels
airing Philippine news. It’s been bad news everywhere. Why does it have to be bad news
every single day? People getting killed… in Gaza…in Israel…in Iraq…in Libya…in
Ukraine…in Syria…in West African countries…There’s so much hatred among peoples
that violence seems the norm; that annihilating the “enemy” guarantees peace? In the
process, the civilian populations suffer the most casualties, producing increased hatred
against whoever hit them and caused deaths of loved ones. Will there ever be peace
between Israel and Palestine? I imagine. I imagine a permanent cease-fire, a fair and
reasonable give-and-take, a sincere respect for human rights, and acceptance of a two-
state resolution. I could only imagine.
The bloodshed in Mosul, other parts of Northern Iraq, and Syria, perpetrated by ISIS is
horrible and extremely barbarous. I watch in horror the videos of people being shot to death
while lying prone on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs; of people being
Every morning while I do my exercises on my treadmill, I watch CNN and other channels
airing Philippine news. It’s been bad news everywhere. Why does it have to be bad news
every single day? People getting killed… in Gaza…in Israel…in Iraq…in Libya…in
Ukraine…in Syria…in West African countries…There’s so much hatred among peoples
that violence seems the norm; that annihilating the “enemy” guarantees peace? In the
process, the civilian populations suffer the most casualties, producing increased hatred
against whoever hit them and caused deaths of loved ones. Will there ever be peace
between Israel and Palestine? I imagine. I imagine a permanent cease-fire, a fair and
reasonable give-and-take, a sincere respect for human rights, and acceptance of a two-
state resolution. I could only imagine.
The bloodshed in Mosul, other parts of Northern Iraq, and Syria, perpetrated by ISIS is
horrible and extremely barbarous. I watch in horror the videos of people being shot to death
while lying prone on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs; of people being