WE had rains yesterday in some parts of the metropolis and finally it seems the land was able to breath from the scorching heat. Alas, it was like all the steam came out from the fissures of Metro Manila. Power is a big issue during summer when more Filipinos are using it twice or thrice the capacity due to mercury rising. And as we try to cool ourselves, stable supply and pricing become daily discussion topics in Filipino households.

INDEED 2016 is fast approaching and October is five months away before aspirants file their certificates of candidacy. By June, we would have a clearer environment on who are running for the presidency. Would a late September filing be in the making? We hope this does not happen since it would be to the interest of the voters to get to know the candidates more and be able to scrutinize the candidates well but not in a manner of demolishing each other just to prove to all one is clean. There’s got to be a better way to screen out candidates. Absent any primaries and run offs, we need to devise a mechanism whereby we are able to select well given the options.

THE idiomatic expression “taking the bull by the horns” means to grasp the problem head-on and struggle through it. “To confront your problem instead of avoiding them.” The saying stems from the practice of bull-leaping that was practiced on the isle of Crete. It means to take control of the situation.

A WEEK ago, the Joint Foreign Chambers and Philippine business organizations met to celebrate the 4th anniversary of Arangkada. Unfortunately, BSA3 was a no show at this high roller event. Worst, his speech was read, without much passion and nary an eye contact with the audience, by the literal cabinet secretary, Rene Almendras.

2016 is 16 months away and some businesses are doing daily countdowns setting aside any expansion plans while members of the diplomatic community are said to be having jitters due to prospects for 2016.

THE undated resignation letter of Purisima was a resignation from the position of Chief Philippine National Police (CPNP) and not a resignation from the service.

THE second national address of BSA3 was essentially done to accept publicly, the resignation of suspended Chief PNP Alan Purisima. A sacrificial lamb to an arena shouting kill. It would have been more than just that had Purisima and his PR handlers given BSA3 his time under the klieg lights until the next news cycle. But alas, none of that. In the vernacular, “nagsaluhan” publicly.

ON 4 December 2015, the Ombudsman issued a preventive suspension to CPNP Alan Purisima for six months.  Per news accounts dated 13 December 2014, Purisima complied with the order of the Ombudsman “after President Benigno Aquino III asked him to do so.”

AND I thought we will end 2014 quietly, but with sudden events such as Seniang becoming a tropical storm, with 9 provinces under signal no. 2 and 14 others under signal no. 1 and the missing Air Asia #QZ8501 with 162 passengers, we are left with more worries and sad experiences as we bid 2014 goodbye. The realization that there is a greater being than us is a warm comfort because these too will pass, but it is likewise a cold reminder of needing to do good by our fellow travelers in life.

In fairness to the previous Congresses, we have had our share of model laws. Laws that in other countries are heralded as trailblazing and innovative. Such is Republic Act No. 8436 or the Automated Election System Law.

IT has never been the style of previous leaders to find solace in blaming others or certain events. But President BS Aquino does exactly that, blame others for bad events and occurrences in his administration and the Philippine economy. The seeming faults in our stars are blamed often to GMA, a contrasting message that had traction at the beginning but has lost its glitter as we hit the last inning in the 6 year term.

TODAY, crisis and turmoil are the new norms rather than the exception. War and terrorism are just part of the challenge. New companies, even industries, rise and fall faster than ever, elected officials no longer have a 100 day honeymoon before they start to lose voter confidence, and in the age of 24/7 news cycle, “breaking news” is ever present.” This was how Marco Cacciotto, chairman of the 47th Annual World Conference of the International Association of Political Consultants or IAPC summed up the theme Eternal Crisis: “Political Consulting in Changing Times,” which took place in the eternal city of Rome, Italy last 17-19 November.