Filipiniana News - December 2009 Rhyme and Reason Being the last month of the year and a traditional time of holiday cheer, I wanted this column to be about something positive that could provide an encouraging note as we enter another year. As we know, our beloved Philippines has just gone through some difficult times brought on by natural calamities and human cruelty. These include the tremendous destruction caused by the successive typhoons which hit the Philippines just a few months ago, killing hundreds, and destroying thousands of homes. Most recently, a horrible massacre of journalists and civilians in what is believed to be a politically motivated act sadly reminds us how violent Philippine elections can become. Negative news notwithstanding, the universal response to these events have been quite uplifting. As we know, donations for those affected by the typhoons poured freely, and cries of condemnation...