Year: 2015

Balancing the duty of the Bureau of Customs and the sacredness of the Balikbayan Box

August 23, 2015August 23, 2015 Vincent 25 Comments

Recently, I heard news about the Bureau of Customs (BOC) intending to open Balikbayan Boxes for inspection. The Manila Times reported in an August 17, 2015 article: “The items [inside the boxes] may as well be considered as smuggled goods for non-compliance with the Philippine Tariff and Customs Code,” Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina said on…

Crime, Culture, Government, Society

Twerking On Noon-Time TV: Another Sermon

August 23, 2015 Grimwald 13 Comments

Let us all rise… Okay, let’s get a few things straight first. No, I am not a priest, reverend nor any kind of preacher. No, I’m not an expert on the Bible or any kind of religion, for that matter. No, I do not see myself as some kind of savior of the Philippines like…

Culture, Glitz and Glamour, Media, Society

How Filipinos See And Understand Hard Work

August 23, 2015 Grimwald 13 Comments

This article is a tribute more or less to one of Vladimir Santos’ latest articles and is just another look at another overused alleged value called “hard work” the same way I deconstructed the Pinoy concept of “humility“… So let’s start with a story, shall we? Once upon a time there was a farmer with…

Culture, Lifestyle, Society

Are Philippine political ads designed with 5-year-olds in mind?

August 22, 2015 Vincent 12 Comments

Want proof that lawmakers are indeed breaking the law (or at least its spirit)? Look no further. Just watch TV and I bet you that, in an hour, you’ll catch one or two political advertisements. It does not take a rocket scientist to recognize these for what they are — premature campaigning. You already have…

Charter Change, Government, Media, Politics, Society

Treachery at the Philippine Supreme Court

August 22, 2015 Virtual Vigilante 37 Comments

On August 18, 2015, the Supreme Court granted the bail petition of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the three senators facing plunder charges in connection with the pork barrel scam. The decision was announced by Supreme Court spokesman Ted Te, who was visibly embarrassed with what he had to say at the press briefing….

Civics, Crime, Politics

On Humility: Are Filipinos humble for the right reasons?

August 21, 2015 Grimwald 15 Comments

Humility. Pagpapakumbaba in Tagalog. Such a long word for something that is supposed to signify being “humble”. It has always baffled me the way majority of Pinoys seem to define the word “humility”. The more traditional definition of humility is learning to lower one’s self in society. It means putting others ahead of oneself even if one is…

Culture, Society

5 Things Mar Roxas Has To Learn If He Really Wants To Become A Presidentiable

August 21, 2015 Grimwald 10 Comments

Okay, truth be told, the more I see Mar Roxas and his desperate attempt to earn the people’s sympathy and favor, the more I want to roll around on the ground laughing. See, I think one of the biggest reasons why he’s not getting anywhere with his vain attempt at convincing the people he can…

Government, Media, Politics, Society

Unwinnable Mar Roxas dooms Liberal Party of the Philippines

August 20, 2015 benign0 15 Comments

It’s really pathetic the way presidential candidate Mar Roxas scrounges around for some sucker willing to run as Vice President with him under the Liberal Party (LP) banner. Indeed, it’s the height of pathos that he’d actually issue such a proposal to Senator Grace Poe, who currently tops popularity polls and will likely beat Roxas…

Politics