Year: 2016

Filipinos’ overall extrajudicial way of life is the reason Duterte remains popular

October 24, 2016 benign0 31 Comments

It is quite evident by now that the notion that “extrajudicial killing” is “bad” doesn’t sell very well to the ordinary Filipino. This is, after all, a people renowned for their overall extrajudicial way of life. To bring the point across more pointedly, doing things above, below, beyond, and around the framework of the law…

Crime, Culture

Jim Paredes sang anti-US song “American Junk” back in 1987

October 24, 2016 benign0 17 Comments

These are the lyrics to the song “American Junk” released by Jim Paredes and the Apo Hiking Society in 1987. Leave me alone to my third world devices I don’t need your technology You just want my natural resources And then you leave me poor and in misery Third world blues is what I got…

Culture, Glitz and Glamour, Politics, Society

Philippine President Duterte is the world’s Number One troll

October 23, 2016March 19, 2018 Ilda 100 Comments

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent trip to China made me realise that he could be the world’s Number One troll. He leaves his critics baffled and his supporters surprised and awed by his statements. You can call him what you want – a former Filipino actress even called him a psychopath – but he definitely…

Economy, Politics

A choice between a Pig and a Crook

October 22, 2016October 22, 2016 Hector Gamboa 16 Comments

So the third and final debate between two candidates vying for the presidency of the United States of America has come to a close. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, based on recent polls, is on her way to defeat Republican candidate Donald Trump. America has a little more than two weeks before its people would determine…

Politics

Philippines finally comes home to Asia following Duterte’s groundbreaking trip to China

October 22, 2016October 22, 2016 benign0 66 Comments

Senator Leila de Lima was on a rampage following Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s reported shift of the country’s foreign policy to one that involves a cosying up to China and a “separation” from the United States. De Lima described Duterte’s move during his official visit to China this week as a “whole level of betrayal”….

Government, Politics

IATROGENICS: Why Rappler is Becoming a Victim of Its Own Medicine

October 20, 2016October 25, 2016 Marcus 26 Comments

Hashtags: #TakeBackMariaRessa #OmidyarNetwork I can only feel for Maria Ressa. Her motherly interest to defend her team from criticism resulted in more harm rather than good. Nassim Nicholas Taleb comes to mind. He coined the the term “naive interventionism”, from iatrogenics in the medical field. Iatrogenics is a case wherein a…

Media, Politics, Science

Filipinos need to get better-acquainted with China

October 19, 2016 benign0 51 Comments

What have been the pre-eminent topics of late rippling across the social media timelines of the Philippines’ pre-eminent “thought leaders”? Consult various “trending” stats (filtering out all the showbiz noise that dominates Filipino social media chatter) and you will see the following words and phrases: “extrajudicial killing” “Agot Isidro” “Internet trolls” “yellowtards” “dutertards” “edsa traffic”…

Culture, Development, Education

Rashomon Effect: The Self-serving Interest of Mainstream Media and the People

October 18, 2016October 18, 2016 Marcus 46 Comments

This is in response to Maria Ressa’s comment on a post dated October 5, 2016. John, sino ba’ng hindi gustong magkaisa? Understand we all live in the Philippines, and every policy affects each and every Filipino. I think we differ in critical thinking and the role of journalism: we believe that no matter who’s in…

Government, Media, Politics, Technology

Gabsboy
on The Philippines reels from yet another global “crisis”
"Tingala sa langit" "Tingala sa gobyerno" "Tingala sa Amerika" Learned
zzz
on The Philippines reels from yet another global “crisis”
It's funny how those without contribution run their mouths, seek
benign0
on The Philippines reels from yet another global “crisis”
Filipinos' tingala mentality. It is WORLD renowned.
Slaves
on The Philippines reels from yet another global “crisis”
How’s being American puppets going? Maybe if you chose a
Gabsboy
on EDSA 40 years after: Overthrow and “Leftist” Ideals Don’t Work
It would have been absolute cinema had the military coups
Ven
on The Philippines reels from yet another global “crisis”
Who the hell is prepared for a crisis when any
megget
on The Philippines reels from yet another global “crisis”
the filipino way is scraping by on the least amount
Gyn
on The Philippines reels from yet another global “crisis”
This whole thing is not working, and you know it