Category: Culture

The tragedy of fraternity hazing seen through a former ditz’s eyes

November 9, 2012November 22, 2018 Kate Natividad 31 Comments

So I read today that some members of a San Beda College fraternity that goes by the name Lex Leonum Fraternitas were expelled after they were linked by that school’s disciplinary committee to the death of neophyte Marc Andre Marcos allegedly from injuries he sustained while participating in that fraternity’s initiation or “hazing” rights. According…

Culture, Education, Society

What the victory of US President Barack Obama means to Filipinos

November 8, 2012November 8, 2012 benign0 22 Comments

Filipinos follow American showbiz, American sport, American fashion, parrot American accents, ape American attitudes and, yes, act out American politics. Indeed, Filipinos were all but carried away by US election fever trooping to “mock US elections” organised by the US Embassy in Manila and whooping it up after the victory at the polls of re-electionist…

Culture, Media, Politics

Looking to the United States for lessons? Why bother?

November 6, 2012August 14, 2013 FallenAngel 49 Comments

In light of the recent hurricane Sandy that struck New York, and the upcoming presidential elections in the United States, it seems that our political leaders here in the Philippines are now suddenly striking up platitudes of “looking to the United States for lessons” on how to do this or that, what not to do,…

Culture, Government, Media, Politics

Filipinos do not know it yet but dynasties may actually be good for the country

November 4, 2012 benign0 57 Comments

It’s been glaringly obvious that the Philippines is a feudal society and has been ruled by dynasties since time immemorial. Dynasties, after all, are essential in a society renowned for its Heritage of Smallness. Nick Joaquin in that seminal essay observed: However far we go back in our history it’s the small we find–the nipa…

Culture, Politics, Society

Filipino pride in the spirit of ‘bayanihan’ invoked in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy

November 2, 2012November 2, 2012 benign0 33 Comments

Filipinos never pass up an opportunity to exhibit their renowned ethnocentrism. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy which devastated much of the eastern seaboard of the United States, there have been many heartening reports of how the level of preparedness and swift action of the US government to mitigate the foreseen effects of the storm…

Culture, Society

Call to action: Sayaw Pinoy, sayaw

October 28, 2012 Kate Natividad 49 Comments

You can easily tell that Filipinos aren’t a very reflective people. Go to any public place — a mall, a department store, a train station — or take a ride in a public utility vehicle like a bus or jeepney and chances are your senses will be assaulted by loud monotonously-throbbing music punctuated by tacky…

Culture, Lifestyle, Media

PNoy’s bum stomach, and feigning illness: ‘Anything Gloria can do, I can do better!’

October 27, 2012August 6, 2013 FallenAngel 94 Comments

A bum stomach. It is indeed unfortunate that President Noynoy Aquino (BS Aquino) fell ill during most recent trip to Australia. It is due to this illness that he had to cut short his attendance to a state banquet hosted by Australian Prime Minister (PM) Julia Gillard. Not that I, or any of BS Aquino’s…

Culture, Government, Lifestyle, Media, Politics

The Truth Is… The Pinoy Masa Loves Ugly Things and Uncivilized Surroundings

October 26, 2012October 26, 2012 P. Farol 44 Comments

Thinking about how Baguio City was originally planned by Daniel Hudson Burnham and then considering how ugly it looks today has convinced me that although most Filipinos look like they no longer live in the jungle, they still pretty much behave as jungle dwellers. This is pretty much reflected in the way Baguio City or…

Culture