Category: Culture

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

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

Why is President Rodrigo Duterte always angry?

October 13, 2016 benign0 36 Comments

That’s an easy question to answer: because he was elected by an angry people. Filipinos in 2016 — coming out of six years under the rule of former President Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III — trooped to the voting booths full of anger over missed opportunities, great crimes that were allowed to slide, and the…

Crime, Culture, Politics, The South

According to Maria Ressa, an army of bots, sock puppets and a sexy blogger is terrorising Rappler

October 11, 2016 benign0 35 Comments

So is there really an army of “bots” that rampage through the Internet “trolling” social media and attacking hapless corporate news media sites? According to Maria Ressa, CEO of “social news media” site Rappler, there really is such an army of darkness. Ressa insists that we are in the midst of a “propaganda war” and…

Culture, Media, Politics

The moronism in the Yellow Camp’s petition to the Miss Universe organizers

October 11, 2016 Kate Natividad 23 Comments

Of course no less than Rappler would be among the first mainstream media outlets to break the “news” about the Yellow Camp’s petition to the Miss Universe organizers to cancel this year’s pageant to be held in Manila. In recent months, chauvinism, brutal shaming, rape jokes and a sweeping disregard for women as persons deserving…

Culture, Lifestyle, Politics

Leni Robredo espouses mooching and begging for help from the international community

October 8, 2016December 19, 2021 Ilda 72 Comments

Current Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo proved how clueless she is once again with her statements. During a recent press conference, she expressed concern over the negative ramifications of President Rodrigo Duterte’s tirade against the United States of America and European Union. While Duterte’s negative attitude towards some members of the international community leaves some…

Culture, Development

Why morality, decency, and civility have been discredited in Philippine society

October 7, 2016October 7, 2016 benign0 13 Comments

To be ‘moral’. To be ‘decent’. To be ‘civil’. These are noble aspirations. Unfortunately for Filipinos, these three words were hijacked by Philippine politics’ Yellow Camp — people who are staunchly loyal (no, beholden) to the Liberal Party and its chief cast of characters, the Aquinos. Perhaps this is the reason that the a majority…

Culture, Society