Category: Development

Malacañang to GMA: PNoy’s popularity is better than your economic growth rate

January 14, 2012July 16, 2013 Ilda 98 Comments

I was anticipating what Budget Secretary, Florencio Abad would have to say about former President Gloria Arroyo’s (GMA’s) “It’s The Economy, Student!”, a paper about her achievements during her nine years in office. But I ended up laughing so hard after reading that the only thing Abad had to say was that President Noynoy Aquino…

Development, Economy, Politics

Baguio City: Ruined by ‘Pinoy’ Mentality

January 13, 2012January 14, 2012 MidwayHaven 179 Comments

I love Baguio; I was born here, I grew up here, and if circumstances dictate I might probably die here as well. I’m pretty much happy that I live in a City where the air is cool, the food is cheap and the people are still friendly. Ultimately, its allure as a mountain city would…

Civics, Development, Environment, Government

The illusion of progress in the Philippines

January 11, 2012July 6, 2013 benign0 32 Comments

Filipinos choose to measure progress from a Western perspective (mainly financial wealth and capital-intensive development). Thus a “successful” Filipino individual as measured by contemporary Filipino society fits the standard Hollywood mold — big house, party lifestyle, trendy clothes, shiny car, and flashy mobile devices. The trouble with Philippine society is that we embrace the superficial…

Culture, Development, Environment, Lifestyle, Money Talks

Why we don’t need to emphasize that it’s more fun in the Philippines

January 7, 2012January 7, 2012 Ilda 225 Comments

The newly unveiled tourism slogan â€œItâ€™s more fun in the Philippinesâ€ by the Department of Tourism (DOT) received mixed reactions from Filipinos. First, the lack of originality was again highlighted after social networking pundits discovered that Switzerland used the exact same slogan in 1951. What shocked and annoyed some Filipinos is that similar accusations of…

Development, Economy, Lifestyle, Media

It’s more fun in the Philippines

January 6, 2012 benign0 80 Comments

Sorry. This is going to be another article that breaches the let’s-not-go-there-please barrier. Fasten your seatbelts. I find it a bit distasteful that we’d be celebrating what a supposedly “fun” place the Philippines is. So I heard today; It’s more fun in the Philippines. That’s the new tourism slogan recently unveiled by the Philippines’ Department…

Development, Economy, Environment, Lifestyle, Media

2011 highlights point to more of the same for 2012 under PNoy governent

December 28, 2011December 29, 2011 Ilda 46 Comments

A quick look at what has happened in the Philippines in 2011 will give Filipinos a very good idea of what is in store for the country in 2012. Another year has passed but not much has changed for most Filipinos. If you prefer the status quo, youâ€™ll get more of the same. If you…

Development, Economy, Government, Politics, Society

MalacaÃ±ang finally admits excessive preoccupation with prosecuting Arroyo

December 27, 2011December 27, 2011 benign0 10 Comments

In the aftermath of the devastation wrought by Typhoon Sendong upon northern Mindanao which may ultimately claim up to 2,000 lives, the administration of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has released an official statement admitting that it may have been distracted from warnings coming from climate and environment experts… Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda admitted that…

Development, Environment, Government, The South

Burying Filipinos like garbage – Typhoon Sendong need not have been as deadly as it was

December 20, 2011September 18, 2018 benign0 45 Comments

The Philippines has now become renowned for template disasters. These are disasters that are caused by systemic issues that are profoundly inherent to the country. They are templates and therefore, by design, are highly repeatable. They happen again and again. Here’s the template for the sort of tragedy unfolding in northern Mindanao today… Heavy rains…

Culture, Development, Environment, Government, Politics