Category: Development

Don’t thank PNoy: Economic growth does not necessarily mean good governance!

February 22, 2016 David Yap II 13 Comments

Lately I’ve been seeing these posts thanking the president for increasing our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by something like 120 billion USD. It upsets me because it betrays a piss poor understanding of economics. I’ll give you two reasons why this thinking is wrong — because two is more than enough. First and foremost, the…

Development, Economy

Why Does the Philippines Even Exist?

February 19, 2016 zaxx 40 Comments

Why ask why? Well, as much as what, when, where, or how is as valid enough a starting word for an inquiry, I like to ask WHY questions because it makes us THINK. And I really encourage more Filipinos to get into the habit of doing so because it’s great cerebral-gymnastics exercise – being one…

Culture, Development, Economy, Society

The futility in outrage over Manny Pacquiao’s homophobia

February 17, 2016 rsurtida 22 Comments

The recent outrage over Manny Pacquiao’s statements about the LGBT community is just a media-covered exercise of something that every Pinoy—educated or otherwise—live with and even practice on a daily basis. Pacquiao simply represents the groupthink of Filipinos. And, unfortunately, Filipinos are among the biggest anti-LGBT group of people in existence. Just take a walk…

Culture, Development, Media, Politics, Religion, Society

Why Filipino politicians routinely get away with incompetence and criminality

February 14, 2016 benign0 9 Comments

There are no consequences — not for the Philippines’ most popular celebrity, boxing champion Manny Pacquiao who is also a House representative in Congress. Despite holding the dubious distinction of being the top no-show in House sessions held in 2014, he remains a Filipino favourite. It may be just as well that Pacquiao has been…

Culture, Development, Education, Politics, Society

Feb 26 2016: 30th anniversary of the stupidification of the Philippines

February 10, 2016 benign0 20 Comments

The 26th of February this year marks the 30th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA “people power” revolution. Three decades ago from this day, the “evil” regime of President Ferdinand Marcos was supposedly toppled by a popular uprising that was sparked by an army mutiny led by then General Fidel V Ramos accompanied by then Defense…

Development, Politics, Society

Imperial Manila: Uniting the Nation at a Price

February 7, 2016February 7, 2016 zaxx 12 Comments

It was the dawn of April 27, 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan and his handful of men, confident of their superior European weaponry, got off their ship and waded ashore for a face-off with defiant Lapu Lapu and his 1500-strong army of natives defending Cebu’s Mactan Island. Little did Magellan know that this iron-willed Visayan datu would…

Development, Government, Media, Society, The South

Daang Matuwid brought the Philippines straight down the highway to hell

February 5, 2016February 6, 2016 Ilda 42 Comments

Daang Matuwid. What the hell does it mean? Its literal translation in English is “straight path”. Without any context, it does not make a lot of sense. Straight path to where, exactly? However, its ambiguity helped launch the Presidency of a non-performing lawmaker Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III back in 2010. A lot of people…

Crime, Development, Government, Politics

Can the Philippines compete in the 21st Century global economy?

February 4, 2016February 4, 2016 benign0 12 Comments

When the term ‘self sufficiency’ is mentioned, what often comes to mind is food. On that alone, self-sufficiency in terms of food is already a big issue in the Philippines. The Philippines is the world’s biggest importer of rice and is a major market in the region for the agricultural exports of many countries. The…

Culture, Development, Economy

Vys
on The REAL solution to inflation lies in the rich and middle classes curbing NON-ESSENTIAL spending
YOU'RE insensitive and economically incorrect. You have no right to
History
on UK Immigration, Lies in History and Wokeness Debunked by Simon Webb
Not entirely false. People have been migrating to Britain for
History
on UK Immigration, Lies in History and Wokeness Debunked by Simon Webb
Depends on the individual immigrants. In the past, Britain did
History
on UK Immigration, Lies in History and Wokeness Debunked by Simon Webb
Absolutely wrong. Colonizers are technically migrants. Subsequent migrants also helped
History
on UK Immigration, Lies in History and Wokeness Debunked by Simon Webb
Blacks were not nobles. But there were Black and brown
History
on UK Immigration, Lies in History and Wokeness Debunked by Simon Webb
Absolutely wrong. Colonisers are technically migrants. Subsequent migrants have also
megget
on WHO instructed Tab Baldwin to “limit” his public “apology” to just “four minutes”?
"Risa eyes German embassy help to summon Gorebox maker" now
benign0
on WHO instructed Tab Baldwin to “limit” his public “apology” to just “four minutes”?
Apologies, this from the Manila Times editor! Honesty needed in