Category: Development

Noynoy Aquino cannot take all the credit for the Philippines’ economic gains

September 5, 2014 Ilda 27 Comments

Can the Philippines Afford a Single Aquino Term in Office? This was the question posted by The World Post blogger, Daniel Wagner recently and a question a lot of Aquino supporters have been passing around lately. Not only is the question idiotic, it is also pointless. It is idiotic because it assumes that President Benigno…

Development, Economy, Government, Media, Politics

Continued loss suffered by Gilas Pilipinas in the 2014 FIBA Wold Cup mirrors Philippine history

September 4, 2014 benign0 73 Comments

Regard for sport mirrors society. And nowhere is this more evident than in the Philippines. Last night, Gilas Pilipinas was handily beaten by Puerto Rico in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain after literally dropping the ball — losing an early lead it enjoyed over the first half of the game. The game was…

Culture, Development, Economy, Government, Media, Politics, Society

The Philippines As Hacienda Luisita and Why Kris Aquino Loves Jojo Binay

September 1, 2014 P. Farol 23 Comments

All that really matters to the political and economic elite is that they continue to be the political and economic elite for as long as possible. The Philippine Constitution (pick any of one of them), the government (it doesn’t matter what form), the legislature, the court system, and all other institutions are there precisely to…

Development, Economy, Government, Politics

Winning, heroism and the palamunin mentality in Philippine society

September 1, 2014September 1, 2014 benign0 12 Comments

Keen observers of the Filipino Condition had long ago collectively agreed to put a word to the concept: palamunin. The word encapsulates many aspects of Philippine culture encompassing its renowned mendicancy, lack of foresight, heritage of smallness, victim mentality, false hope, and anti-intellectual values. Indeed, the most disturbing aspect of Philippine society is the way…

Culture, Development, Society

Why the Torre De Manila Issue Is For the Bird Brained

August 29, 2014September 13, 2014 P. Farol 30 Comments

(Updated. 091314) A friend supposedly saw an English speaking Filipino cultural activist licking his chops and gloating over his supposed victory over the enemies of the cultural elite which he claims to represent. The so-called social media “thought leader” announced his victory saying that his/her protest against the Torre De Manila has reached the senate where it is…

Culture, Development, Economy, Environment, Government, Media

DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya’s epic MRT public relations fail

August 29, 2014 benign0 14 Comments

Not surprising. Political observers gave Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Secretary Jun Abaya a unanimous Fail in his most recent public relations stunt. Yesterday, the 28th August, Abaya stepped up to a self-imposed challenge to prove Manila’s decrepit Metro Rail Transit was “safe”. The MRT has been beleaguered by recent high-profile mishaps, among them…

Development, Government, Lifestyle, Politics

Senator Pia Cayetano: Some proper perspective is due the whole Torre de Manila brouhaha

August 28, 2014 benign0 10 Comments

While I find a bit justified the whole stink being raised around the way the Torre de Manila highrise condominiums being constructed in Manila by developer DMCI Homes is supposedly “ruining” the view of the Rizal Monument, I think we are missing the bigger picture. Metro Manila is an ugly city. And that ugliness did…

Civics, Crime, Development, Government, Lifestyle, Media, Politics, Society

Jeepneys remain a stark symbol of the Philippines’ utter failure to prosper

August 26, 2014 benign0 41 Comments

Coming up with a great product — an innovative one even — is just 20 percent of the job. You also need to develop systems to produce it and market it. That system is also known as the business enterprise. An example of a failure to complete the remaining 80 percent of the job is…

Culture, Development, Economy, Society