Category: Development

It’s time Filipinos start recognizing the true builders of their country

February 25, 2014March 13, 2014 benign0 26 Comments

With political airspace in the Philippines currently congested by allegations, accusations, and speculations of thievery flying back and forth between political cliques, factions, and camps, one couldn’t be blamed for losing any remaining semblance of faith in the old idealistic notion that a stint in government office grants one a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to “make a…

Development, Economy, Featured, Government, Politics

The 1986 EDSA Revolution’s legacy: Three key aspects of the 1987 Constitution that hobbles Philippine progress

February 24, 2014 benign0 21 Comments

It’s that time of the year again when we celebrate that supposedly seminal event in Philippine history when, according to the local lore, the forces of evil (porportedly the regime of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos) were vanquished by the forces of good (supposedly the Aquino-Cojuangco feudal clan). Marcos removed. Game over. The 1986 “People…

Charter Change, Civics, Development, Government, Media, Politics, Society

Facing Manila’s traffic hell: Access to public transport is a right, owning a car is but a privilege

February 21, 2014 Kate Natividad 50 Comments

And so here we are, helplessly facing a future of traffic hell as all these road constructions start. To think we all raised a royal tantrum over Dan Brown’s describing Manila as the “gates of hell” in his book Inferno. What have Metro Manila’s residents done to deserve this? Well, quite simply nothing. They did…

Development, Government, Lifestyle

Aquino anti-cybercrime law curtailing freedom of speech ruins significance of EDSA people power revolution

February 20, 2014February 25, 2014 Ilda 58 Comments

The celebration for the 28th anniversary of EDSA People Power revolution will be low key according to Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma. Instead of holding it at EDSA where it was held traditionally, it will be held in Cebu province. The reason given was “because the province was the bulwark of the opposition to the…

Development, Government, Politics

Skyway Stage 3 construction: Filipinos to ‘sacrifice’ yet again as Metro Manila braces for years of standstill traffic

February 17, 2014 benign0 53 Comments

True to form, Filipinos are abuzz again with half-assed ideas on how best to cope with the heavier-than-heavy traffic that will snarl Metro Manila as construction on the long-overdue “Skyway Stage 3” project which will link the South Luzon Tollway (SLT) to the North Luzon Expressway (NLE) via an elevated six-lane 15-kilometre elevated highway through…

Civics, Development, Government, Lifestyle

Did Mar Roxas Really Hire An American Political Strategist for 2016 Presidential Bid?

February 15, 2014 P. Farol 16 Comments

Citing at least three sources ABS-CBN News dot Com reveals that Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas recruited American political strategist Paul Bograd to help him enhance his public image — conceivably to bolster any chance he has in winning as a Presidential candidate in the 2016 elections. If at all people take this bit…

Culture, Development, Economy, Government, Politics

Why is President Noynoy Aquino ‘baffled’ by high unemployment in the Philippines?

February 12, 2014 benign0 32 Comments

It is quite revealing that Philippine President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III would, one moment, confidently credit himself with the Philippines’ purportedly robust economic numbers then, on another, be left scratching his dome as to the reasons why the “positive” nature of these so-called indicators are not translating to jobs and smiles for the majority…

Development, Economy, Government, Society

If Filipinos can’t produce results, the least they can come up with is DIRECTION

February 11, 2014February 11, 2014 benign0 30 Comments

The din of chatter and news releases about this and that crime suspect, presidential candidate, disaster relief effort, international territory dispute, plus the loud non-stop melodramatic rationalisations issued by a who’s-who of crooked politicians and their lackeys is so loud and pervasive that you could be forgiven for thinking that the Philippines is a hive…

Civics, Culture, Development, Government, Society