Category: Economy

Debate shows Grace Poe (and her fans) need to stay at the Holiday Inn

February 24, 2016February 25, 2016 Hector Gamboa 24 Comments

I think per square foot, the Philippines may very well have more tools than Ace Hardware. How else can you explain why so many people seem to have been so impressed with presidential aspirant, Sen. Grace Poe-Llamanzares’s (GPL) performance on that very non-substantive presidential debate a few days ago? Sure, she probably was the candidate…

Development, Economy, Government, Politics

The Philippines is worse off 30 years after the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution

February 24, 2016February 25, 2022 Ilda 408 Comments

I’m tired of reading stories from old farts about the so-called “people power” revolution that transpired at EDSA in 1986. These old-timers hold a tradition to relive the tale over and over and this year is no different as Filipinos set out to mark the 30th anniversary of the event. The stories seem to be…

Development, Economy, Politics

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

Kung Hei Fat Choi: EVERYBODY is sucking up to China today!

February 8, 2016February 8, 2016 Kate Natividad 111 Comments

Why? Because, for now, China is where all the money trails lead to. It is becoming the biggest consumer market, the biggest source of high-rollin’ gamblers for Manila’s sprouting casinos, the biggest buyers of real estate all over the region, the biggest markets for our mineral products, and the biggest source of capital for our…

Culture, Economy

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

Mar Roxas’s campaign promises NOTHING to the Filipino people

February 2, 2016 benign0 12 Comments

Generations of Filipino politicians have paid lip service to the idea that Filipinos deserve an egalitarian society and that the it is unjust that vast wealth be in the hands of so few. It has become a template campaign promise during election season for politicians to issue promises to “eliminate poverty” and dismantle the monopoly…

Development, Economy, Politics

Netizen slams PNoy’s views on OFWs in viral ‘open letter’ posted on Facebook

February 1, 2016 benign0 25 Comments

A note posted by Facebook user Lesley Dianne Siojo Cabildo containing “an open letter” to Philippine President Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III is going viral. The letter accompanied a meme originally posted by Cabildo on the 24th August 2015. The meme (pictured below) quoted the following statement supposedly made by the president: Filipinos leave their…

Development, Economy