Category: Economy

The Noynoy Aquino government is turning the Philippines into a vindictive society

November 20, 2011September 20, 2013 Ilda 270 Comments

There is a list of the alleged crimes of former Philippine President Gloria Arroyo (GMA) making its rounds on social networking sites like some kind of chain letter. The list comes with a photo of GMA in a wheelchair wearing her neck brace and facemask looking gaunt and distressed. The photo is obviously not a…

Crime, Culture, Economy, Government, Politics, Society

It is not Noynoy Aquino’s fault that the Philippines is the worst place to do business in

November 15, 2011 benign0 20 Comments

The “shocking” news that the Philippines is actually one of the worst countries in Asia to do business in continues to reverberate among the chattering classes. Yes, personally I’m still getting over the “shock” of such a revelation. It made me re-think investing my personal fortune in a country where the only thing that I’d…

Culture, Development, Economy

Five Reasons to be Optimistic About the Philippines

October 22, 2011October 22, 2011 Carlos C Tapang 91 Comments

The most successful investors are those that invest when everybody else is bailing out. I have heard so many bad things about Pinas, and after having lived there for two years I can now understand how bad things really are. Nevertheless, I continue to invest not only money but time and effort as well to…

Development, Economy

The Quezon City Squatter Tax can be offset by a tax on pagpag

October 19, 2011July 8, 2013 benign0 15 Comments

I read recently that the city government of Quezon City is set to levy an additional tax on property located within its administrative jurisdiction on top of whatever taxes are already being paid by their owners. So aside from the property taxes being collected from the landed gentry of this fine city, the Quezon City…

Civics, Economy, Society

Occupy Wall Street: too little too late stunt

October 16, 2011 benign0 9 Comments

The simple fact that many people find this cartoon of Mr Burns holding up a placard with the words “I am the 1%. Smithers, release the hounds” amusing is because Mr Burns is a well-known character of the long-running animated sitcom The Simpsons where he embodies what the “Occupy Wall Street” protestors consider to be…

Economy, Money Talks

Manila: a ‘dump’ according to travel blogger

October 15, 2011June 22, 2013 Ilda 265 Comments

A certain Geoffrey James wrote a scathing review of the Philippines or rather, as he quickly pointed out, a scathing review of it’s capital, Manila on Travelblog.org. I’m glad he decided to be specific because the country as a whole is not ugly. Nonetheless, I am pretty sure Manila was once as beautiful as the…

Development, Economy

The PALEA Assault on the Filipino People

September 30, 2011September 30, 2011 BenK 25 Comments

I have been following the bizarre drama of Philippine Airlines, â€œthe worldâ€™s most entertaining air carrierâ€, for nearly a year as it has struggled mightily â€“ and at times, comically so â€“ towards implementing an outsourcing plan which PAL hopes will turn its financial fortunes around. The sticking point throughout the whole sorry saga has…

Economy, Media

Is prosperity with ‘no one left behind’ really possible?

September 5, 2011 benign0 5 Comments

I enjoyed reading a a blog post recently published in ProPinoy.net authored by a certain “bill” (quoted as it appears on the site — not capitalised). In his article, “reThinking Soriano“, “bill” makes an intriguing statement that got me thinking… So the question is not, â€œEnglish or Filipino?â€ The question is how to live and…

Development, Economy, Money Talks