Category: Government

6 dead so far as #Hagupit (#RubyPH) tears through #Philippines’ central islands

December 8, 2014 benign0 4 Comments

Thanks to “the largest peacetime evacuations the country has ever seen” mounted in preparation for the coming of Super Typhoon Hagupit (locally code-named “Ruby”), death at the appalling scale seen during last year’s devastation wrought by Super Typhoon Haiyan (locally code-named “Yolanda”) had been largely avoided so far. According recent forecasts, the next major populated…

Civics, Government

E.Samar hit by #Hagupit first, winds start to batter coastal areas as residents flee

December 6, 2014December 6, 2014 benign0 14 Comments

Dolores, Eastern Samar has been identified as the unlucky town where Super Typhoon Hagupit will first touch the Philippines. According to current forecasts, Hagupit will be packing winds of 180-200 kph near the centre with gusts of up to 220 kph. As of 11 a.m. Philippine time, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration…

Civics, Environment, Government

Super Typhoon #Hagupit nears Philippine landfall, tied with 2 others as 2014’s most powerful

December 6, 2014 benign0 11 Comments

Updated forecasts have put Super Typhoon Hagupit (locally code-named “Ruby”) landfall in the Philippines tonight (Saturday evening 06 Dec 2014 Philippine time) and is expected to cross near Manila sometime late Monday, 08 Dec 2014) according to Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reports. Forecast trajectory of the storm is “very close to the ‘multi-model’ consensus”…

Civics, Environment, Government

Latest forecasts put Typhoon #Hagupit (Ruby) on a course to hit Metro Manila over the weekend

December 5, 2014 benign0 32 Comments

A “very dangerous situation” is now “evolving” in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Hagupit (Tropical Cyclone 22W locally code-named “Ruby”) approaches the Philippines threatening to impact at least 30 million people according to the latest AccuWeather.com report filed about 0100H 05 Dec 2014 Philippine time… Hagupit rapidly strengthened into a super typhoon on Wednesday afternoon…

Civics, Environment, Government

In the Name of Development: Agta Dumagat people versus the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone (APECO) project

December 3, 2014 benign0 9 Comments

“Hindi kaunlaran ng nakararami. Kaunlaran lang ng iilan.” This is what Marlon Angara, a fisherfolk from Casiguran, said when asked about what he thinks of Aurora Pacific Economic Zone or APECO. He is one of the locals who are at risk of losing their land and livelihood to give way for the construction of a…

Development, Economy, Government, Politics, Society

Only a massively-popular celebrity can stop a Binay presidency now!

December 1, 2014 benign0 8 Comments

Jejomar Binay ‘should’ not be a presidential candidate in the Philippines. But of course. This, however, is the Philippines. And, yes, Binay is a presidential candidate. Not just a presidential candidate, but the leading candidate. Bizarre as that may seem, that is the reality in the Philippines. The country is a democracy, and vocally “proud”…

Government, Media, Politics, Society

An open letter to Pope Francis on his visit to the Philippines in 2015

November 29, 2014November 29, 2014 Ilda 78 Comments

Dear Pope Francis, Information about your visit to the Philippines has been occupying the country’s local media for months. Members of the national and local government have been busy preparing for your arrival. The Manila City Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada recently declared a four-day holiday for Manila residence during your visit. The decision, he said…

Civics, Crime, Development, Government, Politics

Will mutineer-turned-‘senator’ Antonio Trillanes IV make a good Philippine president?

November 26, 2014 benign0 20 Comments

The vacuousness of Philippine politics is on a roll, delivering yet another no-surprise revelation: mutineer-turned-‘senator’ Antonio Trillanes IV may be inching his way towards a presidential candidacy for the 2016 elections. His statements on the matter are obviously just feelers at this point. He reportedly stated in Tagalog a few days back that he is…

Crime, Government, Politics