Category: Government

The degeneration of Internet activism in the Philippines under the Aquino government

November 8, 2011 benign0 23 Comments

It’s time we recall with some bemusement the words of “columnist” Jose Ma. Montelibano in a 28th October 2011 article on the Inquirer.net… That is why Noynoy Aquino is now president. What he is simply by character, a son of two heroes who were not stained by corruption or swallowed by power, and himself eager…

Government, Politics, Tech Talk

PNoy and the Philippine Armed Forces both stunned by the MILF

October 28, 2011October 31, 2011 Ilda 41 Comments

Someone from a public forum was disappointed that I did not have an opinion readily available for him about the situation in Mindanao. He wrote to me: Hi Ilda. It’s rather odd that you did not have the time for this issue that’s been in the news for over a week, and in fact, this…

Government, Media, The South

Senator Zubiri resignation: Is it an admission of guilt?

August 5, 2011 Ilda 22 Comments

Quite a number of Filipinos were shocked by the news that Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri had filed his resignation following allegations of electoral fraud during the 2007 senatorial elections. The move was a first in Philippine political history. There has been no Filipino public official on record who resigned out of delicadeza or shame in…

Civics, Crime, Culture, Government, Politics, Society

The US debt ceiling crisis: How the world’s mightiest nation may run out of money this week

July 30, 2011 benign0 20 Comments

Anytime between the the 3rd and the 10th of August this year, 2011, the government of the United States of America may run out of money. The estimates vary depending on who is doing the reckoning — the White House, Wall Street hacks — but either way, as with most things associated with going broke…

Economy, Government, Politics

BRP Gregorio del Pilar and the China crisis is achieving where Noynoy Aquino has so far failed

July 28, 2011 benign0 15 Comments

Filipinos are surprisingly in general agreement on something — a will to defend the Spratly Islands against threats from China whatever the cost. Perhaps this is an opportunity of a lifetime. This shared sentiment is evident in how a swell of pride is becoming more and more palpable with the arrival of what is so…

Government, Politics, Society

An analysis of the second State of the Nation Address delivered by President Aquino on July 25, 2011

July 25, 2011 benign0 47 Comments

I echo my initial thoughts on the second State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III before joint sessions of Congress today, the 25th July 2011: The speech seems thick in narrative, thin on conceptual substance, and lacking in vision. This verdict I make on the basis of the…

Development, Economy, Government

Election fraud did not just happen in 2004, it happened in other elections too!

July 24, 2011May 11, 2016 Ilda 31 Comments

“Pinpoint the mastermind behind the Hello Garci scandal and prosecute all those who participated in this shameless act”. These are the exact words of deposed former president and convicted plunderer, Joseph “Erap” Estrada regarding allegations of cheating in the 2004 Presidential elections. His statement reeks of vendetta. It seemed like a good idea then, but…

Crime, Government, Politics

An unsolicited draft of President Noynoy Aquino’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) for July 25, 2011

July 18, 2011June 8, 2012 benign0 5 Comments

My dear countrymen, members of Congress, honourable House Speaker, Senate President, and Chief Justice, ladies and gentlemen of the diplomatic corps: Today I stand before you, this 25th day of July 2011 to do three things: (1) report on what we had achieved in the last twelve months, (2) give you a summary of the…

Development, Economy, Government, Politics, Society