Category: History

Economic pitfalls that the Philippines must avoid

December 11, 2022 The Unpopular Opinion 5 Comments

Over the recent months, the Philippines had been experiencing consistent economic growth despite global uncertainties, which range from supply chain bottlenecks to geopolitical tensions. If it continues along that trajectory, the Philippines is expected to join the upper middle-income tier group during the Marcos Jr. administration, where the country will eventually become a burgeoning USD…

Business, Economy, History

How to make capitalism work in the Philippines?

November 16, 2022 The Unpopular Opinion 41 Comments

If there is one word in the dictionary that has been greatly maligned, vilified, and tormented in world history, it would be capitalism. Various political and economic theories, together with their believers and practitioners have continuously despised capitalism, but haven’t construed anything pragmatic without capitalism’s wealth generating ability. Naysayers misconstrue the reality that in the…

Business, Charter Change, Economy, History, Money Talks

A Philippine parliament holds a better future for Philippine politics

September 20, 2022 The Unpopular Opinion 63 Comments

The recent demise of Queen Elizabeth II has been the headlines of all international news agencies. For more than 7 decades, she has served as the head of state of the United Kingdom and other nation states, which includes Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The second Elizabethan era has witnessed Britain decline in power and…

Charter Change, Government, History, Politics

The Noble Savage needs to be Buried

August 30, 2022September 1, 2022 ChinoF 1 Comment

A lot of problems in the world today can be blamed on the “noble savage” concept. I commented in a previous article that Filipinos are bogged down by a primitivist mentality. For example, I notice in nostalgia webpages comments by some who wish they could go back and live in the 1800s or times without…

Culture, History, Religion

Accepting “Racism,” Rejecting Racial Prejudice and the Equalitarian Dogma

August 19, 2022February 25, 2025 ChinoF 11 Comments

The part up to “prejudice” is the title of a chapter in Simon Webb’s book The Equalitarian Dogma. I wrote earlier that Webb convinced me to drop the idea that race is a social construct and accept that it has biological basis. However, it does not mean that it should lead to racial prejudice; believing…

Culture, History, Society

The 1986 revolution: an overselling cover-up of endemic failures

August 16, 2022 The Unpopular Opinion 43 Comments

The movie Maid in Malacanang featured the perspective of the Marcos family on what transpired during the three fateful days that led to then-President Ferdinand Marcos leaving the Philippines. It is definitely a bestseller, raking in hundreds of millions in sales as the movie was being shown in cinemas worldwide. With another Marcos leading the…

Development, Economy, History, Politics

A three decade throwback: the 1992 presidential elections

August 14, 2022 The Unpopular Opinion No Comments

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr had recently finished his first State of the Nation Address last month. Numerous analysts have lauded the president’s speech for showcasing what technocracy really is, most specially when he has enumerated his legislative agenda that should be prioritized by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Hopefully, Marcos Jr’s six-year…

Charter Change, History, Politics

What the Philippines can learn from the late Shinzo Abe

July 20, 2022 The Unpopular Opinion 3 Comments

The assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during the campaign period in Nara Prefecture sent shockwaves all over the world. In broad daylight while publicly expressing his support for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), he was shot from behind using a handmade gun. He was rushed to the nearest prefectural hospital but was…

Charter Change, Culture, History, Politics