Category: Politics

How the political camps that presume to represent “civil society” might learn from the debacle the Ateneo finds itself in today

Posted on By benign0 No Comments on How the political camps that presume to represent “civil society” might learn from the debacle the Ateneo finds itself in today
How the political camps that presume to represent “civil society” might learn from the debacle the Ateneo finds itself in today

Ateneans are in the midst of a massive, long-overdue frenzy of soul-searching. This is in the aftermath of the tragic deaths of basketball players Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team activity in Baler, Aurora province and the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) administration’s botched public relations (PR) management following the incident. The…

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Education, Politics

Filipino oligarchs’ scramble for the spoils of the land is the only real campaign “platform” in lead up to 2028

Posted on By Ramon Ortoll 2 Comments on Filipino oligarchs’ scramble for the spoils of the land is the only real campaign “platform” in lead up to 2028
Filipino oligarchs’ scramble for the spoils of the land is the only real campaign “platform” in lead up to 2028

Most Filipinos don’t realize that our country is awash in wasted opportunities since it’s so-called independence from the Americans. The Americans were responsible for the destruction of infrastructure built during the 300 years of Spanish colonization most of which was lost during World War II. With Japan as its new pawn after the war, the…

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Development, Politics, Society

The Philippine Senate has become a serious liability to the Filipino people and needs to be trashed ASAP!

Posted on By benign0 4 Comments on The Philippine Senate has become a serious liability to the Filipino people and needs to be trashed ASAP!
The Philippine Senate has become a serious liability to the Filipino people and needs to be trashed ASAP!

Who is winning the high-stakes Public Relations (PR) War that determines which of the Philippines’ big feudal clans will bag control of the Philippine government and, following that, access to all the multi-billion peso goodies that can be scraped off the Philippine economy over the next few years? Will it be the Marcostards? Will it…

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Crime, Politics, Society

The false narrative of 11 “good” versus 13 “bad” Philippine senators: they’re all THE SAME!

Posted on By Ramon Ortoll No Comments on The false narrative of 11 “good” versus 13 “bad” Philippine senators: they’re all THE SAME!
The false narrative of 11 “good” versus 13 “bad” Philippine senators: they’re all THE SAME!

The eleven minority Philippine senators versus the thirteen (presumably pro-Duterte) majority framed as a good-versus-bad battle is just the “good” pot calling the “bad” kettle black. Recall how the same senators were falling all over themselves and one another currying favor with the administration during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte. The only “opposition”…

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History, Politics

Why are the Philippines’ “thought leaders” STILL so shocked that their “senate” is going down the shithole?

Posted on By benign0 No Comments on Why are the Philippines’ “thought leaders” STILL so shocked that their “senate” is going down the shithole?
Why are the Philippines’ “thought leaders” STILL so shocked that their “senate” is going down the shithole?

The eminent Inquirer columnist Cielito Habito in a recent piece wrote about the “self-destruction” of the Philippine Senate. Habito laments the plight of an institution the integrity of which took “decades to build” only for a majority bloc of 13 senators led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano to “ruin it” in “just three days”….

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Culture, Politics

How can the Philippine Senate even be considered qualified to judge to begin with when its members are winners of a mere popularity contest?

Posted on By benign0 No Comments on How can the Philippine Senate even be considered qualified to judge to begin with when its members are winners of a mere popularity contest?
How can the Philippine Senate even be considered qualified to judge to begin with when its members are winners of a mere popularity contest?

Such is the “high stakes” exercise this impeachment “trial” of Vice President Sara Duterte is made out to be. Yet its entire outcome — the anticipated “verdict” of this “trial” a long way down the track (if it ever does transpire) — is hinged on the quality of judgment to be passed by the so-called…

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Charter Change, Politics, Society

SO WHAT if Vice President Sara Duterte is impeached or not?

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SO WHAT if Vice President Sara Duterte is impeached or not?

While the rest of the peoples of the world grapple with the big issues — many of them existential — the Philippines’ citizenry are subject to the ongoing feudal machinations of its ruling oligarchs. Indeed, the Philippine Senate is basically that — a chamber composed of people who are mostly members of the same tony…

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Politics, Society

Filipinos need a proper “far right” party

Posted on By benign0 11 Comments on Filipinos need a proper “far right” party
Filipinos need a proper “far right” party

The trouble with the Philippines is that its political discourse is cursed with a lopsided ideological spectrum. There is a “far left” camp consisting of the commies, their terrorist “New People’s Army”, and the so-called Makabayan bloc of front organisations that orbit them. There is also a swathe of confused centre-left to centre-right camps that…

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Politics, Religion, Society