Category: Politics

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

Why media and social media have failed to contain Jejomar Binay’s prominence

November 30, 2014December 1, 2014 FallenAngel 6 Comments

As a topic, current Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay had become prominent in both media and social media early this month. And now recently it looks like he will slowly make his way back into the spotlight as he has made yet another statement on more pieces of property allegedly owned by him. As has…

Culture, Media, Politics, Society, Technology

Did Butch Abad just out an Aquino SC justice for perjury?

November 29, 2014November 29, 2014 BenK 8 Comments

In the aftermath of the announcement of the unexpectedly disappointing third-quarter GDP figures earlier this week, Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad offered a rather strange explanation for part of it, the 2.9 percent retraction of government spending during the quarter: “…the decrease was largely caused by the low utilization of notice of cash allotments (NCAs)…

Crime, Economy, Politics

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

The role of social media ‘activism’ in the Philippines’ next presidential elections

November 26, 2014 benign0 4 Comments

That is a hard question the Philippines’ would-be social media “activists” and “citizen journalists” need to ask themselves again. The current administration of Philippine President Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III has been used as a backdrop to the purported rise of these new media organisations and “movements” as voices to contend with in the country’s…

Civics, Lifestyle, Media, Politics, Tech Talk

It is time for Filipinos to start REFUSING to be victims

November 24, 2014 benign0 41 Comments

Perhaps at the root of all the factors that contribute to the Philippines’ continued and foreseeable failure to prosper is a deeply-entrenched cultural artefact: victimhood. Filipinos like playing the victim card. It is the heart of its politics — a “victimised” people to whom populist appeals to hero rhetoric resonate. As such, Filipino politicians win…

Culture, Development, Education, Politics, Society

Why are platforms, vision statements, and strategies still MISSING from the Philippine ‘debate’?

November 21, 2014 benign0 27 Comments

So, yet again, we approach another seminal presidential election and there is much bubbling and foaming on the surface of the political scene. While the attention of the public has been focused on the turbulent surface of Philippine politics, few have appreciated the underlying reason behind that turbulence. For like the way rough rapids only…

Crime, Culture, Development, Government, Media, Politics, Society