Category: Politics

Are Ateneans making too much of a big deal over the Imelda Marcos photos?

Posted on By benign0 47 Comments on Are Ateneans making too much of a big deal over the Imelda Marcos photos?
Are Ateneans making too much of a big deal over the Imelda Marcos photos?

I do regard with wonder the virulent and militant nature with which Ateneans today raise their fists in quaint anger over photos of Imelda Marcos schmoozing with their fellows in an Ateneo Scholarship Foundation (ASF) social event. Yet hardly an organised peep had been heard from the collective community of alumni and students over the…

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Civics, Culture, Lifestyle, Media, Politics, Society

Filipinos desperately need a shared sense of belonging

Posted on By benign0 11 Comments on Filipinos desperately need a shared sense of belonging
Filipinos desperately need a shared sense of belonging

At the coffee shop where I routinely get my morning fix, customers mill around the counter in a way that often makes it difficult to distinguish those who are (a) in the process of ordering and paying, or (2) waiting for a concluded order to be served. So it is a normal and routine courtesy…

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Civics, Culture, Development, Politics, Society

Ateneo students in provocative ‘selfie’ poses with former First Lady Imelda Marcos

Posted on By benign0 24 Comments on Ateneo students in provocative ‘selfie’ poses with former First Lady Imelda Marcos
Ateneo students in provocative ‘selfie’ poses with former First Lady Imelda Marcos

A photo of what looks like several Ateneans posing beside former First Lady Imelda Marcos has been making the rounds. The photo clearly shows the seal of the Ateneo in the background and students assuming various provocative poses while flashing the “V” (‘victory’) hand gesture. That hand gesture came to be associated with loyalty to…

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Education, Lifestyle, Politics

Recall: President BS Aquino was crowned ‘Filipino of the Year’ by the Inquirer in 2010

Posted on By benign0 5 Comments on Recall: President BS Aquino was crowned ‘Filipino of the Year’ by the Inquirer in 2010
Recall: President BS Aquino was crowned ‘Filipino of the Year’ by the Inquirer in 2010

For old times’ sake, let us revisit how the Inquirer back in 2010 crowned President Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III “our Filipino of the Year” after just six months in power. This honour was bestowed on the incumbent Philippine president supposedly for being “the living Filipino who made the most positive impact in 2010”. And,…

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Crime, Government, Media, Politics

4 memes that illustrate all the wrong arguments about the #DAP

Posted on By benign0 7 Comments on 4 memes that illustrate all the wrong arguments about the #DAP
4 memes that illustrate all the wrong arguments about the #DAP

The Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) is a fund created by the administration of Philippine President Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III that serves as a vehicle for transferring unused appropriations from one project to another. It has since been deemed unconstitutional by the Philippine Supreme Court because it was ruled that the President does not have…

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Crime, Politics

Ph President BS Aquino doesn’t care if he broke the law while handling taxpayers’ money

Posted on By Ilda 33 Comments on Ph President BS Aquino doesn’t care if he broke the law while handling taxpayers’ money
Ph President BS Aquino doesn’t care if he broke the law while handling taxpayers’ money

According to Philippine Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr., President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino won’t apologize for the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program or DAP after it was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. He insists that “the executive branch ‘exercised good faith and due diligence’ in accordance with existing laws and relevant auditing…

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Crime, Development, Economy, Government, Politics

In these challenging times, it really helps that the Philippines is like a cockroach

Posted on By benign0 4 Comments on In these challenging times, it really helps that the Philippines is like a cockroach
In these challenging times, it really helps that the Philippines is like a cockroach

How can the Philippines continue to function over the remaining two years until President Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III steps down after the completion of his term in 2016? In the last two years, Congress has limped along under the weight of overwhelming public distrust. And now that a presidential slush fund that is the…

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Crime, Culture, Government, Politics, Society

PNoy Can Only Be Fined But Not Impeached for the DAP Fiasco

Posted on By Hector Gamboa 8 Comments on PNoy Can Only Be Fined But Not Impeached for the DAP Fiasco
PNoy Can Only Be Fined But Not Impeached for the DAP Fiasco

So now that the Supreme Court of the Philippines has declared the administration’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) unconstitutional, many sectors are calling for President Noynoy Aquino’s (PNoy) impeachment and criminal prosecution. The argument goes that the DAP authorized by PNoy qualifies as a criminal act of (technical) malversation of public funds and thus constitutes betrayal…

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Crime, Politics