Category: Politics

The Disqualification of ERAP and the ‘Seat Belt Law’ of the Philippine Electorate

July 11, 2014 Virtual Vigilante 11 Comments

The Comelec, the Sandiganbayan and, most of all, the Supreme Court have either failed to fulfil their duties or shirked their responsibilities long enough with respect to the unequivocal and perpetual disqualification of individuals convicted of a crime to run for and/or hold public office, be it an elected or appointed post, whether or not…

Crime, Government, Politics, Society

What is left for President Aquino to report in his 5th SONA to be delivered July 28, 2014?

July 10, 2014 benign0 24 Comments

Now that Philippine President Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III is officially a lame duck president in the aftermath of a devastating Supreme Court ruling that rendered his financial brainchild, the notorious Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) unconstitutional, what can we expect him to “report” to Congress on his State of the Nation Address (SONA) this month?…

Crime, Economy, Government, Politics

116 projects on #DAP bankroll: Is this new list relevant to efforts to bring PNoy to justice?

July 10, 2014 benign0 8 Comments

A staring match is a common game played in many cultures. Kids are most familiar with it. Who will blink first? Taken literally, it is a battle of mind over physical reflex. Blinking one’s eyes, after all, is an involuntary act that lies outside of our conscious control. But adults play the staring game too….

Crime, Government, Politics

Business 101: Stop wasting your breath BEGGING the ‘best and brightest’ to stay

July 9, 2014 benign0 12 Comments

Take stock of the current political landscape today and one stark reality jumps out of the picture: There is no one great leader who stands out as one who possesses a coherent enough strategic vision for the Philippines. Instead of true leaders and statesmen all we have is more of the usual bozos: politicians. Filipino…

Culture, Development, Government, Money Talks, Politics, Society

Filipinos need to end their love affair with mediocrity and ‘pwede na yan’ mentality

July 9, 2014August 4, 2014 Ilda 118 Comments

My views are not very popular with Filipinos. I guess it’s partly my fault because I like posting topics that some might consider taboo and boring. But it’s not like I discuss religion or make fun of other people’s religious beliefs. Granted, I like talking about Philippine politics and society in general but I really…

Civics, Culture, Development, Economy, Featured, Government, Lifestyle, Media, Politics, Society

#NeverAgain? Was former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos really that awful a leader?

July 8, 2014September 21, 2014 benign0 67 Comments

The whole brouhaha surrounding the stink raised by Ateneo students and alumni over a photo of their fellows schmoozing with fomer First Lady Imelda Marcos in an Ateneo Scholarship Foundation (ASF) social event brought to light renewed debate over whether or not former President Ferdinand Marcos really was that bad. Was the former strongman a…

Crime, Media, Politics, Society

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

July 7, 2014July 7, 2014 benign0 47 Comments

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…

Civics, Culture, Lifestyle, Media, Politics, Society

Filipinos desperately need a shared sense of belonging

July 7, 2014 benign0 11 Comments

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…

Civics, Culture, Development, Politics, Society