We beg to differ.
So it’s “Labor Day” again this 1st of May in the Philippines. What do the usual suspects who champion the workers’ “fight” have to offer this time in terms of rhetoric? Considering that they’ve milked the easy ones dry — anti-Americanism, anti-imperialism, anti-incumbent-government, higher wages, more jobs, etc. — what else is there? There is…
Read More “Philippine Labor Day rhetoric: the same old bullshit” »
The idea of ‘charter change’ is nothing new to outsiders, but being able to observe and discuss the movement as a serious idea rather than cynically dismissing it as the same old limited-focus canard that gets floated every year is a refreshing change of pace. So what’s different about ‘charter change’ now, as opposed to…
Read More “Constitutional Reform: What it Looks Like from the Outside” »
Intelligent people can be the worst teachers. They tend to be impatient with their students. This is because they assume that the students will understand what they are trying to say on their first attempt at explaining something. Because it is easy for them to understand things, it can be hard for intelligent people to…
Read More “Filipinos should learn to question authority intelligently” »
If I lower my guard and take the comfy view that I am fundamentally defined by where I was schooled, I’d call myself an “Atenean”. When you are an Ateneo alumnus (and specially when you remain on as a faculty member), you usually come equipped with a lot of connections and the frame of mind…
Read More “Tulong Dunong, ACIL, ICTUS, and other memories from up the Hill” »
The Philippine Media, both old and new, whether traditional or trend-setting, is abuzz yet again with the usual discussions and “analyses” that tend to proliferate in value-crushing volumes. So I thought it’d be a good time to re-visit the fundamental process that underlies this hyped-up political exercise that is pitched to vacuous minds as some…
Read More “The underlying simplicity of Philippine Elections” »
The “increase in population” that has been made the excuse du jour of Malacanang to wash its hands off the appalling mass transport crisis paralysing Metro Manila today is something that the government cannot absolve itself of any responsibility for. Facing mounting calls for the head of Al Vitangcol General Manager of the Metro Rail…
Read More “Metro Rail Transit crisis gripping Manila a result of long-term failure in thinking” »
Talk surrounding who might be Philippine President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III’s successor in 2016 is getting more and more interesting by the week! On Jimmy Kimmel Live, former US President Bill Clinton issued his view on the prospects of boxing champ Manny Pacquiao moving up the political ranks in the Philippines… “He’s already in…
Read More “Manny Pacquiao endorsed by Bill Clinton as Philippines’ role model!” »
Sometimes one wonders what the Philippine military is thinking — and how much more patient it will remain. It is under a lot of pressure to defend the civilian national ego — using rusty unreliable equipment funded by the shifting winds of that ego. This is like being in a relationship with a schizophrenic nymphomaniac….