Category: Politics

Bloody libel! Janet Lim Napoles versus Maria Ressa’s ‘social news network’ Rappler.com

August 7, 2013July 8, 2022 benign0 68 Comments

Funny how just a short time ago, Rappler.com CEO Maria Ressa was crying bloody libel over Katrina Stuart-Santiago’s article Going to the dogs — an article about the manner with which Ressa’s self-described “social news network” startup precipitated (and possibly encouraged) a broader “ganging up” on the University of Santo Tomas over a perceived favour…

Civics, Media, Politics

Thomas Van Beersum learns what getting in trouble in a Third World nation is REALLY like

August 6, 2013August 6, 2013 benign0 99 Comments

Poor Thomas Van Beersum. He now stands as a shining lesson to Western Europeans of what it means to get in trouble in a Third World country half a planet away. Beersum is a Dutch activist who made headlines after participating in a protest rally during the delivery of the State of the Nation Address…

Crime, Politics

Is there a right or wrong point of view of history?

August 4, 2013June 1, 2018 FallenAngel 43 Comments

Fact is, one will be hard-pressed to find a totally objective account of history. Though ultimately historians either avoid bias to the greatest extent possible or purposefully show it, individual accounts will never truly be free of it. Ultimately each individual’s account passes through a filter which is composed of his/her philosophies, belief systems, experiences,…

Development, Education, Politics, Society

I Don’t Remember Cory Aquino

August 1, 2013 FallenAngel 61 Comments

A friend of mine had shown me a post on the ABS-CBN Facebook site. It read “Cory Aquino. Democracy icon. How do you #RememberCoryAquino?” I was half expecting people who would leave comments there to still shower praises upon the former president and icon of the People Power Revolution here in the Philippines. And like…

Government, Media, Politics

ABS-CBN Facebook post #RememberCoryAquino backfires: slammed by commentators weary of ‘people power’ rhetoric

August 1, 2013February 18, 2022 benign0 92 Comments

A colleague of mine had the presence of mind to take a big screen capture of the epic response to ABS-CBN News’s legendary update “Cory Aquino. Democracy icon. How do you #RememberCoryAquino?” posted on its Facebook page late last night — in case it was deleted. I thought for a while that it had been…

Media, Politics

All eyes on LA LA lifestyle of Jeane Lim Napoles as Pork scandal circus rages!

July 30, 2013July 30, 2013 benign0 76 Comments

Wow, anak ng pork barrel talaga! Or so the expression goes if we are to believe recent revelations and allegations coming from the latest media circus that Janet Lim Napoles is a major ringleader in a scam that skims chunks of pork barrel funds off hapless Philippine congressmen. Where do these golden shavings go? Well,…

Crime, Glitz and Glamour, Lifestyle, Politics, Society

Rule of Law cannot be implemented in the Philippines until Filipinos learn to follow simple guidelines

July 29, 2013 benign0 44 Comments

Upholding ‘rule of law’ in the Philippines is a complicated, labour-intensive exercise. Take the tony enclave of Rockwell in Makati City. It’s got expensive zebra-striped pedestrian lanes painted across most of where its nicely-paved streets intersect. These markings give the impression to someone who does not know of the way things are in the Philippines…

Civics, Crime, Culture, Politics, Society

Manny Pacquiao for President?

July 29, 2013July 29, 2013 FallenAngel 14 Comments

Yeah, I know. The idea has been floated before. This time, though, it’s straight from the horse’s mouth. The champ himself spoke to Agence France-Presse in Macau about considering such a move… When pressed on whether he had thought about shooting for the top job, the softly-spoken 34-year-old replied “Yes”. Drawing parallels between his pugilism…

Glitz and Glamour, Politics, Society