We beg to differ.
Juan “Johnny†Ponce Enrile Once upon a time, Enrile was just another down and out offspring out of wedlock, growing-up in the boondoks. He had a prominent father, a mother from humble origins, more than his fair share of suffering and humiliation, and all the hang-ups associated with this scenario in that particular era of…
Read More “The Three Kings of the United Nationalist Alliance” »
Many ‘activists’ who are focusing on how much money is spent by election candidates and where and when their colourful messages are being flashed miss the whole point of elections. Elections are a necessarily messy occasion. Messiness is a good symptom of a healthy number of options presented to “the people” — those folk that…
“Even regular soldiers and police are often recruited into private armies through money or political favours. They are paid as little as US$ 58 a month to become enforcers in executions, abductions and drug-related crimes.” Asianews This piece started off in the remnants of my brain around late December. It was going to…
Read More “Life, It’s More Cheap In The Philippines. Who Cares? We Have Jessica Sanchez!” »
Funny that just as soon as Senator Miriam Santiago threatened to reveal the “truth” about Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson’s sexual orientation, the latter senator in a way kind of validated what many people have been speculating by going on a rampaging counter-attack himself. For one thing, this all supposedly started after Lacson was accused by…
Read More “How the Miriam Santiago vs Ping Lacson circus mirrors the Philippines’ bakla culture” »
Former president Gloria Arroyo praised president Benigno Simeon Aquino III (BS Aquino) for the 2012 reported 6.6% GDP (gross domestic product) growth. There was a “but”, though: In her statement, Arroyo said she “shares the commitment of President Aquino to integrity and opposition to corruption.” “But the campaign against corruption must uphold the rule of…
Read More “Noynoy surpasses Gloria? The Force is strong with him…NOT!” »
What’s the big deal with political dynasties? Why try to legislate their existence from the face of Philippine politics? That’s the same as trying to pass a law banning bad manners. Try that and ninety five percent of Filipinos will end up in jail. You wonder why such ironies as hate campaigns against political dynasties…
Not surprisingly, a few of the very people who spearheaded the implementation of reproductive health law in the Philippines are having a bit of a post-fiesta reflection on just how big (or small) of a win they copped in practice. Looks like Rep. Edcel Lagman, one of “the main architects of that victory” is feeling…
Read More “Is Edcel Lagman starting a veiled campaign for pro-RH Bill candidates?” »
In recent days we’ve been seeing a few new “movements” and “advocacies” emerging (or being repackaged) as dominant topics amongst the chattering classes. Many of these involve one or another form of implementing some sort of “governance” around the way the Philippines’ wondrous cacophony of activity and voices that is its “democracy” work their way…
Read More “Are we over-governing political campaign activities?” »