Category: Politics

The business of journalism: a challenge of making money without selling your soul

January 4, 2012July 5, 2017 benign0 33 Comments

This is a similar problem I was trying to highlight when I responded to Irene (@mindanaoan) in a Twitter.com tweet with this: “That’s the trouble when society relies on altruism. [You] get into uncomfortable relationships. State services get less personal.” This is after she tweeted about how she “found out that Philip Morris – yep,…

Civics, Education, Media, Politics

It Is a Good Time for Change, Starting with Changing to Someone Who Can Actually Do It

December 31, 2011December 31, 2011 BenK 11 Comments

I read with some interest Jaime Garchitorenaâ€™s â€œEnd of Year Thoughts: If thereâ€™s a good time to initiate change I think that good time is nowâ€, and I found it intriguing in that it echoes in many ways my own understanding of the futility of â€˜ideal democracyâ€™: That rules many times are nothing more than…

Government, Politics

President Noynoy Aquino’s crooked path justified @JaimeGarch

December 29, 2011 benign0 27 Comments

On his request, I read Jaime Garchitorena’s End of Year Thoughts. The primary payload of Mr Garch’s piece seems to revolve around the notion that to expect any sort of strategic thinking and strategic execution from President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is an exercise in utter futility, and therefore, that expectation is best written off…

Government, Politics

2011 highlights point to more of the same for 2012 under PNoy governent

December 28, 2011December 29, 2011 Ilda 46 Comments

A quick look at what has happened in the Philippines in 2011 will give Filipinos a very good idea of what is in store for the country in 2012. Another year has passed but not much has changed for most Filipinos. If you prefer the status quo, youâ€™ll get more of the same. If you…

Development, Economy, Government, Politics, Society

Articles of Impeachment against Philippine President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III

December 28, 2011January 7, 2016 benign0 116 Comments

As I was going through the articles of impeachment against Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, I began to realise how so much of the complaint against the Chief Justice is based on circumstantial assertions. I thought, hey, if this drivel of an impeachment complaint passed Congress, I’ll bet I can draft one against…

Crime, Environment, Featured, Government, Politics

President Noynoy Aquino: Is he the new Filipino god?

December 24, 2011November 5, 2013 Ilda 102 Comments

Philippine President Benigno Simeon Aquino wants to end 2011 right — or at least his handlers do. Just a few days before the end of the year, Malacañang’s official survey firm, Social Weather Stations (SWS), which is owned and operated by friends and family members of PNoy, concluded the year with another “very good” rating…

Culture, Media, Politics, Religion

Fails the So What? Test: Raissa Robles on Mrs Cristina Corona as ‘GMA appointee’ @raissawriter

December 24, 2011December 24, 2011 benign0 107 Comments

By “investigative journalist” Raissa Robles’s own admission, some people end up as collateral damage when “dirt” about them gets dug up when scandal erupts. That’s what “investigative journalists” do after all. Dig up dirt. So the collateral supposedly damaged by Robles’s recent article is Mrs Cristina Corona, wife of Chief Justice Renato Corona who is…

Crime, Media, Politics

PNoy wouldn’t need spin doctors if he took his job seriously

December 21, 2011June 15, 2013 Ilda 162 Comments

A spin-doctor is a person who publicizes favorable interpretations of the words and actions of a public figure, specially a politician. When another person has to speak on behalf of a public servant, it may be because the public servant is having a hard time responding to critics, which can also mean that whatever people…

Culture, Government, Media, Politics, Society