Category: Politics

Should Mindanao secede from what could be turning into a failed state?

July 7, 2011June 16, 2013 benign0 37 Comments

Seems like the whole Media fiesta that is raging around the the Duterte’s of Davao City, specifically on-leave Mayor Sara’s fists and the Duterte father-and-son fingers is opening up old raw emotions about the subjugation of Mindanao to the 100-year-old elephant in the room — the legacy of colonial rule, Imperial Manila. Many Davao folk…

Government, Politics, Society

Law and Order – Philippine style

July 6, 2011December 4, 2015 Ilda 334 Comments

The longer I write about Philippine society and its politics, the more convinced I get that the country’s state of law and order is a joke. Take Davao City for instance. All this time I thought that the city was a model for what following the “rule of law” could do. It turns out, to…

Civics, Crime, Culture, Politics

President Noynoy Aquino’s Second State of the Nation Address (SONA)

June 24, 2011February 10, 2019 Ilda 67 Comments

President Noynoy Aquino (PNoy) will be giving his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) soon. Like his first SONA, his speech will most likely be full of motherhood statements similar to all the previous speeches he had delivered since he announced his plans to run for the Presidency in 2009. There is very little…

Culture, Development, Economy, Government, Politics, Society

Military hardware – not digital whining – makes it right

June 24, 2011June 24, 2011 benign0 14 Comments

One degeneration after another. The emo-style with which Filipinos think they could initiate reform — Edsa “revolutions”, “unity” walks, “interfaith” rallies, and then online “petitions” and now blog “action” days, Twitter barrages, and Facebook “meme” spreading — yields flaccid one-time results at best. Perhaps there were small wins (Heritage of Smallness, remember?) — a missing…

Crime, Government, Media, Politics, Technology

President Aquino’s Second State of the Nation Address (SONA) 25 July 2011

June 19, 2011June 19, 2011 benign0 167 Comments

Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is due to deliver his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) to a joint Senate and House session of Congress. What is he going to say? What is he going to claim? What achievements are he planning to present to the duly-elected “representatives” of the Filipino People? Twelve…

Government, Media, Politics

The Philippine National Debate: the cheerleaders among us as a cheerleader President leads us

June 16, 2011June 16, 2011 benign0 7 Comments

There is a big difference between being a mere cheerleader and being a true leader. Cheerleaders are able to whip up emotional fervor and lure people into spectacular but short bursts of mindless emotionally-fueled stampedes. Real leaders, on the other hand are able to sustain commitment by providing a solid foundation of substance underlying the…

Culture, Government, Media, Politics, Society

CBCP blogger Carlos Antonio Palad calls Reproductive Health Bill supporters ‘enemies’

June 9, 2011 benign0 21 Comments

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines is reportedly now “tapping” Filipino bloggers in the “fight” versus the Reproductive Health Bill currently being “debated” in Philippine Congress. The CBCP’s official press release, indicated that its “media affairs” people had met with “several bloggers.” Though the title of the article described the purpose of the initiative…

Media, Politics, Religion

Hypocritical respect

May 27, 2011December 2, 2011 Ms. Mike Portes 7 Comments

Is this an honest mistake or a subliminal message from the Office of the President based on PNoy’s warning to China regarding the disputed Spratlys? To quote: “â€œWe may not have the capabilities now, but that might force us to increase our capabilities also,â€? Or is this a message that the PNoy administration is dead…