Category: Society

Philippines running out of qualified leaders because current system encourages stupid politicians

July 6, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 2 Comments

Political reforms aren’t forthcoming any time soon. The perfect opportunity to institute them was just after the 1986 “revolution” when Cory Aquino established a revolutionary government after she was installed as President. Unfortunately, this was wasted because the commissioners to the Constitutional Commission basically reinstated the political system in place before the 1973 Constitution was…

Charter Change, Politics, Society

The Yellowtards wanted him to be a “sacrifice” to their gods but Noynoy Aquino’s family only wanted him to rest in peace

June 28, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 2 Comments

You can almost imagine what former President Noynoy Aquino’s final days may have been like given the description of the househelp and the driver who were closest to him as reported by PhilSTAR lifestyle columnist Bum Tenorio (who Bobi Tiglao quoted in his piece “Never again!”). His last public appearance already gave an indication of…

Religion, Society

Senate Defense Committee under Ping Lacson pushing bills to upgrade AFP/PNP benefits, follows thru on Duterte promises

June 25, 2021June 25, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 1 Comment

While the Opposition continues to push the government for fiscal stimulus and social amelioration funds for Filipinos most affected by the pandemic, the same individuals appear to be indifferent to the looming fiscal crisis brought about by the huge deficit in the pension fund of police, military and other uniformed government personnel. The present shortfall…

Government, Society

Necropolitics Card dealt by God to the Yellowtards!

June 24, 2021June 24, 2021 benign0 3 Comments

Breaking News according to the Tribune, albeit a “developing story”… “Various sources have claimed that former Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III died this morning at the Capitol Medal Center.” Possible game changer? Is this the Silver Bullet the Yellowtards have been scrounging around for? Recall back in 2009 how Noynoy Aquino was catapulted to the…

Politics, Society

Manny Pacquiao’s promise to house every homeless Filipino is dishonest and irresponsible

June 23, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 4 Comments

When you have a Senator who wants to be President on the basis of his popularity, it’s safe to say he will be mouthing populist policies in aid of election. Senator Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao was quoted last week saying that if he is elected President, he will give each and every homeless Filipino a home….

Development, Politics, Society

An Open Letter (of Apology) to My Toddler

June 20, 2021June 20, 2021 Vincent 5 Comments

On the occasion of “Fathers’ day”, while some dads are going to be receiving gifts or having dinners arranged for them, I opted to write my child an open letter that I hope she will read in the future. Here goes… Dear child, It is 2021. It has been quite a number of years since…

Education, Government, Society

Opposition against charter change because they fear disruption to a political order that benefits a few

June 8, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 1 Comment

If you look at a map of the pre-Spanish “Philippines,” you would see that sultanates were the norm. The archipelago was heavily influenced by Islam which came by way of Indonesia and Malaysia. It was the Spaniards who introduced Christianity. One could argue that if the archipelago wasn’t colonized it would be composed today of…

Charter Change, Education, Society

35 years of democracy has not freed Filipinos from entrenched oligarchic feudal rule

June 1, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 3 Comments

Richard Javad Heydarian has a fondness for historical context in relation to present-day situations. In his Inquirer piece “Why do we love dictators?” he laments how, “across the postcolonial world, where the pandemic has been most devastating, it seems many people can’t still shake off their collective fascination with despots, even the most tragically disastrous…

History, Society