We beg to differ.
I have only recently read Mike Portes’ Minsan May Isang Puta and its sequel article Ang Putak Ng Anak Ng Puta and was thoroughly moved by their realistic takes on Filipino life and mentality. Mike Portes is certainly a master at what he does and I was quite impressed with the fact that his work was immediately…
We’ve all read about how anti-intellectual Philippine society is and how Filipinos are often too emotional for their own good. Yes, I even wrote an article about how my idea of Hell fits in with the Filipino mindset. But now comes an important question for all Filipinos: Is it so difficult to be professional? Is…
Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you, Mr President, for your kind welcome and for your words of greeting in the name of the authorities and people of the Philippines, and the distinguished members of the Diplomatic Corps. I am most grateful for your invitation to visit the Philippines. My visit is above all pastoral. It…
Read More “Transcript of #PopeFrancis’s speech at Malacañang 16 Jan 2015” »
Just before the year ended, my friends and I had a week of nothing but fun and tequila. During one of our sessions, I was asked about my take on religion. Being intoxicated at the time, I gave them my answer. For those who are curious, yes, I do hold religious beliefs. I am Roman…
A Daily Mail report is making waves asserting that the Philippines’ police have mounted an operation to “round up orphans and chain them in filth during pontiff’s visit to Philippines.” The report cites the testimony of a certain Catherine Scerri, deputy director of street children charity Bahay Tuluyan who says that all this is really…
Building a cult of personality. That is the last thing Pope Francis is likely to have wanted included in his agenda for his visit to the Philippines. The Pope said that his visit to the Philippines is about the poor and the victims of the two recent calamities that devastated the Philippines. To further punctuate…
Read More “Pope Francis’s over-the-top reception in the #Philippines” »
I once read an issue of Marvel’s Captain America and I saw a scene where the Red Skull (the villain of the piece) tries to justify the terrible atrocities he has committed over the years. He said something along the lines that “everyone secretly wants to bully and be bullied by others”. For those unfamiliar…
Read More “Bullying and Offensive Stereotypes in Our Society” »
Everyone these days is blabbing about “positive thinking” as if it’s a new religion of some kind. Well, I guess for some it already is a religion and one that they believe can have beneficial impacts on their lives. I even had a friend who recommended the book “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne, saying that…
Read More “Pinoy ‘Positive Thinking’ and How It Prevents Positive Change” »