Category: Society

Colegio de San Agustin road rage! Is the Philippines home to a decent society?

November 5, 2014November 5, 2014 benign0 50 Comments

We make one big assumption whenever we express indignation and outrage over the instances of banal injustice that make regular news fodder in the Philippines — that ours is a “decent” society. But step back and ask a more fundamental question: Is Philippine society really a decent one? Just now I spied a recent post…

Civics, Crime, Culture, Education, Lifestyle, Society

The First World can’t help the Third World because they don’t understand Third World poverty

November 4, 2014November 4, 2014 benign0 48 Comments

Q: What do the conflicts in the Middle East, pestilence in Africa, and chronic poverty in the Philippines have in common? A: The West’s insistence that it can “help” the Third World. How many more times will the West’s intervention in the Third World end in disaster? Many more times — because the First World…

Culture, Development, Economy, Lifestyle, Society, Technology

What will the Philippines do if America walks away?

October 31, 2014October 31, 2014 benign0 43 Comments

We already know the answer to that question. Back in 1991, Philippine Congress voted to boot Uncle Sam’s boys out of her shores for good. Since then, the Philippines had undergone a steep decline to irrelevance in the world stage. Along with that came tumbling her ability to defend herself. Indeed, one would have thought…

Civics, Development, Economy, Government, Politics, Society, The South

The long-awaited Binay-Trillanes political cockfight: Place your bets!

October 30, 2014October 30, 2014 benign0 14 Comments

Filipinos are getting impatient. It’s been many days now since Vice President Jejomar Binay challenged his nemesis ‘senator’ Antonio Trillanes IV to a “debate”. And as the days wear on, the chances that this will actually happen get slimmer as both camps realise that this is likely going to turn out to be a battle…

Crime, Culture, Media, Politics, Society

Bad taste rules: Morbid photos of a dead Jeffrey Laude released by his family!

October 30, 2014October 30, 2014 benign0 34 Comments

So the reason Harry Roque, legal counsel for the family of slain Filipino transgender Jeffrey Laude, released photos of the victim’s body to the public is reportedly “to gain public sympathy for the case.” “It’s high time the Filipino people understand the family’s and Suselbeck’s sense of anger,” Roque said. In short, Roque confirms that…

Culture, Media, Society

Sorry, Joe. No more boom-boom in Manila and Olongapo City

October 29, 2014November 22, 2022 benign0 25 Comments

If I were a businessman of any sort in the Philippines, I’d be fuming. In most NORMAL countries, the arrival of shiploads of young, cashed-up, and physically vigorous American military personnel would be greeted with joy and eyes flashing with $$ signs. Not in the Philippines though. The other day, the United States aircraft carrier…

Crime, Culture, Development, Economy, Government, Lifestyle, Politics, Society

I am Jejomar Binay

October 29, 2014October 29, 2014 benign0 8 Comments

I am Jejomar Binay. I’ve been that politician in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’ve been in dark alleys, rented rooms, and in the company of strange men. But I was lucky (like you’ve been lucky) that the person who could have harmed either of us just didn’t harm us at that time….

Rubbish at the Manila International Airport: Nakakahiya sa mga Kano!

October 27, 2014 benign0 28 Comments

When I posted that photo tweeted by former Bureau of Customs chief Ruffy Biazon of the rubbish mess left by passengers in a lounge at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, I didn’t realise what a big wave it was going to make. Indeed it was interesting to note how deeply-revolted many Filipinos…

Civics, Crime, Culture, Education, Lifestyle, Society