Category: Society

Metro Rail Transit crisis gripping Manila a result of long-term failure in thinking

April 11, 2014March 24, 2022 benign0 16 Comments

The “increase in population” that has been made the excuse du jour of Malacanang to wash its hands off the appalling mass transport crisis paralysing Metro Manila today is something that the government cannot absolve itself of any responsibility for. Facing mounting calls for the head of Al Vitangcol General Manager of the Metro Rail…

Crime, Development, Government, Lifestyle, Politics, Society

‘Great nations achieve great things’ – Is the Philippines a great nation?

April 10, 2014December 30, 2015 benign0 70 Comments

Sometimes we forget that only a very tiny tiny minority of Filipinos are able to articulate the kinds of ideas exchanged within the circles of people who think. One can find lots of brainwaves splashing about in the Philippine social media scene where so much could be discussed about people and events and so many…

Culture, Development, Society

Mabuhay ang Daang Matuwid! Ombudsman charges Tanda, Sexy, and Pogi for plunder

April 8, 2014 Virtual Vigilante 23 Comments

At long last, the Office of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to file plunder charges against Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla in connection with the pork barrel scam–click the links below this paragraph to read the plunder complaints against Tanda, Sexy and Pogi. Most of us already know that most…

Crime, Society

Top-notch command of the English language opens doors

April 7, 2014 benign0 57 Comments

We’d like to believe that we deserve a society that treats people fairly regardless of how well they speak and write English and regardless of whether they speak it with a regional accent or not. We think, if we continue stomping our feet enough in a loud appeal to nationalist sentiment, that we could one…

Culture, Education, Lifestyle, Society

A collective outcome rather than the majority will: Why Filipinos fail at common decency

April 4, 2014 benign0 10 Comments

At the coffee shop where I routinely get my morning fix, customers mill around the counter in a way that often makes it difficult to distinguish those who are (a) in the process of ordering and paying, or (2) waiting for a concluded order to be served. So it is a normal and routine courtesy…

Civics, Culture, Lifestyle, Society

How a PISO defined a child…

April 2, 2014 Ms. Mike Portes 5 Comments

The breezy morning at the inner gnarled streets of Baclaran yielded not only bags of fresh Caimito and Singkamas but the opportunity to commute with this boy. He is Allen Nuñez, a Grade 5 student of Baclaran Central Elementary School. He was seated on the lap of a teenage-looking boy in civilian clothes, when I…

Culture, Politics, Society

Sam Concepcion ‘not classy enough’ according to Anne Curtis!

April 2, 2014April 2, 2014 Kate Natividad 7 Comments

Seriously? Anne Curtis thinks Sam Concepcion is not “classy” enough to be in Vice Ganda’s party at the Century City Mall? Well, fair enough. Anne was, reportedly, drunk after all. Again. On top of that, bystanders recounted in that same report how Anne proceeded to “bash Sam’s car, saying that his car was no match…

Culture, Glitz and Glamour, Society

Indeed, the REAL issue is not the Philippines — it is Filipinos

April 2, 2014 benign0 60 Comments

Indeed, the Philippines is a wild trail that needs to be negotiated. And as experienced trackers and wilderness negotiators will point out, navigating a wild trail is not for the faint-hearted and dimwitted. You need brains, you need stamina, you need guts. Do Filipinos have any of those virtues? Well now, don’t get us started….

Civics, Culture, Government, Politics, Society