Category: Society

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

Posted on By Ramon Ortoll 3 Comments on 35 years of democracy has not freed Filipinos from entrenched oligarchic feudal rule
35 years of democracy has not freed Filipinos from entrenched oligarchic feudal rule

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…

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History, Society

A crisis of existentialism in a time of COVID-19 pandemic

Posted on By Ramon Ortoll No Comments on A crisis of existentialism in a time of COVID-19 pandemic
A crisis of existentialism in a time of COVID-19 pandemic

It’s June already next week. The first half of the year went by like a snap of the fingers. The last half will be a race to December and before you know it, 2021 is over and marks out first full year in the pandemic. Meanwhile, an eminent sociologist appears to be having an existential…

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Lifestyle, Religion, Society

Opposition horse-trading shaped by energy oligarchs vying for control over oil and gas in West Philippine Sea

Posted on By Ramon Ortoll No Comments on Opposition horse-trading shaped by energy oligarchs vying for control over oil and gas in West Philippine Sea
Opposition horse-trading shaped by energy oligarchs vying for control over oil and gas in West Philippine Sea

So now journalists have to get their stories from Facebook posts. In her Inquirer report “Control of West PH Sea oil seen in takeover of Malampaya project”, Frances Mangosing uses a statement from a certain “security expert” named Jay Batongbacal as reference to highlight how a takeover of the Malampaya gas project by Dennis Uy’s…

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Business, Politics, Society

On how the politicisation of community pantries and ayuda contributed to Filipino mendicant culture

Posted on By Benedict Exconde 1 Comment on On how the politicisation of community pantries and ayuda contributed to Filipino mendicant culture
On how the politicisation of community pantries and ayuda contributed to Filipino mendicant culture

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck the Philippines, “bayanihan” has been a mainstay of Filipino culture, especially in the provinces. As someone who spent my youth in the province, I am not surprised whenever the friendly neighbors come over to our place to offer some of their food during the fiesta or Noche Buena or…

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Culture, Economy, Society

The Philippines needs less emotional millennials who can think strategically in terms of national interests

Posted on By Ramon Ortoll No Comments on The Philippines needs less emotional millennials who can think strategically in terms of national interests
The Philippines needs less emotional millennials who can think strategically in terms of national interests

Excellent read, this piece “A millennial considers the new German Problem after 30 years of peace”. Its author, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations and German millennial Ulrike Franke, laments how her demographic “struggle to think in terms of interests, we struggle with the concept of geopolitical power, and we struggle…

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Development, Society

Oligarchs spawned by Spanish and American colonial masters at core of Philippine society ills

Posted on By Ramon Ortoll 2 Comments on Oligarchs spawned by Spanish and American colonial masters at core of Philippine society ills
Oligarchs spawned by Spanish and American colonial masters at core of Philippine society ills

A broken piece of ceramic material, specially one found in an archeological site. This is the definition of Sherds, which is also a novel by National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose. The novel is 12 chapters and short at 122 pages. It is really more a novelette. It has been a long time since…

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Society

Opposition “thought leaders” lack mental fortitude and rely on shallow social interaction to feel relevant

Posted on By Ramon Ortoll No Comments on Opposition “thought leaders” lack mental fortitude and rely on shallow social interaction to feel relevant
Opposition “thought leaders” lack mental fortitude and rely on shallow social interaction to feel relevant

Pandemic blues. It appears that the pandemic has also affected the mindset of the Opposition. Millennials and those younger than them are all criticizing the government for its pandemic response. You see them on Twitter manifesting mental weakness. They are the biggest voting bloc. These 21-49 year olds number 40 million as of the last…

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Politics, Society

“Death by community pantry” is dead right!

Posted on By benign0 6 Comments on “Death by community pantry” is dead right!
“Death by community pantry” is dead right!

It’s in the news and is all the buzz amongst the mutual high-fivin’ titas of Manila who are reveling in the idea that they have once again scored a Great Woke Cancellation. University of the Philippines Executive Vice President Teodoro J. Herbosa had recently tendered his resignation. News site Interaksyon “reports” that this was “after…

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Culture, Religion, Society