Category: Society

Do the Philippines and the ASEAN community have what it takes to deal with China?

August 7, 2013 benign0 39 Comments

For all the feel-good news snippets we are receiving about the arrival of the Philippines’ newest warship, the 3,200-tonne BRP Ramon Alcaraz which joins the 3,400-tonne frigate BRP Gregorio del Pilar also acquired from the United States last year in patrolling disputed waters off Palawan, one cannot help ask a simple question: Can anyone really…

Culture, Development, Government, Society

Who are we to judge Chito Miranda and Neri Naig?

August 4, 2013 Kate Natividad 85 Comments

Why video yourself having sex? Admit it. Y’all have it in you. Perhaps when a scandal does erupt (as we are seeing now with this latest one involving Chito Miranda and Neri Naig) we react from within the context of regarding the shame of it all and think I’d never make one of those! But…

Glitz and Glamour, Society

Is there a right or wrong point of view of history?

August 4, 2013June 1, 2018 FallenAngel 43 Comments

Fact is, one will be hard-pressed to find a totally objective account of history. Though ultimately historians either avoid bias to the greatest extent possible or purposefully show it, individual accounts will never truly be free of it. Ultimately each individual’s account passes through a filter which is composed of his/her philosophies, belief systems, experiences,…

Development, Education, Politics, Society

Maznah and her Humanity

August 3, 2013 Jose Mario de Vega 13 Comments

I refer to the Free Malaysia Today’s “Woman in Hari Raya dog video arrested”, July 31st. When I read the whole report, I do not know whether I will laugh, be sad or will get angry and mad. I feel like laughing because I cannot understand the seriousness of the whole matter that it generated…

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Religion, Society

Three reasons why Filipinos are not as outraged by Jeane Lim Napoles’s lifestyle as they are by squatters

July 31, 2013 benign0 47 Comments

To be sure, alleged Anak ng Pork socialite Jeane Lim Napoles copped more fame (more like infamy, actually) than she had bargained for thanks to the ironic orgy of self-promotion she engaged in on social media over the last several years. Tough luck for the 23-year-old. Wrong place at the wrong time — kids do…

Civics, Lifestyle, Society

All eyes on LA LA lifestyle of Jeane Lim Napoles as Pork scandal circus rages!

July 30, 2013July 30, 2013 benign0 76 Comments

Wow, anak ng pork barrel talaga! Or so the expression goes if we are to believe recent revelations and allegations coming from the latest media circus that Janet Lim Napoles is a major ringleader in a scam that skims chunks of pork barrel funds off hapless Philippine congressmen. Where do these golden shavings go? Well,…

Crime, Glitz and Glamour, Lifestyle, Politics, Society

Miss Malaysia Fatwa: The Question of Beauty, Discretion and Self-Determination

July 30, 2013 Jose Mario de Vega 18 Comments

I know that the topic that I am going to write today will not be greeted by approval and mass agreement. I am also fully aware that perhaps a couple of my friends and colleagues will condemn me and my thoughts. I also expect that some will try to mock my thoughts and paint my…

Culture, Lifestyle, Religion, Society

Rule of Law cannot be implemented in the Philippines until Filipinos learn to follow simple guidelines

July 29, 2013 benign0 44 Comments

Upholding ‘rule of law’ in the Philippines is a complicated, labour-intensive exercise. Take the tony enclave of Rockwell in Makati City. It’s got expensive zebra-striped pedestrian lanes painted across most of where its nicely-paved streets intersect. These markings give the impression to someone who does not know of the way things are in the Philippines…

Civics, Crime, Culture, Politics, Society