Category: Society

Re-introduction of Spanish mandated by Arroyo in 2007, trumpeted by BS Aquino today

July 4, 2012July 4, 2012 benign0 21 Comments

The re-introduction of Spanish into the education system of the Philippines was brought to the fore during the visit of Queen Sofia of Spain this week. Though originally mandated by former President Gloria Arroyo in 2007, President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III happened to be in a convenient position to herald the return of the…

Culture, Economy, Education, Society

KFC Cheese Top Burger and the pointless things under the Aquino administration

July 2, 2012July 19, 2012 a 28 Comments

As if to serve as some sort of an unsolicited comic relief, the Philippine branch of widely known fast food chain KFC recently came up with a new, amusing value meal: the Cheese Top Burger. The name speaks for itself; the cheese, instead of being between the buns together with the burger patty, is above…

Featured, Government, Politics, Society

Is compassion misapplied in Philippine society?

July 2, 2012March 24, 2014 FallenAngel 13 Comments

The definition of compassion that is common to several sources is that it is a feeling of deep sympathy and/or empathy for the misfortune of others. If we want to further go down this line of thought, then eventually we find ourselves face to face with the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would…

Culture, Government, Society

An alternative personification of the Pinoy: the spoiled brat

July 1, 2012July 25, 2013 FallenAngel 14 Comments

The symbol for the Filipino everyman is called Juan de la Cruz. In that essence, it is similar to the way Americans use John Doe to refer to people whose identity is unknown. Juan de la Cruz is also particularly used in the sense that it a very common name here in the Philippines. He…

Culture, Development, Featured, Politics, Society

Fair skin equals 100 percent ‘sosyal’ screams Belo ad!

July 1, 2012May 4, 2014 benign0 24 Comments

The following was captured from an image of one of three ads uploaded to the Belo Men Facebook Page at 6:15pm 01 July 2012 (AEST). The ad images had apparently since been removed from that page. The ad features a fair-skinned Filipino(?) man standing in front of what looks like a white Korean-made economy sedan…

Culture, Glitz and Glamour, Lifestyle, Media, Society

Philippine politics: a tiresome game of kampihan with noisy kids

July 1, 2012 a 10 Comments

I confess that I didnâ€™t have many friends in my pre-school childhood. Iâ€™ve always been more of a homebody; preferring to stay at home and read books rather than get sweaty and dirty with the other kids in the neighbourhood. I do understand how itâ€™s like to play kidsâ€™ games, though, having tried it every…

Government, Politics, Society

Kimpoy Feliciano and the social media capital that is the Philippines

June 30, 2012 benign0 15 Comments

So the Philippines is the “social media capital” of the world, is it? What exactly does this mean? Apparently “capturing” the title — a title supposedly “awarded” the country by “pundits” — is seen to be some sort of achievement. Celebrating this “achievement” is the occasion of “a gathering of Twitterati, bloggers and other internet…

Culture, Education, Media, Society, Tech Talk

Koko Pimentel’s royal tantrum versus Migs Zubiri and why Filipinos need to vote wisely in 2013

June 29, 2012June 29, 2012 benign0 17 Comments

Election time is just around the corner in the Philippines again with various seats in Congress up for grabs. The stakes are high. Pressure amongst the handful of feudal clans who rule the land to keep the goods within the family is mounting as the whelps of aging lords and ladies of various manors carved…

Politics, Society