Category: Society

On its “Independence Day”, the Philippines remains a sad and CONFUSED colony

Posted on By benign0 7 Comments on On its “Independence Day”, the Philippines remains a sad and CONFUSED colony
On its “Independence Day”, the Philippines remains a sad and CONFUSED colony

Today, the 12th of June, is the Philippines’ imagined “Independence Day” — the day when she unilaterally declared herself “independent” of her Spanish colonial master. That was not to be for long as history would go on to reveal. Way above Filipinos’ pointed heads as their “revolutionaries” patted themselves on their backs, Spain and the…

Read More “On its “Independence Day”, the Philippines remains a sad and CONFUSED colony” »

History, Politics, Society

How can we envision a “new Philippines” when “being Filipino” remains a problematic idea?

Posted on By benign0 3 Comments on How can we envision a “new Philippines” when “being Filipino” remains a problematic idea?
How can we envision a “new Philippines” when “being Filipino” remains a problematic idea?

A “new Philippines” cannot be achieved by merely singing some blurb every morning. Proof of this is in how even the basic principles of the Panatang Makabayan (“Patriotic Oath”) had failed to embed in the Filipino psyche despite several generations of Filipinos being made to recite it in the morning. Without a foundation of “love…

Read More “How can we envision a “new Philippines” when “being Filipino” remains a problematic idea?” »

Culture, Society

In a society where the majority is comprehension-challenged, should majority rule?

Posted on By benign0 13 Comments on In a society where the majority is comprehension-challenged, should majority rule?
In a society where the majority is comprehension-challenged, should majority rule?

It is easy to tell that Fiesta Election season in the Philippines is just around the corner. There is ayuda talk aplenty with one or the other politician “pushing” one “initiative” or the other to “alleviate” the “plight” of “the poor”. Many of these are initiatives are well within the power of administrators of various…

Read More “In a society where the majority is comprehension-challenged, should majority rule?” »

Society

Why is Filipino “patriotism” so CRINGE?

Posted on By benign0 13 Comments on Why is Filipino “patriotism” so CRINGE?
Why is Filipino “patriotism” so CRINGE?

One is consistently hard-pressed to get an authentic stand-up-and-put-hand-on-heart-with-welling-eyes vibe when called to emit a bit of patriotic signals for the Philippines. The latest such attempt to reel in some “love of country” sentiment comes in the form of an all-too-familiar “people power” stunt pulled by “non-government coalition” Atin Ito (“this is ours”) which set…

Read More “Why is Filipino “patriotism” so CRINGE?” »

Politics, Society

The Philippines’ hollow no-substance political leaders and alliances hinders its development

Posted on By Ramon Ortoll 5 Comments on The Philippines’ hollow no-substance political leaders and alliances hinders its development
The Philippines’ hollow no-substance political leaders and alliances hinders its development

In his recent piece “Ideology, anyone?”, Manila Standard columnist Lito Banayo hits upon a key reason why we are not as progressive as our ASEAN neighbors. Banayo gets to the core of why the “Unity” theme of the current administration of President Bongbong Marcos (PBbM) is in a death spiral sharing a conversation he picked…

Read More “The Philippines’ hollow no-substance political leaders and alliances hinders its development” »

Politics, Society

“Poverty” is such a BORING topic!

Posted on By benign0 69 Comments on “Poverty” is such a BORING topic!
“Poverty” is such a BORING topic!

Considering that the Philippines has been poor for most of its history, it’s quite a wonder that “poverty” gets the inches and air time it does in the Philippines’ mainstream media and the rhetoric of its “activists”. It really isn’t news anymore. The effort to “analyse” Pinoy-style “poverty” is effort wasted as there really is…

Read More ““Poverty” is such a BORING topic!” »

Economy, Society

Tardic Wars: No New Hope for the Philippines

Posted on By benign0 5 Comments on Tardic Wars: No New Hope for the Philippines
Tardic Wars: No New Hope for the Philippines

Just like the way the Yellowtard-Communist Axis was torn by infighting between the two woke factions that lend it its name, what was once the “Unity Team” is now ripped apart by the petty mudslinging between one or another narcissist “influencer”. To be fair, the “Unity Team” was no more than an election winning construct…

Read More “Tardic Wars: No New Hope for the Philippines” »

Society

On what bases do Filipinos harbour “hope” for 2024?

Posted on By benign0 8 Comments on On what bases do Filipinos harbour “hope” for 2024?
On what bases do Filipinos harbour “hope” for 2024?

A report on a recent Pulse Asia survey reportedly shows that more than 90 percent of Filipinos face the New Year with a feeling of “hope”. “Amid the various challenges Filipinos face on a daily basis, most of them continue to remain optimistic, with 92 percent saying they will face the new year with hope….

Read More “On what bases do Filipinos harbour “hope” for 2024?” »

Development, Society