Tag: activism

Was the Philippines’ mainstream media hoodwinked into reacting to #LeniLeaks?

January 16, 2017January 16, 2017 benign0 4 Comments

That, of course, is a question that will underlie countless debates over the foreseeable future. Was there a conspiracy to oust sitting President Rodrigo Duterte in the works behind the shadowy non-security of a YahooGroups message forum? Is there really evidence to support sedition charges against Leni Robredo’s camp sitting in those “leaked” emails? Only…

Media, Society

Filipino hipsters unite around #CoronIsNotBikiniBottom to rail against Nickelodeon’s Palawan plans

January 11, 2017January 11, 2017 benign0 27 Comments

The Philippines is not exactly among the most pristine tropical island destinations listed in most tourist brochures. Why? Because of a lot of things owing to Filipinos’ renowned Reverse Midas Touch syndrome. Look no further than how Manila, the country’s premiere metropolis, is managed. Decrepit public utility buses and jeepneys belch toxic black smoke as…

Civics, Environment, Lifestyle

#LeniLeaks: The Global Filipino Diaspora Council (GFDC) is the new CIA!

January 10, 2017 benign0 9 Comments

Conspiracy theories of yore singled out the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as the key culprit in foreign-led covert operations that sought to shepherd Philippine politics towards certain agendas. A Newsweek report cites observations that the United States has long ago “gone beyond interfering with elections” in countries around the world and has “overthrown…

Crime, Government

Why Leni Robredo will FAIL as leader of the Philippine Opposition

December 15, 2016 benign0 36 Comments

The Philippines’ Opposition do need a leader. Desperately. Indeed, I’ve recognised that a long time ago in my July 2014 piece The Philippine opposition remains too flaccid and disorganised to EXPLOIT the current situation. I wrote then how “as Opposition to former President Marcos, then during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Yellow…

Culture, Politics

The populists and the guardians of ‘decency’

December 15, 2016 rsurtida 55 Comments

There’s a common trait shared by some of the critics of US president Donald Trump and Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte that drives even the most rational supporters of both presidents into near-fanatic levels in defending their chosen candidate. The supposed supporters of “modern liberal thinking”, the antithesis of the “backward and barbaric” maxims supposedly espoused…

Culture, Government, Media, Politics, Society

Leni Robredo “quits” after being booted out of President Duterte’s Cabinet meetings

December 5, 2016 benign0 11 Comments

Laban Leni! That familiar battle cry of the Yellowtards will once again ripple across social media in response to their leader, “vice president” Leni Robredo getting booted out of the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte. What exactly will this “laban” (“fight”) be about? Who knows? Despite the call to fight being a favourite tagline of…

Government, Politics

Why I Lose Hope For The Youth Of Today

December 3, 2016December 3, 2016 Grimwald 28 Comments

Okay ladies and gentlemen, before I begin, let me get a few things out of the way. First off, if you really need to know, I am a Marcos supporter. Now, before you say anything, I’ll just say this: Yes, former President Marcos was not an angel. He wasn’t a perfect leader. He has done his share…

Culture, Education, Politics, Society

Aside from “Fnck you, Marcos!” do anti-Marcos “activists” have anything IMPORTANT to say?

December 2, 2016 benign0 23 Comments

Imperial Manila’s hipsters keep complaining that there was not enough effort to “educate” generations of Filipinos about the alleged “horrors” of “the Martial Law years”. Perhaps this is why it is seen to be an “in” thing amongst a small clique of shool kids to be seen on these anti-Marcos protest rallies of late. The…

Education, Society