Tag: china

Why the Philippines Failed? A Developmental Perspective

April 18, 2013April 18, 2013 Richard Javad Heydarian 38 Comments

In his seminal book, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (1905), Max Weber, widely known as the father of modern sociology, provided (arguably among the first and most compelling) arguments on the relationship (or correlation) between â€˜cultureâ€™ and â€˜economic productivityâ€™. As an established economic analyst, Weber was interested in understanding why protestant nations…

Culture, Development, Society

Animal fetish: Frozen pangolin in Chinese fishing boat seized in Philippine waters off Palawan

April 15, 2013April 15, 2013 benign0 4 Comments

On top of the damage a Chinese fishing vessel had caused on World Heritage-listed Tubbataha Reef off Palawan in early April, Philippine authorities have reportedly made a striking discovery in the ship’s cargo hold — hundreds of frozen anteaters or pangolins. All eight species of the pangolin are considered to be in danger of extinction…

Crime, Culture, Environment, Lifestyle

The Iron Lady: Could Filipinos have handled a leader like Margaret Thatcher?

April 9, 2013 benign0 90 Comments

Filipinos can only make wistful remarks about the greatness of the late former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who died yesterday aged 87. This is a lady who busted Britain’s paralysing unions, sent Her Majesty’s warships sailing thousands of miles south to take back the Falkland Islands from the Argentines, and stared down scores of…

Culture, Politics, Society

THE SABAH ISSUE: The Betrayal to the Republic of the Philippines of Mr. Aquino

March 8, 2013March 8, 2013 Jose Mario de Vega 96 Comments

I concur with the statement of the Anonymous Philippines (February 28th) that President Aquino’s February 26, 2013 statement on Sabah Issue is problematic. In fact, I will even argue that the pronouncement of Mr. Aquino is unpatriotic and treasonous. Whatever little respect I have in him is completely gone the very moment I heard him…

Civics, Development, Government, Politics, The South

China acting not only as a dirty dog, but as a lousy bully and a racist freak

March 6, 2013March 6, 2013 Jose Mario de Vega 14 Comments

Last week, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that a restaurant at the historic tourist city of Houhai in Beijing put up a sign which says: â€œThis shop does not receive The Japanese, The Philippines, The Vietnamese and dog.â€ This is palpably racism in its worst kind and discrimination of the lowest order! SHAME! I concur…

Culture, Society

Moving Away from the ASEAN is a Costly Mistake

February 22, 2013February 23, 2013 BenK 5 Comments

(As published in The Manila Times, Thursday, February 21) One of the key reasons Southeast Asia is the worldâ€™s most economically-promising region is the strength and stability of the regional multilateral partnership, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). With the debatable exception of the European Union, no other multinational cooperative in the world performs…

Economy, Money Talks, Politics

Antonio Trillanes outclassed as Enrile retains Senate Presidency

January 22, 2013 benign0 63 Comments

For me, the only person who is coming out the usual chump (that he really is) in the on-going circus in the Senate is none other than “senator” Antonio Trillanes. He is, after all, the guy who led a failed military rebellion in the early- to mid-2000s, got convicted and imprisoned, then was pardoned by…

Politics

The world ended for many Filipinos in 2012

December 30, 2012December 28, 2013 Ilda 64 Comments

After taking a short break during the Christmas season, Philippine President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino is reportedly back feeling “recharged”. It’s been a busy 2012 for the President and his allies, indeed. He has been sick quite a few times during the year and it was a sign that his health was not a hundred…

Development, Economy, Featured, Government, Politics