Tag: danding cojuangco

Is the Ninoy Aquino assassination of 1983 still a significant part of our history?

August 18, 2024 Ramon Ortoll 2 Comments

I was one of those who joined every major protest action against the Marcos dictatorship at that time. My view, in large part, was shaped by my professors who were mostly anti-Marcos. They controlled the narrative then and I had not developed my critical thinking skillset at that point. I couldn’t see the inconsistencies in…

History

Parallels with 1986? Traditional Opposition cling to Leni Robredo as their hope for “unification”!

August 24, 2021 Ramon Ortoll No Comments

Evidently caught up in the past, John Nery waxes nostalgic in his Inquirer piece “The united opposition of … 1986”. Nery points out that the fragmented Opposition of that time managed to rally together at the eleventh hour to beat their bogeyman, then President Ferdinand Marcos. He writes wistfully, suggesting that his comrades must see…

Politics

Nobody could be bothered to solve Ninoy Aquino’s murder — not even the last two Aquino presidents, his wife and son

August 21, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 3 Comments

National artist F. Sionil Jose’s PhilSTAR piece today, “Remembering Ninoy”, best sums up Ninoy Aquino who, on this day in 1983, was assassinated. Jose recalls, “Immediately after EDSA I, Lt. Victor Corpuz saw me; he confirmed that Ninoy was really involved with the New People’s Army.” And so, to this very day we don’t know…

History

Lacson-Sotto genuine Opposition the final nail in the coffin of the Yellowtards

July 21, 2021July 21, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 1 Comment

Inquirer columnist Manuel L Quezon III (MLQ3) makes much of the old political party conventions to select national candidates. In his piece today “Candidates looking for a reason” he writes about “what the absence of political party conventions tells about the state of our politics not just today, but for the past 40 years.” We’re…

Politics

LANDBANK-UCPB merger clears way for further development of Philippine coconut industry

July 2, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 1 Comment

The United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) was one of the largest unibanks in the country before the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) sunk its claws into it. After 1986, the bank continued its sterling performance until the old guard were replaced by executives who managed to weasel their way in through political godfathers. The…

Business, Money Talks

GRAVITAS is what makes Philippine presidents. Not popularity. And certainly NOT PA-CUTE.

June 12, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 2 Comments

And we come down to this? Does De La Salle University (DLSU) professor and Manila Times columnist Antonio Contreras even have a realistic point of view of how politicians come into power? Doesn’t look like it when one considers this post of his on Facebook where he practically endorses boxer-turned-senator Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao’s bid for…

Business, Politics

Candidates need to meet the GENUINE SINCERITY standard to stand a chance in 2022. Very few of them do.

June 9, 2021July 21, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 1 Comment

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was known to common Filipinos when he made the announcement about a possible Presidential run back in 2016. His “speaking tour” about federalism was actually a listening tour. He wanted to get first-hand information on the people’s gripes. More important back then, the public had had it with then President Noynoy…

Politics

Lack of a strong national identity makes for dog-eat-dog Philippine politics

May 29, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 8 Comments

For a political and social scientist, Professor Antonio Contreras surely is naive. But he can also be pragmatic when it comes to his own self-promotion. Borderline personality disorder? Maybe. In his Manila Times piece he rails against the “dirty politics” of these times… Popular culture has reinforced the image of politics as devoid of virtue….

History, Politics