Tag: democracy

Repeat after me: I am the Philippines and I am home to a dysfunctional society

March 26, 2014March 26, 2014 benign0 37 Comments

I realised the whole problem with the prevailing discourse within the social media space I inhabit: there is too much discussion about politics and not enough about the underlying issue with Philippine society that I have long highlighted is the real deal here — Filipino culture. Fact is, the Philippines is beset by a really…

Crime, Culture, Development, Government, Media, Politics, Society

Why cadet Cudia’s case has played out on social media like an EDSA revolution

March 17, 2014March 18, 2014 FallenAngel 48 Comments

I don’t pretend to know much about the nitty-gritty of military life. In fact, the closest I ever came to experiencing it involved being an officer in the Citizen’s Army Training (CAT) program in high school, and being a normal cadet in the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program in college. If anyone cares to…

Civics, Crime, Culture, Media, Society

Honor is not a strong part of Filipino tradition

March 14, 2014January 15, 2022 benign0 42 Comments

You don’t need to look far. The current political tele-dramas that have rivetted Filipinos lately point to it. Thievery on such an unprecedented vast scale perpetrated by the elected officials of a society are proof in itself. Many of them were not elected once but twice — and their offspring and kin elected despite all…

Civics, Culture, Development, Government, Society

Just because Kris Aquino denies it does not mean she may not end up a winner in 2016

March 5, 2014March 5, 2014 benign0 8 Comments

If you read carefully what Kris Aquino says on record regarding this matter, that “It has never been discussed,” and that such a concept is “not on the table” you will find that she basically deferring the decision to other people, whether that decision comes from the President himself or his sidekick Mar. In this…

Culture, Glitz and Glamour, Politics

It’s time Filipinos start recognizing the true builders of their country

February 25, 2014March 13, 2014 benign0 26 Comments

With political airspace in the Philippines currently congested by allegations, accusations, and speculations of thievery flying back and forth between political cliques, factions, and camps, one couldn’t be blamed for losing any remaining semblance of faith in the old idealistic notion that a stint in government office grants one a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to “make a…

Development, Economy, Featured, Government, Politics

Online libel, freedom of information, and what Filipinos have done with their freedom

February 24, 2014February 25, 2014 FallenAngel 35 Comments

Outrage in the citizenry continues erupting over the recent ruling of the Supreme Court regarding the online libel clause in Republic Act 10175, A.K.A. the Cybercrime Law. Due to the online libel clause not being declared unconstitutional, social media is abuzz with discussion that the end of “freedom of speech” and “freedom of expression” draws…

Civics, Culture, Government, Media, Society

The 1986 EDSA Revolution’s legacy: Three key aspects of the 1987 Constitution that hobbles Philippine progress

February 24, 2014 benign0 21 Comments

It’s that time of the year again when we celebrate that supposedly seminal event in Philippine history when, according to the local lore, the forces of evil (porportedly the regime of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos) were vanquished by the forces of good (supposedly the Aquino-Cojuangco feudal clan). Marcos removed. Game over. The 1986 “People…

Charter Change, Civics, Development, Government, Media, Politics, Society

Aquino anti-cybercrime law curtailing freedom of speech ruins significance of EDSA people power revolution

February 20, 2014February 25, 2014 Ilda 58 Comments

The celebration for the 28th anniversary of EDSA People Power revolution will be low key according to Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma. Instead of holding it at EDSA where it was held traditionally, it will be held in Cebu province. The reason given was “because the province was the bulwark of the opposition to the…

Development, Government, Politics