Tag: Election

The role of social media ‘activism’ in the Philippines’ next presidential elections

November 26, 2014 benign0 4 Comments

That is a hard question the Philippines’ would-be social media “activists” and “citizen journalists” need to ask themselves again. The current administration of Philippine President Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III has been used as a backdrop to the purported rise of these new media organisations and “movements” as voices to contend with in the country’s…

Civics, Lifestyle, Media, Politics, Tech Talk

It is time for Filipinos to start REFUSING to be victims

November 24, 2014 benign0 41 Comments

Perhaps at the root of all the factors that contribute to the Philippines’ continued and foreseeable failure to prosper is a deeply-entrenched cultural artefact: victimhood. Filipinos like playing the victim card. It is the heart of its politics — a “victimised” people to whom populist appeals to hero rhetoric resonate. As such, Filipino politicians win…

Culture, Development, Education, Politics, Society

How to stop Jejomar Binay from winning the 2016 presidential elections

November 5, 2014 benign0 42 Comments

There are only two ways to beat Jejomar Binay in the coming election (1) field a presidential candidate who can pose a credible challenge to him or (2) throw him in jail. The way things are going, it is likely that neither will happen. Pretty much every politician that can even be half a challenger…

Crime, Politics

Why Voters Should Not Vote for the ‘Right’ Candidates

October 11, 2014 Hector Gamboa 17 Comments

There is a saying that goes: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result”. Of course if we think about it, it’s not entirely true. Tom Chivers, assistant comment editor of The Telegraph in the United Kingdom, correctly points out the flaw of the cliché. He points out…

Government, Politics

Who the next president of the Philippines should be

September 9, 2014 benign0 32 Comments

It’s election season again. So, as expected, a lot of people ask us who we think should be president. Personally I think that is a rude question. Ballots are cast in secret for a reason — because who one votes for is none of anyone else’s business. To be fair, good manners are really not…

Government, Politics, Society

The Disqualification of ERAP and the ‘Seat Belt Law’ of the Philippine Electorate

July 11, 2014 Virtual Vigilante 11 Comments

The Comelec, the Sandiganbayan and, most of all, the Supreme Court have either failed to fulfil their duties or shirked their responsibilities long enough with respect to the unequivocal and perpetual disqualification of individuals convicted of a crime to run for and/or hold public office, be it an elected or appointed post, whether or not…

Crime, Government, Politics, Society

Senator Bong Revilla might just become Philippine President in 2016

June 17, 2014June 17, 2014 benign0 50 Comments

A lot of people are ‘shocked’ that embattled Philippine Senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr is still planning to run for President in 2016. After all, he is one of three Senators being charged by the Department of Justice in relation to the pork barrel scam. But, really, the premise behind his bid for the Philipppines’…

Crime, Government, Media, Politics, Society

A collective outcome rather than the majority will: Why Filipinos fail at common decency

April 4, 2014 benign0 10 Comments

At the coffee shop where I routinely get my morning fix, customers mill around the counter in a way that often makes it difficult to distinguish those who are (a) in the process of ordering and paying, or (2) waiting for a concluded order to be served. So it is a normal and routine courtesy…

Civics, Culture, Lifestyle, Society