Tag: federalism

Under federalism, EVERY Filipino tribe will find out what they are REALLY made of

July 13, 2018July 14, 2018 benign0 25 Comments

At the moment, every boy and his dog is writing one or another bit of “analysis” on the matter of the Philippines’ transformation into a federal republic. Under a federal system of government, each state is given autonomy to sort out its own affairs leaving the feds to handle the bigger issues of national consequence…

Charter Change, Culture, Development

Why Duterte should step down to give way to Leni

May 1, 2018 zaxx 9 Comments

This post will be a bit shorter than usual. It’s quite noticeable that many people (esp. in Facebook) just read the title and hastily jump to react and issue comments without even bothering to read the actual article itself. Yes, that’s the sad reality (lack of time or sheer laziness) – and it’s quite easy…

Charter Change, Government, Politics

The debate around Charter Change should be about future opportunities and not about past fears

February 2, 2018 benign0 8 Comments

The trouble with the “debate” over this most recent initiative to change the Philippine Constitution is that most of the more popular arguments being given air time have to do with obsolete 1980s-era thinking rather than on a future outlook for the Filipino nation. Christian Monsod, one of the framers of the current Constitution enacted…

Charter Change, Development, The South

The REAL Cocoy Dayao: A cautionary tale about a person who hung out with the wrong crowd

November 21, 2017November 21, 2017 benign0 6 Comments

I knew Cocoy Dayao back when he wrote for his own blog Big Mango in the early- to mid-2000s. Back then, a healthy respect for Yellowtardism still pervaded the political discourse, but there was, even then, a growing skepticism surrounding what was perceived to be a disturbing trend towards extra-constitutionally changing duly-elected leaders (a.k.a. “people…

Culture, Politics

Bridging the divide between Manila and Mindanao

May 27, 2017May 30, 2017 FallenAngel 6 Comments

Physically, what separates Luzon and Mindanao, are the Philippine Sea, and the Visayas island group. Modern transportation has enabled this physical distance to be bridged: what was once a several-day sea journey, can also be traversed by a 1-2 hour airplane flight (if you have the money for it, of course). In terms of sentiment,…

Development, Society, The South

Questions that must be asked before any talk of federalism in the Philippines starts

December 29, 2016December 29, 2016 FallenAngel 15 Comments

One of the main campaign promises of then-presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte was to push for federalism in the Philippines. He claims that it will make the delivery of basic services faster, and it is the only solution to the secessionist problem in the southern Philippines. The word “federalism” traces its root to the Latin foedus,…

Charter Change, Civics, Culture, Government, Society

Changes to Expect Under a Duterte Government

May 4, 2016 zaxx 71 Comments

Change is finally coming folks. People are feeling once again the euphoria of a new beginning – something like the crisp cool freshness in the air when it’s the final week of classes before the Christmas and New Year holidays begin, or the feeling of moving into a new school, job, house or city. It’s…

Charter Change, Crime, Development, Government, Politics

Imperial Manila: Uniting the Nation at a Price

February 7, 2016February 7, 2016 zaxx 12 Comments

It was the dawn of April 27, 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan and his handful of men, confident of their superior European weaponry, got off their ship and waded ashore for a face-off with defiant Lapu Lapu and his 1500-strong army of natives defending Cebu’s Mactan Island. Little did Magellan know that this iron-willed Visayan datu would…

Development, Government, Media, Society, The South