Tag: fidel ramos

Former Interior Sec. Rafael Alunan III did not like PNoy’s speech before Pope Francis

January 22, 2015 benign0 8 Comments

The following is a copy of a post published on Facebook by Rafael Alunan III who served as Tourism Secretary under former President Corazon Aquino from 1987-1989 then as Interior and Local Government Secretary under former President Fidel Ramos from 1992-1996. Alunan refers to the speech delivered by President Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III before…

Government, Politics, Religion

PNoy’s desperate move to rule for a second term a sad bid to stay out of jail

August 15, 2014 benign0 75 Comments

Amending the Philippine Constitution is one thing. Amending it for the wrong reasons is another. If there had always been a compelling case to modify the provisions in the current charter that limit the term of the president to just a single six-year term, then the ‘debate’ around that will likely have resonated and endured…

Crime, Government, Politics

Former President Cory Aquino speaks to PNoy from beyond the grave

August 14, 2014 benign0 10 Comments

Former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino, the late mother of Philippine President Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III seems to be speaking to her son from the grave in the following speech (where she tries to dissuade then President Fidel Ramos from pushing for charter change to extend his term). Note the irony in her words in…

Charter Change, Government, Politics

PNoy’s “gentler” 5th SONA fails to appease his critics

July 30, 2014July 31, 2014 Ilda 15 Comments

Is Philippine President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino finally maturing? A lot of people have noted that his tone during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) was less combative compared to his previous four SONAs. Some people like former Congressman and journalist Teddy Boy Locsin Jr., who is also an occasional critic of the…

Development, Economy, Government, Politics

Zamboanga crisis: MNLF leader Nur Misuari not only lost his cause, he also lost the plot

September 16, 2013June 30, 2014 Ilda 39 Comments

The current clashes between Philippine government troops and members of a Muslim rebel group in Zamboanga City of Mindanao despite the 2012 Framework Agreement should be a lesson to all especially President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino that one should never negotiate with terrorists. Obviously, the most recent peace agreement cooked up by the government with…

Development, Government, Politics, Religion

Philippines: 16th largest economy by 2050? Here’s the truth!

March 16, 2012September 20, 2013 Ilda 103 Comments

Ugh…if I see another news headline comparing the Philippines to some kind of animal, I might just get physically sick. “Asian Tiger Economy of the World”; “The dark horse of the region”. Speaking of being sick, at least one headline referred to the Philippines as the “healthy man of Asia” as opposed to the perennial…

Economy, Education, Environment

Is the 1986 EDSA revolution still relevant today?

February 24, 2012August 2, 2013 Ilda 136 Comments

It’s hard to imagine why there are Filipinos who still feel the need to celebrate the anniversary of the first EDSA or People Power revolution held in 1986. As I keep saying every year, not much has changed since former President Ferdinand Marcos left the building. I was not there and I am glad I…

Development, Economy, Media, Society

Do Filipinos know how to use their freedom of speech?

April 21, 2011October 20, 2011 Ilda 110 Comments

What is up with some modern day proponents of freedom of speech? Do they really know what they are talking about? Sometimes they give me the impression that all they are good at is quoting some dead bigwig who advocated freedom of expression in the past. Unfortunately, these same bigwigs could never have imagined that…

Culture, Development, Media, Politics, Society