Tag: foreign aid

Five things the Philippines needs to develop to become a great nation

June 8, 2014June 8, 2014 benign0 31 Comments

The following are the five key pillars that form the foundation of what could make Filipinos’ aspirations to build not just a better Philippines but a great Philippines a reality. No amount of nebulous campaign slogans and promises delivered in flowery speeches will replace the need for solid foundations for development and progress. Here is…

Civics, Crime, Culture, Development, Economy, Government, Society

‘Great nations achieve great things’ – Is the Philippines a great nation?

April 10, 2014December 30, 2015 benign0 70 Comments

Sometimes we forget that only a very tiny tiny minority of Filipinos are able to articulate the kinds of ideas exchanged within the circles of people who think. One can find lots of brainwaves splashing about in the Philippine social media scene where so much could be discussed about people and events and so many…

Culture, Development, Society

‘The Philippines says Thank You’ video: missing the bigger point #PHthankyou

February 9, 2014February 9, 2014 FallenAngel 47 Comments

So apparently, three months after Tropical Storm Haiyan (local name Yolanda) hits the Philippines, the Department of Tourism (DOT) comes out with a short video called “The Philippines says Thank You”, with the accompanying hashtag #PHthankyou. Ok. So what then? Frankly, the video just fails to move me. I’m probably only a handful of Filipinos…

Culture, Development, Government, Lifestyle, Media, Politics, Society

Substandard bunkhouses reportedly built for Haiyan victims: Where did the rest of the money go?

January 7, 2014December 22, 2021 benign0 148 Comments

Philippine government thievery seems to remain alive and kicking, this time stealing victims of super-typhoon Haiyan (a.k.a. Yolanda) blind! Reports are emerging of widespread delivery and building of substandard facilities to house the victims all over the devastated region. Safety and sanitation concerns have reportedly been raised by field officers of the Camp Coordination and…

Civics, Crime, Government, Politics

The coming Christmas season: Will Filipinos step up to the opportunity Yolanda presents?

November 13, 2013December 19, 2021 benign0 22 Comments

I find it interesting, to say the least, that Filipinos are looking to the “developed” countries of the world to take responsibility for the purported climate changes that, according to Philippine President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III, are “playing havoc” on hapless developing countries like the Philippines. Over in Warsaw, Poland during a United Nations…

Civics, Culture, Development, Environment, Government, Science, Society

What sequestration means for the Philippines

March 2, 2013March 2, 2013 BenK 5 Comments

At the very end of 2012, the US media and public was gripped with near-panic over what was then called the â€œfiscal cliff,â€ a combination of tax increases and a programmed series of government spending cuts that was to automatically take effect on January 1 of this year. Just as the deadline passed, the US…

Development, Economy, Money Talks