Tag: happiness

Why the UP bonfire celebration was truly a microcosm of Filipino society

August 11, 2014August 11, 2014 FallenAngel 43 Comments

As team manager Dan Palami had promised, the University of the Philippines (UP) basketball team held a “bonfire celebration” last Saturday, August 9, because the Fighting Maroons won against Adamson University (AdU) in a game from this year’s University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season. Now, this is an especially big thing to the…

Society

Filipinos’ obssession with ‘happiness’ is what keeps them mired in chronic poverty

May 27, 2014May 27, 2014 benign0 58 Comments

Again, I’m seeing the Happy card being played a lot these days. Filipinos can’t get enough of that card. It’s a poor man’s Ace. You can’t make yourself rich overnight, but you can certainly make yourself “happy” in the next minute. And so that is why “Happy” is de facto the buzzword of the Loser…

Culture, Development, Lifestyle, Society

Living in bubbles – pop goes the Philippines!

December 1, 2013 FallenAngel 95 Comments

Among the talking points currently on the plates of the pundits here in the Philippines is the article published on Forbes by Jesse Colombo. He describes himself as “an economic analyst and anti-economic bubble activist who was recognized by the London Times for predicting the Global Financial Crisis. I am currently warning about growing bubbles…

Culture, Development, Economy, Lifestyle

Why a Smart Gilas win means everything to Filipinos

August 12, 2013 FallenAngel 41 Comments

Consider, first of all, the kind of responses that fellow GRP writer Gogs’ article “Why a Smart Gilas Win Means Nothing to Me” drew. They can be summarized with one simple phrase: Butthurt Pinoy pridesters are so predictable. “If you don’t ride on the bandwagon, why don’t you just keep your opinion to yourself?” “Why…

Culture, Lifestyle, Society

The Question of Human Happiness: Happiness is not for sale

March 14, 2013 Jose Mario de Vega 7 Comments

I refer to the article of Seah Chiang Nee, â€œHappiness is not for saleâ€, (Insight Down South, The Star Saturday, October 27). I overwhelmingly concur to his central observation that: â€œSingaporeans continue to find that prosperity and joy are not identical, or even compatible.â€ I also agree with the Workers Party Chairman Sylvia Lim in…

Lifestyle, Society

Reports say Filipinos are sad and depressed in the Philippines

October 12, 2012August 8, 2013 Ilda 149 Comments

A 2012 World Happiness Report has reportedly ranked the Philippines “among the least happiest in Southeast Asia, or 103rd out of 155 surveyed countries worldwide.” That bit of news should be as welcome as a skin rash to advocates of the Philippine tourism slogan “It’s more fun in the Philippines”. It could actually lead them…

Culture, Featured, Lifestyle, Society

Behind the silly smile is a sad sad nation

April 10, 2012 benign0 36 Comments

The Philippines used to be or perhaps is still known as the place “where Asia wears a smile”. It is true. Filipinos are prerpetually smiling. The most powerful Filipino himself, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, is famous for sporting a grin on his mug even as he assured the public that his administration was on…

Culture, Development, Lifestyle