Tag: intellectual bankruptcy

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

Why are platforms, vision statements, and strategies still MISSING from the Philippine ‘debate’?

November 21, 2014 benign0 27 Comments

So, yet again, we approach another seminal presidential election and there is much bubbling and foaming on the surface of the political scene. While the attention of the public has been focused on the turbulent surface of Philippine politics, few have appreciated the underlying reason behind that turbulence. For like the way rough rapids only…

Crime, Culture, Development, Government, Media, Politics, Society

If Antonio Trillanes IV is a monkey-see-monkey-do kinda guy, what’s he doing in the Senate?

October 28, 2014October 28, 2014 benign0 14 Comments

It must be ‘senator’ Antonio Trillanes IV’s lucky day. United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) interim president Toby Tiangco is not too keen on seeing a debate between Trillanes and Vice President Jejomar Binay. So the convicted mutineer turned ‘senator’ may have been given a much-needed pass on what could have been for him an utterly humiliating…

Crime, Politics

Why Vice President Jejomar Binay remains popular

October 13, 2014October 13, 2014 benign0 14 Comments

There’s been much hype spun around how today’s media technology supposedly greatly improves our ability to suss people out. But, really, all we seem to be getting is a thicker layer of show and an ever-thinning layer of real insiqht into things. Take the whole “debate” around the current crop of politicians and government officials…

Culture, Media, Politics, Society

Binay’s estate, Purisima’s mansions, and Aquino’s hacienda – fodder for the same vacuous ‘debate’

October 9, 2014October 9, 2014 benign0 7 Comments

Pots calling kettles black pretty much summarises the all-too-familiar mudslinging that characterises the political “debate” Filipinos keep their small minds occupied with nowadays. Between the Aquino-Cojuangco bloc, the mansions and SUVs of disgraced police chief Alan Purisima, and the overpriced buildings of 2016 “presidentiable” and current Vice President Jejomar ‘Jojo’ Binay there does not seem…

Media, Politics, Society

Robin Padilla sickened by the Philippines, may leave for good!

September 12, 2014 benign0 25 Comments

A-List Filipino actor Robin Padilla has reportedly expressed a desire to leave the Philippines for good. “Ayoko na sa Pilipinas, tol! Ayoko na dito. Sawang-sawa na ako sa Pilipinas. Saksakan na ng maraming sinungaling dito sa Pilipinas,” (“I’ve given up on the Philippines! I’m sick and tired of it. The country is crawling with liars”)…

Civics, Culture, Glitz and Glamour, Society

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