Tag: joko widodo

Marcos Jr.’s foreign policy mirrors the Philippines’ realpolitik

October 17, 2022 The Unpopular Opinion 5 Comments

More than a hundred days had passed since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. became the country’s president after his unprecedented electoral victory. As the country’s chief architect of foreign policy, the Marcos Jr. administration has embarked on various foreign travel commitments last September. His first destination was Jakarta, where he met Indonesian President Joko Widodo and discussed…

Business, Charter Change, Development, Economy, Government, Politics

Sick and tired of hypocrites attacking Duterte

September 15, 2016September 15, 2016 Celestino Manrique II 36 Comments

Not even two months into the Rodrigo Duterte administration, we have already had several events which were truly newsworthy, and the war on drugs led by no less than the President and his Chief PNP General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. The said war on drugs has led to over half a million voluntary surrenders from…

Crime, Politics

The one hurdle the Philippines needs to jump to catch up with the rest of southeast Asia

January 22, 2016 benign0 14 Comments

Whatever this or any other crop of politicians vying for the hallowed vote of the Filipino say, it is evident that the Philippines continues to fall further and further behind most measures of success. The standards are being set by its neighbours in the otherwise vibrant southeast Asian region. For one thing, the Philippines’ competitors…

Development, Politics, Society

350 kph bullet train to link Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Bandung

January 21, 2016 benign0 7 Comments

Construction of a high-speed train line allowing travel between Jakarta and Bandung at speeds of up to 350 kilometres per hour has started. The USD 5.6 billion project is a key component of a long-overdue programme to upgrade decrepit infrastructure being spurred by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Indonesia lacks a mass-transport system, forcing its increasingly…

Development, Lifestyle, Tech Talk

Ph media to blame for lack of awareness and division over issues like the Mary Jane Veloso case

May 8, 2015May 8, 2015 Ilda 17 Comments

I’ve never heard of the name Mary Jane Veloso until a week before her scheduled execution on the 28th of April 2015. When her name started trending on social media just days before she was supposed to be killed by firing squad, I still had no idea what her ordeal was about. I have to…

Crime, Government, Media, Politics, Society

OFW Mary Jane Veloso jailed in Indonesia for 5 years without Philippine government assistance

April 30, 2015January 4, 2023 Ilda 40 Comments

Supporters of convicted drug smuggler Mary Jane Veloso heaved a sigh of relief after Indonesia suspended the execution of the Filipina in death row by firing squad on the 29th April 2015. The decision to postpone her execution came not necessarily after Philippine President Benigno Simeon (BS) Aquino spoke to Indonesian President Joko Widodo as…

Crime, Government, Society