We beg to differ.
Sometimes one wonders what the Philippine military is thinking — and how much more patient it will remain. It is under a lot of pressure to defend the civilian national ego — using rusty unreliable equipment funded by the shifting winds of that ego. This is like being in a relationship with a schizophrenic nymphomaniac….
Lex Luthor: Miss Teschmacher, when I was six years old my father said to me… Miss Teschmacher: “Get out.” Lex Luthor: Ha ha. Before that. He said, “Son, stocks may rise and fall, utilities and transportation systems may collapse. People are no damn good, but they will always need land and they’ll pay through the…
Read More “The Philippines needs some kryptonite to battle China over the Spratly Islands” »
It’s all so interesting to note. One moment, Filipinos would giddily cheer the successful resupply of Philippine military personnel camped in the derelict BRP Sierra Madre which was purposely run aground in Ayungin Shoal in 1999 to seal the Philippines’ territorial claim there. Then on another, they’d give each other high-fives over what is essentially…
Read More “The Philippines’ Han Solo moment: Why the Ayungin drama made Filipinos ‘proud’” »
Standards of honor in Filipino civilian society are quite simply, bulok. The only opinion I have had – and will ever have – of Mr. Aldrin Cudia’s case with the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) is this: the only thing known for sure is that the Honor Committee found him guilty of violating the Honor Code….
Read More “You can’t apply dishonorable Filipino civilian standards to military institutions” »
I don’t pretend to know much about the nitty-gritty of military life. In fact, the closest I ever came to experiencing it involved being an officer in the Citizen’s Army Training (CAT) program in high school, and being a normal cadet in the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program in college. If anyone cares to…
Read More “Why cadet Cudia’s case has played out on social media like an EDSA revolution” »
I read with interest benign0’s recent piece Is the sex trade all Filipinos have to offer to visiting US troops?. It was quite an eye-opener for me. I realize now why this country is screwed. We not only have an inept government, we also have idiots leading the “activist” movements that are supposed to be…
The definition of “honor” that Filipinos are more familiar with – and therefore live out more – is, in the vernacular, dangal. Dignity. They will use whatever means necessary, even illegal, to protect their dignity from hiya (shame, losing face). The other, just as important way to define honor – katapatan, propriety – is hardly…
Read More “Upholding honor: Filipino civilian and military societies need to work hand in hand” »
Apparently certain Filipino activists think so. Spokesperson for Pagkakaisa ng Kababaihan para sa Kalayaan (Kaisa Ka) Proleta Gomez, in a statement implied that the “support” the United States Armed Forces receives from the Philippines as it increases its troop deployment there under new agreements with the Philippine government is likely to be mainly in the…
Read More “Is the sex trade all Filipinos have to offer to visiting US troops?” »