Tag: oligarchy

Economies of the Philippines and Russia share a common denominator

April 16, 2022 The Unpopular Opinion 3 Comments

With the Kremlin’s aggressive actions in addressing their grievances regarding Ukraine, numerous countries slapped sanctions against Russia. These economic sanctions imposed on Moscow are complex, where portions of the Russian economy in the sectors of agriculture, manufacturing, and services are being castigated. In addition, the aforementioned sanctions don’t only come from other foreign governments, but…

Business, History

35 years of democracy has not freed Filipinos from entrenched oligarchic feudal rule

June 1, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 3 Comments

Richard Javad Heydarian has a fondness for historical context in relation to present-day situations. In his Inquirer piece “Why do we love dictators?” he laments how, “across the postcolonial world, where the pandemic has been most devastating, it seems many people can’t still shake off their collective fascination with despots, even the most tragically disastrous…

History, Society

Oligarchs spawned by Spanish and American colonial masters at core of Philippine society ills

May 22, 2021May 22, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 2 Comments

A broken piece of ceramic material, specially one found in an archeological site. This is the definition of Sherds, which is also a novel by National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose. The novel is 12 chapters and short at 122 pages. It is really more a novelette. It has been a long time since…

Society

ABS-CBN demise: It’s the SYSTEM, Students!

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020 PulbuRonn 8 Comments

The recent junking of the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN is a welcome breath of fresh air. As I’ve wrote on my previous article, I really, truly couldn’t care less if ABS-CBN goes off the air. My sentiment is still the same. ABS-CBN has played political kingmakers for decades, dumbed down its audiences with its roster…

Business, Media

Poor little rich Kakie Pangilinan

July 10, 2020July 11, 2020 benign0 5 Comments

Kakie Pangilinan used to be a revered social media star of wokedom. She was a “hero” who championed the “cause” of “victim blaming”. She launched the hashtag “HijaAko” after she felt offended when referred to as hija (Spanish for female child) — a common term used by elder Filipinos when addressing young women. Pangilinan was…

Glitz and Glamour, Lifestyle, Society

Leni Robredo’s statements add to the Filipino people’s misery

January 26, 2020January 26, 2020 Ilda 2 Comments

Every day it seems like current Vice President Leni Robredo issues dumb statements to the media. She recently spoke out about the “challenges of dealing with fake news” such as this classic: “We are confronting a very well funded, well oiled trolling machinery and we do not have funds to counter that”. Robredo speaks up…

Government, Politics

A simple social grace extended by Duterte to Kian’s parents made all the difference

August 29, 2017 benign0 5 Comments

The irony that escapes Yellowtards is that they now see themselves as “victims” of a system they supposedly “fought” for. If only somebody had warned them back in their golden years that spanned the 1980s through the 1990s and the 2000s: Be careful what you wish for. Indeed, everything they are now tearing their hair…

Crime, Culture

The far-right rises in the Philippines

March 9, 2017 Celestino Manrique II 53 Comments

Nationalism has been reborn in the Philippines, and the yellows and liberals have failed to realize what is going on. One of my criticisms of Philippine politics has always been the lack of party principles, as all our political parties are on the center of the traditional left-right political spectrum. This is largely because the…

Politics, Society