Tag: Public Transport

#Uber ‘legalisation’ in the Philippines: Seeing through the Silicon Valley hype

May 12, 2015May 12, 2015 benign0 5 Comments

Of course, Silicon Valley would be rejoicing. One of their own, ride sharing network operator Uber, has recently been granted legal status in the Philippines. This development offers a ray of hope for embattled Uber which has been subject to strong pushback across Asia thanks to public transport operators, specifically taxi fleet operators, who feel…

Development, Lifestyle, Tech Talk

In response to Julia Nebrija’s public transport adventures in Metro Manila

April 21, 2015August 10, 2022 rsurtida 11 Comments

I came across an article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer about a foreigner’s experience in the Light Rail Transit plying the length of Rizal Avenue from the Roosevelt Station in the north to Baclaran in the south. Being a regular commuter myself, I can’t help but give my own take about her observations. Titled ‘The day I…

Culture, Development, Government, Lifestyle, Media, Society

Discipline, respect, and selflessness: Abstractions that the Philippines needs to put into action

April 16, 2015 rsurtida 25 Comments

I try as hard as possible to play by the rules once I’m out of the house. I get in line, use the pedestrian lane, the overpass, use the proper loading and unloading zones, keep right in the escalator and sidewalks to make way for those people behind who may be in a hurry, always…

Civics, Culture, Development, Government, Society

Power and authority misuse in the micro level: Building block of cultural dysfunction

March 24, 2015 rsurtida 15 Comments

Some time a few weeks ago I got into a heated argument with a FX driver going the MRT North Station route. I was transferred to the graveyard shift and I was aware that despite the popularity of the late shift—thanks in no small part to the call center industry—most of your co-passengers will most…

Culture, Development, Society

The Philippines’ [Real] Education System

February 8, 2015 Batangenyo 19 Comments

Mag umpisa tayo kay Ginoong Thomas Edison. Ayon sa mga libro na “nabasa” natin noong elementary at highschool pa tayo, si Thomas Edison “daw” ang umimbento ng bumbilya. Sa kanya nakatuon ang atensyon natin sa mga pagkakataong uhaw tayo sa kaalaman kung sino ang nakagawa ng napakalaking kontribusyon sa larangan ng teknolohiya. Oo. Maaaring si…

Culture, Economy, Education, Government, Media, Politics, Religion, Science

The #Philippines suffers from acute intellectual bankruptcy and a lack of common sense

January 5, 2015 benign0 28 Comments

[The following is a piece originally published in The Manila Bulletin on the 09th April 2000 and featured in Get Real Philippines on the same year. How many of the issues mentioned here remain the same unchanged ones today? Remember, this was written back in 2000.] * * * AN admired Filipino economist, based in…

Crime, Culture, Development, Economy, Government, Politics, Society

Life on the tracks of Filipino rail taxi ‘driver’ featured in Australian TV feature!

November 6, 2014 benign0 5 Comments

Amidst the horrors of Metro Manila’s infamous perma-traffic can be found interesting stories of how ordinary Filipinos cope with the mess left by decades of administrative neglect. Australia’s SBS world documentary program Dateline featured the heartwarming story of Genaro Daclison, a Filipino father of two who made his living pushing a rail trolley on foot…

Civics, Development, Glitz and Glamour

‘Disaster preparedness’ has become an oxymoron in the #Philippines

October 8, 2014December 21, 2021 benign0 14 Comments

It has been becoming increasingly apparent that “natural” disasters are now a routine occurrence all over the Philippines. The idea that Filipinos ought to be more “prepared” for such calamities — whilst something one would think ought to have been an obvious national priority — is only now resonating across the broader public. To the…

Civics, Development, Government, Politics, Society