Tag: risa hontiveros

Lead up to fiesta elections: Has Philippine democratic politics changed at all?

April 23, 2013 benign0 44 Comments

From the little window through which I take stock of the landscape of issues that describe the lead up to the May 2013 elections, I’d say — surprise surprise — things haven’t changed much. A lot of developments have supposedly further liberalised and democratised democracy as it is practiced in the Philippines. The two new…

Politics

Why Nancy Binay’s campaign is really no different to Noynoy Aquino’s 2010 presidential campaign

April 8, 2013 benign0 37 Comments

Well, ok, so lots of people are up in arms about the candidacy of Nancy Binay who, as the consensus amongst the chattering classes goes, has been deemed lacking in the needed chops to fill a Philippine senator’s seat. I wonder though how many of these armchair “activists” voted for current President Benigno Simeon “BS”…

Media, Politics

Ph Government pats itself on the back for level of preparedness as Typhoon Pablo batters Mindanao

December 6, 2012 benign0 119 Comments

As bodies recovered in the aftermath of the devastation wrought by Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) in pile up in makeshift morgues all over Mindanao, the casualty statistics begin to approach the levels hit by Typhoon Ondoy’s flood waters which engulfed Metro Manila in 2009. However, the level of importance the Philippines’ seat of culture and governance…

Development, Environment, Government, Politics, The South

Call to action: Sayaw Pinoy, sayaw

October 28, 2012 Kate Natividad 49 Comments

You can easily tell that Filipinos aren’t a very reflective people. Go to any public place — a mall, a department store, a train station — or take a ride in a public utility vehicle like a bus or jeepney and chances are your senses will be assaulted by loud monotonously-throbbing music punctuated by tacky…

Culture, Lifestyle, Media

Risa Hontiveros and the failure of Akbayan to live up to the ideals of the ‘party list’ concept

October 18, 2012November 4, 2014 benign0 36 Comments

Not that there is any real difference between the two commie groups Akbayan and Anakbayan, but it is interesting that the two “left-leaning” groups are now baring claws at each other as every man and his dog races to grab a piece of the fat 2013 elections pie. During a recent Akbayan press conference, a…

Politics

Grace Padaca bailed out by PNoy to pave way for appointment as COMELEC commissioner

October 4, 2012 benign0 48 Comments

Despite having an outstanding arrest warrant hanging over her head over charges of graft, former Isabela Governor Grace Padaca has been appointed by Philippine President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III to the post of commissioner of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). As if the appointment of a person who is the subject of an open…

Crime, Government, Politics

Philippine Congress mints new anti-cybercrime and anti-slander laws

June 1, 2012June 1, 2012 benign0 9 Comments

Media people whether they be old-school journalists, “on-line reporters” or Web publishers (such as bloggers and much of the rest of humanity who have access to Facebook and Twitter among others) are up in arms about the raft of “anti-media” bills being drafted and passed in Congress. Critics of these measures assert that these “anti-media”…

Crime, Culture, Media, Tech Talk

Ombudsman Morales testimony muddles rather than substantiates Prosecution claims of Corona dollar holdings

May 14, 2012 benign0 148 Comments

And the comedy of errors that is the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona continues as today’s session concludes. A long accounting made by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales of various funds movements between 82 bank accounts across several banks to the name of Chief Justice Renato Corona over a period beginning 2003 through 2011 revealed…

Crime, Government, Politics