We beg to differ.
Philippine President Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III has lost the confidence of the Filipino people. This time, the trust he continues to squander hits a government service critical to the wellbeing of ordinary Filipinos — the police force. The loss of 44 of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP’s) finest officers to the savagery of the…
November 23, 2009 was the day 58 lives were massacred in Maguindanao when an election convoy came under attack by uniformed men allegedly under the payroll of a powerful Ampatuan political clan. Eight years later, carnage once again stained the history of Maguindanao as more than 40 elite policemen of the Special Action Force (SAF)…
The brouhaha from this Marian-Dingdong (#dongyan) wedding drew a lot of interesting comments. One of them particularly struck me as demonstrating the problem with this country: wow, so high falooting naman you. I’m not a fan, and I don’t even live in the country nor do I have tfc. just take the wedding as it…
Read More “Looking for a “Royal Family;” A Royal Delusion” »
The Philippines does not negotiate with terrorists. Or so we are told following the miraculous “rescue” of two German hostages Stefan Viktor Okonek and Henrike Dielen held by the Islamic terrorist group Abu Sayyaf. According to Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Rami, the ransom they demanded was paid. According to the Philippine Government no such ransom…
Indeed, the Philippines is a wild trail that needs to be negotiated. And as experienced trackers and wilderness negotiators will point out, navigating a wild trail is not for the faint-hearted and dimwitted. You need brains, you need stamina, you need guts. Do Filipinos have any of those virtues? Well now, don’t get us started….
Read More “Indeed, the REAL issue is not the Philippines — it is Filipinos” »
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’” »
So what happens to the Philippines’ claim on the Malaysian state of Sabah following the signing of the Bangsamoro “peace deal” between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)? It seems this is now conveniently in the backburner as Filipinos, on cue, dance to the tune of Malacanang’s “celebration of peace”. But…
Read More “Next step after Bangsamoro peace deal: Philippines to pay up – drop Sabah claim” »
With the Bangsamoro “framework agreement” set to be “signed” this month, the Philippines is supposedly on its way towards achieving a future of peace and harmony with and amongst its Muslim minority peoples. It is, supposedly, a political win for Philippine President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak,…