PNoy should ditch yellow and start wearing neutral colors

Posted on By benign0 32 Comments on PNoy should ditch yellow and start wearing neutral colors

Seriously, does President Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III always have to wear yellow? Even while on relief visits to flood-affected areas in time of disaster? kelangan ba naka yellow talaga pag pupunta sa flood affected areas? kelangan ba may media muna bago umpisahan magbigay ng relief operations? [Photo and preceding caption courtesy Showbiz Government.] tumabi-tabi…

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Glitz and Glamour, Politics

Metro Manila had long ago set itself up for its own destruction by flooding

Posted on By benign0 54 Comments on Metro Manila had long ago set itself up for its own destruction by flooding

According to Mark McDonald in a New York Times blog post, the recent floods that hit Metro Manila this week “seem to have caused little public anger over further municipal dysfunction in the densely populated capital of more than 10 million” and that, instead, “Filipinos demonstrated a remarkable civic spirit as they shared news of…

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Culture, Development, Government, Society

Metro Manila flood control master planning in chronic catch up mode over the last two decades!

Posted on By benign0 12 Comments on Metro Manila flood control master planning in chronic catch up mode over the last two decades!

Perhaps in this instance rather than refer to Philippine President Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III by his catchy first two initials, he should instead be referred to as the ‘BT’ President — as in bad timing. Just two weeks before The Disaster that Could not be Named struck Manila and turned it into a real-life…

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Development, Economy, Environment, Government

Could the Php 1.9 bn in flood control projects axed by Noynoy Aquino have saved Metro Manila from destruction?

Posted on By benign0 106 Comments on Could the Php 1.9 bn in flood control projects axed by Noynoy Aquino have saved Metro Manila from destruction?

The latest deluge to hit Metro Manila once again demonstrates the sorry state of preparedness of state emergency services in the Philippines and the woefully insufficient flood control infrastructure of the country’s premier metropolis. Flooding brought about by days of southwest monsoon rains pounding the northern Philippine island of Luzon have once again paralysed vast…

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Development, Economy, Government

Access to safe drinking water critical in the coming days to prevent diarrhea outbreak

Posted on By benign0 1 Comment on Access to safe drinking water critical in the coming days to prevent diarrhea outbreak

With word out that “unprecedented” heavy rains may continue well into Thursday the 9th of August, persistent floods are expected to spawn a new risk to health. Diarrhea outbreaks now pose a threat to thousands of Filipinos impacted by flood waters. Health Secretary Enrique Ona has issued warnings about the dangers of contaminated drinking water…

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Development, Environment

Stepping up to Manila storm flooding: Shotgun bayanihan!

Posted on By benign0 4 Comments on Stepping up to Manila storm flooding: Shotgun bayanihan!

The following is a re-post of an article I wrote for the now-defunct FilipinoVoices.com back in 2009 when Typhoon Ondoy wrought destruction across Metro Manila. The original Facebook archive can be found here. * * * In recent days we’ve been hearing and reading the word “Bayanihan” to the point of its being reduced to…

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Culture, Government, Society

Reproductive Healthcare and Religious Despotism

Posted on By Virtual Vigilante 7 Comments on Reproductive Healthcare and Religious Despotism

The last time I checked, the Philippines was not subject to Sharia Law. Yet, it sure feels that way with the Catholic Church pushing its weight all over the place to ensure the Reproductive Healthcare Bill gets voted to oblivion by Congress. In fact, for nearly two decades or about 25 million less people in…

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Politics, Religion, Society

Catholic Church May Be Flawed But Pinoy Flaws Are All Their Own

Posted on By Gogs 25 Comments on Catholic Church May Be Flawed But Pinoy Flaws Are All Their Own

“Blame it on Cain, Oh-oh, oh, please don’t blame it on me It’s nobody’s fault But it just seems to be his turn”  Elvis Costello     Just like when I talked to you folks about the Impeachment Trial of the Chief Justice, I hope you know by now that when I am not that…

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Culture, Government, Lifestyle, Politics, Religion, Society