Get Real Post

Arroyo mugshots – visual opiates for a politics-crazed society

November 22, 2011 benign0 20 Comments

In my book, I recounted the words of University of the Philippines sociology professor and occasional Inquirer.net columnist Michael Tan who was cited in Diana Mendoza’s article “Between Sensationalism and Censure” published on the Philippine Journalism Review (April 2002). The article was a commentary on the bizarreness of Filipinos’ regard for sexuality as it is…

Civics, Crime, Culture, Government, Politics

Palawan’s Underground River: Winner by Hive-Mind

November 21, 2011 MidwayHaven 10 Comments

When I heard that the Puerto Princesa Underground River was included in the provisional listing of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, the first thing that came into my mind was the Borg. In the Star Trek science fiction series primarily made for television, the Borg were a villainous cybernetic race with one mind and…

Environment, Media, Society

Randy David’s views on Gloria Arroyo arrest seem personal

November 21, 2011 benign0 29 Comments

Indeed, as Inquirer.net columnist Randy David opined in his 19th November 2011 article, perhaps during her time, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo “deftly manipulated the legal system” to suit her agenda. He was, of course, referring to the “midnight appointment” of key justices in the Philippines’ Supreme Court who are supposedly loyal to her and, as…

Crime, Media, Politics

The Noynoy Aquino government is turning the Philippines into a vindictive society

November 20, 2011September 20, 2013 Ilda 270 Comments

There is a list of the alleged crimes of former Philippine President Gloria Arroyo (GMA) making its rounds on social networking sites like some kind of chain letter. The list comes with a photo of GMA in a wheelchair wearing her neck brace and facemask looking gaunt and distressed. The photo is obviously not a…

Crime, Culture, Economy, Government, Politics, Society

Moving to the next circus act: COMELEC finally filing charges against Arroyo

November 18, 2011November 18, 2011 benign0 18 Comments

It gets interesting for us who chronicle Pinoy dysfunction now that the Philippines’ Commission on Elections (COMELEC) have approved the filing of electoral fraud charges against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA). After many years of hearsay reporting from the Philippine Media and haka haka “debate” among the chattering classes of the self-described Philippine “civil society”,…

Civics, Crime, Government, Media, Society

Inquirer’s Neal Cruz likens living under Aquino Government to life in prison

November 18, 2011November 18, 2011 benign0 10 Comments

Let’s not get too caught up in analogies so much lest we come across looking like an idiot. Take this moronism from Inquirer.net columnist Neal Cruz… If you were the warden of a prison and you suspect that some prisoners are planning to escape, wonâ€™t you take precautions? Will you give the prisoners passes to…

Civics, Government, Society

A Dictatorship of Your Own Making

November 17, 2011 BenK 37 Comments

If you search the Internet for a definition of a dictatorship you will find a variety of opinions, but they all seem to agree on certain basic characteristics: Single-party rule. We tend to identify â€œdictatorsâ€ as individuals, but historically dictators have always been the spear-tips for powerful organizations. Justification of abuses. Dictatorships must always have…

Civics, Society

PNoy and his staff: Is ignoring the law their prerogative?

November 16, 2011October 2, 2013 Ilda 137 Comments

Another Aquino it seems is turning out to be the worst President in the history of the Philippines. No other President has so completely polarised the nation, blatantly violated human rights, and consistently disrespected the Supreme Court as much as President Noynoy Aquino (PNoy) had so far. Worse, no other President has ignored what is…

Civics, Culture, Government, Media