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Maricel Soriano’s alleged abuse of domestic workers reflects Filipino society

July 4, 2011July 4, 2011 benign0 2 Comments

While much Media airtime is given to the abuse of domestic workers employed in foreign countries, not much interest seems to go the way of domestic workers employed by households in the Philippines. Faded star of the 1980s Maricel Soriano provides the most recent of cases that highlight the plight of domestic workers employed by…

Education, Glitz and Glamour, Society

The problem of squatters in the Philippines cannot be solved by invoking ‘humanitarian’ appeal

July 3, 2011July 9, 2013 benign0 44 Comments

But of course. Perhaps there is some merit in what a “human rights regional official” and the “officers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines” assert in siding with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on the grounds that taking “the humanitarian point of view” is called for in this situation. This situation, relates to Duterte’s…

Civics, Crime, Society

Saudi Arabia shuts its doors to Filipino domestics

July 1, 2011 benign0 6 Comments

What exactly needs to be “clarified” between the governments of Saudi Arabia and the Philippines in the aftermath of a shutdown on any further granting of work permits to Filipino domestic workers? The announcement was reportedly made after a failure “to agree on hiring conditions imposed” by the Philippines. The stakes, as far as Filipinos…

Development, Economy, Money Talks, Society

The Philippines is one big SQUANDERED foreign investment

June 30, 2011June 30, 2011 benign0 17 Comments

So we want more foreign investment, do we? Stop to think. How much of it have we already received? Look around and take stock of what exactly it is about “the Philippines” that is of any consequence to anyone that is indigenous in origin. Indeed, the Philippines is one big foreign investment. Much if not…

Culture, Development, Economy

Without operational excellence, capital is squandered

June 29, 2011June 29, 2011 benign0 5 Comments

The grand-daddy of our culture-as-root-cause thesis, the late great Teddy Benigno, in his classic 2002 Star article Why investors avoid us: The trust factor highlighted what, at the time, was a very conservative forecast regarding China’s fortunes made in a Nomura Research Institute (NRI) study that foresaw a China that could “burgeon into the world’s…

Culture, Development, Economy

Noynoy Aquino and his women: the score so far

June 29, 2011 benign0 11 Comments

Malacanang lacks an “official line” on its Chief’s lovelife because, according to Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Manolo Quezon, the “matter” is “too personal.” The Media, as it is inclined to do, of course does not agree. So armed with a small text input field with the word “Google” splashed in colour above it on my…

Glitz and Glamour

Hope for the Philippine economy lies in domestic investment and not foreign investment

June 28, 2011 benign0 13 Comments

I am undoubtedly seen as a determined critic of the administration of Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. But that is only because the man generally personifies much of the underbelly of the Filipino psyche that I’ve made it a personal online career to highlight over the last several years. In short his character just…

Development, Economy

The Filipino Youth: where lies hope for a better Philippines in the future

June 26, 2011May 29, 2014 benign0 7 Comments

A visitor to GetRealPhilippines.com sent a letter by email dated 31 October 2005 that, in a nutshell, best describes the whole problem with our society’s regard for the youth. Here is an excerpt: we filipinos are so hypocrete. we live on lies and half truth. when I was a kid (am now 40 [years old])…

Culture, Development, Education, Society