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The time is right: 2022 could potentially see a Marcos back in Malacanang

July 25, 2021July 25, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 2 Comments

Mang Ding still has his political crystal ball from his days at the Daily Express. In his PhilSTAR piece today “Marcos-Duterte duo looms large in 2022”, veteran journalist Federico Pascual writes of his profound fear that “a strategic link-up of the Marcos and the Duterte dynasties would be so overwhelming that only divine intervention could…

Politics

It’s time to think outside our 500sqm homes about Covid_19

July 24, 2021July 26, 2021 Ilda No Comments

Viruses mutate. We need to learn to live with Covid_19 and its variants. Going in and out of lockdown every time someone gets infected by the virus is not the only solution. Aiming for zero cases is impossible. Even if everyone wants to get vaccinated, there is not enough vaccines at the moment. Likewise, while…

Government, Society

In these times of pandemic Filipinos need a UNIFYING Opposition rather than a divisive one

July 24, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 3 Comments

The Delta variant just dashed the hope that a global economic recovery would begin two years into the pandemic. While most of the opinions expressed have been about pandemic response, both good and bad, the no one has dared to point out the elephant in the room that is the only clear path to putting…

Economy, Government, Politics

Communists like @TonyoCruz and their fronts like @IBONFoundation push AYUDA nga-nga culture

July 24, 2021July 24, 2021 Ramon Ortoll No Comments

Where is the substance in the drivel Ka Tonyo Cruz writes? Numbers he cited in his Manila Bulletin piece “P10,000 aid for all is needed — and possible” comes from none other than his comrade IBON Foundation Executive Director Sonny Africa. That biased “source” makes everything he writes suspect from the very beginning. Predictably he…

Culture, Government, Society

Long-overdue campaign financing laws and system change needed to make democracy work FOR Filipinos

July 23, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 1 Comment

Former Ambassador and Manila Times columnist writes in his piece “For the funds of it” today about “one of the main reasons – other than megalomania – why so many seem to want to run for Philippine electoral posts, even for national posts.” For the most part, Tiglao points out, “It’s an income-generating project.” The…

Government, Politics

The last State of the Nation Address of a most unorthodox president: Mr. Duterte, take a bow!

July 23, 2021 Ramon Ortoll No Comments

The President will deliver his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 26. Various news outlets have began taking the public sentiment on what they want to hear from Rodrigo Duterte when he delivers his valedictory address before Congress. Duterte would’ve “graduated” with honors if not for the pandemic rudely interrupting his term. Pandemic…

Government

Self-crowned “Chief Political Analyst” Antonio Contreras continues to use the Manila Times to promote his lame “voter base” analysis

July 22, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 3 Comments

Surveys as determinants of the shape of one’s voter base aren’t accurate. Why? Think of it for a minute. What if the candidate does not really have a voter base to begin with? As stated in a previous piece, Isko’s voter base is Manila. Grant him the benefit of the doubt and give him the…

Media, Politics

Pandemic-is-endemic will be the call as pressure to campaign hard bears down on election candidates

July 22, 2021 Ramon Ortoll No Comments

Economist Cielito Habito in his Inquirer piece “Election boost” writes of his optimism that the coming elections will boost the Philippine economy “from the deepest slump seen in our part of the world as a result of the ongoing pandemic”. Why do elections perk up the economy? As everyone knows, large amounts of money go…

Economy