Lack of a strong national identity makes for dog-eat-dog Philippine politics

Posted on By Ramon Ortoll 8 Comments on Lack of a strong national identity makes for dog-eat-dog Philippine politics

For a political and social scientist, Professor Antonio Contreras surely is naive. But he can also be pragmatic when it comes to his own self-promotion. Borderline personality disorder? Maybe. In his Manila Times piece he rails against the “dirty politics” of these times… Popular culture has reinforced the image of politics as devoid of virtue….

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History, Politics

China is the “bad guy” whether it is about tobacco or the virus

Posted on By Ramon Ortoll No Comments on China is the “bad guy” whether it is about tobacco or the virus

Sinophobia and tobacco. Mareng Winnie throws everything at China. In her Inquirer column today “A victory for tobacco, a defeat for our children”, Monsod writes… Wasn’t China the source of the virus in the first place? Not only that, didn’t China try to cover up its virus situation in the second place? The virus, indeed,…

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Lifestyle, Politics

Inday Sara – Digong “Daughterte-Duterte” tandem puts 2022 in the bag for admin camp

Posted on By Ramon Ortoll No Comments on Inday Sara – Digong “Daughterte-Duterte” tandem puts 2022 in the bag for admin camp

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is the political equivalent of Dolphy whose comedic timing was impeccable — so unlike comedians of today who rely on their gender and insults to get laughs. The idea of Duterte as Vice President was first floated by Bong Go. It didn’t resonate with voters. Even the so-called “Duterte Die-hard Supporter”…

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Politics

Opposition horse-trading shaped by energy oligarchs vying for control over oil and gas in West Philippine Sea

Posted on By Ramon Ortoll No Comments on Opposition horse-trading shaped by energy oligarchs vying for control over oil and gas in West Philippine Sea

So now journalists have to get their stories from Facebook posts. In her Inquirer report “Control of West PH Sea oil seen in takeover of Malampaya project”, Frances Mangosing uses a statement from a certain “security expert” named Jay Batongbacal as reference to highlight how a takeover of the Malampaya gas project by Dennis Uy’s…

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Business, Politics, Society

Philippines’ rail system finally being fixed and expanded after being messed up by Noynoy Aquino government

Posted on By Ramon Ortoll No Comments on Philippines’ rail system finally being fixed and expanded after being messed up by Noynoy Aquino government

Dean dela Paz in his Daily Tribune piece “Tugade’s transport triumphs” recalls the state of transport infrastructure under the administration of former President Noynoy Aquino and the fiascos that punctuated his term… We need not list a litany of the successive failures as they are deeply etched in the consciousness of the public, like festering…

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Development

Looking back: Marawi City may have been sacrificed to allow US military interests to remain in the Philippines

Posted on By Ramon Ortoll No Comments on Looking back: Marawi City may have been sacrificed to allow US military interests to remain in the Philippines

The tangled web of the Philippine police and military which links the latter to criminal gangs and other lawless elements has long been whispered about specially in the provinces where it’s mostly an open secret. Friends who have close friends whose relatives are officers in the police and military establishments have informally confirmed these links….

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History, Politics

On how the politicisation of community pantries and ayuda contributed to Filipino mendicant culture

Posted on By Benedict Exconde 1 Comment on On how the politicisation of community pantries and ayuda contributed to Filipino mendicant culture

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck the Philippines, “bayanihan” has been a mainstay of Filipino culture, especially in the provinces. As someone who spent my youth in the province, I am not surprised whenever the friendly neighbors come over to our place to offer some of their food during the fiesta or Noche Buena or…

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Culture, Economy, Society

How to build a non-Yellowtard Philippine Opposition

Posted on By benign0 9 Comments on How to build a non-Yellowtard Philippine Opposition

If there is one big hurdle the Opposition face in their effort to put up a respectable challenge to the camp of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte over the months leading to the 2022 election, it would be coming up with a non-Yellowtard campaign. Thanks to several decades of the Yellow narrative (an entire political mythology…

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Politics