On its “Independence Day”, the Philippines remains a sad and CONFUSED colony

Posted on By benign0 7 Comments on On its “Independence Day”, the Philippines remains a sad and CONFUSED colony

Today, the 12th of June, is the Philippines’ imagined “Independence Day” — the day when she unilaterally declared herself “independent” of her Spanish colonial master. That was not to be for long as history would go on to reveal. Way above Filipinos’ pointed heads as their “revolutionaries” patted themselves on their backs, Spain and the…

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History, Politics, Society

How can we envision a “new Philippines” when “being Filipino” remains a problematic idea?

Posted on By benign0 3 Comments on How can we envision a “new Philippines” when “being Filipino” remains a problematic idea?

A “new Philippines” cannot be achieved by merely singing some blurb every morning. Proof of this is in how even the basic principles of the Panatang Makabayan (“Patriotic Oath”) had failed to embed in the Filipino psyche despite several generations of Filipinos being made to recite it in the morning. Without a foundation of “love…

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Culture, Society

False “patriots” are fomenting sinophobia in the Philippines and turning Filipinos into racists

Posted on By Ramon Ortoll 8 Comments on False “patriots” are fomenting sinophobia in the Philippines and turning Filipinos into racists

Who’s sinophobic? Or rather, who’s fanning sinophobia in the country? It’s not the average Pinoy but overzealous nuts in the country’s government. You have the now famous coast guard commodore who infringes on the authority of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the National Security Council (NSC), combined. Then there are the leftist-liberals who…

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Politics

Is the Philippines the Looming Ukraine of Asia?

Posted on By Ramon Ortoll 20 Comments on Is the Philippines the Looming Ukraine of Asia?

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos welcomed Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a one-day visit to the Philippines after he spoke at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore which Marcos attended last week as the keynote speaker. The visit drew a comparison at the situation of Ukraine, which is seen by geopolitical analysts as engaged in a…

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History, Politics

Apart from Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, We Have Foreign Meddling in a Boracay Property Dispute Too? (Part One)

Posted on By P. Farol 1 Comment on Apart from Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, We Have Foreign Meddling in a Boracay Property Dispute Too? (Part One)

I’d say the Philippines has more than enough to contend with in as far as foreign meddling is concerned. Having watched and read news of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo’s now questionable citizenship and alleged connection with illegal activities in a POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator) sitting on property in her town, I feel drawn towards…

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Crime, Government

In a society where the majority is comprehension-challenged, should majority rule?

Posted on By benign0 13 Comments on In a society where the majority is comprehension-challenged, should majority rule?

It is easy to tell that Fiesta Election season in the Philippines is just around the corner. There is ayuda talk aplenty with one or the other politician “pushing” one “initiative” or the other to “alleviate” the “plight” of “the poor”. Many of these are initiatives are well within the power of administrators of various…

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Society

Smoke and mirrors mask dire situation surrounding rice prices as elections loom

Posted on By Ramon Ortoll No Comments on Smoke and mirrors mask dire situation surrounding rice prices as elections loom

Most political analysts describe former President Rodrigo Duterte as a populist but he wasn’t close to being one when it came to economic policies which he left to his finance secretary to set. The Rice Tarrification Law (RTL) was passed to put an end to rice subsidies and corruption at the National Food Authority (NFA)…

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Economy

Terror, Duterte Style Rule of Panglao Mayor Drives Tourists Away During Peak Season

Posted on By P. Farol No Comments on Terror, Duterte Style Rule of Panglao Mayor Drives Tourists Away During Peak Season

More than three hundred guests and employees of Villa Tomasa Alona Kew Resort in Panglao, Bohol remain in shock more than a week after it was allegedly shutdown by force by Mayor Edgardo “Boy” Arcay. Smartphone video footage taken by someone inside the resort shows dozens of police in battlegear and men armed with shotguns…

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Government, Politics