President Aquino’s Achilles Heel: Loyalty

Posted by JoeAm on March 19, 2014 · 65 Comments 

Perhaps the one criticism of President Aquino that arises again and again is the point that he defends people who are flawed or have created gross mistakes, out of loyalty. Mayor Lim who botched the Hong Kong bus massacre. His shooting buddy, DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno, who was accused of “anomalies”. Secretary Gazmin after he … Continue reading →

Filed under Citizenship/Patriotism, Philippine Government, Philippine Politics

Crowdsourcing the Cayetano Campaign

Posted by JoeAm on March 17, 2014 · 84 Comments 

The political landscape is defined by those with the boldness to take up a campaign paintbrush. He who paints first has an advantage in deciding the look of the landscape. Mountains or forests or seas. We can give credit to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano for being among the bold. He is organizing his campaign, tracking … Continue reading →

Filed under Philippine Politics

The Philippines Is Playing It Safe

Posted by josephivo on March 14, 2014 · 35 Comments 

by Joseph-Ivo It always seemed to me that Filipinos never could make up their minds who they wanted to imitate. Maybe, with a hybrid engine in mind, they tried to copy the best of the cultures they were confronted with. But when I visited the Chinese cemetery in Manila, I finally understood: Filipinos want to play … Continue reading →

Filed under Culture and Arts, Economy, Philippine Government

How President Aquino’s Date with Yolanda Went

Posted by JoeAm on March 12, 2014 · 32 Comments 

Have you ever had a date that was a disaster from the getgo? You thought she (he) was intriguing but you quickly discovered it was not working. Perhaps you took your girl to a nice steak house and found out she was a vegetarian. Or she started preaching quotes from the Bible as you looked … Continue reading →

Filed under Philippine Government, Philippine Politics

The Philippines: A Nation that Does Not Trust Its Citizens

Posted by JoeAm on March 10, 2014 · 70 Comments 

This is not a complaint. It is an observation, with some ideas. I’m not a citizen and so I accept that I should be considered with wary mistrust. But should ordinary Filipino citizens be mistrusted? One of the peculiar cross-cultural discoveries I’ve made since moving to the Philippines is coming to grips with how little … Continue reading →

Filed under Citizenship/Patriotism, Culture and Arts, Philippine Government