The Ugly Files: House Speaker Alvarez

Posted by JoeAm on February 27, 2017 · 77 Comments 

By Joe America We Americans know ugly, because we’ve been that from time to time when we’ve looked down on other nations or peoples. Today, we can see a peculiar kind of ugly arising in the US under the obscene banner of “America First”. There are many uglies, both in America and the Philippines, and we’ll … Continue reading →

Category Blogging/Journalism, Citizenship/Patriotism, Philippine Government

When dreams are lost

Posted by JoeAm on February 22, 2017 · 54 Comments 

By Joe America It is unusual to speak to both Filipinos and Americans and have the same message. Are you feeling dismayed or angry much of the time? Do you think leaders are betraying your nation? Betraying what you know to be good, and right? Does government seem better at generating division and anger than … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Philippine Government, USA/Americans

Is Filipino citizenship worthless?

Posted by JoeAm on February 14, 2017 · 75 Comments 

By Joe America We generally think of the Constitution as a technical legal document that tells us how government works. But it is so much more than that. The Constitution is written by you, the people, and it is for you, the people. It says this in the opening words: We, the sovereign Filipino people … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Philippine Government

Du30 an anachronism: era of dictators gone

Posted by JoeAm on February 8, 2017 · 38 Comments 

By Roly E. Eclevia     President Rodrigo Duterte is an anachronism. He would be dictator when the era of dictators has long been gone. The social, political, and economic climate may no longer be conducive to the rise of one-man rule. Maybe people nowadays are more aware of their rights and ready to fight … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Crime/Corruption, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government

Duterte’s divided nation: Philippine institutions push back

Posted by JoeAm on February 6, 2017 · 61 Comments 

By Joe America I’ve written two prior articles that provide background to this discussion. One said that the fate of the Philippines is in the hands of its institutions (link). The other identified three major issues that are so fundamentally problematic that it is hard to get past them to give the Duterte Administration credit … Continue reading →

Category Blogging/Journalism, Citizenship/Patriotism, Crime/Corruption, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government