Wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then

Posted by JoeAm on May 16, 2019 · 128 Comments 

By JoeAm Those song lyrics were penned by rocker Bob Seeger in 1981. He was talking about a girl, but it perfectly characterizes my relationship with the Philippines. When I started engaging in on-line conversations a decade ago, I was inspired to know about this friendly, undisciplined, small-town nation.  Now I know too much, having … Continue reading →

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

Marcos’ plundering of the Philippines: A Swiss perspective

Posted by JoeAm on May 11, 2019 · 91 Comments 

by Distant Observer Why a Swiss perspective? Every time I discuss politics with supporters of the current Philippine government (let’s just call them DDS) and I would bring up the issue of the money stolen by Ferdinand Marcos during his reign, people would angrily ask: “where is the evidence?” It is curious that such people … Continue reading →

Category Crime/Corruption, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government

The death of nations and rise of allegiances

Posted by JoeAm on February 27, 2019 · 83 Comments 

By JoeAm The future cannot go back to the past. It is impossible. The past was slow and well defined. We lived in our home town and were loyal to our nation. We wrote letters and dialed our telephone and crossed borders carefully and with proper authority. Now we blast electronic messages every which way … Continue reading →

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

Character in journalists

Posted by JoeAm on February 8, 2019 · 30 Comments 

By JoeAm Facebook follower Al Hadj Bin Aday asked me when Philippine journalists would start to write like I do, which I presumed to mean directly with a touch of literary flair to align words in a way that hits meaning on the head with a #10 ball-peen hammer. I reflected on the writers that influenced my … Continue reading →

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

Huawei: friend or foe of the Philippines?

Posted by JoeAm on February 1, 2019 · 48 Comments 

By JoeAm Due credit to regular contributor NHerrera for raising this issue and providing graphic exhibits and some references used herein. To set the scene for this discussion, we have to recognize that hard battle lines are shaping up globally with democracies facing off against autocratic states China and Russia. Several of those democracies have … Continue reading →

Category China, Citizenship/Patriotism, Crime/Corruption, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government, Technology/Internet, USA/Americans