The Philippines is a lovely place, truly

Posted by JoeAm on January 7, 2020 · 116 Comments 

By Joe America The Philippines is a lovely place, truly. But you kinda have to learn to compartmentalize some aspects of your surroundings. Otherwise they act as poison to shade the entire look of the nation. The one thing I compartmentalize is the essential vindictiveness of a whole lot of people. Cops, robbers, druggies, drug … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Culture and Arts

The Philippines, a nation apart from concepts and knowledge

Posted by JoeAm on December 22, 2019 · 131 Comments 

By Joe America I’ve finally figured out how to reconcile the absolute stupidity of governance in the Philippines – brutal, corrupt, and incompetent – with the fact that the nation’s people are decent, warm, quick of wit, and fun to be around . . . and ‘satisfied’ with a stupid, punitive form of government. I … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Culture and Arts, Education, Philippine Government

The Professional Heckler is an institution, Panelo a passing fancy

Posted by JoeAm on November 4, 2019 · Leave a Comment 

By Joe America The Duterte Administration is getting very sensitive about criticism. Vice President Robredo criticized the drug war and the President threw a hissy fit, tauntingly offering her the job of drug czar. You can see the burning anger in his eyes when he talks about it, a woman, after all. The trolls, of … Continue reading →

Category Blogging/Journalism, Citizenship/Patriotism, Culture and Arts, Humor/Satire, Philippine Government

Accidental malice, the way of our times

Posted by JoeAm on October 17, 2019 · Leave a Comment 

By JoeAm I was struck the other day by the realization of how much unthinking effort we put into living other people’s lives for them. I was stuck at an intersection, about to go through, when a car popped out from behind a truck. I could see him, but the guy behind me could not, … Continue reading →

Category Blogging/Journalism, Culture and Arts, Education, Technology/Internet

Democracy in the Philippines will be run by power families forever

Posted by JoeAm on October 7, 2019 · 194 Comments 

By JoeAm I ran a little poll on Twitter to get a sense of how those who inhabit the place and follow me, generally well-read people, see the Philippines developing in the future. There were four choices as shown in the results profile to the right. The fourth choice, translated, read “A Chinese Province”. The … Continue reading →

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