Rappler journalistic ethics: modern or just plain bad?

I will be doing several articles about Philippine media. Philippine media play a huge role in shaping the Philippines. I believe their output too often works against the well-being of the nation. So I figure it is time to push back against the press for contributing to strife and instability. The Rappler story I will dissect … Continue reading

In the style of Nancy Binay

It seems to me that men aspire toward “attitude” and women aspire toward “style”. That’s why advertisements aimed at men feature strong, handsome, athletic types slinging bottles of beer across the room and giving some gorgeous babe a lascivious look, that, of course – in the commercial – she falls for. And as for that … Continue reading

Free flailing in the Philippines

This is not an anti-blog. I am not against the Philippines or interested in making disparaging remarks about the nation that is my chosen homeland. But I would like to try to define the special quality of the Philippines that too often seems to have a lot of people operating out of touch with sense. (For new readers … Continue reading

The Philippines is now an English speaking nation; deal with it

The term “deal with it” is an American idiomatic expression. It is normally used in a confrontational manner, as a final exclamation point. A translation would be, “tough luck, nothing’s going to change, so you have to accept it. Nyaah nyaah nyaah!” But I don’t mean it as confrontational. I mean it as polite advice. I … Continue reading

Nora Aunor and the Filipino Machete Machine

“The Filipino Machete Machine” is an artistic expression that for purposes of this blog replaces “The Philippines: A Culture of Criticism”. We are dealing with the arts, so we should strive for more passion in our word work, or if not that, at least the deeper meanings that come with the incomprehensible. Artists hereabouts apparently don’t … Continue reading