In the style of Nancy Binay

Posted by JoeAm on August 1, 2014 · 35 Comments 

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 →

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

Free flailing in the Philippines

Posted by JoeAm on July 21, 2014 · 52 Comments 

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 →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Crime/Corruption, Culture and Arts

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

Posted by JoeAm on June 27, 2014 · 60 Comments 

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 →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Culture and Arts, Economy, Education, Family/Parenting/Children, Philippine Government

Nora Aunor and the Filipino Machete Machine

Posted by JoeAm on June 24, 2014 · 58 Comments 

“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 →

Category Culture and Arts, Philippine Government

Looking at values inside out, or why the Left has it all wrong

Posted by JoeAm on June 20, 2014 · 23 Comments 

I have a friend in the U.S. who is a very successful veterinarian, tending to the dogs and cats of the stars of Hollywood. She once took a drawing class at UCLA Extension and raved about the class. “We are being taught a method of drawing the spaces in and around things, rather than the thing … Continue reading →

Category Culture and Arts, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Politics