Looking at the SONA through its different audiences

Posted by JoeAm on July 25, 2017 · 73 Comments 

By Joe America President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) meant different things to different audiences. Let’s reflect on them. These are my guesses, and you can add your own interpretations in the discussion that follows the article. The Congressional majority and even some minority members who do not want to be seen as … Continue reading →

Category Blogging/Journalism, China, Economy, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government, USA/Americans

Upside down

Posted by Wilfredo G. Villanueva on July 21, 2017 · 132 Comments 

by Wilfredo G. Villanueva “Mommy, thank you,” Pedro said. Paz acknowledged the gratitude, glancing at Pedro while sipping from a ladle. He was wearing a tie on an immaculate white shirt, his sleeves rolled up to eat the breakfast that Paz had prepared. Picture of an executive. It was a big breakfast the del Rosario … Continue reading →

Category Culture and Arts, Economy, Family/Parenting/Children

Democracy is in a death spiral in the Philippines

Posted by JoeAm on July 3, 2017 · 176 Comments 

By Joe America It may be in a death spiral elsewhere, too. The killer is populism. Populism in politics is a dynamic that occurs when politicians stop acting with constitutional integrity and start operating to satisfy large blocks of voters who demand, not intelligence or reason or knowledge, but emotional satisfaction. Knowledge is the foundation … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Economy, Education, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government

BPI systems horror of June 6

Posted by chemrock on June 26, 2017 · 67 Comments 

By Chemrock Having made a comment elsewhere that in deference to some sensitive accounts in BPI, the systems horror of June 6 need to be openly explained, it’s a matter of need to do right that I share some thoughts on what the Senate inquiry revealed. It is also to oblige a request from a … Continue reading →

Category Blogging/Journalism, Economy, Technology/Internet

Absurdistan: the Philippines under Duterte

Posted by JoeAm on June 14, 2017 · 57 Comments 

By Joe America My thanks to contributor and blogging colleague Irineo B. R. Salazar (Filipino-German Learning Center) for the perfect characterization of the Philippines in 2017. Absurdistan It is absurd when killing is adopted as a state-enterprise, in the guise of fighting drugs . . . without the compassion that recognizes drugs are a symptom of the … Continue reading →

Category China, Economy, Family/Parenting/Children, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government, USA/Americans