A Corporate Model of Governance

Posted by JoeAm on February 25, 2014 · 73 Comments 

This blog is strictly an intellectual exercise. I would not want anyone to think JoeAm is preaching revolution, thus inviting reactionaries to ship him back to the States for violating the terms of his visa. Let’s just think about things, eh? We watch senators engaging one another as if each member had it in for … Continue reading →

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

Marcos-Romualdez Families Should Surrender the Ill-Gotten Wealth to Reconstruct Leyte

Posted by JoeAm on January 16, 2014 · 44 Comments 

Dissecting the Marcos-Romualdez playbook by Andrew Lim THE MARCOSES AND ROMUALDEZES ARE NOT LIKE YOU AND ME Story from Tacloban :  When Mayor Romualdez hears a constituent tell a sad tale of losing his house, he tells them he lost two houses. When people report of losing a car to the flood,  he counters that … Continue reading →

Category Crime/Corruption, Economy, Philippine Government

Philippine Physics: Inertia Rules

Posted by JoeAm on January 9, 2014 · 42 Comments 

The Philippines is a land deep and rich with history, custom, style and life. It renders the typical American suburb rather barren by comparison, shaded mundane by good order, wealth and mindless consumption. The Philippines is also conflicted, a stew of peoples who often do not see eye to eye. The rich and the disenfranchised, … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Culture and Arts, Economy, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government

A New Model for Disaster Recovery: “The Lifeline Services Act”

Posted by JoeAm on December 20, 2013 · 62 Comments 

It seems to me, now that I am a veteran of big winds, that the Philippines could benefit greatly by introducing a new model for responding to natural disasters. Such a new model would ideally adopt two changes in how disasters are handled. One, it would impose a military-style perspective and commitment that “this is … Continue reading →

Category Economy, Philippine Government

Believing in the Philippines

Posted by JoeAm on November 1, 2013 · 25 Comments 

What do YOU want for the Philippines? I read a lot of commentary hereabouts, blogs and comment threads, investigative articles, opinion columns, and news reports shaded with a point of view. There is a strong current of anger to a lot of it, of cynical mistrust of Philippine leaders, of exasperation with Philippine society, and … Continue reading →

Category Blogging/Journalism, Economy, Education