In defense of knowledge: Philippine victimhood, the sequel

Posted by JoeAm on April 9, 2015 · 338 Comments 

A recent blog by Pinoy in Europe gave me the opportunity to sit back and reflect for a change, rather than engage in the dialogue. PiE’s point was that it is time for Filipinos to set aside the notion of being victims, which is a powerless role, and aspire to take control of their lives, … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Culture and Arts, Education, Family/Parenting/Children, Religion

Education, kids and the culture of impunity

Posted by JoeAm on January 27, 2015 · 51 Comments 

I ask this as follow-up to questions that Society member Juana Pilipinas fired up about how to end submission as a way of life that feeds into the culture of impunity here in the Philippines. How do we get to candid expression focused on reason, not emotions? In the Philippines, emotions seem bi-polar, swinging widely between: (a)  insecurity, fear or … Continue reading →

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

The Book of Allegory

Posted by JoeAm on December 30, 2014 · 34 Comments 

This blog has the echo of a prior writing, but we have a lot of new followers, so I’ll tread that ground once more. It may explain a few things. Let me first note how I came to the topic this time around. It is amusing, I think. Mariano Renato Pacifico did it, essentially, by leveling a blast … Continue reading →

Category Blogging/Journalism, Culture and Arts, Education, Humor/Satire, Literature

The continuing occupation of the oligarchs

Posted by josephivo on December 5, 2014 · 227 Comments 

  by josephivo (1) Wayang kulit and the Philippine political reality A wayang kulit (= Indonesian shadow theater play) is the political reality we are looking at in the Philippines. Wayang kulit is special because of its double abstraction. First you only see shadows not the live actors. Second, the shadows come from leather puppets … Continue reading →

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

The connected Filipino; running naked in the forest

Posted by JoeAm on November 25, 2014 · 64 Comments 

I wonder what it is like to be born into the world of computers and instant communication around the globe where dramatic photos can be uploaded to the world in the middle of a disaster or insults registered around the globe in 141 characters. Where relentless tapping of text messages is very likely evolving the shape … Continue reading →

Category Culture and Arts, Education, Family/Parenting/Children, Technology/Internet