New tourism slogan: “It’s the Philippines, deal with it!”

Analysis and Opinion By Joe America The Philippines is different. Dilapidated in a modern era, rustic in the jungles, special express lanes for carabao, an adventure in the making as soon as you exit the airplane into the sweltering heat and taste the grit between your teeth. I once rode in a taxi whose prior … Continue reading

The Philippines is a great place to live

Analysis and Opinion By Joe America Whenever I say I like living in the Philippines people say “well, you’re white and rich so you don’t know what it’s really like.” But if I say, “Man, the Philippines is screwed up” they say something like, “Well, it’s because you Americans colonized us and treated us badly.” … Continue reading

The Future of the Society of Honor

By Joe America Those who read or comment here now and then recognize that The Society of Honor no longer gets the thousands of reads and active commentary that it once had. Times change, and with them, reading habits. I’m inclined to observe occasionally, “life’s a path, not a destination”. A few or us continue … Continue reading

The Portuguese and other ghosts in the Philippines

Analysis and Opinion By Joe America My household is in near crisis mode, and it’s hilarious. My wife is convinced someone is stealing food from our refrigerator. Last week a zucchini squash disappeared. A few days later, an extra hard-boiled egg she stashed there went missing. “We have Portuguese!” she declared, meaning poltergeist. Well that … Continue reading

What does the Philippines dream of?

This is not about the Philippine dream, which probably doesn’t exist, even as the Philippines certainly dreams of many things, and one good way to see those dreams is through the stories that Filipinos like best. In the Philippines, a lot is felt more than thought. Intellectuals and reformist politicians often aren’t in touch with … Continue reading