Why President Aquino is right to push back against the Supreme Court

Context is everything. When we want to judge something accurately, we need to get the context right or we are likely to end up with the wrong judgment. I think that is broadly what has happened regarding President Aquino’s “push-back” against the Supreme Court on the Court’s DAP ruling. And his comments about a second … Continue reading →

Why tying in with America makes sense

Why did the Philippines eject American bases from the Philippines in 1991? First and foremost, to preserve Philippine sovereignty. Here’s what happened as reported by the New York Times on December 28, 1991: American and Philippine officials reached tentative agreement last summer on a treaty that would have extended the lease on the naval base for at … Continue reading →

Of second terms and judicial overreach

One would think that a constitution ought to be a stabilizing document, a force for clarity and reason and good behavior. But the Philippine Constitution is not. It is a tool vested interests manipulate to get their way. You see, that is the problem with adopting American style democratic constitutional processes in a nation has … Continue reading →

Filipino ethics: inside out

It struck me that I am a ship out of water when I argue for ethics in journalism, here, in the Philippines. Like other cultural constructs, the matter of “ethics” has a different shading in the Philippines. It is not comprehended in the same way that westerners grasp it. The definition is more along the … Continue reading →

The striking evolution of the Philippines

Researchers have been studying the evolution of dinosaurs into birds. The transition took about 50 million years. The dinosaurs became smaller and more lithe to better evade preditors. Eventually they started climbing trees, either to escape predators or find food. Next they started gliding from tree to tree, then added feathers for warmth or aerodynamics. … Continue reading →