2016 Dream Team: Aquino and Aquino

Posted by JoeAm on January 31, 2014 · 39 Comments 

We need a new approach. One of the things I wrestle with in my cross-cultural discovery trek is the apparent fact that an American style government overlaid on the Filipino hierarchical culture creates a lot of odd results. Like local mayors become dynastic warlords and the Congress gets packed with dynastic power-mongers, boxers, crybabies, plagiarists … Continue reading →

Category China, Entertainment, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Humor/Satire, Philippine Government, Philippine Politics

How the Rule of Law Limits Freedom in the Philippines

Posted by JoeAm on January 29, 2014 · 31 Comments 

Freedom House undertakes to survey 185 nations around the world once a year to see how they are doing in terms of freedom, where freedom is broken into two categories, Political Rights and Civil Liberties. Advocacy groups and businessmen use the information, the former to raise a voice of complaint to instigate social change, the latter … Continue reading →

Category Crime/Corruption, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government

The Idiot’s Guide to Surviving a Natural Disaster

Posted by JoeAm on January 24, 2014 · 34 Comments 

Some would say we are idiots for choosing to live in the most dangerous land in the world, where nature’s delights, from screaming winds to hot rocks, and mankind’s lunacy, from murder to motorized mayhem, make it more fatal in the Philippines. Nature’s delights are typhoons and tropical storms that ram wind and water at … Continue reading →

Category Ecology/Global Warming, Philippine Government

Why I Respect President Aquino

Posted by JoeAm on January 20, 2014 · 863 Comments 

There is no perfect president. Never has been one, never will be one. We can cite the presidents who are generally held in high regard, and those held in low regard. How do you look at President Aguinaldo, I wonder? He deserves credit for organizing the Philippines as a nation, yet he set the standard … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, 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