A Portrait of the Philippines as a Young Nation

Posted by JoeAm on March 25, 2013 · 30 Comments 

Every once in a while it is good to pause to try to pull together some of the varied thoughts dumped out day to day in these blogs. Rather pull chaos back into order, if you catch my drift. So let’s do a little of that. If it seems deja vu, relax; it is not … Continue reading →

Category Education, Philippine Government · Tagged with , , , , , ,

Psychotherapeutic Counseling for the Democratically Inclined

Posted by JoeAm on March 14, 2013 · 18 Comments 

“Democracy is for the intelligent, because the leadership of State is placed in the hands of the People. It also works best if the People are not nuts.” JoeAm ___________ Going by the Rappler mood meter, a good many Filipinos seem to be in a rather Maude-like snit about the harsh treatment being given by … Continue reading →

Category Foreign Affairs and Defense, Philippine Government · Tagged with , , ,

Transparency: It’s an Attitude

Posted by JoeAm on March 7, 2013 · 19 Comments 

Almost every Philippine government agency has an emphasis on transparency. Not because of law, necessarily, but because of the good governance initiatives of President Aquino and the understanding that the public wants it. Citizens and their agents, the press and watchdog groups, want SALN’s and financial information and other facts in order to keep an … Continue reading →

Category Philippine Government · Tagged with ,

The Office of the Eye of the Bull

Posted by JoeAm on March 5, 2013 · 48 Comments 

Originally published March 5, 2013; republished March 17, 2013. This has been one of JoeAm’s most popular blogs. It was withdrawn due to potential violations of COMELEC rules for engagement in elections by a foreigner. Comments pertaining to political parties and their principals or candidates have been removed. Support of the President is non-political. It … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Philippine Government · Tagged with , , , , ,

Bias: Care and Feeding of the Beast

Posted by JoeAm on March 1, 2013 · 30 Comments 

Blogger Ellen Tordisillas has come to be a fascinating case study for me. I’ve written several blogs about her.  I’m perplexed because I hold her to be a reasonably reasonable and well-intentioned person, yet we come down on opposite sides of the opinion line on many issues. Furthermore, I don’t think she is pursuing a … Continue reading →

Category Blogging/Journalism, Philippine Government · Tagged with , ,