Idealism versus pragmatics

Posted by JoeAm on October 29, 2018 · 73 Comments 

By JoeAm I’ve long held the view that there is some idealized form of a more perfect Philippines. A lot of the articles and much of the discussion here has oriented around understanding “the way it is”, and then proposing the actions that are needed to get to a richer, healthier, more secure, and more … Continue reading →

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

Angels, satanic heroes, players, punishers, and dark angels

Posted by JoeAm on October 8, 2018 · 78 Comments 

By JoeAm My dear Filipino friends, y’all are in a predicament. You and your country-mates repeatedly elect leaders who are not really doing the best possible job for the nation. We’ve examined the cultural conditions that cause this and observed three main characteristics that lead Filipinos repeatedly to make poor choices. They may not apply … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Politics

Do Philippine Mayors make bad presidents?

Posted by JoeAm on September 21, 2018 · 81 Comments 

By Andrew Lim Another mayor, another failure? There have been three former mayors-turned presidents in our history: Aguinaldo, Estrada and Duterte. If you go back to the historical record of their terms, there is a strong argument to be made they did not do very well. Sure, they had personal accomplishments, but if we make … Continue reading →

Category Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government, Philippine Politics

Killing that ridiculous myth that Leni Robredo is soft or weak

Posted by JoeAm on September 17, 2018 · 104 Comments 

By JoeAm I find it astonishing that people of laws, civility, and human rights destroy their own best electoral hopes by doing the trolls’ job for them. They wanted President Aquino to be a tall, handsome guy striding into a SONA with the wit and charisma of John F. Kennedy and the mistake-free talent of … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Culture and Arts, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Politics

Did President Duterte inadvertently give people the idea of “President Trillanes”?

Posted by JoeAm on September 10, 2018 · 296 Comments 

By JoeAm By any measure, Senator Trillanes’ amnesty case has further eroded President Duterte’s reputation of total, complete authority. The beating the President and his men have been taking is worse than that by the Arroyo coup of the House leadership which sat the President aside in the waiting room for an hour, like a … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Crime/Corruption, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government, Philippine Politics