Metro Manila – the full catastrophe – One: Public Transport

Zorba the Greek called himself the full catastrophe, something one could also call Metro Manila. If one were a true blue Marcos loyalist, one might wonder why President Marcos Jr. has not reinstated his mother as its Governor. Historian Xiao Chua mentions Nathaniel von Einsiedel as one of her major technocrats, one later instrumental in … Continue reading

A Right Proper Rightist Party

Analysis and Opinion By JoeAm I was looking into Akbayan as a possible formal party alternative to the pinks and yellows who seem to have dissolved into the loser’s mist. Akbayan has a center-left approach, and their objectives are wholesome. Better jobs, education, health care, and so forth. But they only spend money. Not raise … Continue reading

Who REALLY knows the Philippines?

Atty Leni's Travel Score

A recent Facebook posting by Atty. Leni Robredo showing where she has been in the Philippines based on https://my-philippines-travel-level.com/map made the rounds as she has truly been in every province, which is a feat in such an archipelago. Two FB friends of mine – one formerly in government, another formerly an aid worker – came … Continue reading

Press Pause

By JoeAm I’ll be putting the blog on suspension for a time. When I started writing years ago, social media was just beginning to emerge as the untamed, informative, and often dirty place it has become. There were only a few of us engaging regularly in this discussion forum or that. Now life itself seems … Continue reading

What the heck is the opposition trying to accomplish?

Analysis and Opinion By JoeAm If I were to dissect the goals of the opposition to the Marcos Government based on Twitter messaging, it would be: What the hell kind of agenda is that? Would it be offensive if I proposed an alternative agenda? Lacking organization, the opposition comes across to me as a bunch … Continue reading