Wilfredo G. Villanueva
Cha Coronel Datu
Juana Pilipinas
Karl Garcia
giancarloangulo
Irineo B. R. Salazar
JPilipinas
karlgarcia
JoeAmWhen Power Becomes Performance: Why Governance by Shock Fails Democracies
By Karl Garcia In different political systems and cultures, Donald Trump and Rodrigo Duterte practiced a similar style of leadership: governance by shock, confrontation, and personal dominance. Their supporters often praised this approach as “strong leadership” or a necessary disruption of elite complacency. Yet with the benefit of distance and evidence, it is increasingly clear … Continue reading
Too Many Lawyers, Too Little Justice
Why the War on Drugs, Congested Jails, and Barangay Justice Are the Same Story By Karl Garcia The Philippines does not suffer from a shortage of laws. It does not suffer from a shortage of lawyers. It suffers from a shortage of justice. That shortage explains far more about the country’s recent history than any … Continue reading
A Country Trapped in Reset Mode
By Karl Garcia Every political crisis in the Philippines eventually leads to the same demand: a reset.Remove the leader. Start over. Clean the slate. Try again. The impulse is understandable. When institutions disappoint and progress feels elusive, resetting offers emotional closure. It assigns blame. It promises renewal without requiring patience. But this instinct—repeated over decades—has … Continue reading
Mas Mahirap Maging Korap Kung Walang Mahirap
By Karl Garcia “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap” is one of the most repeated lines in Philippine public life. It sounds right. It feels moral. It gives us a villain and a solution in a single sentence. But it gets the sequence wrong. The harder truth is this: mas mahirap maging korap kung walang mahirap.Corruption … Continue reading
The World Bank’s “Dream Debt” Line Is a Comforting Fudging Of the Truth
By Karl Garcia The World Bank recently said that “most countries would dream of having the kind of debt-to-GDP ratios” the Philippines has. On the surface, that sounds like praise — a global institution patting the country on the back for not being reckless.But for many Filipinos, the statement was not reassuring. It was insulting.Not … Continue reading
The Society of Honor by Joe America 