JoeAm issues his Year Two report card on President Duterte’s Administraton

By JoeAm Rappler put out a poll on Twitter asking readers to issue a Year Two Report Card for President Duterte on the following subjects: Eradicating poverty and hunger Fixing Metro Manila transport and traffic Getting rid of corruption Improving health care services and facilities Strengthening foreign relations Promoting gender rights and equality Protecting Philippine … Continue reading →

Filed under Crime/Corruption, Economy, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Philippine Government

Here is an idea. Build a Philippine military/industrial simplex.

By JoeAm I know simplex has a geometric connotation, but I use it to imply a simple complex. Joke lang. The US military industrial complex won World War II and threatened to become such a driving force behind US foreign policy that protests arose to smash it down a bit. But it is for sure … Continue reading →

Filed under Economy, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Philippine Government

The Day We Made Dr. Valenciano Cry

by Wilfredo G. Villanueva I don’t know Dr. Valenciano personally. My companions said that that was his name when they queried him. He was a passerby as we prayed the Holy Rosary at the foot of the statue of Joaquin “Chino” P. Roces on Tulay ng Kalayaan, Kalye Mendiola. It was June 26th. The tears … Continue reading →

Filed under Citizenship/Patriotism, Philippine Government, Religion

Is anti-Filipino racism rising?

By JoeAm I’ve recently noticed a peculiar consistency of some commentary in my social media discussion threads that I find troubling. The rise of President Duterte is being attributed to a historical weakness among Filipinos to care for themselves. Old racial quotes from Americans describing Filipinos as lazy and unable to govern themselves are among … Continue reading →

Filed under China, Citizenship/Patriotism, Culture and Arts

Could the Duterte appeasement policy on the WPS be correct?

By JoeAm A recent article here by Chemrock explored how the Philippines ‘lost’ the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to China. There were two prominent historical moments that led to the loss: (1) The Philippines kicking out US bases in 1991, and (2) President Arroyo’s appeasement program. Other mistakes were made under President Aquino that aggravated … Continue reading →

Filed under China, Ecology/Global Warming, Foreign Affairs and Defense, USA/Americans