Closing down Rappler – Opening up Pandora’s box

By Chemrock The Securities and Exchange Commission ordered the closure of Rappler, a private limited corporation running an online news platform, on grounds that it breached the no-foreign ownership rules for media. Early news pointed to SEC’s decision being predicated on some Philippines Depository Receipts (PDR) issued by Rappler to foreign investors, thus subjecting the company … Continue reading →

Filed under Blogging/Journalism, Economy, Philippine Government, Philippine Politics, Uncategorized

Zombies! Filipino zombies!

By Joe America What do we know at this point? We know the Duterte Administration has skillfully applied the power of greed, ambition, and privilege to diminish Filipino democratic ideals, civility, and sovereignty. He is halfway to dictatorship and a new form of governance in which the ordering of privilege matters more than fairness or … Continue reading →

Filed under Blogging/Journalism, Citizenship/Patriotism, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government

Love to Survive

by Wilfredo G. Villanueva (An Open Letter to our daughters, sons-in-law, future sons-in-law) We remember it well. One of you even peed in her pants. It was a horror house of scary dinosaurs. Jurassic Park was popular at that time, and you had reason to be afraid, besides you were 10, 9, 8 and 2 … Continue reading →

Filed under Citizenship/Patriotism, Education, Family/Parenting/Children, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government

Nationalism, treason, complacency, and us

By Joe America Nationalism fascinates me because I live in a nether world between the land of my birth and the land of my choice for raising a family and dying. Some Filipinos tell me to go back to America, some are quiet with their resentments that I intrude, some are kind with their thanks … Continue reading →

Filed under China, Citizenship/Patriotism, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government

Defining the term ‘shithole’ country

By Joe America I would guess that what Donald Trump meant when he used the term ‘shithole country’ is something like: shithole country: a generally poor and struggling, politically conflicted country that seeks relief from the United States, thus imposing burdens upon the great white nation. As Winnie the Pooh might express it, these countries … Continue reading →

Filed under Citizenship/Patriotism, Crime/Corruption, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Politics, USA/Americans