The Mindanao Protocol

I’ve read just about every mystery and spy author known to English-speaking mankind, and even some translations. I can snoop and connive with Hercule Poirot, Mrs. Marple, Sherlock Holmes, Jack Ryan, Harry Bosch, and Jason Bourne, to name a few.. They all work on cases. “The Case of the Scarlet Murder” or “The Yamashita Legacy” … Continue reading →

Filed under Economy, Philippine Government

Obscenity is Contextual

My headline writer and I got into an argument about the headline for this article. He wanted something like “Canadian Comedian Insults the Philippines!” I argued that our audience is not a bunch of shallow sensationalists. They want something worthwhile to think about. He argued that Filipinos are passionate and like getting riled up about … Continue reading →

Filed under Blogging/Journalism, Laws and Ethics

Philippine Agriculture: A Failing Industry

I occasionally spout the opinion that the Philippine penchant for small farms is hurting the nation by constraining its ag productivity.  This comes from  having seen California’s huge farms, knowing of the agricultural knowledge and skill that spouts from the ag universities there, and knowing that California supplies a huge part of the American food … Continue reading →

Filed under Economy, Philippine Government

The Filipino of the Future

We each walk our individual truths, shaded by what we experience and learn. Yours is different than mine. It’s why we disagree so much. Some see the guy who revealed U.S. state secrets as a hero, others see him as a traitor. The facts are the same, but our view of those facts is not … Continue reading →

Filed under Culture and Arts, Economy, Education

Why the Philippines Should Walk Alone

Here’s the deal. We outsiders are always raggin’ on the Philippines to be different than she is. We are a collective of Dan Browns and James Fallows and Joe Americas riding across the islands on high horses and pretending our view is better. Well, I’m saying “Whoa!” to that particular horse right now, and climbing … Continue reading →

Filed under Culture and Arts