Defending Defense

We have two interesting cases tracking together. One is in the United States, the other in the Philippines. Both fall under the category of “Foreign Affairs and Defense”. The United States is pursuing a hero or a traitor who revealed top secret NSA (National Security Agency) anti-terrorist programs. He is a hero to privacy advocates … Continue reading →

Filed under Foreign Affairs and Defense, USA/Americans

Greed is God

That is called headline by typo. I had meant to type “Greed is Good” but missed a key. This one is even better. Andrew Lim asked an interesting question the other day, and provided a reasonable answer, too. Q: Why do Americans “pursue” happiness and never seem to get it? On the other hand, Pinoys … Continue reading →

Filed under Culture and Arts, Economy

The Big Dogs of Philippine Agribusiness

In a prior article on agribusiness, I wrote that Philippine agribusiness as an industry is “dead in the water” because small farms are inefficient and the cooperative form of business management is very weak. Cooperatives lack the clear accountability and profit incentive that corporations thrive on. The article did not consider the major “name” players … Continue reading →

Filed under Economy

Why China Can’t Be Trusted

I’ve mentioned in several blogs that we create our own intellectual reality based on what we personally experience, feel and believe. Different people can look at the same facts, same truths, but get very different read-outs based on the half-baked knowledge they hold to be 100% true. Well, I want to disabuse you of any … Continue reading →

Filed under China, Foreign Affairs and Defense

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