The Philippines is morally bankrupt. What are we to do about it?

Opinion By Joe America If the Philippines is a Catholic nation, or otherwise religious, how can it be morally bankrupt? It has a Constitution and laws. It has a broad educational system that teaches honesty and doing right things. Yet the nation is morally bankrupt. Corrupt, incompetent, and fake in the sense that it persecutes … Continue reading →

Filed under Citizenship/Patriotism, Crime/Corruption, Culture and Arts, Economy, Education, Philippine Government

Widening Philippine Horizons

Analysis and Opinion By Irineo B. R. Salazar The Philippines is an enigma to many. There is the “Heritage of Smallness” (Nick Joaquin) which doesn’t scale well, as I have written in “The National Village”. There is a certain insularity which I think is the result of having gone From the Edge to the Middle … Continue reading →

Filed under Culture and Arts, Economy, Education, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government, Religion

Philippines: From the Edge to the Middle of Things

Analysis and Opinion By Irineo B. R. Salazar The Philippines weren’t isolated before, but they had some distance from other places. Visayan pirates allegedly raided Taiwan in the 12th century, but not the Chinese mainland as it is around a week’s sailing away, while ancient Greeks according to legend attacked Troy which is near modern … Continue reading →

Filed under Culture and Arts, Economy, Education, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government, Religion

The National Village

Analysis and Opinion By Irineo B. R. Salizar Joe noted in 2018 that Philippine culture is not damaged, but fluid. Clearly it is: more personal than institutional. Lots of Filipinos feel uncomfortable with formal institutions; feel more comfortable with personal arrangements like utang na loob and patronage. The President acts personalistic, like a village chief. … Continue reading →

Filed under Culture and Arts, Economy, Education, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government, Religion

The hole in the Philippine psyche

Opinion By Joe America The Philippines is a damaged culture according to some, and a failed state, looking around. It’s leaders hunt down citizens rather than lift them up. Their response to a global health crisis was to do nothing for four months and then scramble around blaming the citizens. Their position in opposition to … Continue reading →

Filed under Citizenship/Patriotism, Culture and Arts, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government