To Spin Manila’s Water Shortage
By Popoy Del R. Cartanio A writer of paid rubbish or the truth can put a spin to anything. To spin is to inform, to sell, to ignite the emotions of anger and sympathy; even to make mountains out of molehills and vice versa to demonstrate fawning and fluid sycophancy. Quite often a spin is … Continue reading
Filipino exceptionalism, Filipino moral courage
By JoeAm We normally hear of “American exceptionalism”, meant to characterize the economic, moral, and global power of the United States. And we might imagine the term “Chinese exceptionalism” to mean that nation’s historical claim to global prominence, or “Swiss exceptionalism” to mean determined neutrality, or “Japanese exceptionalism” to mean racial purity and discipline. How … Continue reading
Do you see the difference?
By JoeAm A lot of Filipinos are space cadets. They are children watching cartoons on TV all day, or scaredy cat scouts sitting around the campfire listening to stories about snipes and dreaming of catching one. They are the subject of Kafka’s novels about absurdity, the people doing nonsense because it is simply what they … Continue reading
We are “Plac’d on this isthmus of a middle state” . . .
By JoeAm One of my sources, those spread across the globe like a spider’s web, each node a listening post, today entrusted me with the wisdom of Alexander Pope, which I shall reproduce in a moment. Do you read poetry? Not many do, I think. Anyone who reads poetry has undoubtedly tried, and maybe succeeded, … Continue reading




