Wilfredo G. Villanueva
Cha Coronel Datu
Juana Pilipinas
Karl Garcia
giancarloangulo
Irineo B. R. Salazar
JPilipinas
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JoeAmPrivate Venturing Politics in the Philippines
I’m going to make a connection here and invite you to extend your thinking a bit to grasp it. And maybe extend your acts, too, if you have that kind of influence. The issue facing us is the fundamental ineffectiveness of Philippine democratic institutions and processes. There are three branches of government, supposedly co-equal. Here … Continue reading
How Filipino Personal Independence Undermines Community
I notice that Filipinos don’t do “unified” particularly well. They don’t do “compromise” or “concede” particularly well. Do I need to do a recitation of examples, or will you stipulate that I am right and save me the time and words? Okay, a couple of quick examples. Senator Sotto did not concede or compromise. He … Continue reading
The Philippines: A Gem in Tattered Clothes
Well, I suppose “Gem in Tattered Clothes” is a mixed metaphor. Maybe it should be a “gem caked in mud”, or “a hunka-hunka body in tattered clothes”. The point either way is that we should not let the problems and poverty of the Philippines mask the promise and progress that is here, too. For sure, … Continue reading
Philippine Ethics: A Mirror to Values
Ethics mirror the fundamental values of a group or community or nation. “Ethical”, an adjective according to the Humpty Dumpty New World Dictionary, means “well principled”. “Unethical”, its opposite, pertains to unprincipled behavior. These are acts that may or may not be illegal but are outside of accepted convention. Honesty is considered to be an … Continue reading
The Foundations of Patriotism
One of the concepts I struggle to express is a clear description of the kind of sacrificial patriotism found in the United States that runs through the entire broad population, versus the pride-based (self-interested) patriotism in the Philippines. U.S. patriotism involves a willingness to give of oneself to help the nation. It seems to me … Continue reading
The Society of Honor by Joe America 