Category: Development

The moronism in ‘ordering’ bus drivers and conductors to be paid fixed salaries

Posted on By benign0 19 Comments on The moronism in ‘ordering’ bus drivers and conductors to be paid fixed salaries

Why am I not surprised that the move of the Philippines’ Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to implement an order to change remuneration of the country’s public utility bus drivers from a commission-based payment scheme to a fixed-salary scheme fell flat on its face? DOLE Order Number 118-12 which mandates this transition supposedly had…

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Development, Government, Society

Understanding the BS in being a ‘breakout nation’

Posted on By benign0 6 Comments on Understanding the BS in being a ‘breakout nation’

In its most recent rah-rah story about how the government of President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III has so far been the heroic beacon of progress as was “promised” during the campaign, “social news network” site Rappler.com has quoted Ruchir Sharma, head of Emerging Market Equities and Global Macro at Morgan Stanley Investment Management who,…

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Development, Economy, Government, Media, Money Talks

MMDA is living on a prayer instead of thinking about solving EDSA’s traffic problems

Posted on By Ilda 48 Comments on MMDA is living on a prayer instead of thinking about solving EDSA’s traffic problems

It seems Filipino public servants are incapable of thinking outside the square when it comes to addressing the problems that plague the nation. Most of them rely on prayer to solve issues rather than apply science and technology — an approach that could actually yield permanent solutions. Take the case of the Chairman for Metro…

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Civics, Culture, Development, Government, Religion, Society

President Benigno Simeon Aquino’s 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA 2012)

Posted on By Ilda 52 Comments on President Benigno Simeon Aquino’s 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA 2012)

President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III will be giving his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) soon. Like his first and second SONA, his speech will most likely be full of motherhood statements similar to all the previous speeches he had delivered since he announced his plans to run for the Presidency in 2009….

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Development, Economy, Government, Politics

An alternative personification of the Pinoy: the spoiled brat

Posted on By FallenAngel 14 Comments on An alternative personification of the Pinoy: the spoiled brat

The symbol for the Filipino everyman is called Juan de la Cruz. In that essence, it is similar to the way Americans use John Doe to refer to people whose identity is unknown. Juan de la Cruz is also particularly used in the sense that it a very common name here in the Philippines. He…

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Culture, Development, Featured, Politics, Society

Jose Antonio Vargas – modern day migrants’ hero and Filipino exemplar?

Posted on By benign0 8 Comments on Jose Antonio Vargas – modern day migrants’ hero and Filipino exemplar?

Filipino ‘illegal’ immigrant Jose Antonio Vargas seems to have started something big. Vargas, who lives in the United States, is a journalist of Filipino ancestry who was born in the Philippines but was sent to live with his grandparents (both naturalised Americans) when he was 12. At 16, he experienced a rude awakening to the…

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Culture, Development, Lifestyle, Media, Society

Who is the true Filipino ‘nationalist’?

Posted on By benign0 51 Comments on Who is the true Filipino ‘nationalist’?

So-called “cause-oriented groups” (COGs) at present seem to have a monopoly over the label “nationalist” or “patriot”. They claim to be the only true nationalists simply by virtue of their willingness to invoke chaos on our streets and to express themselves in a form of Tagalog that makes generous use of six-syllable words that most…

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Civics, Development, Society

Mahathir Mohamad on why the Philippines may suffer from a case of mediocre political leadership

Posted on By benign0 123 Comments on Mahathir Mohamad on why the Philippines may suffer from a case of mediocre political leadership

Mediocre political leadership. These are the words Malaysian former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad used to describe a key possible pitfall of “unbridled democracy”. This he said in a speech he delivered on the occasion of his being conferred an Honorary Professor Title by the University of Santo Tomas. Mahathir also added that free-wheeling democracy can…

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Culture, Development, Featured, Government, Politics, Society