Category: Government

Election fraud did not just happen in 2004, it happened in other elections too!

July 24, 2011May 11, 2016 Ilda 31 Comments

“Pinpoint the mastermind behind the Hello Garci scandal and prosecute all those who participated in this shameless act”. These are the exact words of deposed former president and convicted plunderer, Joseph “Erap” Estrada regarding allegations of cheating in the 2004 Presidential elections. His statement reeks of vendetta. It seemed like a good idea then, but…

Crime, Government, Politics

An unsolicited draft of President Noynoy Aquino’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) for July 25, 2011

July 18, 2011June 8, 2012 benign0 5 Comments

My dear countrymen, members of Congress, honourable House Speaker, Senate President, and Chief Justice, ladies and gentlemen of the diplomatic corps: Today I stand before you, this 25th day of July 2011 to do three things: (1) report on what we had achieved in the last twelve months, (2) give you a summary of the…

Development, Economy, Government, Politics, Society

A call to President Noynoy Aquino to ditch the color yellow

July 16, 2011August 20, 2013 benign0 66 Comments

Tired, old, and quite frankly embarrassing. That’s what’s become of the whole yellow motif of the Aquino clan and its circle of business cronies, relatives, “shooting buddies”, lackeys, Media outlets, and cadre of bloggers, publicists, and “social media activists”. It was the primary colour of a successful propaganda campaign that started in 1983, peaked in…

Culture, Government, Politics, Society

Are OFWs’ right to travel being violated by the Philippine Government?

July 15, 2011July 15, 2011 Ilda 41 Comments

The Philippine economy will collapse without the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Remittances from the OFWs contributed significantly to the 7.3% growth in the economy in 2010. The spending fuelled by the billions of dollars they send back home is a factor that is likely helping the country avoid a Greece-like economic failure. Even without drastic…

Economy, Government

Mitsubishops: the CBCP conveniently absolves its own and remains above the Law

July 11, 2011 benign0 29 Comments

A statement issued last week by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on the matter of some of its members using taxpayers’ funds to buy luxury sport utility vehicles (SUVs) for use in their “field work,” made it quite categorical: “Our conscience is clear.” But of course it is. This is a statement…

Civics, Culture, Government, Religion

Do Filipinos need iron-fisted leadership?

July 8, 2011November 26, 2015 Ilda 103 Comments

Filipinos do not know what they want. In 1986, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos took to the streets to rally against the late strongman, former President Ferdinand Marcos. The three-day protest eventually led to the ousting of the so-called “dictator” and alleged human rights violator. Twenty five years later, Filipinos from the Mindanao region of…

Civics, Crime, Development, Government, Politics, Society

Should Mindanao secede from what could be turning into a failed state?

July 7, 2011June 16, 2013 benign0 37 Comments

Seems like the whole Media fiesta that is raging around the the Duterte’s of Davao City, specifically on-leave Mayor Sara’s fists and the Duterte father-and-son fingers is opening up old raw emotions about the subjugation of Mindanao to the 100-year-old elephant in the room — the legacy of colonial rule, Imperial Manila. Many Davao folk…

Government, Politics, Society

Juan de Dios Pueblos: The Pajero Bishop

July 6, 2011 benign0 8 Comments

One wonders now what really motivates Roman Catholic Bishops’ taking certain positions on various matters of the state. Take the issue of Reproductive Health (RH) — an issue where the Church takes a strong anti-modernity stand on. The ends to which the Church took the “debate” and the pitch to which it took its temper…

Civics, Government, Lifestyle, Religion