Category: History

Rape of the Philippines AGAIN!!! Politicians Using Makapili Whitewash Japan’s Abuses

November 10, 2023November 10, 2023 Ramon Ortoll 28 Comments

Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito has labeled Filipinos who are pushing for a diplomatic solution to the South China Sea disputes as Makapili, the term coined for Filipinos who collaborated with the Japanese, when it occupied the country in World War II. Did Senator JV forget that it was the Japanese and Americans that massacred…

History

Foreign policy must never be dictated by emotions

October 31, 2023 The Unpopular Opinion 9 Comments

Tensions are rising between the Philippines and China, as activities in the West Philippine Sea are continuously being monitored, not only by their respective governments, but also by various countries who have tactical and strategic interests in these waters. From the recent water cannon incident which harassed fellow Filipinos, to beating the Chinese national basketball…

History, Politics, The South

Bongbong Marcos has pulled the neoliberal narrative rug from under the Philippine Opposition

August 6, 2023 Ramon Ortoll No Comments

Filipino neoliberals seem to be obsessed with the victim mindset. In his recent Inquirer column, Randy David describes Americans voting for former President Donald Trump as flirting with one-man rule because of the possibility that Trump might win again in 2024. “This,” David writes to punctuate his point, “is how dictatorships are born—often on the…

History, Politics

Should the Philippines host Afghan refugees?

July 10, 2023 The Unpopular Opinion 3 Comments

Roughly a year ago, the United States withdrew their military assets and personnel from Afghanistan as Taliban forces were gained more and more territories. As Afghans rushed to the airport to catch the last airplane departing Kabul, videos and images of people latching themselves onto to this jet in a final yet desperate futile attempt…

Government, History, Society

Getting the Philippines to Denmark (Part I)

June 14, 2023 The Unpopular Opinion No Comments

The Philippines had recently celebrated its 125th Independence Day. It is a celebration that symbolizes how Filipino forefathers have broken the shackles of centuries-long Spanish imperialism and colonialism. It also serves as a reminder to reflect on the sacrifices of Filipinos in pursuing the path towards self-determination. As June 12, 1898 became a date when…

Economy, History, Politics

The Senate: a political institution that lost its luster

May 2, 2023May 2, 2023 The Unpopular Opinion 1 Comment

The Philippine Senate is a political institution that was created during the American occupation years. Also called “the upper house”, the Senate is a legislative body that can be traced back to the Philippine Commission, which was created to assist the Americans in administering government powers in the Philippines. According to the 1987 Constitution, the…

Charter Change, Government, History, Politics

CIA hijacks Philippine foreign policy

April 24, 2023 Ramon Ortoll 6 Comments

The Philippines is now focused on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), with the expanded agreement covering access to an additional four Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) facilities and the expansion of an airstrip in the Balabac Island group in Palawan. It was Philippine Ambassador to the US Babe Romualdez who made the announcement,…

Government, History, Politics

A year after the Ukrainian crisis: what’s for the Philippines?

March 22, 2023March 23, 2023 The Unpopular Opinion 4 Comments

More than a year has passed since hostilities began when Moscow executed its special military operations on Ukrainian territory. Initially, numerous military analysts predicted a swift victory for Russia in a similar way when the port city of Sevastopol and the Crimean peninsula changed hands through false flag operations. However, the Ukrainians strongly defied these…

Economy, History