Philippines Scores Another First: NAIA Now Officially the Worst Airport in the World

Posted on By BenK 134 Comments on Philippines Scores Another First: NAIA Now Officially the Worst Airport in the World

Hard on the heels of a thoroughly uncomplimentary review of Manila (interesting fact: it’s a dump) by regular visitor Geoffrey James on Travelblog.org, Filipinos have a new reason to feel persecuted with the announcement that NAIA was rated the Worst Airport in the World by the Guide to Sleeping in Airports website. The rating is…

Read More “Philippines Scores Another First: NAIA Now Officially the Worst Airport in the World” »

Development, Media

The Quezon City Squatter Tax can be offset by a tax on pagpag

Posted on By benign0 15 Comments on The Quezon City Squatter Tax can be offset by a tax on pagpag

I read recently that the city government of Quezon City is set to levy an additional tax on property located within its administrative jurisdiction on top of whatever taxes are already being paid by their owners. So aside from the property taxes being collected from the landed gentry of this fine city, the Quezon City…

Read More “The Quezon City Squatter Tax can be offset by a tax on pagpag” »

Civics, Economy, Society

The Folly of Brown Pride

Posted on By ChinoF 40 Comments on The Folly of Brown Pride

It already irks me to keep hearing Filipinos complain about other Filipinos using skin whitening products or liking foreign shows and products, saying it’s a sign that Filipinos are ashamed of themselves. I disagree with that view. I think loving white skin has nothing to do with shame. It’s just common sense. When something is…

Read More “The Folly of Brown Pride” »

Culture, Lifestyle

Willie Revillame strikes again!

Posted on By benign0 5 Comments on Willie Revillame strikes again!

Filipino television star Willie Revillame certainly earns the big bucks the networks pay him. Recently he again exhibited his ability to draw crowds in stampede proportions to one of his shows. This time it was TV5’s Will Time Big Time which drew hordes hoping to score tickets being doled out for free for the show’s…

Read More “Willie Revillame strikes again!” »

Glitz and Glamour, Media

Occupy Wall Street: too little too late stunt

Posted on By benign0 9 Comments on Occupy Wall Street: too little too late stunt

The simple fact that many people find this cartoon of Mr Burns holding up a placard with the words “I am the 1%. Smithers, release the hounds” amusing is because Mr Burns is a well-known character of the long-running animated sitcom The Simpsons where he embodies what the “Occupy Wall Street” protestors consider to be…

Read More “Occupy Wall Street: too little too late stunt” »

Economy, Money Talks

Manila: a ‘dump’ according to travel blogger

Posted on By Ilda 265 Comments on Manila: a ‘dump’ according to travel blogger

A certain Geoffrey James wrote a scathing review of the Philippines or rather, as he quickly pointed out, a scathing review of it’s capital, Manila on Travelblog.org. I’m glad he decided to be specific because the country as a whole is not ugly. Nonetheless, I am pretty sure Manila was once as beautiful as the…

Read More “Manila: a ‘dump’ according to travel blogger” »

Development, Economy

Has being ‘pro Reproductive Health’ become a mere fashion statement?

Posted on By benign0 3 Comments on Has being ‘pro Reproductive Health’ become a mere fashion statement?

First it was “constitutional reform” and now it is “reproductive health”. The thing with issues and the advocacies that seek to address them is that they follow an all-too-familiar lifecycle. They first start out as nice ideas firmly rooted in a robust intellectual construct. And then the simian behaviour starts. Hold that thought for now…

Read More “Has being ‘pro Reproductive Health’ become a mere fashion statement?” »

Media, Religion, Society