Mong Palatino

Blogging about the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific since 2004

About

@mongster is a Manila-based activist, former Philippine legislator, and blogger/analyst of Asia-Pacific affairs.

Archive for December, 2011

‘Angry Birds’ of the Philippines

Monday, December 26th, 2011

This is the year of tweeting birds, homeless migratory birds, and angry birds. Are there angry birds in the Philippines? Ibong Adarna is the original ‘angry bird’ of the Philippines. It’s a classic in Philippine literature although its author is unknown. It’s a required reading material in schools so students are familiar with the story […]

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Aquino’s Human Rights Problem

Friday, December 23rd, 2011

Please visit the special page I created about Philippine Airport Terminals. I also edited my profile page The Philippines is often recognized by global institutions for its strong commitment to human rights. Indeed, compared with other countries in the region, where government critics are given insanely long prison sentences and media reports are heavily censored […]

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Timor-Leste’s Debt Plan

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

With 37 votes in favor, 19 against and 3 abstentions, Timor-Leste’s parliament initially approved on November 11 the general terms of the government’s proposed budget of $1.763 billion for the year 2012. 2012 promises to be an exciting and significant year for this tiny nation. It will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Restoration of […]

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Geopolitical Mathematics of Cash Transfers

Monday, December 5th, 2011

Part 1: My critique of President Noynoy Aquino’s Pantawid Pamilya Program The Department of Social Welfare and Development has been bombarding us with statistical reports on the Conditional Cash Transfer program. It’s either they are obsessively transparent or they are merely trying to convince skeptics that the program’s mega funding is justified. The Liberal diehards […]

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Sex, Politics & Seksualiti Merdeka

Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

First organized in 2008, the Seksualiti Merdeka festival has been an annual celebration of sexual diversity and gender rights in Malaysia. It promotes the human rights and acceptance of the LGBT community through films, art workshops, stage plays, and seminars. Themed ‘Queer Without Fear,’ this year’s vision is for everyone “to be free from discrimination, […]

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