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 the 'greens' Category

The real lessons from Hagupit

Sunday, December 21st, 2014

Written for the CNN “Seeing the first set of images from the typhoon zone in the Philippines is like experiencing a dreadful sense of déjà vu: Flooded roads, fallen huts, small buildings with the rooftops ripped off, and dead animals littering the streets. If this devastation appears eerily familiar, it is because we also saw […]

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May breaking news kaninang umaga at binulabog nito ang buong mundo. Apektado rin ako ng balitang ito. Biruin ninyo, naglabas ng pahayag ang Sanrio na si Hello Kitty raw ay hindi pusa. Tama po ang inyong narinig, hindi pusa si Hello Kitty. Siya pala ay isang batang babae. Kaya kung noong bata kayo ay inisip […]

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Written for Bulatlat Next to tree planting, the most popular green initiative of politicians today is the adoption of ‘ban plastic’ ordinances. The new normal is the total dislike for anything plastic and the coming together of various stakeholders in the community to save the future generation from the scourge of garbage, and plastic in […]

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Published by Rappler If there is a country that needs to aggressively fight climate injustice, it must be the Philippines. Its global carbon emissions are minimal yet it is highly vulnerable to the harsh impact of extreme weather events. This was most vividly demonstrated by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) which wrought havoc in central Philippines. […]

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Lessons from the Haiyan Typhoon Tragedy

Tuesday, November 26th, 2013

Written for The Diplomat The Philippine government has already declared a state of national calamity in the wake of the devastation caused by super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) on several Visayas islands. More than 10,000 are feared dead after Haiyan, the strongest storm in the world this year, ravaged entire communities – especially the costal barangays […]

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Our year of living disastrously

Tuesday, November 19th, 2013

Written for the CNN The images of the devastation wrought by super typhoon Haiyan as it hit the Philippines the past two days have shocked people across the globe. But be prepared for even more heartbreaking images and stories of the storm’s aftermath once reporters and rescuers are finally able to reach remote coastal towns […]

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From Bad to Worse

Wednesday, August 15th, 2012

Written for The Diplomat The high global demand for mineral resources in the past decade has led to a rapid expansion of mining exploration in the Philippines. Suddenly, mining became a major economic priority for the government because of its huge potential in generating jobs and tax revenues. But public opinion towards mining turned negative […]

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It’s More Fun If Clean And Green

Sunday, April 22nd, 2012

Talumpating binigkas sa Earth Day celebration, Quezon Memorial Circle. May mga ginawang dagdag-bawas sa teksto Binabati po natin lahat ng mga naging bahagi ng ating isang linggong selebrasyon para sa Earth Day. Mula sa ating exhibit, forum, muzikalikasan, mga aksiyon sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa, at ngayon sa ginagawa nating kapit-bisig sa Quezon Memorial […]

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Brainwashed and Greenwashed?

Monday, April 16th, 2012

Statement after my appearance in the Baguio City Council Session Through the initiative of Baguio City Councilors Karminn Yangot (Sangguniang Kabataan) and Isabelo Cosalan, I was allowed to speak before the regular session of the city council this afternoon. I was asked to give an update on the efforts of Kabataan Partylist and other concerned […]

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Poverty and Disasters

Tuesday, March 6th, 2012

“God may send hurricanes, but their consequences are not God-given” – Winston James According to a government think-tank, 34.6 percent of households experienced job and asset losses during typhoons in 2011. Almost 70 percent suffered a reduction in income while 45 percent complained of rising expenses immediately after the onslaught of a typhoon. Floods mean […]

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