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.

May Magagawa ba Tayo sa Usapin ng Mamasapano?

Tuesday, January 24th, 2017

Published by the official student publication of Isabela State University in 2015 Nasaan ba ang Mamasapano? Sa Maguindanao, pero saan yun sa mapa? Kaya ang unang gagawin sa smartphone o laptop, hanapin ang lugar ng engkwentro. Magsaliksik ukol sa Tukanalipao. Magbasa ng balita tungkol sa mga komunidad na apektado ng kaguluhan. May mga paaralan bang […]

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How to be a Leftist in the time of Duterte

Monday, December 12th, 2016

Published by Manila Today Some scholars scoff at President Rodrigo Duterte’s repeated pronouncements that he is a Leftist, a socialist. The skepticism is understandable since no president of the Republic has ever made a claim about being an advocate of Leftist politics. Maybe the scholars have a different concept of what it means to be […]

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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s foreign policy pronouncements have spurred intense interest and debates abroad, but few are commenting about his economic agenda. Right or wrong, Duterte has chosen to define the first year of his presidency by pursuing his so-called ‘War on Drugs’ and declaring a “separation” from the United States, an old ally and […]

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Published by Manila Today Hungry farmers asking for rice. Typhoon victims decrying government neglect. Netizens marching against corruption. These protests unmasked the ‘Daang Matuwid’ program as an empty slogan of a regime that insidiously perpetuates foreign dominance and elite oppression in the country. It is only now we appreciate the full and potent significance of […]

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Published by Bulatlat 1. A civil war has been raging in the countryside since 1969. Landlessness, feudal exploitation, state brutality against the poor and marginalized – these are some of the issues that led to the formation of the New People’s Army. An armed force of the poor, by the poor, and for the poor […]

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Published by Manila Today How should we remember the year 2015? The year started on an exhilarating occasion when Pope Francis arrived and uplifted the spirits of many Filipinos and it will end as we celebrate our victory in the Miss Universe pageant. In between these memorable moments, there were numerous events that captured our […]

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Published by Bulatlat It is public knowledge that the Left became a divided movement in the early 1990s. Most remained as national democrats while the rest splintered into various factions. Those who refused to reaffirm the Natdem principles became vociferous critics of the tactics and methods of what they refer to as the Stalinist wing […]

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Published by Manila Today As host of the 2015 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, the Philippines has vowed to provide a spectacular and warm welcome to world leaders, investors, media, and all participants of the annual meeting. Interestingly, the world famous Filipino hospitality will be offered to our visitors sans the residents of Metro Manila. […]

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Published by Manila Today The palengke economy is under attack: The amended Fisheries Code bans commercial fishing within 15 kilometers of municipal waters. Meanwhile, several local government units in Metro Manila are privatizing (read: demolishing) public markets. The fish ban will allegedly stop big operators from depleting our fish stock. Further, it is touted as […]

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Walang Kapayapaan sa Daang Matuwid

Wednesday, June 15th, 2016

Talumpating binigkas sa rali noong 2014 State of the Nation Address Mga kababayan, si Noynoy Aquino kandidato raw para sa Nobel Peace prize. Tama ba yun? Naniniwala po ba kayo na si Aquino ay nagtataguyod ng kapayapaan sa bansa? Narinig naman po natin ang mga naunang tagapagsalita. Malinaw nilang pinaliwanag ang pananagutan ni Aquino kung […]

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