Author Archives: admin

From the countryside to the city: Lakbayan and the Philippine revolution

By admin | July 25, 2018

Published by Bulatlat Some 2,600 Moros and indigenous peoples from across the Philippines joined the month-long lakbayan in the capital region to speak out and protest against the continuing oppression perpetrated by state and corporate powers. Through creative activities and militant assertion, the lakbayan headed by Sandugo succeeded in highlighting the precarious situation of national […]

Posted in reds | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“A prison within a prison within a prison”

By admin | July 12, 2018

Published by New Mandala Exiled dissident Dang Xuan Dieu recounts the horror of his imprisonment in Vietnam to Mong Palatino. I first learned about the case of Vietnamese activist Dang Xuan Dieu in 2014. His friends and supporters were appealing for global support after they learned that Dieu was being mistreated in prison. This was […]

Posted in east asia | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jolovan Wham: Singapore’s ‘recalcitrant’ activist

By admin | July 5, 2018

Singaporean activist Jolovan Wham is charged with committing seven offences for allegedly organizing illegal assemblies. The police accused him of being a ‘recalcitrant’ who has “repeatedly shown blatant disregard for the law.” What did Wham do that led the police to bring him to court and issue a public statement denouncing him as a recalcitrant? […]

Posted in east asia | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The ‘Occupy’ movement in the Philippines

By admin | June 11, 2018

Published by Bulatlat The global ‘Occupy’ movement emerged in the aftermath of the financial and housing crisis that destroyed jobs and displaced millions. It denounced the inequities of the present, the irrational decision to boost neoliberal policies, and the callous attitude towards the rising but preventable poverty in the world. In support of this trend, […]

Posted in reds | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How ASEAN Strongmen Use Legal Reform to Weaken Democracy

By admin | June 2, 2018

Written for The Diplomat Proposed constitutional amendments in Cambodia and the Philippines could worsen impunity and legitimize authoritarianism in both countries. Criticized for persecuting the opposition and political dissenters, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte are now accused of imposing dictatorship through constitutional reforms. Unfortunately, tinkering with the constitution seems to […]

Posted in east asia, nation | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Why the Philippines’ Internet Landscape Isn’t Really Free

By admin | May 24, 2018

When journalists write about Internet censorship in Southeast Asia, the Philippines is mentioned as a country where citizens and netizens enjoy media freedom. Indeed, compared to other countries in the region, the situation in the Philippines looks better when it comes to upholding free speech. Unlike in Thailand, there’s no Army Cyber Center in the […]

Posted in media | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Narrative of Colonialism and Resistance: The Filipino Struggle Against Imperialism

By admin | May 17, 2018

Published by Manila Today *Remarks during the June 2017 United National AntiWar Coalition assembly in Richmond, Virginia Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat. Good morning everyone. Mabuhay! Or should I say good evening because it’s already past 10 p.m. in the Philippines? I’d like to share two narratives: first, the narrative of colonialism and/or neocolonialism; and […]

Posted in speeches | Tagged , | Leave a comment

An Anti-Duterte Plot in the Philippines?

By admin | May 9, 2018

Written for The Diplomat magazine There is an alleged plot to create political destabilization in the Philippines and remove President Rodrigo Duterte from power. No less than Duterte himself exposed the conspiracy and accused the Left of conniving with the ‘yellows’ in trying to oust him as president. The ‘yellows’ refer to the political forces, […]

Posted in nation | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The books I read in 2017

By admin | April 15, 2018

Published by Bulatlat 1. Too Much Happiness, Alice Munro. Impossible not to empathize with her strong female characters, their pursuit of fulfillment and freedom, their overcoming of various tragedies and other challenges in life. 2. How to Travel with a Salmon and Other Essays, Umberto Eco. The best parts are the funny observations of the […]

Posted in education | Leave a comment

Death is not the end: Keeping Kem Ley’s message alive

By admin | April 1, 2018

“Wipe your tears, continue your journey.” This quote was made famous by Kem Ley himself; and after his death, it has become the rallying call of his friends and supporters. While many continue to grieve, a growing number of Cambodians are stepping up to embrace his legacy of promoting grassroots activism, transparency and good governance, […]

Posted in east asia | Tagged , | Leave a comment