Author Archives: admin

What our people need: Food, not free wi-fi

By admin | December 31, 2015

Written for Bulatlat Since Internet connectivity is equated with modernity and innovation, it is no surprise to see politicians providing free Wi-Fi to their constituents. National agencies and local government units are scrambling to provide free online services while prospective election candidates are already promising to expand free Wi-Fi connections in their territories. In Manila […]

Posted in media | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Sikreto sa Tagumpay ng Kabataan Partylist

By admin | December 25, 2015

*Mensaheng binigkas sa pambansang kumbensiyon ng Kabataan Partylist noong Setyembre 28, 2015 Natutuwa po ako at mukhang maraming bagong mukha sa araw na ito; ibig sabihin, bukod sa tumanda at gumradweyt na ang aming batch, ay patuloy ang pagdami ng kasapian ng Kabataan Partylist (KPL). Natutuwa din po ako na makita ngayong araw ang mga […]

Posted in speeches, youth | Tagged | Leave a comment

Malaysia’s New National Security Law: A Step Toward Dictatorship?

By admin | December 22, 2015

Written for The Diplomat Malaysia’s parliament swiftly approved the proposed National Security Council Bill despite the appeal of the opposition to conduct more debates and consultations about the measure. The bill, which was just introduced on December 1, was immediately tabled for deliberation despite the admission of the ruling party that there was no internal […]

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

Politics of Memory: What 1965 Means in Southeast Asia

By admin | December 15, 2015

Written for The Diplomat The year 1965 is politically significant in several Southeast Asian countries: Singapore became an independent nation, Ferdinand Marcos was elected president of the Philippines, and an anti-communist purge killed at least half a million people in Indonesia. Singapore separated from the Malaysian Federation and subsequently, an independent government was established led […]

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

Time For Southeast Asia to Address its Climate Problem

By admin | December 7, 2015

Written for The Diplomat Though transboundary haze pollution and the El Niño phenomenon are often reported these days across Southeast Asia, these issues deserve greater attention from regional leaders. These are no longer national problems that local politicians can easily address through rhetoric; the situation already demands a stronger action which can be effectively realized […]

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

Huwag Maniwala sa Aldub: Ang Paglaban at Pag-ibig ay Laging Nasa Tamang Panahon

By admin | December 5, 2015

(Talumpating binigkas sa rehiyunal na kongreso ng College Editors Guild Cagayan Valley sa Isabela State University Cauayan noong Setyembre 10, 2015). Published by Bulatlat Una sa lahat, salamat at andito kayo kahit may Aldub ngayon. Huwag gawing obvious ang pagsilip sa Aldub hashtag. Pangalawa, salamat sa College Editors Guild para sa karangalan na maging keynote […]

Posted in education, speeches, youth | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Is East Timor Now a Rich Country?

By admin | November 28, 2015

Written for The Diplomat Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Finance issued a press statement claiming that the small Southeast Asian nation is already among the richest countries in the world. It cited a report of the Global Finance magazine which ranked Timor-Leste’s GDP per capita on a purchasing power parity basis as the 87th highest in the […]

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

A is for Anakbayan and other activist terms in the Philippines

By admin | November 22, 2015

Written for Bulatlat A – Anakbayan is a youth group established in 1998 which became prominent in Edsa Dos and during the campaign for the abolition of ROTC. Anakpawis is a partylist group which is at the forefront of the campaign to pass the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill. Ang Bayan is the official paper of […]

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

Jurassic World as a Metaphor of Wall Street and the Global Financial Crisis

By admin | November 18, 2015

Written for Manila Today They were bigger, louder, and scarier – not the dinosaurs, but the product placements. Disturbingly, I didn’t feel cheated. Perhaps I have been desensitized already into accepting the incestuous partnership of mass art and the corporate sector. Besides, it’s a Hollywood franchise film which was produced to entertain and generate an […]

Posted in economy | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

What I think about rallies when I am marching in a rally

By admin | October 29, 2015

Written for Bulatlat The heat, of course. Is it going to be tolerable? Ah but the scorching summer temperature is like inferno on Earth. There’s also the humid air, succeeded by a brief but heavy rain, and then it’s sticky hot again. Rains are unpredictable but the heat is constant. Clouds deceive because behind them […]

Posted in reds | Tagged , | Leave a comment