Author Archives: admin

Rising Child Labor Abuse in the Philippines

By admin | April 6, 2015

Written for The Diplomat Child labor exploitation is worsening in the Philippines. In 2011, the Philippine National Statistics Office reported that there were 5.5 million working children in the country, 2.9 million of whom were working in hazardous industries such as mines and plantations. The agency added that 900,000 children have stopped schooling in order […]

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Why we should reject the sentimental activism of reactionary bureaucrats

By admin | March 29, 2015

Written for Bulatlat Some reactionaries in the bureaucracy erroneously assume that their activism in the past makes them intellectually and even morally superior over the present generation of change advocates. Some probably misjudged their bohemian lifestyle as activism or they could have lied about their political record. But there are really existing apostates in various […]

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Internet access and censorship in Southeast Asia

By admin | March 22, 2015

Published interview with EngageMedia: 1. Could you describe the work of your organisation? Global Voices is a citizen media platform that highlights the perspectives and stories of ordinary people, especially those that are not often reported in mainstream media. Our volunteers translate, curate, and explain local narratives as we seek a better understanding of our […]

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Confessions of a Blogger Who Doesn’t Use a Smartphone for Mobile Internet

By admin | March 19, 2015

Published by Manila Today I have a cell phone which I use for calling, texting, and taking photos. Sometimes it’s also my alarm clock. That’s all. I never use my phone to download apps or interact with my virtual networks because I don’t have an Internet subscription. Even if there’s a WiFi connection, I rarely […]

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Araújo’s Vision for East Timor

By admin | March 14, 2015

Written for The Diplomat East Timor’s new prime minister, Dr Rui Maria de Araújo, appealed for unity as a way to build a more inclusive and tolerant society. Araújo became the head of the Sixth Constitutional Government after former Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão resigned last month. While taking his oath on February 16, Araújo presented […]

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Why we should celebrate Edsa Dos

By admin | March 8, 2015

Written for Bulatlat Was Edsa Dos a coup, power grab, or an uprising? Was it a farce? It may be all of the above but it’s a political event worth celebrating. Why should we allow the Arroyos, Estradas, Aquinos, and the Catholic bishops to dominate the discussion about what Edsa Dos meant to our country’s […]

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Myanmar’s ‘Mad Monk’ Strikes Again

By admin | March 6, 2015

Written for The Diplomat U Wirathu, an ultranationalist Buddhist monk from Myanmar, publicly insulted a United Nations human rights envoy who was visiting the country to assess the progress of reforms initiated by the government. The video of Wirathu insulting the U.N. Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, Yanghee Lee, has gone viral in Myanmar. Wirathu […]

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How to surrender a United States Green Card in 3 easy steps

By admin | February 22, 2015

Written for Bulatlat 1. You grew up fantasizing about life in the United States, the land of milk and honey. You were bombarded with seductive images of first world living courtesy of Hollywood. You and your childhood friends wanted a glimpse and taste of real America. Then you learned that you and your family will […]

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Everything you wanted to know about Philippine politics but were afraid to ask the Left

By admin | February 12, 2015

Written for Bulatlat What did the Philippines, South Korea, and Japan had in common in the 1950s? They all allowed the United States to build military bases in their territories. But in 1991, the Philippines kicked out the bases even if it remained an unabashed admirer of American culture. The expulsion of American troops from […]

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6 Events That Will Shape Philippine Politics in 2015

By admin | February 8, 2015

Written for The Diplomat If 2014 was the year when the Philippines struggled to recover from the devastating impact of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), what might await Philippine politics in 2015? 1. The state visit and apostolic journey of Pope Francis was a much needed spiritual boost for many people in the Philippines, the largest Catholic-dominated […]

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