Author Archives: admin

Singapore’s 2013 “Robin Hood” Budget

By admin | March 27, 2013

With its 2013 budget, the Singaporean government has devised a series of programs and incentives to promote quality growth and build a more inclusive society, especially for its children, low-income workers and the elderly. Presented to the public on February 25, the budget aims to tighten policies on foreign workers, provide a three-year transition support […]

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Are Filipinos Malays?

By admin | March 10, 2013

Written for The Diplomat If asked about their race, most Filipinos would identify as being Malay. Filipinos are taught in schools to be proud of their Malay heritage and encouraged to strengthen their ties with other Malays in Southeast Asia. But Filipinos wishing to migrate in Singapore have to deny this fundamental identification because the […]

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Southeast Asia: Politics, Gangnam Style

By admin | March 9, 2013

Written for The Diplomat Judging from a recent outbreak of “Gangnam Style” politics in Southeast Asia, the K-Pop tune seemingly has no bounds. On February 11 Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak hosted a Chinese New Year concert that included a performance by Korean pop superstar Psy. Just next door, former Philippine President Joseph Estrada, who […]

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Kabataan Partylist: Legislative Advocacies

By admin | March 3, 2013

In the past four years, Kabataan Partylist has consistently advocated an education reform agenda in Congress. We pushed for better tuition regulation, higher budget for public schools especially tertiary schools, and protection of student rights. Through our intervention, the Commission on Higher Education revised its tuition guidelines. It also formulated new standards to regulate nursing […]

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Collective Over Personal Privilege

By admin | February 19, 2013

Thirteen speeches in three years covering a broad range of topics such as education reform, labor rights, student welfare, environment protection, internet freedom, and nationalism. Salamat Carl, JM, Sarah, Bugsy, Rubelh, Marjo, Lean at sa lahat ng bumubuo sa @kabataanpl 1. The Tragedy of Philippine Education, May 18, 2009. First speech tackled the core legislative […]

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Rethinking ASEAN Integration

By admin | February 17, 2013

Written for The Diplomat The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has plans to fast track the integration of its member countries over the next few years. Aside from encouraging cooperation through traditional diplomatic and cultural activities, there are also ambitious proposals for ASEAN to issue a single visa and currency, and even form a […]

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Teddy’s Time

By admin | February 11, 2013

As legislator, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño authored 110 measures, 7 of which were enacted into national laws. He became the fourth most prolific legislator of the 15th Congress without bombarding the records with filler bills and resolutions. His advocacies include, among others, human rights, environment protection, and promotion of Filipino industries. As activist legislator, […]

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Think Out of the Box? Not if it’s a Balikbayan Box

By admin | February 7, 2013

We are often reminded by management experts to think out of the box. I agree. But if it’s a Balikbayan Box, think through it. The Balikbayan Box is not an ordinary box. it’s a travel luggage plus more. It’s a mini sari-sari store, OTOP in a box, the concrete ‘objectified’ affirmation that returning to one’s […]

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Fallen Drone. Grounded Minesweeper

By admin | February 4, 2013

Written for The Diplomat A series of unfortunate mishaps in the past two weeks has afflicted United States military forces stationed in the Philippines. On January 6th, a BQM-74E target drone that appeared to be of American origin was found floating in the waters off Masbate, an island province in the central Philippines. Although the […]

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Sticks and Stones: Reining in Filipino Libel Laws

By admin | January 29, 2013

Written for The Diplomat The inclusion of online libel in the Philippine anti-cybercrime law has raised fears that it would lead to the restriction of free speech and expression in the local internet community. It’s one of the issues to be discussed next week by the Supreme Court, which is set to hear oral arguments […]

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