Author Archives: admin

Malaysia’s Sinister Internet Law

By admin | September 24, 2012

Malaysians are right to protest the recent amendments that the government made to the Evidence Act of 1950. Although they deal specifically with the internet, the amendments could have wider implications on media freedom, democracy, and human rights. Section 114A of the bill seeks “to provide for the presumption of fact in publication in order […]

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Smile as inflight magazine

By admin | September 15, 2012

Review of Smile, inflight magazine of Cebu Pacific Air April 2010 Ink Publishing Singapore To read CebuPac’s Smile magazine is to consume a buffet of consumer ads. Passengers must be forewarned that the magazine is loaded with articles, images, and so-called travel tips which seduce readers into buying things they don’t need in life. For […]

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The Budget is still not enough

By admin | September 11, 2012

Manifestation delivered in the plenary of the House of Representatives on September 11, 2012. Thanks to Marjo and @kabataanpl In the past two years, the Aquino administration has imposed drastic cuts in the budget of state universities and colleges. It didn’t even allot capital outlay funds to SUCs which are needed to upgrade and modernize […]

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Crimes Against Rohingya

By admin | August 30, 2012

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once described the atrocities committed against the Russian people by German soldiers during the Second World War as a “crime without a name.” But would Churchill use the same words if he lived long enough to witness the numerous “killing fields” of the second half of the 20th century? True, […]

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You do not self-demolish yourself. Please.

By admin | August 20, 2012

You do not self-demolish yourself. You do not self-exile yourself. Urban poor communities are not depressed. There are no undocumented human beings. Low skilled workers don’t exist. Self-demolish. To self-demolish is to voluntarily destroy a house or home and relocate to a safer place. But there seems to be no other usage for self-demolish other […]

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From Bad to Worse

By admin | August 15, 2012

Written for The Diplomat The high global demand for mineral resources in the past decade has led to a rapid expansion of mining exploration in the Philippines. Suddenly, mining became a major economic priority for the government because of its huge potential in generating jobs and tax revenues. But public opinion towards mining turned negative […]

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Beyond Legislation: Ending Torture in the Philippines

By admin | August 4, 2012

Speech delivered in Hong Kong last July 21 during the Meeting of Parliamentarians of the Asian Alliance against Torture and ill-treatment organized by the Asian Human Rights Commission. Good afternoon dear friends and fellow human rights advocates. Mabuhay! On May 19, 2009 Filipino-American Melissa Roxas was abducted by suspected members of the military in a […]

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K-12: TESDA in High School

By admin | July 30, 2012

Part 1: K-12: Education reform for whom? Part 2: K-12: Miseducation in the 21st century Under K-12, Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) courses will be introduced in the junior and senior high school levels. Students are required to learn exploratory concepts of TESDA courses in Grades 7 and 8. More details below: “…the Grade 7and […]

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Geopolitics of Southeast Asia

By admin | July 29, 2012

Written for The Diplomat The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is the largest, and the official, political organization in Southeast Asia. But given where it sits—south of China and Japan, east of India, and north of Australia—the political landscape in this part of the world is not exclusively dictated by ASEAN dynamics. The Indochina […]

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The Arrogant Obscurantist

By admin | July 24, 2012

SONA 2010: Notes from the Plenary SONA 2011: Utak Haciendero I gave my strongest applause when President Noynoy Aquino mentioned in his state of the nation address that he will step down in 2016. Better if the ‘noynoying’ years will be cut short but at least we are assured that Pnoy has no plan (yet) […]

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