Author Archives: admin

Politics of Communications: Carandang/Coloma

By admin | January 13, 2011

Part 1: Here come the commies Sec. Ramon Carandang is the head of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning while Sec. Herminio Coloma leads the Presidential Communications Operations. They both belong to President Noynoy Aquino’s communications team: Carandang is in charge of ‘messaging’ while Coloma’s focus is ‘dissemination’. Carandang’s group drafts the daily statements/speeches […]

Posted in media | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Laos, Philippines: The politics of currency notes

By admin | January 9, 2011

Last month, Laos introduced a new 100,000 kip (US$12.45) banknote and released memorial gold and silver coins to commemorate the 450th anniversary of its capital, Vientiane, and the 35th anniversary of the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Meanwhile, the Philippines which elected a new president last May unveiled the new designs of its […]

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State of Philippine Sports

By admin | January 4, 2011

I attended the 2010 Sports Summit last month organized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). Hon. Ricardo R. Garcia of the PSC presented the state of Philippine sports while Hon. Jose Cojuangco Jr. of the POC delivered the national sports development plan in the next three years. Garcia was candid […]

Posted in youth | Tagged | 6 Comments

Too Many Doctors in Malaysia

By admin | January 3, 2011

Concerned about the oversupply of doctors and housemen (junior doctors) in the country, the Malaysian government has recently imposed a five-year moratorium on medical courses. According to the Malaysian Medical Council, Malaysia has 27,709 doctors (including 3,651 house officers). Malaysia is producing about 3,500-5000 medical graduates annually, a big figure for a country with a […]

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Young parliamentarians and RH advocacy

By admin | December 27, 2010

Speech delivered on December 10 during the Regional Consultation on “Family Planning in Asia and the Pacific – Dealing with Challenges” from 8th to 10th December, 2010 at Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel and Towers Bangkok, Thailand organized by the UNFPA in collaboration with ICOMP (International Council of Management of Population Programmes) Your honors, ladies and […]

Posted in speeches | Tagged | 1 Comment

Power of historians

By admin | December 21, 2010

Do not underestimate the power of historians (repeat, but this time mimic the voice of Darth Vader). And speaking of influential historians, the first name that comes to my mind is Teodoro Agoncillo. It was his fault why the ‘Cry’ of the Katipunan is called the ‘Cry of Pugadlawin’ and why it is celebrated on […]

Posted in nation | Tagged | 3 Comments

KKK for Revolution

By admin | December 20, 2010

The yellow ribbon/confetti was a powerful protest symbol during the last years of the Marcos dictatorship in the 1980s. Then, Filipinos used it to mourn the death of former President Cory Aquino. Unfortunately, the yellow mafia inside the Liberal Party usurped its power by transforming it into an election gimmick of Noynoy Aquino. It is […]

Posted in nation | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Sex education in schools and cyberspace

By admin | December 18, 2010

Written for The Diplomat and Mulat Pinoy Sex education was first introduced in Philippine schools in 1972 as part of the government’s population education program. At the time, the Philippines’ birth rates were the highest in Asia. But when the education department tried to update the program module in 2006, the powerful Catholic Church opposed […]

Posted in education | Tagged | 3 Comments

WikiLeaks’ Thai Revelations?

By admin | December 12, 2010

There are some interesting WikiLeaks revelations related to Thailand. Of the estimated 3000 cables sent by the United States Embassy in Bangkok to the US State Department, the most intriguing are those tied to the case of Russian businessman and alleged arms smuggler Viktor Bout, who faced trial in Thailand before being extradited to the […]

Posted in east asia | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Truth will take care of itself*

By admin | December 6, 2010

What are the ‘facts’ of the online tussle between Rep. Walden Bello and Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino? Bello delivered a privilege speech in the Lower House criticizing the expanded Conditional Cash Transfer Program of President Noynoy Aquino. A few days later, he sponsored a resolution praising the CCT as an innovative poverty containment program. […]

Posted in reds | Tagged , , | 2 Comments