Author Archives: admin

Here come the commies*

By admin | August 29, 2010

They are the propagandists of the new government but they will deny it not because they are ashamed of their jobs but it has more to do with their rejection of the term propagandist. Propaganda is a taboo word for them since it is associated with overzealous militants. PNoy communicators (com men or commies for […]

Posted in media | Tagged | 3 Comments

Asia’s Water Crisis

By admin | August 24, 2010

written for The Diplomat…. Wracked by droughts, floods and simmering tensions, Asia’s governments need a more co-ordinated approach to water crises. As the contradictions of Asia’s water challenges have been laid bare this summer—with millions affected by flooding while others are hit by droughts—one thing has been made clearer: the coming water crisis could exacerbate […]

Posted in east asia | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Edukasyon, Wika, Teknolohiya

By admin | August 15, 2010

Talumpati sa Luzon-wide assembly of UP students. Agosto, 14, UP SOLAIR. Magandang umaga. Noong Huwebes, Agosto 12, ay Pandaigdigang Araw ng mga Kabataan, kaya pagbati sa inyong lahat. Ngayong 2010 ay pandaigdigang taon ng mga kabataan. Mabuhay ang lahat ng naghahangad ng tunay na pagbabago. May tatlong magkakaugnay na paksa ang nais kong talakayin ngayong […]

Posted in speeches | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

‘Kayo ang boss ko’

By admin | August 12, 2010

…these were the most important, symbolic words in the June 30 inaugural speech of President Noynoy Aquino or PNoy. It was an appropriate sound byte for a leader who received a substantial PCOS-assisted mandate in the recent elections. It was during Erap’s inauguration in 1998 when the common tao last heard a leader deliver a […]

Posted in nation | Tagged | 2 Comments

She-Who-Cannot-Be-Named-in-the-Plenary

By admin | August 5, 2010

Privilege Speech delivered on August 4, 2010. The drafting of this speech was a collective effort. Thank you @kabataancrew. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues. I wish to speak about the events this week which I think might affect my duties as a member of this House. We are all adjusting to the new situation: a former […]

Posted in speeches | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Dancing prisoners

By admin | July 29, 2010

When the Michael Jackson single “They don’t care about us” was released fourteen years ago, it immediately generated controversy after Jewish groups pointed out that the lyrics of the song (“Jew me, sue me”) has a tinge of racism in it. The pop superstar was forced to apologize by removing the controversial lines in a […]

Posted in nation | Tagged | 8 Comments

Sona 2010: Notes from the plenary

By admin | July 27, 2010

Speech delivered at the UP College of Law. President Noynoy Aquino or PNoy spoke in Filipino. He addressed the people inside the plenary as “my fellow government workers.” He immediately tackled what everybody wanted to hear from him: the anomalies of his predecessor. He cited the depleted calamity funds, rising budget deficit, and bloated benefits […]

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Filipino youth, HIV/AIDS and reproductive health

By admin | July 19, 2010

* Speech during the Parliamentary Side Event on the Integration of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and HIV/AIDS at the eve of XVIII World AIDS Conference 2010 in Vienna, Austria Access to Sexuality and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) services: Are youth programs meeting the needs of young people? Let me immediately answer the question with […]

Posted in speeches | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Sex and the Censors in Asia

By admin | July 15, 2010

Part 1: Politics and immorality in Southeast Asia written for The Diplomat South-east Asian governments are increasingly censoring ‘immoral’ web content. Do they have political motivations as well? Last February, the Indonesian government dropped plans to filter ‘bad’ content through its Multimedia Content Screening team after the plan met with strong public opposition. Yet, undeterred, […]

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Noynoy Aquino and ‘impossible reformism’

By admin | July 6, 2010

“When I was still in the Guest House, I asked for the logs which listed those who had visited President Marcos. I compared them with those visiting President Aquino. They were the same people – they came from the same companies, shared the same business views, the same mindset, and they went to the same […]

Posted in nation | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments