Tag Archives: mining

Mining, Oil Spill, Military Bases Threaten Philippine Islands

Written for The Diplomat In February, residents of Sibuyan Island in the Philippines’ Romblon province protested against a mining exploration activity by forming a “people’s barricade.” This was followed by another barricade in Brooke’s Point in the southern part of Palawan province, which was also organized by community-based groups to protest an ongoing mining operation. […]

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Duterte’s Drug War is Distracting From His Social Reform Agenda

Mention the name Rodrigo Duterte and what comes to mind is the bloody “war on drugs” that has claimed the lives of more than 7,000 Filipinos. Amid the continuing spate of killings in the Philippines, it is almost impossible to discuss the social reform agenda of Duterte’s government, which came to power less than a […]

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10 Memorable Protests that Exposed the Bankruptcy of Noynoy Aquino’s Daang Matuwid

Published by Manila Today Hungry farmers asking for rice. Typhoon victims decrying government neglect. Netizens marching against corruption. These protests unmasked the ‘Daang Matuwid’ program as an empty slogan of a regime that insidiously perpetuates foreign dominance and elite oppression in the country. It is only now we appreciate the full and potent significance of […]

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

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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From Bad to Worse

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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Luzon and Island Mentality

There’s a need to highlight the islandness of Luzon. It may be the biggest island in the Philippines but it’s still an island. Its unique ecosystem must be studied in its organic wholeness. Dividing it into five regions and dozens of small provinces had served the parochial objectives of pragmatic politics but it prevented the […]

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Laban ng Romblon! Laban para sa kinabukasan!

Thank you Bishop Fabriquier for reading my solidarity message last February 14 during the anti-mining rally in Odiongan, Romblon. Maalab na pagbati sa lahat! Nagpupugay ang Kabataan Partylist sa mamamayan ng Romblon sa inyong matapang na paglaban at mahigpit na pagkakaisa laban sa planong malakihang pagmimina sa isla ng Tablas. Kasama ninyo ang kabataan sa […]

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