Aquino SONA focusing on 'social transformation' - whatever that means

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Social transformation. According to Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ricky Carandang, that's the focus of Aquino's 2011 SONA. Is this really news? That's like merely re-iterating Noynoy's campaign taglines all over again!

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An open letter to CNN on their reporting on the #YolandaPH disaster in the Philippines

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This "open letter" was found making the rounds on social media: * * * Dear Sirs: I just wanted to make some comments on the reporting of the CNN International crew here in Manila, regarding the relief efforts for the victims of super-typhoon Haiyan (which we locally call typhoon Yolanda). First, full disclosure: I am a retired Filipino executive and computer person. I was born in the Philippines and spent all my life here (save for some very short overseas stints connected with my career). I have worked with a large local Philippine utility, started up several entrepreneurial offshore software service companies (when outsourcing was not yet in vogue), and also served as the Philippine country head for a multi-billion dollar Japanese computer company. This diverse work background allows me to always see both the local and global point of view, and to see things from the very different standpoints of a third-world citizen, and a person familiar with first-world mind...
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