'Trending topics' Zubiri and Cris Lao reflect the character of Pinoy chatter

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Just two unrelated events over the last couple of days have set the Philippines' chattering classes on fire again. The resignation of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and the unfortunate mistaking of a car for a submarine by a certain Christopher Lao have become fodder for speculation and low-brow entertainment.

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Reporters Karen Lema and Manuel Mogato of @Reuters LIED about the Duterte "Hitler" quote

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Former Rodrigo Duterte supporter explains why he changed his mind after 'rape joke' video

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I planned to vote for him before because of his no-nonsense approach and actions against crime and criminals in general, so he's the last person I'd expect to make a joke about thinking of committing a crime as barbaric and heinous as rape especially given the fact that he had long years of first hand experience seeing dead bodies of victims of such an act… I've seen the whole video of that speech and listened to the backstory. He had himself get taken hostage at knifepoint risking his life and limb, and he himself lead the offensive using his own Uzi firearm to eliminate the bad guys. Yes, I acknowledge that these are indeed heroic acts on his part worthy of recognition, but I still struggle to find a good explanation for that rape joke. So I've watched the full video of his apology. He told the whole story again and said a lot of things but I didn't get the answer I was hoping for. What he said was he wasn't making a joke, and it was just gutter language utt...
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Iconic Filipino film maker Peque Gallaga on the Typhoon #YolandaPH tragedy

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Filipinos "nice" but lacking in common sense -- IT business manager

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As someone whom invested heavily in the Philippines managing an IT company, I view your assumptions as narrow minded. I’ve given hundreds of Pinoys IQ tests as part of the selection process, the vast majority of these IT graduates ( the cream of the crap ) performed dismally. After two years operating we decided to close up and retain Singaporean Chinese staff and Brazilians. One staff member does the work of approximately 10 Pinoys. The biggest issue was a sheer lack of common sense, they can do black and white but seldom grey. Higher order thinking skills and abstract reasoning skills seemed to me missing, as they would perhaps with someone diagnosed with mild Asperger syndrome. As people I found them nice, but rarely kind. Big difference there, anyone can smile. ---------------------- This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion !
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