Driving in Manila gives a feeling of empowerment

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I feel so empowered here. Behind the wheel of a car, I can cut across three lanes in a highway, muscle my way through an intersection, and drive as fast or as slow as I want wherever and whenever I want to.

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Filipinos have a President, a real President, one that they are proud of

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I finally feel that I need to speak up. There has been much in the press lately about newly elected Philippine President Duterte. Most of what is said focuses on his policies toward the illegal drug problem, and his direct (to put it mildly) comments to other national leaders, particularly to US leaders. The world's press responds with concern, even alarm. In the Philippines, he is immensely popular. As an American who has lived here in the Philippines for 30+ years, I think I understand why. Allow me to explain. First of all, the facts. 1) Americans almost never take culture and other cultures' viewpoints and values into consideration. Almost never. That explains nonsense foreign policy and constant misunderstanding. 2) Americans are one thing; the American government is something different. Generally speaking, Americans are liked here. Generally speaking, the American government is grossly arrogant and condescending, and is often despised because of it. 3) Other natio...
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Jose Rizal never had Tagalog in mind when he encouraged us to love our own language

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Posted by a certain Chloe Santiago on the Facebook GRP Community Group : Jose Rizal died in 1896 and Tagalog was declared the official language of the Philippine only in 1937. This can only mean that Rizal wasn't really talking about Tagalog when he made this statement: "He who does not love his own language is worse than an animal and smelly fish." Indeed. Who made the arbitrary directive to make the Tagalog dialect the "National Language" to begin with? Furthermore, why have a "National Language" when Filipinos are already proficient in the global lingua franca of commerce and scientific achievement?
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To the fascist, sexist, pseudo-intellectuals who seek to silence Mocha Uson...

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By working so, so hard just to silence Mocha Uson who shares the very same rights you do, you are becoming the very same thing you claim to hate: a fascist, sexist, pseudo-intellectual who can't even recognize oppression and censorship the way a person can't find his glasses when he's clearly holding it in his hand. You don't like her opinions? Then engage. Reply to her posts, post your own status, correct her errors, and work hard to counter her arguments. But most of all, work on ground. Arouse, mobilize, and organize. Because that's exactly what Mocha is doing outside of Facebook, something that some of you are far too lazy to do yourselves. You say you fight so hard for a functioning democracy, but you can't even acknowledge that part of a functioning democracy is having space for dissent. Shame. ---------------------- Ayrie Ching as posted on Facebook .
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Pinoy Big Brother and the kaboboan of #Taglish speakers

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You know what grinds my gears? Hearing kids talk in a mishmash of Taglish. I once caught a glimpse of an episode of the latest reality TV show fad here in the Philippines (Pinoy Big Brother) and the way these teenaged housemates converse are an example of the most ******* annoying butchering and scrambling of languages I have ever heard. Why can't they speak either straight Tagalog or straight English? What the hell is wrong with saying either "Gusto ko po matuto…" or "I want to learn…" instead of saying "Gusto ko po i-learn…"? ------------------- This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion! http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2014/08/study-confirms-need-to-establish-english-as-medium-of-instruction-also-at-elementary-school-levels/comment-page-1/#comment-648254
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