Form versus Function

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I found this picture on Facebook, and I believe it applies to Filipinos who emphasize form rather than substance:


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

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The oh-so-noble journalists are at it again, this time, with Duterte’s Hitler comment. I am no Duterte fanatic. I criticize him more scathingly than anyone when his mouth is out of line. But this time, Duterte really didn’t say anything wrong. The real culprits behind the fuss over his Hitler comment are Karen Lema and Manuel Mogato, two Filipino reporters of the Reuters news agency, who wrote this article: “ Philippines’ Duterte likens himself to Hitler, wants to kill millions of drug addicts ”. Lema and Mogato are Filipinos. There’s no way they could have misunderstood what Duterte really meant in his speech. I watched the video and this is what the President said: “Hitler massacred 3 million Jews. There are 3 million drug addicts. I’d be happy to slaughter them. At least, if Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have ….. my victims, all criminals, to finish a problem of my country, and save the next generation.” (See for yourself here . The Hitler part is at 14:40....
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Leni Robredo misdeclared MERALCO stocks possibly worth 6 million pesos!

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Leni Robredo admitted to Mike Enriquez during a radio interview on May 9 that she owned stocks at Meralco. She also admitted that such had a value of 95k pesos in 1995. Robredo did not declare the value of these stocks, and while she declared owning stocks, the value of such is not listed in her SALN as an asset. Now after doing some crowd-sourcing and math, here is what I found out. I could not get the share prices of Meralco stocks in 1995. What I got thanks to Carlos A Jr Cortes is the value in 2000 which is 4 pesos per share. Using this, and this is even conservative since the price in 1995 must have been lower than 4 pesos, then Robredo owned at least 23,750 shares of stocks (95k divided by 4). The current share price of Meralco is 272 pesos per share. If we use this value, then Robredo has at least 6.46 milion pesos (at least 23,750 shares multiplied by 272 pesos per share) of assets which she failed to declare in her SALN. Using the Corona precedent, this is an i...
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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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Twitter "influencers" like @jonasbagas: wishing for Duterte's death and accusing him of murder? 😱

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In a post on Facebook , it seems Twitter "influencer" Jonas Bagas is (1) expressing a wish that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte be dead and (2) accusing him of murdering thousands of Filipinos? What do you think? Below is a copy of his statement. You be the judge. I am torn about Duterte's condition. To wish for his death is undeniably the most human reaction to the monstrosity that we're facing. If his mortality means an end to the killings, the fakery, the gross abuses, then so be it; it will be a relief, especially to those powerless against his machinery of violence, of dehumanizing fakery. If Duterte is sick, and it appears his condition is worsening, then I am also one of those who wish that his sickness will put an end to our suffering.  But I also agree with those who want Duterte to be alive so he can face justice, those who believe that he should be denied the grace that mortality gives to all, good or evil. The court of humanity first before...
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