GRPundit

As the saying goes, action speaks louder than words. For all the comments made about Mr Lee Kuan Yew, many a time unpleasant, by both locals and non-locals, no one can deny that Mr Lee Kuan Yew left an indelible mark on Singapore's history and the world's. At the end of the day, the only real truth is that Mr Lee Kuan Yew was a respected man by Singaporeans and world leaders internationally. This is evident in that international leaders of super powers such as US, China and India attended his funeral today. And even more so, the fact that countries such as India, New Zealand and Russia showed such tremendous respects for him by flowing their flags at half-mast as a mark of respect for his passing. Which country in the world can proudly say that of their leader? To all the international media who have criticised Mr Lee Kuan Yew: He may have ruled Singapore with an iron-fist, but he ruled it well. And to whether his ends justified his means? Oh, definitely, yes, for if he had...

Contrary to the popular belief, we are not America's trying hard copycats. That's just the skin. We are a society built on the "Hispanic Model". Spain has taught us the culture of extremity and grandiosity. Just look on how many fiestas we have, and how most of us are devoted to their religion. This is where the problem lies, we learned to indulge ourselves too much even on trivial things to the point that we don't even know if it's still right or logical. On the contrary, Singapore and the US are built on the "English Model". They emphasize practicality. Business is business, politics is politics, so on and so forth. They don't waste their time on trivial things. When they do things, they do it efficiently. Comparing these "models" we could already know which one is better. Most countries influenced by the British are prosperous. On the contrary, those influenced by the Hispanians are either unstable or suffering economic hardshi...

If Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) were to run for president in the Philippines, he never would have won. LKY is just too ugly and his pockmarked face would never appeal to Filipino voters who tend to favor tisoys or showbiz personalities or people with name recall such as Noynoy. LKY is not eloquent, and would have been no match for the oratorical skills of our forever speechifying Ninoy Aquino or Chiz Escudero. LKY is just too straightforward, sometimes too mataray and abrasive, which will rub Filipinos the wrong way. His expressions are just too unvarnished, which will hurt our Filipino pusong mamon. LKY does not fit the Filipino concept of mabait, an attribute which Filipino bobotantes are looking for. If anything, LKY looks like Ponga, the intsik caricature ridiculed and reviled in Pinoy pop-culture (of decades past). Most importantly, LKY also cheated in order to win the national election in 1963. A few months before the election, LKY launched the British-aided "Operation Cold Store...

The major problem with Filipinos and idolatry is that they honestly believe with all their hearts that the person the actor is playing on the TV is them in the bare flesh – never mind the script. So they believe characters personality they play is the same as the actor itself! When reality is much more harsher. This is part of the reason why villains in teleserye are almost always one-dimensional jokes. Its because the more hated the character is, the more ill-treated their real life counterpart is. Case and point Jack Gleeson. Better known for his role Joffrey Baratheon. The entire staff of Game of Thrones is really concerned with the guy's future because of his role as one of the most hated villains of the show. As such, the interviews (and the other actors) try to show that Jack is a decent person and so far, his life outside the show has been fairly well. [Its been pointed out after the shooting of brutal scenes involving his character, he makes sure his fellow actors are...

The Philippine National Character is already marked out as cowardly and inept by other countries thanks to their botched handlings of the Luneta hostage crisis, the ignorance of the Ampatuan case (most dead journalists in history which tops even North Korea) along with the mishandling of resources and aid in Typhoon Haiyan aka "Yolanda". If the Bangsamoro Basic Law passes, the Philippines will definitely be known as a state that collaborates with terrorists and Filipinos everywhere will be mispercieved as ISIS sympathizers. It won't be long until the "Mexico" of Asia becomes the "Africa" of Asia considering how steep the fall of our country has been in terms of quality. Its sad its because of this national character, many Filipinos who are smart have fled the country. Like rats swimming out of the sinking ship. Knowing they cannot do anything to alleviate the problem. ---------------- This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion! h...

RESPECT and FAIRNESS both alien concepts to the common Filipino. If you respect your neighbors and the environment, you will dispose of your garbage properly. If you are fair, you will not find ways to cut through the line just to be served first. The Filipino, if given the chance, will find ways "para makalamang sa kapwa". Be it in as simple as getting in a queue. Someone will always try to cut in front of people who were ahead of him in the queue. Why? Because the Filipino can. Without fear or rancor. And because of the passivity of the other Filipinos in the queue. Only when someone raises a howl of protest will the culprit get in line. How then to instill RESPECT and FAIRNESS in the mind of the Filipino who have been practicing acts of disrespect and unfairness just because everybody else is doing it and has become the norm in their daily lives? Wouldn't FEAR of the consequences of their actions be fair enough? So how come it works in Singapore or Marikina or Da...

In the USA, the generals in the military are silent on the wisdom of the president's foreign policy. It has been that way for a long time. When Truman canned MacArthur for trying to start WW3 with China, it sent a message loud and clear to the Pentagon. The only military brass commenting on policy on TV are retired. Perhaps adopting a similar "no comment" protocol for the AFP should be instituted. After all, the president is the commander in chief of the military. ---------------- This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion! http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/03/are-filipino-soldiers-too-yellow-to-fight-islamic-terrorists-when-given-the-order/comment-page-2/#comment-1116011

I think that one of the reasons why our soldiers are reluctant to fight is because they are generally under equipped and malnourished. They will indeed suffer as what we have seen during the siege of Zamboanga–bootless soldiers foraging for food. We also have to show them that they have our support. Us civilians may not be willing to "to volunteer to be on the front lines" but we can nevertheless help them by opening our wallets. I propose the issuance of war bonds, actively campaigned and sold. Expenditures should be transparent and the soldiers, politicians and artistas can campaign for us to buy war bonds. The money raised from this can better equip our armed forces, encourage more people to join the service (nothing better for a soldier than going to events with Marian Rivera to sell war bonds I imagine) and ultimately overwhelm the rebel groups in Mindanao. ------------------- This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion! http://getrealphilippines.com/...

Have most of us done any research about the MNLF, MILF, BIFF, Abu Sayaff and ISIS? Their differences, their Ideologies and their History? Why did their splits occured? MNLF and MILF are two organizations who advances Bangsamoro Nationalism and Independence. The difference in MNLF and MILF now is that both of them have opted for Autonomy instead of Secession. They are tired of War. Have you ever spoke to an MNLF or an MILF to hear their side? Are you not happy that they have a change of heart? They were not different from the Katipuneros during the spanish time. If we are in the Spanish era, most of us will also call Bonifacio and Rizal Erehe and Terrorists and most people will also call for their execution. Its a fact that during a war, there will always be a possibility to coddle a certain individual or group of people with a different agenda and Ideology distinct from the mainstream just to advance a certain struggle. That would not be obvious until the mainstream had a c...

Islam, a religion of mercy, does not permit terrorism. In the Quran, God has said: "God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes. God loves just dealers." (Quran 60:8) The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, used to prohibit soldiers from killing women and children,[1] and he would advise them: "…Do not betray, do not be excessive, do not kill a newborn child."[2] And he also said: "Whoever has killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance is found for a span of forty years."[3] Also, the Prophet Muhammad has forbidden punishment with fire.[4] He once listed murder as the second of the major sins,[5] and he even warned that on the Day of Judgment, "The first cases to be adjudicated between people on the Day of Judgment will be those of ...

Firstoff, there is no popular war, there are only infamous ones. No one says fondly of any memory of any war, at least majority of normal, peace loving human beings. That being said, sometimes it is necessary. To make a stand, a point, to cease a minority making the majority irrelevant, and yes, to make peace. Ask any war photojournalist and they will say the best and the worst of people come out during one, and it is in this rising that people are forced into a quandary wherein they have to figure out, which is the best way to have a life, to be more than survival. Harsh for sure but we've been racing towards it with all the crap being thrown at us. Its been near 2 decades of this. No time like the present to DECIDE, and finally, to ACT. ----------------- This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion! http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/03/all-out-war-philippines-kill-em-all-and-let-god-sort-them-out/comment-page-1/#comment-1113784

Snap election would have been a good solution but it is prohibited by law to hold a snap election 18 months prior to the next regular election of the position that needs said snap election 'cause it would be impractical.. waste of time, effort and most of all budget... Also, it is next to impossible that we can find a perfect president, cause there is no such thing as perfect or right person... politics is full of diverging opinions... it is difficult to please all sectors...that is the very reason why our Constitution specifically made a lot of safety measures that we can avail of in case ultra vires acts and abuse of power are being committed by our chosen political representative... If i were to share some political analysis on our current political crisis... I will still support the call for PNoy resign...  my reasons: 1.) i am not pro Binay but it is understood that if the call for PNoy resign becomes successful, Binay will assume office but not for long 'cause the n...

The hanging question is whether there is now a need for surgery to cure a disease called PNoyorrhea, more commonly called as Noynoying in lay parlance, or whether the disease can still be cured by gentle massage by expert therapists like Sleepy Lacierda and Oblivious Coloma in the next few months. Taking 3 capsules per day could also relieve whatever pain there is. (Just don't overdose as side effects could include vomiting and dizziness leading to convergent strabismus, or pagka-duleng.) We are told this capsule is readily available from Drillon and Trillanes Fucknership Limited with addresses at Senatic Bldg., Roxas Blvd., PHL — just ask the guard where Lunatic is. No ID, No Entry is a policy strictly implemented in the place, so bring your Voter's ID to avail of their Near2016 Promo and the discounts on Hee-Po-Kreet tablets imported from the fiery islands of Mang Taning. Sleepy and Oblivious say that surgery is life-threatening as PNoyorrhea could metastasize into Bee-Na...

American-style democracy doesn't work in many countries but most especially in the Philippines. Filipinos are like children who need to be told what to do. They have no concept of patriotism, national pride and unity. Such basic concepts as personal responsibility and accountability, striving for excellence, and genuine desire to do what is right escapes their understanding. What is prevalent is apathy, resignation and a every-man-for-himself attitude. We are a country of talkers and not doers. We talk a good game but when push comes to shove we slink back into our comfortable shells not to be heard from again. Filipinos always prefer the easy way out. Are Filipinos really as stupid as they look and act? Sadly, I am coming to the conclusion that they are. I agree with the writer that Filipinos deserve whatever they get because they won't get off their asses and do something for the betterment of their families, communities and country. ------------------ This is a GRP...