politics + tech + advocacy
The Philippines’ de facto messaging standard is still text messaging. Most Filipinos have at least one phone and could be reached by relatives, friends, schoolmates and officemates via text message. While not all may have data subscriptions to be able check extreme weather news on Twitter or the websites of PAGASA and Project NOAH, the […]
MoreThe January-March 2014 issue of Budget Facts and Figures, a newsletter released by the Senate’s Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office, reveals that the government expects state colleges and universities (SCU) to generate an income of P7.3-billion from tuition fee collections and another P4.04-billion in “other income collected from students” for fiscal year 2014. These […]
MoreHere are my *prepared* remarks for the Unconference 2 session at the Stockholm Internet Forum, held on May 27. President BS Aquino boasted at the World Economic Forum in East Asia his government recently hosted in Manila that there has been an economic miracle. Not a few visitors agreed with him. But up to now, […]
MoreIn an apparent offering to visiting President Barack Obama, the Philippines and the U.S. signed the new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement on April 28, 2014 at Malacanan Palace, within an hour from the U.S. chief executive’s arrival in Manila. Here is the full text of EDCA:
MoreSt. John Paul II visited the Philippines twice during his papacy and his speeches revealed his “love affair” with Filipinos and his special concern for the youth, professionals and the poor and the marginalized.
MoreIf you care about peace, and would like to see the peace talks between the government and the communist rebels to resume, this post is for you — as well as my column today at the Manila Bulletin. The formal peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the National […]
MoreOn April 4, I joined my friend Kiko Acero at a panel discussion on “blogging and activism” at the 10th Philippine Blogging Summit at the University of the Philippines’ Malcolm Hall. Bloggers should continue to use their popularity and influence for activism.
MoreToday, March 29, 2014, the Philippines celebrates the 20th anniversary of our first internet connection. One way to mark it is to list down important dates from March 29, 1994 as well as the big innovations, big celebrities, big launches, big victories, and big milestones we all won online and offline, thanks to having access […]
MoreHere is a copy of the remarks I made at the hearing today, March 3, called by the Senate science and technology committee, regarding bills seeking to amend the Cybercrime Law. This hearing coincides with the Oscars. Netizens are busy watching the world’s biggest celebrities parade on the red carpet. Dear senators, please roll out […]
MoreI keep on seeing “unfinished revolution” in media reports about the 28th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Uprising. I find it annoying and offensive for promoting, unwittingly or wittingly, the idea or premise that everyone gave up and no one has bothered to carry the revolution forward. It sounds as ritualistic and as empty […]
MoreComing days after it was first announced, the Supreme Court today (February 21, 2014) finally released its decision on the 15 separate petitions seeking to void the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012:
MoreWe the Bloggers and Netizens for Democracy (BAND), composed of petitioners in G.R. 203469, are going back to the Supreme Court soon to file a “motion for partial reconsideration” regarding its decision on the draconian Cybercrime Law. For while we are happy that the court partially agreed with us by voiding the provisions on warrantless […]
MorePhilip Marco Caballes (Nov. 13, 1985-Jan. 16, 2014) We first knew him as the funny and awesome CokskiBlue, who brought video blogging (vlogging) to its rightful place – in the front and center of Pinoy blogging. We immediately put his blog in our browser bookmarks and feed subscriptions. Later, he would be in our phonebooks […]
MoreAside from #ReliefPH, #TracingPH and other social media-based disaster-related efforts, the netizens’ response to Yolanda now includes a laudable crowdsourcing project called #AidMonitorPH. The objectives of #AidMonitorPH are pretty straightforward: To identify and list of foreign aid donations and pledges and to monitor how these would be used and spent. #AidMonitorPH is clearly an offshoot […]
MoreFive days since the world’s strongest typhoon first rammed through Guiuan and the the rest of a big area in central Philippines, we are all thankful for the nationwide and worldwide outpouring of sympathy and support for the Visayas. The nation and the world watched in horror the reports of widespread devastation and misery in […]
MoreIn honor of Fr. Jose “Joe” P. Dizon (Sept. 29, 1948-November 4, 2013), a father to Filipino workers and to cause-oriented coalitions and alliances, and a veteran of the Parliament of the Streets: The last time I saw and talked with Fr. Joe was on September 13, 2013, during the #AbolishPork Movement’s #ForwardMarch at the […]
MoreDear PNoy, Nakakagulat naman na ang sikat at pinagkakatiwalaang presidente namin – ayon sa mga survey – ay magsasalita ngayong gabi. At sa sobrang napakaimportante pa yata, mukhang ipe-preempt ninyo ang mga paborito naming telenovela at iba pang palabas sa TV. Sana ay worth it itong gagawin niyo. Pakisugurado pong kapani-paniwala yung mga sasabihin niyo. […]
MoreThe title of this piece is one of the ultimate conversation spoilers when we talk politics, especially these times when we wish to hold the President, senators, congressmen and their fake NGOs accountable for the outrageous amount of pork barrel funds they abused or plundered. The mostly educated fall prey for this rather simplistic and […]
MoreMore and more people want to unite and act against the plunder, misuse and abuse of public funds through the controversial pork barrel. Citizens are outraged by the PDAF scandal involving lawmakers, Janet Napoles and fake NGOs. President BS Aquino himself has been put on the defensive for his own pork barrel, its misuse for […]
MoreWe have received a copy of an alleged Memorandum Order from the Office of the President addressed to anti-pork Pinoys. This explains almost everything that has been happening in the pro-pork camp and what they have been saying. Memorandum Order No. 69 From: Malacanang To: All anti-pork Pinoys Thru: Persons who are pro-PNoy, pro-pork, “non-partisan”, […]
MoreSince the preparations for the August 26 Million People March, we have been hounded by an unexplained fear of having our collective actions “hijacked” by unidentified forces who are out to sabotage our plans while at the same time serve their narrow, vested interests. Its about time to finger these hijackers and put them in […]
MoreToday’s Million People March redux at Ayala is the sixth major protest action of Filipinos seeking the abolition of the pork barrel system. There appears to be no let up in the protests and the various organizations, networks, coalitions and alliances are slowly overcoming differences, fears and intrigue towards bigger, bolder and common actions. And […]
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