The ebb and flow of history is such that the scum that was washed away eventually returns to shore. The problem is, unless we are able to clean the Sea of Human Nature, it comes back thicker and in greater volume. A cursory survey of current events makes one realize that everything has happened before....
Tag: politics
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Risa, Leni show the way
True to form, Sen. Risa Hontiveros battled mightily to prevent the dignity of the Senate, such as what it has become, from being fully shredded at the start of the inquiry into extrajudicial killings during Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal “war on drugs.” But for Hontiveros’ efforts the upper chamber would have been in complete thrall to...
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5 ways Philippine dynasties are able to stay in power
(Last of two parts) The Sanggunian Kabataan (SK) law and Bangsamoro Electoral Code define and prohibit political dynasties. However, these laws only cover the SK and Bangsamoro parliamentary elections. In national and local elections, clans continue to consolidate political and economic power. Based on the electoral plans for May 2025 of district representatives belonging to...
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8 out of 10 district reps belong to dynasties
(First of two parts) Fathers and mothers passing on their government posts to sons and daughters, as if these were family heirlooms, is nothing new. But election watchdogs said it was jarring to watch political dynasties flaunt their power during the week-long filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) this October. It’s as if Oct. 1...
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Meet the ‘obese’ political dynasties of the Philippines
We’ve seen sibling pairs in the Senate, as well as mother-and-son tandems. But three brothers? If the pre-election polls hold until May 12, 2025, neophyte Sen. Raffy Tulfo will be welcoming two of his brothers to the Senate—fellow news broadcasters Erwin and Ben, who ranked first and second in the September 2024 Pulse Asia senatorial...
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That’s entertainment in politics
A certain Rosmar Tan, described as a social media influencer, is running for councilor in Manila in the May 2025 midterm elections. Here’s her sound bite: “Aanhin pa ang katalinuhan sa law o anuman po …” Or: What good is knowledgeability in law or whatever …? The lawyer Vince Tañada, who is also a movie and stage producer,...
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Camille Villar ramps up FB ad spending before filing candidacy for senator
Like her father, mother and brother before her, Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar is entering the 2025 senatorial race with more resources than her rivals for her advertising campaign. She has billboards and posters all over the country, and has ads on TV. She is also among the top ad spenders on Meta, formerly Facebook,...
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Leni Robredo’s political life goes full circle
NAGA CITY—Amid clamor from her supporters for her to run for the Senate after a failed presidential bid in 2022, former Vice President Leni Robredo has opted to seek the mayoral seat of Naga City in May next year, saying she would be “better and more passionate” in heading a local government and getting involved...
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Barbers on Roque: ‘What goes around comes around’
“What goes around comes around.” This was what Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert “Ace” Barbers said in describing the path that lawyer and former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, now again facing detention for defying a subpoena of the House of Representatives’ quad committee, appears to be treading. Barbers, who heads the quad committee looking into,...
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Seismic shift for the Vice President
On Aug. 30, even as social media was still abuzz and aghast at Vice President Sara Duterte’s startling behavior at the budget deliberations in the House of Representatives, she was reported as leading her office’s nationwide distribution of bags under its “Pagbabago” (Change) program. The photograph that accompanied the Philippine News Agency report, taken at...