Discuss.
* * * * *
Thank you for letting us know your opinions, they are much appreciated. We posted the question because we need a topic for our column on current events; it seemed current enough but strangely, we have no opinion on the matter. Essentially we don’t give a shit, so we were hoping you would infect us with your passion for this issue…
Drat, must find another topic.
City of Strays: Detroit’s Epidemic of 50,000 Abandoned Dogs in Rolling Stone.
Warning: Upsetting, esp. if you live with pets.
Before Nora Aunor, all the big stars of the Filipino screen were mestizo. Photo from alphamusic.ph.
At the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament the other week the Fiji Rugby Union made this observation on their official Twitter account.
“The only thing Philippines about the Philippine team playing in the Hong Kong 7s is the name of the team.”
This remark is interesting in light of the flap over Arnold Clavio’s “hindi kayumanggi” statement about the Philippine national football team. We don’t think the Philippine Rugby Union should make like the Azkals management and write a strongly-worded letter denouncing this “racist” statement.
In the first place it will seem like a sore loser move because Fiji won the HK7s, thrashing the world’s rugby powers before beating the mighty New Zealand in the final. (The Philippines, making its first-ever appearance in the tournament, was like the plucky indie movie at the Oscars who’s just happy to be nominated.)
Could it be that the reaction to Arnold Clavio’s statement is so passionate because he’s…uhh…because he umm…because he doesn’t look like the Azkals?
To take Clavio’s side would imply that you look more like Arnold Clavio than Phil Younghusband or Neil Etheridge.
Koosi, ano na lang ang sasabihin ng mga nagbabasa!
When a Hollywood actor appearing on David Letterman’s talk show a few days ago recounted his brush with airport personnel “in the Philippines”, the reaction from Filipinos was swift and vehement.
Some wrung their hands in embarrassment and called the incident “another black eye” for the Philippines.
1.1. We’re inclined to believe the worst about our people.
1.1.1. Since the story involved petty corruption and no one doubts that corruption is rampant, they assumed that the story did happen in the Philippines.
1.1.2. Expressing outrage is a way of saying “We’re not all like them.” They’re not like us. Who’s Filipino then—them or us?
1.1.3. Their readiness to believe the worst is not surprising when every day brings new reports of official corruption.
1.2. Considering how many previous incidents were considered “black eyes” upon our country, there should be no eyes here left to blacken.
1.3. This thinking assumes that the eyes of the world are constantly upon us, judging us, and finding us deficient in some way—ignorant, ridiculous, or the worst impression of all, cheap.
Not Only In The Philippines, our column this week on InterAksyon.com.
What do you think, Cat?
Love has been in the news this month, but not in a Happy Valentines kind of way. The protagonists in these love stories include the ambassador, his wife, her best friend and the maid; the actress, the actor and the magazine cover; and the mistress, the estranged wife and the dead man.
The heiress who is splitting up with the ambassador who cheated on her with her best friend and the maid.
1.1. Why end the marriage now when according to her deposition he’s been cheating on her for many years?
1.1.1. The extra horror of him betraying her with her best friend
1.1.2. The embarrassment of the public betrayal
1.1.2.1. Aggravated by the fact that in her desire to help her friend she had practically thrown her at her husband
When Love Goes Kaput, our column in InterAksyon.com this week.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>