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About: caffeinesparks
Blog Entries by caffeinesparks
Picking on Esperanza Cabral
Recently I went to a conference and met an awe-inspiring Thai pharmacologist, Dr. Krisana Kraisintu. For the last eight years she has been helping peoples all over Africa to produce and distribute essential medicines that would combat Malaria and HIV/AIDS. Without a doubt, of all regions of the world, Africa is devastated the most [...]
Rule of Kings, Rule of Government
It seems, at times, we are caught in a time warp. Similar configurations from the past revisit time and again as though to punish those among us hard-pressed to learn the lesson. Some say we could be where we were in 1986 and that the magic of People Power will once again be put to [...]
Drowning in Manny
Horror of horrors, Manny Villar seems to have taken possession of my body. He haunts me everywhere I go and whatever I do. Since I no longer watch television nor listen to the radio, he stalks me on Youtube and Facebook. On the same day I saw a caravan of Villar’s supporters handing out flyers [...]
The Politics of Owning and Remembering EDSA
A monopoly on history is a monopoly of power. A monopoly of telling the narrative can only match the writer’s ideological standpoint. What really happened in EDSA? Who were the protagonists? The bad guys? Those who chose to sit on the sidelines? What was the context in which the event happened? Was it planned or [...]
Noynoy and Great Expectations
Sen. Noynoy Aquino was twenty minutes late. The Blogwatch livestream interview had been scheduled at 6:00pm last Saturday and there were around 20 bloggers in attendance. I arrived a little after 5 o’clock at the designated venue, earlier if the traffic lights nearby had been working properly. This is democracy in action. Traffic [...]
Reforming the Reformists
Yesterday I had the occasion of attending the talk “How Much Reforms are there in the 2010 Campaigns?” organized by the Ateneo School of Government. Discussants present were Joel Rocamora of the Institute of Popular Democracy and Ramon Casiple of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform. Allow me to echo the gist of [...]
Unpacking the Panaderya of Noynoy
In today’s address to the Makati Business Club, presidential hopeful Noynoy Aquino unveils his “economic vision and platform.” Let me unpack some of his key points.
First and Foremost, Democratic Principles
Aquino underlines the importance of the sanctity of the ballot in order to gain a true mandate from the people. He also makes a direct relationship [...]
“A Message of Modern Politics” by Randy David
Yesterday I attended a talk given by Prof. Randy David in the University of Asia and the Pacific. He addressed university students with his “Message of Modern Politics: A situationer on Philippine current politics.” Let me take this opportunity to echo salient points of his talk.
First Prof. David said he was not endorsing anyone. He [...]
A Politics of Meaning
The city of Calapan is plastered with the initials RGV – public works, vehicles, buildings. The letters are shaped a certain way, a distinctive font. These three letters are inescapable, they assault you everywhere. Rodolfo G. Valencia has been campaigning for a long time. He owns many businesses in Oriental Mindoro’s capital. It is his [...]
In a Benign0 State of Mind
Cynicism is a function of alienation. When one no longer considers oneself part of a something, when one no longer has or no longer cares to have a stake in a system, then one can afford to be cynical. In the cold embrace of cynicism one is insulated from dashed hopes and impossible expectations. Cynicism [...]
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