As I am writing this, a joint session of the Legislature is debating whether or not to give its endorsement to the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao, which was triggered by the massacre of 57 people 18 days ago by a mixed force of over 100 Ampatuan mercenaries, paramilitaries, and police. The private army of the Ampatuan clan, which is responsible for over 200 deaths if the second-hand reports of the CHR are to be believed, is just one of 132 such groups – groups in possession of an estimated 800,000 weapons – identified by the military throughout the country.
While the horror and indignation for the massacre is properly directed at the Ampatuans, it should not be forgotten that the incident seems to have been precipitated by the meeting of Ishmael Mangudadatu with Andal Ampatuan Sr., where the former announced his intention to run for the Ampatuan-controlled governorship of Maguindanao – an innocent-enough courtesy call, perhaps, except that Toto Mangudadatu was accompanied by 200 armed men of his own. The roles of victim and perpetrator seem separated only by circumstance; little wonder, then, that what should be a straightforward criminal investigation – the barbarity of the crime notwithstanding – has proved to be beyond the abilities of the legal authorities and has required a military takeover of the area.
As I am writing this, another armed gang is holding upwards of 75 people – mostly elementary school children – hostage in Agusan del Sur. There are hints that the Ampatuans may have had something to do with this latest atrocity as well, although that area is not their normal milieu – that accusation is still unfounded, but would hardly come as a surprise: the leaders of the Ampatuan family, though in military custody and charged with rebellion and murder, apparently are allowed to keep their cell phones and have a constant stream of visitors. And detention is supposed to achieve what, exactly? It would almost be a relief to find out that the Ampatuans are in fact behind this latest drama in Mindanao, because the implications of it being some other, completely unrelated bunch of goons are just too depressing to contemplate.
In a column a week ago in the BusinessWorld Online, Solita Collas-Monsod provided this definition of a failed state:
“A state could be said to ’succeed’ if it maintains, in the words of Max Weber, a monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force within its borders. When this is broken (e.g., through the dominant presence of warlords, paramilitary groups, or terrorism), the very existence of the state becomes dubious, and the state becomes a failed state.”
And,
“the term is also used in the sense of a state that has been rendered ineffective … and is not able to enforce its laws uniformly because of high crime rates, extreme political corruption, an extensive informal market, impenetrable bureaucracy, judicial ineffectiveness, military interference in politics, cultural situations in which traditional leaders wield more power than the state over a certain area but do not compete with the state, or a number of other factors.”
“Number of other factors” could be open to interpretation I suppose, but of the other conditions listed in the above two statements not one – not one – is missing from the present-day Philippines. Think about that: this definition, which can be applied to national entities-in-name-only such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia, exactly describes the state of affairs in the Philippines. The only disagreement I have with Ms. Collas-Monsod is her notion that the Philippines will become a failed state if someone doesn’t do something quick – the Philippines already IS a failed state. And it will stay that way until the country’s economic, intellectual, and political leaders admit it, and start doing what needs to be done.
UPDATE — Early a.m., December 11: The ongoing incident in Agusan del Sur is not connected to the Maguindanao clans, but is an escalation of a murderous spat between the Perez and Tubay clans of Agusan. The news just gets worse, almost by the minute.
Get Real Philippines 
How dare you! Grabe ka mag down ng Pinoys ha. Failed state ka diyan.
bakit hindi nga po ba failed state?
tangina mo tao. mamatay kana. gago. akala mo kung sino ka..
Maguindanao, along with other cases, demonstrate that the Philippine government is incapable of enforcing its own laws. This along with many other factors, like poor economic performance and the relatively low moral compass of our culture, can be enough basis for declaring it a failed state. It’s “run like hell” by Filipinos after all.
Manuel L. Quezon said it… And MLQIII swears by it… “A Philippines run like hell by Filipinos.”
to all the dissenters here,
why can’t you just acknowledge the fact that our country is in deep shit. sure there are still a lot of positive things for us to be proud about but the fact remains — there are also a lot if not more negatives.
merely changing the definition to accomodate the “filipino greatness” you imagine is a road that will surely take the country nowhere near real greatness.
identify the problems and address them appropriately. that’s the way to go. glossing them over will not do us any good.
Exactly betterphilippines!
For my part I am doing the following:
1. Drink as much Starbucks Coffee as I can so that Starbucks will open more shops in the Philippines, leading to more jobs and an elevated appreciation of coffee.
2. Sign as many online petitions as I can because these petitions, although generally ineffective, consume disk space and disk consumption will lead increased IT expenditures that may aid the global economic recovery.
3. Continue berating the “Jologs” and hope that our collective efforts will shame them into intellectual and spiritual maturity.
See you at Starbucks 🙂
I dont know what to say but its was hard to accept that those terrible things was happened to our country… if youre really a filipino and if you really love this country please dont loose hope… as long as the filipino live there is a change for better future of the Philippines
Sure, it’s depressing as hell. But hope in one hand, sh*t in the other, and see which one fills up first. All the hope in the world isn’t going to make a dent in the cold, hard facts of things as they really are. Better to take the energy needed to sustain hope and actually apply it to trying to straighten things out.
Yep, sira na talaga ang Pilipinas. Oo, may pag-asa pa nga. Pero dapat naman, samahan ito ng pagsisikap ng ituwid ang mga mali sa ating sarili at lipunan. Ang daan papunta sa pag-asenso ng bansa natin ay tulad ng desyerto; ang pag-asa ang malamig na hangin na pansamantalang pumapawi ng init, at nagbibigay ng lakas para malampasan ang desyertong ito.
I’m glad somebody gets it. You can’t fix a problem if you can’t (or won’t) see and understand it.
yep thats why we need to taking care of our votes, Because the value of ours vote is not just 500 Php. Ours vote will dictate the future of our country in the next six years. Our votes can make changes; depend in the government official that we choose to serve us… and that changes have two side one is for “Better” and secondly for “Worst”
“Think Wise Vote Wisely”
Even if we make all the efforts in the world, sometimes it’s not up to us. All over the world, we have failed states and the best and brightest among their own citizens are always working for the betterment. Still, even in nature, there will be puppies and hatchlings which really don’t succeed for one reason or another. We want all the small turtles to grow big, but many of them will be picked off by predators no matter how well-meaning our intentions.
Same thing with countries and states. there will be those whose populations’ intelligence hit critical mass and succeed and there are those which never really take off. It’s just the way massive groups of people act.
Now, what can we do? The same thing refugees have always done; bring the best from our countries and take them with us to enrich other countries.
That’s an interesting point of view. I believe it’s true, but I’d stop short of saying it applies to the Philippines — yet. That’s because throughout history it’s actually relatively rare for a country to completely ‘dissipate’ in the sense you’ve described entirely on its own without a strong outside influence. Somalia is about the only modern example I can think of. Somebody could argue for a place like Cambodia, I suppose, but the instrument of destruction there — Communism — was never a native Cambodian product.
I certainly would not like to see the Filipino people become like, say, the Assyrian people, and I believe it’s avoidable. But it will take active intervention to prevent it.
God Know the best thing for our country lets think it in positive side may be he really want us to awake in the real face of our country and the real situation that we have now we need to learned the lesson behind this terrible things
It is easy to consider the Philippines a failed state in the light of the prevailing political ,economic,social and judicial condition,Max Weber’s definition notwithstanding.I would like however to offer my observation that the Philippines is not yet a failed state but it is staring down at the abyss , right now, if it does not correct its course immediately.What i see is a country that does not want to evolve or mature into a state where it’s ligitimacy is validated by the presence of an involved, engaged and enlightened populace.Its evolutionary process is stunted by so many vested interest who are not willing to concede any ground to their opposites for fear that doing so would dilute their hold on whatever power they have.Unless all stakeholders realize that they have common interest in keeping the country together and that the abyss is their other alternative, then failed state? whynot?
If it’s not yet failed, then what is keeping it from going over the edge of the abyss as you put it? Because all the signs are that it’s already slipped off. There’s no turning it around; the choice now is whether the people of this country want to put something that works back together again from the busted pieces at the bottom of the cliff, or not.
Sa nangyayari ngayon sa Mindanao, parang kinakailangan ulit ang mga Ilaga.
That will just make matters worse. Ilaga are government sponsored militias that would turn out doing what the Ampatuans did. What is needed is a Government that would develop Mindanao and at the same time maintain peace and order.
I agree with you. Minsan nga lang, nakakagigil na kasi, given the fact that the current government has fucked up in terms of dealing with Mindanao. Let us hope the current, and the next government, will take the proper steps in dealing with Mindanao, or else. I hope in these desparate times, people won’t resort to desperate measures.
I wonder how this affects the idea of Bangsamoro? Maybe things would be a bit better under Bangsamoro?
Well, there goes this “godliness” prayerfulness cr@p of Filipinos thinking that prayer alone gets God on their side. Filipinos are some of the most dogmatically-imprisoned people, unable to think outside-of-the-box, and always looking for some scripture or text that would “show them the way.”
Wake up! Use your reason! There are no scriptures that will teach you what to do in this day and age, so think for yourselves! Use knowledge and reason to find your way!
Maybe Filipinos deserve to remain a medievally-imprisoned society. I’m so lucky I’m not Filipino!
I think pinoys know subconsciously that they are living in a failed state. Otherwise they wouldn’t have this national preoccupation with migrating to other countries. The Philippines will probably remain a failed state until an overwhelming number of pinoys take the initiative to shake off their complacency and start to consistently act like responsible citizens.
We can start small, just disposing our trash properly everyday is a good start. Sadly that isn’t even happening. You’d expect that pinoys would have learned their lessons after the disastrous flooding that happened this year.
Hi Benk
It’s not surprising this is happening in Maguindanao. If it’s true that the Ampatuans had strong connections with President Gloria Arroyo, they probably felt indispensable. Now they are desperate. Holding innocent people hostage tells me this.
I fear for the lives of the current and future hostages, especially the children. It’s easy for children to get restless so I hope the kidnappers will not feel agitated and eliminate them if the situation gets prolonged.
I’m afraid that the lawlessness in some parts of the Philippines might spill over the major cities in Manila one day. This has been what I’ve been telling my friends all along. It doesn’t matter if the ones with money live in gated communities, once the peasants or the ones with guns charge the gates, everyone will be helpless.
If the wealthy Filipinos really care about the country, they should stop being apathetic about the situation now before it’s too late to hold back the rebellion. If they don’t care about the country but just want to maintain their lifestyle, it’s still reason enough to find a way to equalize the chaos in the state. Too much partying will be their undoing in the end.
Wealthy Filipinos will not lift a finger until there is a “clear and present danger” to their status. Trust me. I know this. I hang out with these motherfuckers everyday.
Maguindanao does not make for very interesting discussion at Starbucks. The Google Android, Green Tech, and Credit Default Swaps are really sexy right now.
See you at Starbucks 🙂
Sigh…such fresh insight… good to know we have an insider here to tell us we’ve been right all along.
Enjoy your coffee.
See you at Starbucks too, Conyo! 🙂
DJB,
Remember Starbucks Coffee must be drank BLACK OR WHITE–no exceptions!
See you at Starbucks 🙂
Conyo,
Remember the past participle of ‘to drink’ is “drunk”, not “drank” – no exceptions.
Sorry BenK,
It must be my Chinese-French mind messing with my Taglish.
You will notice I even sometimes put “the” or “of” in the wrong place.
I might be dyslexic… Or I am just really bored at Starbucks and I am just typing shit away to burn time….
See you at Starbucks 🙂
It’s the “gutom” small entrepreneurs who are doing the heavy lifting so they, too become “Wealthy Filipinos will not lift a finger until there is a “clear and present danger” to their status.” – it just ain’t about expanding the wealthy – it’s about reducing the number of the poor, by expanding the middle class. Trust me, that’s how one group of motherfuckers screwed their fellow motherfuckers – you can’t fleece anemic sheep, you gotta let em grow, then you fleece em.
This is a very good point Bong.
Expanding the wealth base of the middle class would create more business opportunities for the wealthy to exploit them.
However, a large middle class may create more upper middle class people who can actually afford Overpriced Coffee at Starbucks, Iphones and Mac Book Pros–that would not be good for ME!
If Starbucks becomes so accessible that it becomes like a Jollibee, where will I hang out now?
See you at Starbucks 🙂 (before it becomes inundated by the middle class!)
Weru, zeru isu oru-weisu UCC Kohi furo-mu Japan.
Beri ekusu-pensibu, moru ekusu-pensibu dan Sutaru-bakusu
Onri beri richu piporu go zeru, no puru piporu
Guudu foru Conyo raiku yuu… 😉
I dunno what’s up with the Inquirer.net.
As of 1.26 pm today (11 Dec 2009) Australian East Coast time, they’ve got a picture of a bunch of politicians on their homepage discussing the “historic” joint session on Martial Law, their top headlines are about more stuff about the on-going “debate” on Martial Law, and its Global Nation section it’s got this moronic headline : UN commends RP military peacekeepers in Liberia.
That pretty much sums up what 75 kidnapped people (mostly school children) mean to Imperial Manila and its mouthpiece, the Inquirer.net.
That said, even before all this, the Philippines has long been a failed state. The whole point of being a “nation” gets lost when foreign governments and foreign societies provide far better treatment to Filipinos compared to what they get in their own homeland. And I’m talking not about economic opportunities here. I’m talking about the justice, fairness, and peace that Filipinos living in countries other than the Philippines get from their hosts.
What point then is there for having a Philippine “nation” when most opportunity to prosper for the majority of Filipinos lie OUTSIDE its borders?
Perhaps it is not that the State had not served its citizens well. Puting it that way does not tell the FULL STORY. I believe it is more about how its citizens have failed to SHAPE the State into one that could serve them well.
choosing weber’s definition of a failed state is so convenient. they could have at least put other definitions from other scholars, perhaps we won’t find our state that much of a failure.
Forget the scholars. Ask the Magudadatus and their companions that one fateful day if The Philippines is a failed state or not.
That is a completely typical loser Pinoy response: trying to polish a turd. You don’t like getting bad news or finding out your country doesn’t live up to certain universal standards, you try to change the definition of the standards. It’s even part of the LP platform, where they say they will develop “A better method of measuring economic progress. The conventional target of growth in GDP is a poor indicator of progress.” That’s great, except the rest of the world is going to go right ahead and keep on looking at GDP, and if the Philippines’ GDP sucks, the Philippines (or at least the LP and its adherents) will be the only ones on the whole globe who don’t think so.
Let me give you another challenge: can you show that any one of those conditions listed:
– the presence of warlords, paramilitary groups, or terrorism
-high crime rates
-extreme political corruption
-extensive informal market
-impenetrable bureaucracy
-judicial ineffectiveness
-military interference in politics
-traditional leaders wielding more influence than the government in certain areas
do NOT exist in the country? Because if you can, you can refute to ranking in the Failed States Index.
I’m sure if we apply Lola Basyang’s Standards of Success, the Philippines will come up a real winner.
But then last I heard, we aspire to compete in the world stage. And to be world-class, means meeting standards that the rest of the world agree to observe.
Then again I may be mistaken and perhaps the Philippines has long since opted out of that playing field. Maybe I didn’t get that memo, so let me know right now and I will gladly defer to Lola Basyang’s rules instead. 😀
BenK — I totally agree with you.
Yes the Philippines is a FAILED STATE!
That is why I spend my time at STARBUCKS rather than delude myself that opening a beach resort can save the country.
See you at Starbucks 🙂
Yes, that’s the easy way out, isn’t it? And while you’re at the Starbucks, if you only speak in Chinese or French (don’t use English, the strange idioms and odd grammar will give you away), and if you look Oriental or Mexican or Caucasian, you might get lucky and have people assume you’re from some other country, and not consider you a failure by association with the hapless Philippines. Sounds like a lot of work to me, but if that does it for you, well then, make the most of it.
Don’t worry, all I need to do is bring out my Iphone and Mac Book Pro and … tulo laway na sila.
See you at Starbucks 🙂
P.S. If I see Manolo and DJB there, I will say you said hello.
Conyo,
That’s not going to be enough. If you look and act Filipino, people will still know you’re Pinoy. As soon as you show your iPhone and MacBook Pro, the other Starbucks patrons will just think you’re a rich Pinoy from the same elite that is responsible for why the Philippines is a shit-hole in the first place.
But if you look Caucasian or Tisoy-enough, you might be able to avoid being lumped in with the accusation of mediocrity that mere association with being Pinoy unfortunately damns all the kayumanggi, Indio-looking Pinoy masses.
Judging from how you spell “Conyo” (instead of the correct way: “coño”), I think you’re an Indio masquerading as a Mestizo-Criollo (the ones who always say “¡coño!” as their favorite expletive, thereby giving them that monicker) and there’s no way you can insulate yourself from the accusations of “Your country is a Failed State” stares that people will give you.
Fat-chance, you won’t be able to pass yourself off as a non-Pinoy at all, unlike me since no one ever thinks I’m Pinoy. 🙂
I prefer the double choco chip smoothie at Seattle’s Best, hehehe.
who says opening one will…
opening one..
is for one’s bank account – NOT THE STATE.. or Starbucks 😉
Tisoy,
You don’t get it.
Chino,
Seattle’s Best is actually good too but it lacks the sosyal factor–if you know what I mean.
BongV,
I thought about visiting your beach resort but is there a Starbucks nearby? If NOT, is there a place where I can hang out that serves Overpriced Coffee that most people can’t afford so I can chill there and pretend to be cool?
See you at Starbucks 🙂
Yeah I know… which is why I like it. I’m either anti-sosyal or anti-social. hehehe.
Conyo:
It’s an eco-beach.
bring and roast your own coffee bean (grown organically in your own coffee farm or patch of coffee trees; nice flavor when grown in volcanic soil, base of Mt. Apo a- nice hobby by the way). 😉
brew the coffee the barako way; watch the fisherfolks overfish Davao Bay, under the talisay tree, a hammock even, buco juice on the side, fresh durian, a shot of Fundador brandy..
then just slide into the lounging chair.. enjoying the breeze.. watching the world go by… till it’s sunset, then the charcoals come to life, roasted chicken with lemon and pepper seasoning, jasmine rice fried with garlic, grilled, a whiff of spanish guitars blend with the smooth waves lapping on the shore.. you take another swig of the brandy..
and chuckle as Rome burns down in flames.
tomorrow is another day.
Just serve Nescafe in fancy cups, charge us P500 and we won’t know the difference!
Call it Pearl Farm Roast or something. I bet that some will even proclaim: “Iba talaga kapag Pearl Farm Roast ano?”
See you at Starbucks 🙂
Conyo:
we have compassion for the gullible – ripping poseurs off ain’t our cup of cofee
for short… organic coffee growers only
Nescafe drinkers can bring their own coffee, put it in a Starbucks cup, and claim they paid $10 for it, last time I checked, it was only $3.95 for a venti mocha latte with double shots of espresso
if you can’t afford your own coffee farm, stick to starbucks 😀
but they are free to bring their starbucks coffee cups – and make sure to leave the cups (no littering) in the trash when they leave.
My country may really be a failed state if we believe everything ABSCBN news team and Inquirer reports. Sometimes their news is an exaggeration and very pessimist to the real state of things.
But then again if we look at WHO the citizens put in power – cinema characters, political prostitutes, the nepotists, the chickenhearted, and the professional rally leaders, do we need to wonder why?
WHY?
It depends on who you ask.
Blackshama will blame the United States.
Manolo, The Great One, will write a 1,000 word essay that GMA is all to blame.
Abe will say that people are not “following their gut.”
Buencamino will …. well I still have no fucking insight into his “genius.”
Me? What do I know? I just discovered that I was French-Chinese foreigner. Talaga? Bakit? Ambot gyud. Sa tingin ko BenK thinks he can make me pikon but I am not that easy….
See you at Starbucks 🙂
Conyo, didn’t Manolo work for GMA before? Why does he hate her with a vengeance? She refused to give him a raise or something?
RunlikehellbyQuezon,
I can’t speak for Manolo, The Great One. But we all have our theories on why he is so “obsessed” (as Bencard accurately describes it) with GMA.
Personally, I don’t really care what his reasons are.
I am just waiting for the day when Manolo gets enough Experience Points from blogging, Levels Up, and finally becomes The Greatest President of the Philippines–ever!
Its gonna be a blast dude. We are gonna really-really run things like hell that the North Koreans would say: “What the fuck? These guys are nuts!!!”
See you at Starbucks 🙂
Conyo,
So that means the Philippines will have its first Openly Gay President, right?
Yeah. Wouldn’t that be great?
See you at Starbucks 🙂
Openly Gay President who is clueless, but thinks he’s so smart. Wow. Package deal…
Hey don’t say that. Idol ko si Manolo.
He is our Barack Obama.
See you at Starbucks 🙂
I thought that was Jejomar Binay?
What’s so Obamaesque about Manolo?
He will divide the country into BLACK AND WHITE.
Not only that, he will divide the world into BLACK AND WHITE!
But wait, there’s more: He will divide the Galaxy into BLACK AND WHITE!
Can it possibly get any better? You betcha! Are you ready for this? He will divide the Universe into BLACK AND WHITE!
Ang galing ano? Reality is way easier in BLACK AND WHITE!
See you at Starbucks 🙂
You don’t need to look at local channels to conclude we have a failed state here. In my house rebuilding scenario, the behavior of the construction workers already constitute a failed state. You tell them something is wrong with what they did, they get mad. Tell them to finish something in 3 days, they take five days, or demand more money for the quicker job. Or the squatters, they’re on land they don’t own, but they don’t care. Resources are dwindling and things are getting expensive, but the people continue to reproduce as if someone else will take care of their children. It’s a failed state, and that’s best seen not just in government performance, but also in the behavior of the people and masses. There.
Well, you can bitch all you want but if their is one thing Phailippines is good at, it’s surviving.
Also, who “enforces” the laws?
The very same people you rant against. Think about it
@Conyo, I’d go to Starbucks but I can’t afford it.
Yeah. That’s what Pinoy aspirations have come down to: mere survival. So much for aspiring for something bigger.
Two words:
Loser mentality.
What you should have said is the one thing the Philippines is good at is fornicating. Because at the rate they get bumped off in criminal mischief, die in sinking boats, or in landslides, or of malnutrition- or sanitation-related diseases, they’re not all that good at surviving, either. Just making lots and lots of replacements.
Merely surviving can be done by anyone. The Somalians and even amoebas can do it.
And who enforces this “loser mentality”?
If anyone starts mouthing off about abuses what do you think will happen to theM?
Face it Benigno, if you or anyone here tries to become an hero, they become exactly just that.
Dude,
What is this fascination with heroes anyway?
I have no intention on becoming a hero–not even a Guitar Hero.
Loser mentality is achieved when you embrace ideas that seriously inhibits your potential.
Your greatest enemy is yourself.
See you are Starbucks 🙂
LOL! Love the quip about Guitar Hero.
Technically I was referring to an “hero” of 4chan quality
You’re right though. If anyone tries to become a hero, they become exactly just that. Thus, if anyone tries to do things right, they do exactly just that.
The sad part is that if that’s the way to become a hero, that’s the sign of a problem. If being a hero means doing something right is a sea of people doing something wrong, then that sea of people comprises a failed state. It’s a low standard created by a morally bankrupt society.
But even worse is that people can be heroes just by being popular. Now that’s really decrepit.
Very well said!!!
Again—what is it about this HERO fad?
I don’t get it. Have you watched Spiderman, Xmen, Iron Man, and Hulk so much that you wish that Manolo was secretly fighting crime at Night—like a Pinoy Batman diba?
Benign0 can be the Riddler.
BenK, with his big guns, would make a great Pinoy Punisher.
And Ilda, a hot Catwoman …. meowwww!
See you at Starbucks 🙂
I’ll be Masked Rider Green… green-minded. Nyahaha.
The enemy is Buntis 5… who impregnates one woman with five children each time, contributing to the overpopulation of the country.. hehehe
Speaking of overpopulation, i wonder why in the hell do Pinoys keep making babies when condoms are cheap? Really, I mean, if you can’t get one when having the urge, at least grab a rubber glove or an SM grocery bag or something to prevent an unwanted invasion, right?
It’s a hundred thousand times more costly to produce and grow offspring than to buy prophylactic ’round the corner, but Pinoys are too lazy to make the damn trip.
Hey Chino, guess who I’ll be – Super Friend. Ain’t it cool or what? 😉
Panalo, Friend! 😀
And I would be SUPERFLY.
People would rather be Maritess instead of being the Superfriends 🙂
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPeLQ2jS–I
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After Marcos was kicked out from power. The Old Political families and dynasties came back
bringing messages of hope and changes. We were all delighted to vote them in offices. We
elected the same dogs that were in power before the Marcos dictatorship. These people have
Provincial political dynasties. Same dogs, different collars.
We have the same family names of old politicos, voted in office. Do we understand that old
Habits die hard. If their mindset of stealing public funds and Warlordism are there. They will
not change a bit.
There is still Hope for change for the new generation. Feudalism, Family Political Dynasties,
and the Warlords must go. It is not an easy task. However, it can be done.
Exactly Hyden!
It can be done. Yes! The Filipino Can!
Teka lang, haven’t I heard that before?
Nah, must be my imagination…
See you at Starbucks 🙂
pa conyo pa kayo… tangina nyong lahat.. gago kayo… masunog na kayo sa impyerno…
Aww, can’t we be friends?
Conyo would love to see you at Starbucks if you could afford it.
If you can’t afford it, you can still ask for a glass of water and a sachet of sugar.
It’s really yummy! 😉
Hey putts,
The problem with your argument is that I don’t believe in the concept of eternal damnation or what you call burning in the fires of hell.
That concept was created by the Catholic Church to imprison minds by the use of fear.
I have rejected that concept and thus I am stronger and FREE.
You, on the other hand, fearing for your eternal soul are a SLAVE to the Catholic Church.
It’s that simple really 🙂
See you at Starbucks 🙂
that’s shit starbucks? your cheap dude…. i can even buy your life.. and squeeze you to death.. lol.. how much ‘lion’ do you have? your such a shit..
Hey S,
Oh my God I am sooooo scared!
Can you hear me shaking?
Mommy! He’s out to get me! Waaaa!
See you at Starbucks 🙂
FlipPinos in blogs drag in their grandmothers, great-great-grandfathers. They call you bading as usual. It would be unusual if they don’t call you as ing-git, another usual. And Ing-git. EWAN ko.
really your so scared, your shaking. call your mom and i will fuck her.. hahahaha..
bring your mom at starbucks…see u there.. 🙂
S,
Hmm…. okay let me try a different approach:
Oh my, I am so insulted na. Gosh talaga!
I am so pikon and mad na that I shit in my pants.
I’m a VET dammit, I hope the CIA (Cavite Intelligence Agency) is reading this blog!
See you at Starbucks 🙂
How dare you! Grabe ka mag down ng Pinoys ha. Failed state ka diyan.
Kimberly, open your eyes. Philippines is a failed state alright. We are the oldest democracy in this side of Asia and we are soooo left behind. Manila has overtaken Mumbai, India as the densest city in the world.
I presume Kimberly must be a Filipino.
A Filipino is defined as speakengese goot englischtzes, perpekt spellengers, corrupt, cannot sense and see the inutility of religion
Filipinos were given a chance to be part of the Union in transition from Commonwealth to Democracy. Filipinos decided they would rather be run PHilippines by themselves like hell than Americans like heaven. It was prophetic. It became true.
Now Filipinos go to other nations for their lives to be run by white people rather than PHilippines be run and colonized by foreign countries like heaven to this day.
I just don’t get it. BUT IT SURE IS GOOT FOR MY FOREX.
I live in a country run like heaven by Americans… Not exactly heaven, but compared to here? Dang…
And I freaking hate tag-lish. I curse Kris for spreading that crap. Now, a decade later, everyone sounds like her.
Great article – like most of what’s on this site.
I wonder, almost 10 months on from this terrible incident, what has changed and what has been accomplished? The accused are still on trial (or at least those that have been arrested) but no convictions yet. The government has changed but (seemingly) not the lazy attitude towards things that other nations would be embarrassed to admit (like hostage taking and mass murders). So, almost a year after the worst massacre of journalists in the history of the world the Philippines has done nothing. Nothing. SFA.
Come on Philippines….pull your finger out and DO SOMETHING