Posts

The Madness of Philippine Democracy

-
Image
By Francis Jeus Ibañez  During the 1st Bohol Island State University Research Colloquium, I successfully defended my paper on the madness of Philippine democracy. I drew my thoughts from Nietzsche, Foucault, Derrida, and Freud. In the context of Philippine democracy, I reflected on the highly contested radical democratic theory of Dr. Christopher Ryan Maboloc, which critics largely misinterpret. I reckon that what we need right now, given the many calamities our country suffers, is a type of radical action. Politics is not meant to serve the higher 20% of the population but the lower 80%, which means that those who label Duterte's policies and politics as popolism actually miss the point. Duterte represents the struggle of the Bisaya, especially those from Mindanao. Asked by Dr. Ferdie Mangibin about the relevance of the work of Maboloc, I said that it is not about him but what he wrote. It is about how Philippine democracy has been turned upside down so that liberals can no longer...
Read more

Climate Change and Corruption

-
Image
By Dr. Romulo Bautista  The lack of stricter environmental standards compounded by lack of stricter enforcement was evident in the Philippines during Typhoon Ondoy that caused massive damage to properties and massive loss of human lives. After many disastrous and catastrophic typhoons, climate change is now a growing national concern in the Philippines, especially after the devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda. [People are now beginning to realize its effects on their lives and the future of this country. - Eds]  Climate change is a two-fold phenomenon. For lack of adequate descriptions, one phenomenon might be described as “natural and constructive”, which is intrinsic in the nature of existing realities and is regulated by the laws of nature. The other phenomenon might be described as “man-caused and destructive”, which is extrinsic to the nature of realities and is regulated by ethical laws legislated by man. The Kyoto Protocol  In 1997, industrialized countries agree...
Read more

In Defense of Kiko Barzaga

-
Image
  By Christopher Ryan Maboloc, PhD  Congressman Ronnie Puno has filed a case in the Ethics Committee against Congressman Kiko Barzaga for what the former says is a conduct unbecoming of a member of the House of Representatives. Puno alleged that the young lawmaker has put the institution in a bad reputation, citing the behavior of the former like barging into the office of Cong. Sandro Marcos to campaign for the speakership, posting obscene images on social media, sharing memes that put the Speaker, Senate President Tito Sotto, and other public officials in a bad light, including what Puno believes is a case of "inciting to sedition."  For instance, in reference to what happened in Nepal, Barzaga said "huwag nyo munang sunugin ang Congress may privilege speech pa ako sa Lunes." Puno also insinuates that Barzaga suffers from a "behavioral or mental problem", without of course mentioning it. Barzaga was late for the scheduled Ethics Committee hearing on the ...
Read more

War on Gaza comes to an End

-
Image
By Christopher Ryan Maboloc, PhD  Today, October 13, 2025, two years and six days after Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and kidnapping more than 250, resulting to the War on Gaza that killed 67,120 Palestinians, the remaining 20 hostages were released by Hamas after a ceasefire was in place a day before. Israel, in turn, will also release more than 1,719 Palestinians in detention since the war erupted. The State of Israel and Hamas agreed to the truce largely based on the 20-point plan laid down by US President Donald Trump, who is in Israel today to speak before the Israeli Parliament and the families of the freed hostages. He was welcomed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this morning at the Ben Gurion International Airport. The effect of the Gaza war and subsequent genocide is beyond imagination. With the cessation of the Israeli bombardment, relief operations will start, with 600 trucks of food, fuel, and medical supplies entering Gaza according to aid agencies. The war...
Read more

Resilience: Positive and Negative

-
Image
  By Christopher Ryan Maboloc, PhD  Resilience is the image of a bamboo, highly flexible but firmly rooted on the ground (principles, values). It is about the ability to bounce back. Our institutions are meant to be like that. But moral accountability is not a matter of words. It must be about what our public officials actually do.  Filipinos are resilient. But it might just be a facade, one that is rooted in the "Bahala na" attitude. People accept their fate. It is a type of resignation that things happen despite what you do. We learn how to adapt but fail to make sure that certain bad things won't happen again.  But perhaps our resilience is in the weak sense. I call it negative resilience. Negative resilience means surviving but not doing anything to change bad situations to make sure that things won't happen again. You can't blame the people, however. They are victims of unfair structures and practices.  In contrast, resilience in the strong sense is what pr...
Read more

WHEN MORAL POSTURING MEANS NOTHING BUT PARTISAN POLITICS

-
Image
  The Senate passed a resolution urging the International Criminal Court to put President Rodrigo Duterte under house arrest in a country that would agree to the conditions set by its Pre-trial Chamber. Was the basis of the senators who voted in favor of the senate resolution simply asking for compassion? It goes beyond that. The request is rooted on a fundamental legal principle. It is a violation of the right to due process of the accused if the same is tried when in fact one is no longer fit to fully understand the legal proceedings.  The above is a matter that the ICC will determine through its experts who will look into the health condition of the former President before the ICC decides whether there's merit to the granting of the prayer for the interim release of the former leader due to poor health. It's up to the ICC whether it will grant the petition, not the critics of the former President. But there's something more than what meets the eye. The issue runs deep in...
Read more

Shaken Foundations: Earthquake in the Visayas and Moral Accountability

-
Image
  By Francis Jeus Ibañez  Just recently, the earth groaned beneath the Visayas region as a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Bogo City, Cebu. It was sudden, violent, and unforgiving—toppling buildings, cracking roads, and sending families scrambling for safety. The tremors didn’t just shake the ground; they rattled the very foundations of public trust and institutional preparedness. In the aftermath, questions started to surface—not just about the damage, but about the systems that were supposed to prevent or mitigate it. For years, disaster risk reduction had been discussed in government halls and academic forums, yet the reality on the ground told a different story. Communities were caught off guard, emergency protocols were unclear, and infrastructure failed to withstand the quake’s force. It was as if the nation had seen this coming but chose not to look. This is where Republic Act No. 6713 enters the picture. Known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Off...
Read more