Philippine Democracy Online

  By Oliver Perater (MSU-IIT)  Education comes from the Latin word ‘educare’ which literally means "to bring out," "to lead forth," or "to nourish”. It means the development of the whole person, i.e., one’s character and humanity, and not just transfer of knowledge and skills. Its primary task is to liberate and never to enslave. I list down below some of the possible reasons behind the proposed reforms in Philippine Education. 1. Cost Efficiency It is cost efficient at the expense of quality, holistic, depth of education, and human development. It is a wrong economic measure. 2. Neo-Liberal Agenda This is not an ideological shift in education because it has been the case for quite some time. Education for too long has been shaped to serve the demands of the global market. The idea is to produce a globally competitive workforce, an idea which could appear to be good and appealing to some uncritical minds. 3. Cultivation of Docile and Uncritical Manpower Strippi...

  By Diane Auza (Central Mindanao University)  “May batang nadapa, ano ang iyong gagawin?” A. Tawagan ang kaibigan mo at tumawa kayo sa kanya B. Tulungan ito C. Wag pansinin D. Sharon Cuneta  Kidding aside, Ethics IS NOT = GMRC/Values Education. Oh, man, I wonder whether these people who decide on these things are actual teachers (actively) teaching. If they are, they should see for themselves how most college students are still at a loss.  We are actually risking and leaving future professionals intellectually and morally unprepared for the weight of the decisions theyll face. The world is not black and white. Being “nice” does not always mean you are doing what is right. It takes ethical reasoning to improve judgement. It takes skill, and like any skill, it must be trained, challenged, and developed ESPECIALLY when a student begins to pursue in fields (medicine, engineering, business, law, education) each of which carries its own ethical dilemmas.  I once had ...

  Sipi ni Dr. Rogelio Bayod  Asa na man ang mga isog nga aktibista sa UP ug uban pang universities? Nganong hilom man mo karon nga ginapamastamasan ang edukasyon pinaagi sa plano CHED Education Committee nga tangtangon ang ubang General Education (GE) subjects apil na ang ETHICS? Kung sa national issues, kusog mo musyagit og hustisya. Karon, nga mismo ang kinauyokan sa edukasyon ilabina ang pag-umol sa panghunahuna, pamatasan, ug pamalandong giatake, nangita ko sa inyong mga alingogngog nga mga tingog dinhi sa social media. Ang pagpanalipod sa GE subjects ilabina ang ETHICS kay dili lang kay para naa moy mga trabaho kay daghan sa inyoha mga teachers sa philosophy ug ethics. Para ni sa kaugmaon sa nasod. Kung kuhaan na gani ta og tulubagon sa pamatasan ug kritikal nga panghunahuna, unsa nalang mahitabo sa umaabot nga mga lider sa atong katilingban? Panawagan ni sa tanan nga edukador, estudyante, ug aktibista: Mata na. Barug na. Panalipdi ang kalidad ug integridad sa atong eduka...

  By Christopher Ryan Maboloc, PhD I don't understand why many of the bright philosophy academics in this country are still discussing Plato or are debating about Plato and Aristotle, or why they are arguing about forms or whether or not human beings have a soul. They use esoteric language when in truth our problems are clear. I have read John Rawls and it is fair to think that he has a lot to say about what matters in this world when it comes to the question of justice. But you need to read Thomas Pogge or Amartya Sen if you want to say a thing or two that's relevant about it.  I remember Fr. Thomas Green who said that if anyone wrote about Aristotle today (he said this in 2001 when I was in his class) his thesis ought to be rejected at once. But that is not the issue that I seek to address. Queen Elizabeth once asked a group of economics experts why they were not able to predict the 2008 financial crisis. Even former US Treasury secretary Alan Grenspan later admitted that he...

  By Leo Lusañez  Today, many of us will vote. Our choices shall inform this country's trajectory for the next few years. At this time, I would like to reflect on events both past and present and explain my primary rationale for voting tomorrow.When I voted in the last election, I knew full well that my candidates would not win. Nevertheless, I put ink on paper as a matter of principle. I held on to the dream of seeing a more dynamic political landscape that would see equality of opportunity - the most attractive aspect of any liberal democracy - realized. But in that last election, I also learned that idealism must be tempered - and sometimes brought down to earth - by knowledge of what's on the ground.  The reality is that the Philippines is not a liberal's haven. Political abstractions aside, our country's culture decidedly frowns upon individuality. Everyone is expected in some way to contribute to society, and the manner in which one's contributions are best ac...

  Pope Leo XIV worked as a missionary priest. He was the Superior General of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA). He was the Prefect of the Discastery for Bishops at the Vatican, the office in charge of the appointment of new bishops. Previously, Robert Frevost served for two decades in Peru and then back to his native Chicago. The new leader of the 1.4 billion strong Catholic Church said he seeks to build bridges and also foster dialogue with other religions and world leaders. He mentioned Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum as an inspiration.  The Pope has a degree in mathematics and divinity. He was formally accepted to pursue a doctorate at Harvard but instead chose to work in Peru as a missionary. The election of Cardinal Robert Frevost has nothing to do with his being American, says the New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan. He is passionate about the cause for migrants and in helping them during difficult times. The Pope is also critical of President Donald Trump's policies on migratio...

By Christopher Ryan Maboloc, PhD  It was March 30, 2025. A big crowd was beginning to fill in the streets of downtown Davao City. The people were celebrating the birthday of the former President. But the man was not there. He was somewhere else, rxtrajudicially rendered to The Hague. The enemies of President Rodrigo Duterte will easily label the mass gathering as another attempt of the leader to win the sympathy of the masses. But that is not the case.  Unlike mass movements that are well oiled and financed by powerful oligarchs and other interests groups, the event was simply an expression of the love of a people who found the strength of will in their leader's struggle. Indeed, this was a new unfolding in Philippine politics. Mass events happened before but it was due to the fact that people are already fed up with the injustice they suffered from. This time, they only want one thing - they all want President Duterte to be brought back home. Indeed, there's a need to underst...