Philippine Democracy Online

By Christopher Ryan Maboloc, PhD  Our educators are mistaken to think of technology as instrumental and neutral. Modern technology cannot be separated from the context of the society in which it operates. The use of technology in this regard embodies a certain kind of thinking that is rooted in techno-rationality. Technology, for Andrew Feenberg, "contains and delegates values and interests" that usually favor the powerful in society. In fact, Feenberg sees technology as a "disaster" for humankind.  Some people assume that technology always helps in various areas of life when in truth, it is just another manifestation of the privilege of the elite. It is clear that poor kids are left behind when it comes to learning using ICT (Information and Communications Tech). What is terribly missed is the understanding that modern gadgets, mobile phones, and internet connectivity also concern issues of access and ergo, economic justice. In this sense, the mindset that modern t...

By Christopher Ryan Maboloc, PhD A new born child should not be seen as a mouth to feed, but one who is a source of joy or basically, a blessing from God. This child, regardless of the emotions of his or her parents and the rationalizations of other peoplr, is a product of love. Our job as responsible citizens is to help create a happy society for this child, ensuring that this human being will be able to live the good life. Part of this task is economic, part of it rests in our ethical responsibilities. We do not live in an ideal world but we must face reality. Environmental degradation cannot be blamed on poor countries. The global rich treat poor countries as a source of raw materials, including cheap labor. Cobalt mining in the Congo kill people there and put thousands in abject misery, yet the Big Tech companies that use the mineral amass billions if not trillions of dollars in revenues annually, yet the advantage has been one-sided. The idea of sustainable progress or development...

In my short stay in Baguio City, I had the pleasure to meet two of its philosophy scholars and book authors, Dr. Gleemoore Makie of Urdaneta City University, who taught previously at the Philippine Military Academy, and Dr. Charlie Dagwasi, philosophy professor and dean at Benguet State University. Our conversations focused on the efforts of fellow philosophy and ethics researchers from the northern part of the country in exploring the wealth of local wisdom and at the same time, in enhancing the content of two general elective courses (Ethics and Logic). I missed my supposed to be meeting with Dr. Danilo Alterado by 15 minutes, as he already left the Saint Louis University Campus. Dr. Makie, who was my former student at the Ateneo de Davao, shared great stories about his colleague, Prof. Lian Giangan, who teaches presently at the PMA. This nice conversation took place over lunch while I tried the exquisite taste of Baguio's version of the dinuguan. Dr. Makie showed me his books, i...

By Gerry F. Arambala What I think is needed by the present generation is a philosophy that is capable of going into the ground and digging deep into the depths of every Filipino’s conscious experience and rationalizations.  A radical philosophy embodies every Filipino's thoughts and aspirations without disqualifying those whose thoughts might go against another as each tries to nurture his or her own unique experience.  Radical Filipino philosophy is a way of escaping the center. It is a form of indigenous philosophy marked by rigor and inclusivity and accepts the value and legitimacy of the lasting struggle for authentic emancipation. The following names have novel contributions to thought, expressing the Filipino condition in bold ways - Leonardo Mercado, Romualdo Abulad, Karl Gaspar, Florentino Timbreza, Emerita Quito, Jeff Ocay, Romulo Bautista, and Ruby Suazo.

By Menelito Mansueto  In a matter of days, Darryl Yap's “Maid in Malacañang” will be officially released to the public. Prior to the official launching, the film already captured the public's attention because of a response by one of its actors, Ella Cruz, to an innocent question. First, take note that she did not say, “History is gossip". What she said was, "History is like gossip."  It implies that while history is about facts gathered and recorded, the same also involves interpretation and biases. But critics have trained their sight in the way the film might "distort" history. Mr. Yap, a Palanca awardee, has urged people to watch it first before making their judgement. He has since assured the public that there is no attempt to revise nor deny history. The film, he says, is fully backed by field research. Nevertheless, expect the same vitriol from people who see themselves as the public defenders of the truth as if the truth needs defending.  The tr...

 By Karl Exala  The world today is made anxious due to the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine. At the surface, it would seem that the conflict between these two countries appears mainly as a historical and political tension that has been building up to the point of its current gravity which is now producing highly-felt ripples in the economic dimension and continues to cycle back in building up political tensions with the rest of the world, particularly towards and against the West. But there is a deeper aspect: the moral implications and the consequences of war. It is not a strange matter to consider that the Russian president Vladimir Putin’s approach towards the Russo-Ukrainian conflict would be in terms of realpolitik, i.e., the practical approach to political policies in light of actual circumstances, resources, and factors, instead of an emphasis in moral or ideological premises. Putin points to the following justifications behind the invasion: (1) Russia oppose...

  By Christopher Ryan Maboloc, PhD  Thomas Carlyle wrote that history is a product of genius by great men. Such rests in the assumption that that talent is in born or that some individuals are destined for greatness. Think for instance of Napoleon or Alexander the Great. This sort of hero worship suggests that the abilities of a hundred brave men cannot be equal to say, the greatness of a general who commands an army in a battle. For this reason, tacticians think that he who commands his army must be protected at all costs. This attitude does not preclude what men below can do. Rather, it emphasizes the idea of heroism or superior leadership. Without a General Dwight Eisenhower, it would be hard to imagine how the war was won in favor of the Allied Forces. In the same way, without hero worship, it would be difficult to paint the oppressive regime perpetrated by the Nazis. But the theory hides something. Herbert Spencer criticized Carlyle, saying that great men are a product of...