The problem with the current #Philippines government is that the first reaction of the President is always to wash his hands, re: accusations of China that there was an agreement with the previous administration.
He had to go through a litany of this and that just to make a point that his administration doesn't know anything about it.
You're just proving that what China is doing is effective: divide and conquer.
As the President, the best response is something like this:
“The previous administration said, and guaranteed, that there were no agreements.”
That's it. Done. Show mainland China that your administration stands united with the previous administration as far as China-Philippines disputes are concerned.
Philippine politicians need to grow up. Oh, wait, many of them are 50+ already. I guess they need to grow young, it will probably help them think clearly.
"The #Philippines is exploring aerial supply missions to Filipino troops at #AyunginShoal in the West Philippine Sea, a top security official said on Tuesday. National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said there will be adjustments to the government's resupply efforts to troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre, the grounded warship that serves as the country's outpost in the West Philippine Sea"
Well #Trillanes isn't really wrong. #Duterte and his gang of #drugwar criminals are perhaps the most dangerous #fifthcolumn the #Philippines has faced yet since #WW2. Worse than the Japanese #fifthcolumnists in #Davao (which funnily enough is the same territory the Duterte clan has firm control of, like a fiefdom). But instead of working for the Japanese invaders they're working for the #Chinese communists this time.
The main collaborators being officials within #PNP leadership isn't really surprising either, because Duterte pampered the #police so hard (for example promising not to hold them accountable for clear-cut abuses of power in the drug war) during his 6-year rule.
It seems like #Marcos' strengthening of the alliance with the #US has convinced the #AFP not to defect to the Dutertes though. The Philippine #military is rabidly pro-American and Duterte had a hard time trying to balance having a pro-#China policy and appeasing the soldiers. :seija_coffee:
I've been planning my first solo travel/workation this year and I can't decide where to go this August. La Union, Zambales, or Baler?
La Union is at the top of my list but since it's a workation and as an introvert, I won't be into parties and large crowds. I want a more peaceful vibe. I wonder which among those three is better for digital nomading?
newest project. I didn't find a philippine sun bead (are there really none??) for the middle and decided to order a charm and attach it instead. #Philippines#BeadedBrooch#Handmade#wip
Filipinos have a thing for seeking out familiar flavors abroad. Some people crave a taste of home, a connection to their identity while living in a foreign country. It's like a little piece of the #Philippines wherever they are. Others might do it out of patriotism, a way to support Filipino products even overseas.
F&F Entertainment sure is pouring everything they have to make #UNIS a huge success in just 2.5 years (2 years and 6 months).
They extended UNIS fan meeting and signing event in the #Philippines for another day. Originally only two days, today being the last.
Their Philippine partner, CDM Entertainment, created a very expensive way for fans to get sign access, talk face-to-face access, and high-five access, and it's all sold-out!
CDM Entertainment also did a “highest spender” battle, and a lot of fans bought a lot to maintain their position.
As far as I can remember, this is unheard of in the Philippines. “Highest spender” style came from the J-pop culture, and it rarely works in the Philippines. But this time, fans did spend thousands upon thousands of Pesos (₱) to maintain their spot (it was moving a lot). And this is per day of event!
F&F Entertainment, and their Philippine partner CDM Entertainment, already hit the gold with #UNIS, and their first Philippine fan meeting and signing event.
Imagine what else they can do once they hold a concert in the #Philippines, and if they continue to implement J-pop style fan meeting events. Like hidden tickets, hidden bonus profile cards, etc., in albums.
UNIS is something. 2 members are pure Filipinos, 2 members are pure Japanese. 3 members are pure Koreans. 1 member is half-Filipino/Korean.
They also have fans all the way to the Middle-East, Africa, and Latin America; solid ones, and they only debuted late March 2024.
F&F Entertainment, they really got lucky. They should take care of them well. They are in a good position to change the K-pop idol industry, and influence the entire Asian idol industry.
They have also proven that the Philippine market is ripe for the taking, and can handle a J-pop style fan events.
Few people remember that in the mid to late 90s, there was a #VR arcade game demo at the lower ground of Robinson's Galleria, #Philippines (food court area, near the fountain/elevators).
The VR game was like this:
There's an arm's length circular platform.
You wear a headgear. It was light, like wearing goggles.
You hold a, I think it was a 3-button joystick, that's strapped on your hands.
It was connected to a screen outside so other people can watch.
It was a multiplayer mecha game.
If you change your literal facing direction, your in-game character will detect it. You have to literally turn your body, including your feet. The platform detects your feet's orientation.
To move forward, you have to press a button. One for walking, the other for running.
The third-button is for firing or picking up items.
It was not a free demo, you have to pay ₱100.00 (I think U$2.00 exchange rate that time). Of course, teenager me: “This is the future of arcade gaming!”
20-25 years later… it was as-if VR gaming was only invented in mid to late 2010s. O_O
Hmm… if you've seen the VR set up in Tencent's “Three-Body” (2023) series, something similar to that.
There were already cool toys back then, however, for some weird reason, things were forgotten and sometime mid to late 2010s, it was as if those forgotten toys were “new”.
"Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez has accused China of trying to interfere with #Philippines politics when it criticized a House of Representatives lawmaker for seeking a probe into the influx of Chinese students in Cagayan. Gutierrez in a privilege speech asked why #China thinks it has the authority to question the motives of lawmakers, after Cagayan Rep. Jojo Lara filed a resolution asking the House to check why Chinese students are visiting Cagayan"
"China’s coast guard has become more aggressive towards #Philippines vessels in the #SouthChinaSea and its water cannon attacks could threaten the lives of crew, a government spokesman in #Manila warned Wednesday. A series of high-seas incidents involving the two countries have injured a number of Philippine troops in recent months as the neighbors asserted rival claims over waters, reefs, and rocks in the strategic waterway"
To all Filipinos, and foreigners planning to live in the Philippines for quite some time, a fair warning: avoid getting a Globe SIM.
Here's why: if ever you lost your phone (theft, etc.) Globe Telecom Inc. will not immediately block your old SIM for the following reasons:
The SIM is STILL RINGING.
You cannot PERFECTLY answer ALL THREE verification questions, which were designed to ensure you'll fail it.
I just went to a Globe store to go through the process because their online agents were heartless and very rude. While the agent in the Globe store was very helpful, and exhausted all possible options, it still was not enough to trigger the “immediate old SIM block” step.
This is after providing the following:
Affidavit of Loss.
2 government issues IDs.
A selfie with me holding my government issued IDs.
Load amount prior to phone theft. (I even have a screenshot.)
Expiry date of the load prior to theft. (I even have a screenshot.)
That it is attached to a GCash account that is Tier-3 verified. (One GCash account per mobile number.)
I brought all the SIM beds I ever had for the same number. (I always kept the SIM bed whenever I get a new SIM issuance for the same number.)
Provided the numbers I often send SMS and the messages I sent to those numbers.
They also confirmed with me that whoever got my SIM, bought a Globe promo after it was stolen.
But, NO, absolutely nothing whatsoever can trigger the step: Block old SIM.
The only thing they did is escalate the case. However, it will take 3-5 business days to be processed.
They also informed me that it can be declined, too, even after proving my ownership of the SIM beyond any reasonable doubt.
So, yes, that's GLOBE TELECOM INC. for you.
AVOID THEM AT ALL COSTS!
Get a SMART or DITO SIM instead.
I don't even know what to do next if it gets declined. Probably go to NTC, which means, I have to go through a hundred processes again, spend money I don't have to get this and that, and still no guarantee.
All I can do right now is continue removing that number from my accounts. Banks are done, already filed requests.
I'm already very tired. Sorry, but I really have to say this: #GlobeSucks.
"Human survivability at its absolute limit in #Asia currently: #Thailand, #Myanmar, #Cambodia, #Vietnam, and the #Philippines. All hit temperatures above 40°C, with some places experiencing an incredible life-threatening heat index of up to 52°C."#climate
The #DepEd is just full of smartasses really, they thought that by moving classes in 2020 to August they can minimize the disruption in education brought by #COVID.
It did minimize it alright, but only for 2020 and 2021. Eventually we will have to return to face-to-face classes, which we did starting 2022 IIRC. Their hubris in keeping children in classes no matter what didn't make them think that we are a tropical country; that their foresight-less act means there will still be classes in April and May, the hottest months in this climate. They're now forced to move it back to June which they will have to do gradually. This brings more disruption as it means students will only get a one-month long vacation instead of the usual two, and the moving schedules mean planning school events far ahead become less certain.
Very cool DepEd. Truly the brightest and bestest of the country. :kokoro_yes: :reimu_sigh:
@NPR Hate to say it but among older #Asians, #groupthink is the norm. No one is allowed or encouraged to think "outside the box" so #voting is futile. Among Japanese (and I suspect other Asian cultures) the party line is "shigata-ga nai" (can't be helped) or, colloquially, "shit happens." #Asians invented, "go along to get along." That's why I've never fit in with other Asians.
@Yoshi Yep, even here in the #Philippines / #Pilipinas, you should follow your clan/familial traditions and whatever the eldest generation still living decides.
Although, I think it's safe to say that sometime mid to late 90s, things started to change. For our own clans/families, those of us born from mid-70s onwards broke free from it. We did still obey the decisions of our grandparents on certain areas, but not for personal matters. And when their generations passed away (RIP), no one of us kept that tradition of group thinking alive. Especially now that our generation are in mid-life. Our parents who still think that way no longer say anything about it. :p