Randy David | PUBLIC LIVES

To stand up to words means, first, to recognize the hidden agendas lurking behind harmless-sounding words, and second, to resist the allure of euphemisms that creep into everyday usage. One obvious example is “gaming”—a euphemism for gambling. Casino operators are now rebranded as “gaming merchants,” whose business is to package and sell “fun” or “entertainment.” … Read more

If Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen had not been the author of the much-criticized ruling declaring the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte unconstitutional, the firestorm that greeted the decision might have been even more ferocious. Unlike the other justices who concurred, Leonen was an appointee of the late president Benigno … Read more

When the three branches of government — the executive, legislative, and judiciary — disagree over their roles, we are often warned about a looming constitutional crisis. The Constitution, everyone agrees, should settle such disputes. But who gets the final say on what the Constitution means? That role belongs to the Supreme Court. But what if … Read more

We have long nurtured the illusion that, because history once bound our fates, the United States and the Philippines share a special relationship that confers mutual obligations. That romantic notion was bluntly shattered during President Marcos’ recent visit to Washington. Mr. Marcos had framed the trip this way: “The United States is our oldest and … Read more

Waking up from a short afternoon nap the other day, I thought I had overslept. I reached for my phone to check the time, only to be greeted by a Viber notification cheerfully announcing: “Karina David is new on Viber! Say ‘hi’ and get a free sticker pack!” A wave of confusion and sadness at … Read more

Every form of addiction implies a loss of control over one’s behavior. A responsible society would regard addiction, when widespread, not merely as a personal failing but as a mirror of deeper social dysfunction. Yet a competing view insists otherwise. In the ideology we call neoliberalism, individuals who enjoy the freedom of personal choice are … Read more

In the heyday of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos), long before former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo became the poster face of institutional rot, most Filipinos saw little harm in hosting gambling operations that catered exclusively to foreigners. From a revenue standpoint, it all looked like a net gain. The government raked in unprecedented income … Read more

If we fail to view recent events in their historical and global context, we risk falling into the trap of dividing nations into good or evil. A complex geopolitical situation is thus reduced to the simplistic binary of “bad guys” and “good guys.” These moral labels, nothing more than self-descriptions, prevent a deeper understanding of … Read more

Watching how the current Senate leadership tried to sidestep its constitutional duty to convene as an impeachment court in the case against Vice President Sara Duterte, I found myself wondering: would we be better off with a permanent Constitutional Court? The 1987 Philippine Constitution, following American practice, assigns this role to the Senate. But unlike … Read more

Last Monday, June 9, nearly every broadsheet came wrapped in a loud, four-page promotional cover. “MegaFUNalo! has arrived!” declared the headline in bold letters. A cheerful lion mascot wearing a crown invited readers to “Games! Shows! Prizes!” and to register at their website. It was unmistakably the launch of another online gambling platform. I wondered: … Read more