Randy David | PUBLIC LIVES Conventional thinking has it that the approval rating of a sitting president is a function of his/her performance in office. Performance is typically understood in terms of how well the leader meets the people’s expectations of his rule. The latter is largely a matter of perception, however, rather than of objective measurement of outcomes according … Read more
Basking in the glory of his record-breaking high approval ratings in the latest opinion surveys, President Duterte began his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) by highlighting the minuscule 3 percent that disapprove of his performance. But it is not really the numbers that matter, he added, trying hard not to gloat. It is … Read more
When the series of videos titled “Ang Totoong Narcolist” were first released on social media in April this year, the initial response of the Philippine National Police was neither here nor there. They were obviously caught flat-footed, as surprised as everyone else by the sudden appearance of these shocking videos, which purported to expose the … Read more
On the initiative of Iceland, a country that most Filipinos have not heard much about, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) the other day passed a resolution calling on Michelle Bachelet, the UN high commissioner for human rights, to prepare a “comprehensive written report on the human rights situation in the Philippines.” The resolution also … Read more
Three-year-old Myka Ulpina was shot by police officers in the course of a bloody drug raid that targeted her father, Renato Dolorfina, on June 30 in Rodriguez, Rizal. Police spokesperson Bernard Banac explained what happened thus: “In that situation, it cannot be helped if there was an accident… if he used his daughter as a … Read more
In President Duterte’s world, if a rule or an agreement cannot be backed up by force or coercive power, it would be useless to even call attention to the need for it. Better to keep quiet and leave things as they are. Or, in expectation of concessions, privileges or protection, you could bow to a … Read more
By emotional disposition, Filipinos tend to harbor a deep suspicion of China. This is confirmed by a succession of public opinion surveys showing the Filipino public’s huge distrust for this Asian hegemon. It is an attitude that far exceeds any negative sentiment we may have against Spain, the United States or Japan — countries that … Read more
It’s not the first time the President has complained about the magnitude of the problems he vowed to solve within the first few months of his presidency. He typically gripes about the “system” that seems resistant to his will whenever he realizes he actually needs more time to end these problems. That is what “kvetch,” … Read more
The movie “Quezon’s Game,” which recently had a fleeting but memorable run in some local theaters, is about Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon’s effort to get the United States government to issue visas to thousands of Jews from Europe who wanted to come to the Philippines. Quezon’s insistence stemmed mainly from his profound compassion for … Read more
In the aftermath of the 2019 midterm elections, analysts have debated the reasons for the shocking shutout of the opposition in the senatorial race, offering interpretations that typically confirm the continuing public support for the Duterte brand, but also drawing hope from the unexpected win of a handful of young leaders over some old faces … Read more