Comments for BlogPress.ph

Comment on BlogFest Asia 2012 by Blogster

Blogster — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 13:06:39 +0000

I hope the next one will be held in Taiwan. ;)

Comment on BlogFest Asia 2012 by Ethel

Ethel — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 01:31:19 +0000

Neat! Blogging: beyond borders! I’m looking forward to the next blog fest as well!

Comment on From the horse’s mouth by Blogie Robillo

Blogie Robillo — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 09:46:52 +0000

Same here, unfortunately. I voted for Noynoy because I didn’t want Erap to win. Lesser evil. But evil nonetheless?

Comment on From the horse’s mouth by pinoytechsocjournike suarez

pinoytechsocjournike suarez — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 02:18:05 +0000

did you vote for him. i plead guilty to having grudgingly done so. believed he was the only viable alternative–vote getting-wise–to Erap. But now, i am very unhappy over this.

Comment on Bloggers vs. President Benigno S. Aquino III by Cybercrime Law

Cybercrime Law — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 07:55:17 +0000

[...] ps: Today at around 1:00pm, a group of bloggers and social media activists has filed a petition before the Supreme Court to nullify assailed provisions of Republic Act No. 10175. Accoding to them, “We are suing the President of the Philippines, among others, because we believe he owns command resp…” [...]

Comment on Malacañang statement on RA10175 controversy by No To Cybercrime Law

No To Cybercrime Law — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 22:22:42 +0000

I think what people (and perhaps the government) needs to know is that Anonymous (if they are indeed the ones behind the hacking) are not hackers for nothing. They long have been known as “hacktivist” who strongly fights for internet freedom. I don’t think they have any malicious intention other than send a message. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_%28group%29

Comment on Site blackout on 2 Oct by rebeltwins

rebeltwins — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 14:03:32 +0000

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, states that:

“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

http://theillustrationist.com/2010/07/22/freedom-of-speech/

Comment on Netizens on the move against RA10175 by Blogie Robillo

Blogie Robillo — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 05:23:48 +0000

My whole point was to show how our neighbors have gone about silencing dissent using insidious laws. I never said we were on the same boat in terms of form of government with Thailand, etc. — that isn’t even relevant. My goal is to rouse people to the realization that what’s happened in other countries with repressive laws could happen here, democratic country or not.

Comment on Where is our government headed with RA10175? by Benjamin Vallejo Jr

Benjamin Vallejo Jr — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 05:20:23 +0000

I am of the opinion that for Mr Aquino or at least for his ministers, the temptation for authoritarianism is much greater than that for Mr Marcos in 1972. At least for Mr Marcos the chaos brought about by the global politics of the late 1960s provided him with a convenient reason. The danger is that in 2012, there is no reason.

Comment on Netizens on the move against RA10175 by Benjamin Vallejo Jr

Benjamin Vallejo Jr — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 05:13:49 +0000

Thailand’s Lese Majeste law is more ancient and encompassing than all laws that limit expression in that Kingdom. To the credit of King Bhumipol, His Majesty wants it scrapped in several speeches to his subjects and to Parliament. The Cybercrime Prevention Act is unique to us since we have a democratic and pluralist multiparty polity and yet you have a Congress that enabled its passage. Thailand was never considered as a democratic polity in the same way we are. The Thai law was passed a year after Mr Thaksin was sacked in a 2006 coup d etat after which followed a revision of the Thai constitution. This even if Yingluck is now PM. Thaksin can just approach the Thai border and not cross it. Yingluck herself is limited to pursue the Thaksin platform by the new political realities. That explains the difference and you and I have to take the political context of these laws. You cannot argue that we are in the same boat as with the other countries in ASEAN which are undergoing their democratic transitions at varying stages. And we have to exclude Singapore which is essentially a one party state. My point is that PH is much ahead in this transition. The fact that you can blog without fear or favour is evidence for that at least for now.

It is better to look at the political context of the Aquino administration and why it is allowing the passage of these acts without much scrutiny. And I do believe the subtext is extremely clear. There is an irresistible temptation to authoritarianism and this will get worse as the Aquino administration nears its end term. History repeating itself? Yes, I would agree with you that the form of government is immaterial, as you point it out but the political dynamics of the ruling elite is material. For Thailand and PH, the Yellow generals in Bangkok (who have by tradition leverage power transitions) and the Yellows we have here (who want to start a similar tradition) and I reiterate, the temptation to “reign forever” is becoming stronger.