This is the #NeverForget Diary, a weekly summary of what’s happening in the Philippines under Marcos II. In a time of mangled histories and fragile memories, it’s crucial never to forget. (Note: this post may be clipped in your email inbox. Screenshot above from DepEd.)
A viral video shows Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio stopping mid-speech—in front of teachers—just to apply sunblock (because the sun was beginning to hit her face):
How our standards have fallen…
Related cartoon:
Meanwhile, the VP also recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with anti-vaxxer Public Attorneys’ Office chief Persida Acosta. This partnership is meant to provide legal assistance to the poor and marginalized—but many netizens rightly pointed out that that’s already the mandate of PAO.
Digression: Speaking of anti-vaxxers, more than 31 million COVID vaccines (worth P15.6 billion) have been wasted. Infuriating.
The Senate also recently approved the budget for the Office of the Vice President, including the controversial P500 million confidential funds requested by Sara Duterte-Carpio.
This graph shows the evolution of the OVP’s confidential and intelligence funds. The amounts gotten by VP Duterte-Carpio are simply staggering:
Here’s a comment of former VP spokesperson Barry Gutierrez:
Once again, the Senate proves it’s a rubberstamp more often than not. Hypocritically, Senate President Migz Zubiri said they’re “proudly democratic and independent.”
FALSE PROMISE: P20/KG OF RICE
At the launching of the “Kadiwa ng Pasko” program (an obvious nod to the Kadiwa program os his dictator father), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. claimed boldly that we’re nearer his “aspiration” of P20/kg of rice.
This is coming from the fact that NFA rice is being sold at P25/kg at the Kadiwa ng Pasko outlets (with Marcos Jr.’s photo plastered on the plastic bags):
However, data easily show we’re nowhere near P20/kg:
At the launc, Marcos Jr. said they’re bringing rice prices down but “slowly” (dahan-dahan lang). What?
Here’s my take on the president’s misleading remarks re rice prices:
By contrast, food prices worldwide are on the decline:
TRAVEL IS LIFE
The president has been invited to next year’s World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, but he’s reportedly having second thoughts. There’s such a thing as too much travel as far as he’s concerned?
Speaking of travel:
FYI: the president adjusted some 2023 national holidays to create more long weekends. He’s proving reliable when it comes to travel and tourism and leisure?
Presidential son Sandro said his father’s “stressed with the problems faced by fellow Filipinos.” Really?
Speaking of Sandro, the president said he’s envious of the adoration his son receives. If only the president were half as interested in inflation (and other pressing matters) as his popularity…
Ironically, at the APEC CEO summit in Thailand, the president said the “best politics is to perform.”
By the way, the president is deafeningly mum about the medical controversies that hounded the Duterte administration.
9% POVERTY BY 2028?
Marcos Jr.’s economic managers are confident that the government will bring halve the country’s poverty rate by 2028 (as of 2021 it’s at 18.1%). But how? What’s the plan?
Absent urgent and decisive action from the Marcos Jr. administration to fight inflation, more and more Filipinos are finding ways to beat inflation on their own:
Despite inflation, borrowing and spending continue to grow robustly. In the case of borrowing, one reason may be the fact that credit card rates are capped at 2%.
Credit card rates are unaffected by the policy rate hikes of the BSP—which, btw, happened again on November 17 as promised by BSP Governor Felipe Medalla.
Revenge spending is also prevalent elsewhere:
Still, the global economic outlook is becoming “gloomier,” said the IMF.
Meanwhile, the WTO warns of recessions in major economies:
Expect more economic uncertainty next year:
New research explores the link between supply shocks and monetary policy:
Marcos Jr. seems to be of two minds about his economic outlook:
NEW TAX CHIEF
The president has appointed his godson, tax lawyer Romeo Lumagui Jr., as the new chief of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). Lumagui’s wife reportedly works for the First Lady.
Marcos Jr. replaced BIR Commissioner Lilia Guillermo who in June said that the president ought to be a role model in paying taxes.
The replacement of a new BIR chief is a major red flag, says economist and columnist Winnie Monsod:
8 BILLION PEOPLE
On November 15, a baby born in Jose Fabella was deemed the symbolic 8 billionth baby in the world.
Meanwhile, the Philippines recently crossed the barrier and is now at below-replacement fertility levels (the total fertility rate is now at 1.9, below the 2.1 replacement level). What are the implications? Read this piece by UP demographers:
CLIMATE UPDATE
At the G20 summit in Bali, G20 world leaders made renewed commitments to limit the rise of global temperatures. But are these empty words that are too late?
At the APEC CEO summit in Thailand, Marcos Jr. issued platitudes about climate change. But what’s the carbon footprint of all his junkets?
REMULLA’S REMARKS
This week, a string of controversial remarks came from Justice Secretary Crispin “Boying” Remulla.
First, before the UN, he claimed there’s no culture of impunity in the Philippines. Really? One need only look at how his son was treated in a recent drug bust.
Second, at Geneva, Justice Secretary Boying Remulla said the Philippines is not ready for same-sex marriage, SOGIE, and divorce. What century are we living in?
Historian Manolo Quezon tweeted we actually had divorce back in the day. But certainly not same-sex marriage or SOGIE.
Third, Remulla also claimed that the huge ditch near the New Bilibid Prison may have been because of a Yamashita treasure hunt. Crazy.
MISCELLANY
The police pats itself on the back re the Percy Lapid case.
At the Democracy Forum organized by the Obama Foundation, former VP Robredo shared insights about the pink campaign and disinformation in the PH:
An awkward handshake between Xi and Joe Biden at the G-20 Summit. In the end, Xi is only too happy to pull away…
The cursed video that Elon Musk still hasn’t taken off Twitter:
GRAPHS, MAPS OF NOTE
GDP concentration:
Summary of latest research in development economics:
Time use in America:
RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommended book: How to Stand Up to a Dictator by Rappler CEO and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa. It’s already published abroad, but I couldn’t find copies yet in PH bookstores.
Ressa also wrote a new piece for The Atlantic:
Here’s what she said back in December 2021:
Recommended movie: Barbarian. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Smart horror flick with lots of social commentary and plot twists.
Recommended movie: Werewolf by Night. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Nice homage to the monster horror genre by Michael Giacchino—my favorite modern movie composer.
Recommended series: Tales of the Jedi. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Great backstories for Count Dooku and Ahsoka. Also, Yaddle!
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