Posts

[OPINION] Why I'm Stepping Away From Forbes

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Source: Celestine Riza Tsuki Make no mistake that this blog is meant ot be a hobby blog , even if I'm dealing with business and economics. This blog doesn't pay my bills. I thought about how I used to have copies of Forbes. It was in the 2000s; I was in college, and I read Forbes magazines. I thought it was interesting to have physical copies, read them, and get sources better than the business schools ever could!  However, as time passed, Forbes applied its paywall policy . Yes, that policy where you can only read a limited number of articles,   and to read more, you need to pay more . This is where I felt Forbes , like Adobe , has gone too far. Honestly, I'd like to talk about this one. I'm just a casual blogger who's talking about business and economics here . I'm also just a casual artist who makes digital art not as a livelihood but as a hobby. This blog is a place where I voice my selected views on the business/economics world.  Honestly, I thought about ...

IBON's Pinoy Pride Economics Mindset in Arguing Against Pax Silica

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As debate rages about Pax Silica, from outright opposition to taking a negotiated stance , I want to write more about it. This time, I decided to look again at the IBON Foundation's logic. A recent article by the IBON Foundation, written by Jose Enrique "Sonny" Africa , asks, " Whose industrialization is it anyway? " It would be time to tackle what IBON just said. This is a rather daring move because the highest educational attainment I have is an MBA, and I'm even starting to wonder even today, "Was my MBA worth the fee?" because I only learned how to invest in foreign stocks while opening a GCash account because I wanted to order shawarma. Right now, I feel like I'm actually learning more blogging here than pursuing a PhD whic might make my brain rot due to how schools prioritize grades over learning.  Now, going on to the topic, I'd like ot focus on Africa's logic here as an average citizen . Just because I didn't graduate in eco...

An Atomic Bomb Couldn't Stop Japan But FILIPINO FIRST POLICY Stopped The Philippines

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Filipino-Japanese Journal Yesterday was the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima . The bombings are often controversial, as they show the history of violence . This reminds me of an argument that I often heard: "If the Philippines didn't have its Marcos Years, we would've still been richer." However, I raise the harsh reality that the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings were far worse than what a kleptocracy can do in 20 years. The devastation was huge. In fact, reading this from the History website article by Sarah Pruitt made me think that this devastation could do more damage than a kleptocracy: On August 6, 1945, just days after the Potsdam Conference ended, the U.S. bomber Enola Gay dropped the uranium bomb known as “Little Boy” on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Despite its devastating effects, Japan didn’t offer unconditional surrender right away, as the United States had hoped. Then on August 8, Soviet forces invaded Japanese-occupied Manchuria, violating an e...

#ThrowbackThursdays: Recalling Why I Hated the Filipino Subject in School

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High School Philippine History Movement It's August, and it's frequently associated with Buwan ng Wika . However, August tends to be celebrated more like Filipino cultural month than it is about the language. Right now, I want to "de-stress" by writing about the Filipino subject . I can remember how someone nearly didn't graduate from elementary or high school (during K+10) because of  the Filipino subject . It might sound absurd for Generation Z students but in my case, I can relate. Honestly, I hated the Filipino subject, especially since I grew up as a natural-born Filipino, but three out of four of my grandparents were Chinese citizens who took a long time to become Filipinized. I had to deal with the fact that my paternal grandmother became a Chinese citizen again when she got married to my paternal grandfather. It was in the 1990s, and I remember the Filipino subject. I could easily talk to my Filipino teacher now . Just because I have already forgiven the F...

Does Dr. Giovanni Tapang of AGHAM Understand How FDI Works?

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Let me be clear that not everyone against Pax Silica is automatically against FDI . Right now, my stance is yes to a revised Pax Silica where one may consider selecting areas that would definitely not harm the environment or indigenous people. Some people seek a more balanced view of Pax Silica. It's August 4, 2026, today. Sometimes, I require time to process ideas or responses. Right now, I want to tackle the Advocates of Science and Technology for the People (also known as AGHAM ) spokesperson, Dr. Giovanni Tapang, and his response to Pax Silica. From what I heard, AGHAM is actually affiliated with Bagong Alansyang Makayaban (BAYAN), which openly supports the MAKABAYAN Bloc.  As it's already August, it's easy to think of August not just as Buwan ng Wika, but it tends to make National Heritage Month feel nonexistent. This would be a good post to start the month of August 2026.  Focusing on Tapang's statement on Pax Silica first Now, I'd like to tackle what Tapang s...

Pax Silica Could've Been Better Discussed Under a Parliamentary System

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No gossip, no hearsay, face-to-face debates, liars are slapped in the parliamentary system! Right now, it's best to look at both sides of the equation. We don't want to automatically say, "No to Pax Silica!" or "Yes to Pax Silica!" without understanding that, "Can we have Pax Silica with these adjustments?" I was thinking about how being for or against Pax Silica isn't purely black and white . I discourage thinking in black and white thinking, like how Makabayan Bloc deals with Pax Silica. I would like to write this post to show why the Philippines needs to go for the parliamentary system instead of the usual status quo.  And also a warning to those who keep insisting that " But Marcos Years were parliamentary! " need to try telling that to the real parliamentary countries like Singapore and Malaysia!  Unfortunately, under the presidential system , the very thing that Rep. Atty. Jose Manuel "Chel" Diokno has said about Pax S...

Fang's Authentic Cuisine: Offering Taiwan's Flavors at Castle Peak Hotel

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Some time ago, I wrote a review for Jolly Bubble at SSY Lahug . I decided to go to Fang's Authentic Cuisine at Castle Peak in Mabolo, Cebu City. It's another small place. I heard they used to have a place on the 10th floor of the Mezzo Hotel, and it closed . Now, I'd like to share my dine-in experience here as of today. It's a typical small space, and thankfully, they have Grab Food . However, some items are best dined in. Finding parking there can be difficult. Thankfully, I was able to get a parking space. Sure, I had to pay PHP 20.00 but it's better than paying higher for traffic violations. One could see a turnaround corner after Castle Peak and see two parking spaces. One belongs to Castle Peak and the other is a standard pay parking.  I tried their Taiwanese beef udon for a start. I was amazed by the use of steel bowls. This is traditional Taiwanese beef noodles. It took me some time to consume it. Honestly, I felt like I should've gone for the braised por...