I have a serious question for readers of this column: to some of you who are too eager to change the Constitution, are you also game on changing the people who run our country and our province and our cities and municipalities? Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/charter-change-why-not-attitude-change-first #UnCommonSense #JamesVeloso #CharterChange #Constitution #Chacha #Elections #China #MindConditioning #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand
When I was still in college, social media sites such as Friendster (sure, by the 2010’s it was on the way out, but it was still relevant then), Facebook, Twitter and Instagram were hailed as places where people can be “true to themselves.” Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/look-you-don-t-have-to-unload-everything-on-socmed #UnCommonSense #JamesVeloso #UnloadingOnSocialMedia #Marites #EngagementRing #OpinYonLaguna #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand
Christmas 2023 sounds different By James Veloso I would like to start this column, first of all, with a message of heartfelt thanks to all the local officials in Laguna province, as well as our friends in the private sector, who helped OpinYon Media Advocacies this year with joy, particularly during our Christmas party last December 14. Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/christmas-2023-sounds-different #UnCommonSense #JamesVeloso #Christmas2023SoundsDifferent #Christmas #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand
It’s high time we regulate e-bikes and e-trikes By James Veloso A few weeks ago, the city government of Biñan, Laguna created a furor in social media. Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/it-s-high-time-we-regulate-e-bikes-and-e-trikes #UnCommonSense #JamesVeloso #Ebikes #Etrikes #LGU #LTO #Transport #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand
On celebrity breakups and netizens’ perversity By James Veloso I may be one of the few Filipinos who really don’t give a damn about the recent breakup of celebrity couple Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla. Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/on-celebrity-breakups-and-netizens-perversity #UnCommonSense #JamesVeloso #OnCelebrityBreakupsAndNetizensPerversity #Marcos #Duterte #PBBM #BBM #Sara #SMNI #Maritess #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand
What’s the fuss about historical dates? By James Veloso Recently, Malacañang Palace decided to move the declaration of a national holiday for Bonifacio Day from November 30 (the date of Andres Bonifacio’s birth) to November 27. Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/what-s-the-fuss-about-historical-dates #UnCommonSense #JamesVeloso #WhatsTheFussAboutHistoricalDates #BonifacioDay #NationalHoliday #AndresBonifacio #HolidayEconomics #HistoricalDistortion #MarcialBonifacio #NinoyAquino #PBBM #BBM #Marcos #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand
Employee ‘ghosting’ By James Veloso While this job I have now at OpinYon was my first since graduating, this wasn’t the first company I had applied for. Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/employee-ghosting #UnCommonSense #JamesVeloso #EmployeeGhosting #FreshGraduates #Ghosting #PandemicGeneration #DOLE #Salary #Employment #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand
‘Santa Claus niyo’y pulitiko rin…’ By James Veloso As the song goes, "It's that most wonderful time of the year..." Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/santa-claus-niyo-y-pulitiko-rin #UnCommonSense #JamesVeloso #SantaClausNiyoyPulitikoRin #Covid19 #Christmas #Solicitations #LocalPolitics #PatronagePolitics #Gifts #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand
‘Vanity’ awards are demeaning, honestly By James Veloso A lot of eyebrows got raised in the media industry after Sonshine Media Network, Inc. (SMNI), a media network owned by a “(Self-)Appointed Son of God” and known for red-tagging critics of the current administration, bagged an award for “Ethical Journalism” at the 8th Asia Pacific LUMINARE Awards. Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/vanity-awards-are-demeaning-honestly #UnCommonSense #JamesVeloso #VanityAwardsAreDemeaning #SMNI #AppointedSonOfGod #EthicalJournalism #RedTagging #AsiaPacificLuminareAwards #Awards #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand
Filipinos want change (but they really don't) By James Veloso In the wake of last week's barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, a Facebook friend of mine lamented (and I'm quoting him verbatim here), "Di na ako magtaka kung sa susunod na eleksyon, may sirang plakang salita tayong maririnig na 'para sa pagbabago,' 'na nuevo cambio' ("to the new way" in Chavacano,) 'maiba naman' sa mga kampanya, pero ang mga tao, gusto pa rin ng pareparehong bulok na sistema at pamamahala.” Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/filipinos-want-change-but-they-really-don-t #UnCommonSense #JamesVeloso #FilipinosWantChangeButTheyReallyDont #BSKE #BarangayElections #SangguniangKabataan #Elections #Pagbabago #ObedientApes #LazyLions #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand
Should we rethink our ‘areglo’ culture? By James Veloso Imagine you’re driving down the road, and all of a sudden, a motorcycle or a bicycle pops out of nowhere straight into your path. Collision would be inevitable – and so are entreaties of, “Boss, aregluhin na lang po natin ito.” Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/should-we-rethink-our-areglo-culture #UnCommonSense #JamesVeloso #AregloCulture #Traffic #RoadAccidents #RoadRage #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand
Pedestrians’ safety By James Veloso There are, I believe, a few places along the National Highway in San Pedro City, Laguna that desperately need an overpass: the Robinsons Galleria South Mall/Landayan area, and the United San Pedro area. Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/pedestrians-safety #UnCommonSense #JamesVeloso #PedestriansSafety #SanPedro #RobinsonsGalleriaSOuth #Ladayan #Overpass #Pedestrians #Traffic #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand
What are these ‘influencers’ for, anyway? By James Veloso The alleged unleashing of paid influencers to bash celebrity and entrepreneur Maggie Wilson came across not as a surprise, but as a sad confirmation to many. Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/what-are-these-influencers-for-anyway #UnCommonSense #JamesVeloso #WhatAreTheseInfluencersForAnyway #MaggieWilson #PaidInfluencers #SocialMedia #Facebook #TikTok #MichaelV #ArshieLarga #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand
A nation of ‘robbers’? By James Veloso Some fanatical supporters of Vice President Sara Duterte have the gall to ask us: why is her office’s so-called “confidential funds” such a big deal for her opponents? Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/a-nation-of-robbers #UnCommonSense #JamesVeloso #ANationOfRobbers #SaraDuterte #Duterte #OVP #Transparency #Accountability #ConfidentialFunds #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand
Public officials are humans, too By James Veloso Senator Risa Hontiveros’ comment on Vice President Sara Duterte’s attacks against the former’s crusade on the “confidential funds” issue should make us all pause and think about why the heck are we treating our public officials like people who can do no wrong. Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/public-officials-are-humans-too #UnCommonSense #JamesVeloso #PublicOfficialsAreHumansToo #Hontiveros #Duterte #SaraDuterte #VPSara #Kampihan #FanBasedPolitics #BSKE #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon
The class suspension dilemma By James Veloso When I was in high school, class suspensions due to inclement weather are rare, except of course during typhoons, when everyone would be glued to their radios and televisions for announcements. Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/the-class-suspension-dilemma #UnCommonSense #JamesVeloso #TheClassSuspensionDilemma #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon
How do we encourage the Sangguniang Kabataan? By James Veloso “Youth is the most precious thing in life; it is too bad it has to be wasted on young folks," as an old saying goes. Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/how-do-we-encourage-the-sangguniang-kabataan #UncommonSense #JamesVeloso #SangguniangKabataan #SKFederation #SKElections #BarangayElections #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon
On job requirements By James Veloso Recently, a “hiring ad” posted by a fast-food kiosk chain grabbed the attention of netizens due to its list of qualifications that, according to netizens, sounded too inappropriate for the job description. Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/on-job-requirements #UncommonSense #JamesVeloso #OnJobRequirements #JobApplication #Requirements #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon
Hell on earth again By James Veloso Isn’t it high time for us to re-focus our “regreening” efforts and give more emphasis on planting trees and other plants in our urban areas, which are more affected by extreme temperatures? Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/hell-on-earth-again #UncommonSense #JamesVeloso #HellOnEarthAgain #ElNiño #F2FClasses #F2F #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon
Malls are now moving into villages By James Veloso Here’s a suggestion for our local government units who are currently doing their best to promote their towns and cities through the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) One Town, One Product (OTOP) initiative: Maybe we could reserve spaces or aisles inside our minimarts or shopping centers dedicated exclusively to our local produce? Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/malls-are-now-moving-into-villages #UncommonSense #JamesVeloso #MallsAreNowMovingIntoVillages #OTOP #OpinYon
Patronage politics extends all the way to the barangays By James Veloso Weeks earlier, I explained in this column how barangay elections tend to be more personal and more heated than national or even local elections. Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/Patronage-politics-extends-all-the-way-to-the-barangays #UnCommonSense #PatronagePolitics #BarangayElection #SK #JamesVeloso #OpinYon #Column
Motorcycle safety By James Veloso Here’s a riposte for motorcycle enthusiasts: instead of complaining about the barrage of so-called “kamote riders” in the Philippines’ social media pages, why don’t they themselves lead the campaign to ensure that motorcycle drivers and riders alike will be safe on our roads? Read more https://opinyon.net/opinion/motorcycle-safety #title #UnCommonSense #MotorcycleSafety #Riders #KamoteRiders #JamesVeloso #OpinYon #column