Latest posts by Jose Manuel Tesoro
Malaysia, Singapore: Eye Scare
Jeff Ooi at Screenshots has been following a health scare in Malaysia and Singapore over contact lens solution that is apparently causing blinding fungal infections in people's eyes. The trail starts here.
Indonesia: Sesame Street
Jakartass discusses a US$8.5 million grant to Indonesia to produce a local version of the American children's show Sesame Street.
Cambodia: Voodoo Politics
KI Media translates from Khmer an article in the Cambodian media reporting a voodoo session organized by local politicians to exorcise devils believed to be living in a royal palace.
Indonesia: Warnings for Women
Noting that more and more women are starting to smoke, Indonesia Anonymus suggests some alternative warning labels that could scare off as many women as men.
Malaysia: Racial Politics
Ktemoc Konsiders discusses Malaysia's race-based politics. “Opportunistic, avaricious and deliberately divisive politics has screwed up our opportunity of a Bangsa Malaysia. Some of us go around saying proudly “I am Malaysian”, yet the truth is that does ring somewhat hollow in our own ears!”
Philippines: The Long View
Another Hundred Years Hence takes the long view of the evolution of Philippine politics. Despite the upheavals, the long-term trend is positive: “the comfort is that chaos on the surface is generated by the friction in the deeper layers.”
Singapore: Heart of Asia
After reading a local business paper refer to Singapore as the “heart of Asia,” Mr. Wang cautions against the use of such self-congratulatory terminology: “The best place to start climbing towards success is right where you are – not where you imagine yourself to be.”
Thailand: Struggling with Buddhism
Paul at thai-blogs.com worries about the state of Buddhism in Thailand: “it seems that for many people Buddhism is about merit making. About giving money to monks and about trying to improve your own social status. Sorry but to me this is not Buddhism.”
Cambodia: Sorcery
seserak at From Cambodia to Japan gives us a primer on sorcery in Cambodia.
Malaysia: Correcting Malaysian
A Worm's Perspective discusses Malaysia's campaign to rid national language Bahasa Malaysia of foreign loanwords.
Malaysia: The Mystery of Datukship
In Malaysia, the title of Datuk is supposedly awarded to outstanding citizens. Kenny Sia ponders the mystery of who gets them.
Singapore, Thailand: Missteps by Temasek
Singapore Election Watch asks if the country's normally astute government investment agency Temasek Holdings made a misstep when it bought a large chunk of Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra's Shin Corp.
Thailand: Annotating a Royal Message
Bangkok Pundit evaluates the various interpretations, in the currently polarized political atmosphere in Thailand, made of a decision to replay King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 1992 reconciliation message to rival political parties.
Indonesia: Rice's Visit
Yosef Ardi explains what lies in wait for U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice when she makes her first official visit to Indonesia. In particular, he talks about the possibilities of Indonesia tilting more toward China.
Indonesia: Fewer Tycoons
Jakartass comments on the drop in the number of Indonesian billionaires on Forbes’ magazine's list of the world's 50 richest individuals: from ten in 1996 to two a decade later. “You've got to feel sorry for them.”
Malaysia: Covering the Fuel Protests
Worried that the local traditional media will ignore the action, bloggers in Malaysia are covering protests against a recent hike in fuel prices. Jeff Ooi at Screenshots is compiling some places on the Net where you can find more grassroots journalism.
Singapore: Anti-Singapore Sentiment?
Zuco reacts to news of anti-Singapore demonstrations in Thailand and Australian hostility to permitting Singapore Airlines to fly from Sydney to L.A. He writes: “Very soon, we might have to ask “that” American question: “Why do they hate us so?””
Vietnam: Departures
Six Months in Hanoi bids an emotional farewell to Vietnam. “My experience of leaving Hanoi was of suddenly seeing the loss of a whole community. I know I will return, but I will never regain that world.” It took him a week before he could write about it.
Indonesia: Experiment on Superstition
Indonesia Anonymus conducts another one of their social experiments: this time they try to see whether superstition has a hold on urban office workers.
Malaysia: Marathon Man
Kenny Sia gets up before dawn to run in the Kuala Lumpur International Marathon. His pictures tell the tale.
Southeast Asia, Philippines: Adequacy of Democracy
An underthought article in the Guardian decrying the lack of democracy in Southeast Asia angers Eevil Midget, a Filipina in London, who responds: “democracy is a farce anyway! as if the Western world is that much better.” Torn and Frayed in Manila shares his own thoughts on the piece.
