Latest posts by Mong Palatino from June, 2009
‘Buy Indonesia’ campaign
A campaign was launched encouraging Indonesian consumers and companies to patronize locally-made products and services.
Indonesia: Candidates seek support of bloggers
Indonesian candidates are seeking the support of popular bloggers in order to win more votes.
Indonesia: Vice President Debate
Indonesia conducted a debate among vice president hopefuls. My Busy Brain thinks the candidates were all colorul. Listen to the audio podcast of the debate.
Malaysia: RM1 million payment as tourism ambassador
SK Thew reacts to a report about the RM1 million given to former Ferrari Formula One team boss Jean Todt to spend over two years as Malaysia’s Tourism ambassador.
East Timor: Press freedom situation
The Daily PCIJ reports on the press freedom situation in East Timor
Preetam Rai interview
GV author Preetam Rai was interviewed by Syed Syahrul Zarizi of Malaysia about his online projects and his thoughts on blogging and travel.
Singapore: Infamous Burger King ad
Burger King has a new sandwich offering in Singapore called the “Super Seven Incher.” To promote the new product, a local ad agency produced an outdoor ad which is now getting a lot of attention and criticism around the world.
Indonesia: Ancient manuscripts digitalized
A literature foundation in Surakarta has announced that it plans to digitalize more than 6,000 ancient Indonesian manuscripts and books in its possession.
Laos: Strange pineapples on display
Two strange pineapples, one shaped like a dragon and the other shaped like a heart, are on display in a temple in Laos. The pineapples harvested from a Vientiane farm...
“Lao help Lao” mentality
Buc Kee Kark, writing for Lao Voices, analyzes and criticizes the “most enslaving Lao help Lao” mentality.
Thailand: Thousands affected by train strike
Thousands of passengers were affected by the two-day nationwide train strike launched by employees of the State Railway of Thailand. The workers were protesting a cabinet resolution which they claim would lead to the privatization of the railway company. A survey shows that majority of Thais are upset with the strike.
Philippines: A(H1N1) panic continues to grow
Asia’s first A(H1N1)-related death is a Filipina from Metro Manila. This was confirmed by health authorities who also warned that 25 percent of the country’s 90 million population could be affected by the dreaded influenza virus. More schools have suspended their classes to protect the health and safety of their students.
Philippines, Hong Kong: Swine flu and racial profiling
After being tagged as superbug carriers, Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong are now accused of spreading A(H1N1) virus in the city. Kape’t Yosi believes this is racial profiling.
Vietnam: Growth of Saigon
Michael Sieburg writes about the economic expansion of Saigon and enumerates some of the notable construction projects in the city.
Philippines: Culture and tourism
John Ryan Recabar shares his thoughts on reviving Philippine tourism and the importance of reliving old traditions.
Vietnam arrests prominent lawyer and writer
Vietnam ’s Ministry of Public Security police arrested Le Cong Dinh in Ho Chi Minh City for participating in subversive activities. Dinh is a prominent pro-democracy lawyer, human rights advocate and writer. Several media groups and local scholars have condemned Dinh’s arrest.
Philippines: Word of the year
Morofilm is nominating the word “scripted” as the word of the year in the Philippines.
Cambodia: Health education
Keo Kounila and Hay Phirum write about the many challenges confronting Cambodia’s medical education.
Cambodia: Controversial Angkor Wat lighting project
To promote "night lighting" tours and to reverse the 20 per cent drop in visitors, the Cambodian government has installed artificial lighting in the 11th century-old Angkor Wat Temple. This project is opposed by some heritage conservationists and concerned Cambodian citizens. Angkor Wat is the most popular tourist site in Cambodia and is recognized as a World Heritage site.
East Timor and a crocodile story
Notes from Abroad writes about the legend of a crocodile which died and became the lands of East Timor.
Cambodia: Expansion of ATM bank machines
Introduced only in 2004, Automated Teller Machines are getting more popular among Cambodian bank customers.
