Activist and former two-term member of the Philippine House of Representatives. Blogging since 2004 at mongster's nest. Joined Global Voices in 2006.
Latest posts by Mong Palatino from January, 2014
PHOTOS: Drone Captures the Beauty of Thailand
Using a drone, Thailand-based blogger Richard Barrow shares several amazing landscape photos of Thailand. Drones were also used to monitor protests in Bangkok
Malaysia: The Most Beautiful Sound in the World
The winner of the ‘most beautiful sound in the world’ competition is ‘Dusk by the Frog Pond’ by ‘Wild Ambience’ recorded in a Sarawak swamp in Borneo, Malaysia.
Teaching Art During Vietnam War
The British Library blog features several art works made during the Vietnam War era. It also quotes Nguyễn Toan Thi, a guerilla artist during the war: Art classes were held outside in the forest until our schools were bombed: classes were then held underground. Art teachers and students shared the...
Pig Photos Censored in Malaysia
Photos of pigs were blackened out by a printing company in the Malaysian edition of the New York Times. The 'pig censorship' shocked many people in the Muslim-majority nation
Indonesia Apology Urged Over Massacre of a Million Citizens in 1965
Human rights groups Tapol and East Timor and Indonesia Action Network have launched a campaign called ‘Say Sorry for '65’ addressed to the Indonesian government in relation to the reported killing of a million citizens during the anti-communist campaign of the government in the 1960s: In 1965/66, up to a...
East Timor's Rising Budget for ‘Public Transfers’
The La’o Hamutuk NGO is concerned that the East Timor government is alloting more funds for so-called ‘public transfers’ which lacks transparent mechanisms: In recent years, Timor-Leste has spent about 20% of its state budget on “Public Transfers” – payments of money to individuals or institutions which are not controlled...
Saving Elephants in Laos
There are only several hundred elephants in Laos today, a country which was once known as the 'land of the million elephants'. Animal welfare groups vow to save the elephants
How the Vietnamese are Using Facebook Pages
Despite being regularly blocked by the government, Facebook continues to grow in terms of users in Vietnam. Patrick Sharbaugh of Vietmeme explains how Vietnamese are maximizing Facebook pages: …they don’t use it only for posting personal information, but often for creating temporary civil society communities and advocating for pet causes....
Cambodia Garment Workers Demand $160 Monthly Minimum Wage
The poster illustrates the $160 monthly minimum wage demand of Cambodia garment workers.The current standard is $80 but the government is only willing to grant a $15 increase. A nationwide strike was launched by workers last December but this was violently dispersed by the police early this month.
Malaysian Prime Minister Sparks Water Spinach Meme Over Rising Prices
Reacting to protests against rising food prices, Malaysia's prime minister reminded the public that the price of kangkung or water spinach has gone down. This remark unleashed a kangkung meme
Philippine Typhoon Haiyan Victims Complain of Slow Relief and Substandard Shelters
Dead bodies are still being retrieved in the Visayas two months after typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines. Temporary shelters were also exposed to be overpriced and substandard
Philippine Petition Against Dog Meat Restaurants
An online petition is circulating to pressure the mayor of Baguio City to close down dog meat restaurants in the city. Baguio is a famous tourist destination located north of the Philippines: I was recently made aware that there are at least ten dog meat restaurants operating in open violation...
#RespectMyVote Movement Vs ‘Bangkok Shutdown’ in Thailand
As 'Bangkok Shutdown' campaign enters its fifth day, Thais from other parts of the country are asking Bangkok protesters to respect their vote and participate in the coming elections
A Papuan Woman's Love Letter to an Indonesian Soldier
EngageMedia has uploaded a video about a Papuan woman's love letter to an Indonesian soldier who was once stationed in the border patrol unit in a village near Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The video also highlighted the sexual assaults allegedly committed by some Indonesian soldiers in the border. The...
Day 3 of ‘Bangkok Shutdown’ Campaign
Stickman Bangkok posted photos and crowd updates of day 3 of the ‘Bangkok Shutdown’ campaign. Forget what I said about dwindling numbers. Wednesday night saw at least as many supporters out as Monday. These are the sorts of scenes you can expect in downtown Bangkok if you are out and...
‘Bangkok Shutdown’ Begins in Thailand
Opposition groups in Thailand aim to shutdown Bangkok for several days or until the prime minister is ousted. Thousands joined the first day of the protest
PHOTOS: Mount Sinabung Eruption Displaced 20,000 in Indonesia
After being dormant for 400 years, Indonesia's Mount Sinabung suddenly erupted and displaced more than 20,000 villagers. It has erupted for more than 200 times already since last year
PHOTOS: Brutal Crackdown of Cambodia Labor Strike
The Licadho human rights group has uploaded a set of photos showing the brutal crackdown of a strike conducted by garment workers in Cambodia. The workers have been demanding an increase in their monthly minimum wage which is currently pegged at 80-100 US dollars.
History of the Translation of the Bible into Malay Language
Robert Hunt's paper on the history of the translation of the bible into Malay could provide more background into the current controversy in Malaysia where hundreds of bibles were recently confiscated for containing the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God. Non-Muslims are prohibited by law in Malaysia to use ‘Allah’...
PHOTOS: How Pebble Mining is Destroying Villages in Myanmar
Dozens of homes were destroyed in the Nga Pu Taw Township of Myanmar due to muddy waste produced by pebble mining companies.
Bibles Seized in Malaysia for Using ‘Allah’ to Refer to God
A Malaysian law banning non-Muslims from using the word Allah in religious publications was invoked by an agency when it confiscated 300 bibles in a Christian missionary office
