Latest posts by Mong Palatino from February, 2014
Praise for Southeast Asia’s Winter Olympians
There is no winter in their respective countries but it did not prevent two athletes from the Philippines and East Timor from joining the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics
UNICEF Calls for “Child-Free” Protests in Thailand
After a grenade explosion killed three children in an anti-government protest site in Bangkok, the United Nations Children’s Fund urged government and protest leaders to protect children by keeping them away from protests. Bijaya Rajbhandari, the UNICEF Representative in Thailand, made this appeal: (The UNICEF) condemns the violence that resulted...
Myanmar's Last Remaining Synagogue
Built 120 years ago, the Musmeah Yeshua synagogue in Yangon is the last remaining Jewish synagogue in Buddhist-dominated Myanmar. Aside from being a tourist attraction, it is also listed as an archaeological heritage building in the city.
Could Questions on Ethnicity Stir Trouble in Myanmar?
Myanmar’s nationwide census next month threatens to inflame more ethnic and religious conflicts after 'divisive' questions on ethnicity and religion were included in the questionnaire.
Assessing Myanmar's Democratic Transition
Tomás Ojea Quintana, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, concluded his mission by assessing the country's democratic transition: For the time being, the military retains a prevailing role in the life and institutions of Myanmar. State institutions in general remain unaccountable and the judiciary is not...
Miss Online Award in Miss Indonesia Pageant
Aside from presenting their beauty, charm, talent, and intelligence, contestants of the Miss Indonesia 2014 beauty pageant also learned to be tech-savvy. Special tech-related awards were given during the contest such as Miss Chatting, Miss Social Media, and Miss Online.
Dancing and Rising for Justice in Southeast Asia
Thousands in Southeast Asia supported the 'One Billion Rising' campaign with many people calling for justice and the elimination of violence against women
‘Dolphin’ Marriage Proposal in the Philippines Angers Animal Rights Activists
Many Filipinos did not find it romantic to use a dolphin in a marriage proposal. Environmentalists described it as vandalism, unethical, and plain cruelty to animals
PHOTOS: Saigon in the Past 50 Years
The Saigoneer features several photos published by the French Consulate in Saigon, Vietnam that highlight the changes that took place in the city between 1955 and 2005. Slideshow: How Saigon, #Vietnam Changed from 1955 – 2005 http://t.co/mdfjPyQGgz pic.twitter.com/Z6teefeXLo — Saigoneer (@Saigoneer) February 12, 2014
‘Bizarre’ Thailand Elections
Thai writer Aim Sinpeng describes the recent election in Thailand as one of the most bizarre in the country's history: The February 2 election in Thailand was not only one of the most bizarre, but also “pointless” elections in recent memory. “Missing” polling stations, locked up ballot boxes, an M16...
Why are Rice Farmers Protesting in Thailand?
Rice farmers have organized several protests in Thailand's capital after the government failed to pay them under the rice subsidy program. The opposition has expressed support to the farmers.
Public Buses Return To Cambodia’s Capital
Phnom Penh is embarking on a one-month bus trial to convince motorbike-riding residents to use public buses. The last time buses were deployed in the capital was in 2001
No Winners in Thailand Elections?
Chris Baker analyzed election statistics in Thailand and concluded that there are no clear winners in the elections: My overall impression is that nobody won. If full data are every released, Pheu Thai (ruling party) will probably have won a majority of the seats. But the party cannot have won...
Why Vietnam-made Game Flappy Bird is Popular
Vietnam-made game Flappy Bird is today's number one app in the iOS App Store in over 100 countries. It already has more than 50 million downloads and it even beat Facebook's Paper app. Anh-Minh Do of Tech in Asia explains the popularity of the game: It’s so hard that it’s...
It Was Stinky for Days, but Cambodia's Garbage Strikers Won Their Battle
Workers are rising in Cambodia. After the garment workers, it is now the turn of garbage workers to launch a strike to demand a raise in their salaries
French Influence on Vietnamese Cooking
Writing for The Culture Trip, Melissa Pearce reviews the French impact on Vietnamese cooking: The French brought many ingredients and flavours to Vietnam, most popular and noticeable upon entering the country is probably the baguette, which the Vietnamese adapted and today create their own style of baguette using rice flour.
Singapore's Public Order Bill Threatens Human Rights
Teo Soh Lung from Singapore, writing for The Online Citizen, warns against the dangers of the proposed Public Order (Additional Temporary Measures) Bill 2014: Civil rights proponents should be wary of the unfettered rights of police officers to subject them to security searches and banning orders. Those who intend to...
Millions Disenfranchised in Thailand Elections
Anti-government protesters in Thailand blocked hundreds of polling stations across the country which prevented many voters from casting their votes.
Singapore Hijab Movement
Muhammad Haikal echoes and clarifies the arguments of the Singapore Hijab Movement: Muslims are not asking for ALL women to wear hijab in ALL sectors, rather we are asking that for those ALREADY wearing the hijab, to allow them to continue wearing it. By telling the Muslims that you are...
Philippine Typhoon Haiyan Victims Join ‘People Surge’ Protest
The 'People Surge' protest in the Philippines was organized by typhoon Haiyan victims who denounced the slow rescue and anti-poor rehabilitation efforts of the government
