You are cordially invited to a CSEAS Tonan Talk, a Brown Bag lecture series. The talk is open to the public, and you can bring your lunch bag to the place. The details are as follows.<\/p>\n
Title:<\/strong> Weighed but found wanting: The failure to trek a straight path About the speaker:<\/strong> <\/p>\n
\nSpeaker:<\/strong> Ronald D. Holmes from the faculty of political science of De La
\nSalle University, president of the research organization, Pulse Asia Research Inc.
\nDate:<\/strong> July 28 (Mon.), 12.00-13.30, 2014
\nPlace:<\/strong> Tonan tei (Room No. 201), Inamori Foundation Memorial Building, Kyoto University
\n
\nAbstract:<\/strong>
\nAs President Benigno S. Aquino III enters the last two years of his
\nsingle term, his administration is faced with its most serious
\nchallenges. The first challenge stems from the recent Supreme Court
\ndecision that declares an expenditure strategy that it pursued as
\n\u201cpartly unconstitutional.\u201d The second difficulty relates to the
\nuncertainty of pursuing what was heretofore been regarded as a
\nnoteworthy accomplishment of the Aquino administration, the peace
\nagreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). While Aquino
\nhas not been relieved of challenges nor criticisms within his term,
\nthese two challenges will significantly reduce the ability of his
\nadministration to pursue thoroughgoing political reforms. In hindsight,
\nthese challenges were forthcoming given the feeble nature of political
\ninstitutions that the president did not only fail to immediately reform
\nbut also ironically, for someone who vowed to follow a different
\n(straight) path, worked with.<\/p>\n
\nRonald D. Holmes is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in International,
\nPolitical and Strategic Studies at the Australian National University,
\nCanberra, Australia. His dissertation is on the Political economy of
\npork barreling in the Philippines.
\nHe has been with the faculty of political science of De La Salle
\nUniversity since 1985. He is also President of the research
\norganization, Pulse Asia Research Inc.<\/p>\n
\nModerator:<\/strong> Lisandro Claudio, CSEAS, Kyoto University<\/p>\n