random points

• ceremonial ribbon-cutting, photo ops =
  consume 20-30% of the politicians' time
  
• Bagong Alyansang Makabayan = New Patriotic Alliance
  
• barong Tagalog nationalism = skin-deep nationalism
  
• treaty = kasunduan = tratado
• Mcworld = corporate-led globalization
• mediocracy = government ruled by mediocre people
• contagion = transmission/diffusion of anything negative
  (disease, infection, financial instability, fear, etc.)