"Information is Shock Resistance. Arm yourself."

"Based on breakthrough historical research and four years of on-the-ground reporting in disaster zones, The Shock Doctrine vividly shows how disaster capitalism – the rapid-fire corporate reengineering of societies still reeling from shock – did not begin with September 11, 2001. The book traces its origins back fifty years, to the University of Chicago under Milton Friedman, which produced many of the leading neo-conservative and neo-liberal thinkers whose influence is still profound in Washington today. New, surprising connections are drawn between economic policy, “shock and awe” warfare and covert CIA-funded experiments in electroshock and sensory deprivation in the 1950s, research that helped write the torture manuals used today in Guantanamo Bay."

"The Shock Doctrine follows the application of these ideas though our contemporary history, showing in riveting detail how well-known events of the recent past have been deliberate, active theatres for the shock doctrine, among them: Pinochet’s coup in Chile in 1973, the Falklands War in 1982, the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989, the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Asian Financial crisis in 1997 and Hurricane Mitch in 1998."

A breakthrough investigative research or another manufactured information being fed to the public?

Just now: Guilty with a penalty of reclusion perpetua. Of course there's gonna be an appeal with the Supreme Court and who knows how long that'll gonna take. What's more interesting would be the verdict's bearings on the economy, on politics and in the Philippine society in general. It's a first in our country for a public official of the highest rank to be indicted and found guilty of plunder charges. Sandiganbayan made history today. Expect a lot of discussions and debates in the media, in the blogosphere and in the streets. One thing I'm sure though is that the average Filipinos would go on with their lives even if Estrada has been found guilty or otherwise. We might even forget about this after several years, the public's interest would definitely wane as years go by very much like the commemoration of Ninoy Aquino's death, the plunder charges against the Marcoses, or the grave corruption done by Ramos, the case of which didn't even see fruition in the courts. Just how many more corrupt and lying presidents do we need to learn our lessons? While were contemplating, Vietnam is overtaking our country's economy and our population is ballooning to 88 mil this year. I just hope I could see a better Philippines and a better breed of Filipinos before I die.