Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo had a chance to do from the very start of her term what she’s now asking of the media and prominent commentators. She could have asked President Duterte to put a stop to the “war on drugs” or, barring that, to stop boasting about it and escalating his rhetoric, such as saying that addicts are “not human.” As a member of the Duterte Cabinet, she could have spoken up about how the nightly killings and the atmosphere of fear these were creating were wreaking havoc on her department’s campaign to attract tourists. But she kept quiet and held her counsel, falling in with the party line that the brutal war on the poor was necessary to “save” the country. The tourism secretary blames the media and personalities like Vice President Leni Robredo for highlighting and discussing the killings of suspected drug users and pushers, which have been covered extensively for months by local and foreign media. “These statements make it hard for us to sell the Philippines,” she told reporters covering the President’s visit to Thailand, and called on the media and commentators to “tone down” their references to the killings.

Maybe it’s the administration—and its killing arm, the Philippine National Police—that should “tone down” their campaign against drugs. Thousands of poor suspects have been killed, with little by way of investigation or evidence gathering, their bodies hauled off by funeral parlors who then charge the families exorbitant rates before releasing the bodies for burial. pico arm chair reviewThis is corruption on top of impunity, cruelty against not just the victims but the victims’ families, too.chair saver kit office depot This seems but the start of a concerted campaign to hit back at prominent critics of the policy of extrajudicial killings. game of thrones chair philippinesIt’s no coincidence, it seems to me, that the pleas to ignore the reports and criticisms of the war on drugs have been issued after controversy arose over the Vice President’s video message.

Pagcor Chair Andrea Domingo, speaking before a meeting of foreign groups, added her voice to the sniping, pleading with the guests to ignore Robredo’s statement and throwing shade at the reports of EJKs and the intimidating door-to-door “tokhang” operations.  “Have you seen dead bodies during your stay in the country?” she asked them, as if big-time gamblers enjoying their stint in plush casinos made it a habit to roam the dark streets in the most impoverished parts of the city. To Teo and Domingo: You’re barking up the wrong tree. Better to direct your criticism at your boss, who made the war on drugs the centerpiece of his campaign platform. He encouraged police to use any and all methods to go after suspects, promising to protect them from prosecution. And in an unbridled moment, even boasted that the fish in Manila Bay would grow fat from feasting on the carcasses of all those killed. If words could hurt, it’s not the media or Robredo or other critics who are most at fault.

Look to the President and his big mouth and deadly policies. My sympathies to the people of the UK, with some unfortunate tourists among them, who must be reeling from the shock of the attack on Westminster Bridge near the Houses of Parliament in London. Five people died and 40 people were injured, according to the BBC, when “a single attacker drove a car over Westminster Bridge… killing at least two pedestrians and injuring many more.” The car then crashed into the railings outside Parliament, after which the driver emerged carrying a knife and, running toward the building, stabbed and killed an unarmed policeman before being shot and killed himself. Only the policeman’s identity has been confirmed, with no details yet on the assailant. But the incident seems of a piece with other terrorist efforts to sow mayhem using such innocuous “weapons” as a car or bus. Observers describe the scene as bathed in “pandemonium and panic,” with even tourists, including a group of French schoolchildren, among the dead and injured.

What was the killer’s motivation? The mix of nationalities and occupations of the victims make facile analysis not just difficult but also foolhardy.Oxford Dictionary just added ( n.: the dress, appearance, and culture associated with computing and technology enthusiasts, regarded as stylish or fashionable) as an official word last year. Hollywood's hottest lists-- then exclusive to men with chiseled abs and bad boy beard-- now include "adorkable" guys like Joseph Gordon Levitt, Jay Baruchel, Jesse Eisenberg, and Andrew Garfield. Holidays like Geek Pride Day (May 25) and Embrace Your Geekness Day (July 13) have been set up to celebrate the passions of the subculture. If these are any indication, then the bold-faced T-shirts are right; geek, indeed, is the new chic. Smart is the new sexy. The rise of the geek subculture is a widespread rally happening in different parts of the world. If before, the word geek was thrown carelessly to insult intelligent but socially awkward people, today it's considered a compliment-- an adjective used to describe someone passionate or knowledgeable about a certain hobby.

Here in the Philippines, we now see cosplayers (costume play) get roles in mainstream TV and films. Toy Con attendance is growing exponentially each year. During episode finales of fantasy series like Game of Thrones or Walking Dead, we see our newsfeeds swell in anticipation. Movies adapted from comic books are easy blockbusters on their opening days. But among the geek power indications, our favorite has got to be the mushrooming of the food and dining establishments that cater to the different fandoms in this country. In this article, we round up ten theme restaurants that cater to different kinds of geeks. Tag along your fellow nerds and dine at these restaurants that celebrate different hobbies, passions, and obsessions. For the Science Fiction Geek Located at the fourth floor west wing of Robinson’s Galleria, The Sci-fi Café is a toy gallery cum restaurant owned and operated by a group of self-declared geeks. The main draw to the restaurant is co-owner Richard Chua’s expansive collection of toys and props from almost every fantasy movie imaginable.

Sci-fi movies, especially the ones from the 80s and the 90s, are well-represented in display. Staples like Star Wars, Star Trek, Alien vs. Predator, E.T., Terminator, Robocop, M.I.B. and even Cameron’s Avatar are present in the shelves. Marvel and DC fans are also in for a treat; Richard owns the complete set of the revered super humans. The café primarily pays homage to Richard’s fascination in Sci-Fi, but his collection actually transcends genres. Items from Toy Story, Disney, and Pixar are also part of the store's collection. The toys are not for sale but guests are allowed to play with some items like the helmets, light sabers, interactive R2D2, wands, and swords. If Richard is there, he allows diners to play with bigger items like Wolverine’s claws. The menu highlights pizzas, burgers, and hotdogs-- food we usually crave while watching movies. Get the Two Towers (onion rings), Planet of the Shrimps Pizza, Steve Rogers Burger, and Jabba the Hotdog. For the Boardgame Geek

72B Scout Reyes, corner Mother Ignacia Avenue, Barangay Paligsahan, Quezon City Open daily from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM Burger Company serves made-from-scratch comfort food in hefty portions. Bestsellers here are the Gorgonzola & Mushroom Burger, Green Chile & Sour Cream Burger, NY Buffalo Chicken Burger, and Buffalo Trax fries. Last June 21, Burger Company launched its partnership with boardgame supplier Gaming Library. Aficionados can now enjoy thick, savory burgers while playing their favorite interactive boardgames. There's also a weekly Tuesday Night Gaming at Burger Company from 6 PM onwards. NY Buffalo Chicken Burger Corner Sct. Fuentebella and Sct. Torillo. Tomas Morato, Quezon City Ludo (Latin for 'I play') is a dedicated boardgame bar & cafe that houses more than 300 tabletop games for kids of all ages. The staff, boardgame lovers themselves, are ready to assist diners and give a tutorial on how to play the rarer titles.

What to get: Cheese Gyoza (120), Tonkatsu (P195), and Chicken Yakiniku (P185). Photos from Ludo's Facebook Page 65 Mariveles Corner Sultan Street, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City A lifetime membership of P200 at Tobey's Games Cafe gives you unlimited use of the tables for playing boardgames and Magic the Gathering. This cozy space has a couple of titles for boardgame geeks and serves simple comfort food that you can consume while playing. Photos from Tobey's Facebook Page For the Gaming Geek Imperium eSports bar and Video Game Lounge Metrowalk Commercial Complex, Meralco Ave., Brgy. Telephone: (63 2) 571-9534, (63 906) 248-7476 Imperium is the Philippines' first e-Sports Bar and Video Game Lounge.  They have different consoles in-store: XBox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U and PCs and carry different online games like Heroes of Newerth, League of Legends, Starcraft 2, Special Forces: Online, World of Tanks, Dragon Nest, and Warframe.

PC rental is 60 pesos per hour. Rates for the consoles are as follows: Xbox 360 and PS3 - 100 pesos per hour (maximum of 2 players per console) Xbox One and PS4 - 120 pesos per hour (maximum of 2 players per console) Imperium charges a door fee that may be used for the rental of PCs or consoles or for your food and/or beverage order. Food are simple, the kind you can mindlessly eat while bombing bases. Photos from Facebook page For the Comic Geek B6-971 B6 Bonifacio High Street 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig In 2012, geek and toy-collector Ren Cayetano opened Heroes restaurant and toy store in Bonifacio High Street. The space houses statues of Marvel and DC characters in different stance and sizes. The collectibles a bit pricey, especially for starting hobbyists, but at least they're free to look at. While at it, order some of their bestsellers: Hero Chops, Dare-Devil Wings, Dare-Devil Shrimp, and Sweet & Spicy Tapa to complete your Heroes experience.

For the Movie Geek Seaside Blvd., SM Mall of Asia (+63 2) 550-1234, (+63 905) 277-9999, (+63 908) 200-9999 Pretty much like planet Hollywood in the United States, Movie Stars Cafe houses props, posters, and memorabilia from different movies. The main draw here are the mini-shows and dance numbers of their staff, dressed as some popular movie characters. They have a Dino Buffet that lets you sample a slew of international dishes for P699 per head. Photos from Movie Stars Cafe Facebook Page For the Sports Geek 5th Level, SM Aura Premier, McKinley Parkway corner 26th St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Contrary to the movie stereotypes, geeks aren't always lanky, weak, and bespectacled. A geek, who Collins dictionary describes as anyone with intense knowledge and passion about a topic, may be a big and burly aficionado who can recite to you the blow by blow play of the latest NBA game. The NBA Cafe caters to this crowd and provides basketball enthusiasts quick to eat grub while watching an NBA game.

What to get: Teriyaki braised pulled pork belly sliders, Baby Back Pork Ribs, and Chipotle Pork Tacos. Photos from NBA Cafe's Facebook page For the Book Geek Cool Beans Library Café Maginhawa St., Quezon City Monday to Saturday 10:00am - 11:00pm Cool Beans Library Café is the kind of place where you can spend hours upon hours lost in a good book. The atmosphere here is conducive to reading: soft lighting, music playing quietly in the background, comfortable couches and chairs, good coffee, and good food. Their coffee is locally-sourced, coming from places such as Sagada, Kalinga, and Benguet (P80-hot, P85-cold). As for the food, some of the crowd favorites are the Pan-grilled Chicken Alfredo (P160) smothered in a creamy sauce and studded with bacon bits, Oriental Pork Belly with Bokchoy (P160) that closely resembles the taste of humba, Pan-grilled Pork Belly (P160), and an interesting dish called Fried Chicken Afritada (P160) which is basically fried chicken drenched in Afritada sauce.