Author Archives: admin

The Philippines’ Basic Education Crisis

By admin | August 24, 2023

Written for The Diplomat Several recent studies have pointed out the alarming deterioration of the quality of learning in the Philippines, but this was officially confirmed in the basic education report delivered by Vice President Sara Duterte on January 30. Duterte is concurrently serving as secretary to the Department of Education. Addressing stakeholders with President […]

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Marcos and the Philippines at Davos

By admin | August 15, 2023

Written for The Diplomat The Philippine participation at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland has become the most controversial foreign trip that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has taken. It was the eighth trip abroad that Marcos has made since becoming president seven months ago. Marcos himself was at first undecided about the necessity […]

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A call for relief, accountability, and climate justice

By admin | August 1, 2023

Published by Bayan Metro Manila The pandemic and typhoon disasters tested the resilience of many Filipinos. But even the most resilient won’t survive if the government is slow to respond, refuses to be held accountable which prevents it from learning where it failed, and prefers to be indifferent even if the poorest in society are […]

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How the Onion Became the Symbol of Inflation in the Philippines

By admin | July 25, 2023

Written for The Diplomat The inflation crisis in the Philippines is reflected in the unprecedentedly high cost of onions, which forced the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to launch rolling stores, release smuggled goods, and import from nearby countries. Marcos is at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this week promoting the sovereign […]

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IFEX Regional Briefs: July, August, September 2022

By admin | July 14, 2023

July 2022: “Lethal force behind a veil of legality”: Executions, repressive media laws, and protests across Asia. Attacks against the media did not stop even after a change in government in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Meanwhile, the junta in Myanmar has resorted to executing anti-coup activists. August 2022: Women’s rights crisis in Afghanistan, […]

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Philippine Judges and Lawyers Push Back Against Red-Tagging

By admin | June 23, 2023

Written for The Diplomat Lawyers, judges, law schools, and even the Supreme Court of the Philippines have issued separate statements expressing support for a Manila judge who was vilified and threatened online for dismissing a government petition seeking to proscribe the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, and National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) as […]

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Filipino American Visibility Day at UC Berkeley

By admin | June 7, 2023

Speech during the Filipino American Visibility Day at University of California Berkeley on October 25, 2018 Last night I was watching the Warriors game held at the Oracle. How big is the Oracle? Maybe it has a capacity of 18 to 20,000. Imagine the Oracle full of dead bodies. This is the estimated number of […]

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Rechannel budget of redtaggers to relief effort

By admin | June 3, 2023

Published by Bayan Metro Manila Cancel the budget of redtaggers and instead allocate it to social services. In the wake of the destructive impact of typhoon Rolly in Bicol and Southern Tagalog regions, a portion of the funds should be immediately realigned to boost relief efforts, rehabilitate damaged infrastructures, and revive local livelihoods. Giving P19 […]

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IFEX Asia Brief: April, May, June 2022

By admin | May 16, 2023

April 2022: Political crises, anti-Muslim violence, and Maria Ressa’s pushback. South Asia’s civic space is on fire: Massive protests in Sri Lanka, rising anti-Muslim violence in India, continuing crackdown in Kashmir, and intensifying political conflict in Pakistan. In the Philippines, Nobel laureate Maria Ressa countered the latest government harassment with a legal pushback. May 2022: […]

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Punishment, not promotion, for ‘mañanita’ general

By admin | April 29, 2023

Published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer National Capital Region Police Office chief Debold Sinas is a pasaway general who has yet to face accountability for his crimes against the people. At the very least, he should be penalized for clear violation of ECQ rules when he allowed a “spontaneous” mañanita to celebrate his 55th birthday.Under […]

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