Category Archives: nation

Midterm Elections and the Prospect of Impeachment in the Philippines

By admin | February 14, 2025

Written for The Diplomat Election season has officially begun in the Philippines, with the filing of candidacies of prospective candidates for the midterm polls scheduled for May 2025. But aside from election-related activities, the prospect that Vice President Sara Duterte could face impeachment is expected to dominate the local news and political scene until the […]

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The Marcos-Duterte Rift Widens in the Philippines

By admin | January 21, 2025

Written for The Diplomat The Marcos and Duterte political families in the Philippines have been publicly criticizing each other over the past four months, threatening to further undermine the “unity government” headed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. As the two dynasties maneuver for influence, an increasing number of Filipinos are outraged that these political […]

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Filipino Jeepney Drivers Make Last Stand

By admin | December 19, 2024

Written for The Diplomat The year 2023 ended in the Philippines with several transport groups holding nationwide protests aimed at pressuring the government to reconsider its program that will lead to the phaseout of jeepneys. The jeepneys were World War II surplus vehicles of the U.S. military before they were modified and used by Filipinos […]

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‘Spirit of the Glass’: Aral ng kasaysayan at paghamon sa red-tagging

By admin | December 7, 2024

Sinulat para sa Bulatlat Matapang na tinalakay ng dula ang usapin ng red-tagging at kung bakit ito banta sa malayang palitan ng diskurso sa lipunan. Bukod sa napapanahon, malinaw, at maingat na tinilad-tilad sa dula ang mga pangkalahatan at partikular na ginagawa ng red-tagging sa komunidad at sa mga biktima nito. Kung pamilyar ang naratibo […]

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Duterte Leads ‘Prayer Rallies’ Against Charter Change

By admin | November 22, 2024

Written for The Diplomat Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been attending “prayer rallies” in opposition to the charter change (ChaCha) planned by the government of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. On January 28, Duterte and his family joined a “prayer rally” in Davao. He attended a similar event in Cebu on February 25 and […]

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Environment­alists Under Attack in the Philippines

By admin | November 18, 2024

Written for The Diplomat A report by British advocacy group Global Witness highlighted the continuing attacks against environmental defenders in the Philippines. Its latest report documented 16 killings in Asia in 2022, 11 of which took place in the Philippines. Since 2012, the Philippines has been listed by the group as the worst place in […]

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What’s in the Philippines’ Luzon Corridor?

By admin | November 14, 2024

Written for The Diplomat The recently concluded Trilateral Summit of the United States, Japan, and the Philippines saw the unveiling of the Luzon Corridor, an economic scheme that is intended to spur economic partnerships among the three countries. Located south of Taiwan, Luzon is the Philippines’ biggest island with five regions including Metro Manila, the […]

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A Proposed Law Seeks to Ban Political Dynasties in the Philippines

By admin | October 22, 2024

Written for The Diplomat The clamor against the power of political clans in the Philippines has been revived, after the Supreme Court uploaded a copy of the petition seeking an order to compel Congress to pass a law banning political dynasties. In the meantime, Philippine politics remains largely under the sway of political dynasties who […]

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The deadly Duterte variant is the biggest threat facing Filipinos today

By admin | October 7, 2024

Published by Bayan Metro Manila The deadly Duterte variant is the biggest threat facing Filipinos today Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque blamed the new coronavirus variant for the surge in COVID-19 cases when it is clear that our alarming situation today should be attributed to the government’s bungled pandemic response. Duterte stubbornly enforced lockdown measures which […]

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Duterte’s Ironic Free Speech Advocacy in the Philippines

By admin | September 29, 2024

Written for The Diplomat Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned against the deterioration of freedom of expression under the government of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. After a planned rally was canceled in Tacloban City on May 25, Duterte issued a public statement blaming “the forces of darkness that threaten not only our rights to […]

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