Category Archives: nation

Who Promised to Remove the Grounded Philippine Ship on Second Thomas Shoal?

By admin | December 23, 2023

Written for The Diplomat Philippine officials are denying the claim of the Chinese Foreign Ministry that there was a previous pledge to tow away its ship in the Second Thomas Shoal, known to Manila as Ayungin Shoal and to Beijing as Ren’ai Jiao. China did not identify the Filipino official who promised to remove the […]

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A year of surviving the pandemic and Duterte’s misgovernance

By admin | December 17, 2023

Published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer This week marks the first year since the Duterte administration imposed harsh lockdown measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The failure of the militarist approach is reflected in the surging COVID-19 cases, livelihood losses caused by unnecessary restrictions, and worsening human rights abuses. The remorseless incompetence of the […]

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Marcos Adopts New Philippine Government Branding

By admin | October 29, 2023

Written for The Diplomat Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ended his second State of the Nation address on Monday by declaring that the country’s situation is “sound and improving” as he heralds the rise of “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines). This was a reference to the new branding adopted by the Marcos government as part […]

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Mining, Oil Spill, Military Bases Threaten Philippine Islands

By admin | September 24, 2023

Written for The Diplomat In February, residents of Sibuyan Island in the Philippines’ Romblon province protested against a mining exploration activity by forming a “people’s barricade.” This was followed by another barricade in Brooke’s Point in the southern part of Palawan province, which was also organized by community-based groups to protest an ongoing mining operation. […]

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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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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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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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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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The ‘Chaos and Confusion’ Inside the Marcos Government

By admin | April 9, 2023

Written for The Diplomat Asked about his achievements during his first 100 days as president of the Philippines, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos said he was able to put up a “functional government.” But a resolution passed by his party, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), hinted at several irregularities inside the presidential palace. Throughout the campaign […]

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Keywords, sound bites, and newsmakers of 2022

By admin | March 30, 2023

Published by Bulatlat Since this was an election year, the most notable newsmakers were presidential candidates led by the frontrunners Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and Leni Robredo. Decades or even years from now, historians will also recall the historic candidacy of labor leader Leody de Guzman. The rapid spread of the Omicron variant in January […]

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