Category Archives: nation

The First 100 Days of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte

By admin | January 31, 2023

Written for The Diplomat The Philippines recently marked the first 100 days in office of both President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte. Global news reports highlighted the key issues that Marcos has tackled since July but the work of Duterte has usually not been mentioned. In the Philippines, the vice president is […]

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Freedom of Expression Declines Further Under Marcos

By admin | January 20, 2023

Written for The Diplomat Three months after coming to power, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has failed to reassure the media community and the public that he will promote freedom of expression and reverse the impunity that worsened during the term of his predecessor. To be sure, there was little expectation that the son of […]

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What Philippine President Marcos Said in New York

By admin | January 16, 2023

Written for The Diplomat The speech of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and his bilateral meeting with United States President Joe Biden could be the highlight of his recent six-day working visit in New York, but his talks in other less prominent public activities also […]

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A Look at Philippine President Marcos’ ‘Unity Budget’ for 2023

By admin | December 17, 2022

Written for The Diplomat The government of Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. this week submitted a record 5.268 trillion pesos ($94 billion) 2023 budget to the House of Representatives. This is the highest-ever spending proposal sent to Congress. Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman described the proposed bill as “proactive […]

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Did the Left Enable Duterte’s Deadly Regime?

By admin | December 4, 2022

Written on February 2018 Our emphatic response is no, but some are flaunting the question as if the issue is already settled. That the Left is guilty of political opportunism by collaborating with the government of Rodrigo Duterte; that it shed its revolutionary credentials by joining Duterte’s Cabinet; and that it was already shamefully late […]

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The First 30 Days of the Marcos Presidency

By admin | October 22, 2022

Published by The Diplomat Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will mark his first month as president of the Philippines on July 30. If his performance in the past month has been a glimpse of his leadership for the next six years, we can assume that his presidency will be substantially similar to that of his predecessor. Marcos […]

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Disgusting Congress ‘game of thrones’

By admin | October 4, 2022

Published by Bayan Metro Manila It is sickening to watch politicians playing a petty ‘game of thrones’ over Congress speakership, pork barrel allocations, and partisan politicking ahead of the 2022 elections. This revolting spectacle is taking place amid worsening hunger, unemployment, and poverty levels in the country caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions are scrambling […]

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The Philippines in 2022: Elections, Omicron, and a Delayed Recovery

By admin | September 26, 2022

Written for The Diplomat The year 2021 ended tragically for the Philippines as Typhoon Rai (known locally as Odette) battered the southern part of the country, including prime tourism destinations. Recovery had barely begun when the Omicron variant once again plunged the country into panic, in addition to triggering a new set of mobility restrictions. […]

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Defund Duterte’s disinformation machinery

By admin | August 20, 2022

Published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer The Duterte administration’s so-called “whole-of-nation” approach in dealing with the communist movement has been exposed as nothing more than a costly “coordinated inauthentic behavior.” It is infuriating that public funds were utilized to spread disinformation targeting activists, leftists, and other critics of the government. The military said it supports […]

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Political Dynasties Dominate Philippines Election — Again

By admin | August 15, 2022

Written for The Diplomat The election victory of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in this month’s Philippine presidential election reflected the continuing dominance of political dynasties in the country’s political life. The return of the Marcoses has reminded many about the dangers of a single family monopolizing political power. The social problems engendered by the dominance of […]

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