Category Archives: nation

Rising Anxiety About China’s ‘Debt Trap’ in the Philippines

By admin | February 13, 2020

Over the past few months, rising scrutiny on Chinese investments in countries ranging from the Maldives to Malaysia has intensified an ongoing conversation in the Philippines about the risks of a Chinese “debt trap” in the country as the government of President Rodrigo Duterte pursues increased engagement with Beijing. This discussion has become more pronounced, […]

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The Philippines’ (Too) Quiet Opposition

By admin | December 31, 2019

After the Philippine midterm elections, some members of the opposition party decided to join the majority coalition in Congress. This despite the aggressive campaigning of opposition candidates against the human rights abuses under the government of President Rodrigo Duterte. That opposition politicians would quickly affiliate themselves with the ruling party reflects not only the quality […]

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The Ampatuan Massacre: 10 years of fighting for justice

By admin | December 22, 2019

The 10th anniversary of the single most deadly assault on journalists ever takes place on 23 November. IFEX’s Asia & Pacific Regional Editor Mong Palatino writes about a decade of activism on behalf of the 58 Ampatuan Massacre victims, among them 32 journalists, in this Spark multimedia feature article. Written for IFEX Global solidarity for […]

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2018: Exposing the Bully and Resisting the Tyrant in Malacanang

By admin | December 12, 2019

Here are the highlights of the people’s struggles in Metro Manila in 2018. Labor Unrest The labor sector initiated breakthrough actions in 2018. Taking cue from government pronouncements rejecting contractualization, labor groups stepped up its organizing among contractuals. It led to workers asserting their right to unionize in response to the duplicitous move of capitalists to outsource their responsibility […]

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Is It Time for the Philippines to Move Its Capital City, Too?

By admin | November 24, 2019

Indonesia’s decision to go ahead with its plan to transfer the seat of power from Jakarta to East Kalimantan has renewed earlier debates about whether it’s also time for the Philippine government to leave Manila and look for another capital. Like Jakarta, Manila is notorious for its swelling population and an expanding urban area grappling […]

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The War Against the Philippine Press

By admin | October 2, 2019

If the aim of the media attacks is to distract and mute the opposition, so far it is not succeeding. But it sends a dangerous message about how far this government is capable of doing to stretch the limits of the law to run after its critics. Written for The Diplomat Magazine Why Philippine Politics […]

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What the Neverending Imelda Marcos Case Means for Philippine Politics

By admin | August 17, 2019

Published by The Diplomat The consequences of Imelda’s conviction continue to spark the realignment of political forces and it could end up in a duel between a Duterte-backed alliance of pro-Marcos groups against an opposition coalition supported by a battle-tested anti-Marcos movement. That is further testament to a broader trend in Philippine politics, where the past […]

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Will Duterte Finish His Term in the Philippines?

By admin | May 28, 2019

Speculation is running rampant in the Philippines regarding Duterte’s health, not to mention political forces aiming to see him removed. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s six-year single term is scheduled to end in 2022, but there has been speculation about his capability to finish his mandate. In the past 30 years, two of five Philippine presidents […]

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Tokhang, trolls and Arroyo generals

By admin | January 22, 2019

Published by Bulatlat The UP Third World Studies Center organized a research workshop on ‘Violence, Human Rights and Democracy in the Philippines.’ I submitted a short essay in response to the workshop question: “Based on your knowledge of and experience in your locality, do you think that the Duterte administration is violent?” President Rodrigo Duterte […]

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Politics of ‘Independence’ in the Philippines

By admin | December 8, 2018

Written for The Diplomat Magazine June 12 will be known in history as the day when United States President Donald Trump met North Korea leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore. But for Filipinos, June 12 is significant because it is the day when revolutionaries declared independence from Spain in 1898. June 12 is an official holiday […]

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