For the Philippines, the South China Sea is both a vital resource and a recurring flashpoint. Its reefs and shoals are not only rich fishing grounds but also gateways for energy exploration and global shipping. Yet the disputes that play out there are not driven only by geography or resources. They are fueled by a […]

For a brief moment this year, the Philippines had something rare in the cutthroat world of trade policy: an edge over its Southeast Asian neighbors. When U.S. President Donald Trump rolled out his first volley of tariffs in April, Manila’s exporters got off relatively lightly with a 17% levy—less than half of what Cambodia and […]

If war breaks out in the Taiwan Strait, who stands with whom? Long debated in policy circles and military simulations, this question is no longer theoretical. With tensions escalating across the Indo-Pacific, the prospect of conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan has become an urgent test for regional alliances. Australia is often […]

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) this Monday, marking the midpoint of his six-year term. As the administration moves into its latter half, expectations remain high—but so do the questions surrounding transparency, political cohesion, and whether his leadership is delivering progress or entrenching power. Elected on a […]

When news broke that Philippine exports would face a 19% tariff entering the United States—while American goods would enter the Philippines tariff-free—it was met with understandable frustration. Social media buzzed with disbelief: “Bakit ganun? Lugi tayo ah.” For many Filipinos, the optics were clear—unequal and unfair. From business groups to small exporters and everyday workers, […]

It opened with familiar rhetoric — and ended with a war on vice. But the most consequential line in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) wasn’t about inflation, infrastructure, or geopolitics. It was a blunt, unexpected decree: “Effective today, all POGOs are banned.” The room erupted. “BBM, BBM, BBM,” chanted […]

For once, the tax system favors the many over the few. The flat 20% levy on interest income, introduced under the Capital Market Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA), doesn’t punish savers—it puts an end to years of built-in advantages that let the wealthy lock away capital and enjoy lower tax rates. Contrary to the social media […]

For years, global trade was the default engine of growth. But as we pass the midpoint of 2025, it’s sputtering badly—and not because of any natural cooling. This slowdown is man-made, self-inflicted, and increasingly perilous. According to the World Bank, global trade growth is forecast to decelerate from 3.4% in 2024 to just 1.8% in […]

While South Korea turned long-term cultural investment into global soft power, the Philippines failed to match vision with infrastructure. In the late 1980s, as French cinema sparked late-night conversations among young artists in Seoul, a similar scene was unfolding in Manila. The Goethe-Institut was hosting film workshops that captured the social and political turbulence of […]

Every June 12, the Philippines marks its Independence Day—but let’s be honest, for many, it’s less about history and more about holiday plans. It’s a day off, a beach trip, or a quick post with a waving flag emoji, a catchy caption, and the obligatory hashtag: #HappyIndependenceDay. And just like that, a moment once defined […]