When Taiwanese national Justin Liu began exploring the Philippines more than a decade ago, he never imagined he would become the first known foreigner to set foot in all 82 of its provinces. His milestone—quietly…
‘Dalifornication’ hits China; the Philippines should take note
“Dalifornication” is the kind of phrase that sticks because it captures a cultural mood as much as a place. The Economist’s recent description of young Chinese “Dalifornia dreamin’” has turned the ancient city of Dali…
Manila’s warming ties with Germany signal a real…
A Filipino political scientist warned that the Philippines is recalibrating its foreign policy under pressure, navigating what he described as a widening trust deficit with a major power even as it deepens ties with Germany—a…
Sinking soil, rising seas: Trouble for the Philippines’…
The Philippines is building a $15-billion airport on land it had to dredge from the sea — and experts say that same sea, along with sinking soil beneath it, could cripple the project within decades.…
Leandro Leviste takes over storied Solidaridad Bookshop
One of Manila’s best-known literary landmarks, Solidaridad Bookshop—widely recognized as “Asia’s biggest little bookshop”—is set to change hands as it transfers to the ownership of Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste, son of Senator Loren…
5,000-year-old cypress tree at Cangjie Temple anchors new…
Visitors arriving at the Cangjie Temple in Baishui county often find themselves confronting an unlikely symbol of endurance: a cypress so enormous and timeworn that its bark seems to peel in geological layers. Local tradition…
The bell that tried to stop a revolution
On a humid September morning in 1984, as the Philippines edged toward political collapse, a shimmering brass bell rang in Malacañang Palace—meant, its foreign keepers said, to make an entire nation “invincible.” The moment now…
Feast of Christ the King turns 100—and its…
One hundred years after Pope Pius XI introduced the Feast of Christ the King, the Catholic world is marking a centenary shaped by political upheaval, cultural tension, and a debate over the place of faith…
Future of travel unveiled at 2025 Best Hotels…
The Best Hotels & Resorts Awards returned to Washington, D.C. this year with a singular focus: celebrating the hospitality brands shaping what travel will look and feel like in the decade ahead. In a city…
How Ellinwood Malate helped shape Philippine Protestant history
One of Manila’s oldest Protestant congregations traces its beginnings to a modest Presbyterian mission that grew into the Ellinwood Malate Church, a landmark shaped by American initiative, Filipino leadership, and the upheavals of war. The…