In the South China Sea, diplomacy is often as turbulent as the waters themselves. Now, the Philippines wants to calm the storm with a legally binding Code of Conduct. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vowed to make this his regional legacy, pushing for rules that would prevent collisions at sea, halt island-building, and draw a […]

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 […]

Vietnam’s accelerating maritime construction in the South China Sea is shifting the balance of power in one of the world’s most contested waterways, with direct consequences for the Philippines as it confronts increasingly assertive Chinese actions in waters it claims. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reported on August 22 that satellite images […]

At the grand stone façade of the Manila Cathedral, a figure carved from travertine looks serenely upon the faithful. She is St. Rose of Lima, honored across the Americas as a beloved saint, canonized in the 17th century, and quietly remembered in the Philippines as its secondary patroness. “Her presence at the cathedral reminds faithful […]

When China’s Chang’e-6 spacecraft made history last year by retrieving the first lunar samples from the Moon’s far side, it was widely celebrated as a technical milestone and a geopolitical statement of Beijing’s growing space ambitions. Yet buried in a recent paper by Chinese engineers is a striking detail: the Philippines, a much smaller power […]

The Philippines — long a supplier of raw mineral-rich soil — is finding itself in the crosshairs of a brewing U.S.-China struggle over the rare earths that power modern technology and weapons systems. The shift came into focus on July 10 in Kuala Lumpur, when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met his Philippine counterpart […]

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 […]

Despite being the top recipient of China’s aid commitments in Southeast Asia, the Philippines saw only a fraction of the $30.5 billion Beijing pledged between 2015 and 2023, as political rifts, derailed projects, and maritime tensions gutted one of the region’s most hyped development partnerships. A new report by the Sydney-based Lowy Institute reveals Beijing […]

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 […]

BDO Unibank has retained its title as the Philippines’ most valuable brand in 2025, with its brand value rising 48% to $3.7 billion, according to the latest annual report by Brand Finance. The banking giant continues to outpace peers on the back of stronger brand equity and solid financials, including gains in customer loans and […]