“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…
The perception gap: Why Manila and Beijing see…
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.…
Vietnam’s Spratly buildup seen shifting balance for Philippines…
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…
St. Rose of Lima: The Philippines’ forgotten patroness
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…
Chinese study reveals how Philippines compelled China to…
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…
Philippines emerges as new battleground in U.S.–China rare…
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…
How the Philippines and U.S. allies might respond…
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…
Broken promises? Philippines gets less than 3% of…
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…
Independence Day in the digital age: When patriotism…
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…