Today, as the 48th ASEAN Summit formally opens in Cebu, the Philippines once again finds itself at the center of a defining regional conversation. Beneath the ceremonies, diplomatic handshakes, and carefully prepared speeches lies a deeper challenge. Can Southeast Asia move forward together amid...
The policy direction articulated by newly appointed Presidential Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento — anchored on a holistic, civilian-led approach to localized peace engagements and the total reintegration of former rebels — marks a significant recalibration in the country’s long-running...
The annual observance of Labor Day last week once again brought to the fore the urgent concerns of Filipino workers. Protesters and rallyists articulated a sweeping set of demands: a ₱36,000 monthly salary for Salary Grade 1, a ₱50,000 entry-level pay for teachers, a ₱5,000 personnel economic...
The United Arab Emirates’ decision to leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) may be a signal of a structural shift in how oil power will be exercised in the decades ahead. As the cartel loses one of its largest and most technically advanced producers, the implications...
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept reserved for Silicon Valley or global banks—it is already reshaping how Filipinos save, borrow, spend, work, and do business. The question now is no longer whether AI will change the Philippine economy; it already is. The more urgent...
The smoke drifting across Metro Manila from the recent Navotas landfill fire is a clear warning sign. The number of incidents linked to sanitary landfills, from persistent fires to catastrophic collapses, underscores a system under considerable strain. These events are not isolated incidents but...
The promise of a truly connected Philippines is steadily taking shape through the convergence of two vital national efforts: the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) implementation of the Free Wi-Fi for All Program under Republic Act No. 10929, and the Department of...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Gospel • John 10:22-30 Bible scholar B. W. Thomson writes in his book, The Land and the Book, how sheep responds to the shepherds: “The shepherd calls from time to time, to remind them of his presence. They know his voice, and follow on; but, if a stranger calls, they stop...
The latest report from Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration that drought conditions now grip 25 provinces across Luzon should sound a resounding alarm far beyond the agricultural sector. It is not merely a matter of failed rains or depleted reservoirs. It is...
Artificial intelligence is now a force reshaping how value is created, owned, and shared. As the international community marks World Intellectual Property Day today and the Philippines steps into a leadership role in ASEAN’s push for stronger intellectual property (IP) valuation and...
The warning signs are here, measurable, and accelerating. New studies highlighted in an article published at the Yale School of the Environment reveal an alarming reality. Sea-level trends indicate that oceans are rising at a pace exceeding earlier projections, while the land beneath many coastal...
The digital age has made connection effortless, no doubt about it. But the ease by which connectivity has turned out has also made deception dangerously easy. The recent warnings from high-profile figures about impersonation scams are symptoms of a much larger and more troubling development....
