OFF THE BEATEN PATH The significance of elections is intrinsically connected to the voters’ perception of its impact on their daily lives. Ideally, the process demands the most careful reflection of the nation we intend to be as it goes without saying that the exercise of the right of suffrage...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH The live interview last May 7, 2024 with fishermen while we were in Scarborough Shoal hinted a sentiment that deserves a lookback. When Anthony Taberna asked Kapitan Efren whether the latter is satisfied with the government’s efforts on the territorial issue, the response was:...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH Following the recent wave of national pride, a fitting postscript would be to examine the realities of our informal workers and the gig economy. The state, akin to a parental figure by virtue of parens patriae, is endowed with the responsibility to nurture the well-being of all...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH To the youth graduating this year, I cannot recommend strongly enough that they should revisit two crucial and inter-related matters in our history: Proclamation No. 1928 series of 1962, which moved Independence Day from July 4 to June 12; and the ideological journey of the...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH When I heeded the call of the unfamiliar, the compass of my curiosity pointed me to Scarborough Shoal. Fully aware of our precarious situation there, I ventured forward nevertheless. This remote speck in the West Philippine Sea, a point of contention primarily because it is a...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH The Philippines. Over 7,000 islands full of wonder and beauty, just waiting to be discovered and re-discovered. I’ve been fortunate to have been able to visit almost all the provinces in the Philippines – enjoying the breathtaking scenery, sumptuous delicacies...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH While much of the conversation on El Niño dwells on its economic impacts and ways to mitigate them, a silent crisis is unfolding behind bars – one that directly contradicts our supposed commitment to human dignity. We adopted the neutral term “persons deprived of...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH They did not just ask; they demanded. Today’s Labor Day is not just about celebrating Filipino workers’ contributions, but remembering their fight for fair treatment. Back in 1903, thousands marched to Malacañang under American rule, sparking a movement that secured...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH As El Niño tightens its grip, anxieties surrounding water scarcity rise. Without sufficient water from reservoirs, agriculture suffers, jeopardizing food security for millions of Filipinos. This is not mere inconvenience as we observe the heat index hitting record highs; the...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH Intricate maps mark contested claims in the West Philippine Sea, while on the very waters they represent, Filipino fisherfolk eke out a living, balancing the bounty of Scarborough Shoal with the ever-present tension of a geopolitical chess game. As foreign policy experts...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH Public opinion will never lose its weight. While typhoons and earthquakes are natural occurrences, the devastation they cause is not always inevitable. Calling them "natural disasters" ignores the role we play in compounding their impact. Equally important is the point that how...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH For many art collectors, the thrill of discovery surpasses mere acquisition. It's a relentless quest to encounter the profound and the evocative, to be transported by the artistry that transcends the canvas and ignites the depths of our being. Last February, the ALT Philippines...
