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...
The full energization of at least eight unserved off-grid domains in the provinces of Quezon, Palawan and Cebu will finally take off as the Department of Energy (DOE) has already awarded the contract that shall underpin the project’s implementation and eventual commercial operations. The...
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...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH Every March, social media explodes with a flurry of empowering quotes and celebratory hashtags for International Women’s Month. But amid the digital cheers, a crucial question remains unanswered: where are the rest of the Filipino women in positions of power? While they...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH The recent revival and expansion of the Philippine Supreme Court's Justice on Wheels’ program, now called REAL Justice, resonates deeply with me, not only as a lawyer, but also as a citizen acutely aware of the challenges plaguing our legal system. This initiative transcends...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH Can one day a week truly transform a city? In the heart of Manila, Makati is daring to experiment with car-free Sundays, an initiative that challenges ingrained habits and asks a crucial question: is our reliance on cars inevitable, or can we envision a future where streets...
The Department of Tourism (DOT) recently launched the latest stop of the Hop-On Hop-Off (HOHO) tour, the Entertainment Hub, opening the door to vibrant attractions within Entertainment City in one go. Promising diverse areas of Pasay and Paranaque, featuring modern complexes, bustling...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH For too long, exercising our right to vote has been hampered by long lines, inconvenient schedules, and cumbersome processes. This discouraged participation, especially among busy individuals, marginalized communities, and those residing far from registration centers. Yesterday,...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH Coldplay in Manila, the air thrummed with a thousand beating hearts. Neon stars bathed the audience as Chris Martin’s voice soared, a British rock symphony echoing through the cavernous space. It was a cultural confluence, a dazzling spectacle not just of musical prowess, but...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH The question of modernization is not "if," but "when." It is an irrefutable necessity, not just for efficiency and cleaner air, but for the very sustainability of our communities. Yet, like passengers crammed into a jeepney itself, opinions on "how" to navigate this journey...
