Opinion
In early 2026, findings presented at the Inclusive Social Protection Services in the Philippines Policy and Research Forum painted a stark contrast: official statistics classified only 7.8% of Filipino seniors as poor in 2023, yet one in four faced imminent risk of falling into deprivation. Consider the case of a 74-year-old widow in General Trias,…
Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe. — American social reformer Frederick Douglass The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced the other day what…
For decades, the Philippine government has pursued the computerization of the Bureau of Customs. Administrations changed, commissioners came and went, and new systems were introduced, yet the goal has remained largely the same: to create a Bureau that is efficient, transparent, business-friendly, and far less vulnerable to corruption. This is why Bureau of Customs Commissioner…
Attacks on journalists will not be tolerated in our democracy. — President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. It appears the Philippines still remain as ‘the most dangerous place for the media’ as more and more journalists are slain every year. More…
FORTY years after its release in 1986, Bon Jovi’s blue-collar rock anthem ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ has scored a remarkable chart resurgence with music fans embracing the classic song’s timeless story of love against the odds. Currently, the hit song’s message of persistence and love continues to resonate with diverse audiences and once again is…
Last year in a barangay in Bulacan, families watched helplessly as floodwaters rose even after new drainage systems were built. Later, it was found that funds meant for the project had been misused—part of the nearly ₱25 billion the administration has since recovered or frozen, with charges filed against those responsible. For these families, this…
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” — George Orwell —o0o— There recent attempt by American military personnel assigned at the EDCA site in Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City to “inspect” the private compound of steel manufacturer San Jia…
Corruption is a cancer: a cancer that eats away at a citizen’s faith in democracy, diminishes the instinct for innovation and creativity; already-tight national budgets, crowding out important national investments. It wastes the talent of entire generations. It scares away investments and jobs. — United State 46th president Joseph Robinette Biden It appears there are…
WAY back in 1978, Linda Ronstadt wasn’t just looking for fresh material when she stepped into the studio to record her album Living in the USA; she actually looked back at the music that shaped her as a rock star. Linda’s eyes landed on a soulful 1960s favorite that had already captivated the airwaves almost…
Pax Silica presents the Philippines with a defining strategic opportunity—and an equally critical governance test. The initiative could accelerate the country’s entry into high-value segments of semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, critical minerals processing, energy systems, and integrated logistics. The proposed New Clark City economic security zone stands to attract long-term capital, global research partnerships,…