Randy David | PUBLIC LIVES Pope Francis’ 12-year papacy (2013-2025) was, in many ways, a continuation of his immediate predecessors’ most memorable legacies. Like the beloved John Paul II, he actively engaged with the world, seeking to influence its direction. And, like the intellectual Benedict XVI, he aimed to redefine the Church’s role within modern society. Yet, this is where … Read more
Outside my house, the yard is thick with dry mahogany leaves. They fall continuously, carpeting the entire garden, reminding me of an inescapable truth—that decay precedes death, and death awaits all living things. “But to what end?” I often catch myself asking. The comforting message of Easter—that death is but a passage to eternal life—has … Read more
Donald Trump’s rise in American politics has rested largely on his image as a savvy businessman who claims to know how to make America great again. That vision continues to strike a deep chord with many Americans who lived through the collapse of American manufacturing. But the America they long for—the one of humming factories … Read more
By now, Filipinos are well acquainted with Philippine offshore gaming operators, better known as Pogos, particularly after President Marcos Jr. banned them to loud applause during his 2024 State of the Nation Address. Although Pogos catered mainly to foreign gamblers, they became synonymous with criminal activities—money laundering, human trafficking, fraud, and financial scams. Most have … Read more
Hoping to catch the early bloom of cherry blossoms, I flew to Tokyo this week with my eldest granddaughter Julia, a digital animation student and devoted Japanophile. We arrived with the expectation of seeing trees draped in soft pinks—but quickly realized we were a week too early. Instead of petals, we found buds: green and … Read more
The arrest and March 11 handover of former president Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) is a defining moment for the Philippines. To make sense of what may come next, we must look beyond the spectacle and examine the deeper fault lines in our political system. At the heart of this crisis is … Read more
No one is above the law. Yet too often, justice requires an extra push to bring powerful figures to account. This past week, the Filipino people witnessed a historic moment: the arrest of a former president—one feared and influential—by Philippine authorities for trial before an international court. The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague … Read more
Politics is emotional. It is not always about rational problem-solving but about shaping the way people see the world. Leaders like Hitler, Trump, and Duterte gain loyalty not necessarily by delivering results but by reinforcing their followers’ perceptions—of their problems, enemies, and place in the world. These politicians do not just sell a worldview; they … Read more
Sometimes called the “great pause,” the COVID-19 pandemic began in late December 2019 in Wuhan, China. One month later, on Jan. 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a “public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC),” later naming the disease COVID-19—Coronavirus Disease 2019. Nearly three and a half years later, on May 5, … Read more
In times when hope feels scarce, we look back to a moment in our nation’s history when we believed our chance at greatness had finally arrived. Enough time has passed to allow us to assess, with some objectivity, what we got right and where we failed. Knowing this may help us understand why our political … Read more