By emotional disposition, Filipinos tend to harbor a deep suspicion of China. This is confirmed by a succession of public opinion surveys showing the Filipino public’s huge distrust for this Asian hegemon. It is an attitude that far exceeds any negative sentiment we may have against Spain, the United States or Japan — countries that … Read more

It’s not the first time the President has complained about the magnitude of the problems he vowed to solve within the first few months of his presidency. He typically gripes about the “system” that seems resistant to his will whenever he realizes he actually needs more time to end these problems. That is what “kvetch,” … Read more

The movie “Quezon’s Game,” which recently had a fleeting but memorable run in some local theaters, is about Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon’s effort to get the United States government to issue visas to thousands of Jews from Europe who wanted to come to the Philippines. Quezon’s insistence stemmed mainly from his profound compassion for … Read more

In the aftermath of the 2019 midterm elections, analysts have debated the reasons for the shocking shutout of the opposition in the senatorial race, offering interpretations that typically confirm the continuing public support for the Duterte brand, but also drawing hope from the unexpected win of a handful of young leaders over some old faces … Read more

The public first saw him in a series of videos posted on social media as the hooded guy who called himself “Bikoy.”  He told a story that was potentially damaging to the nation’s highest authority. Bikoy claimed that people very close to the President were regular recipients of drug protection money. He knew this, he … Read more

There can be no doubt that, on almost every criterion used in modern political systems, President Duterte’s personal choices for the Senate pale in comparison with those offered by the opposition. Gary Alejano, Bam Aquino, Chel Diokno, Samira Gutoc, Pilo Hilbay, Romy Macalintal, Mar Roxas and Erin Tañada are about the best we could possibly … Read more

In just one generation, China has achieved through capitalist development what it could not accomplish by exporting Maoist socialism. Credit for this unprecedented global clout is generally given to Deng Xiaoping, who once reminded his people that “to be rich is glorious.” This heresy, which became a popular slogan, was a turning point in China’s … Read more

In the Indonesian presidential election this week, incumbent president, Joko Widodo is seeking re-election against Prabowo Subianto, a businessman and politician, and a former general in the old Suharto regime.  President Suharto, as we know, was deposed in the wave of democratization that finally reached this vast neighboring country in 1998. In the ensuing political … Read more

It has always been the ambition of governments that seek dramatic changes in society to try to shape the mindset of their citizens with a view to controlling their behavior.  This they typically do through the deployment of a system of penalties and incentives aimed at stamping out deviant behavior and promoting “good” behavior, as … Read more

In a previous column written after the 2016 presidential election, I interpreted the rise of Rodrigo Duterte to the presidency as the “revolt of the periphery.” The avalanche of Mindanao votes for the maverick former Davao City mayor, I thought, was emblematic of the strong reaction to an “imperial Manila” and everything else that that … Read more