THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION of the Philippines on the world map permanently defines its inimitable strategic position and geopolitical role in relation to America’s overall foreign policy framework and agenda. This principally means that the recent abrogation of the 1998 RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) by the current Duterte Regime will inevitably give way to a potential VFA-2, or another similar bilateral defense arrangement, in the future. Such a scenario is a near certainty given two complementary conditions which continually press upon our country. One is internal, while the other remains external to the Philippines.

MADRID, SPAIN. The city brings to mind the buzz in Philippine culture, academic, tourism, and diplomatic circles about the forthcoming quincentenario of the arrival of navigator Fernando Magallanes in Samar. Five hundred years seems something: perhaps like a comet returning, lighting up the past in the sky.

When the President says one thing and his apologists say another, quickly adding that we should not take Duterte’s word literally, you’ve probably heard that many times before.

There’s a new epidemic being posted in social media. Moronavirus. The root word is “moron” as in idiot, stupid or nincompoop. A more charitable synonym is “incompetent.”

The 1987 Constitution requires the State to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and to take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. It reflects the State’s policy to adopt a more inclusive educational institution that does not discriminate against the underprivileged and persons with special needs.

THEATER has a ritual calling back performers on stage after the end of the play to take a bow. The audience showers the cast with standing ovations, hoots, catcalls, and prolonged applause. The curtain call allows performers to be called back again and again to bask in the audience’s appreciation. They sometimes accommodate the audience (“more, more”) with an encore number greeted with even more enthusiasm. Those heading for the exits turn back and stay to the end.

FOR THOSE AWAITING more aggressive action on climate change, it may look like a breaking point has finally arrived.

In recent weeks, the internet has been bursting with viral stories on disgruntled labor: a Virra Mall security guard taking hostages and demanding that “his voice be heard,” a young girl enslaved as a POGO worker, Honda workers demanding a “dignified ending” and fair severance pay, and, workers of ABS-CBN protesting the non-renewal of the TV network’s franchise. In this piece, I argue that these recent events reveal that there is a clear conflict between the value for equality (i.e which informs the belief that there is dignity in labor) and hierarchy (or management prerogative as the foundation of the capitalist ethos).

Last Saturday, March 8, President Rodrigo Duterte declared a nationwide state of public health emergency pursuant to a Department of Health (DoH) letter of recommendation from Health Secretary Francisco Duque dated Feb. 21 should local transmissions occur. The day before, we learned that the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country had risen to six, two of which were deemed locally transmitted. Yesterday, four more cases were confirmed. We’re now on alert level Code Red sub-level one. It means we’re one step away from the “possible sustained community transmission” of the virus, or Code Red.

The Philippines made remarkable progress in the ranking of the World Bank’s Doing Business (DB) 2020 Report, from ranking 124^th rising by 29 notches and landing at 95.

In a speech before new appointees in Malacañang on Feb. 6, President Rodrigo Duterte blasted again the two Metro Manila water concessionaires. He said, “Where is the money of the average Filipino who are poor who pays his water bill and he has to pay because if (not) it will be cut off? Where is the money of that son of a b****? Give us back the money. Give it back to the people and maybe we can talk about solving your problem.”

“THERE IS A LOT of heart and scientific focus that went into bringing this probiotic into the world,” claims Singh. “We made hundreds of attempts, and failed as many times.” With a background in naturopathy and a bias for a vegan diet, Singh and his wife had made up their mind to create something good and something worthwhile. Today, they claim that their yoghurt is getting accolades the world over. “We are kind of persistent when it comes to health and well-being,” he adds smilingly.