Marcos Jr. Courts Washington Amid Tariff Tensions and Defense Realignment

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in Washington, D.C. on July 20 for a high-stakes three-day visit to recalibrate Philippine-U.S. relations amid mounting economic and strategic pressures. The trip marks the first for an ASEAN head of state under President Donald Trump’s second term, and it comes just weeks before a steep 20% tariff on Philippine…

Read More

Storm ‘Crising’ Tests Infrastructure and Disaster Readiness

Tropical Storm Crising exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) early Saturday, but not before triggering widespread flooding, landslides, and port disruptions across Luzon and Visayas. The storm’s impact has reignited debate over the country’s infrastructure resilience and disaster preparedness, especially in flood-prone urban centers like Metro Manila. 🧭 Strategic Implications 🧩 Key Developments Commentary…

Read More

Crising’s Wake: Infrastructure Fragility and the Cost of Reactive Governance

In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Crising, which battered Luzon with torrential rains and 90 km/h winds, the Philippines is again confronting the consequences of reactive governance. The storm exposed glaring vulnerabilities in the nation’s infrastructure, triggering landslides, power outages, and the collapse of two key bridges in Batangas and Quezon provinces. Despite early warnings…

Read More

Pacific Alliance Naval Drills Signal Strategic Shift Amid Rising Indo-Pacific Tensions

In a show of growing military coordination, the Pacific Alliance Naval Coalition (PANC) — comprising Australia, Japan, the United States, and the Philippines — launched a series of joint naval drills in the Coral Sea, marking the largest coordinated maritime exercise in the region since 2021. The drills, dubbed Operation Sovereign Wake, are designed to…

Read More

Manila Tightens Grip on West Philippine Sea as Digital Sovereignty Faces New Threats

In a bold assertion of maritime sovereignty, the Philippine Navy deployed two additional patrol vessels to the contested waters near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), following reports of Chinese coast guard ships allegedly harassing Filipino fishermen. The move comes on the ninth anniversary of the 2016 arbitral ruling, which invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims in the…

Read More