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Text and photo by Tracy Cabrera  RIZAL PARK, Manila — Mindful of the prevailing energy crisis and the government’s need to stabilize the country’s economy, the Bureau of Customs (BoC) has accelerated its push for a fully digital, data-driven customs administration that would significantly lessen if not eliminate smuggling and corruption within the agency.  Speaking before a media forum at …

The last-minute two-week ceasefire in the Middle East may have spared the region from plunging into a catastrophic escalation, even as it offered a convenient off-ramp for the very forces that pushed it to the brink. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most critical sea lane corridors—immediately triggered a sharp drop in global oil prices, underscoring just how …

The Holy Week just passed relived for us the last days of our Lord, Jesus, the Christ.  It was a week of betrayal, of the kiss that identified the Victim for purposes of the arresting officers, of the Last Supper. Judas, one of the brightest and most intelligent of the Victim’s cabinet, must have been driven by financial need to …

Opposition to the new public safety rules being implemented by the Department of the Interior and Local Government is being framed as a defense of the marginalized. Much of the backlash appears misplaced, if not self-serving. The regulations in question are hardly novel impositions; they are reiterations of long-standing local ordinances—prohibitions on public drinking, restrictions on noise such as late-night karaoke, curfews for minors, and …

REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro In recent weeks, the government has repeatedly called for energy conservation. From the highest officials down to ordinary citizens, the appeal has been consistent: cut back on fuel consumption, reduce reliance on petroleum products, and make sacrifices for the greater good. The message is clear—everyone must contribute, everyone must pitch in.   But it seems one sector …

LOVE FOR ALL​By: Virginia Rodriguez The ongoing reforms at the Bureau of Customs under Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno signal a serious attempt to shed the agency’s long-standing reputation as one of the country’s most corruption-prone institutions. For decades, the BOC has been associated with smuggling, revenue leakages, and weak enforcement. Today, however, early indicators suggest that a shift may be underway. …

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has taken a bold step toward shaping the next generation of Philippine gymnastics stars by introducing aerobic gymnastics into its Season 101 calendar. In partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP), the NCAA formally launched its aerobic gymnastics program at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, signaling a …

REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro The reopening of oil and gas exploration talks between the Philippines and China has stirred both skepticism and cautious optimism. Herman Tiu Laurel, president of the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute (ACPSSI), told The Manila Times that the move comes “very late in the day,” driven by fears of a looming energy crisis linked to escalating …

Government’s plan to negotiate “safe passage” for Philippine-bound oil tankers is less a strategy than a hopeful gesture detached from geopolitical reality. The Philippines is a longstanding ally of the United States, while the choke-point in question—the Strait of Hormuz—is influenced by the posture of Iran. Even arranging a formal dialogue at the diplomatic level would be fraught, slow and …

Amid global uncertainty, a positive development has emerged for the Philippines as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the successful drilling and testing of the Camago-3 gas well—an indigenous energy source expected to help cushion Filipinos from volatile global fuel prices. “My fellow Filipinos, today I am proud to announce another step forward in our mission to secure affordable, reliable energy …