The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
They occupy my thoughts these past days. That mpeachment is top of mind is a no-brainer. The sounds and images are forced upon us via news channels each day a hearing is held. Sound and light waves fill our eardrums and retinas for a regular fare lasting several hours. The optics are full of technicalities. The dance and cadence of …
Points of View & Perspectives
August, 2026
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16 August
New name, same animal
Revelation of a “leadership fund” distributed to “all senators” under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget raises troubling questions whether the country has quietly resurrected the pork barrel system that the Supreme Court already declared unconstitutional. Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan told the Sandiganbayan that “all senators” in the previous Congress received at least P500 million …
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9 August
Nepomuceno’s Bold Stand for Integrity at Customs
LOVE FOR ALLBy: Virginia Rodriguez In government, credibility is built not by lofty promises but by decisive action. At the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno is proving that meaningful reform requires firm leadership, uncompromising accountability, and the political will to confront corruption wherever it exists. His latest directive leaves no room for ambiguity. By ordering tighter security …
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9 August
P633 Million Question: Safe Havens or Ghost Projects?
REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently announced the allocation of more than P633 million for the construction and rehabilitation of 24 climate‑smart evacuation centers across disaster‑prone provinces. On paper, this initiative is both timely and necessary. The Philippines, after all, sits squarely in the path of typhoons and is vulnerable to earthquakes, floods, …
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9 August
The Sara Duterte paradox
Vice President Sara Duterte remains one of the most intriguing figures in local politics. Despite facing an impeachment trial and sustained criticism from political opponents, she continues to top presidential surveys. The contrast between public controversy and public support has left many observers wondering what truly drives voter sentiment. Throughout the impeachment proceedings, Duterte has appeared largely unperturbed. She continues …
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9 August
SCO countries ditching the dollar
EBITDABy DIEGO C. CAGAHASTIAN The member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization [SCO) have long agreed to scale up the use of their national currencies in trade between their countries. This is perceived by many around the world that the US dollar will continue its inevitable slide to the backseat, if not the dustbin, of global trade. The Daily Star reported …
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2 August
Scrutinizing that ambitious rocket launch
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) covered an ambitious list of priorities, from lowering electricity costs and pursuing nuclear energy to operationalizing major transport projects. Yet one announcement deserves particularly close public scrutiny: the plan to launch a rocket into space. The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has confirmed that a demonstration rocket launch is being prepared in Cagayan. According to the …
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2 August
WORDS AND OLD AGE
Words, meaning, and languages mark Man as the highest form of God’s creations. In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and the Word was God – is attributed and contained in the Bible. These are some of my musings, being near the ripe age of 80 in a few months, due to more and more alone-times that bring quiet reflection away from the noise of …
July, 2026
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26 July
Cybercrime Knows No Borders
REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro In today’s digital era, one of the most pressing threats shaking not only the Philippines but the entire world is the relentless rise of cybercrime and transnational crimes. Gone are the days when criminals were confined to specific territories or hiding places. With the aid of modern technology and the internet, syndicates now operate seamlessly across borders, …
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26 July
The Emerging “F4” of the Marcos Administration
LOVE FOR ALLBy: Virginia Rodriguez In every administration, a handful of public officials inevitably emerge as the faces of government performance. They become the people the public associates with action rather than rhetoric, implementation rather than intention. In the Marcos administration, some supporters have begun referring to four Cabinet members as the government’s unofficial “F4″—Department of Social Welfare and Development …