The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
So many things happened last week. The Senate Presidency impasse remains as the blockbuster telenovela since May 11 when Senator Cayetano wrested control of the Senate from erstwhile Senate President Tito Sotto with the dramatic appearance and 13th vote coming from non-fugitive Senator Bato de la Rosa. Of course, there is some palliative measure with the win of Senator Gatchalian as Senate …
Points of View & Perspectives
June, 2026
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14 June
When the ground shakes, so should gov’t priorities
The devastating earthquake that struck General Santos City and neighboring communities is a grim reminder that the Philippines remains one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. For many Filipinos, the tragedy inevitably revives fears of “The Big One,” the long-anticipated major earthquake expected to affect Metro Manila and surrounding provinces. While seismologists caution against linking separate earthquake events …
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14 June
Protecting Truth, Preserving Freedom
LOVE FOR ALLBy: Virginia Rodriguez As the Philippines commemorated the 128th anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivered a timely reminder that the defense of freedom remains a continuing responsibility for every Filipino. While the battles fought by our heroes in the 19th century were against colonial rule, today’s challenges demand a different kind of …
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14 June
Fertilizer, Food, and the Fault Lines of Power
REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro The global food crisis is no longer a distant threat—it is unfolding before our eyes. The latest escalation in the Middle East has once again disrupted supply chains, driving up the cost of energy and fertilizers. For a country like the Philippines, heavily reliant on imported agricultural inputs, this translates directly into higher food prices, slower production, …
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7 June
THE BEAUTY, AND TRAGEDY, OF TWO
In the story of creation, after God created one Man from the dust of the earth on which He spat, God found that one man alone would be sad indeed. Man needed a companion to be happy, to be complete. And so, from one of his ribs, God fashioned Woman. With two, rather than one, God rested. And He thought He has solved …
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7 June
The Senate crisis reveals true colors
Senator Allan Peter Cayetano may have inadvertently provided President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with a possible way out of the ongoing Senate leadership impasse. His suggestion that a senator from the Cayetano bloc cross over to the opposing camp would allow the new majority to legally elect a new Senate President and restore order in the chamber. On the surface, the …
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7 June
Police Must Lead by Example, Not Fear: Napolcom Chief Calinisan
LOVE FOR ALLBy: Virginia Rodriguez The recent controversy involving Rizal police officer Cpl. Simeon Suan and the arrest of a 76-year-old senior citizen has once again raised a fundamental question: What kind of police force do we want serving the Filipino people? A viral video showing a handcuffed elderly man being dragged to a vehicle after a minor traffic incident …
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7 June
Senate Power Struggle: A Crisis Without a Cause
REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro The Senate’s latest leadership shake-up is a spectacle that exposes the fragility of political institutions and the emptiness of rhetoric about “service to the nation.” What began as a dispute over quorum has spiraled into a full-blown power struggle, with both camps claiming legitimacy and neither offering the public any real benefit. As Atty. Edward Chico explained …
May, 2026
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31 May
What is TRUTH?
The eyes incline towards beauty; the ears towards musical harmony; the nose towards pleasant smell; the tongue towards good taste; and the skin towards invigorating touch. Above it all, the human mind inclines towards truth. The past several days threaten the chances of the Filipino mind to get at the truth of many things political in nature. When the mind has an idea …
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31 May
Senate controversies bordering on comical
The Philippine Senate has long styled itself as the country’s “august chamber,” a stabilizing institution meant to rise above partisan bickering and safeguard democratic accountability. Today, however, that reputation lies badly battered. A succession of political maneuvers, legal controversies, and outright theatrics has reduced the Senate into a spectacle that invites ridicule instead of respect. The most alarming development is …