The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The formal end of the United States-Iran war should have been welcome news for consumers worldwide. On June 17, 2026, following the G7 Summit at Versailles in Paris, US Pres. Donald Trump signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, ending hostilities that began on February 28. The subsequent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes, was …
Points of View & Perspectives
June, 2026
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21 June
President Marcos and the Call for National Unity on Father’s Day
LOVE FOR ALLBy: Virginia Rodriguez As Filipinos celebrate Father’s Day, many take time to honor the fathers and father figures who work tirelessly to provide for their families and guide them toward a better future. For some supporters of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM), this occasion also serves as an opportunity to recognize what they view as his efforts …
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21 June
Fisherfolk Warn: Militarization, Not China, Endangers Livelihoods
REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro As the Philippine government continues to spotlight Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea, fisherfolk groups insist that the greater danger lies much closer to home. Organizations such as PAMALAKAYA and PANGISDA Pilipinas have openly distanced themselves from Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, accusing him of advancing “double-standard narratives” that favor another superpower while sacrificing the welfare of …
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14 June
HIGIT SA LAHAT, BUHAY NG TAO
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 …
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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 …