The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The week just passed imprinted the following names in the news for the Catholic, Americanized, Filipino citizen – Pope Leo XIV, POTUS Trump, and Witness Madriaga. The Pope, spotlighted on Africa; the Donald, on the Strait Hormuz; and the Witness, on his former Boss. These personalities have changed our perception of the basic truths we have so far held …
Points of View & Perspectives
April, 2026
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20 April
See through the noise
The persistence—and escalation—of Die-hard Duterte Supporters (DDS) underscores a troubling feature of Philippine politics: loyalty untethered from accountability. Despite the intensifying scrutiny at Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment proceedings, her followersremain not only intact but increasingly aggressive. What might have been a moment for reflection has become a rallying point for disinformation, intimidation and political theater. Recent revelations by Duterte family’s close aide and bagman Ramil Madriaga have ignited widespread online …
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20 April
BIYAYANG BIGAS PROGRAM: A PBBM DIRECT RICE RESPONSE
LOVE FOR ALLBy: Virginia Rodriguez President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent launch of the Biyayang Bigas para sa Maynila (BBM) program signals a direct and immediate response to the mounting economic strain felt by many urban Filipinos. With 80,000 families set to receive rice assistance over six months, the initiative offers timely relief, particularly to transport workers, service employees, and low-income …
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20 April
Beyond the Headlines and Press Releases
REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro The Department of Justice’s recent decision to prosecute a mother for selling her newborn child is being hailed as another triumph in the government’s campaign against criminality. On the surface, it is a clear victory: the law has spoken, justice has been served, and society can breathe a sigh of relief. Yet to stop at the press …
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13 April
Democracy is Bad?
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 …
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13 April
Promoting public safety
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 …
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13 April
Energy-Saving for All—Except the Military?
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 …
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13 April
Reform Drive at the Bureau of Customs
LOVE FOR ALLBy: 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. …
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6 April
Between Sincerity and Strategic Dialogue
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 …
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6 April
No one’s immune to social strain
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 …