The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
What presidential aspirant Mar Roxas is doing now remindsone of a challenger in a boxing match trying too hard to unseat a reigning champion.
Points of View & Perspectives
December, 2015
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27 December
Japan OKs record defense budget amid China concern
Tokyo—Japan’s Cabinet approved a record-high military spending plan, endorsing plans to purchase pricey US surveillance drones and F-35 fighter jets as Tokyo steps up cooperation with Washington amid China’s increasingly assertive activity in regional seas.
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20 December
The lies our leaders tell
In less than a year, Benigno Aquino III will be leaving the post to which he has ingratiated himself mostly on the basis of the collective ignorance, folly and presumptions of an unthinking constituency—slow to learn from past mistakes and even slower on the uptake where traditional politicians and their attendant imagery is concerned.
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20 December
Headwinds threaten Philippine economy
The much-awaited Federal Reserve rate hike that happened last week, the drop in crude oil prices and the decline in the Philippines peso vis-à-vis the US dollar are three flashpoints that could wreak havoc on the Philippines economy at a time when the country is basking in the afterglow of its consecutive quarterly growths.
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20 December
The true meaning of Christmas
Since it is Christmas, we will deviate from our regular commentary to give our readers a brief respite from the hustle and bustle of Philippine politics. Instead, we will ponder what this season is all about.
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20 December
China accuses US of military provocation in bomber flight
By Christopher Bodeen / The Associated Press Beijing—China’s Ministry of Defense on Saturday accused the United States of committing a “serious military provocation” by flying an Air Force B-52 bomber over a Chinese-controlled man-made island in the South China Sea, and reiterated that it would do whatever necessary to protect Chinese sovereignty.
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13 December
The demand for Duterte
Early in 2015 when the clamor for Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte was still in its infancy—almost a fanciful pipe dream among a few supporters still then limited to those fascinated by the peace and order brought to a city surrounded by constant war and violence—comparing him with other frontrunners, we had shot from the hip and labeled him …
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13 December
The battle for the 700-megahertz frequency
There is an interesting tug- of -war between telco giants Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and Globe Telecom, on one hand, and upcoming telco entrant San Miguel Corp. in partnership with Telstra of Australia, on the other, that concerns the allocation of an important band that is deemed crucial to Internet penetration.
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13 December
Fast-forwarding Mar Roxas’ decline
The latest poll conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is leading the current field of aspirants in terms of voters’ choice for the next president of the country.
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13 December
Asia’s coastal cities face challenge of rising seas
New Delhi— The future will be a watery one for some of the world’s biggest cities.