Typhoon Goni, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Rolly, was an extremely powerful tropical cyclone that made landfall in the Philippines in the province of Catanduanes, and affected the Bicol region and Southern Luzon.

Around this time four years ago, the climate community was in shock. Just when the world seemed to be on the cusp of pursuing serious measures to fight climate change, voters in the United States (US) elected a president who would try to reverse all of the country’s previous climate achievements, causing immeasurable damage. We are now finally approaching the end of that bleak era.

Matters related to territorial disputes both land and maritime, particularly in the case of Southeast Asia (SEA), are among the most contentious issues in the region’s politics nowadays.

Most readers will remember the widespread enthusiasm with which we met the arrival of the 21st century. It was a time of high hopes, grandiloquent editorials, and unfeigned daring on the part of the West. Yet in the blink of an eye (historically speaking), the spirit of the times shifted radically – even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. For much of the world, this century has been a period of frustration and disillusion.

Amidst the economic recession being experienced by the Philippines and the world at large caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, infrastructure development through the “Build Build Build” (BBB) program of the Duterte administration is said to be one of the key drivers if not the main driver of the economic recovery of the country. The “BBB” program is anchored on Duterte’s long-time conviction and advocacy for a more balanced and responsive regional/countryside development for the country.

25 December is Christmas Day! In the words of singer Andy Williams, it is the “most wonderful time of the year.” For Christians and Catholics alike, it is one of the most awaited times of the year. It is by far one of the most sacred religious holidays and a worldwide cultural phenomenon especially for Catholics and Christians alike. It is believed to be the birth of Jesus of Nazareth and the world has been commemorating and celebrating it for the last two millennia.

In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 27 July, President Rodrigo Duterte stated that, “Within ASEAN and beyond, the Philippines will continue to work with partners to address global perils and ramp up cooperation to secure for our peoples, greater peace, progress, and prosperity. The Filipino nation claims its rightful place in the community of sovereign states.

After more than three months of hard lockdowns, the Philippines is now trying to ease out quarantine restrictions for its economy to bounce back.

Even after Asia’s economies climb out of the COVID-19 recession, China’s strategy of frenetically building dams and reservoirs on transnational rivers will confront them with a more permanent barrier to long-term economic prosperity: water scarcity.

It has been three years now since the tragic “Marawi Siege”, but until now, terrorist attacks continue to permeate the Philippines making it hard for the government to secure its citizens from those who persistently seek to attack the lives and the way of life of every Filipino. The Marawi Siege just like the tragic events of 11 September (9/11), the Bali bombings, and the home-grown terrorists’ attacks in London, is the quintessence of the country’s long struggle against terrorism.