The Israel – Iran Conflict, and How Bad it Can Really Get

June 18, 2025

With Israel’s “pre-emptive” attacks against Iran last Friday, tensions are escalating even further in the region. Iran has retaliated, and the entire world’s calls for de-escalation are falling on deaf ears. This article from the BBC speculates on possible worst-case scenarios of this ongoing conflict. Here’s a quick summary: America gets dragged into the conflict, and President Trump is forced to act. Other Gulf nations are dragged in, escalating tensions in the region even further. Israel fails to destroy Iran’s nuclear capability, forcing it to hasten their race for nuclear capability. The world economy falls even further, as gas prices soar. Iran’s regime falls, leaving a power vacuum in the region. And out of all of these worst-case scenarios, what does this mean for the

The real opposition is a Marcos

April 16, 2025

It’s interesting times we are living in, especially when it comes to Philippine politics. There’s a post doing the rounds on the internet that’s interesting food for thought. The real opposition is a Marcos – as early as mid-2023, I already heard this remark from some Senators and political observers. And our monitoring has shown that Senator Imee has been a strong critic of the policies of the BBM administration and the Romualdez Congress. Very valid points from the original poster – what do you think of this brewing Marcos-led opposition?

Musings from eight years ago for a Better Philippines

April 9, 2025

Saw this in my notes from eight years ago: Three things will guarantee the country’s image as an investment haven: tough bureaucratic and economic reforms, tax system overhaul, and an infrastructure build-up. I believe it was true then, and it is still true now. If you think about it, the groundwork for the last two was already laid with the TRAIN Law, CREATE Law etc., and the Build Build Build project. We need to keep moving forward – and my hope is that our current and future leaders work together in order to change the country for the better. Enough of the politicking.

The ‘Broken Windows Theory’ and Why Sidewalk Clearing Matters

April 2, 2025

Have you heard of the “Broken Windows Theory”? The “Broken Windows Theory,” introduced in 1982 by criminologists James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, suggests that visible signs of disorder encourage further rule-breaking and more serious crime. This concept uses the metaphor of a building with broken windows, illustrating how unchecked neglect reveals a lack of rule enforcement and a tolerance for negative behaviors. Notably, consistently enforcing laws against minor issues, the “petty” things, actually reduces overall crime incidents. This principle is extremely relevant as numerous “broken windows” currently confront us in the Philippines. How MMDA’s Gabriel Go Fixes “Broken Windows” and Addresses Public Disorder One recent issue that gained viral attention centers on Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Special Operations Group – Strike Force (SOG-SF)

Birthday Wishes and Calls to #BringHimHome

March 29, 2025

The biggest birthday celebration and call for PRRD’s return home is still ongoing across the Philippines and various parts of the world. These activities are indeed a celebration of his legacy and a protest against his detention. Moreover, it is also a call for his return to the Philippines. Will the protests stop? – I don’t think so. Will it affect the trust ratings of this administration? – It will further go down. Will it affect the winnability of the admin’s slate? – Certainly. I came across a post online that lists all the different celebrations and what they were calling “peaceful gatherings” of different Duterte supporters planned today on PRRD’s birthday. It was an amazing list that showed not just the planned demonstrations in

Judgment Day? Former President Duterte’s arrest by the ICC

March 14, 2025

Everyone’s talking about it – Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was arrested and flown to The Hague. As of today, March 14, 7:00 a.m., the sentiments regarding the arrest of Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC) are varied: Opposition and Skepticism Duterte’s supporters view the arrest as an infringement on Philippine sovereignty and an act of political vendetta. They argue that Duterte enjoyed high approval ratings for his tough stance on crime, suggesting that his actions were in line with public demand for security. There’s skepticism about the ICC’s jurisdiction and motives, with some seeing it as foreign interference. Support for the Arrest Human rights groups and activists have celebrated the arrest, seeing it as a significant step towards justice for the victims

Thoughts about our Economy and the State of the World

March 5, 2025

I attended the Center for Research and Communication’s (CRC) 1967 – 1990 homecoming last February 22, 2025. And it was so great to see friends, batchmates, and the country’s leading economists in one venue! The highlight of the event, of course was listening to the messages of two of the founders of CRC – Jesus “Jess” Estanislao and Bernardo “Bernie” Villegas. They brought up very interesting points for reflection of the economic situation of the Philippines (and the world), which we all could learn a lot from. Let me share with you some snippets of their messages. *** From Jess Estanislao’s Message to the CRC (Jess Estanislao is a Filipino economist, and the Secretary of Finance of the Philippines during the time of President Corazon Aquino). “But we

The Generics Act – Finding a Middle Ground for the Good of the Public

February 5, 2025

We take it for granted now, but back in the 80s and earlier, the brand of medicine that your doctor prescribed you was the one you got. As a patient, you would get the brand that was doc-prescribed – no matter how expensive it was! In the Philippines, cheaper alternatives existed, but the public really didn’t know any better. Unless you were a doctor, you wouldn’t really know the generic name of the medicine. You had to rely on what brand the doctor was pushing. Even the packaging of the drugs only had the brand name, not the generic name. How would the public know that there were cheaper alternatives, that were as effective? All this changed with the Generics Act of 1988, or R.A.

Life Lessons from our favorite Doc Willie Ong

September 18, 2024

I am reminded of what really matters in life because of former senate aspirant, vlogger, cardiologist, and former vice presidential aspirant Doctor Willie Ong. Watching his vlogs as he continues his fight against cancer is a wake up call to one’s mortality. Even as he undergoes chemotherapy, he continue to post content. The purpose is to show the world and his followers the effects of cancer – its symptoms and challenges, unfiltered. A blow by blow of what an actual fight against cancer entails. His wife Liza officially announced his withdrawal from the 2025 senatorial race to focus on his cancer treatments. I think it’s all for the best. In one of his vlogs, he mentions that part of the reason his health deteriorated is

Branding Duterte was an Exercise in Authenticity

July 3, 2024

One thing I proved during the presidential campaign of then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is that authenticity really is the best strategy. It was his brash talk, macho humor, and kitschy fashion that incited feelings of discomfort in some – but ended up endearing him to the majority of voters. It was very easy to frame this as his strength. He didn’t mince words, and he was unabashedly himself at all times. In short, he was always his authentic self. This brand of authenticity was what the Duterte Communications Team capitalized on, and which helped led to the first Mindanaoan President in our history. He was far from the cookie-cutter politico that everyone was used to, and instead of hiding all his flaws, we

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