NAWAF AL-SABAH WRITES- Although Colombia is the world’s top source of illicit drugs, traffickers have now made Asia a hub for both transportation and consumption. Interestingly, a few years ago, South Asian countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka became vulnerable regions for human trafficking due…
Full Article PHILIPPINES: IS THIS THE WAY TO RUN A DRUG WAR?
LULU ALKHALIDI WRITES – In polls conducted by Pulse Asian between September 14 and September 20, the rating for Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s performance was 91%. The poll was of course conducted during the coronavirus pandemic, with 5% of the population giving a negative response while 4% were undecided. In…
Full Article PHILIPPINES: PRESIDENT DUTERTE SCORES HIGH MARKS FROM FILIPINO FANS DESPITE LOW REGARD FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
MARY SANDRINE BERNOS WRITES — Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, a transgender woman, was found dead in 2014 at a local motel in Olongapo City by U.S. Marine Joseph Pemberton. She was found in the bathroom, wrapped in a blanket and slumped over a toilet bowl, after the soldier, upon finding out…
Full Article PHILIPPINES: CONVICTED U.S. MARINE SET FREE
CASEY MCGANNON WRITES — Many immigrants have similar motivations for leaving their home countries. They may seek opportunities that simply don’t exist where they’re from, or wish to escape persecution or, like many Filipino nurses, they seek better pay. The average salary for a registered nurse (RN) in the Philippines…
Full Article COPING WITH COVID-19: HOW FILIPINO NURSES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES SUPPORT FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS
IMMANUEL PORTUS WRITES — On May 2 the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival opened its first night with a film that took home the Grand Jury Prize soon after: “Yellow Rose,” helmed by director Diane Paragas and starring Tony winner Lea Salonga and Tony nominee Eva Noblezada— all prominent…
Full Article MOVIE REVIEW: ‘YELLOW ROSE’ BLOSSOMS BEYOND THE PHILIPPINES
NICOLE ALAVERDIAN WRITES – It is no secret that humans are amid a most severe environmental problem — global climate change. Ecological reports and scientific evidence point to the possibility of the “sixth great mass extinction” taking place. Countries have suggested climate change guidelines: The Paris Climate Agreement, of course.…
Full Article Asia Round-Up: As Election Season Looms in the Region, Why is the Environment a missing topic of concern?
MUHAMAD Al-OTHMAN WRITES– Online dating has taken the Asian region by storm, although not without consequence. Currently, online scams– where perpetrators convince their online ‘partner’ to send them money or give them access to their data– has swept over the Philippines. With the advent of the internet came the woes…
Full Article PHILIPPINES: Online Dating Scams, The Cost of Virtual Dating
CHELSEA SALAC WRITES– On December 17 last year, Catriona Gray won the Title of Miss Universe 2018. “It’s our Superbowl. The level of support that Filipinos give the arena of pageantry is phenomenal,” 25-year-old beauty queen Catriona Gray explains. The Philippines, a country that dominates International Beauty Pageants, has produced…
Full Article Philippines: Powerhouse of Beauty Pageants
“To have another language is to possess a second soul.” – Charlemagne ANAS ALZAHRANI WRITES — When non-native English speakers decide to learn English in a different country, the first locations that come to mind are the U.S and England, where English is the first language. Command over the English…
Full Article You Might Want to Head to Asia to Learn English
JABER AL SABAH WRITES — Facebook was intended to connect the world and bring people closer to each other. But the current political climate both in the US and abroad is proving to have the opposite effect—the power of connectivity is being used to harness hate and segregation. Facebook has…
Full Article FACEBOOK: A TOOL FOR VIOLENCE AND OPPRESSION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
MATTHEW RODRIGUEZ WRITES- Ever since the end of World War II, the jeepney has been the primary mode of public transportation for many Filipinos. It can trace its history back to the surplus Willy jeeps left behind by American soldiers. The surplus jeeps were then converted into transport vehicles. Drivers…
Full Article PHILIPPINES: ‘JEEPNEY IS TO MANILA AS THE YELLOW CAB IS TO NEW YORK’
MATTHEW RODRIGUEZ WRITES – The Philippines’ House of Representatives found probable cause for impeachment of the first female Chief Justice, Maria Lourdes Sereno. Justice Sereno has been accused of corruption and under-reporting income, among other allegations. This historic figure denies them all. But in a resounding result, the justice committee…
Full Article PHILIPPINES: JURY STILL OUT ON THE LATEST THRILLER IN MANILA
MATTHEW RODRIGUEZ WRITES – After more than 12,000 deaths, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced it will investigate human rights violations from Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs.” In July 2016, Duterte made headlines after introducing his anti-drugs initiative, which advocated the killing of anyone associated with the drug…
Full Article PHILIPPINES: ICC INITIATES INVESTIGATION ON DUTERTE’S WAR ON DRUGS
GUEST CONTRIBUTOR WILLIAM OVERHOLT, OF THE HARVARD ASIA CENTER, TELLS US – A deep look at the Philippines situation challenges fundamental elements of U.S. foreign policy. The seeming immense success of the recent Aquino presidency – with very high growth rates and a decisive move closer to the U.S. because of Chinese…
Full Article PHILIPPINES: TRACKING THE THUG PRESIDENCY
MARY GRACE COSTA WRITES – The Philippines and the United States have enjoyed a decades-long marriage, but there’s trouble brewing in paradise. Many people didn’t take Philippine President Rodrigo “Rody” Roa Duterte seriously when he said he was considering cutting ties with America and cozying up to Russia and China.…
Full Article PHILIPPINES: DEAR AMERICA, IT’S OVER, SINCERELY DUTERTE
MARY GRACE COSTA WRITES – Strong-armed President Rodrigo Duterte might be fresh from victory after the Philippine Senate voted to demote a vocal critic, but on her way out the door Sen. Leila De Lima warned Duterte to not rest on his laurels. On September 19, the Philippine Senate voted…
Full Article PHILIPPINES: STRONGMAN VS. STRONG WOMAN