A closer look at how church structure, theology, and political culture shape the vulnerability of some evangelical and Pentecostal groups to political co-optation in the Philippines.
Due Process or Delay the Process? When Due Process Becomes a Moving Target
As VP Sara Duterte invokes due process, a House-led hearing ordered by the Supreme Court is now under scrutiny—raising questions about delay and accountability.
Unleashing Sibugay At 25: Beyond Celebration, Toward Fulfillment
Governor Ann Hofer’s message was both celebratory and cautionary when she stood before the crowd in Alicia town on February 16 to open the 25th Araw ng Sibugay. “This celebration is not only for those at the center of government,…
How Duterte’s War On Drugs Shaped A False Sense Of Security For The Middle Class
Fear was the currency of the campaign when Rodrigo Duterte launched his war on drugs in 2016. Fear of crime. Fear of addicts lurking in neighborhoods. Fear that the state had grown weak. Duterte offered something simple and seductive: order through…
When The Crown Of Caesar Replaces The Crown Of Thorns
There are seasons in a nation’s life when the church must ask whether it is still following the Crucified One — or kneeling before Caesar. Let me cite two cases to make my point clear. Many church leaders enthusiastically supported…
From ‘Nanlaban’ To The Hague: How A Liloy Killing Reached The International Criminal Court
I remember the first time I heard about the killing of three youngsters in Barangay Overview, Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte in 2016. It was described to me in the familiar language of the drug war — nanlaban. They fought back,…
Opinion | Why Community Journalism Needs A Media-Citizens Council
Community journalism is often described as the frontline of democracy. It reports on barangay politics, local governance, social services, and community conflicts—stories that shape people’s daily lives but rarely reach national headlines. However, it is precisely this closeness to power…
Araw Ng Tungawan at 65: A Town Marks Its Turning Point
The 65th Araw ng Tungawan is not just another date on the town’s calendar, marked by parades, pageants, and perfunctory speeches. This year, the celebration carries a deeper political and historical weight. It marks not only the founding anniversary of…
A Brazen Killing, A Troubling Question: Who Is Safe Now?
The killing of a Philippine Coast Guard station commander along a busy national highway in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay is not just another crime blotter entry. It is a chilling reminder of how fragile public safety remains—even for those sworn to…
EDITORIAL | The Literacy Crisis Is Not A Failure Of Filipinos — It Is A Failure Of Policy
When the state says 24 million Filipinos are functionally illiterate, the most dangerous response is to treat this as a personal shortcoming — as if millions simply failed to try hard enough. They did not. This crisis is not the…
After The Fireworks: Living Faithfully In An Uncertain World
The fireworks have faded. We reheated the lechon one time too many. The calendars are new, but our routines are not. We wake up, go back to work, check the news, pay the bills, and try—once again—to make sense of…
OPINION: When Land Is Given Away, So Is The Future
Vice Mayor Amy Olegario’s words during the Sangguniang Bayan deliberation were striking not because they were dramatic, but because they were restrained. “But since you are in the majority, I would like to manifest my opposition to the move to…






