Philippines

Former President Benigno Aquino, pictured in August 2018: his wins now face the frightening specter of the Marcos family.
Opinion

Philippines mourns 'Noynoy' Aquino, a man who actually beat China

Posterity will remember former president as a true pillar of strength

28 June 2021
President Rodrigo Duterte, left, has ruled the Philippines very differently from his recently deceased predecessor, the relatively liberal Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III. (Source photos by Reuters)
Politics

Noynoy Aquino's death gives Duterte dynasty upper hand

Passing of former Philippine president shifts landscape ahead of 2022 polls

26 June 2021
Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino speaks at the close of the APEC summit in Metro Manila, on Nov. 2015. (Photo by Keiichiro Asahara)
Obituaries

Former Philippine President 'Noynoy' Aquino dies at 61

Loved by investors and loathed by China, he presided over an economic boom

24 June 2021
Under a proposed bilateral agreement, Vietnam is set to send its workers to Israel to learn agricultural techniques used there. 
Agriculture

Southeast Asia looks to Israeli tech to improve farming techniques

Israel companies offer ways to boost production as region faces supply threats

20 June 2021
Employees work at Mediatrac, a data analytics startup in Jakarta: Southeast Asia has seen a strong rebound in deals as investors adjust to the setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Startups

Indonesia startups stand out in ASEAN by leaning on bonus pay

Southeast Asia battles for top professionals as its digital prominence grows

18 June 2021
Members of the Philippine Coast Guard patrol beside Chinese vessels moored at Whitsun Reef, South China Sea on Apr, 14: there was hardly any sign of resistance from President Duterte.
Opinion

What will it take for Filipinos to fight for a piece of the ocean?

West Philippine Sea a metaphor for national decline in the Duterte era

17 June 2021
Philippine Airlines is in "the final stages of a comprehensive restructuring plan," according to parent PAL Holding. (Source photos by Reuters)
Companies

Philippine Airlines' financial woes mount as restructuring looms

Parent PAL Holdings warns carrier 'will have a long way to go for recovery'

17 June 2021
The extended lockdown in Malaysia has left the streets of its capital Kuala Lumpur deserted.
Markets

Emerging Asia faces capital outflow risk as Fed signals rate hike

Investors pulled $500m out of COVID-depressed markets in May

17 June 2021
Megaworld is the fifth Philippine company to announce it will tap the new instrument of real estate investment trusts. (Source photos by Hirofumi Yamamoto and screenshot from Megaworld's website)
IPO

Philippine call center landlord Megaworld eyes $567m REIT

Alliance Global unit joins other local developers in race to raise funds

16 June 2021
Filipino activists, alongside relatives of people killed in the country's war on drugs, hold a rally in Manila, Philippines. 
Society

International court prosecutor seeks probe into Philippine drug war

Over 6,000 dealers killed since Duterte took office, data shows

15 June 2021
President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech marking Philippine Independence Day on June 12. (Photo courtesy of the Philippines Presidential Communications Operations Office)
Indo-Pacific

US-Philippine defense pact lives on for another 6 months

Duterte to study 'concerns' regarding Visiting Forces Agreement

14 June 2021
Nonfungible tokens, or NFTs, are bought and sold in Southeast Asia through games such as Axie Infinity. (Source images from Axie Infinity website)
Technology

Southeast Asians jumping on NFT bandwagon to boost incomes

But signs of falling liquidity in nonfungible token markets could mean trouble

14 June 2021
A feud over the disputed South China Sea erupted this week between Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and boxer-turned-politician Manny Pacquiao. (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi and Shinya Sawai)
Politics

Pacquaio clashes with Duterte as boxer ponders presidential bid

Tensions rise in ruling party over South China Sea policy, succession plans

10 June 2021
The Philippine central bank aims for 70% of adults in the country to have an account at a formal financial institute by 2023. (Source photos by Reuters and screenshot from Uno Bank and Tonik Bank's websites)
Finance

Philippines steps up fintech push with two new digital banks

Central bank issues licenses to Tonik and UNO Bank

8 June 2021
Yuka Saso lifts the U.S. Women's Open trophy with her father, Masakazu Saso, after her first major tournament victory.
Sports

Saso's victory extends Asian dominance in women's golf

8 of the last 10 US Women's Open Championships won by players from region

8 June 2021
Yuka Saso hoists the U.S. Open trophy after winning in a sudden death playoff following the final round of the Women's Open golf tournament at The Olympic Club in San Francisco on June 6. (Photo by Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports)  
Sports

Yuka Saso's US Open victory bolsters Philippines' Olympic hopes

Golfing community and sponsors awed by historic win of the Filipino-Japanese

7 June 2021
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte delivers a speech in May 2019: the best way to protect her father from potential prosecution may be if she herself is president.
Opinion

Palace intrigue as the House of Marcos eyes the House of Duterte

From ancient grudge to new liaisons in fair Manila

7 June 2021
Yuka Saso hoists the US Open trophy after winning in a sudden death playoff following the final round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, U.S. on June 6. (Photo by Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports) 
Sports

Philippine teen Yuka Saso wins US Women's Open

19-year-old golfer beats Japan's Nasa Hataoka in a playoff

7 June 2021
A member of the U.S. Marine Corps waits to load a 105 mm high explosive round into a Philippine Marine Corps M102 105 mm howitzer during an exercise at Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base in Tarlac, Philippines. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps)
International relations

Duterte's decision on US defense pact to come 'anytime now'

Manila and Washington officials tout improved Visiting Forces Agreement

4 June 2021
Benjamin Diokno, governor of The Philippine central bank, speaks to Nikkei Asia. (File photo by Yoichi Iwata)
Interview

Philippine central bank open to more easing despite record-low rates

In Nikkei interview, Gov. Diokno also speaks about digitizing the financial sector

2 June 2021
First Gen's floating LNG terminal is expected to save time and money on construction. (Photo courtesy of First Gen)
Energy

Southeast Asia scrambles for LNG with gas fields tapping out

Philippines and Vietnam build terminals in preparation for first imports

2 June 2021
Monde Nissin, maker of the Lucky Me! instant noodle brand, has scored the Philippines' biggest ever IPO.
IPO

Philippines' Monde Nissin aims to cash in on plant-based meat boom

Shares open lower on first day of trading following last week's $1bn IPO

1 June 2021
Containerships at a port in Malaysia. The Southeast Asian nation's exports surged 63% in April.
Trade

Malaysia leads Southeast Asia recovery on digital device demand

Vietnam and Singapore also rebound while Philippines mired in slump

29 May 2021
The Philippines on May 28 began vaccinating its Olympic athletes at a hotel in Manila.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics

ASEAN and India prepare for Olympics as opposition grows in Japan

Philippines vaccinates athletes; Lee Hsien Loong cheers Singapore team

28 May 2021
Since he was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease, Peter Scott-Morgan, a British scientist and robotics expert, has become a happy, super-productive cyborg. (Screenshot from Peter Scott-Morgan’s Twitter page)
Century of Data

It's inevitable: You will spend half your life in digital realm

Cons: Depression and loss of productivity. Pro: Unlocking human potential

27 May 2021