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Boxer Codex

by Elfren S. Cruz - July 19, 2026 - 12:00am

The book “Boxer Codex: A Modern Spanish Transcription and English Translation of 16th Century Exploration Accounts of East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Second Edition” transcribed and edited by...

Understanding and appreciating the Mindanawon

by Elfren S. Cruz - July 16, 2026 - 12:00am

The book “More Mindanawon Than We Admit: History, Culture and Identity in the Philippine South” (Vibal Foundation, 2024) explores the history, culture and heritage of the people of Mindanao.

100 greatest Filipino movies

by Elfren S. Cruz - July 12, 2026 - 12:00am

In the Preface to the book “100 Sine Film Pelikula: the 100+ Greatest Movies of Philippine Cinema” (Summit Books, 2026), the author Jo-Ann Q. Maglipon,who collaborated with film scholar Joel David, writes: “There...

The Philippines in a new world order

by Elfren S. Cruz - July 9, 2026 - 12:00am

We are understandably focused on Philippine politics these days.

Social democracy and a life of human dignity for all

by Elfren S. Cruz - July 5, 2026 - 12:00am

The recent news that the Philippines, together with Vietnam, according to the World Bank, has changed its economic category from a low-middle income class nation to a high-middle income class.

Challenging Beijing’s ‘Mandate of Heaven’

by Elfren S. Cruz - July 2, 2026 - 12:00am

Modern China is often portrayed as a politically stable and economically successful nation governed by a powerful authoritarian regime.

Pax Silica: Too good to be true?

by Elfren S. Cruz - June 28, 2026 - 12:00am

I have been searching for some topic that would be good news for the Philippines instead of the current spate of bad news.

Inside Iran today

by Elfren S. Cruz - June 25, 2026 - 12:00am

When Donald Trump declared war and started bombing Iran, most of the world was waiting for the time when Iran would finally surrender. Even when the price of oil more than doubled and the world was on the verge of...

Will Maoism try to become a global ideology again?

by Elfren S. Cruz - June 21, 2026 - 12:00am

It has become well known by now that Xi Jinping wants to be the next Mao Zedong in China’s history.

A new perspective on Rizal

by Elfren S. Cruz - June 18, 2026 - 12:00am

Tomorrow, June 19, is the 165th birthday of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.

Prepare to defend our country

by Elfren S. Cruz - June 14, 2026 - 12:00am

In the midst of our Independence Day celebration and turmoil in the Senate, we may have overlooked a major crisis looming in our horizon.

Can we still be saved from corruption?

by Elfren S. Cruz - June 11, 2026 - 12:00am

Tomorrow, June 12, we commemorate the 128th anniversary of Philippine independence.

Defending women’s rights is defending democracy

by Elfren S. Cruz - June 7, 2026 - 12:00am

In the last few decades, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of authoritarian governments.

Magnifica Humanitas, a powerful encyclical

by Elfren S. Cruz - June 4, 2026 - 12:00am

Last week, I wrote about the first papal encyclical of Pope Leo XIV entitled Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity): On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence.

An encyclical that must be read

by Elfren S. Cruz - May 31, 2026 - 12:00am

This month, May 2026, Pope Leo XIV published his first major teaching document, the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity): On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial In...

Asia and America

by Elfren S. Cruz - May 28, 2026 - 12:00am

The visit of President Trump to China a week or so ago has again renewed the question of what is Trump’s geopolitical strategy in Asia. Around 15 years ago, in 2011, US President Barack Obama committed to rebalancing...

Dire predictions of China’s future

by Elfren S. Cruz - May 24, 2026 - 12:00am

For the past several decades, those who specialize in geopolitics and global economics have spent a lot of time predicting the future of China and the Chinese Communist Party.

The Senate must represent people’s interests

by Elfren S. Cruz - May 21, 2026 - 12:00am

The Philippines is in the midst of a serious economic crisis.

Senate: A failed institution?

by Elfren S. Cruz - May 17, 2026 - 12:00am

Is the Philippine Senate a failed institution? The tragicomic events that occurred in the Senate this past week have brought this question to the public.

The real purpose of education

by Elfren S. Cruz - May 14, 2026 - 12:00am

Philippine education is again in the midst of another controversy regarding its curriculum.

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