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Polarized

by Alex Magno - July 2, 2026 - 12:00am

On top of it all, our politics has become irredeemably polarized.

Scrutinize

by Alex Magno - June 30, 2026 - 12:00am

Scrutinize. Scrutinize. Scrutinize.

Variance

by Alex Magno - June 27, 2026 - 12:00am

The past few weeks, our diplomatic relations with China appear to have deteriorated into a war of angry press releases, spiced with travel bans.

Polycrisis

by Alex Magno - June 25, 2026 - 12:00am

The passengers frantically rearranging the furniture as the Titanic sinks. Such powerful imagery is apt for our situation.

Stagflation

by Alex Magno - June 23, 2026 - 12:00am

We knew we were in it. But it is now officially acknowledged: the Philippines is in stagflation.

Wildcard

by Alex Magno - June 20, 2026 - 12:00am

So far, so good.

Backloaded

by Alex Magno - June 18, 2026 - 12:00am

For some reason, the actual text of the “memorandum of understanding” due to be signed by the US and Iran tomorrow has not been released.

Cheaper

by Alex Magno - June 16, 2026 - 12:00am

Fuel prices drop significantly today. This could be the beginning of a trend.

Rice

by Alex Magno - June 13, 2026 - 12:00am

The biggest item pushing our inflation rate is not fuel, as one might expect. It is rice.

Destab

by Alex Magno - June 11, 2026 - 12:00am

I get nervous whenever high government officials start claiming a “destabilization plot” is in progress. Most often, such claims are invoked to suppress dissenting voices and cover up the truth.

Standards

by Alex Magno - June 9, 2026 - 12:00am

For the second time in as many weeks, we are pulling bodies from the wreckage.

Eased

by Alex Magno - June 6, 2026 - 12:00am

The inflation rate for May turned out a bit more merciful.

Blockbuster

by Alex Magno - June 4, 2026 - 12:00am

In the end – I suspect – the reason the Cayetano-led Senate majority denied the chamber a quorum was to prevent any derailment to the Blue Ribbon committee hearing scheduled for this morning.

Work

by Alex Magno - June 2, 2026 - 12:00am

I had no way of knowing, ahead of the deadline for turning in this column, what happened in the Senate Monday night.

Inconsistent

by Alex Magno - May 30, 2026 - 12:00am

For the most worthless reasons imaginable, all eyes are on the Philippine Senate. The chamber has taken centerstage in the endless tragi-comedy we sometimes call “government.”

Lightly

by Alex Magno - May 28, 2026 - 12:00am

eginning, there was this thing called a Hold Departure Order.

Crucified

by Alex Magno - May 26, 2026 - 12:00am

When Sara Duterte warned that impeaching her would result in a bloodbath, she did not foretell that the first to be crucified is the Senate.

Manhunt

by Alex Magno - May 23, 2026 - 12:00am

The legal paperwork has been done. Sen. Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa is now officially a fugitive.

Dysfunctional

by Alex Magno - May 21, 2026 - 12:00am

The greater likelihood is that our politics will become even more polarized in the coming period.

Fiduciary

by Alex Magno - May 19, 2026 - 12:00am

Some of our legislators seem to imagine we have a centrally planned economy. Because of that, they legislate stuff that undermine the efficient operation of our market – undermining stability and closing opportunities...

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