Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase ADR Institute Contrary to public expectations, the third State of the Nation Address was not ridden with tirade, outrageous ad-libs and cursing. Instead, it was the shortest in comparison with the previous two addresses. As it was delivered in a more presidential-like fashion and focused on perceived pressing issues,… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase ADR Institute Today, President Duterte would be delivering his 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA). Compared to his previous speeches, the upcoming one needs to cover more substantives issues that have been borne out by three factors—the campaign promises that are yet to be fulfilled; the emergent concerns from… Read More

Dr. Go Ito, Professor at Meiji University and Director of Research at the Japan Forum on International Relations On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) issued a very significant award that the “nine dash line,” long claimed by China, has no legal foundation. The South China Sea was decided to be for all… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase ADR Institute As we commemorate the second anniversary of our nation’s victory in the Arbitral Tribunal, we reflect on how the Philippine government has used this landmark ruling to generate support from the international community and to uphold our claims over the West Philippine Sea. The Stratbase ADR Institute… Read More

Jose Antonio A. Custodio is a security and defense consultant.  He has served as a consultant for the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Office of the President. He specializes in military history and has post-graduate studies in history from the University of the Philippines. He also occasionally teaches history and political science… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase ADR Institute During the second anniversary of our nation’s victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague, the Stratbase ADR Institute gathered international experts, key stakeholders from the academe, government, and the private sector to discuss the consequences of the policy of appeasement that the administration… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase ADR Institute The Philippines has maintained a robust economy with a GDP growth rate of at least 6.5 percent for the past 10 consecutive quarters. But the bigger question is: How far can we sustain this economic momentum? President Duterte himself said the economic boom is not being felt… Read More