Philippine Democracy Online

  By Francis Jeus Ibañez  Just recently, the earth groaned beneath the Visayas region as a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Bogo City, Cebu. It was sudden, violent, and unforgiving—toppling buildings, cracking roads, and sending families scrambling for safety. The tremors didn’t just shake the ground; they rattled the very foundations of public trust and institutional preparedness. In the aftermath, questions started to surface—not just about the damage, but about the systems that were supposed to prevent or mitigate it. For years, disaster risk reduction had been discussed in government halls and academic forums, yet the reality on the ground told a different story. Communities were caught off guard, emergency protocols were unclear, and infrastructure failed to withstand the quake’s force. It was as if the nation had seen this coming but chose not to look. This is where Republic Act No. 6713 enters the picture. Known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Off...

  By Francis Jeus Ibañez  Into the heart of the Philippine archipelago, where resilience is etched into the soul of every citizen, a quiet erosion threatens the nation- not of infrastructure or economy, but of principle. As the country grapples with economic instability and political disillusionment, a quote from C.S. Lewis echoes with haunting relevance: “Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; right is right even if no one is doing it.” This is not just a philosophical musing. It is a call to arms- a moral imperative in a time when truth is often traded for convenience, and integrity drowned out by the noise of populism and patronage. Rule of Law: A Broken Compass? The rule of law in the Philippines has long been a contested terrain. From selective justice to impunity for the powerful, the legal system often appears more ornamental than operational. When laws are bent to serve political ends, the very foundation of democracy trembles. Lewis’s words remind us that legali...

by Christopher Ryan Maboloc, PhD  The Nepalese Government banned social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram in the country, causing anger among GenZs who are considered as digital natives. The youth have used social media to express their sentiments against the state. The government wants to silence online dissent. However, social media is also part of the daily life of the youth since many use these platforms to communicate to each other, do business, or maintain contact with their relatives abroad.  Banning the use of social media platforms made the youth feel that they have been deprived of their rights. The violent protests started on September 4, 2025. Some youth protesters have stormed and burned the Parliament and the homes of some government officials despite the presence of government security forces. Twenty-two people died on the first day of protest, including a 12 year old. The protests have forced the prime minister to step down. But what was really the ro...