Although the South China Sea (SCS) maritime issue has lately been a passionate concern only for the United States and the Philippines---and in these countries only among the hawks, defense contractors and military-industrial complex businessmen and their brown Amboys and girls---the rest of Asean are pinning their hopes on the final drafting of a Code of Conduct on the SCS.

How not to hasten the Code of Conduct 

In the House of Representatives, where members representing political districts and party-list organizations, are supposed to earn respect and admiration even from the public; are expected to be respectable adults with certain degree of intelligence, social awareness and empathy to the ordinary Filipino’s daily life of hardship and struggle—the situation obtaining on the ground is appalling.

Two young solons talk sense

Super typhoon Tino has left the Philippines but in its wake leveled large areas in Eastern and Central Visayas, Palawan, Mindanao and other islands.

The EDCA promise on disaster relief

Near the new Los Baños municipal hall in Laguna there is a simple monument which can hardly be called a shrine, and a narrow road leading to it.  The place is seldom visited by locals, as senior citizens of the town have come to ignore its significance, and the young are too busy with gadgets and gigs to care.

Yamashita in Los Baños

Ambassador Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino of Malaysia is the epitome of a regular diplomat, exuding optimism and positivism on the country which hosts him and where he is presently stationed.

Malaysia's optimism on PBBM

It has been a few weeks since the multi-millionaire Discaya couple mentioned the name of former Speaker and Leyte first district Representative Martin Romualdez in connection with the flood control anomalies, before the Senate Blue Ribbon panel.

Where's the beef about Romualdez?

From our perch here in Calumpang, we can see how whole industries and sectors---such as tourism--suffer by just one careless diplomatic faux pas or comment.

China-Japan tourism suffers as Manila resumes e-Visa

The government, through the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), has recently released figures showing our nation's exports of products to various countries.

China is our biggest export market but the gov't says it is the US

In September, 2025, the US military deployed its Typhon mid-range capability missile launcher system in Yamaguchi, Japan following joint military exercises with Japan.

US Typhons in Cagayan, Yamaguchi

When you pass by Palo in Leyte, you cannot miss the Leyte Landing Shrine, officially the Leyte Landing Memorial National Park.  The site commemorates General Douglas MacArthur's return to the Philippines on October 20, 1944, marking the beginning of the campaign to liberate the country from Japanese forces.

Leyte Landing, Tolosa, and Sanae

VIEW FROM CALUMPANG Column Diego Cagahastian and Raffy Sarnate

VIEW FROM CALUMPANG

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