The South China Sea can be best described as a trouble-filled paradise. It possesses assets such as rich fishing grounds being enjoyed by people from the countries surrounding it for generations, beautiful tourism-worthy chains of islands and reefs that generate revenue and employment, and potential oil and natural gas reserves that can be tapped by countries around it for their economic well-being. However, it is these same assets that form the main reason for the diverse and complex territorial disputes involving Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

We are now on “ECQ, Season Two,” and it is up to us if we want another round of tough community quarantine classifications and lockdowns to be enforced or we are going move towards re-open of the economy and going on with lives safely by following basic health and safety protocols, and by being responsible for ourselves, our loved ones and our community.

Yes, it has been a year since the COVID-19 pandemic first made its presence felt in the Philippines, and it is far from over. It is now up to all of us Filipinos if we want to win over COVID-19, and survive together as one country and one people. The only option available to us right now is working together for us to be able to win over COVID-19, and survive together as one country and one people. The situation we are facing is difficult but it is not an impossible challenge to overcome.

Politicizing the Chinese-made vaccines and the vaccination program, in general, will only cause more harm than good to the Philippines and the Filipino people.

The policy failure on agriculture is a result of administrations between those of Ferdinand Marcos and of Rodrigo Duterte ignoring the role being played by the agriculture and fisheries sector in ensuring food security, price stability and national economic development. 

The strengthening of Filipino agribusinesses should be accompanied by intensified research and development activities, lowering of production costs and wastage, enhanced access to markets, technology and capital, and infrastructure building.

President Duterte still has a long way to go when it comes to the pursuit of economic reforms. Most of the reform promises are, at this point in time, still pending. With him only having three more years remaining in his six-year term.

2020 was a challenging year for most Filipinos. Despite the challenges posed and are still posed by the past year, most Filipinos are welcoming 2021 with cautious positivity.

COVID-19 is a major unifier and divider of people, countries and societies not only for 2020 but for the 21st century. 

The best Christmas gift that we can give to ourselves, our loved ones and our country is by keeping ourselves healthy and safe, and free from COVID-19 and other diseases.

Academic freedom has been always been invoked by teachers and students who believe in the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist and liberal political ideologies in some schools, colleges and universities in the Philippines to protect themselves from scrutiny not only by the authorities but also by the majority of Filipinos who have been suspicious of their true intentions.

A calamity is the worst time for people to engage in partisan activity. Politicking should be done only during the elections campaign, not during a time when there is a typhoon, earthquake or volcanic eruption.