I have been a major “bull” on the Philippines. The combination of an educated, English-language speaking workforce and a deep-rooted work ethic has turned the Filipino people into the care-givers, IT programmers and maritime profes­sionals of the world.As my friend and prominent business reporter Doris Dumlao wrote in the Philippine Daily Inquirer recently “... I distinctly remember him (yours truly) telling me ― long before it happened ― that he could feel a turnaround happening for the Philipp

Amid slowing economic growth, higher budget deficit and increased exposure to external debt, the future of the domestic political landscape is showing some distressing signs. The polarization of the political parties supporting the two pairs of presidential candidates, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo-Jusuf Kalla and Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa, are almost evenly split, indicating a divided House of Representative come October 2014. Since the stakes of both presidential candidates are high, the bitter com

Imagine that you’re running a charity. Suppose you have evidence showing that your charity is highly effective ― that you are really making a difference in people’s lives. In your fundraising campaign, should you emphasize how effective you are?In a new study, Yale University economist Dean Karlan and Clemson University economist Daniel Wood offer a surprising answer. It turns out that large donors respond positively to statistical evidence of effectiveness ― but small donors respond negatively.

China’s problems stemming from minorities in the west of the country ― particularly the Uighurs, but also the Tibetans ― do not seem to be coming to an end. Given Beijing’s approach, it will not be solved soon.The most recent attack occurred last Thursday in Urumqi, in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Suicide bombs from two SUVs killed at least 31 and wounded 94 at a popular morning garden market. Some suspect that the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a separatist group, may have played a

We don’t normally expect our presidents to pay close attention to how long veterans are being asked to wait for care in the vast medical system run by the Department of Veterans Affairs.But we do expect presidents to appoint Cabinet officers and other aides who can run the federal government well ― well enough, at least, to prevent full-blown scandals from erupting.That’s what the VA’s long-running scheduling problems have turned into after reports that veterans died while waiting for medical ca

The recent, tragic accident of the Sewol ferry, which claimed hundreds of lives, engulfed the nation with a sense of remorse and sorrow. Over a month has passed since then, and many are still resentful. Some blame the authorities, from the Coast Guard to relevant ministries, while others criticize the outdated and ineffective system. But, we should rise up from playing the blame game to conduct a “logical, heartfelt analysis and systematic reform,” so that the deaths of fellow Koreans are not in

PARIS ― Confronted with Russia’s reassertion of its imperial tradition and the deceptive methods and reflexes of the Soviet past, how should Europe respond? Should it give priority to “the value of geography” or to “the geography of values”?Those who opt for the former do so in the name of short-term “energy realism,” arguing that it is vital to reach an agreement with Russia because Europe lacks America’s shale gas and oil. According to this reasoning, the United States can live without Russia,

LONDON ― The abduction of more than 240 Nigerian girls has shocked the world. But, unfortunately, their case is not an isolated one in Nigeria. Indeed, Nigeria’s torment is shared by many other African countries, and the motivation behind the kidnapping derives from an ideology that is global.That ideology is based on a warped and false view of religion. It is taught in formal and informal school settings worldwide. Of course, the hideous and crazed words of the leader of Boko Haram, the group t

With the Russians on the prowl, the Chinese hacking into our computers, Boko Haram in Nigeria triggering fear and celebrity hashtags, the last thing America needs is to lose a trusted ally:England.But the great Anglo-American alliance is threatened by the reality TV show “I Wanna Marry ‘Harry,’” which premiered Tuesday on Fox and which mocks foolish young American women who think they can shake their hips and marry an English royal.This stupid show does more damage to NATO than Jack Bauer shooti

Once again, a management mess. Once again, the White House says an angry president vows to fix things.And once again, that vow comes more than a little late, creating another political problem for Barack Obama.The president’s initial reaction to reports that Veterans Affairs officials covered up that perhaps two dozen veterans died because of delays in getting appointments was strikingly similar to his initial comments after last fall’s disastrous Affordable Care Act rollout.In both cases, the W