Indonesian forest and peatland fires have spread hazardous haze across Southeast Asia, disrupting tourism, aviation, agriculture, education, and public health. With economic losses mounting in Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia, the recurring crisis exposes weaknesses in…
Women remain underrepresented in many ASEAN legislatures and cabinets despite significant differences between member states. President Marcos has called for stronger pathways into political leadership, while political dynasties, party structures, social norms, and weak quotas…
Could the impeachment of Sara Duterte trigger a deeper political unbundling of the Philippines? This working paper examines the constitutional, territorial, political, fiscal, and security conditions that could turn an impeachment crisis into regional defiance…
This 2026 computational reanalysis of the Wagner and Grant 2007 pilot examines how four brief narrowband UVB exposures affected serum 25(OH)D. In ten irradiated adults, mean 25(OH)D increased by 13.7 ng/mL over 12 days, with…
Pax Silica could make the Philippines a major hub for semiconductors, minerals, and data centers. But an overly public launch, complex local politics, and poor sequencing have turned a promising strategy into a bureaucratic mess.
Are disasters really becoming more frequent and deadly, or do they simply feel that way? This study examines 40 years of disaster data to separate physical hazards from population exposure, vulnerability, media visibility, and the…
Skin whitening is deeply embedded in Southeast Asia’s beauty culture. From affordable creams to cosmetic procedures and glutathione treatments, the pursuit of lighter skin reflects longstanding class ideals, colonial legacies, media influence, and modern social…
ASEAN member states have long maintained a wary and limited engagement with the International Criminal Court (ICC), prioritizing national sovereignty over participation in the Rome Statute system. Only a small minority of Southeast Asian countries…
ASEAN member nations are struggling to keep their proverbial heads above water, as well as their feet wet. An enhanced cycle of floods and droughts are today more and more challenging their abilities to adequately…
Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto “Gilbert” Teodoro Jr. issued a sharp call for ASEAN member states to abandon any pretense of neutrality in the face of Chinese actions in the South China Sea, arguing…
