In the clearest sign yet of Duterte’s rejection of long-standing USA-Philippine relations, the president has said he hopes Russia will become his country’s new ally and protector. His remarks came …
Treasure hunters claim they have discovered a huge horde of booby-trapped Japanese gold that was hidden in the Philippines during World War II. A video has emerged that purports to show …
The legendary ABC Hotel in Angeles City has unveiled it’s new “luxury playground” rooftop bar. More an “entertainment complex” than just a bar, the 1,700sqm Aqua Beach Club is spread …
A British supermarket worker abandoned his wife and three-year-old daughter to travel to the Philippines and join up with Abu Sayyaf, a court has heard. Ryan Counsell, aged 28, is …
Ever since President Duterte announced his intention to pivot towards China and Russia, the Kremlin has started to take a close interest in the Philippines. At the moment, two Russian …
I was reminded this week of an incident from my past by a very amusing story that I came across about a caucasian girl working in a retail store. This particular …
Picture the scene: a group of men crouch around a campfire, roasting a freshly skinned dog, poking at the glowing embers with sticks. They are barefoot and naked except for …
More than 100 suspected Muslim insurgents stormed a jail today (Wednesday, January 4), killing a prison guard and freeing 158 prisoners. Six inmates were reported killed in gun battles with …
A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel to Outer Mongolia for a consulting job. Having never been that far north before and also having never visited …
When I first moved to the Philippines we drove around the country stopping here and there until myself and my partner happened upon a place that we felt would suit …
Whenever we publish a news article that mentions President Duterte (in good faith, without any attempt at bias) we expect to be attacked. (For clarity: This is an “opinion” column, …
I had been planning a trip to Lakawon Island Resort and Spa, a popular destination in the northern regions of Negros Occidental. Last year, we reported (here) how the 32-acre banana-shaped …
TWO Russian warships docked in Manila today (Tuesday, January 3) in anticipation of conducting war games with the Philippines Navy. Meanwhile, Beijing yesterday confirmed that its aircraft carrier had conducted drills …
In the first year of my retirement, following a heart attack and saddled with a ‘terminal’ blood condition, I decided to leave the comfort of small town New Zealand and …
Cebu City’s Sinulog Festival, one of the nation’s biggest, brightest and wildest parties is getting underway this week. The annual cultural and religious celebration commemorates the Filipinos’ conversion to Christianity …
The Malacañang has released an end-of-year report that lists, at some length, the “key accomplishments” of the Duterte administration so far. The achievements include everything from successfully prosecuting the war on drugs …
I found myself with a week of meetings in London and was living in Hong Kong at the time. Not being one to wantonly overspend on airfares (even when the …
“The land is sacred: It belongs to the countless numbers who are dead, the few who are living and the multitude of those yet to be born” I was at …
I’m a huge fan of good food and, unfortunately, especially when you’re out in the provinces anything aside from the usual roadside carinderia fare can be tough to come by. Alternatives tend …
When you’re travelling around the Philippines, it’s always nice to pull into a locally run resort and chill out for a while. Recently, I found myself in Agoo in the southern …
Self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato has apparently had a crisis of conscience. It seems the ghosts of the 50-or-so people he murdered as a member of the Davao Death Squad have started to haunt …
Recently we reported how a humble Jollibee worker found herself suddenly world-famous due to her resemblance to Hollywood superstar Chloe Grace Moretz. (See report here) A photograph of Miss Edcell …
I received a very telling comment on one of my opinion columns this week, that I thought I should share. I’m not doing this out of spite or vengeance, only because it seems …
The Philippine Department of Health has announced this morning (at 6am on New Year’s Day) that firework-related injuries are down by 60% on last year. While this is obviously good news, …
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines took aim at President Rodrigo Duterte for saying that he likes “joking” and “playing around” with members of the Press Corps. (As …
In 1762, Britain invaded the Philippines, which it then ruled as a colony via the East India Company for two years. After the British left in 1764 (voluntarily, as part …