The White Casket Protest in Manila

On August 07, 2026, the Chinese Embassy in Manila, Philippines, issued a strong condemnation after five white caskets were placed at multiple metropolitan locations, including their consular building. 

Accompanied by anti-China banners, the coffins contained images of prominent Chinese political figures and the country's ambassador to the Philippines.

Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng called the stunt a "blatant act of political provocation, personal attack, intimidation, and threat". The embassy have since filed official representations urging Philippine authorities to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators. 

On the same day, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) condemned the deed as the police launched an investigation to track down the individuals or groups behind the incitement. 

In a statement, the DFA said the act did not reflect the Philippine government’s approach to conducting their foreign relations or how Filipinos express criticism or dissatisfaction, even on sensitive political issues.

Franken-fish Invade the Philippines

Escaped ornamental aquarium fish have integrated into a local ecosystem in the Philippines, but scientists say they may be threatening the native biodiversity of the lake. 

Flowerhorn cichlids – human-bred hybrid fish prized for their brilliant and highly variable colours, typically displaying vibrant shades of red, orange, and gold, overlaid with metallic blue, green, and white "pearl" scales and prominent head humps – are believed to have escaped from breeding facilities into Lake Sampaloc, which sits in a volcanic crater in Laguna on the island of Luzon, during a typhoon.

[Note: Flowerhorn cichlids do not have an official scientific name. They are man-made hybrids. They were first bred in Malaysia in the 1990s. Breeders mixed several Central American cichlids. The primary ancestor is the Three-Spot Cichlid (Amphilophus trimaculatus). Other ancestors include the Red Devil (Amphilophus labiatus) and the Midas Cichlid (Amphilophus citrinellus). Because they are crossed like dogs of mixed breeds, they are simply listed as Amphilophus hybrid or named by their specific variety (like Kamfa or Thai Silk). Like a mutt dog, a flowerhorn is a mix. It does not exist in the wild naturally]. 

FYI, there is a variety of freshwater fish such as catfish, mudfish, tilapia, shrimp, ayungin, dulong and also snails. There are also many fish ponds here, which are one of the sources of income for the inhabitants of San Pablo City, Laguna, where they breed many different types of tilapia and shrimp. 

Research by Hannah Nicole C Gasmen and Dr Janice A Ragaza of Ateneo de Manila University has found that flowerhorns are being incorporated into the existing aquaculture system because, like tilapia, they can survive difficult conditions. Flowerhorns that have established wild populations and entered tilapia cages are sometimes kept and sold into the ornamental trade, while some local people stock them intentionally. 

The research, however, suggests that intentional stocking and sale could expand an already established invasive population. 

The 104-hectare (260-acre) Lake Sampaloc is already strained by sewage, household runoff, aquaculture nutrients and plastic waste, making it especially vulnerable to invasive species. Flowerhorns thrive in its eutrophic, polluted waters and compete for food, shelter and breeding grounds. 

The native ayungin, or silver perch (Leiopotherapon plumbeus), once a common catch, has become progressively rare and has even been classified as endangered by the IUCN. 

“Human-degraded habitats are generally the most vulnerable to invasion, and they are typically invaded by generalist species”, said Rupert Collins, a senior curator of fish at London’s Natural History Museum. “Cichlids are particularly successful in adapting. They are a textbook example of how new phenotypes can arise very quickly”. 

Concerns were also raised about potential parasites. Some flowerhorns in captivity have been found carrying Paracapillaria philippinensis, a roundworm capable of infecting humans. Some people have been observed fishing for flowerhorns recreationally and incorporating them into their cooking. The parasite has not been found in Lake Sampaloc’s flowerhorns, but the researchers advise against promoting the fish for human consumption. 

Dr Noël Juvigny-Khenafou, a lecturer in aquatic environmental science at the University of Stirling who was not involved in the research, noted that climate change may also intensify the problem. 

“Climate change may alter where aquaculture takes place and what species people are able to raise”, he said. “That could mean production shifting between regions and more non-native species being introduced into new places”. 

He said the research raised interesting questions: “What does that mean for the native species? What does that mean for the function of the ecosystem? Is the introduced species leading the ecosystem towards collapse, or is it simply becoming part of a new ecological community?” 

The researchers proposed long-term solutions including stronger pens, finer mesh, overflow barriers, routine inspections and community-led monitoring. They also suggest that invasive fish could be harvested for use in aquafeed, subject to screening for pathogens, heavy metals and microplastics. 

“Protecting and sustaining our aquatic ecosystems requires a collaborative approach among communities, research institutions and policymakers”, advised Gasmen.

Philippines Prepares to Fight Alone

This news flew under the radar. It may have been overlooked eight months ago, yet it still matters today.

If war breaks out, General Romeo Brawner Jr. (left), chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) declared his country will fight alone. Tayo muna ang lalaban, he had said on November 04, 2025. 

Addressing troops at the opening of the ⁠AJEX DAGIT-PA military exercises, Brawner clarified the military's strategy under the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 

But there's a caveat. It's only for 20-30 days. The Philippines believes its allies – the USA under the ⁠Mutual Defense Treaty, along with Japan and Australia – will have rushed to the Perla del Mar de Oriente by then to save them! 😅😅😅

The AFP chief has been regularly talking up war with China, his country's declared threat. I prefer to call a spade a spade. China is his foe, period.

Thirteen Argentina followers are roaming the streets of Buenos Aires proudly sporting their team’s jersey – but they’re not on two legs, they’re on all fours, letting out the occasional bark. 

As Argentina rides World Cup fever, a dog walker has added his pack to the local fanbase. 

Thirty-three-year-old Nahuel Meneghini, walks the streets of the capital’s city center with the dogs wearing the team’s jerseys, leashes and collars in support of La Albiceleste. 

“I did it out of love for them and for Argentina. And for the World Cup”, said Meneghini – known as “Nano” – while speaking to The Associated Press on Thursday during a walk with the canine group. The dog walker, also dressed head-to-toe like a fan, skilfully managed all the leashes, guiding the dogs along the narrow sidewalks of the capital’s San Cristóbal neighborhood. 

FYI, Argentina defeated Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time on Friday, in the Round of 32 clash at the ⁠2026 FIFA World Cup.

While I'm mostly indifferent to the World Cup, I still keep an eye on the results. 😉

Axis Redux

Beware of Japan! And Germany!

In 1940, the imperial regimes of both of these two countries (as well as Italy) joined what would be known as the Axis powers, bound by a shared desire for territorial expansion and imperial supremacy. 

They fought a world war, and they lost it, and their populations spent the next 85 years with shrunken militaries and a heavy reliance on their former enemy, America, for security. 

Now, both countries are moving to reduce their reliance on US security guarantees and are accelerating efforts to bolster their own defense capabilities. And, once again, they are strengthening ties. 

Their cooperation is expected to gather momentum at the meeting of the leaders of the Group of 7 (G7) in Évian-les-Bains, France, taking place now. It already includes sharing know-how, technology and weapons, like drones and helicopters, critical to the countries’ respective efforts to rearm. 

In a few years, Germany’s military spending could be larger than that of France and Britain – combined. Japan commits half as much as Germany, but it is still one of the world’s top spenders on defense, with a budget this year of about $58 billion. 

Already, Germany has forged close ties with Ukraine in developing and deploying new weapons and has asked France to help provide it with a nuclear deterrent. 

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who won office last year with nationalist calls to revive the military, has deployed long-range missiles – capable of reaching China – in southern Japan, and has reversed postwar bans on arms exports. The country recently sealed a $6.5 billion deal to supply warships to Australia, and it is in talks with the Philippines and Indonesia about exporting warships. 

Make no mistake, this is an Axis redux – as both countries enthusiastically embrace the ambition to reassert their dominance. Indeed, Germany and Japan are primed and eager to unleash their military might once more.

And the US is encouraging the two countries – but they have to be stopped before they start getting ideas and threaten the world! 

Methinks, Japan should confront its wartime legacy and seek genuine reconciliation with the countries it once invaded. It should also respect the postwar international framework and the spirit of its pacifist constitution instead of pursuing belligerent strategies.

Philippines Reiterates That It Will Be Drawn Into a Potential War with China

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (left) in an interview with Japanese media in Manila on May 18 has reiterated: “In the Philippines, we do not have a choice because Taiwan is so close to the Philippines and we have almost 200,000 Filipino nationals living and working in Taiwan”. 

Geography is the reason he explains why the Philippines could be drawn into a potential war with China. 

Geography didn’t sign the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). 

Geography didn’t host US bases. 

Geography didn’t invite Typhon missiles. 

Be honest lah! The only thing dragging you into war isn’t proximity – it’s your American sugar daddy! 

In fact, Bongbong first explicitly warned that the Philippines would inevitably be drawn into a potential war over Taiwan due to its geographic proximity on August 06, 2025 – refer my post "Philippines Plays with Fire", published August 13, 2025. 

And, not forgeting, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in late 2025 also made comments about being pulled into a conflict over Taiwan, causing a deep diplomatic rupture with China. [Read my post "Japan's Sanae Takaichi Hints War with China Over Taiwan", published November 16, 2025].

Asia’s Biggest Food Staple is Under Threat

Harvest-ready rice fields are lying idle and farmers are deciding whether to skip planting for the coming season, as spiking fuel and fertiliser costs from the war in the Middle East hit one of the world’s biggest rice-growing regions. 

Across Southeast Asia, tens of millions of smallholders are struggling to find affordable crop nutrients as well as the diesel needed to run tractors, irrigation pumps and rice planters. In Thailand, some farmers are leaving the crop in the ground as it is too expensive to harvest. 

The scarcity of supplies underscores how the six-week war in Iran has upended global trade and raised concerns around food shortages. As well as driving oil prices higher, the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz – which remains largely blocked despite a temporary ceasefire – has choked a vital route for fertiliser and fuel deliveries, with Asia particularly affected. 

“There’s a lot of panicked farmers”, said Patrick Davenport, a director and co-founder of BRM Agro, an integrated rice farmer and miller in Cambodia, where roughly three-quarters of the population lives in rural areas. “Most are involved in agriculture – and they are all hurting”, he said. 

Rice is a staple for more than half of the world’s population, as well as a livelihood for rural communities across a region where agriculture still accounts for a large share of economic activity. Farmers struggling with input costs that have doubled or even tripled are also finding themselves squeezed by persistently low prices, at least for now. 

Weighed down by ample inventories, benchmark prices for Thai white rice 5% broken fell to a decade-low in late October and have recovered only a little since then, spending most of last month below $400 (RM1,586) a ton. 

“Margins are super tight, and that means they will plant less”, said Máximo Torero, the chief economist of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, noting that a further 20- to 30-day closure of Hormuz would affect the availability of food as soon as the second half of the year. The input shortages can only be resolved if vessels can begin moving through the strait again. “I don’t see any other solution”, he said. 

In Cambodia, some growers are reluctant to proceed this month without a guaranteed return, said Davenport, whose company works with about 2,000 farmers. Around a tenth have said they won’t plant unless they can secure a fixed price for the new crop. 

In the Philippines, the world’s top rice importer and also a major producer, paddy-rice output could fall by at least 10% this year, according to Raul Montemayor, the national manager for the Federation of Free Farmers Cooperatives Inc. That could amount to about two million tons of lost rice given projected national output of 20.3 million tons. 

“That’s a very big possibility, and the reduction will be felt during the next harvest season in September or October”, said Montemayor. 

The shortage of inputs couldn’t have come at a worse time for rice farmers in Southeast Asia, many of whom grow two or more crops a year and are currently straddling the seasons. Harvesting of dry-season fields is in progress, while planting is beginning for the main wet-season paddy crops in Thailand and the Philippines. 

“That’s when all these fuel costs start mattering a lot. Fertiliser costs will matter a lot. Availability will matter a lot”, said Alisher Mirzabaev, a senior scientist for policy analysis and climate change at the International Rice Research Institute. “On the food-security side, we are buffered by the existing stocks – but we should not get complacent”. 

Elsewhere in Asia, the main plantings in India – a major grower – remain a couple of months away, while China has been more insulated from the energy and fertiliser shocks. 

But in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, where rice is grown three times a year, farmers are barely breaking even as they collect the main paddy crop. With production costs surging, some growers are considering scaling back to just two crops, said Pham Van Nhut, a 63-year-old farmer in the southern province of Vinh Long. 

Some farmers in Thailand, meanwhile, have chosen not to harvest the rice crop that’s ready now or are delaying collection, leading to a decline in quality. The dry-season crop in March-April could fall by around 19% from the same year-earlier period, according to a March 31 report by the Bangkok-based Kasikorn Research Center. 

Planting for this year’s main crop in Thailand is due to start in weeks, and while it is unlikely that growers will halt production entirely, output will be limited by how much fertilisers can be procured, said Pramote Charoensilp, the president of the Thai Agriculturist Association, which represents tens of thousands of farmers across much of the country. 

With the disruptions set to last, farmers are seeking creative ways to reduce their dependence on imported fertilisers and fuel. Some are switching from rice to corn, which needs less water from diesel-fed irrigation machines. BRM, the company in Cambodia, is accelerating plans to scale up bio-organic fertiliser production and seeking suppliers of electric tractors and solar-powered water pumps to reduce fuel use. 

But options are limited for many others who depend on rice for their livelihoods, leaving them little alternative but to continue planting – even if that means absorbing losses. 

“We have no choice”, said Ruel Bantugan, a rice farmer in the Philippines’ Bataan province. “We just need to gamble and plant again, rather than leave the land idle”.

Philippines Reasserts Claim Over Malaysia's Sabah (Again)

It is not enough for the Philippines to constantly provoke China. 

The latest incitement was on February 21, 2026 when Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros (photo below) raised her country's flag over Zhongye island in the South China Sea. 

Now, the said country's Department of Foreign Affairs have reasserted their tiresome claim over Sabah amid renewed discussion over a 2012 Philippine map depicting the Malaysian territory. 

At a media briefing in Pasay City on Friday, DFA maritime affairs spokesperson Rogelio Villanueva (left) said the country maintains its sovereignty claim over Sabah, which "is currently administered by Malaysia" (as per Philippine News Agency on Friday). 

“The Philippines, with the enactment of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act of 2024, Republic Act 12064, has not repealed Section 2 of Republic Act 5446, which defines the baselines of the territorial zones of the Philippine archipelago and is without prejudice to the Philippines' existing and valid claims on the portion of North Borneo”, he had asserted.

How dare he?! 😡😡😡

I've not seen any official Malaysian response so far – but the Philippines is really getting to be too much! 

Celtic faced Hibernian on Sunday as the Scottish champions returned to domestic action after a sobering defeat in the Europa League. 

Martin O’Neill’s side would have wanted to bounce back with three points – but they didn't quite make it! The Edinburgh team won 2-1 instead.

Hibs struck first just after the midway point in the opening period with a flying header. Celtic equalized when Kieran Tierney's ball from the left reached Benjamin Nygren between the posts to head in from close range on 45 minutes. 

And then, the Leith side scored again in the 87th minute to secure their first win at Parkhead since 2010. What a bummer! 😢😢😢

The result leaves the Glasgow side six points behind table leaders Hearts and two behind rivals Rangers.

Adding 3 New Territories to the United States

Donald Trump on Saturday, blithely boasted about his plans to expand the United States by adding Canada, Denmark colony Greenland, and Venezuela as new states, RT News reported, citing the Washington Post. 

He audaciously asserted that Canada will be the 51st state, Greenland the 52nd and Venezuela the 53rd! 

Later, he retreated and claimed he was only joking. 😅😅😅

I cannot imagine that the Canadians, Greenlanders and Venezuelans are laughing! 

😡😡😡

The above aside, methinks, Trump forgot to add Panama as the 54th state! And I would even include the Philippines as the 55th!

Mindanao Nearly Swapped for Greenland

I came across a Segundo Eclar Romeo piece in the Philippine Daily Inquirer published January 20 that more than a century ago, Mindanao and Palawan were casually floated as tradable assets in an internal United States diplomatic letter, suggested as part of a geopolitical swap for Greenland.

Yes, you read that right. 

In 1910, then US Ambassador to Denmark Maurice Francis Egan sent a letter to Washington proposing what he himself described as a “very audacious suggestion”. In this proposal, the US could acquire Greenland and the Danish West Indies (now the US Virgin Islands) in exchange for Mindanao and Palawan, which were, at that time, under American colonial rule. 

The idea was that Denmark would receive the southern Philippine islands and then trade them to Germany in exchange for Northern Schleswig, a region Denmark had lost to Prussia in 1864. The proposal amounted to a three-way colonial chess move – one that treated territories with entire peoples and cultures as mere geopolitical pieces on an imperial board. 

This proposal was never presented to Denmark or discussed with Philippine colonial authorities. But it reveals much about the prevailing mindset of US diplomacy in the early 20th century – one in which strategic territories could be swapped or traded, not unlike rare cards between collectors. 

It also casts a long shadow into the present, especially in light of the current campaign of the Trump administration, which again expressed interest in acquiring Greenland by purchase and even with veiled threats of military coercion. While this modern iteration may sound implausible or laughable, it reminds us that the idea has long been simmering in the strategic imagination of the US foreign policy establishment. 

It has been said that to many Filipinos, the idea of swapping an island – even one as far-flung as Greenland – for Mindanao, home to over 26 million people and a cradle of unique cultural and historical identity, is not only unimaginable but also offensive. Mindanao is not a bargaining chip, period! 

Yet, the 1910 letter proves that this kind of thinking existed – and perhaps still exists – in circles where power outweighs principle. That Mindanao was ever proposed as a tradable item – without the knowledge or consent of its people – is not merely a historical footnote. It is a sobering reminder of how colonial logic treated territories as objects, not homelands. 

And that colonial logic is embedded deep within the Donald Trump psyche.

In Shenzhen in Guangdong province, China: 

😒😒😒

Pro-US Philippines Still Loves Chinese Money

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is a US lackey and, therefore, it is no surprise when he explicitly aligned his country with the United States and reversing the pro-China pivot of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte. 

Upon taking office in June 2022, Marcos placed the Philippines-United States alliance "front and centre" in his foreign policy – and expanded the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which allows US forces access to more Philippine military bases. To put it plainly, he has made his country a dependent territory of the United States. 

Knowing full well that the US has an "ironclad" commitment to defend the Philippines, he has turned ballsy and so, he confronts PRC at every turn. Already, his administration have openly challenged China and regularly, get themselves entangled in territorial disputes, maritime confrontations, and diplomatic tensions.   

Yet, China remains a significant trading partner and Bongbong cannot totally divorce himself from the country, not that he desires to.

In fact, the Philippines began allowing Chinese nationals 14-day visa-free entry starting January 16 for tourism and business purposes. 

I came across this statistic: a total of 1.74 million Chinese tourists arrived in the Philippines in 2019, contributing more than $2.3 billion to the local economy. Indeed, the Chinese market is claimed to be the third-largest source of visitors and is, therefore, lucrative. The country still loves Chinese money! 

[In terms of tourism, the Philippines market is teeny-weeny. In 2025, Malaysia received over 38 million international visitors in eleven months. And Thailand as Southeast Asia's second most visited country, hosted 32.9 million for the whole year].

On Saturday, I was at the Amoda Building on Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur to attend the MIM of Kuala Lumpur Toastmasters Club meeting. It was my very first return to the club – since I rejoined Toastmasters – of which I was a member for many years.

I was invited to be a panel member for a "Level 5: Moderate a Panel Discussion" speech from the Dynamic Leadership pathway.

[Ahmad Fakhri was also there to present his Edupro workshop "The Art of Speechcrafting: Powered by Agentic AI"].

Photos from the said meeting:

And we sold 6 copies of TDIYS and 5 copies of TPOYS.