The Rift Between Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Former President Rodrigo Duterte: What Does It Mean and Why Does It Matter?

Photo(s): Reuters

You might have heard about the recent rift between Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and former President Rodrigo Duterte - both belong to prominent political family dynasties in the Philippines. But what does this all mean, and why does it matter?

2024 Is The Year Of Celebrity Showbiz Breakups in the Philippines?

PHOTO/S: TIM MOSSHOLDER ON UNSPLASH

According to PEP.ph, more and more Philippine showbiz couples are breaking up these days and more are predicted to come in 2024. We can only speculate on the many reasons that probably played a role in these highly-publicized breakups. But should we care that relationships are getting shorter? Well, it depends on why we date in the first place. What's the whole point of relationships anyway? If you think life is all about making yourself happy, then there's no "right" or "wrong" way to live. However, if life's meaning comes from appreciating the good things around us and making the world a little better, then activities like dating, relationships, school, hobbies, friendships, having kids someday, or even just being yourself take on more purpose.

You Wanna Be On Top? Philippines Ranks 115th In Corruption index

Photo source: Philstar.com

Hey everyone! Guess who's back to blogging after five years? Yep, that's right – and what better way to dive back in than exploring the perceptions of corruption in the Philippines and hope for a brighter tomorrow. It's good to be back! (A big thank you to Ruth Dalman for checking in and asking me when I'll be back blogging).

I stumbled upon this article from The Philippine Star talking about how the Philippines is doing in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI). The score went up a bit from 33 to 34 in 2023, but we're still below the global average of 43. We're hanging around 115th out of 180 countries, just a bit better than 2022's 116th place. The index looks at how people see corruption in the government, and a lower score is not good news. What's interesting is that lots of countries around the world are struggling with corruption, and most of them are scoring below 50. The Philippines has been stuck in this not-so-great ranking for a while.

So, what can we do about it? It seems like the Philippines need a big plan. It's not just about numbers; it's about leaders showing Filipinos how to do the right thing. Maybe we should start learning about good morals and ethics early on, like in school. Local communities, like local churches, could help band together and fight against corruption. We need the government to be more open about what they're doing and be accountable for it. And you know what? Prayer and thinking about the right thing to do should be part of making decisions too. It's time for us, the regular Filipinos around the world, to stand up and say no to corruption, with the help of groups who care about our country. And businesses? They need to be fair and ethical too, no room for cheating in the business and capitalists world. Let's team up and make the Philippines a place where doing the right thing is just how we roll to the top of the list.