Chinese Undermining Peace in SE Asia

Chinese island-building efforts "may undermine peace, security and stability" in the disputed South China Sea, said a statement by Southeast Asian leaders meeting for a summit last 27 April.

The statement, yet to be publicly released, was prepared on behalf of leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathering in Malaysia for an annual meeting.

An Open Letter Blasting the Veloso Matriarch

A few days ago, Filipina drug convict Mary Jane Veloso was given a last-minute temporary reprieve by the Indonesian government from a possible firing squad. This was made possible after President Benigno Aquino III met with his Indonesian counterpart, President Joko Widodo.

The Indonesian Attorney General confirmed that the plea of President Aquino paved the way towards postponement of the execution. The Philippine government floated the idea of using Mary Jane as a witness against the drug syndicate.

Anti-Stalking Bill Up in Phil. Congress

It’s about time that the Philippines recognize the harm that stalking can inflict and impose higher penalties for stalkers.

This was the main argument why a bill that declares stalking as a criminal offense and authored by Sorsogon 1st District Rep. Evelina Escudero was submitted to the House of Representatives recently.

Groom Tried to Kill Self Because Bride is "Ugly"

There is a reason why arrange marriages will not favor ... men. If most young women thought that their basic right is being violated by this century-old practice, then men should sympathize with them, especially those that do not like their future wife's appearance.

This was the case of a Chinese groom who went to the extreme just because he thought that the woman he was about to spend his life with was "ugly." He tried to drown himself even before the marriage ceremony was officially closed and told the bride that she was 'too ugly' before running away.

Longer Maternity Leave Period is Being Pushed

Before the Women's Month celebration ends, the Philippine Senate committee on women, family relations, and gender equality pushed for a measure that would mandate companies to allow employees who gave birth a longer period to take a leave.

Under a Senate proposal, the current 60- to 78-day paid maternity leave period would be extended to 90 days. But Senator Pia Cayetano, the committee's chairwoman, is inclined to extend that to 14 weeks or 3 and a half months, in compliance with an International Labor Organization (ILO) convention that the Philippines still has not ratified.