Clik here to view.
Patriotism or nationalism?
\r\n \r\n23 April was the feast-day of England’s patron saint, St George. Not surprisingly, St George’s Day is not a big deal in the Philippines. The greater significance of this date here may be 23...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Philippines – safe to speak
\r\n \r\nTomorrow, the 3rd May, is World Press Freedom Day. I confidently predict that this will be marked by the Star (and a number of other publications) appearing on my breakfast table as usual,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
If you build it, they will come
\r\n \r\nIt’s almost a year since President Aquino’s visit to London in 2012. Arriving on the Queen’s Silver Jubilee weekend, the President felt some of the heritage and tradition that makes the UK a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Modern day alchemy
\r\n \r\nFor centuries the dream of many has been to create wealth out of nothing. In the Philippines, stories of Yamashita’s gold (or even Lim Ah Hong’s) still encourage people to go off to the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The great creative force
\r\n \r\nA former US Governor-General of the Philippines Leonard Wood is famous – perhaps infamous – for saying that “the Filipino woman is the best ‘man’ in the Philippines”. The 1921 statement, in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Extracting maximum benefit
\r\n \r\nOne of the reasons why people talk positively about the Philippines’ economic prospects is the untapped potential in the mining sector. Stick a spade far enough into the ground and you might...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The many not the few
\r\n \r\nDuring the recent election campaign there was much discussion of political dynasties and how to implement the constitutional provision against them. Will the new Congress return to this...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Remembering Rizal
\r\n \r\nYesterday was Independence Day. It falls the week before the birth anniversary of Jose Rizal, one of the most important figures in the Philippines’ journey towards independence. As we approach...
View ArticleClik here to view.
There is no greater prize than peace and security
\r\n \r\nMy term as Ambassador in Manila is nearing an end. I return one last time to a subject close to my heart — the Mindanao Peace Process. Once again the front pages suggest bumps in the road...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Paalam, Pilipinas
\r\n \r\nWhen I was appointed British Ambassador to the Philippines four years ago a colleague congratulated me. You will have a fantastic time – just don’t try to change anything, he said. Over the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Patriotism or nationalism?
\r\n \r\n23 April was the feast-day of England’s patron saint, St George. Not surprisingly, St George’s Day is not a big deal in the Philippines. The greater significance of this date here may be 23...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Philippines – safe to speak
\r\n \r\nTomorrow, the 3rd May, is World Press Freedom Day. I confidently predict that this will be marked by the Star (and a number of other publications) appearing on my breakfast table as usual,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
If you build it, they will come
\r\n \r\nIt’s almost a year since President Aquino’s visit to London in 2012. Arriving on the Queen’s Silver Jubilee weekend, the President felt some of the heritage and tradition that makes the UK a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Modern day alchemy
\r\n \r\nFor centuries the dream of many has been to create wealth out of nothing. In the Philippines, stories of Yamashita’s gold (or even Lim Ah Hong’s) still encourage people to go off to the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The great creative force
\r\n \r\nA former US Governor-General of the Philippines Leonard Wood is famous – perhaps infamous – for saying that “the Filipino woman is the best ‘man’ in the Philippines”. The 1921 statement, in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Extracting maximum benefit
\r\n \r\nOne of the reasons why people talk positively about the Philippines’ economic prospects is the untapped potential in the mining sector. Stick a spade far enough into the ground and you might...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The many not the few
\r\n \r\nDuring the recent election campaign there was much discussion of political dynasties and how to implement the constitutional provision against them. Will the new Congress return to this...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Remembering Rizal
\r\n \r\nYesterday was Independence Day. It falls the week before the birth anniversary of Jose Rizal, one of the most important figures in the Philippines’ journey towards independence. As we approach...
View ArticleClik here to view.
There is no greater prize than peace and security
\r\n \r\nMy term as Ambassador in Manila is nearing an end. I return one last time to a subject close to my heart — the Mindanao Peace Process. Once again the front pages suggest bumps in the road...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Paalam, Pilipinas
\r\n \r\nWhen I was appointed British Ambassador to the Philippines four years ago a colleague congratulated me. You will have a fantastic time – just don’t try to change anything, he said. Over the...
View Article
