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Geopolitics is the study of the effects of the Earth’s geography on politics and international relations. For example, the conflict between China and the Philippines is primarily dictated by geography in the sense that both countries border the South China Sea. In terms of geopolitics, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine from hindsight was inevitable.
Pope Francis made the news some time ago when he announced that LGBTQ people should be welcomed in the Roman Catholic Church and even allowed priests to bless same-sex couples.
The popular Ambeth Ocampo is known as a public historian and the editorial page columnist of the longest running column on history. An author of numerous bestselling titles from Rizal Without the Overcoat to Cabinet of Curiosities: History of Philippine Artifacts, his latest is a slim book that is of special interest to me with Kapampangan roots as my mother, herself an excellent cook, Josefina Sicangco Cruz hailed from Angeles. It was nostalgic and mouthwatering reading, Ocampo’s most recent title, Manyaman: Food in Pampango Culture, Anvil Publishing, 2024. (“Manyaman” means “masarap,” delicious.)
Even though it does not affect the Philippines directly, the conflict in Palestine and Israel has worldwide consequences. The violence caused by this conflict has begun to escalate way beyond the borders of Gaza and Israel. For example, the Houthi rebels in southern Yemen have begun to send missiles to all ships passing through the Red Sea. This has forced shipping between Asia and Europe to avoid the Red Sea and Suez Canal and take the longer route passing around the tip of Africa.
The two most celebrated feasts in the Christian world are Christmas and Easter. In the Catholic world, which used to be the western part of the Roman empire, the most celebrated holiday is Christmas day. Among Orthodox churches, which used to be the eastern part of the Roman empire, Easter is the most important religious festival in their liturgical calendar. Every other religious celebration including Christmas is considered secondary in importance to the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The tension between China and the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea has again accelerated with the increasing harassment of Philippine ships. The Philippines’ strong stand against these Chinese incursions has elicited support from other countries, especially Western powers who are also determined to stop further Chinese expansion.
It was a Tuesday morning, Feb. 25, 1986. I had been staying in EDSA since Saturday evening along with more than a million other Filipinos. That morning, I was told that Corazon Aquino was going to take her oath as president of the Republic of the Philippines. Finally, the 14-year Marcos dictatorship would come to an end.
This book is highly controversial when it narrates certain debatable conclusions as facts. It is a very readable book that in certain parts reads almost like a novel. I would not recommend this book as a reading reference to those who have not read any other book on this period in Philippine history. But for those relatively widely read and are able to make their own conclusions, this is a highly recommended book.