Problem Solving the Philippines: The Study I Can’t Find, and the Rules Under the Universal Health Care Act
Part 2 of The UHC Series: I could not find the independent study that the UHC Act makes the gate for integrating local health systems, and the implementing rules restate four of the Act’s deadlines.
Problem Solving the Philippines: What the Universal Health Care Act Promises, and Who Has to Deliver It
Part 1 of The UHC Series: what Republic Act 11223 promises, and who has to deliver it.
The Enduring Relevance of Frank Herbert’s Dune
Ecology, Power, and Prophecy as Frameworks for Contemporary Challenges By Karl M. Garcia Introduction: Why Dune Still Matters Frank Herbert’s Dune, first published in 1965, is often described as one of the greatest works of science fiction ever written. Yet its enduring importance extends far beyond literature. Dune is fundamentally a study of systems: ecological … Continue reading
El Niño, La Niña, Habagat and Amihan: Learning to Read the Philippine Climate
By Karl M. Garcia The Philippines does not have four seasons. But Filipinos live with a climate system that can sometimes feel as if we do. There are the hot and dry conditions associated with El Niño. There are the unusually wet conditions that can accompany La Niña. There is the habagat, or southwest monsoon, … Continue reading
Capability is What Remains
By Karl M. Garcia For decades, countries have been placed into categories: First World, Third World, developed, developing, emerging. But labels tell us less than a simpler question: What can a country reliably do? Can it educate its people, build and maintain infrastructure, produce competitively, connect its regions, operate complex systems, respond to shocks, enforce … Continue reading

