Rethinking the School Calendar: The Case for (and Against) a Trimestral System in Philippine Basic Education

By Karl Garcia Educational reforms often arrive wrapped in promise — improved learning outcomes, better student well-being, or greater system efficiency. Among the ideas periodically raised in Philippine policy discussions is the possibility of shifting the K–12 academic calendar from its familiar structure into a trimestral (three-term) system. While such calendars are hardly new in … Continue reading →

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Sara Duterte’s Early 2028 Presidential Bid: Strategy, Risk, and Historical Parallels

By Karl Garcia In February 2026, Vice President Sara Duterte formally declared her intention to run for the presidency in the 2028 Philippine elections. The declaration, made more than two years before the official campaign period, immediately drew attention from political analysts, observers, and critics alike. Historically, early declarations in Philippine politics have been fraught … Continue reading →

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Peak Oil Never Died: Energy, Illusion, and the Philippine Reckoning

By Karl Garcia In the early 2000s, a theory began circulating among environmentalists, energy experts, and geopolitical analysts: peak oil. The idea was simple, even brutal. Global oil production would eventually reach a maximum—then decline forever. Like a candle burning down, the world would slowly lose the energy that fuels modern life. Many dismissed it … Continue reading →

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The Philippine Gambling Machine: Revenue, Power, and the Architecture of Impunity

By Karl Garcia Gambling in the Philippines is routinely framed as a pragmatic compromise — a tolerated vice justified by revenue, employment, and economic spillovers. That narrative is politically convenient and socially reassuring. It is also incomplete. What exists today is not merely a vice industry with regulatory challenges, but a state-entangled gambling ecosystem where … Continue reading →

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Continuity, Not Just Planning: Why the Philippines Must Mainstream Multi-Year Financing

By Karl Garcia The Philippines is not short of plans. It is short of continuity. Across administrations, the country produces development roadmaps, modernization programs, infrastructure pipelines, and reform frameworks that diagnose problems with clarity and ambition. Yet execution frequently lags behind intent. Projects stall, timelines stretch, costs escalate, and priorities shift with political cycles. The … Continue reading →

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