Marcos Congratulates Malaysia's New Prime Minister

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (Anadolu photo)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday congratulated opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on his appointment as the new Prime Minister of Malaysia.

In a statement, Marcos expressed hope that Anwar, whom he described as his "good friend", would bring political stability back to Malaysia through his leadership.

“I would like to congratulate my good friend Anwar Ibrahim on his election as Prime Minister of Malaysia. I look forward to the stability that his leadership will provide Malaysia and the region,” the President said.

Former president Joseph Ejercito Estrada expressed elation over Anwar's appointment as the 10th Prime Minister of the Philippines' southeast Asian neighbor.

"I know all too well the long and difficult times you endured over the years before achieving this milestone in your career and I'm truly excited for the future of Malaysia under your capable leadership," Estrada said.

He informed Anwar that he is "happily retired from public life and enjoying being a spectator in the political world."

Estrada also told the Malaysian leader that his sons have continued his work in the Philippine Senate.

"It is my hope that my eldest son Jinggoy, who is serving in the Senate, will have access to your wise counsel should he need it," he said.

Anwar was sworn in as the country’s new prime minister on Thursday, following days of deadlock after Saturday's general elections.

The decision came after a meeting of the nine-member Council of Rulers, led by King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, in Kuala Lumpur. (PNA)

Manila Political

 

Philllippines: Drug Wars

The mother of a "drug war" victim holds his portrait in her home in Caloocan City, Philippines, 

March 2022. © 2022 Eloisa Lopez/Reuters

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday sought to downplay recent killings in the so-called “war on drugs,” claiming the death toll since the inauguration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was “very minimal.”

The police reported that 46 people were killed during anti-drug operations since Marcos took office on June 30. But this is far below the estimate of the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center, whose Dahas program monitors “drug war” violence. The program tallied that 127 people were killed in “drug war” incidents from July 1, the day after Marcos was sworn in, to November 7.

Even if one accepts the PNP’s figures, calling this death toll “very minimal” smacks of insensitivity and callousness. Since the anti-drug campaign began seven years ago under then-president Rodrigo Duterte, thousands of families of people gunned down have been crying out for justice.

Over that period, the police have admitted killing more than 6,200 suspected drug users or dealers, mostly impoverished Filipinos. But the PNP has been known to manipulate its statistics on extrajudicial killings related to the campaign. Research by Human Rights Watch and other human rights groups found that police officers routinely plant evidence such as illegal drugs and weapons on the bodies of victims to try to justify their claims that the person had fought back.  READ MORE...

Philippines: FUN FACTS

 

The Chocolate Hills

Ask Filipinos “What is the Philippines known for?” and you’ll only get either of two things. They wouldn’t know where to end, or begin.

Aside from sun-kissed beaches and idyllic provincial escapes, the Philippines is famous for its diversity. This makes perfect sense, considering that its archipelagic geography paves the way for its multitude of sights and experiences.

Curious for more? Let us give you a taste of what’s unique about the Philippines before even booking that trip.

1. Philippine islands and dreamy bodies of water make up the Philippine archipelago

2. The country has three main island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao

3. Its capital, Manila, never sleeps

4. We have ties to Malays, Spanish, Japanese, and Americans

5. Filipino means the language & the people

6. Most Filipinos treat English as a second language

7. Expressions you’re likely to hear: Psst, po, uy, mabuhay!

8. The country boasts more than 150 languages

9. It’s a center for Catholic faith in Asia

10. Festivals and fiestas (and yes, beauty pageants) easily fill any calendar

11. Just very Filipino things: Bayanihan, hospitality & family first

12. Identities are as multifaceted as their regions

13. Filipino food makes anyone hungry for more

14. Mt. Mayon’s symmetry easily impresses

15. Sorry, you can’t eat the Chocolate Hills

16. Palawan’s seascapes will make you want to stay forever

17. The Cordilleras is home to a living tradition

18. Boracay’s fine, sandy shores seem unreal

TEN (10) Things To Do in The Philippines

So you’ve finally made the big decision and have started planning a vacation in the Philippines. That’s great; it’s an amazing place and a country which should be somewhere close to the top of every adventurous traveler’s must go to list. But because of its geographical make-up, it’s an archipelago of over seven thousand five hundred islands covering more than one hundred and twenty thousand square miles, pre-planning your must-sees in the Philippines is a good idea.

The Philippines don’t receive as many visitors as the neighboring countries of Thailand and Vietnam, and are nowhere near as touristy either, but tourism to the Philippines is on the increase. While there are areas which are undeveloped commercially, they may not stay that way for very much longer. So now is a great time to go.

When you get to the Philippines, forget about visiting Buddhist temples because there aren’t any and the added bonus is, almost everyone speaks English. As a vacation destination, the Philippines are unique. There is literally so much to see and do there, from incredible surfing spots to terraces of rice fields to volcanoes and innumerable beaches, it’s hard to decide just what are the best things to do in the Philippines. Check out these top ten and see if they make it onto your to-do list.

10. Boracay Island
Boracay Island is four square miles of land almost completely rimmed by white coral beaches and tropical palm trees. It has always been the number one place to visit in the Philippines, but because of recent developments on the island, it’s slipped down in the rankings to tenth place.

Brief History
Boracay Island is an idyllic place which has, in the past, attracted more than a third of the visitors arriving in the Philippines to its shores. Too small to cope with the massive influx of visitors, the paradisiacal island began to suffer serious environmental damage and was closed down by the Philippine government for a rest and recuperation period of six months.

TO READ ABOUT THE OTHER NINE (9) THINGS TO DO, CLICK HERE...