Opinion

US: When Thor: Ragnarok came out in 2017, he had to deal with his brothers and sisters, his planet’s impending annihilation, a booze-fueled sidekick, a gigantic dog and the death of his father. A Taika Waititi film is at its most intense when it has everything: slow-motion strolling, stupid antlered headdresses, sword fighting and laser cannons, capes and zombie soldiers, …

US: Stranger Things, Netflix’s sci-fi horror series, is awash in 1980s nostalgia, with Kate Bush’s 1985 song Running Up That Hill topping the 2022 music charts. The Duffer Brothers, the show’s creators, debut Pennhurst Mental Hospital for the Criminally Insane in season four (which is also mentioned in season one). Teenage sleuths Robin and Nancy enter Pennhurst, where they are …

PHILIPPINES: What does it look like when you try to homogenize several voices into a single and stereotypical narrative?  It is like walking into a room, only to face the caustic mass of people that already defined who you are from head to toe. No need for introductions or chirpy biddings because no matter what you do, you’ll always be …

US: In most cases, the word “mentor” conjures up images of knowledge, thoughtfulness, and even a sense of home. Think of Yoda in Star Wars, or Po in Kung Fu Panda, discovering his actual ability with the guidance of Shifu and Oogway, his two mentors. But what is a mentor, exactly? Venture capitalist Jessica Huang Pouleur says that mentors can …

PHILIPPINES: As imaginative folks, we often get lost in the stories we have read before; we wound up wishing there was a cabinet that led to their world just like the one in Narnia as we’ve grown to love the outlandish characters, the heart-stopping moments, and the carefully crafted world that the author creates.  This is what Taylor Swift does, …

PHILIPPINES: What accounts for real progress? Think of Louisa Alcott’s famous novel Little Women; it is no secret that it is a powerful anecdote that celebrated Feminism, but the book tackled real-world injustices as well. Amy March, one of the book’s protagonists, was questioned about her marriage view, and she replied with a matter-of-fact tone that she is “just” a …

PHILIPPINES: As the West and China continue to compete for their strategic pillars, the island states of the Pacific, from the massive Papua New Guinea to the smaller island nations, find themselves in a much more powerful position. Since climate change is the greatest threat to the region, their negotiating prowess may provide them greater leverage to entice foreign funding. …

ASEAN – Singapore hosts Shangri-La Dialog, an annual rally of senior defense officers across Asia and beyond.  This dialogue, the largest  gathering of senior military officials in Asia, is not actually hosted by the Government of Singapore. Rather, the event is hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, an independent think tank. However, the Government of Singapore is helping …

Malaysia – The MRT station blocks my view of the city’s velodrome, so I can’t determine how or if the race concludes. Malaysian sports as a metaphor: Haphazard national creations obscure the reality. Malaysia’s uninspired 2021 Hanoi SEA Games. Poor performance. The sports ministry’s spin on 39 golds is misleading. The count needs benchmarks. Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and Singapore …

Malaysia – Last Thursday, the Cabinet resolved to abolish the death sentence. This doesn’t mean the death sentence is gone; judges will soon be empowered to impose an alternate punishment. Anyway, a Facebook survey revealed some fascinating correlations. First, the death sentence is seen as “barbaric” and without redeeming features. Its finality and terminal status give closure that many don’t …