It's election time in the Philippines, thus a period of chaos, uncertainty and disquiet. In Magdalena, a small town in Laguna which doesn't usually appear in people's consciousness, this local election takes on an added stake. A mysterious candidate with no visible ties to the town has inserted himself into its politics and has enabled some questionable deals that will transform some farmlands into sanitary landfills, i.e., garbage dumps. Magdalena's story is an actual case study on what is wrong with Philippine politics, among other things. A Magdalena native, Richard Cavasora, reveals this sordid tale of stinky politics.

The Philippines is known as a welcoming country for those fleeing persecution in others. The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in fact recognizes nine "waves" of refugees that have found safe haven in our homeland, starting in the 17th century with Japanese Christians until just a few years back with the Rohingya from Myanmar. One of the biggest refugee groups that settled temporarily in the Philippines was the Vietnamese who fled their homeland following the end of the Vietnamese American War in 1975. Fifty years later, in February 2025, a museum documenting the Philippine First Asylum Camp (PFAC) in Puerto Princesa, Palawan was inaugurated. PF contributing writer Dr. Vicente S. Salas, once the chief medical officer of the camp and now a board member of the museum, gives us the story.

Look, the FIFA World Cup 26 has chosen the official San Francisco Bay Area Host City poster and it’s designed by a FilAm artist, LeRoid David, who bested other artists in the competition. David however isn't a newbie in sports brands design. As our writer Wilfred Galila discloses, David’s impressive portfolio includes designs for all the Bay Area’s pro sports teams.

Who’s afraid of AI? Certainly not FilAm microbiology lab specialist Rochie Cuevas who applies this data analytics technology to her work in the combined public health laboratory of four California counties. Rogelio Constantino Medina profiles this impressive lady scientist.

Getting ready for summer travel? As PF contributing writer and intrepid traveler Odette Foronda cautions, it’s always best to prepare for rain but also to enjoy the glory of getting soaked.

Read Agains:

Mother of All Devotions by Ma. Ceres P. Doyo
Do You Remember Polio? By Alex S. Fabros, Jr.
How Black and Filipino Unity Was Forged in the Pullman Workers Union By Don Villar

[Video of the Week] Sana Naman, Taumbayan