Gina Lopez is hardly the kind of person you’d expect to support a presidential candidate who has endorsed vigilante death squads, made disturbing comments about rape, and vowed to kill his own […]
Sunshine de Leon
In the Philippines, ‘a government with heart’ versus the rule of the fist
The Philippines’ presidential elections are on Monday, and the country is in the grip of election fever. In Manila, campaign posters flutter from overpasses, newspapers carry breathless headlines about polls, and coffee […]
Asia’s 50 Power Businesswomen 2016
At a time of global economic angst, Asia’s 50 Power Businesswomen list gets a shake up, with more than 27 newcomers and several well-known names dropping off. The candidates selected for this list – which […]
Deal-makers give Philippines a fresh look

MANILA — Private equity funds have traditionally shown little interest in the Philippines. But the country’s recent strong economic performance and favorable demographic trends are putting it on their radar. In November, […]
A heavy price paid for botched terrorist raid by Philippines and U.S.
(By David Cloud and Sunshine de Leon) Before dawn on Jan. 25, a Philippine National Police commando team crept toward a thatched hut in the marshy jungles of Mindanao. They were hunting […]
In Asia, 40 Heroes of Philanthropy Are Making Their Mark

This story appears in the September 2015 issue of Forbes Asia. This is FORBES ASIA’s ninth annual philanthropy issue, giving us another opportunity to single out the region’s most noteworthy givers. Our […]
Are You A Baby Goat? Or Why Children Are Not Kids

This story for the young and not-so-young was inspired by the writer’s grandmother, Jessie Coe Lichauco, who is waging a campaign to give children back their own identity (See sidebar). It is […]
Common Ground: Phil. NGO PeaceTech uses Internet and social media to build bridges of peace

While some terrorist organizations use the Internet and social media to spread fear, a Philippine NGO uses these tools to build bridges of peace among Christian and Muslim youth. Through the use of […]
Gines Serran-Pagan: My Life as Art

When you look at a painting by Spanish artist Gines Serran-Pagan, what you see is not just a work of art, but also the life of an artist. He says, “As an […]
The Green Heart of Italy
Swinging in a hammock under a giant tree surrounded by green vineyards, rolling hills and olive groves of the Umbrian countryside, I had one thought flowing through my mind: the secret to […]