Michael Beltran

Rains and Floods Batter Philippines, Climate Activists Warn of More To Come

2023/01/23 • Michael Beltran

“The quarrying is to blame, no doubt about it. It’s always been like this, but we live in this area because we have nowhere else to go,” said an inspector for the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office.

“Ka Joma Lives!”: The Philippines Mourns Exiled Revolutionary Leader

2022/12/22 • Michael Beltran

Joma Sison, a revolutionary leader in exile, leaves a legacy deeply intertwined with the modern political history of the Philippines.

Holy Water: The Philippine Activist Targeted for Trying To Stop a Hydropower Project

2022/10/28 • Michael Beltran

Dozens of elite armed forces were sent to arrest Vertrudez Macapanpan, a 69-year-old environmental activist in the Philippines. She has no doubt the cause was her work defending a sacred mountain spring from a billion dollar development project.

Marcos Government Slashes Funding for Historical Preservation

2022/09/24 • Michael Beltran

Amid accusations of historical distortion, the Marcos government has stoked fears of re-writing history books as it cuts the budget for archiving and culture.

Teenage Girl Accuses Military of Rape and Torture Because of Her Family’s Activism

2022/02/07 • Michael Beltran

“In the context of the ongoing armed conflict in the Philippines, thousands of military elements are deployed in civilian communities who intentionally target women and girls with sexual violence in order to achieve particular military objectives.”

TNL's Top Stories of 2018, Part 2: Manila's Urban Poor, China's Colony in Cambodia

2018/12/30 • TNL Staff

The second of a three-part look back at TNL's best stories from Taiwan and around the region in 2018.

TNL's Top Stories of 2017

2017/12/31 • TNL Staff

As 2017 draws to a close, take a look back at some of TNL's best stories from Taiwan and around the region.