Nice Information

LOOK: ASEAN 2026 logo for the Philippines' chairmanship.

The Philippines, as chair of the block, will be hosting hundreds (up too 600, possibly) of meetings in 2026.

What challenges await Manila as chair? READ: https://www.rappler.com/philippines/view-manila-asean-chair-challenges-2026/

DFA Sec Lazaro is also ASEAN chair’s Special Envoy to Myanmar 

At the launch of the Philippines’ ASEAN chairship for 2026, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro will also be the Philippines’ Special Envoy of the Chair on Myanmar. 

“We are confident that she shall bring a constructive, principled, and inclusive approach to supporting the people of Myanmar, guided by her mandate and the five-point consensus, as we work together towards peace, stability, and reconciliation. Secretary Tess, you better get this done. I already made the promise to everyone,” said Marcos. 

The five-point consensus or the 5PC is a roadmap for peace that ASEAN leaders agreed on in 2021 after the military junta took over Myanmar. Thus far, the junta has refused to follow the 5PC. 

Myanmar is set to hold elections in December 2025. 

Marcos, Zelenskyy call

Marcos statement: "I spoke with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today to reaffirm our warm relations and discuss areas where our countries can work together. We focused on cooperation in food security, agriculture, and digitalization. As the Philippines assumes the Chairship of ASEAN, we also discussed ways to strengthen ASEAN–Ukraine engagement for the benefit of our peoples."

Zelenskyy had earlier posted on social media: I expressed condolences to the President for the lives lost and the destruction caused by the typhoons. I briefed him on our joint work with the United States and other partners on the steps toward establishing a guaranteed peace. I am grateful for the Philippines’ support for the peace efforts, for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for the clear stance. We discussed areas of cooperation: food security, agriculture, and digitalization. The Philippines is also interested in the expertise and technologies Ukraine can offer. We agreed that our teams will follow up on all these matters in the near future."

Ukraine's embassy in the Philippine denies Russia claims of Filipinos being recruited to fight in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Embassy statement:

We reject and refute the baseless fabrications of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the alleged recruitment of Filipino nationals to participate in hostilities on the side of Ukraine. These claims have no factual foundation whatsoever and do not correspond to reality.

Ukraine and the Philippines enjoy strong, friendly, and dynamic bilateral relations built on mutual respect, trust, and a shared commitment to international law. This was reaffirmed just yesterday during the telephone conversation between the Presidents of the two countries.

The Russian insinuation concerning the Philippines is not accidental; it is part of a systematic disinformation campaign by the Russian Federation aimed at discrediting Ukraine and its Defense Forces. Just days ago, we “caught” a similar Russian fake about supposed “recruitment” in the Republic of Korea — and officially debunked it. Now Russian propagandists have decided to spread another fabricated story in the Philippines. This demonstrates a deliberate focus of Russian propaganda on the states of Southeast Asia.

We call on all states and international partners to handle information responsibly and not succumb to manipulations and falsehoods aimed at undermining stability and trust.

NEW CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE PHILIPPINES

Beijing's second-highest official in Washington DC is now its envoy to the Philippines. Jing Quan arrives in Manila on December 6, according to a news article by China's Global Times. The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines has yet to post about his arrival on its official Facebook and Twitter accounts or its official website, but has reportedly made the announcement via WeChat.

Jing is quoted by Global Times as saying: "As ambassador, I will firmly safeguard national interests and dignity while serving as a bridge to ensure that China-Philippines relations move toward stability rather than deterioration, and that the two peoples grow closer rather than further apart."

Jing was Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC before his appointment as envoy to the Philippines. It's going to be an interesting tour of duty for Jing, who comes as the Philippines tries to manuever its relationship with Beijing all while it aspires to conclude negotiations of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea between ASEAN and China (as ASEAN chair!) even as tensions in the West Philippine Sea between the two Asian counties persist.

PHOTOS: US, PH hold joint maritime drills days after China harasses Filipino fisherfolk 

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Indo-Pacific Command held the 10th US-Philippines bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) on December 15, days after the China Coast Guard used watercannons and harassed Filipino fisherfolk close to Escoda Shoal int he West Philippines. 

The 10th MCA was held west of Zambales, with the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The joint exercise happened just 5 days after the 9th MCA, also held in the West Philippine Sea from December 9 to 10. 

According to the AFP, the 10th MCA involved the Philippines’ BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), three (3) A-29B Super Tucano, three (3) FA-50 fighter jets, and a Sokol Search and Rescue helicopter and the US Indopacom’s USS Robert Smalls (CG-62), MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, and a P-8A Poseidon aircraft. 

The two militaries conducted a Communication Checks Exercise, Maritime Domain Awareness Reporting, Raid Exercise, Division Tactics/Officer of the Watch Maneuver with Photo Exercise, and a Low Pass/Fly-by. Naval Special Warfare Unit-9 also conducted a  Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) activity aboard the Malvar. 

“The successful conduct of the 10th Bilateral MCA underscores the shared commitment of the Philippines and the United States to uphold a rules-based Indo-Pacific region in accordance with international law, while affirming support for the freedom of navigation and overflight, and contributing to maritime security, regional stability, and a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said the AFP. 

(Photos courtesy of the AFP/FFG-06)

AFP STATEMENT —

On travel history of Bondi mass shooting suspect

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is aware of media reports regarding the alleged travel of certain foreign individuals to the Philippines and possible links to terrorist groups.

At this time, there is no validated information confirming such claims. Matters involving the movements of foreign nationals and potential terrorist links are being closely coordinated through the appropriate government agencies.

The AFP continues to work with the broader security sector to maintain vigilance against any form of terrorism and remains fully committed to supporting civilian authorities in safeguarding national security, in accordance with the Constitution and existing laws.

AFP spox Col Francel Padilla: The Bureau of Immigration confirms their visit to the country, however, it is not conclusive on the claims that both suspects are linked to any terrorist group and received training here in our country.

The AFP statement is clear, we are validating such information together with other govt agencies and the broader intelligence community.

Boring: harassment-drill-protest-infinitum. The sequence is very dull and never-ending! 😡

Major Jerome Jacuba, whom President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordered reinstated after he was discharged due to his blindness, dons his new rank during today's AFP anniversary celebration.

Marcos, at the AFP's 90th anniversary celebration said "claims that portray our country as a training hotspot for terrorism" not acceptable.

Here's the part of that speech: "We also reject in the strongest terms the recent misleading claims that portray our country as a training hotspot for terrorism. For years, we have acted decisively to dismantle terrorist networks, to secure communities, and to sustain our hard-earned peace. To dismiss these gains with unfounded speculation is not acceptable."

For your weekend reading! https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/china-troll-army-philippines-infinitus-marketing-solutions/

What a year it has been! It did feel like the midterm polls happened a long time ago. Here's of this year's political dramas @here https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/podcasts-videos/biggest-political-stories-philippines-2025/

https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-philippine-defense-posture-without-america/

LOOK: Philippine Secretary for Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro visits Myanmar. Lazaro is concurrently the ASEAN Chair's Special Envoy to Myanmar.

Lazaro says she met with the State Security and Peace Commission’s Acting President Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, PM U Nyo Saw and FM U Than Swe.

"We exchanged views on geopolitical developments, the political situation in Myanmar particularly the ongoing elections, and the priorities of the Philippine chairship of ASEAN, as well as the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus."

JAPAN, PHILIPPINES bilateral ties @here

LOOK: Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro, Japan Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu sign three bilateral agreements during the later's visit to Manila:

- Agreement Concerning Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Self-Defense Forces of Japan
- Official Security Assistance for 2025 (worth approx P337 million)
- Aid for establishment of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi Wireless Backbone Network (approx P612 million)

The Philippines is granting visa-free entry for 14 days to Chinese nationals traveling for tourism or business purposes, effective Friday, January 16.

@here is the full statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, January 15:

The Department of Foreign Affairs announces that, effective 16 January 2026, Chinese nationals may enter the Philippines without the requirement of obtaining a visa for a stay of up to fourteen (14) days. This is in line with the President’s directive to facilitate trade, investments, and tourism, as well as strengthen people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and China.

Chinese nationals traveling to the Philippines strictly for tourism or business purposes may avail of the new visa-free entry privilege. The said privilege allows for a non-extendable 14-day stay, which is non-convertible to any other type of Philippine visa category.

The visa-free privilege will be valid for entry only through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Metro Manila and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) in Cebu. Upon arrival, Chinese nationals need to present a passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the contemplated stay, confirmed hotel accommodation/booking, and a return or onward ticket to the next country of destination. To ensure that security and public order are maintained while facilitating the entry of legitimate travelers, checks on derogatory records of travelers will continue to apply.

The visa-free entry arrangement will be in effect for one year and will be reviewed accordingly before it expires.