Philippines Roundup: Miss Tourism International, Trump presidency, death penalty for corruption
Host of Miss Tourism International
The Philippines announced on January 22 that the Southeast Asian nation is set to host the prestigious Miss Tourism International pageant in November 2025. Established in 1994, Miss Tourism International is the world's oldest tourism pageant. 45 to 50 contestants from around the world will vie for the coveted title in the 28th edition.
Philippine-US relations under Trump presidency
Philippine Ambassador to the US, Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez, has reassured citizens that the Philippines’ interests remain secure under the current US administration. He underscored the robust partnership rooted in mutual defence treaties and emphasised the US’s value for the Philippines regarding contentious issues in the South China Sea. However, Romualdez expressed concerns over Donald Trump’s immigration policies affecting undocumented Filipinos, suggesting an exodus to mitigate potential deportation risks—especially pertinent as the Philippines ranked as the sixth-largest source of undocumented immigrants in the US, with an estimated 309,000 individuals in 2021.
Tourism agreement with India
The Philippines' Department of Tourism (DOT) is poised to implement a strategic tourism agreement with India. This initiative aims to enhance air connectivity to crucial destinations, such as Manila. During a bilateral discussion with Indian Tourism Minister Shri Gajendar Singh Shekhawat at the ASEAN-India Tourism Ministers Meeting, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco elaborated on plans to enact the implementation programme stemming from a 2019 Memorandum of Cooperation. This programme is centred on improving air connectivity and collaborative marketing to stimulate tourism figures, accounting for the mere 79,000 Indian tourists who visited the Philippines out of five million arriving in Southeast Asia.
Religious organisations stage political rallies ahead of midterm elections
Ahead of the May 12, 2025, midterm elections, religious organisations in the Philippines amid the public rivalry unfolding between Vice President Sara Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., are staging sizable political rallies—one reportedly amassing an attendance of one million. Analyses suggest a lukewarm potential for these faith-driven demonstrations to genuinely impact voter behaviour, having observed prior elections where endorsements yielded negligible results. Religious groups such as Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) and Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) are uniting in support of Duterte, while the Catholic Church, alongside evangelical and civil society entities, is orchestrating an “indignation rally” against both political figures. Scholars argue that rallying efforts should effectively merge moral messaging with a cogent political critique to retain engagement and credibility.
Death penalty for corruption
In a bid to tackle endemic corruption within governmental institutions, a newly proposed legislative measure in the Philippines, known as the Death Penalty for Corruption Act, initiated by Khymer Adan Olaso, representative of Zamboanga del Norte, one of the three congressional districts of the Philippines, is seeking a firing squad execution for public officials found guilty of severe corrupt practices. The bill is applicable to all government officials and emphasises a stringent adherence to due process, necessitating Supreme Court ratification and an automatic appellate review of convictions.
