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Many Filipinos are now beginning to appreciate the soft side of President Rodrigo Duterte despite his tough stance on his war on drugs. Mr. Duterte, not to the surprise of many, also cares about the environment and its benefits to the population, tourism and the economy in general. His initial success in cleaning up Boracay Island gained the support of the Filipino people and was lauded here and abroad. It started the momentum to rehabilitate other tourist attractions in the Philippines.

Three weeks into the campaign and the 62 senatorial aspirants are crisscrossing the archipelago, attending televised debates, recording TV and radio ads, meeting with campaign strategists, and putting their best foot forward before the electorate, who on May 13, will exercise their sacred right to choose their leaders.

The passing of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Nestor Aldave Espenilla Jr., a highly admired career central banker, is a great loss to the nation. Barely two years into his six-year term as governor, Espenilla’s death came as the BSP successfully steered the country away from a high inflation regime last year.