Why Southeast Asia is Drifting Away from Washington

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The geopolitical landscape of Southeast Asia is undergoing a tectonic shift. For decades, the United States was viewed as the indispensable powerthe security guarantor that allowed the region’s tiger economies to flourish. However, recent events, culminating in the devastating economic fallout of the Iran war, have accelerated a trend that many in Washington failed to see coming: Southeast Asia is increasingly looking toward Beijing, not out of ideological love, but out of pragmatic necessity. This shift is not merely a preference for one superpower over another; it is a profound vote of no confidence in the predictability and reliability of Western leadership. The Credibility Gap: From Trade Wars to Kinetic Wars The erosion of trust didn't happen overnight. It began with a series of inconsistent trade policies and sudden tariffs that left regional exportersfrom Malaysia to Vietnamreeling. When global leadership feels like a moving target, Southeast Asian nations, which prioritize...
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Why is José Rizal Called Pepe? The Story Behind the Nickname

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José Rizal, the Philippines’ national hero, is remembered not only for his intellect and patriotism but also for his enduring nickname: Pepe. While many Filipinos are familiar with the name, fewer know the unique history behind it.

Rizal was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, the seventh child of Don Francisco Mercado and Doña Teodora Alonso. He was baptized José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda in honor of two saints—Saint Joseph, for whom his mother had a devotion, and Saint Protacio, the patron saint for June 19.

But how did “José” become “Pepe”?

In her book In Excelsis, writer Felice Prudente Santa Maria explained the story. In Catholic tradition, Saint Joseph—known as San José in Spanish—was called the “putative father” of Jesus Christ. In Latin, this was written as P.P., short for pater putativus.

When read in Spanish, the two letters “P.P.” were pronounced as “Pe-pe.” Over time, this became a common nickname for boys named José. Thus, Rizal, who carried the name José, was affectionately called Pepe.

This small linguistic detail reveals much about the fusion of language, religion, and culture in the Philippines. What began as a Catholic tradition in Europe traveled across the seas, influencing how Filipinos addressed their national hero.

For many, calling him Pepe makes José Rizal not just a distant historical figure, but someone familiar and beloved—a hero remembered with both respect and affection.

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