Power remains, but momentum slips, as the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. drifts from direction to reaction, showing how leadership can weaken without a crisis.
Publicly floating persona non grata threats turns a precise diplomatic tool into applause politics, shifting focus from Chinese misconduct to domestic noise and weakening the very authority the state is meant to protect.
Philippine tourism struggles not from lack of assets, but from leadership that prioritizes messaging over systems, coordination, and hard economic decisions.
Impeachment has shifted from a last resort to background noise, shaping governance through threat and delay rather than decisive constitutional action.
