Citing reforms of the sectoral elections, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), in their joint pre-election assessment report released on Sept. 1, noted that while "reserved representation guarantees access to seats, [it] does not necessarily guarantee political agency over who occupies them."

COMMENTARY: This is why the debate over Castro’s words should not end with the observation that she said, “some teachers” rather than “all teachers.” Her defenders are correct about the literal distinction. Her critics are entitled to ask a different question: Why were teachers brought into this particular discussion at all?

Despite the persistent defeatist propaganda being regurgitated by the treacherous talking heads and influencers of the Duterte camp, the Philippines is slowly emerging as a significant Southeast Asian military power. The only thing for the Philippines to do is for Filipinos to realize that we are not anymore the weak man of Asia.