Stories & Photographs by Jofelle Tesorio

The reason China is bullying the Philippines is the glaring disparities in economic and military power. The bully was once called the 'Sick Man of Asia' because it had a huge population and so poor then. But it miraculously transformed into an economic giant by becoming the manufacturing hub of the world. Now the bullied is called the 'New Sick Man of Asia'. It was once the second vibrant economy in Asia, next to Japan. Why has the Philippines gone into abysmal economic performance? Here's some of the reasons written by Mathew Fisher ... Can the Philippines be like China in the future? Filipino kids scavenge over piles of garbage in Manila. Since the Philippines values democracy and recognises human rights, its way to economic recovery will not be as fast as China. The Philippines still has Asia's strongest labour unions and enforceable labour laws. Unless the Philippines fully opens up to investment, control its population growth and clean-up the corr...

China is making double-edged statements recently as the military stand-off with Philippines in the disputed Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal continues and amidst the US-Philippines military exercises . In a report , the Chinese government said it is willing to resolve the territorial dispute with the Philippines bilaterally yet its military vows to protect the country's interest. By protecting means sending a nuclear powered submarine to the area, although the government neither confirms nor denies it. On April 28, China sent a naval vessel , described as that country’s most advanced fishery patrol ship to Scarborough Shoal. File photo of China's Fisheries Law Enforcement Vessel, the Yuzheng 130. Photo from www.cnr.cn . China's defense minister Liang Guanglie said that any military action will be based on the needs of diplomacy, according to the China Daily. Meanwhile,  another report quoted P...

Thailand is known not only as the Land of Smiles but also the land of beautiful transgenders that are often mistaken as real women. Transgenders are often featured in spectacular cabaret shows in Pattaya and Bangkok and of course, there is Miss Tiffany and Miss International Queen, the most coveted local and international pageants for transvestites and transgenders. Thai transgender model/actress Treechayada 'Poy' Malayaporn (Photo by J. Tesorio) Many people ask why Thailand's transgenders are so pretty and so many. First, Thai men have softer features and slender bodies so it makes it easy for them to shift from a man to woman. Second, the country has embraced cosmetic surgery. It is relatively so easy and cheap to get a botox (as cheap as $50 a shot), a nose job or a boob job. Getting a sex change is within reach and not complicated, although the government has introduced basic laws to make sure that those who are getting it are of sound mind and properly informed...

The Philippines has called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to take a stand on the ongoing stand-off between the Philippines and China in Scarborough Shoal (called Panatag Shoal in the Philippines), which lies 120 kilometres off Zambales province on the western coast of the Philippines' Luzon region. According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, "a Philippine Coast Guard search and rescue vessel, the BRP Edsa, is facing off with two Chinese vessels at the shoal in a 12-day territorial impasse set off on April 10 by Chinese poaching in the area. The poachers, on eight Chinese fishing vessels, slipped out of the area with their illegal catch under the protection of the two Chinese surveillance vessels, angering Philippine officials. Both asserting their territorial claim to the shoal, the Philippines and China have refused to recall their vessels from the area." (More of the story at http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/news.php?id=29841&sec=1 ) ...