Kyle Parada



About to take up the fourth year of my Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, with Minors in History and Philosophy, at the Ateneo de Manila University. Research interests include Political Theory, Ideology, International Relations, and Global History. I contribute periodically for various publications on politics and similar topics in my spare time.

Rappler •

[New School] The greatest lesson Bongbong Marcos learned from his father

It almost seems fitting that, only a few days from the 49th anniversary of Martial Law, the Marcoses have once again captured the attention of the Filipino public. When I heard that Toni Gonzaga – whose family had long been trying to worm its way through to the political scene in Taytay, never shying away from bumping elbows with the Duterte crowd in order to garner the administration’s support (with mixed electoral success) – had published an interview with Bongbong Marcos, of all people, I kne
Rappler •

[New School] Leni is ready for the presidency

I had my doubts, of course. A relative newcomer to the political scene, she lacked the experience of her more veteran opponents in the run-up to the 2016 elections. Although a lawyer in her own right, it was Jesse who was the politician – nay, the public servant. And contrary to precedent, dead husbands do not a good president – even a vice president – make. Nearly five years later, and it has made all the difference. I was wrong, as I believe many others were at the time. Leni Robredo proved to
Rappler •

[OPINION]: The good with the bad: Reappraising the Aquino legacy

The extent to which this was true was and continues to be a point of contention. On one hand, his administration effectively set the stage for the Philippines to become one of the fastest growing economies, not only in the East Asia region but in the world, peaking in 2010 (7.3% annual GDP growth) and again in 2013 (7.2% annual GDP growth) – a trend which has undeniably carried over to the present Duterte administration. At the same time, however, this economic boom had disproportionately benefi
Rappler •

[OPINION] A new David and Goliath: On Filipinos' defense of Israel

With our own experiences as a Filipino David against a Spanish, an American, a Japanese, and now a Chinese Goliath, one might have thought it easy to find some sort of sympathy for the Palestinian people – brutalized from their homes and herded into pens under Israeli watch like sheep for the slaughter – just as we once were. That our government could say nothing other than express their “serious concerns” while Israel tramples over the remnants of Palestine is an affront to everything we as a o
Rappler •

[OPINION] Doubling down on deterrence in the West Philippine Sea

The past four years have seen Chinese efforts to consolidate its hegemony over the Asia Pacific intensifying on an unprecedented scale. Inaction on the part of the Trump and Duterte administrations has left a gaping hole in Southeast Asian foreign policy – one that China has seen fit to exploit. Global pandemic, domestic turmoil, and a transition into the Biden administration have kept US officials busy. In the Philippines, Duterte, in particular, has long expressed fears of an unwinnable war wi
Rappler •

[OPINION] What Carpio’s coalition means for the 2022 elections

But if there is any one constant in the politics of elections, in so far as they are a free and a democratic one, it is that power ultimately resides in the hands of the people. Many Filipinos may well be looking to replicate Biden’s victory and Trump’s ouster in the 2020 US presidential election, but to look and to act are often two very different things, one harder than the other. It remains to be seen whether the supposed unity of this new opposition can reflect on the broader public, and if
Rappler •

[OPINION] The problem with bureaucracy

But in a broader sense, the general question of bureaucracy rests in how government can effectively implement policy. Power is, even in a democratic society, consolidated in the hands of a select few, seeing that the room cannot hold all. Ergo, the subsequent institutional organizations of bureaucracy become the middlemen by which power trickles down unto mass society. In this sense, the bureaucracy is the most vital actor of government as it is involved directly in the interaction between state
INQUIRER.net •

One hundred days of the absurd and tyrannical

In the days leading up to the outbreak of this new coronavirus disease, government attention still rested squarely on the efforts against media giant ABS-CBN. Knowing all too well the virus’ presence in the country as far back as Jan. 30 whilst infected Chinese nationals slipped through our borders undetected, government response to this should have been clear: Control the influx of foreigners from active regions coming to and from the country. However, despite overwhelming public opinion in fav