Liberalism :
News
-
Defending Freedom Across Generations: Liberalism in an Aging Philippines
In just five years, the Philippines will officially be an aging society. That should surprise—and worry us. After all, this is still a country where half the population is under 25. Yet in 2020, there were already 9.24 million senior citizens (60 years and above), or 8.5% of the population. By 2066, one in five Filipinos will be elderly.
-
From Salons to Shelves: Reclaiming the Library as a Liberal Space
Democracy will not survive when 9 out of 10 Filipino children can’t read properly. In the Philippines, this is not just a rhetorical statement. A 2022 World Bank report found that 91% of 10-year-olds in the country cannot read and understand a simple story.
-
The party of progress must represent progress
In the late twentieth century, German philosopher Jürgen Habermas began diagnosing what later scholars would call “liberal pathologies”—internal contradictions within modern liberal democracies. These refer to the social, cultural, political, and economic dynamics that, though rooted in liberal ideals, evolve in ways that undermine liberalism’s original promise of freedom, prosperity, and equality within democratic institutions.
-
The Case for Liberal Hope in an Age of Disillusionment
There is an invisible epidemic plaguing the global liberal movement today, one that has outlasted even the coronavirus. Liberals are succumbing to hopelessness, and for understandable reasons. Liberalism is under heavy siege on many fronts, with its promise of progress through individual freedom, human rights, and free markets scorned by the Left and the Right across the globe. It is easy to forget that just thirty years ago, liberal democracy seemed triumphant. The so-called ‘end of history’ felt imminent. But that moment has long passed. Confusion, fear, and frustration have taken their place.
-
F for Freedom, F for Fighter, F for Las Filipinas: A glimpse into liberalism in the Philippines
Veronica Burgstaller, Communications Manager at FNF Europe, recently embarked on a transformative journey with the One Foundation Program in the Philippines. Her experience highlights the rich yet complex history of a nation grappling with its colonial past and ongoing struggles for democracy. Through this immersive exchange, Veronica could explore the deep-rooted political and cultural dynamics of the Philippines while fostering global collaboration within FNF.
