The Philippine Studies Programme started as a multi-year initiative known as the Philippine Studies Project under the Regional Political and Studies Programme (RSPS) to enhance ISEAS research on the Philippines. The project received funding support from the Philippine Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Singapore from June 2019 to September 2023. It officially become the sixth country study programme of ISEAS on 1 April 2024.
The Philippine Studies Programme aims to support the research capabilities and coverage of Philippine studies at ISEAS through publications and events. It also offers opportunities for both established and young scholars and experts from the Philippines to share their views and perspectives on multifaceted developments in the country.
The current Coordinator of the Philippine Studies Programme is Dr Aries Arugay. Dr Malcolm Cook managed the project until June 2021.
From 2023-2024, the Philippine Studies Programmme will work on the following research topics:
- Foreign Policy Amidst US-China Rivalry
This project investigates the series of changes instigated by the Marcos Jr administration to Philippine foreign policy within the context of a heightened US-China rivalry in the Indo-Pacific. It examines the initiatives launched by the government in facing strategic challenges within its maritime domain, the advent of foreign malign influence operations, greyzone tactics, and revitalized security alliances and new partnerships with like-minded states.
- Domestic Politics & Social Forces
This project focuses on the domestic developments in the Philippines with particular attention to the political dynamics between major political and social forces within the country. It pays attention to the relationship between political elites, institutions, and social forces such as civil society and the Church. It also monitors the cohesion and tensions between the Marcos-Duterte dynastic alliance as the country’s ruling political coalition
- Economic Resilience and Sustainable Development
This project tackles the economic issues faced by the Philippines as one of the regions’ fastest growing economies and an emerging middle-income country. It focuses on the government’s policies to encourage more foreign investments but at the same time ensure equitable development across socioeconomic classes and geographical regions. Lastly, this project also identifies the major economic challenges of the country related to infrastructure, energy security, and climate change.
Books
| Title | Author(s)/Editor(s) | Date |
| Games, Changes, and Fears: The Philippines from Duterte to Marcos Jr. | Aries A. Arugay and Jean Encinas-Franco (editors) | 26 April 2024 |
| ASEAN Centrality: An Autoethnographic Account by a Philippine Diplomat | Elizabeth Buensuceso | 2021 |
Fulcrum Commentaries
ISEAS Perspectives
| A Strategic Reset?: The Philippines-United States Alliance under President Marcos Jr. | Aries A. Arugay and Ian Storey | 15 May 2023 |
| Like, Subscribe and Vote: The Role of Political Influencers in the 2022 Philippine Elections and Beyond | Fatima Gaw & Aries A. Arugay | 13 March 2024 |
| Something Old, Something New: The Philippines’ Transparency Initiative in the South China Sea | Edcel John A. Ibarra and Aries A. Arugay | 12 April 2024 |
Events (Seminars, Webinars)
| The Philippine Economy amid Disruptive Transitions | Jan Carlo Punongbayan Karl Jandoc Christina Epetia Zy-za Nadine Suzara | 15 March 2023 |
| The Future of Fact-Checking in the Philippines | Edson C. Tandoc Jr. Ma. Diosa Labiste Yvonne T. Chua | 23 June 2023 |
| The Philippines’ Transparency Initiative in the South China Sea: Quo Vadis? | Jonathan Malaya, Charmaine Willoughby, Jaime Naval | 15 February 2024 |
| Building a Defense Industry in the Philippines: Challenges and Opportunities | Herman Kraft, Jesse Pascasio, Meneleo Carlos | 9 May 2024 |
Media Engagements