Mong Palatino
@mongpalatino.bsky.social
Activist. Asia-Pacific blogger. BAYAN, IFEX, Global Voices, Bulatlat, The Diplomat. Legislator (14th-15th Congress). Kabataan Partylist founder. Folding biker. Posts my own
Pinned
Mong Palatino
@mongpalatino.bsky.social
· Aug 30
NEW BOOK
A guide to understanding Southeast Asia’s recent history, geopolitical dynamics, the people’s pushback against authoritarianism, and the impact of global events in the region
How to order: forms.gle/5SMyzFKw29aG...
A guide to understanding Southeast Asia’s recent history, geopolitical dynamics, the people’s pushback against authoritarianism, and the impact of global events in the region
How to order: forms.gle/5SMyzFKw29aG...
Black November in the Philippines. Continuing corruption crisis and the protests demanding accountability. My latest piece for @thediplomat.com
thediplomat.com/2025/11/in-t...
thediplomat.com/2025/11/in-t...
In the Philippines, Corruption Protests Continue to Hound the Marcos Administration
Despite the president’s promises to crack down on high-level corruption, the pressure on his government continues to build.
thediplomat.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Black November in the Philippines. Continuing corruption crisis and the protests demanding accountability. My latest piece for @thediplomat.com
thediplomat.com/2025/11/in-t...
thediplomat.com/2025/11/in-t...
I interviewed #Pakistan journalist Asma Shirazi for @ifex.org about the gendered abuse she encountered and how tech platforms had been complicit in amplifying the online violence.
@globalfreemedia.bsky.social @article19.bsky.social
ifex.org/gendered-abu...
@globalfreemedia.bsky.social @article19.bsky.social
ifex.org/gendered-abu...
Gendered abuse and the complicity of tech platforms - IFEX
Trolling, harassment – and solidarity. Asma Shirazi has faced down a vicious online campaign and successfully sued the country’s electronic media watchdog for its role in spreading disinformation agai...
ifex.org
November 4, 2025 at 9:20 AM
I interviewed #Pakistan journalist Asma Shirazi for @ifex.org about the gendered abuse she encountered and how tech platforms had been complicit in amplifying the online violence.
@globalfreemedia.bsky.social @article19.bsky.social
ifex.org/gendered-abu...
@globalfreemedia.bsky.social @article19.bsky.social
ifex.org/gendered-abu...
#Philippines @ifex.org series on journalists facing online harassment and the role of Big Tech in amplifying impunity. I interviewed Cong B. Corrales, a red-tagged Filipino journalist who pushed back by filing a landmark case against Meta
@rsf.org @pressfreedom.bsky.social
ifex.org/red-tagging-...
@rsf.org @pressfreedom.bsky.social
ifex.org/red-tagging-...
Red-tagging, disinformation campaigns, and taking on Meta - IFEX
Leonardo Vicente “Cong” Corrales may be the most red-tagged journalist in Cagayan de Oro. In 2023, he filed a landmark case against Meta to obtain the identities behind the accounts that had led a vic...
ifex.org
November 4, 2025 at 9:15 AM
#Philippines @ifex.org series on journalists facing online harassment and the role of Big Tech in amplifying impunity. I interviewed Cong B. Corrales, a red-tagged Filipino journalist who pushed back by filing a landmark case against Meta
@rsf.org @pressfreedom.bsky.social
ifex.org/red-tagging-...
@rsf.org @pressfreedom.bsky.social
ifex.org/red-tagging-...
Sign of the times. An EV charging station beside a public fire station
November 3, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Sign of the times. An EV charging station beside a public fire station
Reposted by Mong Palatino
I am craving stories about civil society, about resistance, about how local groups find ways to make things better for themselves & others. This is happening all over the world, and this interview from @mongpalatino.bsky.social for @globalvoices.org is a great example & offers plenty to learn from.
How civil society groups and activists are planning to reclaim civic space in Vietnam
In the international community, Vietnam's authoritarian status is relatively unknown compared to other places such as China and North Korea.
globalvoices.org
October 31, 2025 at 9:48 AM
I am craving stories about civil society, about resistance, about how local groups find ways to make things better for themselves & others. This is happening all over the world, and this interview from @mongpalatino.bsky.social for @globalvoices.org is a great example & offers plenty to learn from.
Reposted by Mong Palatino
Activist Sophon “Get” Surattithamrong is serving an 8.5 sentence in #Thailand for taking part in the 2020 protests. While imprisoned, he's been writing steadily about democracy in Thailand, South Korea & Myanmar. We’ve publish 3 of his letters: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
October 31, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Activist Sophon “Get” Surattithamrong is serving an 8.5 sentence in #Thailand for taking part in the 2020 protests. While imprisoned, he's been writing steadily about democracy in Thailand, South Korea & Myanmar. We’ve publish 3 of his letters: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Mong Palatino
This week, we continue our theme for PEN recommends reading list: Banned Books, spotlighting writers whose works have been silenced.
Today, we feature The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, banned in several schools in the United States.
Today, we feature The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, banned in several schools in the United States.
October 27, 2025 at 3:36 PM
This week, we continue our theme for PEN recommends reading list: Banned Books, spotlighting writers whose works have been silenced.
Today, we feature The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, banned in several schools in the United States.
Today, we feature The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, banned in several schools in the United States.
Reposted by Mong Palatino
Asia Spotlight is live! 🌏
This new series from our Young Writers Committee @youngwriterspen.bsky.social features voices from Bangladesh, Singapore, Thailand, and more, exploring censorship and resilience through personal reflections.
Read the full overview ⬇️
tomorrowclub.world/spotlights/s...
This new series from our Young Writers Committee @youngwriterspen.bsky.social features voices from Bangladesh, Singapore, Thailand, and more, exploring censorship and resilience through personal reflections.
Read the full overview ⬇️
tomorrowclub.world/spotlights/s...
Spotlight: Asia
tomorrowclub.world
October 24, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Asia Spotlight is live! 🌏
This new series from our Young Writers Committee @youngwriterspen.bsky.social features voices from Bangladesh, Singapore, Thailand, and more, exploring censorship and resilience through personal reflections.
Read the full overview ⬇️
tomorrowclub.world/spotlights/s...
This new series from our Young Writers Committee @youngwriterspen.bsky.social features voices from Bangladesh, Singapore, Thailand, and more, exploring censorship and resilience through personal reflections.
Read the full overview ⬇️
tomorrowclub.world/spotlights/s...
Why token reforms would not stop the anti-corruption protests in the Philippines? Filipinos aghast over the performative acts of politicians. My latest piece for @thediplomat.com
thediplomat.com/2025/10/refo...
thediplomat.com/2025/10/refo...
Reform or Reset? Ending the Corruption Cycle in the Philippines
Public anger has reached such a pitch that even jailing corrupt contractors or filing cases against officials may not be sufficient.
thediplomat.com
October 20, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Why token reforms would not stop the anti-corruption protests in the Philippines? Filipinos aghast over the performative acts of politicians. My latest piece for @thediplomat.com
thediplomat.com/2025/10/refo...
thediplomat.com/2025/10/refo...
Reposted by Mong Palatino
Introducing Exile Hub - Campaigning nominee for the 2025 Freedom of Expression Awards! Exile Hub is a women-led initiative offering holistic, frontline support to human rights defenders & pro-democracy activists at risk in Myanmar & beyond. Find out more: www.indexoncensorship.org/awards-2025-...
October 16, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Introducing Exile Hub - Campaigning nominee for the 2025 Freedom of Expression Awards! Exile Hub is a women-led initiative offering holistic, frontline support to human rights defenders & pro-democracy activists at risk in Myanmar & beyond. Find out more: www.indexoncensorship.org/awards-2025-...
Reposted by Mong Palatino
Introducing Sai █████ - Arts category shortlist nominee for this year’s Freedom of Expression Awards! Sai's work, rooted in the aftermath of state violence in #Myanmar, is undertaken at life-threatening risk. Learn more: www.indexoncensorship.org/awards-2025-...
October 14, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Introducing Sai █████ - Arts category shortlist nominee for this year’s Freedom of Expression Awards! Sai's work, rooted in the aftermath of state violence in #Myanmar, is undertaken at life-threatening risk. Learn more: www.indexoncensorship.org/awards-2025-...
At least 900,000 Cambodians have returned from Thailand since the border conflict escalated.
Just for comparison, during the pandemic, 260,000 were forced to return.
cchrcambodia.org/en/publicati...
Just for comparison, during the pandemic, 260,000 were forced to return.
cchrcambodia.org/en/publicati...
cchrcambodia.org
October 11, 2025 at 2:47 PM
At least 900,000 Cambodians have returned from Thailand since the border conflict escalated.
Just for comparison, during the pandemic, 260,000 were forced to return.
cchrcambodia.org/en/publicati...
Just for comparison, during the pandemic, 260,000 were forced to return.
cchrcambodia.org/en/publicati...
San Fabian, Pangasinan. Northern Luzon island in the Philippines
October 10, 2025 at 8:41 AM
San Fabian, Pangasinan. Northern Luzon island in the Philippines
A guide to understanding the corruption crisis in the Philippines, and why tens of thousands are flooding the streets with protests. My latest piece for @thediplomat.com
thediplomat.com/2025/10/an-o...
thediplomat.com/2025/10/an-o...
An Overview of the Raging Corruption Scandals in the Philippines
A series of scandals threaten to mutate into a serious political crisis for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
thediplomat.com
October 9, 2025 at 5:45 AM
A guide to understanding the corruption crisis in the Philippines, and why tens of thousands are flooding the streets with protests. My latest piece for @thediplomat.com
thediplomat.com/2025/10/an-o...
thediplomat.com/2025/10/an-o...
Spent several summer vacations in the 1990s in grandpa's hometown in Pangasinan, north part of the Philippines.
In the town plaza, a statue honoring World War II veterans. My grandpa was a war veteran
Never thought I'd be returning and biking my way to revisit these memorable places
In the town plaza, a statue honoring World War II veterans. My grandpa was a war veteran
Never thought I'd be returning and biking my way to revisit these memorable places
October 7, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Spent several summer vacations in the 1990s in grandpa's hometown in Pangasinan, north part of the Philippines.
In the town plaza, a statue honoring World War II veterans. My grandpa was a war veteran
Never thought I'd be returning and biking my way to revisit these memorable places
In the town plaza, a statue honoring World War II veterans. My grandpa was a war veteran
Never thought I'd be returning and biking my way to revisit these memorable places
Grateful for the opportunity to promote the book at the Pampanga Regionall Book Festival. I gave a brief talk about some of the geopolitical dynamics in Southeast Asia, and the thrill of self-publishing 😊
September 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Grateful for the opportunity to promote the book at the Pampanga Regionall Book Festival. I gave a brief talk about some of the geopolitical dynamics in Southeast Asia, and the thrill of self-publishing 😊
The trigger, context, meaning, and impact of the massive anti-corruption protests across the Philippines. We gathered 100,000 people in Manila on September 21. My latest piece for @thediplomat.com
thediplomat.com/2025/09/mass...
thediplomat.com/2025/09/mass...
Massive Protests Condemn Corruption in the Philippines
The anti-corruption protests, which took place across Manila and other cities, are the largest to take place since the “Million People March” in 2013.
thediplomat.com
September 24, 2025 at 12:59 AM
The trigger, context, meaning, and impact of the massive anti-corruption protests across the Philippines. We gathered 100,000 people in Manila on September 21. My latest piece for @thediplomat.com
thediplomat.com/2025/09/mass...
thediplomat.com/2025/09/mass...
These laws are used to target the critical work of civil society in Asia. In the end, the people suffer when civic space is eroded, diminished, or dismantled. My latest piece for @ifex.org
ifex.org/from-registr...
ifex.org/from-registr...
From registration to dissolution: Draconian laws hamper civil society in Asia - IFEX
Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Asia face significant challenges. In countries under authoritarian regimes, they endure harassment, persecution or even outright bans. Colonial-era sedition and d...
ifex.org
September 22, 2025 at 3:27 PM
These laws are used to target the critical work of civil society in Asia. In the end, the people suffer when civic space is eroded, diminished, or dismantled. My latest piece for @ifex.org
ifex.org/from-registr...
ifex.org/from-registr...
An independent commission to probe corruption
Legislators implicated in corruption
Public uproar over nepo babies, piles of cash for officials, ghost projects
Where will all these lead to in the Philippines
My latest piece for @thediplomat.com
thediplomat.com/2025/09/phil...
Legislators implicated in corruption
Public uproar over nepo babies, piles of cash for officials, ghost projects
Where will all these lead to in the Philippines
My latest piece for @thediplomat.com
thediplomat.com/2025/09/phil...
Philippines Creates Independent Panel to Probe Infrastructure Corruption
President Marcos has created a new Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to examine “misuse of funds in government flood control and related projects.”
thediplomat.com
September 12, 2025 at 7:16 AM
An independent commission to probe corruption
Legislators implicated in corruption
Public uproar over nepo babies, piles of cash for officials, ghost projects
Where will all these lead to in the Philippines
My latest piece for @thediplomat.com
thediplomat.com/2025/09/phil...
Legislators implicated in corruption
Public uproar over nepo babies, piles of cash for officials, ghost projects
Where will all these lead to in the Philippines
My latest piece for @thediplomat.com
thediplomat.com/2025/09/phil...
Run for accountability
With four days preparation, around 2,500 joined a run for accountability amid the widespread corruption involving flood control projects and other big ticket infrastructure projects of the Philippine government
With four days preparation, around 2,500 joined a run for accountability amid the widespread corruption involving flood control projects and other big ticket infrastructure projects of the Philippine government
September 7, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Run for accountability
With four days preparation, around 2,500 joined a run for accountability amid the widespread corruption involving flood control projects and other big ticket infrastructure projects of the Philippine government
With four days preparation, around 2,500 joined a run for accountability amid the widespread corruption involving flood control projects and other big ticket infrastructure projects of the Philippine government
Book now available at ChapterIX bookstore in Sta Maria, Bulacan, north of Metro Manila
Book mentions the Red & Yellow shirts, 2014 coup, 2020 student-led protests - all of which can help explain Thailand's current political crisis and the frequent ouster of Thaksin's relatives and allies from power
Book mentions the Red & Yellow shirts, 2014 coup, 2020 student-led protests - all of which can help explain Thailand's current political crisis and the frequent ouster of Thaksin's relatives and allies from power
September 6, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Book now available at ChapterIX bookstore in Sta Maria, Bulacan, north of Metro Manila
Book mentions the Red & Yellow shirts, 2014 coup, 2020 student-led protests - all of which can help explain Thailand's current political crisis and the frequent ouster of Thaksin's relatives and allies from power
Book mentions the Red & Yellow shirts, 2014 coup, 2020 student-led protests - all of which can help explain Thailand's current political crisis and the frequent ouster of Thaksin's relatives and allies from power
Support @globalvoices.org
Help us continue our mission of amplifying local stories and explaining narratives that are often underreported
globalvoices.org/2025/08/12/g...
Help us continue our mission of amplifying local stories and explaining narratives that are often underreported
globalvoices.org/2025/08/12/g...
GV Fundraiser: Announcing gifts for donation milestones
As a thank you for supporting Global Voices, we're sending out exclusive gifts to those who hit certain donation milestones!
globalvoices.org
September 3, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Support @globalvoices.org
Help us continue our mission of amplifying local stories and explaining narratives that are often underreported
globalvoices.org/2025/08/12/g...
Help us continue our mission of amplifying local stories and explaining narratives that are often underreported
globalvoices.org/2025/08/12/g...
Reposted by Mong Palatino
Today, PEN International President Burhan Sonmez reaffirmed our association’s commitment to writers everywhere.
Built on the defence of free expression, PEN International continues to stand firm against threats that silence voices around the world.
Built on the defence of free expression, PEN International continues to stand firm against threats that silence voices around the world.
September 3, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Today, PEN International President Burhan Sonmez reaffirmed our association’s commitment to writers everywhere.
Built on the defence of free expression, PEN International continues to stand firm against threats that silence voices around the world.
Built on the defence of free expression, PEN International continues to stand firm against threats that silence voices around the world.