Accessibility links
Julie McCarthy Julie McCarthy is an international correspondent for NPR based in Manila.
Stories By

Julie McCarthy

Story Archive

Friday

Asia

Inflation-strapped Filipinos criticize the president's many foreign trips

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has frequently left his country for overseas visits. Filipinos facing steep inflation and food shortages at home wonder how that jet-setting benefits them.

Inflation-strapped Filipinos criticize the president's many foreign trips

Listen · 3:48
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1150228748/1150228749" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Asia

Onions now cost more than meat in the Philippines

In the Philippines, a surge in the price of onions has left people rationing the vegetable. The president, the weather and shady business dealings are all being blamed for the shortage.

Onions now cost more than meat in the Philippines

Listen · 4:26
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1149375061/1149375062" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sunday

Asia

In the Philippines, revived traditions bring hope and gratitude in the new year

Life around the world is returning to pre-pandemic normal this winter. In the Philippines, people are looking forward to the New Year with hope that they will stay healthy and happy.

In the Philippines, revived traditions bring hope and gratitude in the new year

Listen · 5:15
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1146485956/1146485957" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Saturday

Asia

Philippines boosts military presence in South China Sea

The Philippines has boosted its military presence in the South China Sea after spotting numerous Chinese fishing boats in its coastal waters. Washington is supporting Manila in the dispute.

Philippines boosts military presence in South China Sea

Listen · 4:40
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1145423615/1145423616" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Asia

Indonesia has updated its criminal code with a raft of free speech restrictions

Indonesia's overhaul of its criminal code has alarmed human rights advocates, who say the updated version enshrines numerous anti-democratic practices.

Indonesia has updated its criminal code with a raft of free speech restrictions

Listen · 4:55
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1144064811/1144064812" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

Asia

Indonesia passes a new criminal code that prevents extramarital sex

Indonesia has passed a new criminal code that prevents anyone in the country from having extramarital sex and restricts political freedoms.

Indonesia passes a new criminal code that prevents extramarital sex

Listen · 3:53
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1141644859/1141645118" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

Asia

Will young voters in Malaysia revive the career of a 97-year-old politician?

Age is an issue in Malaysia's parliamentary election. For older politicians, including the 97-year-old former prime minister who is contesting a seat, their fate may rest with young voters.

Will young voters in Malaysia revive the career of a 97-year-old politician?

Listen · 3:58
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1137334860/1137334861" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Asia

Philippine investigators say suspended prison chief ordered killing of radio host

The Philippines has been rocked by news that the highest ranking official in the country's correction bureau has been charged with the murder of a high-profile radio host.

Philippine investigators say suspended prison chief ordered killing of radio host

Listen · 2:18
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1135076969/1135076970" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Jailed under Duterte, Philippine politician sends dire warnings on democracy

Former Philippine Senator and human rights campaigner Leila de Lima, a high-profile critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his deadly drug war, arrives at her hearing on illegal drug charges at the Muntinlupa Trial Court in Manila on Aug. 26. Maria Salvador Tan/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Maria Salvador Tan/AFP via Getty Images

World

Jailed under Duterte, Philippine politician sends dire warnings on democracy

Supporters say Leila de Lima is a human rights defender still paying the price for speaking out against the abuses of the former president's drug war.

Jailed under Duterte, Philippine politician sends dire warnings on democracy

Listen · 7:51
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1124555567/1126872142" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Wednesday

Asia

Jailing of former senator raises fears over corrosion of democracy in the Philippines

The case of a jailed former senator who had spoken out against then-President Rodrigo Duterte highlights concerns about democracy in the Philippines.

Jailing of former senator raises fears over corrosion of democracy in the Philippines

Listen · 7:51
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1124370341/1124370342" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Saturday

Asia

U.S. and Chinese tensions cause economic worries in the Indo-Pacific region

There's growing fear that the rift between the U.S. and China could cause economic instability in the wider Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. and Chinese tensions cause economic worries in the Indo-Pacific region

Listen · 5:20
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1118619818/1118619819" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Pelosi's Taiwan trip leaves Asian countries nervously awaiting China's response

A plane carrying House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her delegation departs Taipei on Wednesday. Taiwanese Foreign Ministry/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Taiwanese Foreign Ministry/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

World

Pelosi's Taiwan trip leaves Asian countries nervously awaiting China's response

From the Philippines to Singapore, countries are worried the status quo could turn from tension to conflict. Southeast Asia especially feels the strain of living in the shadow of U.S.-China rivalry.

Thursday

Asia

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is sworn in as the Philippines 17th president

The namesake son of an ousted dictator took the presidential oath in Manila after one of the greatest political comebacks in recent history. Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte was at the ceremony.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is sworn in as the Philippines 17th president

Listen · 3:53
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1108843858/1108843859" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Asia

The economic headwinds facing Philippine President-elect Marcos are stiff

A pandemic and soaring oil prices would be a challenge for any incoming leader. But Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the son of dictator who abused Filipinos' rights, and his mother plundered billions.

The economic headwinds facing Philippine President-elect Marcos are stiff

Listen · 3:40
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1099077894/1099081851" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Asia

The dynasty of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos is on the cusp of regaining power

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the presumptive winner of the Philippines presidential election. The son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos is on track for a historic margin of victory.

The dynasty of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos is on the cusp of regaining power

Listen · 2:39
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1097820871/1097820872" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Asia

Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., is poised to win the Philippine presidency by a landslide

Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., the son of the Philippine strongman ousted in the 1980s, has been elected in a landslide to become the Southeast Asian country's next president.

Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., is poised to win the Philippine presidency by a landslide

Listen · 3:53
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1097673841/1097673842" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Asia

Voters in the Philippines stream to the polls to choose a new president

The election contest pits Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, against outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo, who heads a movement to stop the return of the Marcos dynasty.

Voters in the Philippines stream to the polls to choose a new president

Listen · 3:35
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1097540994/1097540995" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Saturday

Saturday

Fake sexual material targets the only woman running for president in the Philippines

Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo is the only woman in the 10-person presidential race in the Philippines. Fake news purports to connect her daughter to sexually explicit material. Maria Tan/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Maria Tan/AFP via Getty Images

Asia

Fake sexual material targets the only woman running for president in the Philippines

The current election cycle in the Philippines is being flooded with misinformation. One recent example: malicious sexual content falsely linked to the family of the only female presidential candidate.

Fake sexual material targets the only woman running for president in the Philippines

Listen · 3:39
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1093189740/1093189741" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

A dictator's son runs for Philippines president in a bid to revive his family's power

Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, speaks during a rally as he campaigns for the presidency in February in Manila. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

Asia

A dictator's son runs for Philippines president in a bid to revive his family's power

Ahead of presidential elections taking place in May, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is banking on voters' nostalgia for his late father's period of dictatorial rule in the 1970s and 1980s.

A dictator's son runs for Philippines president in a bid to revive his family's power

Listen · 7:08
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1090802987/1092338872" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Thursday

World

Russian forces' alleged murder, rape and torture of civilians may count as war crimes

Attorney General Merrick Garland says the United States is assisting efforts to examine potential war crimes in Ukraine as evidence of violence against civilians mounts.

Russian forces' alleged murder, rape and torture of civilians may count as war crimes

Listen · 4:33
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1091487854/1091487855" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Saturday

Asia

Philippines' presidential election resurfaces old scandal

Ferdinand Marcos Junior, the frontrunner in the Philippines presidential election, has for decades failed to pay taxes on the estate of his late father, the country's former dictator.

Philippines' presidential election resurfaces old scandal

Listen · 3:56
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1090474739/1090474740" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

Seen as heroes at home, Filipino workers feel 'abandoned' amid Hong Kong's COVID surge

This photo taken on Feb. 20 shows a foreign worker in Hong Kong sheltering with her belongings during the city's current coronavirus surge. Bertha Wang/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Bertha Wang/AFP via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Seen as heroes at home, Filipino workers feel 'abandoned' amid Hong Kong's COVID surge

Many of the domestic workers say they were banished from their employers' homes after getting sick — and fired — even though terminating an employee for falling ill is against Hong Kong law.

Seen as heroes at home, Filipino workers feel 'abandoned' amid Hong Kong's COVID surge

Listen · 5:29
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1086988103/1086990468" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Monday

Asia

Filipina domestic workers are being fired in Hong Kong for catching COVID

As an omicron wave sweeps through Hong Kong, some of the nannies and housekeepers from the Philippines who work there have been thrown out by their employers after testing positive for the virus.

Filipina domestic workers are being fired in Hong Kong for catching COVID

Listen · 5:29
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1086498810/1086498811" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Browse archive or search npr.org