Mara Cepeda

Philippines Correspondent

Mara is Philippines correspondent at The Straits Times and a journalism lecturer at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She specialises in stories on politics, diplomacy, and defence and security. She joined ST in 2022 after working for seven years as a political reporter for Rappler. She is a fellow of the NUS-IPS and Temasek Foundation’s Asia Journalism Fellowship and the United Nations’ Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship.

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40 years after dictatorship, Philippines struggles with entrenched political dynasties

A protest commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution, which overthrew the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, in Quezon City on Feb 25.

Malampaya’s new gas find may steady Philippines’ power supply, but cheaper bills remain elusive

A rainbow appears during a flaring operation at the Malampaya gas field off the coast of Palawan province, Philippines.

Death in the Philippines, under a mountain of filth

epa12639781 A view of an affected area at the site of a waste landfill collapse in Binaliw village in Cebu City, central Philippines, 10 January 2026. At least three people were killed and 34 remain missing following a collapse at the landfill 08 January, as local emergency response units continue search operations. EPA/JUANITO ESPINOSA

Epstein e-mails spotlight Philippines as hub for scrubbing search results at ‘insanely low’ prices

South China Sea spat: Beijing bans Philippine town officials after envoy declared persona non grata

mathitu - A Chinese Coast Guard ship sails close to the western shores of Thitu Island that Filipino residents can see it from their windows.

ASEAN chair says no change to stance on Myanmar, even as questions persist

Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro sits beside ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute Director and CEO Choi Shing Kwok during her lecture held on February 6, 2026 on Manila's chairmanship of ASEAN.

ASEAN must remain united to preserve regional peace: Vivian Balakrishnan

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said ASEAN’s top diplomats agreed that cohesion within the grouping was critical at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions.

‘No consensus for now’ within ASEAN to recognise Myanmar election, says grouping’s chair

Malaysia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamad Hasan, Myanmar's Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hau Khan Sum, Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Sangiampongsa, East Timor's Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Vietnam's Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, Philippines' Foreign Minister Theresa Lazaro, Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Brunei's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Erywan Yusof, Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono, Laos' Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane, and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn pose for a group photo during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Cebu City, Philippines, January 29, 2026. JAM STA ROSA/Pool via REUTERS

‘Hope peace will prevail’: Singapore urges dialogue on Thailand-Cambodia border tensions

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan (right) meeting his Thai counterpart, Mr Sihasak Phuangketkeow, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Cebu City, the Philippines, on Jan 28.

Impeachment bid against Marcos unlikely to succeed but could still hurt him, say analysts

Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr speaks during a press conference at Malacanang Palace in Manila on November 13, 2025.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.