Sam Beltran
SCMP Contributor
Sam Beltran is a journalist based in Manila who has written for publications in the Philippines and around Asia. Her stories explore food, lifestyle scenes, popular trends, and sub-cultures as windows into society and the human condition.
Sam Beltran is a journalist based in Manila who has written for publications in the Philippines and around Asia. Her stories explore food, lifestyle scenes, popular trends, and sub-cultures as windows into society and the human condition.
Languages Spoken:
English
A recent Rockefeller Foundation survey shows strong regional belief in global cooperation and a reluctance to accept superpower dominance.
Three fatal attacks since June have been traced back to state-linked weapons, exposing fatal flaws in official gun control.
High living costs and delayed public works drag growth projections down far behind regional front runners.
Blocked from accessing Scarborough Shoal and hit by local dredging, Zambales fishermen say their weekly incomes have collapsed.
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Warsaw is targeting drones, air defence and artillery exports to Manila as European rearmament fuels global arms ambitions.
Filipinos, especially Gen Z, are concerned that the corridor and other US-led projects are ‘more exploitative than beneficial’, analysts say.
A group of Indonesians was duped into fighting for Russia, Ukraine says, with other ruses involving Filipinos and Indians.
Filipino men rarely seek help for mental illness, despite making up 80 per cent of suicide deaths. Advocates say it’s time for change.
A US$4.8 billion transport budget will not end Manila’s gridlock unless bus and jeepney services also improve, analysts say.
The president, attending in his capacity as Asean chair, should not miss the opportunity to diversify ties beyond the US, analysts say.
An ‘ambitious’ road map aims to more than double annual exports of chips and electronics to US$110 billion by 2030.
Immigrant advocates say the ‘frightening’ games normalise human suffering and violence, deepening fear among the migrant communities.
The alleged threats are also among the allegations included in the impeachment complaint against the Philippine vice-president.
Though in custody on sex charges, Apollo Quiboloy still drew 80,000 followers and Duterte backing for his 75,000-seat Kingdome launch.
A new bill aims to establish a comprehensive safety framework, but experts say measures must target mitigating violence much earlier.
Young workers, drawn by the financial district’s expatriate-style amenities, satirise the high costs while navigating its hustle culture.
If finalised, the UK would be the fourth Nato member to reach a deal with the Philippines allowing troops to train on each other’s soil.
Asean cannot pass EU-style laws, but a ‘coalition of the willing’ could force Big Tech to adopt safeguards against scams and child harm.
Even as more regional artists are performing overseas, they should not blindly copy the K-pop playbook, industry observers say.
Recent arrests expose a long-running crime network that flourished in the shadow of the nation’s Pogo scandal.
The online gaming platform has been blamed for the rise in school shootings and child sexual exploitation cases in Southeast Asia.
The weak yen, rising costs and uncertainty over immigration rules have made staying long term in Japan difficult for foreign workers.
The surge in pensions may weaken the country’s push to buy modern military assets to strengthen its deterrence.
Despite cutting poverty to a record-low 9.7 per cent, high costs and climate risks leave millions of Filipino families on edge.
Shared history offers an edge, but analysts say the Philippines must deliver more than nostalgia to rival Singapore or Vietnam.
The Thai Street Gold Star app lists approved vendors, shows menus and gives users directions to each stall.
The controversy is again haunting President Marcos as flooded communities see little progress from his promised anti-corruption push.
Analysts say the Zamboanga attack appears to fit a pattern of violence shaped by online spectacle, imitation and the pursuit of notoriety.
Visits to Manila, Seoul and Tokyo seek to reassure, even as the Iran war drains assets and White House rhetoric rattles allies.
