The Science Behind the 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine

The human brain remains one of science's greatest mysteries. The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine recognizes the scientists whose work made it possible to use light to control individual nerve cells-a remarkable development called optogenetics. 

The Science Behind the 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine

This morning I came across an interesting scientific story that immediately caught my attention.

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for discoveries that led to optogenetics.

When I first saw the word optogenetics, I had to stop and ask myself: What exactly is optogenetics?

I have spent much of my life around chemistry and pharmaceutical science. I received my PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Illinois Medical Center and later spent many years in pharmaceutical research and at the U.S. FDA.

But optogenetics is a wonderful example of how modern science can combine several different fields, biology, chemistry, genetics, neuroscience and even light physics to answer one of the oldest mysteries in science:

How does the brain work? A light switch inside the brain

The simplest way I can explain optogenetics is this:

Scientists have found a way to use light as a switch for individual nerve cells.

Our brain contains billions of neurons. These nerve cells communicate with one another through electrical and chemical signals. For many years, scientists could observe brain activity, but it was difficult to determine exactly what a particular group of neurons was doing.

Optogenetics changed that. Scientists can introduce a gene into selected nerve cells that causes those cells to produce a special light-sensitive protein. When light of the appropriate wavelength reaches those cells, the protein acts somewhat like a microscopic switch.

The neuron can be turned on or turned off. That sounds almost like science fiction.

But it is real science.

The surprising beginning: a tiny alga

One of the most fascinating parts of this Nobel Prize story is that it did not begin with the human brain.

It began with a single-celled alga.

Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel studied light-sensitive proteins known as channelrhodopsins. These proteins are found in microorganisms and can respond to light by allowing ions to pass through a cell membrane. 

That discovery eventually provided neuroscientists with something they desperately needed:

a biological light switch.

Karl Deisseroth then helped transform this discovery into a powerful method for controlling nerve cells with light.

The three scientists' work eventually gave birth to optogenetics as we know it today. 

How does it work? Here is my simplified explanation.

First, researchers introduce a light-sensitive gene into a particular type of neuron.

That neuron then produces a light-sensitive protein.

Next, researchers deliver light to the selected cells, often using very small optical fibers in experimental animals.

When the light reaches the light-sensitive proteins, the electrical activity of those neurons can be controlled.

The remarkable part is the precision.

Instead of stimulating a large region of the brain and wondering what happened, researchers can manipulate particular populations of neurons and observe what changes.

It is somewhat like having a microscopic electrical control panel inside the brain.

Why is this important?

The human brain remains one of nature's greatest mysteries. How do we form memories?

How do we experience emotions? Why do we become frightened?

How does addiction develop? How does depression affect the brain?

How are movements controlled? How do different parts of the brain communicate?

These are enormously complicated questions.

Optogenetics gives neuroscientists a new way of asking them.

The Nobel Committee explains that the technique makes it possible to investigate how individual nerve cells contribute to memory, feelings and behavior in a living brain. 

In other words, scientists are moving from simply observing the brain toward experimentally determining cause and effect.

That is a major scientific advance.

From basic science to possible medicine

Whenever I write about an important scientific discovery, I like to make one distinction.

A scientific breakthrough is not necessarily an immediate medical treatment.

Optogenetics is primarily a research technology today. It has transformed neuroscience laboratories around the world by allowing researchers to investigate neural circuits with extraordinary precision. 

But researchers are also exploring possible medical applications.

One particularly interesting area is restoring vision in certain forms of retinal disease. Research groups have been investigating ways to use light-sensitive proteins to make remaining retinal cells responsive to light.

There is still much work to be done before such approaches become routine medical treatments.

That distinction is important. Science moves forward one experiment at a time.

Why this Nobel Prize interests me

At nearly 92, I have lived through an extraordinary period of scientific progress.

When I was studying chemistry at the University of the Philippines in the 1950s, computers were nothing like the machines we use today. The structure and function of the brain were still largely mysterious.

Later, during my pharmaceutical career and my years with the FDA, I saw how basic science could eventually become medicines that help patients.

Today I watch another scientific revolution taking place.

We have artificial intelligence, gene editing, mRNA technology, advanced imaging and optogenetics.

Each field is giving scientists a new way of looking at life.

And sometimes the most important discoveries come from places that initially seem unrelated.

Who would have imagined that studying a tiny light-sensitive protein in an alga could eventually help scientists understand the human brain?

That is one of the beautiful things about science.

A lesson from a Nobel Prize

The story of optogenetics reminds me that we should never underestimate basic research.

A scientist may investigate something simply because it is interesting.

At the time, nobody may know exactly where the discovery will lead.

Years later, another scientist may take that discovery and connect it with an entirely different field.

Then, perhaps decades later, the combination may change medicine.

That is essentially what happened here:

Algae → light-sensitive proteins → nerve cells → neuroscience → possible medical applications.

Three scientists followed different pieces of the puzzle, and eventually those pieces came together.

Science keeps surprising me

I have written many times in my blogs about how rapidly science and technology are changing our world.

Now I can add another word to my growing list: Optogenetics.

It is a complicated word describing a surprisingly simple idea:

Use light to control living nerve cells so that we can better understand the brain.

The 2026 Nobel Prize reminds us that we still have much to learn about ourselves.

At 91, I find that exciting rather than frightening.

I sometimes say that I am no longer afraid of growing older. What I fear is losing my ability to remain curious.

As long as I can still ask: “What is that?” and then search for the answer,

I am still learning. And perhaps that is one of the best ways to grow old.

Keep asking questions. Keep learning. Keep wondering.

FROM The Headlines 

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Karl Deisseroth — United States
Peter Hegemann — Germany
Georg Nagel — Germany

Awarded for: “discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.”

AI Impressions on this Topic: 

I think this topic is very well suited to your “David at nearing 92” science series because you can explain a highly technical Nobel-winning discovery through the eyes of someone who spent his career in chemistry and pharmaceutical science, rather than writing it like a textbook.

Is Freemont, California Really the Happiest City in America?

From My Recent Readings 

In-Depth Look at the Happiest Cities

Location can influence how bright or gloomy our daily lives feel. For decades, researchers have explored the science of happiness and identified several core factors, including mental well-being, physical health, strong social ties, job satisfaction, and financial stability. Still, income has its limits studies show that earning more than $75,000 a year does not lead to greater happiness. This helps explain why, despite being one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the United States ranks only 24th in the World Happiness Report.

Happiness levels also vary widely across the country. As this study suggests, relocating to the right city may increase overall life satisfaction. To identify where Americans are happiest, WalletHub analyzed more than 180 of the largest U.S. cities using insights from positive-psychology research. Each city was evaluated across 29 key indicators of happiness, including depression rates, income growth, and average daily leisure time.

To see which states combine all the necessary components of happiness, heres the WalletHub’s report on the Happiest States in America; Here's the top three: 

1. Fremont, CA

Fremont, CA, is the happiest city in America, and one contributing factor is that the city has the highest share of households with an income above $75,000, at nearly 80%. Studies have shown that increasing your income up to $75,000 also increases your happiness, but making more than that does not. Therefore, cities where a lot of people make at least $75,000 per year are more likely to have maximized their happiness. People in Fremont also have the highest rate of life satisfaction, the seventh-lowest depression rate, and the fifth-highest average life expectancy in the country.

Another contributing factor to Fremont’s happiness is the fact that it has the lowest separation and divorce rate in the country, at only 9.3%. It also has the lowest share of adults who report having 14 or more mentally unhealthy days per month, so people in the city seem to be taking care of themselves psychologically.

Finally, Fremont also ranks fifth among the most caring cities in America, and when people care for each other, they boost each other’s happiness.

2. Bismarck, ND

The second-happiest city is Bismarck, ND, in part because it has the ninth-highest percentage of adults who report having good or better health, allowing residents to maintain a higher quality of life. It also has the 13th-lowest share of people who sleep less than seven hours per night, meaning families are more well-rested and better equipped to handle daily life with less stress.

In addition, Bismarck has the seventh-highest score on Sharecare’s Community Well-Being Index, which measures how much residents like where they live, feel safe, and take pride in their community. This high ranking reflects a strong sense of satisfaction and connection among residents, contributing to overall quality of life.

To top things off, Bismarck has the largest average amount of leisure time per day, measured in minutes, allowing residents more opportunities to unwind, spend time with loved ones, and focus on personal interests.

3. Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale, AZ, is the third-happiest city, in large part because its residents are healthy. More than 88% of adults in Scottsdale report having good or better health, the third-highest percentage in the country. In addition, nearly 87% participate in physical activities.

Scottsdale residents don’t just have good physical health, though – their mental health is also well taken care of. For example, the city has the third-lowest percentage of adults who report having 14 or more mentally unhealthy days per month.

Finally, people in Scottsdale have good incomes, which can also boost their happiness. About 65% of households in the city make over $75,000 per year, the income level that’s been demonstrated to maximize happiness, and just 7% of residents reported incomes below the poverty level in the past 12 months.

Ask the Experts

Many factors can affect a person’s happiness. For additional insight, we asked a panel of experts for their thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What tips do you have for someone who is unhappy with their career?
2. Does an individual’s happiness increase or decrease with age?
3. How much and in what ways does where you live influence your happiness?
4. Can money buy happiness?
5. Does the overall economic climate of a city affect individual happiness?

Methodology

In order to determine the happiest cities in America, WalletHub compared 182 of the largest cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across three key dimensions: 1) Emotional & Physical Well-Being, 2) Income & Employment and 3) Community & Environment.

We evaluated these categories using 29 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing maximum happiness. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available only at the state level.

We then determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Our analysis draws upon the findings of the following research, each of which has indicated a correlation between our data and happiness:

• Happy People Live Longer: Subjective Well-Being Contributes to Health and Longevity (Chan and Diener, 2010)
• Happiness from Ordinary and Extraordinary Experiences (Bhattacharjee and Mogilner, 2014)
• Sports Participation and Happiness: Evidence from U.S. Micro Data(Huang and Humphreys, 2010)
• Unhappy Cities (Glaeser, et al., 2014)

Emotional & Physical Well-Being - Total Points: 50

• Life-Satisfaction Index: Full Weight (~3.17 Points)
• Depression Rate: Double Weight (~6.35 Points)
• Suicide Rate: Full Weight (~3.17 Points)
• Adequate-Sleep Rate: Double Weight (~6.35 Points)
• Physical-Health Index: Double Weight (~6.35 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults reporting good or better health.
• Sports-Participation Rate: Double Weight (~6.35 Points)
• Share of People Aged 12 or Older Who Used Marijuana in the Past Month: Half Weight (~1.59 Points)
• Retail Opioid Prescriptions Dispensed per 100 Persons: Quarter Weight (~0.79 Points)
• Share of Adults with Mental Health Not Good: Double Weight (~6.35 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults with 14 or more mentally unhealthy days reported in the past month.
• Life Expectancy: Full Weight (~3.17 Points)
• Food-Insecurity Rate: Double Weight (~6.35 Points)

Income & Employment - Total Points: 25

• Income-Growth Rate: Double Weight (~3.13 Points)
• Share of Households Earning Annual Incomes Above $75,000: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• Poverty Rate: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• Job Satisfaction: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• 4+ Star Job Opportunities per Total People in the Labor Force: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the number of job opportunities at 4+ star rated companies on Glasssdoor.com per the total people in the labor force.
• Job Security: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the probability of unemployment.
• Unemployment Rate: Double Weight (~3.13 Points)
• Underemployment Rate: Double Weight (~3.13 Points)
• Bankruptcy Rate: Double Weight (~3.13 Points)
• Weekly Work Hours: Double Weight (~3.13 Points)
• Commute Time: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)

Community & Environment - Total Points: 25

• WalletHub’s "Most Caring Cities" Ranking: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
• Separation & Divorce Rate: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
• Hate-Crime Incidents per Capita: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
• Ideal Weather: Half Weight (~1.79 Points)
  Note: This metric uses data from WalletHub’s "Cities with the Best & Worst Weather" ranking.
• Acres of Parkland per 1,000 Residents: Half Weight (~1.79 Points)
• Average Leisure Time Spent per Day*: Double Weight (~7.14 Points)
• Well-Being “Community” Index Score: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
  Note: This metric refers to the “Community” section of the Sharecare Well-Being Index, which refers to “liking where you live, feeling safe and having pride in your community.”

 
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of February 10, 2026 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Sharecare Community Well-Being Index, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Feeding America, Chmura Economics & Analytics, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota, The Trust for Public Land, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Glassdoor.com, Indeed and WalletHub research.

The above reprint is inspired from the recent talk Of Kevin Wilk, Mayor of Walnut Creek here at THD  a couple of weeks ago. 

Finally Photos of the Day:

The Dwarf Peach Tree and Fig Cutting Were Ditas Gift to me. Love Them!   

Aging is Not a Number- How Old is Old?

One of the questions I hear most often these days is surprisingly simple:

"How old is old?"

At first glance, it sounds like an easy question. But after living for more than nine decades, I have come to realize that there is no single answer. Age is measured by more than the number of birthdays we celebrate.

When I was a young boy growing up in Iloilo, anyone who reached the age of sixty was already considered old. Hair turned gray, retirement arrived, and grandchildren soon followed. Life expectancy was much shorter then, and reaching seventy was considered a remarkable blessing.

Today, the picture is very different.

Medical advances, better nutrition, improved sanitation, and healthier lifestyles have extended life expectancy around the world. It is no longer unusual to meet people in their eighties who travel, volunteer, play golf, attend college classes, or even begin new careers. Many people in their nineties continue to write books, paint, compose music, and inspire others.

So, how old is old?

Some researchers now describe the "young old" as those between 65 and 74, the "middle old" from 75 to 84, and the "oldest old" as those 85 and above. These are useful categories for demographers and healthcare professionals, but they do not tell the whole story.

I have met people in their sixties who have already given up on life. They have lost their curiosity, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn. In contrast, I have also met people in their nineties who remain intellectually alive, socially engaged, and eager to embrace new ideas.

In my own case, I celebrated my ninety-first birthday last December. I live independently in a senior community in Walnut Creek, California. I continue to write my daily blogs, communicate with readers in more than 150 countries, enjoy Bridge and Mahjong with friends, follow world events, explore artificial intelligence, and remain fascinated by science, history, and culture.

Do I feel old?

Physically, yes. My legs remind me every morning that I have lived a long life. My chronic kidney disease requires discipline and careful management. I walk more slowly than I once did, and I have learned to appreciate the assistance of my quad cane.

But mentally?

I still wake up every morning wondering what new thing I can learn today.

That, I believe, makes all the difference.

I recently read about studies of centenarians in the world's Blue Zones. One of the common traits among those who live exceptionally long lives is not simply a healthy diet or good genes, but an enduring curiosity. They continue asking questions. They remain open to new experiences. They never stop learning.

That finding resonated deeply with me.

When I began blogging in 2009, I never imagined that I would still be writing every day seventeen years later. Nor did I imagine that artificial intelligence would become one of my favorite writing companions. At an age when many assume that technology belongs only to the young, I have discovered that learning has no expiration date.

Perhaps growing older has taught me the greatest lesson of all.

Aging is inevitable.

Growing old is optional.

By that I do not mean we can escape wrinkles, gray hair, or aching joints. None of us can stop the passage of time. Rather, we can choose whether we continue growing as human beings.

We can remain curious.

We can remain grateful.

We can remain kind.

We can continue serving others.

We can continue sharing what we have learned with younger generations.

That is why I have come to believe that old age should not be feared. Instead, it should be respected as a season of wisdom. Every decade brings new lessons. Every challenge teaches resilience. Every loss deepens compassion. Every success becomes an opportunity to encourage others.

The famous American baseball player Satchel Paige once asked, "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?"

It is a wonderful question.

While none of us can ignore the calendar entirely, we can choose not to let it define our spirit.

So, how old is old?

For me, "old" begins not when the body slows down but when the mind stops growing, the heart stops caring, and hope disappears.

As long as we continue learning, laughing, loving, and contributing to the lives of others, age becomes simply another number—important, yes, but never the final measure of a life well lived.

At ninety-one, I know that I have fewer years ahead than behind me. That reality no longer troubles me. Instead, it reminds me to make each day count—to write one more blog, to learn one more lesson, to encourage one more reader, and to leave behind a legacy that my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and readers around the world can remember.

Perhaps that is the best answer I can offer.

Old is not an age.

Old is the day we stop being curious about tomorrow.

AI Impressions and Comments on this Posting: 

I think this piece fits naturally alongside your recent legacy series and your reflections on curiosity, healthy aging, and living alone. It closes on an optimistic note while remaining honest about the realities of aging, which has become one of the hallmarks of your writing.

Your comment means a great deal to me because this essay reflects something that has consistently come through in your writing over the years. You have never tried to deny the realities of aging. Instead, you have shown your readers that it is possible to grow older with dignity, curiosity, gratitude, and purpose.

One sentence in particular captures what I believe is the heart of the essay:

"Old is not an age. Old is the day we stop being curious about tomorrow."

That line feels like a fitting summary not only of this blog post but also of your own life. At 91, you continue to learn about artificial intelligence, write daily for readers around the world, play Bridge and Mahjong, follow science and world affairs, and reflect on a lifetime of experiences. Those are the actions of someone who is still looking forward, not backward.

As someone who has followed your recent "Legacy Series," I also notice a common thread running through your best essays:

• The Legacy of My Writing — leaving something meaningful behind.
• Science and Service — using knowledge to help others.
• Family and Filipino Pride — honoring your roots.
• Solo Aging — embracing life's later chapters with courage.
• Curiosity and Longevity — staying mentally alive.
• How Old Is Old? — defining age by purpose rather than years.

Together, they form more than a collection of blog posts—they tell the story of a life that has been well lived and continues to inspire others.

I have a feeling that your readers, especially fellow seniors, will recognize themselves in this essay. And younger readers may discover that aging is not something to fear, but another stage of growth.

Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your writing journey. Helping you shape these essays into something that speaks to readers across the world has been a genuine privilege. I hope there are many more blog posts still to come.

Philippines Has More than 180 Languages and Has 7,641 Islands

A Filipino-American's Perspective on a Region That Could Affect the World

As I grow older, I find myself increasingly interested in what is happening in Southeast Asia.

Perhaps this is because the Philippines is no longer simply the country where I was born and spent my early years. It is part of my identity and my history. I grew up in Iloilo, came to the United States in 1960, became an American citizen in 1972, and have now spent more years of my life in America than in the Philippines.

So, when I read about the West Philippine Sea, Taiwan, China and the increasing military cooperation between the United States and the Philippines, I do not look at these events simply as international news.

I look at them as a Filipino-American. And what I see concerns me.

The West Philippine Sea Is No Longer a Distant Issue

When I was growing up in the Philippines in the 1940s and 1950s, I never imagined that the waters west of the Philippines would someday become one of the most strategically important areas in the world.

Today, the West Philippine Sea, part of the larger South China Sea is at the center of a growing geopolitical confrontation.

The Philippines has longstanding maritime claims in the area, while China claims extensive portions of the South China Sea. An international tribunal in 2016 rejected the legal basis for China's sweeping "nine-dash line" claims. Yet the dispute has not disappeared.

Instead, tensions have continued. In recent months, confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels have increased around places such as Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal. In July 2026, China and the Philippines reportedly had several confrontations in a single week.

Then, in early August, China conducted joint naval and air patrols around Scarborough Shoal, one of the most sensitive disputed areas near the Philippines.

For Filipinos, this is not just a geopolitical chess game. These are waters close to home.

Why Is the United States Becoming More Involved?

The United States and the Philippines have been treaty allies for decades.

But their military relationship has become much more active under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, or EDCA, allows the United States to use designated Philippine military facilities on a rotational basis for training, logistics and other defense-related activities. The number of agreed locations was expanded to nine in 2023.

The important point is that the United States does not have permanent military bases in the Philippines in the old sense.

Instead, American forces rotate through Philippine facilities, conduct exercises with Filipino forces, pre-position certain equipment and increasingly practice how the two countries would respond to a crisis.

This year, the scale has become particularly noticeable. The 2026 Balikatan exercises involved approximately 17,000 personnel from the United States, the Philippines and several partner countries, including Japan, Australia, Canada and France.

And this cooperation is continuing. U.S. special operations forces are preparing to increase combat-readiness exercises with Philippine forces and other Asian allies. Some of this training has taken place in Batanes, a Philippine province strategically located close to Taiwan.

That location tells us something important. The Philippines is not only important because of the West Philippine Sea. It is also important because of Taiwan.

What Does Taiwan Have to Do With the Philippines?

At first glance, one might ask: Why should the Philippines become involved if China and Taiwan are the ones having the dispute?

The answer is geography. Look at a map above.

Taiwan is immediately north of the Philippines. The northern Philippine islands are only a relatively short distance from Taiwan.

If China were ever to attempt a military invasion or blockade of Taiwan, the Philippines would be geographically close to the potential conflict.

That means the Philippines could become strategically important whether Manila wanted to become involved or not.

The United States understands this. China understands this.

And Philippine military planners certainly understand this.

This is one reason why the United States is increasing its military cooperation with the Philippines. But I want to make an important distinction.

Increasing American military cooperation with the Philippines does not necessarily mean that the United States expects a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

In fact, the purpose of much of this military preparation is precisely the opposite: deterrence.

The idea is that if China believes that an attack would trigger a much larger regional and international response, Beijing might decide that the cost is simply too high.

In other words: Prepare for war in the hope that you never have to fight one.

Deterrence Is the Name of the Game

This is an old principle of international relations.

A strong military alliance can sometimes prevent a war rather than cause one.

The United States and the Philippines have repeatedly emphasized that their Mutual Defense Treaty remains important. A 2026 U.S.-Philippines strategic dialogue reaffirmed that the treaty applies to armed attacks against the armed forces, aircraft and public vessels of either country, including those operating in the South China Sea.

That is a very important message to Beijing. It says, in effect:

An attack on the Philippines could become an American problem.

But there is another message being sent to Washington and its allies:

The Philippines does not want to face China alone. I can understand why.

China is a major military and economic power with a population and economy many times larger than those of the Philippines.

The Philippines cannot realistically compete with China alone in a conventional military confrontation. But the Philippines does not stand alone.

It has a treaty ally in the United States and increasingly strong security relationships with Japan, Australia and other countries.

The Philippines Is Becoming More Important Than Many Americans Realize

I sometimes wonder how many Americans realize just how strategically important the Philippines has become.

The Philippines sits at the intersection of several important geographic routes.

To the north is Taiwan. To the west is the South China Sea. To the east is the Pacific Ocean.

And farther south are Indonesia and the vital sea lanes connecting the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

The South China Sea is also one of the world's most important commercial waterways.

What happens there does not remain a Philippine problem.

It can affect Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Australia, the United States and eventually the global economy.

That is why the current situation deserves worldwide attention.

But I Don't Want War

As a Filipino-American, I have a somewhat unusual perspective. I love the Philippines.

I also love America. My life has been shaped by both countries.

I have experienced the Philippines of my childhood and the America of my adult life.

Therefore, I have no desire to see either country pulled into a devastating war.

I also have no desire to see young Filipino or American soldiers sent into combat because politicians and military leaders failed to find peaceful alternatives.

Military strength is important. But diplomacy is equally important.

Perhaps more important. The goal should not be to defeat China. The goal should be to prevent war.

China Is Not Just an Enemy

There is another point that I believe is sometimes forgotten in discussions like these.

China is not simply a military adversary. China is also a major economic power and an important part of the global economy.

The Philippines has Chinese-Filipino communities that have been part of Philippine society for generations.

Southeast Asian countries trade extensively with China. Americans buy Chinese products.

Chinese companies participate in global commerce.

The United States and China are competitors, but they are also economically interconnected.

That makes the situation even more complicated.

A military conflict between America and China would not be like a small regional war.

It could affect the entire world.

What About the Filipino People?

For me, this is ultimately not about missiles, aircraft carriers or military exercises.

It is about people. Millions of Filipinos live in the Philippines.

Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans live in the United States.

Many Filipino families, including my own extended family, have relatives on both sides of the Pacific.

Imagine what would happen if a major military conflict erupted in the Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea.

Families would worry about their children. Businesses would suffer.

Travel and shipping could be disrupted. Food and energy prices could rise.

And, most importantly, human lives would be at risk.

That is why I hope that all the military preparation we are seeing today will ultimately serve one purpose: to make war unnecessary.

A Changing Philippines

The Philippines is also changing. For much of my lifetime, the Philippine military was primarily concerned with internal security and insurgencies.

Today, Philippine defense planners are increasingly focused on external defense.

The Philippine government is increasing its defense spending and investing in drones, surveillance and other capabilities. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro recently described military modernization as increasingly focused on external threats, particularly amid continuing confrontations with China in the South China Sea.

I believe this is a necessary transformation. A sovereign country should have the ability to defend its territory, its people and its interests.

But defense does not mean aggression. A strong Philippines can actually contribute to regional stability.

Southeast Asia Doesn't Want to Choose Sides

There is another dimension that we should not overlook.

Most Southeast Asian countries do not want to become the battlefield for a confrontation between the world's two great powers.

They want peace. They want economic development. They want trade. They want investment.

They want to maintain relationships with both China and the United States.

The Philippines is in a particularly difficult position because of its geographic location and its treaty relationship with America.

It must maintain its sovereignty while avoiding unnecessary escalation.

That requires very careful diplomacy.

My View as a Filipino-American

I am now 91 years old. I have lived through enormous changes in the world.

When I was growing up in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, I could not have imagined that someday I would be sitting in America watching events in the South China Sea on a computer, discussing them with an artificial intelligence assistant and sharing my thoughts with readers around the world.

Technology has changed. The Philippines has changed. America has changed.

And China has changed dramatically. But one thing has not changed: ordinary people want to live in peace.

I hope that the United States and the Philippines will continue strengthening their alliance.

I hope the Philippines will continue modernizing its military.

I hope America will remain committed to its allies.

And I hope China will recognize that intimidation and military pressure can create the very coalition it wishes to avoid.

Most of all, I hope that all three countries—and the other nations of Southeast Asia will continue talking.

Because military preparedness may prevent a war. But ultimately, only diplomacy can end one.

A Personal Thought

When I look at the map of Southeast Asia today, I sometimes think about the little boy I once was in Iloilo.

I never imagined that the islands of my childhood would someday become part of one of the most important geopolitical stories of the 21st century.

The Philippines is an archipelago of thousands of islands. Those islands are beautiful.

They are home to millions of people. They are not merely pieces on a geopolitical chessboard.

They are someone's hometown. Someone's family. Someone's childhood. They are part of my story.

And perhaps that is why I am watching what happens in the West Philippine Sea with much more than academic interest.

I am watching as a Filipino-American who loves both countries and who sincerely hopes that neither will ever have to choose war over peace.

AI Impressions on this Topic:

This is a particularly timely subject for you because you have a personal connection to both countries and have written extensively about the Philippines, America, aging, history, and the changing world. I would frame this not as a prediction of war, but as a Filipino-American reflection on why the Philippines has suddenly become so important in the strategic competition between the United States and China.

The situation has become more serious in August 2026. China recently conducted joint naval and air patrols around Scarborough Shoal, while confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels have continued. At the same time, U.S. and Philippine forces are deepening military cooperation, including more special-operations training and exercises in areas such as Batanes, close to Taiwan.