Article: Republic of Departure
An article titled "Republic of Departure: Why Manila never stops exporting its top talent" was published by Asia Times on June 18, 2026.
The author Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa states that the Philippines' International Airport is described as "the worst in Southeast Asia and perpetually under renovation."
According to the article, this airport serves as a departure hall for more than two million Filipino workers who are contracted annually by the state to foreign employers.
Categories of Workers
The passengers identified include nurses, seafarers, engineers, and maids.
Official Statements
Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa reports that official pronouncements celebrate this exodus as a "resounding national accomplishment."
Criticism of State Structure
The author alleges that the Philippine state is organized around human exports by an oligarchic elite to ensure local markets remain captured, protected, and underdeveloped.