Every聽end of December, 蜜桃工作室 compiles 49 of the most compelling stories and issues and groups聽them into seven key lists that encapsulate聽the year that鈥檚 been. The year 2015 in particular saw the Philippines thrust further into the global stage, whether for reasons good鈥撯�滺eneral Luna,鈥� COP21 and Miss Universe鈥搊r bad鈥揗amasapano, #APECtado and lumad kilings.
The last聽of the yearend series looks forward to the year ahead, listing the seven most vital signs of stronger prospects for 2016. Entries聽on this list include the Philippines鈥� current聽case on the South China Sea dispute聽at the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal and the continued declaration of numerous Philippine islands being some of the best in the world.
The Inquirer #BestofSeven聽for 2015 runs from December 24聽to 30.聽Check out聽the聽rest of the lists聽聽or by clicking the image at the end of this article.
1. Philippines-1, China-0 in UN arbitration case
The Philippines scored a major win against powerhouse China as the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal ruled in October that it has jurisdiction over the sea row between the two countries. The UN court will release it decision on the case challenging Beijing鈥檚 claims to all of South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) in 2016 as the second round of oral arguments concluded.
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UN tribunal to issue ruling on PH vs China case by 2016
2. Economic gains from Apec Summit
While the Philippines鈥� hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit have inconvenienced thousands of commuters due to road closures, the country also reaped economic gains at the sidelines of the international conference through various bilateral agreements, among them the United States鈥� donation of two warships for the Philippine Navy amid territorial disputes with China.
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Apec fruit: More jobs for Filipinos
Obama leaves Manila with reaffirmed support for PH in sea row
3. Asean Economic Community expands horizons for PH
Eyeing economic integration, Southeast Asian leaders formally announced a unified Asean Economic Community (AEC) in the populous and diverse region. The establishment of the AEC was declared at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit held in Malaysia and hailed as a landmark feat especially because it has been thirteen years since the idea was first proposed.
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Asean creates unified economic community
Asean to declare economic union
4. High economic growth brighten鈥檚 Philippines outlook
The Philippines鈥� Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at its fastest pace so far in 2015 by six percent at the third quarter of 2015. This was third-fastest growing economy in the region after China and Vietnam. Growth was attributed by the government to 鈥渋mproved鈥� spending which exceeded the dismal 5.3-percent GDP growth posted by the country in the same period last year.
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5. Historic pact against climate change signed in Paris
To combat climate change, 195 countries signed in Paris a legally binding agreement to cap the global temperature rise to 鈥渢o well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels,鈥� with ambitious plans to pursue a lower target of 1.5 degrees. The Philippines, as current chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, was at the forefront in pushing for the lower limit.
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LOOK: Envi activists paint Paris red for climate justice
6. Philippine credit rating raised
The Philippines received the highest credit-rating from major global debt watchers as the Japan Credit Rating Agency Ltd. (JCR) upgraded the country鈥檚 credit score from BBB to BBB+, just a notch below the minimum in 鈥淎鈥� category sovereign rating. Credit ratings agency Fitch Ratings said that the Philippines can get an upgrade next year if the economy continues to improve.
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7. 3 PH islands hailed as world鈥檚 best island anew
For the second straight year, Palawan was hailed as the world鈥檚 best island destination by award-winning US travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler, besting other world-famous islands such as Bora Bora, Bali, Santorini, and Maldives. Boracay and Cebu also made it to the annual list. Palawan was also the top island in 2014 while Boracay was at number 12.
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Did we miss any other stories on why the Philippines should look forward to 2016? Share with us your thoughts!