Manila in the middle: Marcos navigates 'upside' in PH-US relations

MANILA, Philippines - It was a cold and very windy Wednesday morning at the Pentagon in Washington DC as the military band played a snappy rendition of the Philippines' "Lupang Hinirang," followed by the US' "Star Spangled Banner." President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., dressed in his usual pià±a barong, stood at attention beside the towering Lloyd Austin, the US defense secretary. Malacaà±ang, citing the US Department of Defense, said he was the first head of state to get full military honors under the Biden administration. Inside the Pentagon, away from the prying eyes of the media, Austin made a promise to…