Have you ever read something that feels like the global version of your family group chat—chaotic, full of drama, and somehow still functional? That’s how I felt digging through the ODNI’s 2025 Annual Threat Assessment (link here) right after publishing The Global Frenemies Report You Didn’t Know You Needed.
Let’s just say the vibes matched.
If my first post was a fun, snarky look at how nations act like passive-aggressive roommates, this one is the reality check: These “frenemy” dynamics aren’t just memes. They’re shaping digital borders, information warfare, and regional tensions—including the Philippines.
We’re in the Crosshairs—Digitally and Geopolitically
The ODNI report doesn’t name us outright in every section, but anyone following SEA geopolitics can read between the South China Sea lines.
Key themes that hit home:
- China’s assertiveness in maritime claims continues to challenge Philippine sovereignty, especially as we lean more toward the U.S. and multilateral alliances.
- Cyber operations from both state and non-state actors targeting critical infrastructure, elections, and institutions—yes, even ours.
- Global tech fragmentation creates ripple effects. While Big Tech countries draw new lines, we’re left navigating digital alliances like we’re picking sides in a group project we didn’t ask to join.
From Assessment to Action: What This Means for Cybersecurity in the Philippines
The Philippine government is responding—sort of. From the creation of DICT’s National Cybersecurity Plan to joint exercises with allies like the U.S., there’s motion, but we still lack cohesive, well-funded, and talent-driven cyber defense.
Here’s what keeps me up:
- Public utilities and LGUs remain underprepared for advanced persistent threats (APTs).
- We don’t have enough cybersecurity professionals, and the talent we do have often gets pulled abroad.
- Disinformation and psychological operations (psyops) are on the rise, and we’re still relying on “keyboard warriors” to fact-check the damage.
What Global Frenemies Teach Us About Local Security
The frenemy theme is more than a metaphor—it’s the reality of how power works today. The ODNI report shows us that alliances are fluid, threats are asymmetric, and nations act like frenemies not just for headlines, but because it’s strategically useful.
For the Philippines, this means:
- We must be smart about partnerships—aligning with democratic allies while avoiding overreliance.
- We need local cybersecurity ecosystems—training, certifying, and retaining talent.
- We should treat information space as terrain—because digital influence is real-world power.
Final Thoughts: No One Is Coming to Save Us
If you’re waiting for some cyber-Avengers to defend the Philippine digital space, I hate to break it to you: it’s on us.
This blog is my accountability post—and yours too, if you’re in IT, policy, or even just online. Understanding the global threat landscape is step one. Step two is doing something about it locally—educating, preparing, defending.
Because the next breach, misinformation campaign, or regional flare-up? It’s probably not coming from across the ocean. It’s already here—just cloaked in proxy servers, hashtags, and territorial gray zones.
Let’s keep connecting the global dots and securing our local grid. And maybe—just maybe—stop being surprised when frenemies act like… well, frenemies.