04/08/2026
What an evening! Our Semiconductors & Cocktails session turned into a conversation that lasted well beyond the program itself. Engr. Renz Pangilinan started by discussing what semiconductors are, how they work, and the Philippines' role in the global semiconductor industry, and the discussion quickly expanded into much bigger questions about development and justice.
Inabot ng dalawang oras yung open sharing session! Engineers, community organizers, environmental advocates, and scientists contributed their own expertise and experiences to the conversation. One recurring point during the discussion was the contradiction of having a strong pool of Filipino engineers while offering them so few opportunities at home. Many are pushed to build their careers abroad, while our education system continues to struggle in producing and supporting the next generation of STEM professionals.
Much of the discussion centered on Pax Silica and its broader implications. Participants raised questions about:
1. The limited technical capacity of policymakers to craft a national semiconductor strategy;
2. The absence of Filipino semiconductor engineers and industry practitioners in shaping the Pax Silica framework;
3. The geopolitical implications of aligning the country's semiconductor agenda with US-Israel strategic and military interests, particularly amid the expansion of US military presence in the Philippines;
4. The potential impact of Pax Silica on Indigenous Peoples' ancestral lands;
5. The environmental costs of Pax Silica, particularly its intensive water use;
6. The enormous energy requirements needed to support Pax Silica; and
7. The risk of prioritizing foreign investors and multinational interests while neglecting the development of the local semiconductor industry.
One thing that stood out throughout the night was hearing engineers themselves voice these concerns. Advancements in policy happen too often without the people who actually design, build, and work with these technologies. Yes, conversations about semiconductors shouldn't be left to engineers alone. But neither should engineers be left out of conversations about policy.
We urge policymakers to listen to the experts, but also to ensure that policy is shaped with communities, environmental advocates, labor groups, and other stakeholders whose lives and futures will be affected. Technological development cannot be separated from its social, environmental, and political consequences.
Sabi nga ni Renz, "Our progress must always be rooted in our shared values as Filipinos, led by Filipinos, for the Filipinos."
Maraming salamat to everyone who joined us, shared your experiences, and stayed long after the formal program ended. See you at the next &Cocktails! ;)
