This year, we begin some transitions in the editorial team of the Philippine Political Science Journal. After almost nine years as Managing Editor, Dr. Jan Robert R. Go, Associate Professor of the Department of Political Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, is leaving his post. He has recently been elected as President of the Philippine Political Science Association (PPSA). Dr. Go has been an invaluable member of the editorial team, managing the Editorial Manager portal of the journal that facilitates manuscript submissions, reviews, and decisions about manuscripts; coordinating with me as editor as well as the authors, reviewers, and our publisher; managing the social media accounts of the journal and promoting the journal; and answering queries about the journal. Within those years as Managing Editor, he was able to earn his PhD degree, do his own research, and publish. On behalf of the editorial board, we thank him for his important service to the journal and wish him and the rest of the Board of Trustees of PPSA as they serve their two-year term.
Also on behalf of the editorial board, we warmly welcome Assistant Professor Edcel John A. Ibarra of the Department of Political Science, University of the Philippines Diliman as our new Managing Editor. Mr. Ibarra has the political science background as well as research, publication and coordination skills necessary for the Managing Editor position of the journal. Like previous Managing Editors who served before him, we are hopeful that aside from bringing in fresh skills and ideas to the job, he will find the job also rewarding in terms of new learning that can help in his growth as an academic.
Finally, we are also grateful for the increasing interest in the journal in terms of the increasing number of manuscript submissions not only from the Philippines but also East and Southeast Asia in particular. We are also indebted to our colleagues who selflessly accept our requests to serve as reviewers.