An in-depth look at one of Southeast Asia’s most pressing public health and social justice issues The Philippines is one of the most beautiful archipelagos on earth — 7,641 islands of white sand beaches, turquoise waters, vibrant festivals, and famously warm people. Millions of tourists visit every year for all the right reasons: adventure, culture, food, and genuine hospitality. But tucked beneath this postcard image is a shadow economy that has been quietly reshaping the country’s public health landscape for decades. Sex tourism in the Philippines is not a new phenomenon, but its consequences — particularly a rapidly escalating HIV crisis — have never been more urgent to understand and…