Friday, June 26, 2026
Home Blog

CIDG Mulls Hazing Charges vs. Baldwin, 10 Others

Lily Reyes
-
0
CIDG Mulls Hazing Charges vs. Baldwin, 10 Others

AFTER two grueling weeks of investigation and interrogation, the Philippine National Police (PNP) hinted at filing criminal charges against Ateneo men’s basketball team head coach Tab Baldwin and 10 others over the tragedy that struck two of its promising athletes.

“Simply put, we have a case. And it’s up to the prosecution to file a case. On our end, we will forward or refer these records of investigation to the prosecution, and they will prosecute,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez said.

When asked to provide details on the complaints that would be filed against Baldwin and others, Nartatez hinted at a non-bailable criminal offense against the former coach and 10 other individuals, mostly staff of the Ateneo men’s basketball team.

MORE LIKE HAZING

According to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, the findings submitted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to the Department of Justice (DOJ) is “rather conclusive.”

“Our investigation is nearly complete. It’s rather conclusive,” Remulla told reporters. 

The CIDG recommended the filing of complaints for alleged violations of Republic Act 11053 (Anti-Hazing Act) Baldwin in connection with the drowning deaths of Ateneo cagers Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team-building activity in Aurora on June 8.

BALDWIN PLUS 10

Aside from Baldwin, the CIDG also recommended pressing charges against the following:

  • Grant Dearns, strength and conditioning coach
  • Caesar Vincent Javellana Elumba, strength and conditioning coach
  • Dean Caesar B. Castaño, assistant coach
  • Sandro Nicholas Romero Soriano, assistant coach
  • Reynaldo C. Jacinto Jr., assistant coach
  • Paolo Manuel Maceda Adevoso, student manager
  • Andrew Lorenzo Bondoc Salud, student manager
  • John Eric Quiambao Rueca, physical therapist
  • Aris Ramos Ponce, utility/ball boy
  • Joel Palmiano Rapa, utility/ball boy

PUNITIVE TRAINING

DILG Assistant Secretary Brian Mey Tomas said that the Ateneo athletes were allegedly subjected to extreme physical activities, punishment exercises, and sea-based training under hazardous conditions.

The extreme kind of training, Tomas added, may constitute a non-bailable crime of hazing under RA 11053.

He however clarified that it would still be the DOJ who will make the final determination after conducting a preliminary investigation.

Investigators also gathered testimonies from former Ateneo players alleging similar near-drowning incidents occurred during a 2016 training camp at the same location.

Inclusive Juvenile System To End Campus Violence

Angel F. Jose
-
0
Inclusive Juvenile System To End Campus Violence

THE FOUR ACTS of violence which took place inside school campuses in just a week is more than enough reason for the government to consider a serious review of existing youth-related laws, school safety rules, and mental health interventions.

In a statement, Senator Bong Go, in his capacity as chairman of the senate committee on youth, particularly cited the need to dig deeper into the incidents involving minors.

According to the senator, the incident raises serious concerns not only on security inside schools, but also on the condition of young people who may be exposed to violence, bullying, trauma, and other risks.

“Schools are supposed to be zones of peace and learning. It is deeply troubling that our students are exposed to such unnecessary risks instead of being able to focus on their studies. What is even more alarming are reports that the suspects themselves are minors,” reads part of his statement.

JUVENILE JUSTICE

The Tacloban City incident, he stressed, placed renewed attention on the country’s juvenile justice framework. 

Republic Act No. 9344 (Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006), governs cases involving children at risk and children in conflict with the law. It was later amended by RA 10630, which strengthened the juvenile justice system and created the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council.

Go called on the concerned government agencies to look into the gaps under the existing measures if gaps are found.

“Tututukan ko ang isyung ito. Kung merong dapat ayusin sa mga kasalukuyang batas, katulad ng Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, as amended, at mga regulasyon, ayusin na natin ngayon. Huwag na nating hintayin pang merong panibagong trahedya na naman,” he assured.

Go also called on concerned agencies to determine how the firearm was obtained and brought inside the school, especially following reports that the suspects were minors even as he appealed to the public to check the veracity of “sweeping and unverified” social media posts pending the results of an ongoing probe.

TACLOBAN SHOOTING

On June 22, two male students aged 14 and 15, fired shots inside the San Jose National High School resulting in the death of four students and injuring 19 other individuals.

Authorities were looking into bullying as one of the possible factors behind the incident.

In this context, Go’s mental health-related measures have also gained renewed relevance. He co-authored and co-sponsored RA 12080 or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act to enhance mental health support in basic educational institutions. 

Go also filed Senate Bill 176, which proposes the creation of Mental Health Offices in all public higher education institutions nationwide. The bill also seeks to provide free counseling services, trained mental health professionals, and 24/7 mental health hotlines for students.

The measures aim to provide safe spaces for students, promote early intervention, and strengthen suicide prevention and mental health support in educational institutions. 

While the Tacloban City incident took place in a high school, Go has repeatedly pushed for stronger support systems for young people facing emotional distress, trauma, and other mental health concerns.

SCHOOL VIOLENCE

After the Tacloban shooting, the police also recorded three other school-related violent incidents, which according to Go has reached an alarming crisis point, highlighted by a sudden spike in fatal shootings and stabbings inside campuses. 

“Longstanding systemic issues with severe peer bullying and inadequate mental health support have culminated in a wave of juvenile aggression that has prompted national emergency interventions,” said Go in reference to three other incidents which took place days apart since the Tacloban shooting took place.

Aside from San Jose National High School, acts of violence perpetrated by minors also happened  at the Bethel Academy in General Trial, Cavite, wounding seven Grade 5 students in a stabbing attack.

At the Cavite National High School, an 18-year-old senior high school student repeatedly stabbed a fellow student following a heated argument.

In Davao de Oro, a male individual was shot by unidentified armed men shortly after coming out of the campus where he attended a ceremony culminating on his senior high school graduation. 

Relatedly, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla claimed that authorities foiled a separate school attack planned by a 14-year-old student in Tolosa National High School also in Leyte.

The Body Part That Could Predict How Long You Live

Gwenn Canlas
-
1
The Body Part That Could Predict How Long You Live

I’VE SPENT MOST of my life hearing people complain about their thighs.

Too big.

Too wide.

Too jiggly.

They rub together when they walk.

For some reason, thighs seem to have become public enemy number one since skinny jeans showed up.

But what if those thighs everyone keeps trying to shrink are actually doing them a favor?

And no, I’m not talking about body positivity slogans.

There’s actual science behind it.

One study published in the British Medical Journal followed nearly 3,000 adults for more than ten years and found something surprising: people with smaller thighs had a higher risk of heart disease and dying earlier.

Probably not the message the diet industry was hoping people would hear.

The researchers took into account belly fat, smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol, and a bunch of the usual risk factors. The finding still stood.

Then researchers looked at data from more than 2.5 million people across dozens of studies.

Pretty much the same story.

People with bigger, stronger thighs generally fared better.

Before everyone starts piling extra rice onto their plates and calling this doctor’s orders for unlimited lechon, there’s one thing worth pointing out.

The benefit doesn’t seem to come from fat.

It comes from muscle.

And that makes sense.

Your thighs contain some of the largest muscles in your body. They don’t just help you climb stairs, get up from a chair, or chase a dog that slipped out the gate.

They’re busy doing other jobs too.

They help your body process sugar better. They improve insulin sensitivity and seem to calm down some of the low-grade inflammation that slowly wears down blood vessels over time.

Basically, strong legs help keep a lot of things running the way they should.

Which is one reason I’ve never put too much faith in bathroom scales.

The scale has no idea whether you’ve spent the last six months getting stronger.

It doesn’t know if carrying groceries is easier now than it was last year.

It certainly doesn’t know if you can carry every grocery bag from the car in one trip just to prove to yourself that you still can.

It only measures weight.

That’s useful information, but it’s hardly the whole story.

Another study that caught my eye involved twins.

Researchers at King’s College London followed more than 300 pairs and found that the twin with stronger legs often had better memory and thinking skills years later.

Same genes.

Same family.

Same childhood.

But different leg strength.

And apparently, different brain outcomes.

Who would’ve guessed that squats might be doing as much for your head as they do for your backside?

The older I get, the more convinced I become that muscle is one of the most overlooked tissues in the body.

Yes, I know it’s technically not an organ. Save your emails.

But think about what happens when people become seriously ill, go through major surgery, or spend weeks stuck in bed.

The body starts breaking down muscle for fuel.

It’s a reserve tank.

Something you’ve been building without really thinking about it.

And like any savings account, it’s a lot easier to add to it while times are good than when you’re already dealing with a crisis.

That’s why healthcare workers worry when older adults start losing leg strength.

The signs aren’t always dramatic.

Maybe they’re walking slower.

Maybe they push off the arms of a chair to stand.

Maybe they avoid stairs.

Maybe they just don’t go out as much anymore because moving around feels like more work.

Those little changes can tell us quite a bit.

The encouraging part is that leg muscles respond well to training, even later in life.

You don’t need to become a powerlifter.

You don’t need fancy equipment.

And nobody says you have to post gym selfies.

Walk uphill.

Take the stairs.

Do a few squats.

Use resistance bands.

Even getting up from a chair and sitting back down several times a day counts.

Small efforts, repeated often enough, have a way of adding up.

So if you’ve spent years wishing your thighs were smaller, maybe they deserve a little credit.

They’ve carried you around your entire life.

They may help protect your heart.

They may even help protect your brain.

And someday, they might help get you through an illness you never expected.

Not bad for a body part that mostly gets blamed for wearing out perfectly good pants.

Maybe thick thighs really do save lives.

And for once, social media happened to stumble onto something that’s backed by actual evidence.

Sara Duterte Doomed? Senate Allies Down to 3

Lucio Papa
-
0
Sara Duterte Doomed? Senate Allies Down to 3

VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte’s allies in the Senate may not be able to save her from being ousted when the impeachment trial finally starts rolling.

This comes as the Office of the Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered Senators Alan Cayetano and Robin Padilla to submit an answer to the obstruction of justice complaint against them in relation to the shooting incident at the Senate premises on May 13.

Meanwhile Senator Rodante Marcoleta is facing a cyberlibel complaint for the allegations made during a contentious June 4 hearing at the Senate where the 18 former soldiers accused former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV of receiving cash which was allegedly delivered to the investigators representing the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Dela Rosa Escape

Cayetano and Padilla are facing investigation over the shooting incident which was followed by the escape of Senator Ronald dela Rosa amid an ICC arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity in connection with the drug war deaths during his term as Philippine National Police chief.

“Acting on the sworn complaint, the above-named respondents are hereby directed to submit their counter-affidavit/s and controverting evidence to the said complaint, copy of which is hereto attached, within a non-extendible period of 15 days from receipt hereof in three legible copies addressed to this Office,” reads part of Remulla’s order.

The complaint was filed by Tindig Pilipinas co-convenor, Francis Aquino Dee and allied groups, including Partido Manggagawa, Baigani Feminist Collective, Magdalo Party, Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, Youth Resist, among others.

“Respondents are likewise required to submit proof of service of their counter-affidavit and controverting evidence to the complainants, who may file a reply-affidavit within a non-extendible period of five days from receipt of the same, with proof of service to the respondents,” it added.

Rogue Blue Ribbon

During the filing of the cyberlibel complaint at the Department of Justice (DOJ), Trillanes categorically denied allegations hurled against him during a senate hearing which he aptly referred to as “a platform for defamatory claims masquerading as a Senate inquiry.” 

“Today, I filed another cyberlibel case against the 18 ‘ex-bodyguards,’ including Cayetano and Marcoleta. This is about their rogue Blue Ribbon Committee hearing that they did and because of that, they do not have parliamentary immunity,” Trillanes said. 

Also included in the complaint are the 18 former members of the Philippine Marine Corps who claimed to have worked for former Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Zaldy Co as security personnel.

During the ‘hearings,’ the former Marines dragged more government officials into accepting the so-called “maleta” filled with alleged kickbacks from flood control projects.

“I will continue to file cases against them as long as they continue to lie. The nature of cyberlibel is that every time you repeat that falsehood, it constitutes one count,” Trillanes said.

Diminishing Number

Two senators have either been rendered “useless” to VP Sara’s cause. They are Dela Rosa who has since gone into hiding since evading arrest on May 13, and Senator Jinggoy Estrada who is currently in jail for plunder charges over the so-called flood control scandal.

Following the senate standoff last month, Sara again lost two more allies — Senators Francis Escudero and Joel Villanueva who like Estrada are being accused of squandering public funds. Both crossed the “enemy line,” in what many believed as a political survival. To some, it’s meant to get themselves off the hook.

Escudero was earlier tagged as the principal perpetrator behind the budget insertions, while Villanueva has been accused by no less than former DPWH officials of amassing a fortune from the alleged ghost flood control projects in Bulacan.

Three other senators are reportedly being wooed to abandon the minority. They are Senators Loren Legarda and siblings Mark and Camille Villar.

In the event that charges against Cayetano, Padilla and Marcoleta are elevated to the Sandiganbayan, VP Sara’s allies in the Senate would be down to just three — Bong Go, Imee Marcos, Pia Cayetano

More Pessimism Haunts the PH Economy

Rose de la Cruz
-
0
More Pessimism Haunts the PH Economy

FOR THE THIRD straight day, foreign analysts have yet to paint a positive outlook on the Philippine economy for this year — until 2028, blaming the sluggish performance to the Middle East crisis.

However, the bigger factor is the declining trust in government because of bureaucratic lapses in handling inflation, interest rates,  corruption and the unstable leadership in the legislature.

The first to project a negative picture this week was Moody’s Analytics, yesterday it was Melbourne-based ANZ Research and now, S&P Global. 

S&P said the Philippines risks becoming one of Asia-Pacific’s growth laggards this year, with economic expansion seen slowing to 4.1% amid oil shocks from the Middle East conflict and the lingering effects of last year’s corruption controversy, reported Business World.

In its latest economic outlook for Asia-Pacific, the debt watcher cut its gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines to 4.1% for this year from 5.8% previously.

This was the largest downward revision S&P made across the region. It had also trimmed its growth projection for Japan to 0.6% from 0.8%, as well as Australia and New Zealand to 1.9% from 2%.

If S&P’s projection for the Philippines holds true, the country will be the sixth-slowest growing economy in the Asia-Pacific this year, the business paper added.

S&P expects Japan’s growth to be the region’s weakest this year at 0.6%, followed by Australia and New Zealand at 1.9%, Thailand at 2.3%, South Korea at 2.9%, and Singapore at 3.9%.

S&P Global Asia-Pacific Chief Economist Louis Kuijs and Senior Economist Vishrut Rana noted that the Philippines bucked the region’s resilience at the start of the year after growth unexpectedly slowed in the first quarter.

“Asia-Pacific economic growth largely held up in early 2026. In the first quarter, GDP growth met or exceeded expectations in most economies, with generally solid contributions from both exports and domestic demand,” Kujis and Mr. Rana said in the June 23 report.

“However, growth significantly lagged expectations in the Philippines, where the energy shock combined with a sharp reduction in public infrastructure spending related to misutilization of funds,” they added.

In the January-to-March period, the economy grew by 2.8%, its weakest growth since the COVID-19 pandemic, due to spiraling oil prices and the fallout from the flood control corruption scandal. It marked the third straight quarter that the country’s GDP growth slowed.

S&P also lowered its growth projection for 2027 to 5.8% from 6.2% previously. It kept its 2028 forecast unchanged at 6.2%.

For 2029, it projects Philippine GDP to grow by 6.1%.

The S&P economists noted that countries in the Asia-Pacific, including the Philippines, are heavily reliant on oil imports from the Middle East, which made them vulnerable to disruptions in key energy facilities and the Strait of Hormuz. 

In the Philippines, fuel prices hit over P100 per liter from the P50- to P60-per-liter range before the war erupted in late February.

As of the third week of June, pump price adjustments this year stood at a total net increase of P47.02 per liter for gasoline, P39.71 per liter for diesel, and P37.30 per liter for kerosene.

Kujis and Rana said elevated energy prices typically feed into the costs of other commodities, dampening consumers’ purchasing power and domestic demand.

“(H)igher global energy prices filter through to consumers via increases in production costs of other products and services. The increase in energy prices generally erodes purchasing power and depresses domestic demand. More expensive energy also weighs on growth via weaker demand elsewhere and tighter financial conditions,” they said.

High oil prices weighed heavily on Filipino households’ budgets as it drove up costs of utilities, transport, and food.

Inflation remained above the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 2%-4% target in the last three months, although it eased to 6.8% in May from 7.2% in April.

S&P expects inflation to accelerate to 4.8% this year from 1.7% in 2025, faster than its previous forecast of 3.4%. As of May, the country’s headline inflation stood at 4.5%.

For 2027, S&P sees inflation easing to 3.3%, although a tad faster than its earlier projection of 3.2%. It expects inflation to further ease to 3% in 2028 and 2.9% in 2029.

“In South Korea, Thailand and, especially, the Philippines core inflation has already risen significantly since February,” Mr. Kujis and Mr. Rana noted. “The increase in the Philippines was the key reason for its central bank to lift its policy rate twice.”

Core inflation breached the target for the first time in over two years after quickening to 4.1% last month.

Last week, the BSP delivered its second straight 25-basis-point (bp) increase, bringing the benchmark policy rate to 4.75% as it sought to temper broadening second-round price effects.

BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. has left the door open for more measured hikes, with another quarter-point hike on the table at their next meeting, amid an elevated inflation outlook and risks from the lagged effects of high oil and fertilizer prices.

The duo believe that the BSP might only have room for one more 25-bp hike to end its tightening cycle once the policy rate hits 5% this year.

The Monetary Board still has three regular policy reviews left this year on Aug. 27, Oct. 22 and Dec. 17.

S&P said it expects the BSP to reverse course starting next year to lower key borrowing costs to 4.5%, before bringing it further down to 4% by 2028 until 2029.

FILSCAP’s Role in Jomari Chan’s Missed Royalties

Boy Villasanta
-
0
FILSCAP’s Role in Jomari Chan’s Missed Royalties

WHO IS responsible to collect royalties of musicians, composers, arrangers, lyricists and other stakeholders in the lawful use of their creations?

Is it the singer? How about the composer or perhaps the arranger? Maybe the producer — or at the very least the talent manager?

The question has been cropping up from time to time particularly in the recent event when music icon Jose Mari Chan revealed about non-payment in an interview during the presscon of his forthcoming concert “Afterglow: Seasons of the Heart.”

According to Jose Mari, he hasn’t been receiving royalties for his compositions, renditions and recordings of his music.

In an article published in ABS-CBN News online written by MJ Felipe uploaded on Tuesday and updated Wednesday, Chan said he is sad about the state of royalty earnings among singer-songwriters in the country because he himself has not been given the royalties due him in recent times.  “I don’t exactly remember, but I haven’t exactly been receiving royalties anymore from the recording companies,” said Chan.

“I feel frustrated, but more so, I feel frustrated for the young singer-songwriters of this country. What kind of future can they look forward to? You know what I mean? Where can they get their income?”

Joe Mari has been doing music ever since about seven decades ago when he consistently makes and yields hits as well as accolades.

The advent of copyright laws and royalty dues, though, has given artists rights to royalties.

All of a sudden, why is Jose Mari not collecting royalties at this time of his popularity and perennial supremacy at the charts?

A music industry insider, though, clarified Chan’s predicament.

“I think Jose Mari Chan assigned FILSCAP to be his collecting agency that gets royalties from record labels, concert producers, karaoke establishments among others,” said local music industry veteran Tato Malay.

Malay has been with the local Tin Pan Alley for decades as a marketing and promotion honcho of many recording companies in the country.

“Jose Mari is a member of Filipino Society of Composers and Publishers (FILSCAP),” quipped Tato.

After the controversial story came out, Joe Mari clarified that what he meant by not getting royalties is from CDs, cassette tapes and vinyl records which aren’t sold anymore in the market.

He clarified as well that he receives “royalty checks” from streaming platforms.

Chan, who made the song “Christmas in Our Hearts,” a theme song ushering in Christmas season at the start of Ber months in the Philippines, specifically September, has recorded not only pop tunes like “Deep in My Heart,” “Afterglow,” “Please Be Careful with my Heart,” “Constant Change,” “Beautiful Girl,” “I Love You So”, among others but institutional jingles and commercial audio-visual ads as well.

Joe Mari’s concert on July 11, 2026 at the PICC Plenary Hall will also be the platform for several “Your Face Sounds Familiar” winners like Marielle Montellano, JM de la Cerna, Kolette Madelo and the “Tawag ng Tanghalan (TNT)” champion Lyka Estrella.

Filipino Films Shown Across The Globe

Boy Villasanta
-
0
Filipino Films Shown Across The Globe

THE PHILIPPINE cinema is indeed world-class.

This is evident in the simultaneous showing of some of them in many parts of the world these past few days and in the immediate future.

After its successful successive premieres, the restored versions of Regal Films’ “Sister Stella L” which was presented with its original title, “Sangandaan” and Korporasyong CineManila/ CineManila Corporation’s “Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang (Weighed But Found Wanting),” directed by Mike de Leon and Lino Brocka, respectively, are currently showing at the Cinema Ritrivato XL Italy.

The eventful screenings were witnessed by two Filipino film lovers, archivists and historians, Julian Eudela and Leo Katigbak, both representing the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

Being in Italy to screen Philippine cinema masterpieces however from the Golden Age of the industry isn’t a walk in the park for both Eudela and Katigbak because it was and still is a big responsibility not only to the local film art and business but to the whole nation as well.

According to Leo, the premiere showing of the restored version of “Sister Stella L” was a success and his collaboration and coordination with world film professionals were for the books.

“Mike de Leon’s restored SANGANGDAAN [known locally as SISTER STELLA L] premiered in IL CINEMA RITRIVATO XL to a full crowd. People were still coming in as we started the introductions. My colleague Julian from PFA and I arrived early at Europa Cinema to meet with Mikaela who would act as interpreter. I had the full script I wrote memorized so it was just easier to give her a copy beforehand so she could reference it as I did not deviate from what I had written.

Ritrovata’s Davide Pozzi was on hand as well to discuss our 2 other events and soon other industry friends would be among the audience: Kani’s Pearl Chan and Ariel Cayer, Markus Roff of Berlin’s Arsenal Filminstitut, JAGUAR colorist Isabelle Barriere, Pauline Soh from the National Gallery of Singapore, Vincent Paul-Boncour of Carlotta, and quite a few more. Others like French Screenwriter Phillipe LeGuay, Critic and Film historian Jean Michel Frodn, film director/ screenwriter/ curator Mitra Farahani, etc. will try to catch the 2nd screening as we received comments that all seats for today were already booked early on and there was not an empty seat as the movie started [SRO is not allowed].

I was pleasantly surprised at the reactions to the dialogue and the warm applause that greeted the end of the screening as the credits rolled. I think Mike, Vilma, Roselle, Keith and Mother Lily would all be very happy with the reception,” noted Leo in his social media spaces.

Luckily, the audience was treated to a special discussion about Mike as a filmmaker with an audio-visual tribute, “In Memory of Mike de Leon,” to the seminal movie master which was introduced to the panel by Katigbak.

In his Facebook posts, Julian described the symposium as a very warm event. “Earlier today at the Mike de Leon Tribute at DAMS Lab with Josh Siegel of MoMA, Vincent Paul-Boncour of Carlotta and me talking about our interactions with Mike through the years. Attendees were majority industry people from festivals, archives, restoration and cinema,” announced Eudela.

After the forum, Eudela and Katigbak had a memorable encounter with global film experts. “Squeezed in a lunch meeting with Kani’s Pearl Chan after the Mike tribute this morning. Enjoying more Italian goodness in Bologna,” quipped Julian.

De Leon’s opus which was produced by the late Lily Monteverde about the awakening of a nun (Sister Stella Legaspi portrayed by Vilma Santos) to socio-political realities outside the convent and how these events shaped her outlook in life not only as a religious but as a common man as well was restored by the FDCP’s Philippine Film Archive and L’Immagine Ritrovata.

Meanwhile, Brocka’s “Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang (Weighed But Found Wanting” which was done ten years before “Sister Stella L” was premiered the following day.               

“Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang” is about a small community in the Philippines seen through the eyes of the son, Junior (Christopher de Leon) of the mayor (Eddie Garcia) who impregnated and forced an abortion on a woman who became mentally deranged Kuala (Lolita Rodriguez) and Berto, a leper (Mario O’Hara) live as outsiders in the cemetery while the rest of the quotidian in the town experience the dialectics of life forged in the death of two outcasts while the son takes pride in clasping the infant born to Kuala and Berto as a symbol of hope and acceptance.    

The 4k restored edition of Lino’s masterpiece was introduced by Katigbak as well and Vincent Paul-Boncour of Carlotta Films to a full house.

“People waiting in line outside for last-minute tickets,” said Eudela in his multimedia announcements.

Meanwhile, at the Cinema Modernissimo, Julian and Leo had discovered a proud tribute to Brocka. “Nadiscover lang namin, but merong seat dito sa (We just accidentally discovered that there’s a sear here at) Cinema Modernissimo named after Lino Brocka, it is next to Robert Bresson and Robert J. Flaherty in the same line as Ingmar Bergman,” Eudela happily announced.

According to Julian, “Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang (Weighed But Found Wanting)” must not be missed not only back home but in the world cinema as well particularly in Italy. “Don’t miss this Philippine New Wave founding film,” he exclaimed.

Meanwhile, the Filipino animation “Zsazsa Zatrunnah” finally, officially premiered in France.

According to the FDCP Facebook: “After 6 years of dedication and hard work, Avid Liongoren’s Zsazsa Zaturnnah officially premieres at the Marché International du Film d’Animation (MIFA) under the Midnight Specials section, earning a standing ovation.

“Selected for the Work-in-Progress section at Annecy Festival MIFA in 2025, the film now returns to the same stage as a completed feature, ready to share the adventures of Ada, a.k.a. Zsazsa Zaturnnah, with international audiences.

“Congratulations to the entire team on this milestone. We look forward to seeing the film light up more screens, both in the Philippines and around the world.”

“Zsazsa Zaturnnah” is also an official entry to the 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) Bucheon Features, main international derby and will be shown at the Asian biggest genre film event on July 2 to 12, 2026.

The first Filipino-Australian co-production “First Light” which starred internationally acclaimed actress Ruby Ruiz was screened at international film festivals in Melbourne, Marrakech, Rotterdam and Shanghai.

It premiered recently at Cinematheque Centre Manila which saw the attendance of director James J. Robinson, producers Christelle Lou Dychangco, Mary Jane Pe Aguirre, Gabrielle Pearson, executive producer Anthony Robinson and creative producer Emmanuel Santos.

The celebration was also joined in by Soliman Cruz, Diamond Star Maricel Soriano and Ruiz which FDCP said marked the film’s homecoming with their presence.

The renowned film is set for its Philippine theatrical release today, June 24, 2026.

Meanwhile, Lav Diaz’s latest work “Magellan” about the discovery of the Philippines by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan is showing in Portugal, according to one of its stars, Bong Cabrera.

“Magellan” was entirely shot in Sampaloc, Quezon with international and Hollywood actor Gael Garcia Bernal as the titular lead.

Knowledge Isn’t Power: Action  

Vivien Mangalindan
-
0
Knowledge Isn’t Power: Action  

EVER NOTICE? So many trainings… So many workshops… But when people go back to work – nothing really changes.

The Back Story 

Knowledge isn’t power. Not by itself.

The myth people still believe.

People think if they just learn more… things will change.

  • More information. 
  • More videos. 
  • More notes. 
  • More “someday I’ll use this.”

But nothing really improves after that.

Where It Actually Becomes Power

Knowledge only becomes power when it moves.

When you use it. Apply it. Try it.

That’s the shift.

  • From knowing… to doing.
  • From understanding… to becoming. 

The Storage Trap

Because a lot of knowledge just sits there.

  • In your head. 
  • In your notes. 
  • In your saved folders.

It feels like progress… 

  • But it’s not movement.

You can collect a lot and still stay the same.

Why People Stay Stuck

You can know more and still stay stuck. Or know less and still move forward.

  • That difference? Action.

That’s what people miss.

Two people learn the same thing.

  • One uses it. 
  • One doesn’t.

Different life after that.

The Real Shift

So the real question isn’t “what do you know?”

It’s “what are you actually doing with it?”

Because learning feels like progress.

But real progress is quieter.

  • It shows up in what you change… not what you collect.

The Bottom Line

In real life…

  • It’s not what you know.
  • It’s what you do with it.

And that’s where everything shifts. 

When Ideas Don’t Land

SITUATION: A quick decision is needed in a marketing team meeting.

BEFORE:

  • Nina: “I think we should change the campaign angle.”
  • Leo: “No, I don’t agree.”

Silence.

Nina had a point.
But she didn’t explain it clearly.

AFTER:

  • Nina: “I think we should change the campaign angle.”
  • Leo: “Why do you think that?”
  • Nina: “The current message isn’t landing with our target audience. We’re getting clicks but no engagement.”
  • Leo: “Okay, that makes sense.”

Same idea.
Different impact.

TIP: Don’t just state the idea. Make the thinking behind it visible.

Simply Say It

SITUATION: A son comes home late after a long day.

BEFORE:

  • Mom: “You’re late again.”
  • Jake: “I was busy.”
  • Mom: “You’re always busy.”

Jake knew his mom was worried.
But he didn’t explain.

AFTER:

  • Mom: “You’re late again.”
  • Jake: “I’m sorry. Work ran longer than expected. I should’ve texted you.”
  • Mom: “Just let me know next time.”
  • Jake: “I will.”

Less tension.
More understanding.

TIP: Small explanations prevent big misunderstandings.

When It’s Running Late

SITUATION: A customer is unhappy with a delayed order.

BEFORE:

  • Customer: “Where is my order?”
  • Staff: “It’s on the way.”
  • Customer: “This is unacceptable.”

No connection.
Just frustration.

AFTER:

  • Customer: “Where is my order?”
  • Staff: “I see it’s delayed due to high volume. It should arrive tomorrow. I understand the frustration.”
  • Customer: “Alright… thanks for checking.”

Calmer exchange.
Better outcome.

TIP: Acknowledge first. Solve second.

Tips And Techniques 

At some point, it all comes down to action.

  • Don’t just know it. 
  • Don’t just save it.
  • Use it.

Because nothing really changes –  until you do.

Remember: Knowledge only matters when it’s used.

Internet-Induced School Violence

Rose de la Cruz
-
0
Internet-Induced School Violence

ON JUNE 22, two high school students – “Nash” and “Rod” with guns in their possession — planned their shooting incident inside a toilet of the San Jose National High School for one hour after the flag ceremony, after which they roamed the school and at 9:20 a.m. started firing aimlessly. As a result, four (based on the account of the first responders, the Philippine Red Cross) died and 20 injuries were rushed to nearby hospitals.

Alias “Nash” was arrested on the crime scene with his caliber 38 (with only one fired bullet) and alias “Rod” was taken to the police by people who saw him while trying to escape with his Glock rifle with only three unfired bullets, the Philippine National Police update said.

Just today two separate stabbing incidents took place one after the other: the first in a private school in Gen. Trias, Cavite with the suspect a Grade 8 student entering the Grade 5 classroom and aimlessly swinging the kitchen knife on his hand. Seven victims were brought to the hospital for treatment. The suspect, police surmised, could have been under depressive condition. The second stabbing took place at the Cavite National High School by an 18 year old who had a previous grudge that apparently resurfaced towards a schoolmate.

They had a boxing spar, which brought injuries to the suspect, who immediately took the kitchen knife from his shoes and hurled at the victim, who was rushed to the Cavite City component hospital. The suspect could not escape as he was wounded from the boxing.

The police who investigated the Tacloban shooting spree last Monday opined that the shooting was inspired by the violent online content that alias “Nash” stashed in his phone. There were several other violent reels that police viewed from his phone.

Police are now monitoring the two Tacloban shooters who were surrendered to the social services for psychosocial evaluation.

In recent months, several shooting incidents have been reported online from the United States and other countries, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. Such news content could have triggered the imagination of Filipino youth– especially those who complain about depression and campus bullying. (But why do they have to copy such violence from online contents coming from abroad?)

The Philippines has very strict gun control laws and tighter laws against bullying, fraternity hazing and other campus violence. Filipinos regard the school as the child’s second home, therefore not bereft of security, safe spaces and protection.

But are they really? I don’t think so, especially not under cramped and congested public school settings.

On December 9, 2024, the President signed into law RA 12080 or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act which institutionalizes comprehensive mental health initiatives for basic education institutions, aiming to foster awareness, prevention and suppoet for the well-being of students.

This law provides services as mental health screenings, crisis responses, and referrals, while also focusing on suicide prevention. As part of the initiative, every public school will establish a Care Center equipped to deliver mental health services, including counseling and monitoring, and provide necessary support for learners and staff. Additionally, a Mental Health and Well-Being Office will be set up in every Schools Division Office (SDO) to oversee and implement these programs effectively.

But, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) reported a severe shortage of mental health professionals in schools. The ratio of guidance counselors to students in many public schools is alarmingly low, with one counselor often responsible for thousands of students, leaving many without access to adequate support. To address this, the law created new plantilla positions for School Counselors, Counselor Associates, and Schools Division Counselors.

Another pressing concern is the implementation of anti-bullying policies. As of 2024, more than 10,000 public schools in the Philippines still do not have localized anti-bullying policies in place, despite the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013. This absence has contributed to the Philippines recording the highest rates of bullying among students in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018, where 65% of Filipino students reported being victims of bullying at least a few times a month.

Then EDCOM 2 chair Sen. Win Gatchalian,who co-authored the law, emphasized that these statistics demonstrate an urgent need to prioritize mental health and bullying prevention measures in schools. “This law seeks to address gaps in the education system’s ability to support student mental health, especially since the Philippines has the highest reported cases of bullying among students in the world. We hope to ensure a safer, more supportive environment for Filipino learners,” he said.

However, the real work begins with ensuring that this law is implemented effectively across our schools, especially in those that currently lack both anti-bullying policies and mental health practitioners,” said Representative Roman Romulo, co-author of the measure, and EDCOM 2 co-chair..

Aside from RA 12080, there is the Mental Health Act (RA11036) that requires educational institutions to have age-appropriate mental health programs and policies against bullying, integrating mental health awareness into their curriculum and providing support services for at-risk students; RA 11206 or the Secondary School Career Guidance and Counseling act that establishes a National Career Guidance and Counseling Program (CGCP) in all secondary schools to assist students with tertiary education choices and labor market exposure; and RA 9258 or the Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004 professionalizing the field by requiring individuals to pass the licensure examination to practice as Guidance Counselors, though recent laws permit trained Counselor Associates to assist.

DepEd Order No. 53 of 2024 or the implementing guidelines for Counseling and Referral System for Learners institutionalizes localized referral pathways and requires school heads to designate a registered counselor or trained guidance advocate.

The DepEd was given P2.9 billion to hire “School Counselor Associates,” that bypassed the strict master’s degree requirement for professional counselors by instead hiring college graduates with relevant training to quickly fill critical mental health gaps in public schools.

The Tacloban incident—along with recent stabbings—has pressured lawmakers to enforce stronger safety protocols. Senate hearings discussed on the Bilyonaryo channel revealed that roughly half of Grade 5 students experience bullying monthly, prompting calls from Senators Erwin and Raffy Tulfo to aggressively increase counseling support and install anonymous reporting systems.nology

No Way to Junk Charges vs. DPWH Execs

Rose de la Cruz
-
0
No Way to Junk Charges vs. DPWH Execs

THE SANDIGANBAYAN Sixth Division rejected the plea of former public works officials from Region 4 to dismiss the P289-million malversation case filed against them and instead would continue hearings on June 30.

In a June 23 resolution, the anti-graft court reiterated that granting the motions for leave to file demurrer to evidence – a legal maneuver testing the sufficiency of the prosecution’s case before the defense presents its own evidence– is just a tactic to “stall the proceedings.”

Respondents had argued that prosecutors failed to present witnesses confirming the delivery of shortened steel sheet piles.

Gerald Pacanan, Dominic Serrano, Juliet Calvo, Dennis Abagon, Montrexis Tamayo, Lerma Cayco and Felisardo Casuno had filed the motion but the court pointed out that the arguments raised by the defense were mere rehashes of their previous filings, making it a “useless ritual for the Court to reiterate itself.”

The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division has denied motions from former DPWH Region 4-B officials to file a demurrer to evidence, aimed at dismissing malversation and falsification charges regarding a P289.4-million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. The court found these motions to be mere rehashes of previous arguments intended to delay the proceedings.

The malversation of funds through falsification of public documents stemmed from a P289.4 million Sunwest project, the company beneficially owned by former party-list representative Zaldy Co, which state prosecutors said had serious structural deficiencies.

In a 10-page resolution, the anti-graft court denied the motion for reconsideration filed by nine former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials to the court’s June 1 ruling junking their demurrer to evidence.

The court said their motions for reconsideration are just “a mere reiteration or rehash of the arguments” of their motion for leave to file a demurrer to evidence.

“The Court had studied and passed upon said arguments in the resolution sought to be reconsidered,” the resolution stated. “It is a useless ritual for the Court to reiterate itself.”

A demurrer to evidence is a motion asking the court to dismiss a case after the prosecution has finished presenting evidence. The defense files such a motion to argue that the evidence presented is insufficient to establish guilt.

However, as for leave to file a demurrer to evidence, the anti-graft court said courts could only grant this after determining if such a move was not made just to delay the proceedings.

“After reviewing the prosecution evidence and the parties’ arguments, this Court arrived at the conclusion that granting the same would only lead to delay and, hence, denied the said motions,” the resolution quoted by the Inquirer said.

Still, the anti-graft court said the accused could still file their demurrer to evidence “without” leave of court.

The defense team was only informed of the 10-page resolution this Tuesday, or the trial schedule, when they were supposed to present their witness.

The denial of their motion prompted them to seek a postponement of the trial.

Associate Justice Kevin Vivero, senior member of the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division, said during open court: “The defense, in unison, manifested that they have just received the order of the court denying their motion for reconsideration [and they move to cancel the trial] to enable them to be ready and determine the legal options available to them.”

Vivero said the defense’s motion “is hereby granted.”

The trial of former DPWH officials will resume on June 30, Tuesday.

The respondents who used to be under DPWH are: former regional director Gerald Pacanan, former assistant regional director Gene Ryan Alaurin Altea, former assistant regional director Ruben Delos Santos Santos, Jr., former construction division chief Dominic Gregorio Serrano, former maintenance division chief Juliet Cabungan Calvo, former quality assurance and hydrology division chief Dennis Pelo Abagon, former planning and design division chief Montrexis Tordecilla Tamayo, former accountant Lerma Dotado Cayco, former project engineer Felisardo Sevare Casuno, and former engineer Timojen Adiong Sacar.

For his part, Co could not participate in the trial as he was earlier declared by Sandiganbayan as a fugitive from justice.

A respondent declared as a fugitive from justice could no longer participate in the proceedings and could not seek any judicial relief unless they surrender voluntarily.

Sunwest is co-founded by Co, who also used to be the chairperson of the powerful House committee on appropriations before his resignation as a party-list representative in September last year amid the widespread public outrage on the multibillion flood control corruption scandal.

Growth Targets Slashed Amid Sluggish Economy

Rose de la Cruz
-
0
Growth Targets Slashed Amid Sluggish Economy

MELBOURNE- BASED ANZ Research has slashed its growth forecast for the Philippines for 2027 and 2028 as the country’s economy remains sluggish compared to its Asian neighbors in view of weak household and business confidence, elevated inflation and higher interest rates.

The New Zealand-based think tank decimated its 2026 gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines to 3.9% from 4.7%.

In its latest quarterly report, ANZ Research trimmed its 2027 and 2028 gross domestic product (GDP) forecasts for the Philippines such that for 2027 it shaved off 0.6 percentage point from its initial 5.6 percent GDP forecast, or down to only 5% and for 2028, 5.5%.

“The Philippines’s outlook is more constrained by weak household and business confidence, elevated inflation, and higher interest rates,” ANZ Research, the research arm of Australia-based ANZ Banking Group Limited, underscored in its latest quarterly report.

It also noted that public spending, which “likely bottomed” in the first quarter of 2026, won’t likely see a material recovery until governance issues surrounding infrastructure projects are fully resolved.

Among the Asian economies scrutinized by ANZ Research, only the macro situation in Indonesia and the Philippines are expected to be “less sanguine,” primarily attributed to weak growth and external positions.

It pointed out that monetary tightening will further “impede” growth in these two economies.

Sanjay Mathur, the ANZ Research’s Chief Economist for Southeast Asia and India, said that with the global tech super cycle “more than offsetting” the fallout from the Middle East conflict—which he said also appears to have concluded—“We are raising our 2026 GDP growth forecast for Asia [ex-China, India] to 4.7 percent from 4.2 percent,” reported Business Mirror.

Mathur said upward growth revisions are concentrated in economies with “significant” exposure to the tech cycle—which are Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan, where tech exports are not only growing at an “unprecedented pace” but are also starting to lift plant and equipment investment.

In contrast, Mathur underscored that ANZ Research downgraded Indonesia and the Philippines’s growth forecasts.

Inflation Rates

ANZ Research underscored that only inflation rates in Philippines, South Korea and Vietnam, have so far exceeded official targets.

Moreover, it noted that an uptrend is likely to “intensify” in the coming months due to emerging food price pressures driven by higher fertilizer prices and El Niño-related dry weather conditions, ANZ Research underscored.

“Second-round effects of higher energy prices will also take time to unwind, despite the recent moderation in crude oil prices,” it added.

Fiscal Policy

On fiscal policy, ANZ Research flagged the Philippines as it “stands out with negligible fiscal support, reflecting tight fiscal constraints and legal rigidities in fuel and utility pricing.”

On monetary policy, it underscored that Indonesia and the Philippines are “unique” in the current tightening cycle as their monetary policy dynamics are “not backed by strong growth.”

“The Philippines’s central bank is squarely focused on alleviating inflation despite subpar growth of 2.8 percent year-on-year in Q1 2026. We expect two more rate hikes of 25bp each, translating into a cumulative trough to peak tightening of 100bp,” ANZ Research said.

Growth Outlook

In a televised interview on Monday, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan disclosed that the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) is aiming to achieve at least 3.5 percent to 4.5 percent economic growth this year following adjustments in government spending and changing economic conditions.

“We hope to achieve at least in 2026, 3.5 to 4.5 with all these changes,” Balisacan said.

ANZ Research said this could be the weakest post-pandemic growth this year as last year’s corruption controversies continue to weigh on confidence, compounded by accelerating inflation and rising interest rates amid the Middle East conflict.

Balisacan on Monday said the economy may grow by 3.5 to 4.5% this year, due to underspending and the fallout from the US-Iran war, Business World noted.

ANZ’s projections are below the government’s original targets of 5 to 6% for this year and 5.5 to 6.5% next year.

The Development Budget Coordination Committee has yet to release revised macroeconomic assumptions.

Mathur noted that the weaker outlook also reflects expectations that lingering governance issues from last year’s flood control mess will prevent any significant rebound in public spending.

“Public spending likely bottomed in (the first quarter of) 2026, but a material recovery is unlikely until governance issues surrounding infrastructure projects are fully resolved,” he said.

In the first quarter, government spending grew by 3.22% year on year to P1.491 trillion from P1.444 trillion. It slightly improved at end-April after rising by 5.12% to P1.996.2 trillion from P1.899 trillion a year ago.

In late 2025, a flood control corruption scandal involving Public Works officials, private contractors and lawmakers took a major toll on public and business sentiment and dampened investments and government spending. This dragged the economy to its weakest growth since the COVID-19 pandemic at 4.4% last year from 5.7% in 2024.

“The Philippines stands out with negligible fiscal support, reflecting tight fiscal constraints and legal rigidities in fuel and utility pricing,” Mathur said.

Still, the ANZ economist said Asian economies, including the Philippines, are unlikely to overshoot their deficit ceilings this year as “higher subsidy outlays are likely to be compensated by lower public capital spending in most economies.”

Based on the latest Treasury data, the Philippines’ fiscal gap stood at P324.1 billion as of April, 14.44% narrower than the P378.7-billion deficit posted in the same period last year.

The National Government set its fiscal deficit ceiling at P1.611 trillion or 5.3% of GDP this year.

Mathur also flagged the Philippines’ weak external position relative to its Asian peers.

“External balances remain broadly manageable, with the exception of Indonesia and the Philippines… The BoP (balance of payments) problem is more acute in the Philippines where the 2026 current account deficit is officially forecast at 4%,” he said.

The central bank projects the country to post a $20.3-billion current account gap or -4% of GDP this year, which, if realized, would be wider than the $16.3-billion deficit or -3.3% of GDP recorded in 2025.

For 2027, ANZ forecasts inflation to cool to 4.8%, before slowing further to 4.1% in 2028.

Amid this, Mathur said the BSP could deliver two more 25-basis-point (bp) hikes this year to bring the benchmark interest rate to 5.25% before standing pat until the second half of 2028.

“The Philippines’ central bank is squarely focused on alleviating inflation despite sub-par growth of 2.8% year on year in Q1 2026,” Mathur noted.

The BSP has so far delivered a total of 50 bps in hikes since it started its tightening cycle in April, at the height of the United States and Israel’s war on Iran.

The BSP raised key borrowing costs by 25 bps to 4.75% for a second straight meeting last week, noting persistent inflationary pressures as elevated fuel and fertilizer prices keep feeding into the costs of other commodities.

If the central bank hikes by another 50 bps, as Mathur expects, the policy rate will hit an over one-year high of 5.25%, Business World explained.

BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. has penciled in a third straight 25-bp increase at their August meeting, and left the door open for further measured tightening to help inflation return to their 3% target.

The BSP now projects inflation to average 6.4% this year, 4.5% in 2027, and 3.1% in 2028.

The Monetary Board is scheduled to hold three more regular policy reviews this year on Aug. 27, Oct. 22 and Dec. 17.

Energy Security Via Coco-Biodiesel 

Tracy Cabrera
-
0
Energy Security Via Coco-Biodiesel 

A COUNTRY WITH an abundant source of natural resources shouldn’t be fully dependent on imported fuel to generate electricity, says the Department of Agriculture (DA)

In a statement, the DA particularly hinted at the idea of a radical shift a to a five percent coco-biodiesel blend (B5) from the current the percent as a means of enhancing the government’s goal of achieving energy security, while revitalizing the local coconut industry.

According to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the agency has already endorsed to legislators and the Department of Energy (DoE) a policy resolution calling for the shift after the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries-National Sectoral Committee passed Resolution 03 series of 2026 to advance environmental sustainability and enhance energy security.

“The resolution is backed by the private sector and we have transmitted it to Senate agriculture committee chairman Francis Pangilinan and energy secretary Sharon Garin, who also chairs the National Biofuels Board (NBB),” Tiu Laurel said.

“The shift will promote blending coconut methyl ester (CME)—a biodegradable biodiesel derived from coconut oil—into petroleum products. CME emits significantly less sulfur and greenhouse gases than conventional diesel,” the agri chief added.

He cited that “while B5 is a long-term market intervention rather than an immediate remedy for high fuel prices—with local prices expected to take six to 12 months to stabilize amid global supply chain disruptions—industry experts consider it a crucial step.”

“By promoting the shift to coco-biodiesel, we expect it to stabilize agricultural prices and raise the income for an estimated 2.5 to 3.5 million coconut farmers,” he averred.

The secretary described the decision as more than a step toward meeting international standards but a game-changing investment for the local farming sector, workers and families heavily dependent on the coconut industry for livelihood.

“This will also reduce our dependence on imported fuels,” he pointed out.

Philippine Coconut Authority (Philcoa) administrator Dexter Buted likewise expressed support for the transition, stressing that the resolution could significantly boost the coconut industry and the livelihoods it sustains.

Feud Between Siblings Lotlot and Ian De Leon Worsens

Boy Villasanta
-
0
Feud Between Siblings Lotlot and Ian De Leon Worsens

THE SIBLING’S battle is getting out-of-hand between Lotlot and Ian de Leon, two of the children of the late National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Aunor, over inheritance issues and organization of the Nora Aunor Foundation.

After action director Vic Tiro, who shoots the vlogs of Lotlot, advised this writer that the actress doesn’t want to talk about her conflict with her brother on cam, it was she who finally broke her silence over the issue during the press con for the film “40 Days” which she stars together with Dina Bonnevie, Perla Bautista et al under Louie Ignacio’s direction.

Before it was only Lotlot’s lawyer Mark Julius Estur who issued a written statement about her client’s disinterest in the inheritance from the estate of Nora, Nora Villamayor in real life, and that she wasn’t even consulted when Ian allegedly formed a One-Person Corporation (OPC), but now, the de Leon lady herself has spoken.

“Tanggap namin kung anong meron si Mommy, kay Ian ‘yan. Walang nanghihingi n’yan. Walang nang-aagaw. Ang sinabi ko kay Ian, if you are willing to share the properties of Mommy with us, maraming salamat. Kung hindi, walang problema. At tinanong ko ‘yan (We understand it, we accept it that what Mommy had, they are all Ian’s. No one will beg. No one will take them away from him. What I told Ian was…thank you. If not, no problem. I asked it) without Matet, Kiko and Kenneth knowing it. I just wanted to know if he would for the sake of the three.

“Kasi, ako, kaya ko, e. Buong buhay ko naman, kinaya ko. Dumating ang punto sa buhay ko, wala akong pera. Wala akong panggas. Pinuputulan ako ng Meralco, ng tubig. Wala namang tumutulong sa akin (Because I could bear it. All of my life, I bear anything. There was a point in my life that I didn’t have a single penny. I didn’t have money for gassing up. Meralco was cutting off my power, the water was closing the gate valve. No one was lending me a hand),” she said, her voice trembling.

“Pero kahit minsan, hindi ko inistorbo ang mga magulang ko, kahit mga anak ko. Pero kinaya ko. Tumayo ako. Nagsipag ako sa tulong ng asawa ko. Kaming dalawa. Tamaan ako ng kidlat ngayon, kung meron akong naagrabyadong tao (Not even once that I asked help from my parents even from my kids. But I did it. I stood my ground. I strove for it with the help of my husband—Lebanese Fadi Al Soury. It was only the two of us. Lightning might strike me now but I didn’t take advantage of anyone).   

“Ngayon, kung ibabato sa amin ‘yong mana, kay Ian na ‘yan (Now, if they would accuse us of chasing after the inheritance, it’s already Ian’s).

“Pagdating naman do’n sa foundation, tinanong ko siya, sabi ko, ‘are you willing to do the foundation with us?’ Sabi ko, magtayo tayo para kay Mommy to continue her legacy. Anong sinabi niya, ‘I’m not ready. Wala kong ilalabas na pera.’ At lahat ng usapan namin ni Ian, nasa text ‘yan. May kopya ako (About the Nora Aunor Foundation, I asked him…I told him, let’s put it up for Mom. What did he say…I don’t have money to spend on it. My text conversations with Ian are all stored).   

“Sabi niya, ‘hindi ko pa kaya ngayon.’ Sabi ko, ‘okey.’ Nirerespeto ko ‘yan  (He said, ‘I can’t do it right now.’ I told him, ‘okay.’ I’ll respect you for that’).

“Hanggat sa nagkaroon ulit kami ng conversation because Matet, Kiko and Kenneth, said, ‘Ate, naiintindihan namin ang gusto mong gawin, sige, magtayo na tayo.’ Sabi ko, ‘hindi pupuwedeng itayo ito nang hindi tayo kumpleto (Until we had another conversation because Matet, Kiko and Kenneth said, ‘Older Sister, we understand what you want, let’s go, let’s form the Foundation. I told them, ‘we cannot formalize the foundation until we are complete’).

“Kinausap ko ulit si Ian. Sabi niya, hindi, kuha ‘yan, two weeks. Gawin n’yo, susuportahan ko ‘yan. Sabi niya sa akin, ‘pag ready na ba ako, pwede akong sumali?’ Sabi ko, ‘oo,’ ‘yan. Atin ‘to for the legacy of Mommy. Ano bang legacy? Ang legacy ni  Mommy, pagtulong sa kapwa, hindi ba? ‘Yon lang naman ang gusto kong ituloy. Hindi para pagkakitaan ng kahit ano. In fact, ako pa nga ang maglalabas, ako ang maghihirap para maghanap ng pera para magkaroon ng foundation. When I finally was able to put up a foundation, anong ginawa niya? Nagpunta sa Facebook. Ang sinabi niya, ‘hindi ko alam ang foundation na itinayo. Hindi ko pinapayagan ang kahit sino na magtayo ng foundation. Hindi ako nagpapahayag na kahit na sino na magbigay ng pera sa foundation nila (I talked to Ian again. He said, ‘you can make it in two weeks’ time. Go for it and I will support you.’ Then he said, ‘if I am ready with it, can I join you?’ I replied, ‘yes,’ that’s that. This is ours and this is for the legacy of Mom. What legacy is this? Mom’s legacy is to help others, right? That is the only thing that I want to do. It’s not to earn anything from it. As a matter of fact, I would be the one to fork out money and go through the hard work of looking for funds in order to put up the Foundation…What did he do? He went to social media. What he posted was ‘I am not aware of the Foundation that was formed. I don’t allow anyone to put up a foundation. I don’t let anyone donate money to their foundation).

“Doon ako nasaktan. Bakit? Kasi, alam niya. Alam niya lahat…alam niya lahat. Ang hindi ko maintindihan, bakit puro kasinungalingan ang lumalabas sa bibig mo, Ian. Bakit? Sinabi niya kanina sa ‘Fast Talk,’ sinabi daw niya sa akin, kay Matet, kay Kiko, kay Kenneth na magtatayo siya ng One-Person Corporation enterprise. He never told us…He never told us or shared us anything at all. Wala siyang filler. Wala siyang sinabi. Wala siyang ikinuwento (That’s what hurts me. Why? Because he knew…(Pause)…He knew everything…(Pause)…he knows everything. I can’t understand what comes out from your mouth, Ian, are all lies. Why? You announced in ‘Fast Talk’ a while ago, that he told me, Matet, Kiko and Kenneth that he would put up an OPC…He had no fillers at all. He said nothing. He told us nothing).  

“Hinahayaan na nga namin. Ako, tahimik na ako (We just let him be. I am not talking anymore but) I will not allow anyone to put Matet down, to put Kiko down, to put Ken down and to utter all these lies because it’s not true.   

“Ikakayaman ko ba ang pagsisinungaling? Ikakayaman ko ba ang pang-iisa ng kapwa? Ang kaba ng Panginoon. Diyos ko, matakot tayo, sa totoo lang (Will I get rich by lying? Will I get rich by taking advantage of others? We should fear the wrath of the Lord. Oh, God, let’s fear Him, for that is true).

“Pero hindi na ako papayag…(Pause)…Enough…(Pause)…Enough with the lies…(Pause)…Enough with all of that. Tahimik ako, tahimik na si Matet, sina Kiko at Kenneth. Wala na kaming sinasabi (We are all quiet now. We don’t say anything anymore).

“And then he goes out on TV and then he tells everyone na sinabi mo sa akin (that he told me that) which is not true. Pinadaan ko na nga sa abugado ko, e, para hindi na ako magsalita noon pa man (That’s why I let the lawyer does the legal matters so that I wouldn’t be talking even then except this one),” exclaimed Lotlot, an adopted daughter of Superstar Nora.

Meanwhile, before Lotlot bared her soul, Ian had warned her. “Enough with the lies? You stop. You stop telling lies especially to my dad,” he posted in Facebook Page IDL Arts and Paintings.

The actor reiterated that he told Lotlot he was not ready for the foundation because he wanted to fix the legalities first.

Ian explained the reason behind on his Facebook post. “That time I said I’m not ready to commit dahil gusto kong ayusin muna nila yung legal papers nyan (because I want them to fix the legal papers). I know the plans and my suggestion to them is to fix the legalities first before launching it. Days and days after launching I was monitoring their SEC registration but it’s still not yet up. The staff of a significant figure even informed us that they donated and may nilapitan pa silang isang malaking tao (they approached an important person) also the office informed us but they hesitated to donate, which made me post a statement to protect my family in case of any legal problems.”

            Ian also felt he was put in a difficult situation about being part of the foundation. He wrote in his social media spaces: “Gusto nyo akong i- (You want to) entrap during one event to sign something without telling right away what our dinner is all about that’s why pala you have your lawyers with you. Thankfully, this person asked us for a dinner that I can’t decline.”

The de Leon guy disputed the claim that he did not inform his siblings of his plans so he posted a screenshot of a Zoom meeting to support his statement.

Meanwhile, here’s Ian’s reactions about Lotlot’s revelations during the “40 Days” presscon.

“He never told us anything? So wala na yung Zoom meeting ng dalawang beses sila umattend? Wala na din yung during 40 days na nagdecline ka? At sinungaling din ba si Tita T. na tinawagan ka to join us pero sabi mo no na kase may work ka pa naman at inuna kase akong kausapin? (…the two Zoom meetings that they attended did not happen?  The 40 days observance for the dead that you declined didn’t happen as well? And Tita T. was a liar who called you to join us but you declined and said you had work and it was me who was first talked to?)  Why? Is it because it was me? Why,” asked Ian.

He clarified as well that he guested on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” in GMA Network for the Father’s Day celebration and that he didn’t say anything derogatory against his siblings.

In the interview, he emphasized he was the legal heir of Nora and he didn’t intend to treat his siblings unfairly.

The actor also didn’t accuse anyone of claiming inheritance and his only hope is a reconciliation in the family.

“Sa akin na lahat (Everything falls on me?) After the state funeral when five of us are talking. I was clear, that told you guys na tulong-tulong tayong lima dito at maging transparent sa isa’t isa (that the five of us will cooperate and be transparent with each other) and everything will take time and everything will be divided equally. Pero ang palabas is madamot ako (But what is being insinuated is that I am selfish?) Why? Sino ang may inaagaw (Who is taking away something from whom?) I didn’t say na may inaagaw kayo (…that you are taking away something from someone). Why say that? To put me down,” he said.

“Who put down the siblings? Did you even watch the whole show before reacting? Kayo lang ba pwede magpa-(Are you the only one who has the right to get interviewed?) I don’t go out just like that. It’s for the Father’s Day episode. Tinuring mo kong kapatid? Tinuring din kitang parang totoong kapatid (Did you treat me as brother? I treated you as a biological sister)! And I still call you Ate.” he qualified.

Sara’s Saga Of Waste

Boni Macaranas
-
0
Sara’s Saga Of Waste

ACCORDING TO SENATE President Sherwin Gatchalian, “the Senate spends about P25 million daily for salaries, electricity, utilities and other operating expenses.” (Inquirer) 

An official elected to hold a public office is to serve the people and country, and takes his oath vowing to work in line with the Constitution and Rule of Law. 

VP Sara Duterte has done nothing but wasted the people’s money worth trillions. From day one upon her assumption as VP in June 2022, all she has done was waste the people’s money with her monthly salary and allowances that could have been spent, among other important programs for the more than 60 million poor Filipinos, for building the severe lack of school classrooms nationwide and improving the standard of teaching by teachers and learning for the Filipino youth and children. 

VP Sara Duterte’s daily salary and allowances could have been payment, for example, the free treatment of a hundred dialysis patients or the free surgeries of countless indigent patients. 

WHAT OUTPUT

As the Congress’ Committees on Justice and Good Governance have exposed in its TV live-streamed investigations, the people have learned, among other issues, about VP Sara Duterte’s unexplained spending of more than P612 million of the people’s money while holding her VP portfolio (the second highest paid official government position) and concurrently serving also as secretary of the Department of Education. And this is not counting her non-work-related days of various travels abroad particularly only to visit her ICC jailbird father, Rodrigo, awaiting trial for his crimes against humanity. 

A day’s session in the Senate Hall is worth P25 million of the people’s money. And most likely the amount spent for a day’s session by a Committee of the House of Representatives (HOR) will be more than that spent by the senators in a day, given the usual number of congressmen-attendees. 

Thus, the amount spent for a day’s so-called work of the senators and congressmen run into millions, if not, billions, of the people’s money. 

But what has been the output of a day’s session by the Senators and that of the Congressmen? How many session days have been spent devoted by the senators and congressmen to discuss the issue of the impeachment of VP Sara Duterte for her crimes of betrayal of public trust, among many other various sins against the Filipino people? 

It is mind-boggling indeed, to say the least. What benefits, if any, can the Filipino people enjoy in a day’s work by the senators, congressmen and their staff/employees, when the subject for discussion is the impeachment of VP Sara Duterte? 

CONTINUING DRAMA

The senators and congressmen couldn’t avoid discussing, among other critical national issues, the whats, whys, hows, and whens related to the impeachment case of VP Sara Duterte in their session days. 

And to think that she has been in the agenda on session days of the chambers of the Senate and the HOR – since 2024. That is, when the varied organizations of workers, farmers, fishermen, students, party-list groups, professionals, activists, peoples’ organizations, faith-based/church coalitions, and countless citizens concerned about good governance – cried out in their mobilizations in Luneta, Mendiola, EDSA Shrine, and at the People Power Monument — “litisin na si VP Sara Duterte!”

The Filipino people have been aware of the long-drawn out monstrous mess the country is suffering from, since Sara’s father, ICC jailbird Rodrigo, was installed as president in 2016. 

And continuing still, perhaps as a bigger mess, with a chaotic wasteful struggle for power in the Senate. 

When will the Bongbong-Sara tandem resolve the massive social injustices and human rights violations nationwide?! Hopeless?!

PH Press Under Attack in Many Ways 

Rose de la Cruz
-
0
PH Press Under Attack in Many Ways 

THERE are no obvious signs of press censorship, as was the case during the time of the late strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos, the sitting president’s father, during Martial Law. 

However, journalists who are supposed to report news end up being the news — killed in line of work, incidence of which peaked during the previous administrations. 

And this is why, the Philippine press freedom situation remains a suspect insofar as UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan is concerned. In her recent 18-page report, Khan said that freedom of expression is “under attack in multiple ways,” with various states, including the Philippines, increasingly weaponizing speech, criminalizing dissent and restricting access to digital spaces.

A leading media group has weighed in on Khan’s report—particularly as it cited the case of detained journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio—and noted that Philippine laws have also been weaponized against rights advocates and press freedom, the Inquirer reported.

Khan, who will soon end her tenure as UN special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, submitted her 18-page final report to the UN Human Rights Council last week.

She cited the case of Cumpio as she noted how the use of national security, counterterrorism, and similar laws to prosecute the legitimate exercise of freedom of expression has intensified.

STATE RED-TAGGING 

“In the Philippines, ‘terrorism financing’ laws have been used against many journalists and human rights defenders, in one case dragging out legal proceedings for five years on dubious evidence while the journalist languished in pretrial detention and eventually received a disproportionately severe punishment,” Khan said without mentioning the Tacloban-based journalist by name, the Inquirer added.

Detained since their arrest on Feb. 7, 2020, Cumpio, a community journalist, and human rights advocate Marielle Domequil were convicted in January for financing terrorism and sentenced to imprisonment of 12 to 18 years.

The pair, however, have remained behind bars even while their case is under appeal after the Tacloban court denied their bail petition.

During an official visit to the Philippines in 2024 to evaluate the freedom of expression situation in the country, Khan was allowed to meet with Cumpio, Domequil and Alexander Philip Abinguna, another detained human rights advocate, at the Tacloban City Jail.

Khan said their cases underscored the human impact of “Red-tagging” and “a deficient process that provides limited avenues for recourse.”

“The three young adults, who were involved in community journalism, environmental reporting and humanitarian work, were Red-tagged for their civic activism before being arrested and detained for their alleged affiliation with the Communist Party of the Philippines and/or the New People’s Army,” she said in a 2025 report.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

In a press statement following her final report, Khan also said freedom of expression is “shrinking dramatically” as governments rely on emerging technologies to stifle dissent while major digital platforms manipulate online information for profit.

“Freedom of opinion and expression, a fundamental inalienable human right, has been privatized, monetized, manipulated and unlawfully restricted,” she said.

The digital revolution, she said, has brought major benefits but at the price of rising social costs, harming women through online violence, endangering children via artificial intelligence (AI), undermining journalists’ livelihoods, and weakening public opinion through misinformation and hate.

“AI is running amok. From the highly political to the deeply personal, nothing is out of bounds for new technologies. Innovation at speed with no guardrails is a recipe for disaster,” Khan said.

She observed that some governments deploy AI-powered automated bot networks to disseminate disinformation, hate speech and incitements to violence.

For example, her report said, Canada’s rapid response mechanism found six AI chatbots that amplified leaked personal data of five journalists targeted in a “hack-and-leak” operation linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Khan in a press conference on Thursday divulged some recommendations in dealing with issues concerning freedom of expression. First, the need for “coalitions of multistakeholders, not just of governments themselves.”

“Secondly, I’m asking for strengthening of institutions, institutional counterweights, as I put it, and that’s particularly of regulation that is rooted in human rights law,” she said.

Rather than imposing excessive rules, governments should adopt smart regulation based on international human rights law and ensure regulators can operate independently without political interference.

“And also to look at how to reduce the monopoly—the monopoly that in the digital sector, the reliance on large companies must be broken. That must become a priority,” Khan stressed.

She urged that governments must foster an environment where independent, diverse, and pluralistic media can thrive, warning that such conditions are disappearing.

“The diversity and pluralism of the media is disappearing. That needs to be brought back because, as you know, the media is a very important pillar of democracy,” she said.

NUJP REACTION

In a statement, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) thanked Khan for reiterating in her final report how “terrorism financing laws in the Philippines have been used against many journalists and human rights defenders” and for citing the case of Cumpio and Domequil, Inquirer added.

“While many cases against human rights defenders have been dismissed for lack of evidence, it is clear that anti-terror laws are wielded by the Philippine government to silence critical voices. It is high time to assess the impacts of these laws on the exercise of fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and opinion,” the group said.

The NUJP agreed with Khan’s observations about the collusion between governments and technology oligarchs to repress free speech and spread hate.

“Human rights defenders and journalists have been calling on Meta to regulate posts red-tagging individuals and organizations, but to no avail,” it said.

The NUJP also noted how the Marcos administration has refused to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict(NTF-ELCAC), which, together with state security forces, “continue to red-tag journalists and activists, ignoring the Supreme Court jurisprudence declaring red-tagging as a “threat to life, liberty and security.”

The group urged the government to implement Khan’s recommendations following her 2024 visit, including the decriminalization of libel, passage of a freedom of information law, a clear-cut policy against Red-tagging and a review of anti-terror laws, the Inquirer concluded.

Tighter School Security After Tacloban Shooting

Rose de la Cruz
-
0
Tighter School Security After Tacloban Shooting

THE RECENT shooting inside the San Jose National High School  in Tacloban on Monday, triggered a call to implement tighter security measures in educational institutions starting with bag inspections of students, employees and teachers to prevent a repeat of the crime that killed four and injured 20 students, 15 of them for gunshot wounds.

Some colleges and universities have also tightened security protocols. 

Police have arrested two minors aged 14 and 15, but Sen. Francisco Pangilinan warned against releasing them and perhaps even getting their parents in custody.

A report by Reuters said the suspects opened fire at a school, and one of them was arrested soon after the shooting while the other suspect surrendered to police. 

TOO MUCH RAGE

Police said the suspects used a 9mm Glock pistol and a caliber 38 revolver, but it remains unclear how they obtained the firearms. Police said 40 empty shells were recovered from the crime scene, Reuters added.

Col. Allen Rae Co, the Philippine National Police spokesperson, said the pistol was issued to a female cop now under investigation and has since been placed under regional police custody, while the revolver is registered to a security agency based in Cebu City.

School shootings are rare in the Philippines, which has relatively strict gun ownership regulations, including background checks and psychological evaluation requirements, though illegal firearms remain in circulation.

The shooting occurred weeks after schools in the Philippines reopened following a months-long break.

Both suspects have been turned over to social welfare authorities. Initial interviews indicated the two were allegedly bullied since they were in seventh grade.

“Initially, the motive of the crime is a grudge related to school bullying,” Co told reporters.

THOROUGH PROBE

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, expressing sadness over the incident, ordered a thorough investigation and directed authorities to ensure safety and security in public places, especially schools.

Police said the victims have been transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment, while additional personnel have been deployed at the school to ensure the safety of students, staff, parents, and the surrounding community.

Reuters recalled that in July 2022, a gunman opened fire at an Ateneo de Manila University law school graduation ceremony in Quezon City, killing three people, including former Lamitan City mayor Rose Furigay.

Lt. Col. Analiza Armeza, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office-8 (PRO-8), said all injured victims, particularly those firearm-related, are currently confined in various hospitals, reported the Inquirer.

MINOR SUSPECTS

Meanwhile, the two minor suspects, aged 14 and 15, have been placed under the custody of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) while police continue their investigation.

They were turned over to the CSWDO yesterday at about 2 p.m., but the police continue the processing and documentation,” Armeza said.

The suspects, both students of San Jose National High School and enrolled in Grades 9 and 10, allegedly carried out the attack inside the school campus on Monday at about 9:20 a.m.

The shooting incident left four students dead, making it the deadliest school-related attack recorded in Eastern Visayas, if not in the entire country.

Authorities have yet to establish the motive behind the attack. Investigators are continuing to gather evidence and interview witnesses as part of the ongoing probe.

TIGHTER SECURITY

San Jose National High School, one of the largest public secondary schools in Tacloban City, has a student population of over 1,600 and over 110 teaching personnel.

The tragedy has prompted calls from government agencies and local officials for tighter security measures in schools, including increased visibility of barangay watchmen.

Updated reports said the fatality count rose to four based on reports of the Philippine Red Cross teams at local hospitals checking on the young learners who have sustained injuries.

“Our team is making sure their safety, welfare, and immediate needs are being taken care of,” the PRC said.

On Tuesday, the PRC teams will coordinate directly with the local government unit and deploy to hospitals and funeral parlors to continuously support wounded survivors and bereaved families.

FIRST RESPONDERS

Moments after the shooting incident, the PRC immediately mobilized its ambulance units and psychosocial support teams to provide urgent assistance to affected students, families, and school personnel.

The PRC Leyte Chapter also deployed an ambulance team with three responders, along with welfare volunteers who provided Psychological First Aid (PFA) on-site to those affected. 

The emergency response teams, equipped with ambulance services, immediately provided on-site care and treated injured students before transporting or referring them for further medical attention as needed. 

A total of 28 individuals—including students, parents, and members of the school community—received psychosocial support, while four others were treated for abrasions and hyperventilation due to panic and distress.

PRC welfare volunteers continue to visit hospitals to support confined students, assess further humanitarian needs, and coordinate with hospitals for possible blood requirements and assistance for affected families. Security measures were also reinforced in coordination with authorities to help manage the scene and ensure the safety of students, responders, and school personnel.

PATTERN OF VIOLENCE

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon expressed deep sadness over the incident and condoled with the victims’ families as well as extended support for those recovering from injuries and trauma.

“This is a heartbreaking incident, especially because it involved young people in a place where they should feel safe and protected,” Gordon said.

He also raised concern over a series of recent violent incidents in schools within the week, stressing that schools must remain safe spaces for children. 

“We are seeing a worrying pattern of violence involving students inside school grounds… Schools are meant to be places of learning, protection, and development—not fear and harm,” he said.

Gordon called on concerned agencies to strengthen school security, improve perimeter protection, regulate campus entry and exit, and ensure the presence of guidance counselors and adequate mental health support in all schools. 

The PRC stands with the Department of Education and other concerned agencies in ensuring the safety, protection, and welfare of students. 

Symbiosis of Teaching Theater Arts to BCAEd Studes

Boy Villasanta
-
1
Symbiosis of Teaching Theater Arts to BCAEd Studes

THERE IS A new course in college formulated, introduced, implemented and established by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)—Bachelor of Culture in Arts Education (BCAEd).

It’s been my third season teaching Theater Arts to BCAEd students at the Leon Guinto Memorial College (LGMC) in Atimonan, Quezon.

This year, my teaching schedule is as is–that of the two former timetables—from 1 to 5 pm on Saturdays and 8 am to 12 noon on Sundays that started on May 25 to June 28, 2026.

The department has fused the one-hour class per day on four (4) weekdays in a regular semester to one-day classes in four (4) hours this summer.

You might think I am hectic but I am indeed. As a multimedia practitioner, I write entertainment and lifestyle news, features and columns in various print and online publications.

I also edit movie pages of broadsheets and tabloids.

I conceptualize film projects as well.

Bakbakan: PH Action Movies

I also write books on the side although it’s taking a backseat at the moment but I have already started the first draft of my next title, “Bakbakan: Action Movies in the Philippines.”

Distance and all considered, I live in San Pedro City in Laguna Province so as much as possible I go to Atimonan or straight to my town in Lopez (more than an hour land travel by public transports to and from Atimonan) on Fridays so that I could make it at 1 pm the next day or if I have some pressing commitments on weekdays especially Fridays in Manila, I wake up as early as 5 am despite going to bed late and spring up in to get to Atimonan to make it to the classes before one o’clock in the afternoon.

Or if I have the luxury of time, I see to it that I sleep in Lopez on Saturday nights to get up early to catch up with my early morning sked the following day or I stay longer in Lopez for days far and between to fulfill my teaching obligations with LGMC at its beck and call.

All the rides from the big city to Quezon and back, mind you, I take public vehicles so you could imagine my hide and seek or car chase with them.

Never mind as long as I enjoy what I’m doing.

No. It’s not the agony of long trips but the excitement of teaching the arts.

In my classes, I combine the theoretical and practical sides of the discipline and my students apparently love them.

Theater of the Absurd

After discussing, for instance, the pre-Hispanic theater in the Philippines which was mostly rituals done in chanting or dancing and lecturing on the artistic and theatrical trends from the classical drama of Greece and the Roman tradition of tragedy and comedy to the renaissance period, to realism, to naturalism, to impressionism, to expressionism, to modern drama like the Theater of the Absurd or Theater of Cruelty to post and post-post-modern genres like shock theater, I give the students as work shoppers exercises in basic acting, directing, playwriting, stage management etc.

Various dramaturgies and approaches are applied as well.

There are, of course, PETA’s butaw where a total abandonment of oneself, especially the baggage of the psyche or angst is released, Repertory Philippines (Rep)’s ala-Broadway form and experience, Kyrus theater module etc.

I also invite speakers or resource persons theater to diversify and dimensionalize the many epistemological and the experiential or empirical world of the stage.

Dennis Marasigan, Madeleine Nicolas, Joel Saracho et al

I have in my list the past online and face-to-face guests, namely Vice-President and Artistic Director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines Dennis Marasigan; veteran TV, movie and stage artist Madeleine Nicolas; progressive thespians Bibeth Orteza and Joel Saracho; Chairman of the Komisyon sa Wikang Pilipino (KWP) and theater artist Arthur P. Casanova and Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) alumnus and entertainment editor Art Tapalla.

Three weeks ago, I tagged along to LGMC Lopez, Quezon community-based theater org DUMALO (Dulaang Don Mateo Lopez)’s Artistic Director Sidney Dalanon who also came back last week and two weeks hence, I requested the physical presence of visual artist, filmmaker, teacher and polymath Bon Labora and actor, action director and current dead ringer, billed as Bruce Lee of the Philippines Vic Tiro to conduct a theater seminar of sort.

These people have contributed new perspectives and additional knowledge on theater as practitioners and performers.

Cecile Guidote or Zenaida Amador

We have discussed a number of theater visionaries like Cecil Guidote-Alvarez, founder of PETA or Zenaida “Bibot” Amador, founder of Rep, foreign acting legends and coaches like Konstantin Stanislavski, Eric Morris, Stella Adler, Lee Strasberg or the contemporary Philippine theater exponents like the late Rolando S. Tinio, Tony Espejo, National Artists for Theater Severino Montano and Tony Mabesa, Orlando R. Nadres and the live and kicking Nicanor G. Tiongson, Rody Vera, Nicholas Pichay, Frank G. Rivera, Dexter Santos, Frannie Zamora, Vince Tanada, among many, many others.

In my exchanges of ideas with the BCAEd students, I love their inquisitiveness.

It challenges my theater arts education as I am a Master of Arts (MA) degree holder in Drama Education and Theater Arts (DETA) from PNU.

I am glad my teaching the course is symbiotic.

The students learn from me as they profess and I also learn from them as we dig deeper about the prospects of the comprehensiveness of the discipline and the complexities of life in various realms as sources of narratives of plays in whatever genre.

Piolo, Derrick Both Ibarras

BCAEd students are also attentive if I tell stories about pop stars embarking on theater works like Piolo Pascual’s baptism fire in musical theater in Una Obra Productions’ “Ibarra” or the same company’s staging of the currently showing reprise of Piolo’s starrer, the revised “Ibarra Ngayon” with GMA Network’s Derrick Monasterio as the titular lead.

I also told them about the late National Artist for Film and Broadcast Nora Aunor’s stage appearances in PETA’s “Minsa’y Isang Gamu-Gamo” and “DH” and Dulaang Balintataw’s “Ang mga Babae ng Troheya,” a Filipino translation of Euripides’ “The Trojan Women” which were all box-office hits.

And the still performing Virgin Labfest XXI at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez where Angel Aquino, Jackie Lou Blanco, Iana Bernardez, Banaue Miclat etc. are pitted with each of their thespic talents in director Mara Paulina Marasigan and playwright Gab Mactal’s “Lualhati” or Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, Rafa Siguion-Reyna, Dennis Marasigan etc. in director Ron Capinding and writer Dustin Celestino’s “Elehiya” or Mosang and Christian Bables in director Tuxqs Rotaquio and scriptwriter John “Sweet” Lapus’ “Taksyapol,” among many others.

In my stint as mentor, I am always reminded by theater master Chris Millado who has been encouraging arts students, particularly provincial or regional creative artists to adapt and enhance local tales as materials for stage production.

I am proud to say that my current BCAEd Theater Arts students are finally making a stage adaptation of Atimonan’s folklore of the mermaids, one of their images ubiquitously perched on giant boulders (I was told by one of my students that there are also sculpted sineras in three other corners of Lamon Bay) along the coastal road of the Maharlika Highway near the boundary of Atimonan and Plaridel, formerly Siain town.

Another local color to be translated onstage as a culminating activity by the TA majors on June 27, 2026 at 1 pm at the auditorium of the LGMC Admin Building is the theater adaptation of Atimonan’s sentinel against aggressors of the town, Iskong Bantay, a moniker of Francisco Tandas, head of the town in the 16th century.

They are only two of the original versions of the community’s history.

Who knows these folklores can be expanded and refined as national theaters worthy of symbiosis between the stage players and the spectators.

Alarming Inflation Risk Brewing in the 2nd Half

Rose de la Cruz
-
0
Alarming Inflation Risk Brewing in the 2nd Half

MOODY’S ANALYTICS projects a tougher fight on inflationary risks in the second half from the war-driven energy shocks and the developing El Niño pattern that would drastically affect farming and fishing.

It said that the Asia Pacific region must brace for tougher economic conditions in the second half of the year, with the Philippines facing even heavier inflation risks amid the looming El Niño season.

In a June 18  commentary published by Business World, Moody’s Analytics Assistant Director and Economist Sarah Tan noted that the Philippines was one of the hardest-hit by inflation pressures from the war-driven energy shocks.

“The Philippines has experienced some of the strongest pass-through, with transport and utility costs pushing inflation well above the central bank’s target range,” she said.

Headline inflation came in at 6.8% in May, marking the third month in a row that inflation breached the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 2%-4% target and bringing the five-month average to 4.5%. 

Pump price rollbacks during the month helped lower transport costs, which allowed the headline clip to recover from the over three-year high of 7.2% in April.

Several analysts have noted that the latest reading signals that the worst may be over for the Philippines’ inflation environment.

However, Moody’s Analytics said the Philippines is highly exposed to food-related risks once the upcoming El Niño season takes shape.

“Another risk to watch is the developing El Niño weather pattern, which looks set to bring hotter and drier conditions to much of Asia in the second half of the year,”  Tan said, adding that  “lower rainfall could reduce crop yields and tighten food supplies, pushing food prices higher.”

She noted that the last El Niño phenomenon in late 2023 to early 2024 drove food inflation higher in the Philippines, India and Indonesia.

The country is expected to encounter a “strong” El Niño season from September to November, and potentially a “very strong” one between October and January next year, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

PAGASA also reported earlier this month that El Niño conditions are now present in the tropical Pacific, saying there is an 80% chance that it will become a full-blown El Niño.

This means the Philippines could suffer back-to-back shocks as high food prices from weather disturbances will compound the impact of the recent energy shock from the Middle East war on commodity prices.

“Coming on top of the recent energy shock, a bout of food price inflation would complicate the outlook for growth and monetary policy,” said Tan.

Moody’s Analytics sees Asia-Pacific’s gross domestic product growth weakening to 4.1% this year, slower than the 4.3% expansion last year but slightly faster than its previous 4% forecast for the year.

For 2027, it expects the region’s growth to slow further to 3.6%.

Tan also projected that the region may encounter higher-for-longer inflation rates as the impact of the energy crisis will likely linger in affected economies.

“The challenge is that inflation often proves stickier on the way down than on the way up,” she said. “Businesses are quicker to pass on cost increases than to pass on cost savings.”

“Even if commodity prices stabilize, the recent energy shock could keep inflation elevated for longer than policymakers expect,” she added.

According to the BSP, Philippine inflation may average 6.4% this year, before easing to 4.5% next year and back to its target range in 2028 at 3.1%.

“Rising inflation is making it harder for policymakers to support growth,” Tan said.

 “With geopolitical tensions still elevated and El Niño threatening another inflation shock, the balance of risks remains tilted to the downside,” she quipped.

Green Energy Auction Postponed Anew

Rose de la Cruz
-
0
Green Energy Auction Postponed Anew

WITH FUEL prices abroad dipping with the opening of the Strait of Hormuz that has eased the supply situation globally, the Philippines, which earlier conceived of a waste-to-energy initiative that could have benefitted the country in two ways, suspended the program indefinitely without explaining why.

The waste to energy program– which is part of the green energy auction of the Department of Energy– could have reduced the overflowing dumpsites of the country and prevent the trashslides which have been increasing in frequency and intensity this year– and it could have reduced the country’s dependence on imported fuel thus saving precious dollar reserves for fuel importation.

The DoE said it suspended activities regarding the special green energy auction (GEA) for waste-to-energy (WTE), which had been set to offer 230 megawatts (MW) of capacity, reported Business World..

DoE Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella, who chairs the GEA-Bids Evaluation and Awards Committee, notified participants in an advisory that the activities and proceedings under the special auction round have been “put on hold until further notice.”

While the DoE did not give a reason for the suspension, the advisory was issued on the same day as the evaluation of registration documents on June 17 following the 23-day registration period.

Weeks earlier, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) had issued a final green energy auction reserve (GEAR) price for WTE.

In a resolution released on May 22, the ERC set the GEAR price at P9.2959 per kilowatt-hour, (kWh) which is higher than the rate initially proposed by the regulator at P8.0167 per kWh.

The ceiling price, or the green energy auction reserve (GEAR) price, serves as the maximum price in pesos per kWh that will guide bidding during the auction.

Launched on Dec. 30, 2025, the auction round is dedicated to pioneer biomass WTE projects, which are classified as baseload facilities. The technology converts waste materials into electricity.

“The initiative aims to reduce landfill dependency, divert residual municipal waste from disposal sites, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from waste decomposition, and promote sustainable waste management practices while recovering usable energy from non-recyclable waste streams,” the DoE said.

The government launched a 10-year green energy program that will offer at least 25 gigawatts of additional renewable energy capacity through annual competitive auctions.

It hopes to scale up the country’s renewable energy portfolio to meet national targets of 35% renewable energy share by 2030 and 50% by 2040.

The problem with waste to energy programs and other fuel-saving initiatives is that it is pushed when the crisis exists and then shelved with an apparent easing of fuel supply conditions. There is no definite plan to reduce the country’s dependency on imported fuel for the energy sector at all. Everything is lip service.

Neither is there a concrete long term plan to reduce the garbage stockpile problem when dumpsites have reached their carrying capacities. We just wait for accidents and tragedies to happen.

Hopeless case.

Marcos’ Rating Lowest Since March 2010

Rose de la Cruz
-
0
Marcos’ Rating Lowest Since March 2010

THE MARCOS ADMINISTRATION got the lowest net satisfaction rating in the March 24-31 survey of Social Weather Station of minus 13 points considered “poor,” a sharp 27-point drop from the “moderate” +14 recorded in November 2025.

This score is on account of dismal performance in fighting inflation (-15), ensuring that oil companies do not take advantage of oil prices (-12), and eradicating graft and corruption in government (-10).

The survey found that 32 percent of adult Filipinos were satisfied with the administration’s overall performance, while 46 percent were dissatisfied and 21 percent were undecided.

“This is a record-low for the Marcos Jr. administration, and the lowest in 16 years since the bad -45 in March 2010 under the Arroyo administration,” SWS said in its report released on June 19, the Manila Bulletin said.

Despite the decline in its overall rating, the administration continued to receive positive assessments in several governance areas.

Among 19 subjects evaluated, the government received its highest rating for improving the quality of children’s education, earning a “very good” net satisfaction score of +52.

It posted “good” ratings for helping the poor (+45), implementing housing programs for the poor (+45), creating policies that generate job opportunities (+42), developing science and technology (+40), and ensuring food security (+32).

The administration received “moderate” ratings for defending Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea (+27), providing information needed by citizens to evaluate government projects (+26), telling the truth to people (+24), ensuring an efficient public transportation system (+24), taking care of Filipinos in Middle East danger zones (+21), and ensuring that no family will ever be hungry nor have nothing to eat (+12).

However, respondents gave the government “poor” marks on several economic concerns.

The administration also received “neutral” ratings for prosecuting tax evaders (net zero), collecting taxes (-4), generating solutions to rising oil prices (-5), and fighting crimes that victimize ordinary citizens (-7).

The First Quarter 2026 Social Weather Survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults nationwide.

The survey had sampling error margins of ±3 percentage points for national estimates, ±4 points for Balance Luzon, and ±6 points each for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The SWS measures presidential satisfaction ratings using a standard, face-to-face diagnostic question asking respondents if they are satisfied or dissatisfied with the president’s general performance.

The exact, translated core question on presidential performance is: “Sa inyong palagay, kayo ba ay lubos na nasisiyahan (very satisfied), medyo nasisiyahan (somewhat satisfied), hindi tiyak kung nasisiyahan o hindi (undecided), medyo hindi nasisiyahan (somewhat dissatisfied), o lubos na hindi nasisiyahan (very dissatisfied) sa performance ni Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. sa kanyang panunungkulan bilang Presidente ng Pilipinas?”

Based on the responses, the SWS draws three key metrics:

Gross Satisfaction: The combined percentage of respondents who are very satisfied and somewhat satisfied.

Gross Dissatisfaction: The combined percentage of respondents who are somewhat dissatisfied and very dissatisfied.

Net Satisfaction: The standard metric used by SWS. It is calculated by subtracting the

Gross Dissatisfaction percentage from the Gross Satisfaction percentage (i.e., % Satisfied – % Dissatisfied).

The survey company also administers modular questions about specific national concerns like addressing inflation, eradicating corruption, poverty reduction efforts, wage and job creation and handling the economy]

“This is a record-low for the Marcos Jr. administration, and the lowest in 16 years since the bad -45 in March 2010 under the Arroyo administration,” SWS said in its report.

123...81Page 1 of 81

ABOUT US

The Ph INSIDER is a bi-monthly newsmagazine by the Amihan Media Group. The Ph INSIDER is a newsmagazine that brings to readers well thought-out articles, opinion pieces, commentaries, profiles, informative news features, and more. All materials are copyrighted.

Contact us: talktous@thephinsider.net

FOLLOW US

© 2025 The PH Insider