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Tiffany Geluz With rising sea levels and extreme absurd weather, where will climate refugees go? The Philippines is taking a significant step towards becoming a haven for climate migrants with House Bill 10490. This bill, also known as the Act Amending Section 47 of Commonwealth Act 613 ( the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940) , proposes an amendment empowering the president to grant refuge to foreign nationals displaced by climate change. It seeks to add a new paragraph to Section 47 (c) of the Immigration Act that would authorize the president to admit “environmental immigrants” from low-lying Pacific island nations seeking protection from climate change-related harm.  Currently, the Act only allows refugees to be admitted for religious, political or racial reasons. House Bill 10490 is championed by a group of representatives, including Edcel Lagman Sr. (Albay, 1st District), Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd District), Ziaur-Rahman Alonto-Adiong (Lanao del Sur, 1st District), Samu...

Allen Dominic Sacristan The Republic Act (RA) 12006, or the Free College Entrance Exam Act, which aims to make college education more accessible for qualified students, has been enacted into law. Photos Courtesy of INQUIRER/PhilStar/Canva. It requires all private higher education institutions (HEIs) to waive qualified students' college entrance examination fees and charges for college admission. Lawmakers have hailed the act's enactment, with Senate President Chiz Escudero emphasizing its potential to create a more equitable and inclusive education. “RA 12006 stands as a testament to the power of Executive-Legislative collaboration and the unwavering dedication to providing quality education for all,” Escudero said. House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez expressed his support for the law, highlighting its role in making education equitable and accessible in the country. “The passage of this law reflects our commitment to making education accessible to all,”  Romuldez...

Manila, Philippines – Dive into the intricate world of consumer behavior and marketing ethics at the highly anticipated seminar, "Inside Out: Decoding Consumer Psychology and Marketing Ethics." This event promises to be an enlightening journey for marketing professionals and students alike. Scheduled for June 29, 2024 (Saturday) from 1:00 PM to  5:00 PM at the PUP Theater and streamed live via the 1Nnovision Production Official Facebook page, the event will delve into the "Deserve ko ‘to" trend, exploring its influence on consumer psychology and purchasing behaviors, and offering strategies to engage key consumer segments effectively. This seminar is more than just an exploration of consumer trends, it is a comprehensive guide to understanding the emotional triggers behind buying decisions. Attendees will gain insights into the psychology of entitlement, self-esteem, and gratification, learning how these factors drive consumer behavior. The event will also exam...

Jodie Louise Dayrit The internet is once again filled with hundreds of rainbow-themed pub mats to celebrate the month of pride starting on the first day of June. Different organizations and companies pitch in, and the LGBTQIA+ community’s time has finally come to celebrate their identity, commemorate discrimination victims, amplify voices, and fight for equality. Pride is a protest born from the Stonewall Riots. However, this celebration is not without the multibillionaire companies using this once-in-a-year opportunity to profit from the community, splashing a glimpse of the rainbow into everything from the colors of their logos to their products; thus, rainbow capitalism.  Rainbow capitalism, also known as pink capitalism, refers to businesses capitalizing off pride—a time dedicated to celebrating and demanding rights and protection for the queer community.  And for what? Profit. Large corporations commercializing a minority group is a clear manifestation of exploitation. In...

Gab Ibis Filipinos now face a new health threat as the rare and fatal streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) has been detected in the Philippines.  In an interview with Super Radyo DZBB on June 27, infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante confirmed the presence of STSS cases in the country. Photos Courtesy of Medical News Today/Kingwood ER/Tua Saúde. Elaborating on the infection's progression, the bacteria could enter through a wound and spread into the bloodstream, leading to tissue necrosis, or the peeling of the layers of tissue. “Flesh-eating kasi ‘yung sugat na 'yan, ang bilis niyang lumalaki na nangingitim so parang kinakain na rin siya. Parang ‘yung area kung saan ‘yung sugat, lumalaki, lumalago tapos namumula, nangingitim,” he said, describing the aggressive nature of the infection. STSS is a severe infection caused by Streptococcus pyogenes Group A, the same bacteria responsible for pharyngitis or inflammation of the pharynx. It can invade deeper tissues and ...

Shawne Marion Manalo Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday led a Senate probe into the possibility of identity theft by Suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo. Photos Courtesy of Marian Bermudez/INQUIRER/Sherwin Gatchalian/Risa Hontiveros. The investigation centered on discovering another individual named “Alice Leal Guo” in the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) database. This individual shares the same name and birthdate, July 12, 1986, as the suspended mayor Guo but appears to be a different person.  Further discrepancies were discovered when existing records from the Special Investment Resident’s Visa identified the suspended mayor by her Chinese name, Guo Hua Ping, with a birthdate of August 31, 1990, in China.  She arrived in the Philippines at 13 and is the daughter of Lin Wen Yi and a Chinese man. This contradicts Guo’s previous statements in hearings and investigations, where she claimed to be the love child of her father and a housemaid, and she was raised on ...

Sean Emmanuel Florendo Multiple members of the Duterte family plan to run for the 2025 elections, Vice President Sara Duterte announced on Tuesday. Photos Courtesy of The Independent/Edge Davao/The Manila Times. Former President Rodrigo Duterte, Davao 1st District Representative Paolo ‘Pulong’ Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte are all set to vie for Senate seats. “Lahat sila raring na tumakbo eh, si PRD (Rodrigo Duterte) ay senator, iyong kuya ko Si Paolo Congressman ngayon senator at si Sebastian Duterte,” she said in an ambush interview in Cagayan De Oro. She further disclosed that Baste plans to run for the presidency in 2028, while Sara herself is considering a return to the mayoral seat of Davao City. “Ang ingon sa akong mama magdagan ug Senador akong manghod si Baste, sya ang modagan ug President sa 2028,ang ingon sa akong mama mobalik daw ko sa Davao ug mayor,” the vice president added. (According to my mother, Baste will run for the Senate, then for the pre...

Gab Ibis Historic move. The 28th United Nations Climate Summit Conference of the Parties (COP28) deals with ending the long-reigning use of fuels as it slowly transitions to better-fared sustainable energy while accelerating climate action before 2030.  Photos Courtesy of Sean Gallup/Getty Images/Canva. Yet, the mandate of COP28 falls short of the urgent, explicit commitments needed to stave off catastrophic climate change. With no sign of a halt, climate change remains one of the most challenging issues of human society. A decisive, binding agreement to transition to entirely phase out fossil fuels will suffice to address our crisis. In the Philippines, climate change is most seen by the increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. While experiencing a higher-than-average heat index due to El Niño, rainfall in several Philippines areas paints a different picture. Despite governments discerning the weight of climate change, several qualms still come from experts who say that t...

Moira Panganiban In the Philippines, the measure of how well a culture fits into popular culture is its ability to entertain. And what do most Filipinos find entertaining? It’s the drama! In his essay, “Four (Dis)Values in Filipino Drama and Film,” Filipino creative writer Nicanor Tiongson articulates the prevalent negative values that Filipinos usually encounter in watching entertainment shows:  maganda ang maputi (white is beautiful), masaya ang may palabas (shows are the best), mabuti  ang inaapi (hurrah for the underdog), and maganda pa ang daigdig (all is right with the world). He traced its roots to earlier forms of stage performances such as zarzuela , moro-moro , bodabil , and other well-known literary pieces during the occupation of the different colonizers in the country. While these principles–or disvalues as other people may want to call it—satisfy the entertainment needs of Filipino viewers, it also possess the potential to shape the viewers’ perception of the...

Cartoon by Daiven Monforte.

Shekinah Jedidiah M. Alima “Congratulations!” “You are qualified for admission to…” “You are granted a scholarship from…” After tassels were turned and medals were served, the real battle began – college life. The congratulatory messages are endless. It took over the vast world of social media in the blink of an eye as students passed by the season of Senior High School graduation. It marked a new endeavor to navigate, with the gray clouds of uncertainty and anxiety piling up on the minds of the youth.  For some, it is a field of daffodils with all their needs served on a silver platter, with getting admitted to not just one but multiple universities and bagging scholarships.  However, for others, it is a journey through pain. Rejections from dream schools, especially the top universities with low acceptance rates, can be a crushing blow. Highly competitive institutions in the Philippines according to independent metric-based ranking Edurank – which includes the University of ...

Kenjie-Aya Oyong Makalipas ang anim na taon, ipinagmamalaki kong nakapagtapos na ako ng sekondarya. Hindi ko maiwasang magmuni sa mga narating ko sa kabuuan ng aking buhay hayskul. Paano nga ba ako nakaabot sa puntong ito? Academic achiever, malayo ang narating, at sabi pa ng iba kong guro, “may iiwanang legasiya.” Sa unang tingin, masasabi kong dahil ito sa anim na taon kong pagsusumikap sa aking pag-aaral, pero may bahagi rin dito ang pagkakaroon ko ng sapat na pribilehiyo. At ang balanse ng dalawang iyon ang siyang susi upang makaangat sa buhay. Nang una akong umapak sa aking alma mater pagsapit ng high school, pansin ko na agad ang tila ba mga pribilehiyadong tao na magiging ka-batch ko noon: mayaman, nanggaling sa private school, at nag-e-enroll sa mga mathematics education programs. Idagdag pa na science high school ang pinasukan ko, lahat sa kanila ay magagaling at matatalino. Ang nasa isip ko noon, kailangan kong magsumikap nang magsumikap para makasabay ako sa kanila, kasi wal...

Shekinah Jedidiah M. Alima Lawmakers in the Philippines have filed a bill to offer greater protection to climate refugees in response to the growing threat of climate change, particularly rising sea levels in neighboring island nations. House Bill 10490 seeks to amend the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 to allow the admission of environmental migrants.  The bill is sponsored by Senate President Chiz Escudero, along with Representatives Edcel Lagman Sr. (Albay, 1st District), Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd District), Samuel Versoza (Tutok To Win Party-List), Ziaur Rahman Adiong (Lanao del Sur, 1st District), and Robert Ace Barbers (Surigao del Norte, 2nd District). The filing of the bill stemmed from the dire situation faced by Pacific Island nations like Kiribati, Vanuatu, and Fiji, which could be submerged by rising sea levels in the coming decade, and threaten to displace millions and create a global refugee crisis. “We come from the same Austronesian origins hence, they are our...

Shawne Marion Manalo President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved Executive Order (EO) 62 on June 20 to modify import tax rates on various products, including rice, to safeguard consumer supply flow. Photos Courtesy of Alfred Frias/NIB-PNA/Manila Bulletin. The EO will cut the tariff for rice from 35% to 15%, ultimately incentivizing foreign rice imports, until 2028. The National Economic and Development Authority Board will review these import tax rates every four months to ensure fair prices. This order is expected to stabilize market prices and address inflation concerns through foreign rice imports instead of local supply. In response to concerns about the impact on local farmers, the Department of Agriculture (DA) clarified its continued support for domestic farmers. “Again, ang priority pa rin natin ay local production,” DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said against impressions from netizens that Marcos is setting aside local farmers through the import tax cuts. Citing the esti...

Gab Ibis The Department of Health (DOH) announced its coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA) following the confirmation of the first case of Query fever in the Philippines. Photo Courtesy of Department of Agricuture/Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock. The zoonotic disease, traced to imported goats from the United States , was detected at a government breeding station in Marinduque. Dr. Christian Daquigan, the officer in charge of the BAI National Veterinary Quarantine Services Division, confirmed that 19 samples from the imported goats tested positive for Q fever after undergoing blood tests and genetic testing. “Even the goats that have not been tested were depopulated to eliminate any possible source of Q fever infection,” he said. The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has reported that all 94 imported goats housed in facilities in Pampanga and Marinduque have been culled to prevent the spread of the disease.  “BAI is taking decisive measures to contain the disease and...

Harvey Sabado Former Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo is considering running for mayor of Naga City, Camarines Sur, in the 2025 elections according to Albay Representative and Liberal Party President Edcel Lagman on Thursday. Photo Courtesy of Facebook/Atty. Leni Robredo. In an interview with News 5, Lagman revealed that Robredo’s decision to run is driven by her desire to continue the program initiated by her late husband Jesse Robredo. Jesse was a long-serving local chief executive of the said town and a former secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government. “Ang last namin na pag-uusap, siya ay tatakbo as a Mayor ng Naga City upang ipagpatuloy ang programa ng kanyang late husband [Jesse Robredo],” Lagman said.  “At siya naman ay sasama sa national campaign para sa senatorial slate ng Liberal Party at ang mga kaalyansa ng Liberal Party,” Lagman added.  Robredo's political career took a different turn after she lost to Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in th...