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Gab Ibis The connotation for ampalaya is that it is one of the most bitter additives in our cuisine—however, this bitter solution can help the dilemma of the ones who pay the price for enjoying too much “sweet” cake. The University of the Philippines (UP) Manila has developed an innovative ampalaya tablet, offering a new natural alternative in the battle against type 2 diabetes. Classified as an herbal medicine—unlike other ampalaya products that are marketed merely as supplements—this tablet has undergone extensive clinical trials and is approved by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Scientists and researchers at the Institute of Herbal Medicine (IHM), a unit of the National Institutes of Health of UP Manila, have shown that the ampalaya tablet effectively reduces blood sugar levels, making it a tantalizing medically validated solution. “Our research on the ampalaya tablet offers a natural alternative that could complement current treatments for managing this condition...

Erin Devanadera The Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil called for a revisition of the former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO official Wesley Barayuga murder case on Sept. 27, during a house quad committee hearing,  in accordance with new implicating evidence and conspiracies, which has been closed in 2020. Photo Courtesy of ABS-CBN News/abogado.com. The general was shot dead in July 2020 and reported to have been on his way home from the PCSO office in Mandaluyong City.  The case, as implied in the statement of Lieutenant Colonel Santie Mendoza, involved the alleged role of two high-ranking individuals known as NPC Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo and former police colonel Royina Garma as the leads for the orchestration of Barayuga’s murder.  In furthering the house hearing, Mendoza testified of Leonardo and Garma’s elicit transactions to eliminate Barayuga through several ways, including the former instructing him to carry out the or...

Dwayne Pelagio The Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) P733-million budget proposal will have a second round to defend itself - now in the House of Senate. Photo Courtesy of Rappler/ABS-CBN News. Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Sept. 29 in a DZBB interview that the House-approved budget of the OVP led by VP Sara Duterte could still increase or decrease during the upper chamber’s deliberations. “I haven’t seen (OVP’s) budget yet, to be honest. I will probably see that when Senator Grace (Poe) submits the committee report because I will definitely change it and it will change, either increase or decrease,” Escudero told dzBB in the interview. “My only reference point is the version that she will represent. That will go through the ordinary legislative process just like other departments, whose budgets will be cut or increased, and that will be discussed in plenary,” as Escudero explained the process of the deliberations. Escudero reiterated if someone wants to submit ...

Kristian Timothy Bautista   As the 2025 midterm elections come close, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) stands firm on strictly prohibiting premature campaigning in the 2025 midterm elections. However, as an everyday commuter, it puzzles me to see the number of tarpaulins, posters, and billboards of aspiring or incumbent politicians plastered all over the streets on my way to school.   Cartoon by Jascyl Jee Sayson. A simple scroll on social media would lead me to another Facebook advertisement sponsored by a well-known politician running for reelection. These blatant displays call into question the integrity of the election law and expose the loopholes that allow candidates to sidestep its intended purpose.   While Comelec states that premature campaigning rules will immediately apply to politicians once they file their certificates of candidacy for the midterm elections, an elective aspirant is only considered a “candidate” once the official campaign period starts, a...

Diane Joy Galos Rice is a staple in Filipino diets, but for those with diabetes, it can feel like a ticking time bomb.  However, Filipino scientists are cooking up a game-changing rice variety that could change the way we think about carbohydrates.      Researchers at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, Philippines, have partnered with institutions including the University of California, the Max Planck Institute, and Bulgaria’s Centre of Plant Systems Biology to create an innovative rice variety aimed at reducing diabetes. Using IRRI's rice gene bank, the team screened 380 seed samples over 10 years, focusing on genes linked to lower glycaemic index and higher protein content. This work resulted in a diabetes-friendly rice option. Over 537 million adults worldwide currently have diabetes, with numbers expected to reach 783 million by 2045. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form and occurs when the pancreas does n’t produce enough insulin, ...

Adi Joaquim Tolentino University of the Philippines Professor Rachel Khan has warned the media about the shortcomings of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its unreliability in information. Photo Courtesy of Philippine News Agency. During the National Information Summit held at the Development Academy of the Philippines in Tagaytay City on Sept. 28, 2024, Khan reminded the public that AI should be used with caution. “I am happy that PCO (Presidential Communication Office) is doing this. You’re looking at people using this information, recognizing the problem. I think it’s important also to discuss this with other information officers of agencies, precisely because even the relationship between the press and agencies doesn’t have to be adversarial,” she said. She emphasized some of the shortcomings of AI which are its lack of thinking and understanding, biases, and handling its tone. However, it can be also used to speed up production, and investigations, utilize archival content, gain kn...

Dwayne Pelagio Sagip party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta, a known Duterte ally, was removed from five House committees on Sept. 25 just before the lower chamber approved the P6.35-trillion 2025 budget on its third and final reading. Photo Courtesy of Rappler. Marcoleta was expelled from the powerful committee on appointments, and other 4 panels just before the 2025 budget was approved by the House. During the Sept. 25 plenary session, House Deputy Majority Leader Iloilo City Rep. Jam Baronda moved to nominate Manila Teachers party-list Rep. Virgilio Lacson to replace Marcoleta. “Mr. Speaker, on the part of the majority, I move to nominate and elect to the Commission on Appointments, to the Committee on Energy, to the Committee on Justice, to the Committee on Public Accounts and (the Committee on) Consti Amendments Representative Virgilio Lacson vice Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, so move,” Baronda said in the plenary session before the lower chamber starts its six-week recess. “Is the...

  Cartoon by Jankarl Velado.

Angeline Ashlee Marquez at Rinoa Kate Dela Cruz  “When we vote, we take back our power to choose, to speak up, and to stand with those who support us and each other.” - Loung Ung  Panibagong eleksyon, bagong kampanya na naman at mga tarpaulin ang lilitaw sa bawat sulok ng mga komunidad sa Pilipinas. Isa-isa na ring magsisilabasan ang mga paid advertisement at campaign jingle na tiyak ay gagawan pa ng dance challenge ng iilan. Ngunit sa kabila ng mga politikong nangangandidato para sa pagbabago, tila yata iisang mukha pa rin ang nakikita ng mga tao.  Kaya sa darating na 2025 elections, alamin ang iba’t ibang importansya ng pagboto. Tinta ng Bansa: Kasalukuyang Kalagayan ng Pilipinas Sa pagkakaroon ng mabilisang balik-tanaw pagdating sa mga naganap sa bansa sa loob ng mga nagdaang taon, mapapansin ang mga usaping ekonomiya, agrikultura, edukasyon, at seguridad ng bansa. Sa mga ito, lilitaw rin ang mga isyu kaugnay sa Charter Change, Repormang Agraryo, Pagpapalit ng kawa...

Dwayne Pelagio Chinese businessman Tony Yang was cited in contempt by the Quad Committee of the House of Representatives on Sept. 27 after he failed to answer questions by Sta. Rosa, Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez. Photo Courtesy of House of Representatives/Manila Standard. Fernandez asked Yang if he knew Chinese businessmen Allan Lim, who is allegedly his partner in his rice milling business in Cagayan de Oro. Yang, through translator Carol Batay, repeatedly denied that he knew Lim. Fernandez presented his rice mill business’ General Information Sheet (GIS) showing Lim is also part of the business. “Wala? Ayan pakita natin. Mr. Chairman, I’ll be citing this person in contempt [for] many times that he lied. Maliwanag na maliwanag sa GIS (general information sheet), diyan sa corporation, diyan sa rice milling corporation, ayan si Allan Lim, kasosyo mo,” Fernandez said, citing that Yang lied in his answer that he doesn’t know Lim.  Fernandez also asked if he knew Ricky Go, ...

Dwayne Pelagio Akbayan party-list will aim for a House seat in 2025 with a familiar face as its frontrunner. Photo Courtesy of Inquirer.net/Atty. Chel Diokno. Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno has been elected by the party-list as its first nominee on Sept 28 for the 2025 midterm elections. “It is an honor to represent Akbayan and push for its principles and buckle down on protecting the welfare of the Filipino people, upholding our democracy and holding the corrupt accountable,” Diokno said in a social media post. Diokno explained why he withdrew from the senatorial slate of the Liberal Party alongside former senators Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino. “From the beginning, we carefully examined all possible avenues to best serve our people. After thorough reflection, we determined that running under the party-list system is not only a principled choice but also the most pragmatic path to effectively confront the forces of corruption and injustice,” Diokno said in a statement. Diokno also s...

Gab Ibis With the West Philippine Sea (WPS) becoming an increasingly contentious region, the Philippines is ramping up its defense capabilities to safeguard its territorial integrity. Photo Courtesy of US Army Pacific. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. stressed the country's need for a robust missile defense system under the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC). This comes as the AFP intensifies its modernization efforts in response to evolving security threats, particularly those emanating from China’s aggressive actions in the disputed waters. Brawner specifically highlighted the United States’ Typhon Mid-Range Capability Missile System, currently deployed in northern Luzon, as a critical asset. Initially introduced in April during joint military exercises between Philippine and U.S. forces, the system was meant to be temporary. However, Brawner expressed his preference for keeping the missile system in the country permanentl...

Danniell Domingo Explosive information from a video documentary released by Al Jazeera, which featured a Chinese ‘spy’ tagging dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo in her involvement in a Chinese ‘espionage’, is yet to be validated said by the National Security Council official Jonathan Malay on Sept. 28. Photo Courtesy of Bombo Radyo CDO/The Philippine Star. She Zhijiang, who was recruited as a Chinese spy in the Philippines in 2016, gave Al Jazeera the dossier where it showed a woman named Guo Hua Ping, born in Fujian, China, which is near to a Chinese Communist Party office. The NSC Assistant Director General assured that the Philippines’ counter intelligence efforts are not exclusive to the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of State Security (PRC-MSS) spies, but also to all foreign spies illegally working in the Philippines. "Regarding the documentary on self-confessed MSS agent She Zhijiang, we have yet to validate the information mentioned considering that the person is not ...

Jonell Rhae Manalo Appointed Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, has increased the Vacation Service Credits (VSC) for public school teachers to 30 days on September 18. Photo Courtesy of The Philippine Star. The revision has made a significant increase in the annual VSC allocation for teachers with the DepEd Order No. 13, series of 2024, making them entitled to 30 VSCs annually, up from the previous limit of 15 by the DO No. 84 and 53, s. of 2003. Public school teachers with at least one year of service and newly hired teachers within four months of the school year qualify for this annual allocation, while newly hired teachers deployed more than four months after the start of the school year will receive 45 VSCs. The revised order allows teachers to earn 1.25 hours of VSC for every hour of service rendered beyond their regular work hours. For work performed during holidays, breaks, weekends, or suspensions, teachers will earn 1.5 VSC per hou...

Abdiel Franz Bernales During the budget hearings, Vice President Sara Duterte refused to take her oath, disrupting the intended purpose of the proceedings, which was to discuss and evaluate the proposed budget allocations for the Office of the Vice President, including an 8.05% increase for the 2025 budget.  Her refusal to answer questions and take her oath indicates that the oath represents a formal declaration of accountability and a commitment to truth—both essential for maintaining the integrity of government processes. The oath is not just a formality but a crucial step in establishing trust between government officials and the citizens they serve.  Misguided authority By declining to take her oath, Duterte indicated a disregard for procedural norms that promote transparency and accountability in public service, raising concerns among lawmakers and the public about her commitment to responsible governance. Consequently, her refusal undermines the credibility of the procee...

Mark Geoffrey Marmol Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac City Mayor Alice Guo on Sept. 27 has claimed herself not guilty after being accused by the Department of Justice (DOJ) of qualified human trafficking on September 17, according to her legal counsel Nicole Jamilla. Photo Courtesy of AFP/Al Jazeera. Guo made the plea during her arraignment at the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 167, where she attended via video conference. “We pleaded not guilty; ma’am pleaded not guilty to the crime alleged,” Jamilla said in an ambush interview at the Pasig City RTC. Guo’s co-accused, Walter Wong Long’s arraignment was suspended after his camp filed a motion to suspend the proceeding, arguing that he is not included in the preliminary investigation. Guo was also charged with a graft case before a Valenzuela court and two criminal investigations in tax evasion and money laundering. She bailed from the graft case in the Valenzuela City RTC on Sept. 20 but was not released by the authorities du...

Dwayne Pelagio Hezbollah confirmed on Sept. 28 that Hezbollah their leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed by Israeli airstrikes in the group’s alleged headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon. Photo Courtesy of Abaca Press/MIRA Safety. The militant group said in a statement that Nasrallah was a “sacred martyr,” and will continue the fight to confront the enemy, in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defense of Lebanon and its dearest people. Hezbollah-owned Al-Manar TV Channel switched to Quranic recitations for mourning. Hamas also released a statement mourning Nasrallah, holding Israel responsible for its “heinous crime and its dangerous repercussions” to regional stability. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) announced in X (formerly Twitter) that the Hezbollah leader has been killed and “will no longer be able to terrorize the world.” The IDF also said in their post that Israeli fighter jets targeted the headquarters of the militant group in the capital’s southern suburbs, also known as Dahi...

Gwyneth Perseveranda Police Lt. Col. Santi Mendoza, a member of Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-PDEG) identified former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Royina Garma as the mastermind of the execution of PCSO board secretary Wesley Barayuga. Photo Courtesy of RMN Networks/House of Representatives. Mendoza also revealed that National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo was involved in the plot to kill the PCSO official. At the seventh quad committee hearing on Sept. 27, the cop broke into tears as he recounted the events outlined on his affidavit, leading to Barayuga’s death. “Ako po ay nalinlang at napaniwala na ang ibinigay na tasking sa akin ay makatutulong laban sa droga. Subalit ito pala ay ginamit na kasangkapan para sa pansariling interes at masamang layunin,” Mendoza said. Mendoza also asserted to the quad comm that he was coerced to take the job out of fear for his life and his loved ones. According...

Andrea Celyn Hinojales Cold winds are approaching, puto bumbong is being prepared, and tunes of Jose Mari Chan’s Christmas carols are now echoing in the streets. As the first day of September marks, his face and songs would ring to welcome the Filipino Yuletide season as dubbed the “King of Christmas.” With his famous songs such as “Christmas in Our Hearts” and “A Perfect Christmas,” his carols are the perfect partner while eating Noche Buena with the family. His songs exude the importance of giving during Christmas and become a part of the Filipino culture. Nowadays, his image has been sensationalized on social media through memes. But contrary to the image of giving “Christmas” in Filipinos’ hearts, who would've thought that the singer behind the iconic holiday songs is a union-buster? Is Christmas Merry? In reality, Chan is far different from what society depicts him. To the victims of Central Azucarera de Bais (CAB) union-busting in 2004, he is the grinch who stole Christmas fr...