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Daniela Dizon, Aifer Jacutin, and Vito Bongco Lunar New Year, simply known as Chinese New Year, has become a colorful yearly celebration for  Chinese-influenced communities especially in the Philippines. It is the most significant festival in Chinese culture, marking the arrival of spring in the Chinese lunar calendar. Unlike the Gregorian New Year celebrated annually on January 1st, the date of the Lunar New Year differs each year as it follows the traditional Chinese calendar — which blends the solar, lunar, and other seasonal cycles. Traditionally, this celebration is a time to honor deities and ancestors. Over time, it has evolved into a season for feasting and visiting family members. The Lunar New Year is much deeper than we know. It is not a single-day celebration but can last up to 16 days. It requires extensive preparation to renew life, rituals, gatherings, and traditions. Before the Chinese New Year For 2025, the Chinese New Year falls on January 29. Preceding days ...

Joshua Villaabrille To address the classroom backlogs nationwide, the Department of Education (DepEd) strengthens its Adopt-A-School program, a public-private partnership that aims to deliver better quality education to students.  The program relies on donations from private sectors to improve their delivery of facilities and equipment in regional schools.  "Ang tinutulak natin ngayon is mag-PPP tayo, public-private partnerships. Ibig sabihin, malakihan, bulto-bulto, 1,000 classrooms. Magpapa-bid tayo ng isang libong school buildings at i-o-offer natin sa private sector na magko-construct," Education Secretary Sonny Angara said on his plan in building more classrooms.  DepEd’s PPP School Infrastructure Project (PSIP) Connect program eyes to start procuring digital hardware in May 2025 and is expected to be delivered by mid-2026 with private partners seeking digital tools that adheres to global standards through international connections.  Private partners also sugges...

Jerwen Del Cano and Vito Bongco The year 2025 is full of transformation and self-discovery. Much like a snake shedding its skin, this year symbolizes renewal, growth, and adaptability.  After all, life is about surviving as if rent is due, and it prepares us for what the future holds anew. Yet, whenever we feel uncertain about our future, we go beyond what’s written on the palm of our hands. Sometimes, we look up at the night sky for guidance to see what the universe has in store for us through the movement and alignment of the stars and the heavenly bodies. It is the practice of reading horoscopes, and it has long been acknowledged since the Mesopotamian era, which means it has been culturally significant for time immemorial. It may be far-fetched from science, but oftentimes, it is the placebo effect that reassures us what could be possible — much about living with positivity and believing that good things come to those who work for it.  These 2025 zodiac predictions are tho...

Dwayne Pelagio The Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara bared that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has found a way to solve the agency’s P10 billion budget cut for its 2025 computerization budget. Photo Courtesy of Philippine Daily Inquirer. Angara stated in an interview on Jan. 25 that Marcos texted him at 3:00 a.m. because he felt “sleepless” when he heard the cut. Angara didn’t specify the “solution” and stated that the computerization programs will continue despite the cut. The education secretary also met with the economic team composing of Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go on how to restore the DepEd's computerization funds. The meeting also tackled the budget of hiring of new teachers worth P1.billion and construction of classrooms w...

With Filipinos being known as excellent singers and artists, the musical ‘Kumawala sa Kawalan’ takes it into another dimension — unraveling Filipinos’ challenges and societal reality through acting, singing, and production. ‘Kumawala sa Kawalan,’ a musical produced and developed by Bachelor of Arts in Communication students from Mandaluyong College of Science and Technology, uses the concept of a “jeepney ride” to mirror Filipino societal problems. Interweaving artistry and advocacy, the musical shows both the artistic beauty of musicals and the impact of performance in advocating for social justice in the country. In the Philippines, “jeepneys” are not only a means of transportation but also a “stage where struggles of everyday Filipino[s] play out,” the musical's production team highlighted. The musical uncovers societal issues, such as “poverty, corruption, and inequality,” through jeepneys where each ride lets a passenger witness different lives on board — a representation of s...

Trisha Anne Segumban The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to reduce the number of core subjects in Senior High School (SHS) from 17 to around five or six starting 2025, while holding a series of consultations from January 24 to February 24, 2025, led by Regional Curriculum and Learning Management Division (CLMD) Chiefs.  Photo Courtesy of SunStar Philippines. Consultations held on January 8, 10, and 15 gathered 31 private schools, technical vocational institutions (TVIs), 14 companies, seven government agencies, and representatives from DepEd offices to gather feedback for aligning the SHS curriculum with industry needs, enhancing employability and supporting students’ specialized interests.  Refinement addresses concerns that the current curriculum does not fully equip SHS graduates with necessary skills for employment or further education.  DepEd’s Curriculum and Teaching (CT) Strand has conducted consultations with Curriculum and Human Resource officials and fiel...

Ryzz Denzyll Butiong Some bones refuse to be buried. In some cultures, green bones — the remnants that persist after the body is cremated — are thought to carry strange, potent luck. In the Filipino film Green Bones , these seem unlikely to offer salvation amidst the weight of grief, justice, and the relentless pull of a broken system — or do they? Winner of Best Picture at the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), the film at its core are two men: Xavier Gonzaga (Ruru Madrid) and Domingo Zamora (Dennis Trillo). Gonzaga, a young, principled police officer with a burning need for retribution, has just lost his sister to a brutal crime. The grief festers into obsession, and Zamora, a mute prisoner, seems an easy target for Gonzaga.  Gonzaga arrives at the facility in San Fabian, expecting a clear divide between black and white, only to find a world where the lines blur into gray and dissolve entirely. In San Fabian, right and wrong are constructs, flexible depending on who has pow...

Jamayka Rhose Pascual and Fernan Carigma As parents continue to feel the burden of rising school tuition fees, a house bill seeks to recommend skipping senior high school level, including grades 11 and 12 to hopefully help them reduce education costs. Photo Courtesy of PTV/Inquirer.net. House Bill (HB) 11213, called “An Act Providing Education Pathways for Basic Education Students,” aims to amend the current K-12 education system by allowing eligible students the option to skip their final two years of high school and go straight to college or a vocational training program instead.  The bill is designed to create more flexible education opportunities for students who will pass the Honor exam or advance placement examination for graduating Grade 10 learners. In 2022, a survey conducted by Pulse Asia revealed that 44% of Filipinos were "dissatisfied" with the K-12 program.  Additionally, a study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) in 2020 found that only ...

Jamayka Rhose Pascual The Bestlink College of the Philippines in Novaliches, Quezon City received backlash after students were forced to walk for almost 4 hours, and navigated kilometers of road in the dark due to logistical failures during a school-organized trip in Bataan. Photo Courtesy of Facebook. The trip, meant to celebrate the college’s founding anniversary, took place at a resort in Hermosa, Bataan, took a drastic turn due to alleged poor planning and lack of proper transportation arrangements. Students reportedly walked for approximately three hours through unlit roads after their buses were stationed in other Barangays too far from the event venue. The roads to the venue were reportedly narrow and bumpy, making it difficult for their buses to travel and caused traffic around the area. With around 30,000 participants from senior high school to college, students allegedly suffered from hunger and lack of proper accomodation in the resort.  Students recall ‘traumatizing’ ex...

Fernan Carigma and Jamayka Rhose Pascual The responsible and ethical use of  artificial intelligence (AI) was given emphasis as the Department of Education (DepEd) commemorated the International Day of Education (IDE) on Friday. “Let us champion the use of AI as a tool for empowerment, not replacement. Let us equip our youth with the wisdom to use it responsibly,” DepEd Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Atty. Fatima Lipp Panontongan stated. As technological advancements continue to influence education, DepEd’s focus on AI highlights the need for a balanced and ethical approach to integrating AI into education. This also aligned with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s vision of empowering Filipinos by integrating technology and AI to achieve a more inclusive and dynamic educational system. According to Panontongan, AI should act as an ally in learning that can amplify human potential rather than overshadow it. “Together, let us create a future where technology amplifies hum...

Erin Devanadera The Philippine economy is projected to grow significantly, reaching over 6% in 2025 and 2026, driven by key economic factors such as strong domestic demand, easing monetary policies, and lower food prices, according to the Department of Finance (DOF) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “Consumption growth will be supported by lower food prices and gradual monetary policy easing," the IMF stated in their World Economic Outlook, highlighting key drivers of the country’s economic growth. “Growth for 2025-2026 is projected to be primarily driven by domestic demand, namely consumption and investment,” the IMF added, emphasizing the importance of economic factors in sustaining the Philippine economy. In attributing this projection, the survey also showed data highlighting strong domestic demand in consumption and investment due to the sustainment of public investments, lower borrowing costs, and legislative reforms advocating for foreign direct investments (FDI). ...

Kimberly Capuyan Progressive organizations urged the House of Representatives to condemn the University of San Carlos (USC) administration for its alleged suppression of student press freedom and academic rights in a resolution filed on January 23. Photo Courtesy of Facebook/Today's Carolinian. The resolution was introduced by representatives Raoul Danniel Manuel (Kabataan Party-list), Arlene Brosas (Gabriela Women’s Party), and France Castro (ACT Teachers Party-list) to address the eviction of student publication Today’s Carolinian (TC) from its remaining office space without prior notice. “Today’s Carolinian was not given a reasonable time frame to vacate the office or relocate its operations, causing undue disruption to its work as an independent student media outlet,” the resolution read. It further called on the USC administration to “immediately cease all forms of intimidation and punitive actions against student publications and to reaffirm its commitment to academic freedom...

Stela Marie Eve Militante Vice Ganda always shine brightly. She is undeniably an unkabogable star that captivate millions with her witty comedies and larger-than-life personality.   With her latest comeback movie, And The Breadwinner Is… , she offers something refreshingly different as Bambi — deeply meaningful, but with a profound emotional weight that lingers far beyond the laughter. The film offers a narrative that wraps its viewers in a tender embrace, compelling them to confront painful truths and realizations while undoubtedly being moved to tears that come not just from humor but from something deeper. At first, And The Breadwinner Is… centers around the pursuit of ten million pesos — a hefty sum that the family desperately needs. But beneath the surface, the true essence of the film lies in its reflection on the millions of sacrifices, dreams, and heartaches of breadwinners. This is a story not just about financial survival, but the emotional and psychological toll th...

Dwayne Pelagio President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wants government support for the semiconductor and electronics industry as part of his plan to boost the economy. Photo Couresy of ibctv13/Philippine News Agency. Marcos created the remark during a meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council-Education and Jobs Sector Group (PSAC-EJSG) at the Malacañang Palace on Jan. 21, highlighting his recognition for the significant benefits that the industry brings to the economy.   Marcos pointed out that the Create More Law does not offer specific incentives for the semiconductor industry while other industries were given incentives such as car manufacturing. “So, what we would need from all of you is what you think needs to be done,” he said during the meeting. Marcos cited the need for the semiconductor industry to boost the economy. “Actually, we really need to push on the semiconductor industry. It’s because, again, it’s not something that we had in mind but the situation ...

Michael Ervin Calumag In a study by University of the Philippines (UP) Manila National Institutes of Health’s Institute of Human Genetics, around 2 among 10 Filipinos have cancer. This poses a need for the country to advance their technology for early discovery of this disease. Photo Courtesy of University of the Philippines. In response to this, the University of the Philippines’ Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) has acquired the nation’s first state-owned positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scanner, which is expected to benefit indigent patients who struggle to access high-end diagnostic services. UP-PGH Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi emphasized the significance of this acquisition, noting that the PET-CT scanner is central to diagnosing cancer and other diseases such as heart failure and brain disorders.  “We have leveled the field for poor patients who will use this machine 80 percent of the time versus 20 percent for paying patients,” he said. The PET-CT...

Abdiel Franz Bernales Zamboanga City Rep. Khymer Adan Olaso, on January 22, sought the imposition of the death penalty by firing squad for government officials convicted of "corruption and other grave cases" through House Bill 11211, or the proposed Death Penalty for Corruption Act. Photo Courtesy of Benar News. The capital punishment stipulated in House Bill (HB) No.11211, or the Death Penalty for Corruption Act, applies to all public officials, from the President of Malacañang to the lowest barangay official. "This bill is not merely punitive but also symbolic of the Philippines' zero-tolerance policy for corruption," Olaso said in the explanatory note of his bill. However, the conviction should first be affirmed by the Supreme Court, which has undergone a mandatory automatic review process, and all legal remedies available should be exhausted by the accused before the execution is carried out. The proposed measure covers all public officials, whether elected ...

Mark Aaron Balbin Scammers have always been a pesky problem, and with them harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) as their new weapon, this makes them even a bigger threat. With this in mind, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is considering regulating the use of AI in SIM card registration, aiming to prevent scammers from using the technology. DICT Undersecretary Alexander Ramos revealed in a media forum on September 11, 2024 that in the raids conducted by law enforcement agencies, they discovered that a few individuals working in so-called scam hubs obtain and sell hundreds of pre-registered SIM cards. "Nag-e-evolve ang mga sindikato. 500, 1,000 ang binebenta nilang SIM card na pre-registered," Ramos said. Ramos also added that a person from one of their previous raids used social media and AI to gather information from random users and manipulate their photos, using them for SIM registration. This led to DICT’s proposal of a law against the...

Abdiel Franz Bernales University of the Philippines (UP) ratified its partnership with Korea University (KU) due to its close-knit relationship with one of South Korea’s top three universities after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on January 20, 2025, at the Board of Regents Room, Quezon Hall in UP Diliman.   Photo Courtesy of University of the Philippines . The MOU aims to foster academic and educational cooperation between UP and KU through student, faculty, and researcher exchanges, collaborative research in artificial intelligence and sustainability, lectures and symposia, and the exchange of academic information and materials related to Korean studies. Since then, the UP Asian Center has significantly fostered Korean Studies in the Philippines. They have collaborated with Korea University on various initiatives, including conferences, workshops, research projects, and faculty and student exchanges. A clear indication is the establishment of an Integrated Data ...

Trisha Anne P. Segumban  Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara presided over the 12th Philippine Qualifications Framework National Coordinating Council (PQF-NCC) at Bulwagan ng Karunungan, emphasizing reforms to boost employability among Filipino workers.  Photos Courtesy of Department of Education . The council has approved a PQF-NCC response letter to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), proposing the creation of 22 new plantilla positions to strengthen the organizational structure of the council.  Reforms discussed during the meeting aim to improve the employability of the Filipino workers through lifelong learning and competitive skills development, aligned with the country’s labor market demands.  Angara emphasized the importance of collaboration among government agencies, private sectors, and international partners in addressing skills gaps, and advancing the qualifications framework.  Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP)...

Alelie Jade Mallari Israel’s heavy strikes to the Gaza Strip remained continuous after President Joe Biden, prime minister of Qatar, and Hamas officials achieved a ceasefire deal, January 15. Photo Courtesy of Reuters. In a post from prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the temporary six-week ceasefire divided into three phases, was expected to take effect GMT 0630 on January 19. Within the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas is expected to release 33 out of the remaining 98 Israeli hostages captured on October 7, starting with three hostages on the first day of the ceasefire deal. In exchange, the Israeli forces were expected to gradually withdraw from the Gaza border and release almost 2,000 of Palestinians taken as prisoners, including women, children, and elders.  However, on January 15, hours after reaching the ceasefire deal, 46 Palestinians died as Israeli forces committed another continuous bomb strike on Gaza.  Furthermore, the Israeli Prime Minist...

Stela Marie Eve Militante It was perhaps one of the saddest tunes ever heard, a song so difficult to embrace. Mang Greg , whose real name was Greg Chua, the beloved owner of a small CD shop in Cartimar Shopping Center in Recto, had passed away. His stall, a haven for music lovers and collectors, was far more than just a place to purchase records and CDs; it was a sanctuary where memories were made, where music wasn’t just heard but deeply felt. For nearly nine years, Mang Greg’s shop stood as a testament to the enduring power of physical media. In an age where digital streaming reigns, his humble stall stood as a rare reminder of music’s raw and tangible form.  In his store, albums weren’t just items on a shelf; they were bridges to the past, intimate objects that held stories, emotions, and experiences. It wasn’t just about playlists — it was about flipping through vinyl records, discovering forgotten gems, and savoring the joy of holding an album in your hands — an experience str...