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Josiah Ian Bumagat and Natalie Andrea Ayo When Pandora opened her box, humanity obtained chaos and confusion. When we opened the internet, we added deepfakes and called it progress. To many, artificial intelligence (AI) is a chronically online friend one can rely on at any given moment, from providing answers for a test to creating photos of an idea in their head, AI could do just about anything.  However, what many do not realize is that these intelligent machines open a Pandora’s box full of deceit and harmful consequences - deepfakes. When science is used against itself Once science is used against itself, people are left asking: “What happens when progress forgets its purpose?” Years ago, there was excitement over the arrival of AI chatbots. The possibilities seemed endless. However, Nina Schick, author of Deep Fakes and the Infocalypse, warned that alongside this is the emergence of deepfakes, and while they open doors for creative and commercial use, they also present growing...

Jamayka Rhose Pascual The Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Transportation, and the United Kingdom government collaborate to build a 13-hectare Education City in Taguig, aiming to make public schools more accessible, inclusive, and future-ready. Photo Courtesy of Patrick Roque. This project was revealed on July 18, as part of the Senate-DepEd Transit-Oriented Development initiative, which reimagines schools as central parts of sustainable, connected communities. Set at the intersection of the North-South Commuter Railway and the Metro Manila Subway Project, the site is strategically planned to ease the daily commuting struggles of students in Metro Manila. DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said the project is a direct response to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s call to improve student mobility and build smarter, people-centered infrastructure under the Bagong Pilipinas agenda. More than just a school complex, Education City will feature climate-resilient buildin...

Abdiel Franz Bernales Malacañang debunked misleading claims online on July 18, clarifying that a 20 percent tax will be imposed only on the interest earned, not the total amount in the account, and not on bank savings. This clarification came after the public had been thrown into a state of panic following the spread of misleading posts about RA 12214 or the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA), signed into law by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. last May and took effect this month of July. In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro warned the public against "fake news" about the 20 percent final tax on interest income from bank deposits. “Bakit nga ba sinabi nating fake news ito na hindi dapat ikaaalarma ng taumbayan? Ang papatawan ng buwis ay hindi savings, kundi ang interest na kinikita sa ating savings. Hindi po kailan man mababawasan ang ating savings dahil lamang sa sinasabing pagbubuwis,”  Castro said. She also emphasized tha...

Alfredo Tolentino Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has cleared out misconceptions that children will not be obligated to support parents who have abused, neglected, or abandoned them, under his proposed Senate Bill No. 396 or the Parents Welfare Act of 2025. Photos Courtesy of Ping Lacson/Senate of the Philippines. Lacson emphasized that the measure seeks to reinforce filial responsibility, but only in cases where the parents are not guilty of past abuse or neglect. “Abuse, abandonment or neglect by parents of their children are exempting circumstances. Under the proposed measure, walang obligasyon ang anak na magsuporta sa magulang na nang-abuso, nag-abandon at nagpabaya sa kanya,” Lacson said in a statement on July 17. Section 16 of the bill provides that if the court determines, after notice and hearing, that the parent in need of support committed such acts, it may dismiss the petition or reduce the amount of support. The Parents Welfare Act primarily seeks to penalize children who re...

Achilles Domingo One costly mistake was all it took to hand the Philippines U23 their first taste of defeat. A misdirected header by Jaime Ronquillo sealed the fate of the Philippine U23 as they fell 1-0 against Indonesia U23 in their second Group A match of the ASEAN Mandiri Cup 2025, held at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia, July 18. Photo Courtesy of Xinhua/Zulkarnain. The friendly-fire blunder came in the 23rd minute when center-back Ronquillo misfired a header into the Philippine goal after a long throw by Robi Darwis, giving way for the Garudas to snatch the win. Unfortunately, the early damage proved too steep for the young bloods to climb back from. The Philippines had a glimmer of hope late in the first half, but Otu Banatao’s header was quickly dispatched by Indonesian goalkeeper Muhammad Ardiansyah in the 43rd minute. Goalkeeper Guimaraes held the fort in the second half following two fine saves in the 53rd and 54th minutes to hold the Philippine ground....

Peter Jandrei Melan Thailand’s women’s volleyball team narrowly avoided relegation from the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL), while South Korea was officially relegated following a tense final day of competition.  Photo Courtesy of Grand Sport Thailand. The decisive factor came down to match points and set ratio — metrics that proved more critical than win-loss records alone. Both Thailand and South Korea ended their VNL campaigns with identical records of one win and eleven losses. However, the VNL’s point system, which rewards teams not only for wins but also for pushing matches to five sets, created a slim opportunity for Thailand to leapfrog Korea in the final standings. In the final match of their campaign, Thailand lost to Canada in a tight five-setter, 3–2. While it was technically a loss, taking the match to five sets earned Thailand a valuable one point in the standings. That raised their total from five to six points — enough to surpass South Korea, who remained ...

#FactsFirstPH #MentalHealthMatters #CartoonOnPoint by Zcharrina Miguela Villones.

Bernadette Soriano The crown didn’t just stay — it thundered back with authority. Photo Courtesy of Strong Group Athletics. Strong Group Athletics-Philippines torched Bahrain, 92–68, in a title-clinching victory to become the first Filipino team to repeat as William Jones Cup champions in the tournament’s 44-year run, in Taipei City, July 19. NBA veteran Andre Roberson dropped 25 points and 14 rebounds in just 22 minutes, leading an avalanche that turned a supposed showdown into a statement. Bahrain momentarily trimmed the gap to five late in the third, 68–63, before the Filipinos detonated a final-period barrage to break the game, and the title wide open. Behind Roberson, Strong Group drew strength from Tajuan Agee, who added 19 points and eight boards, and Javi Gomez de Liaño, who buried four triples en route to 12. Rhenz Abando chipped in 11, while Ian Miller flirted with a double-double of nine points and eight assists to help complete the rout. Now 7–0, the Charles Tiu-mentored te...

Noah Barro San Miguel Beermen superstar June Mar Fajardo thrived off the injury-stricken TNT Tropang 5G as he propelled his squad into a lopsided 108-88  win in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, July 18. Photo Courtesy of PBA Images. TNT had no answer as “The Kraken” prospered off the undermanned frontcourt after tallying an efficient 33-point, 11-rebound double-double. Fajardo only missed three of his 15 shots, showcasing sharp shooting from the field, and added three assists, a steal, and a block. He also stopped the bleeding after breaking a five-minute scoring drought for SMB with a layup to answer TNT’s 7-0 run early in the fourth, 88-77. TNT tried to rally with a 5-1 spurt—highlighted by a three-pointer from seldom-used guard Almond Vosotros—to close the gap to 89-82. However, that was the closest they would get. The Beermen unleashed their scoring floodgates, igniting an 18-5 clapback highlighted by veteran guard Chris Ross, who drilled t...

Mark Aaron Balbin Strong Group Athletics-Philippines held off Malaysia’s comeback attempt to retain their unblemished record in the 44th William Jones Cup, 108-96, at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium, July 18. Photo Courtesy of Strong Group Athletics. SGA looked in full control after building a commanding 87–64 lead at the end of the third quarter, but Malaysia mounted a spirited comeback in the final frame. Led by Steven Green’s explosive 50-point outburst and Chun Hong Ting’s 24-point showing, the Malaysians rallied with a 20–10 run, trimming the deficit to just 13, 97–84, with only minutes remaining. Even so, the Philippines’ early dominance proved too much to overcome. With Andre Roberson playing on limited minutes and Tajuan Agee sitting out of the game entirely, DJ Fenner took the reins on SGA’s offense, finishing with 20 points after delivering timely buckets to successfully leave the Malaysians behind.  In addition, Fenner got plenty of help from Kiefer Ravena who fired up 17 points...

Earl Axel Arabejo  Climate change is no longer a distant warning but a force already reshaping our oceans, as a recent study funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) reveals that marine heatwaves are becoming more intense, prolonged, and frequent. Photos Courtesy of MIT Physical Sciences Laboratory/Scuba Diving Magazine. Even after the El Niño phenomenon officially ended in May 2024, sea surface temperature (SST) remained dangerously high in the country through August. Researchers from the UP Marine Science Institute recorded the peak temperature at 30.45°C in mid-June, one of the hottest marine periods on record. Globally, around 84 percent of coral reefs have been exposed to bleaching-level heat stress between 2023 and March 2025, marking the most extensive coral bleaching event in history.  Oceans in chemical distress When oceans overheat, corals expel the algae that nourish them, leading to blea...

Fernan Carigma To ease the decades-long backlog in school infrastructure, the Philippines must build at least 7,000 classrooms annually for the next 15 years, but it won't solve the education crisis without bold, scalable reforms, experts from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) warned. Photo Courtesy of Rappler/Bonz Magsambol. In a live podcast on July 3 at Centro Escolar University titled “Classroom Shortages and Teacher Quality: Kaya Bang Mag-Level Up ng Polisiya?”, PIDS education experts stressed that systemic reforms must accompany infrastructure development to truly future-proof the country’s education system. “DepEd is not in the business of constructing buildings. Their mission is improving education, and classrooms are just one part of that,” said Dr. Michael Ralph Abrigo, PIDS Senior Research Fellow and lead author of the study “Low Fertility, Ageing Buildings, and School Congestion in the Philippines,” commissioned by the Second Congressional Commissi...

Francis Andrei Garcia Nagpasiklab sina Juan Gomez de Liaño at DJ Fenner upang ipagpatuloy ang walang bahid na kampanya ng Strong Group Athletics-Pilipinas sa ikatlong sunod na panalo sa 2025 William Jones Cup, matapos nitong gapiin ang Qatar, 81–54, nitong Hulyo 15 sa Xinzhuang Gymnasium, Taiwan. Photo Courtesy of Strong Group Athletics. Sa kabila ng iniindang mga injury at sakit sa lineup, nanguna ang tambalang DJ Fenner at Javi Gomez de Liaño na kapwa nagtala ng 18 puntos upang sandigan ang Pilipinas sa kanilang panibagong panalo. “We’re banged up right now,” pahayag ni head coach Charles Tiu, na inilahad ang kasalukuyang kondisyon ng kanyang koponan. Bagamat kapos sa manpower, mabilis na kumamada ang SGA — nagsimula ito sa isang 13–2 run sa unang anim na minuto ng laban, buhat ng agresibong opensa ni Fenner na bumuhos ng 16 puntos sa first half pa lang. Pagpasok ng second half, si Gomez de Liaño naman ang rumatsada, kumamada ng 13 puntos sa huling dalawang quarters para selyuhan...

Juan Carlo Mercado Strong and spotless. Tajuan Agee powered his squad with a sterling output as Strong Group Athletics-Philippines handed their foes a 107-75 demolition, staying perfect in the 44th William Jones Cup at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City on Thursday night, July 17. Photo Courtesy of Strong Group Athletics. Agee flashed all-around brilliance with a smooth 25-point performance on a near-spotless 10-of-12 shooting spree while grabbing six boards, dishing out three dimes, two steals, and a block in under 16 minutes of action. SGA head coach Charles Tiu lauded both Agee and the team’s effort. “Played great today. Guys were locked in from the start,” said Tiu.  “Tajuan Agee was great and dominated them from the start. Best offensive basketball for us.” Coming from a dormant performance in their last game against Australia, the early surge of Agee was the key in setting the tone early for the Philippines, eventually torching the host squad. While the hosts had...

Megan Louise Millan Beyond dusty chalkboards and broken chairs, the last few weeks of summer vacation in the Philippines are dedicated to addressing the obstacles hindering the nation’s academic development.  As a comprehensive extension of the Adopt-a-School Program established by Republic Act No. 8525 , the Brigada Eskwela program is a staple initiative of the Department of Education (DepEd) that encourages stakeholders to participate in preparing public schools for the upcoming school year. Formalized through DepEd Order No. 24, s. 2008 , Brigada volunteers engage in activities that encompass cleaning classrooms, landscaping, fixing broken fixtures, and other necessary repairs — igniting the Filipino culture of bayanihan and its role in ensuring schools remain safe places for students’ growth and learning.  Held at San Vicente Elementary School, DepEd - Panabo City officially kicked off Brigada Eskwela (BE) 2025 , emphasizing the crucial role of the annual program by s...

Jea Nicole Jacot Three school officials have been charged with the alleged existence of “ghost beneficiaries” under the Senior High School (SHS) voucher program of the Department of Education (DepEd).  Photo Courtesy of Rappler/Gerard Carreon/Radyo Agila. DepEd’s Government Assistance and Subsidies (GAS) Service Office officially filed three criminal cases of consummated and attempted estafa through falsification of documents against the school officials before the Caloocan City prosecutor’s office. The identities of both the school and the DepEd employees were not disclosed. “We filed three criminal charges against three individuals for their fraudulent activities under the SHS Voucher Program. Walang puwang ang panlilinlang sa edukasyon,” said DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara in a statement on July 17.  "We will continue to pursue accountability, no matter who is involved. We owe it to the Filipino people to protect every peso intended for learners,” he added. In March, the DepE...

Jun Marwin Hangad What was once a promise to a better future is starting to feel like a betrayal. Day and night, without time wasted, Filipinos work tirelessly, and with their hard-earned money, it's a thing to save for the future. Whether working in the corporate, academe, or in a small business, depositing money in the bank symbolizes security and responsibility. But with the new economic strategy intensified under the Marcos Administration, the intent of saving for the future is compromised, especially since most Filipinos are still grappling with financial stability. Last July 1, the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA) officially took full effect. Authored and sponsored in the Senate by Senator Win Gatchalian, Chair of the Committee on Ways & Means and a vocal proponent of tax and investment reforms, the new economic policy aims to develop the country's financial instruments, attract potential investors, enhance retail activities, and change the country...

Bernadette Soriano Walang sinayang na tira sina Jeff de Luna at Chezka Centeno nang sikwatin nila ang kampeonato sa mixed doubles ng Predator PBC Indonesia International Open 2025 noong Hulyo 18 sa Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo Courtesy of Predator PBC. Matibay ang ipinakitang laro ng Pinoy tandem matapos nilang itumba sa dalawang set sina Denis Grabe ng Estonia at Pia Filler ng Germany, 2–0 (4–2, 4–3). Maagang nagparamdam ang Pilipinas sa unang rack, pinangunahan ng malinis na break at kumpiyansang opensa. Nagpakitang gilas si De Luna sa kanyang matinik na shot-making, habang sagot naman ni Centeno ang makinis na potting. Sandaling nakaagapay ang kalaban sa 2–2 matapos ang mintis ni Centeno sa panablang tira, pero sa bisa ng disiplina sa safety play, agad naibalik ng Pinoy duo ang kontrol upang tuluyang makuha ang unang set, 4–2. Sinubukang baguhin ng Estonian-German pair ang takbo ng laban sa ikalawang set, pero hindi nawala ang kumpiyansa ng mga Pinoy. Patuloy ang matatag na positioning...

Diane Joy Galos A single injection may now be all it takes to turn up the volume on life—literally. Researchers from Karolinska Institute, along with several Chinese institutions, reported that a single gene therapy injection helped restore hearing in children and adults born with congenital deafness or severe hearing loss. All ten patients involved in the study showed improved hearing, and the treatment was found to be safe and well-tolerated. The research was a collaboration between institutions in Sweden and China and was published in Nature Medicine . "This is a huge step forward in the genetic treatment of deafness, one that can be life-changing for children and adults," said Maoli Duan, a consultant and docent at Karolinska Institutet and co-author of the study. The study included ten participants aged 1 to 24 years, all of whom had hearing loss caused by mutations in the OTOF gene. These mutations prevented the production of otoferlin, a protein necessary for sending s...

Mark Aaron Balbin Strong Group Athletics–Philippines kept their unbeaten record intact in the 44th William Jones Cup after powering past Australia, 91-75, at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium, July 16. Photo Courtesy of PhilStar News SGA import Andre Roberson once again orchestrated the team’s offense, registering a double-double performance with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists.  Alongside him, Tajuan Agee also dominated the paint, finishing with 12 points and 11 boards. Back from the “Board of Greatness,” Kiefer Ravena made a strong tournament debut, contributing nine points, two assists, and two rebounds, providing an additional spark to SGA’s already well-oiled offense. Strong Group established control early, finishing the first quarter with a double-digit lead, 24-13, thanks to their efficient ball movement and inside presence.  The Filipinos then tightened their grip in the second quarter, unleashing a 19-5 run to build a commanding 47-30 advantage at halftime. Despite Aust...

Bernadette Soriano Tuloy ang pananalasa ni Johann “Badkoi” Chua sa international cue scene matapos nitong kalusin si Fedor Gorst ng USA, 13–6, sa finals ng 2025 Knight Shot Dubai Open na ginanap noong Hulyo 17 sa Impulse Snooker & Billiards Café, Oud Metha, Dubai. Photo Courtesy of OnePH Dikit ang laban sa simula kung saan nahila ni Chua ang kalamangan sa 7–6.  Pero nang makakuha ng buwelo, sunod-sunod na racks ang isinara ni Chua, anim na beses niyang nasarahan ang mesa nang hindi na pinaporma si Gorst. Dagdag karangalan sa kanyang kartada bilang isa sa mga nangungunang cue artists sa bansa, nag-uwi ng $15,000 (humigit-kumulang ₱870,000) si Chua bilang kampeon, habang $7,000 naman ang inuwi ni Gorst bilang runner-up. Bago ang finals, sumagupa muna ang pambato ng Pilipinas sa mabibigat na katunggali sa knockout stages, at naging matatag ang ball control, positional play, at pocketing nito — mga aspetong kitang kita ring namayagpag sa kanyang kampanya noong 2023 bilang World Cup...

Noah Barro Coming off a disputed Game 1 ending, the San Miguel Beermen returned with urgency and composure, fending off the TNT Tropang 5G, 98–92, to even the PBA Philippine Cup Finals at one game apiece at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on July 16. Photo Courtesy of Rm Chua/ONE SPORTS Don Trollano picked up slack for the Beermen’s fourth-quarter fightback after throwing away a strong 13-point lead, pouring in 12 of his 22 points in the final frame to carry San Miguel to a crucial Game 2 win. Moala Tautuaa, whose potential game-winning dunk in the finals opener that appeared to be nullified due to basket interference, channeled his frustration into fuel, delivering a crucial 16-point performance along with four rebounds. Best Player of the Conference frontrunner June Mar Fajardo  anchored both ends of the floor, contributing 17 points and nine boards in a steady two-way performance. “Kahit mag-zero out of 20 ako, I’m still going to shoot whatever happens. Nagtiwala sa'kin si coach. Kai...

Bernadette Soriano On paper, it presents itself as a routine adjustment — a streamlining, a standardization, a long-overdue recalibration of a system once tailored to the elite. But for the average Filipino saver, the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA) raises a quieter question: what happens when reform, however well-intentioned, overlooks the very people it seeks to serve? Let’s unravel the layers behind this quiet economic pivot, and why the fallout might not be as efficient as promised. Old tax, new coverage plainly put Beginning July 1, 2025 , all interest income from bank deposits, whether from savings accounts, time deposits, or peso-and dollar-denominated holdings is uniformly subject to a flat 20% final withholding tax , regardless of the deposit’s duration or type. This is a major departure from the former tiered framework, which incentivized long-term saving 5 years or more: 0% tax 4 to <5 years: 5% tax 3 to <4 years: 12% tax Less than 3 years: 20% t...