Month: September 2025
Wings may break, but Frenchie Mae Cumpio’s fight lives beyond the cage
Frenchie Mae Cumpio was only 20 when she began making waves in Eastern Visayas journalism. As a campus editor, radio commentator, and later head of the alternative media outlet Eastern Vista, she gave voice to typhoon survivors, farmers, and fisherfolk long ignored by mainstream media. Her reporting was bold, unflinching – and soon, dangerous. By
No more booklets: Senior citizens can now get drugstore discounts hassle-free
Senior citizens will no longer need to carry those bulky purchase booklets just to enjoy their medicine discounts at pharmacies. The Department of Health (DOH) has ordered all FDA-licensed drugstores to honor the 20% discount for seniors even without the traditional booklet, as long as they present a valid ID and, when required, a doctor’s
DepEd files cases vs 7 private schools over ₱61.9M ‘ghost students’ scam
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) has filed criminal cases against seven private schools accused of collecting millions in subsidies for “ghost students” – non-existent enrollees fraudulently listed as beneficiaries of the government’s voucher program. Education Secretary Sonny Angara confirmed the move on Wednesday, September 4, during a House appropriations committee hearing. He
Heart Surgeon Survives Heart Attack After Ignoring Symptoms — His Warning Could Save Lives
Dr. Jeremy London has spent years opening chests and repairing damaged hearts. But when his own heart cried out for help, he brushed it aside — until it nearly killed him. London, a heart surgeon in Savannah, Georgia, was the picture of health: he exercised regularly, ate well, and kept his lab markers in check.
Ghost projects, ghost growth
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto wasn’t just pointing out numbers when he said ghost flood control projects have bled the economy of up to P118.5 billion since 2023. He was exposing the scale of a rot that has become almost routine in Philippine governance: money that should have protected communities from rising floods has instead lined
Ghost flood control projects bled economy of up to P118.5B – Recto
MANILA, Philippines – Corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) flood control projects has cost the Philippine economy up to P118.5 billion in just two years, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said. “Because of ghost projects, our economy lost between P42.3 billion and P118.5 billion from 2023 to 2025,” Recto told senators during
When Vitamins Turn Toxic: The Hidden Dangers of Over-Supplementation
Vitamins are often seen as harmless boosters of health — daily companions to strengthen immunity, sharpen memory, and add energy. But health experts are warning that “too much of a good thing” can, in fact, turn toxic. According to medical resources such as WebMD, the risks of over-supplementation are real and sometimes severe, especially in
From Buug to Abu Dhabi: How Anthony Austria built his name as a top architect
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Philippines – Anthony Tario Austria grew up in Buug, a quiet town in Zamboanga Sibugay where his mother worked the rice fields and later took on odd jobs in Malaysia to keep the family afloat. Life was difficult, but in the middle of poverty, Anthony discovered a gift: drawing. Teachers saw his sketches
Instant Coffee Lovers, We Need to Talk About Your Eyes
We all love a quick fix. Alarm blares, you stumble to the kitchen, and boom—instant coffee saves the day. No grinding, no brewing, no waiting. Just hot water, a spoon, and your daily dose of fake-it-til-you-make-it energy. But here’s the eyebrow-raising twist: that beloved scoop of instant could be linked to a 700% higher risk
Rebel Leader Turns to Ecotourism : How a Former MILF Combatant Found Peace in Zamboanga Sibugay
Eleven years after the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed a historic peace agreement, a former rebel leader has reinvented himself—not as a fighter, but as an entrepreneur, building an ecotourism destination in a province once synonymous with banditry and kidnapping. Barahama Ali, a former senior leader of the MILF’s 113 Base
Beyond Windows 11: How One Browser Freed Me from Microsoft’s Grip
Windows has been the default operating system for most PC users. It powered everything—from word processors to email clients to music players. But in 2025, that grip feels looser than ever. For many of us, the center of gravity has shifted away from the desktop and into the browser. The slow shift to web-first living
OPINION I Another DPWH head rolls, but will corruption ever end?
THE resignation of Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan is being spun as “command responsibility.” But let’s be blunt: this is not accountability, this is damage control. Billions of pesos have been poured into so-called flood control projects, yet our communities are still drowning—literally and figuratively. Ghost projects, sweetheart deals, and lavish lifestyles of contractors
