Month: December 2025
25 Dawlah Islamiya, BIFF members surrender in Maguindanao del Sur
COTABATO CITY โ Twenty-five former members of the now-defunct Dawlah Islamiya and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have surrendered to the military, turning over firearms and explosives in a ceremony in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, on Friday, December 5. Major General Jose Vladimir Cagara, commander of the Armyโs 6th Infantry Division (6th ID),
Why buying local agri products for holiday gifts matters
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Philippines โ As the holiday rush begins, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 9 is making a simple appeal: choose local. Buy a bag of locally grown coffee, a jar of homemade coco jam, or a basket of farm-made treatsโand youโre not just ticking off your gift list. Youโre helping keep
Daily Reflection I Seeing Truth When the World Turns Cloudy
We live in a time when truth is no longer simply spokenโit competes. Every day, a flood of voices rushes toward us: headlines designed to provoke, posts crafted to deceive, and messages engineered to manipulate emotions. It feels as though the world has been wrapped in fog. What once seemed clear now appears blurry. What
Harry Roque Claims ICC warrant vs Bato dela Rosa is Out โ But Offers no Proof
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque stirred the political pot on Sunday after claiming that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has already issued a warrant of arrest for Senator Ronald โBatoโ dela Rosa โ a remark that immediately raised questions about his source and motives. Roque made the claim on the same day he revealed he
Samsungโs Galaxy S25+ Might Be the Real Star of 2025 โ Hereโs Why
Samsung has been dropping solid devices for years, but letโs be honest โ the excitement factor hasnโt been the same lately. Weโre not getting the wild, experimental Samsung of old. Still, there is something comforting about hardware thatโs been refined year after year. Small, consistent upgrades can make a big difference. And while everyoneโs buzzing
The Edge of the Philippines: Where the Islands Fall Into the Sea
PALAWAN, Philippines โ At the countryโs farthest edges, where cellphone signals flicker out and the sea begins to swallow the sky, the Philippines reveals a version of itself that feels ancient, unguarded, and strangely intimate. Out here, the geography becomes a story โ one shaped by wind, coral, limestone, and communities who have learned to
Why Some Still Choose Rural Life โ Even When the City Beckons
In an age where success is often equated with skyscrapers, fast Wi-Fi, and high-paying jobs, more Filipinos are choosing to stay in, or return to, the countryside. What makes rural life so compellingโeven when the metropolis offers bigger opportunities? When 29-year-old Robert* received a job offer in Manila with triple the salary he currently earns
Why the โฑ500 Noche Buena Claim Is Wrong โ The Economics Behind a Painful Narrative
Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque suggested that Filipino families can prepare Noche Buena for โฑ500 โ and it sparked public outrage. In a holiday season marked by rising food prices, shrinking purchasing power, and stagnant wages, the remark lands not as guidance but as an insult to hardship. Beyond the optics of
The New Frontier of Evangelism: Challenges of Christian Witness in a Post-Modern Age
Christian evangelism today unfolds in a world very different from that of previous generations. The rise of post-modern thought, the erosion of institutional trust, and the digital saturation of everyday life have reshaped the way people perceive truth, spirituality, and the church itself. In this landscape, the gospel remains powerfulโbut the way it is received
Euthanasia deaths in Canada hit new record in 2024, sparking alarm among disability advocates
MANILA, Philippines โ Canada recorded 16,499 deaths through its Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program in 2024, the highest annual total since the country legalized euthanasia in 2016. The latest federal report has reignited debate over the countryโs rapidly expanding assisted-dying regime, with disability rights groups warning that vulnerable citizens increasingly feel pressured toward ending
Fact Check: No, there is no โred alertโ predicting a magnitude 6.5โ8.5 earthquake in Pacific countries
A post circulating on Facebook, attributed to the page Earthquake News Everyday, warns that from โnow to the next 4โ12 hoursโ and โthe next 5โ7 days,โ a โvery strong/big one earthquake (6.5 ~ 8.5)โ could strike multiple countries across the Pacific, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, Chile, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu,
Scientists identify โAchilles heelโ of worldโs deadliest infectious disease
MANILA, Philippines โ Long before COVID-19 reshaped global health systems, tuberculosis (TB) was already the planetโs most lethal infectious disease. The ancient respiratory illness โ traced as far back as 9,000 years โ devastated Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries and continues to kill millions despite being both treatable and curable. Today, TB is
