OPINION

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01 April, 2026

Sometimes, silence arrives before anything dares to make a sound. It curls into corners, bends habits, and shapes what is possible long before a word is spoken.

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What Reviving Sabah Could Mean

01 April, 2026

At a time of energy crisis and global conflict, asserting a claim over Sabah is not just inopportune, rather it is a reckless argument that is not given much thought.

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The Five Ways in a World of Decline

31 March, 2026

In this day and age of unrelenting conflict, it’s easy to recognize disorder as the brand-new natural state of human affairs. News of abuse of power, greed schemes, failing systems, and war-torn nations begins to surround the world’s every crevice, pointing people to a reality ungrounded, almost as if turmoil is warranted and fit for the now.

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Political Dynasty Cloaked in the Language of Reform

31 March, 2026

It begins like a script everyone has read before—because the ending was written long before the first vote was cast.

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Brainrot Culture or Broken System?

31 March, 2026

Skibidi, brainrot, rizz, and gyatt. These are the words kids are picking up nowadays because of platforms like Roblox and similar online spaces. Yes, it may sound funny and harmless at first. To me, they show how fast young minds absorb whatever they see online without fully understanding it.

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Misogyny in politics

25 March, 2026

Women are not props for public stunts. More importantly, they are not clowns meant to entertain the public officials they elected to represent, protect, and serve them.

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The finish line: a win or a loss?

25 March, 2026

In politics, timing is everything. After the 2022 elections, Philippine politics may still appear peaceful, but the race for the next president may already be on. Vice President Sara Duterte declared her intention to run as the president of the Philippines in the 2028 national elections in February 2026—a declaration made two years before the official campaign season even begins.

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Beneath the skyline

20 March, 2026

Cities rise like forests of steel, but somewhere beneath their shadows are families still living under roofs as fragile as fallen leaves.

Truth be told, cities are storms of concrete, and for decades, thousands of Filipino families have survived them in houses built like paper boats, drifting through urban tides that rarely slow for the poor.

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The Price to Pay for Gas

20 March, 2026

Does the phrase “Iran is weeks away from developing nuclear weapons” sound familiar? Because it is. It’s the same thing they've been saying for years about Iran, claiming that the country is a threat, but is it really?

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More Than 5 Minutes

12 March, 2026

“Mic check 1, 2, 3!”

A line that signals you’re ready to voice the truth beyond the headlines.

Last year, I often viewed radio broadcasting as both grandiose and austere—five minutes of airtime to deliver the news seemed short yet demanding. It made me realize how essential it is to learn to gauge time and stay aware of whether you’re going over or falling short of your goals.

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Is Living Abroad the Answer?

12 March, 2026

A new country—higher salary and a better life. A fresh start to somewhere “better.” A belief that opportunity increases the moment you land.

Global cities are often known as gateways to reinvention. New address, new identity, new possibilities. For many, that promise is real.

Photo via Dreamstime

After the bucket empties

12 March, 2026

We are obsessed with maps for lives we cannot navigate.

In that obsession, we line up desires like markers, imagining that if we plot enough points, the terrain will submit—that time will obey, that fulfillment will feel reachable, and that direction will seem certain, even as that confidence remains fragile.

Photo via iStock

The Other Side of the Window

18 February, 2026

As a lad who grew up in Baliuag, I find myself venturing into the head-turning cityscape of Metro Manila which requires traveling to get by, and how it’s unavoidable to commute, whether by bus or jeepney. However, for greater efficiency and convenience, I choose to ride the Light Rail Transit (LRT).

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The Price of Religiosity

15 February, 2026

Faith and devotion drives people to go through lengths one could not imagine or understand. Being a devotee is a call of devotion, but it should not cost lives.

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Not if, but how

08 February, 2026

Picture this: In the near future, artificial intelligence will be so powerful that it will start to shape our work, learning, and decisions. Will it save humanity or change what it means to be human?

Presently, chalkboards are slowly being replaced by visual screens, notebooks by tablets, and now, even lessons are being touched up by AI. Something that used to seem like science fiction has subtly entered our classrooms.

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Guidance Not Included

02 February, 2026

Growing up in a run-of-the-mill, strict Filipino household, I despised how almost the entirety of my formative years revolved around the need for constant safekeeping.

Bedtime curfew, no gadgets on school days, the threat of a supposed white van anticipating my doom when I go outside, barely having anyone allowed to play with me—and I wonder why I’ve grown so anxious. But then again, seeing as how the children of today are so liberated in causing ruckus in everyday peace, I suppose I’m somewhat grateful to have been treated like an inmate.

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America Needs the Philippines

03 January 2026

America must do away with the Pentagon’s bureaucratic fortress and invest in R&D and niche defense start-ups domestically and abroad alongside its allies.”

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Make America Mute Again

29 December 2025

The Trump administration has banned almost 200 words and phrases from being used in any official capacity by any U.S. Government agency. Every agency, including educational, clean energy, inclusivity, disability, and health programs across the United States.

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Education needs repair, not reset

22 December, 2025

Education is a right guaranteed to all citizens. However, the reality is clear: only those with financial means are privileged to have access to quality education.

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The art of still becoming

20 December, 2025

You were not meant to live every life; you were meant to live yours fully. You were not made to do it all; you were made to do what matters. If we could do it all, we would never learn the art of choosing what truly matters.

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Beyond road repairs

25 November, 2025

Flooding is a chain reaction that begins with oversimplifying responsibilities and issues and ends with communities suffering the consequences of negligence.

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The cost of hesitation

23 November 2025

ASEAN is tearing down trade barriers while the Philippines risks building walls of hesitation.

Across ASEAN, the most powerful economic shifts rarely make headlines — they happen quietly, in tariff schedules and trade protocols. Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia have all made decisive moves toward 0% tariffs, signaling a regional race toward borderless commerce. The message conveyed is clear: in a world built on supply chains, friction is fatal.

Seedling Growth

19 November 2025

As a middle-class citizen, I often find myself pinned to the local “tindahan,” a small store bustling with everyday essentials and fresh produce. Yet, with each visit, I notice a burdening pattern: prices rise and supplies shrink—gradually, relentlessly.

Photo via Philippine News Agency

New pledges, but full of edges

19 November 2025

“Bagong Pilipinas, Bagong Mukha” — a jingle that is full of promise and catches the Filipinos' minds to vote for President Bongbong Marcos, it echoed from radios, televisions, and social media platforms. As we, Filipinos, believe that in contrast to our nation's previous leaders, those lines will alter and modernize the Philippine economy. It talks of change and revitalization of an economy poised for growth and battle on this global battlefield.

Photo via Rappler

Rethinking the MTRCB

17 November, 2025

The Philippines' own First Amendment–Article III, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution makes inviolable our right to freedom of speech and expression. Stating “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances,” the Constitution provides us a guarantee of that sacred right. Albeit this right is not absolute and boundless.

Photo via Yale

Blood For Gold

10 November 2025

“I will never have mercy; our job is only killing” — Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Commander Abu Lulu’s response to an unarmed captive pleading for mercy. The fighter then executed the unarmed man casually with a rifle.

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So far, so flawed

11 November 2025

“We do not have the luxury to be purists, but as long as we keep settling for almost-good, almost-bad governance, our nation will mirror that mediocrity: Forever almost what it could have been."

DynaCracy

06 November 2025

As the year draws to an end, the Philippines once again finds itself reflecting on another election that promised change — yet delivered the same familiar faces. Despite the hope for transformation, the cycle continues: political power remains concentrated in the hands of a few families who have long treated public office as their inheritance. Our democracy, once envisioned as a government “of the people, by the people, for the people,” now seems more like a democracy of the elite, sustained by dynastic rule.

Grounds shaken, families unbroken

30 October 2025

In the recent months and weeks, the Philippines has been rattled by extremely powerful earthquakes. One earthquake after another, one life destroyed after another. Roofs have collapsed, walls have fallen, and entire towns have been emotionally and physically shaken to their foundations. Nevertheless, the Filipino family ties endure despite all the dust, debris, and destruction.

Butil ng pag-asa

27 October 2025

Isang tanong na paulit-ulit na bumabagabag sa tuwing panahon ng anihan, kung kailan ang pag-asang itinanim ay nalulunod sa mababang halaga ng palay. Habang tila sagana ang mga bukirin, salat pa rin sila sa kita. Sa murang bentahan ng palay, tila sila’y lugi sa bawat ani.

Is the school environment healthy?

27 October 2025

When we picture a school, some of us, especially adults, tend to say that it is a good place. A place of happiness. This is where a person could learn, but sometimes, it isn’t. Why, you might ask?

In the midst of the crowd

16 October 2025

Everything begins too simple, from hallways, quadrangles, and corridors to school facilities. Nod, smiles, eye contacts. Sometimes, you could see them standing in front of your room once or bump into your shoulder once. They are not strangers, but they are not your friends either. They are just there, hanging around.

One by one, the cameras cut out

15 October 2025

I watched the livestream, I watched as the camera feeds lost signal, and another boat took its place on the livestream, only to lose signal again. Until no more cameras were available, and the livestream ended.

Nourishment for the tax-eaters

14 October 2025

The ghost flood control projects that were led by the 15 contractors are now being brought into the light. One of the contractors that was called out for building substandard infrastructures is St. Timothy Construction Corporation, which is allegedly owned by a politician.

Posas ng Kalayaan

13 Oktubre, 2025

Ang tindig ko ay malinaw—ang kapangyarihan ay nasa kamay ng mamamayan, kaagapay ang boses ng dumadagundong na panawagan para sa isang mayabong na bayan, dapat managot ang mga nang-abuso na nagkukubli sa imahe ng pagiging bayani ng pinagkaitan na lipunan.

Catholicism is the Truth – Here’s why

28 September, 2025

When I was a little kid, I remembered being bored during Mass — it wasn’t entertaining, and it felt too long. Over the years, I realized that the celebration of the Holy Eucharist is the only way for me, as a Catholic, to be saved by God.

Hindi kailanman magiging solusyon ang dahas

26 September, 2025

Lahat ng mamamayan ay may karapatang lumaban para sa kanilang kapakanan at kinabukasan. Hindi maikakaila na ang kanilang hangarin ay makamit ang katarungan at simulan ang pagbabago. Gayunpaman, dahil sa labis na paghahangad, tila nakakalimot na sila sa kanilang mga limitasyon — hindi na pinag-iisipan nang mabuti ang mga aksyong ginagawa, na sa halip na makatulong sa protesta ay lalo pang nagpalala sa sitwasyon.

Unavoidable resilience

25 September, 2025

With a teeny drop of rain in just a matter of hours or minutes, Filipino families have to defy another hardship just to survive—the flood. A flood that slowly submerges our homes, destroys parts of our communities, and once again forces the people to endure the grievous pathway of flooding just to pull through.

Marcos Handang Humarap sa ICI: Transparency o Politika?

24 September, 2025

Isang malaking usapin ngayon sa ating bansa ang bilyones na halaga na inilaan para sa mga gawaing imprastraktura ng pamahalaan mula sa buwis ng taumbayan. Ngunit ang tanong, nagamit nga ba sa wasto at napunta nga ba sa tama ang bilyones na halaga mula sa buwis ng mga mamamayan?

Is it worth the hype?

23 September, 2025

Fast forward, now our feed has gotten full, with unstoppable notifications paired with the ceaseless buzz sound in every message. Which, as I have noticed, could make a person entirely lonelier or reclusive. Why? Because they lack physical interactions, they are now much too focused on using the digital world as a distraction.

The Hope from Our Lady

22 September, 2025

Just before Pope Francis died, he opened the Jubilee Year, focusing on the theme of hope. “Hope does not disappoint.” (Rm 5:5) The late Pope wants to remind Christians that the flame of hope remains to be ignited despite all the troubles and perils of the world. And one symbol of hope where one could turn his/her eyes is towards the Blessed Mother.

Filipinos Must Stand in Righteous Defiance

21 September, 2025

Today, on the anniversary of Martial Law, Filipinos gather once again in the streets to demand what has been denied them for too long: honest governance, moral leadership, and the just stewardship of the public trust.

The devil wears reptile

17 September, 2025

They say that a bag is a woman’s best friend. It represents your social status, aspirations, and wealth. But the recent appearance of Senator Imee Marcos’s “talk of the senate” crocodile bag doesn’t fulfill any of the things a bag represents—it only shows irony.

In the middle of it all

16 September, 2025

One day, you feel like you have got it all together — your friendships, your plans, your identity. And the next? It feels like the ground has shifted beneath you, unnoticed by everyone else. Suddenly, everything you thought was solid slips right through your hands. I have felt that. And in those moments, I have caught myself wondering: Who am I even doing all this for? What comes next?

The Philippines Cannot Afford a Duterte Comeback

16 September, 2025

The International Criminal Court is the culmination of the humanitarian ideal to close the curtains on the 20th-century era of unpunished atrocities. It stands as a tribunal of last resort, where even those long shielded by impunity can be held to account. The prospect of former President Duterte’s release puts that standing in jeopardy.

Charlie Kirk's Impact on my Political Views

12 September, 2025

Charlie Kirk was a prominent conservative political activist who was recognized for his fiery debates and opinions against the Liberals. He was also known for his social media presence and his connection to the youth. He was a Trump supporter and was criticized for promoting “Covid-19 Misinformation” and his view on “The Great Replacement Conspiracy Theory.” His opinions and controversies in which he was involved were the reasons why his life was in constant danger.

Photo by John Andrei Policarpio

SMCB Hotshot Personnel: Next Stop, Lakers?

09 September, 2025

Under the scorching heat of Baliuag City, multiple stars ignited hotter flames in the courts of SMCB.

Litrato mula kay Atty. Joji Alonso

Huli Na Sa Karera

26 August, 2025

Habang unti-unting nauubos ang mga araw at buwan sa taong 2025, hindi maikakaila na mabigat na rin ang pinapasan ng BINI – ang tinaguriang Nation’s Girl Group ng ating bansa. Mula sa pag-leak ng mga pribadong video at mga alegasyon tungkol sa kanilang masasangsang na mga ugali hanggang sa kontrobersyang dulot ng isang tila inosenteng bidyo kung saan tinikman nila ang ilan sa mga kilalang street food sa Pilipinas.

Photo via Mohammed Saber

Baby Formula, A Matter of Israeli National Security?

Regardless of any situation your nation may be in, there should be no excuse for the specific targeting of humanitarian aid or humans, for that matter. Israel has just demonstrated multiple times that they are against basic human rights.

Photo via DPA/Picture alliance

Nuclear energy: Germany’s mistake or future?

23 August, 2025

Nuclear reactors, glowing goo, or the future of Europe? Germany has made its decision – and now we must examine what led it to eliminate all its nuclear infrastructure. Germany shut down its last nuclear reactor two years ago, after large anti-nuclear movements, rooted in the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, then gained even more supporters after the Fukushima disaster in 2011. The nation announced that it would shut down all nuclear reactors by 2022.

Photo via Manila Bulletin

Adjacent compulsion

In these past few years, online gambling or what some call iGambling, has been exploding on countless social media platforms and websites. It bursts with relentless persuasion of a lot of people, especially preying on Filipinos who are experiencing financial hardships. Some say it's an opener to many opportunities—namely, it has a high risk of attaining sums of money or a way to be part of a workforce in an online casino. But, sometimes I wonder: Can you truly clinch fortune just by wagering money?

Brave the enemy’s lair

15 July, 2025

Senators Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino allegedly joining the Senate majority is a perilous gamble— but also a clever strategy. Like most wise strategies, it comes with risk. They are about to brave a bloc, or rather a battlefield, of power and try not to be devoured. Yet, this is a battleground they are familiar with. And their goal always: get promises done while power is in their grasp .

Think before you click: The dangers of online gambling games

15 July, 2025

Many Filipinos prefer to gamble online because it is easy to access, and can easily be wired to GCash. It can also be played with a small amount at stake, and you are promised a higher return, exactly why the majority of Filipinos are becoming addicted to online money-betting.

Photo via Freedom Health Insurance

Inks and insights

11 July, 2025

We live in a world that moves fast and expects us to keep up. In a rush to do more, achieve more, and be more, our inner voice often gets drowned out. But sometimes, all it takes to hear ourselves again is a blank page and a pen, through journaling. It might just be one of the most grounding tools we have for making sense of the chaos.

Photo via NPR

To know is to learn

Think of any public health threats here in the Philippines, specifically among Filipino teenagers, one may think that it is malnutrition, insufficient access to clean water, use of drugs, or Covid-19. Try to scroll, share, and stream not around social media but through life. There is one silent threat that is intensifying the situation of not only our own country, but the youth of many Filipinos—the quiet yet alarming disease: Human Immunodeficiency Virus or mostly known as HIV.

Illustration by Kurt Darrel Capili

Editorial Cartoon of the Day
29 September, 2025

In a moment that should have demanded humility and accountability, Sarah Discaya chose to boldly face the cameras with a 'finger heart.' The gesture itself, light and playful, stood in stark contrast to the gravity of the corruption charges shadowing her name. A clear picture of how power can abolish should-be sincerity — where there’s mocking in place of shame, and where justice becomes a prop in a show meant to distract rather than answer. As the cameras clicked, the question lingers: was it courage or the comfort of impunity?