P680-M Iloilo flyover project’s three monkeys

THE ‘SINKING’ ILOILO FLYOVER (Photo courtesy of Raul A Sabido)

 

“The corruption of the best things gives rise to the worst.”

 —David Hume

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

FOR sure, there are retired and active politicians who are now jittery after it was reported over the weekend that the House of Representatives might finally tackle next month the proposed House Resolution No. 721 seeking a legislative inquiry on the much-scandalized P680-million Iloilo flyover project or Ungka flyover (UFO) and the delayed construction of the P560-million Aganan flyover also in Pavia, Iloilo.

These nervous politicians—retired and active—are aware that sooner or later, they will be unmasked and subjected to intense scrutiny and inquisition once the formal congressional investigation starts.

It’s a common knowledge that the DPWH “isn’t the lone culprit” in this imbroglio.

Somewhere and sometime during the conceptualization of this multi-million infra project that has now become the symbol of shame and scandal of the Ilonggos, there were politicians—now retired and active—who were involved.

The same politicians must have enjoyed the halcyon years enriching themselves at the expense of taxpayers money through several infrastructure projects in the past.

It was only probably in the P680-million Iloilo flyover project that their luck came to a screeching halt (read: nabuking) after the flyover was monitored to be “sinking” just when it was about to be presented to the public.

A sign of the natural law of retribution or karmic justice?

 

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The project’s genesis will be traced from the sources of funds to the actual implementation.

There must be bigger players in this gargantuan infrastructure project, and these big players must have hit “big”—even bigger than what some Ilonggos have imagined.

Since the scandal of epic proportion erupted in September 2022 when the flyover was suddenly ordered closed days after it was opened to public, these retired and active politicians, who may have waltzed with corrupt DPWH bigwigs and private contractors, have pretended they heard and saw nothing about the burning issue.

No statement of concern; no reaction; no condemnation; no nothing.

Strange. The silence is deafening—and irritating.

All of a sudden, they became the three famous monkeys—the ones who heard no evil, saw no evil, and spoke no evil.

 

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HEAT IN HISTORY. The biggest playoffs win in Miami Heat history, by point differential, is by 37 points which occurred in a 115-78 win over the Chicago Bulls during the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 8, 2013. Based on point differential, the largest win in Miami Heat history is by 43 points, which occurred in a 126-83 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec 29, 1994.

BILLIONAIRES. Thirty one billionaires in the world are worth more than the $38.8 billion the US Treasury has in cash. To be clear, each of them is worth more than that alone, according to a CNN report.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Dozens of industry leaders and academics in the field of artificial intelligence have called for greater global attention to the possible threat of “extinction from AI.” A statement, signed by leading industry officials like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Geoffrey Hinton—the so-called “godfather” of artificial intelligence—highlights wide-ranging concerns about the ultimate danger of unchecked AI. Experts say humanity is still a ways off from the prospect of science-fiction-like AI overlords, but the flood of hype and investment into the AI industry has led to calls for regulation now before any major mishaps occur. The growing AI arms race has already generated more immediate concerns. Lawmakers, advocacy groups and tech insiders have raised alarms about the potential for AI-powered language models like ChatGPT to spread misinformation and displace jobs.

Every June, the United States celebrates Pride Month, marking the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, when police raided a gay bar in New York City and its patrons stood up against discrimination, abuse, and mistreatment. US Department of State Secretary Anthony J. Blinken said in a statement, “Pride reminds us of the spirit of democratic protest and the principle that all persons are created equal and every individual’s full humanity should be equally respected.”

He added: “Five decades after Stonewall, we know that inclusion of and respect for LGBTQI+ persons make our nation stronger. We also recognize the impact LGBTQI+ persons and organizations have had on some of the cornerstones of our democracy, including in pursuing truth through a free media and exercising the right to peacefully assemble.”

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

The spy who ‘loves’ us?

 

“I love the idea of spies in love. How would it work between two people who were so programmed to lie and be suspicious, who have a whole life based on pretence?”

— Tony Gilroy

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IS controversial Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo a Chinese spy, but is someone who happens to “love” us?

One of my most favorite James Bond films was The Spy Who Loved Me starring Roger Moore as British Agent 007 and Barbara Bach as KGB agent, Major Anya Amasova,released in 1977.

I watched the biopic created by Ian Fleming several times in 1977 and 1978 free of admission in the old Cinema, a movie house then located a stone-throw away from our school, Hua Siong College of Iloilo (formerly Iloilo Central Commercial High School), together with my Chinese mestizo classmate, Wellington Chu, whose family owned the theater.

Wellington, who became a part-time movie stuntman, and I fancied the film’s villain and thug, Richard Dawson Kiel, known as “Jaws”. When we had fistfights in school, we mimicked Jaws’ brutality of showing his steel-capped teeth during assassination missions.

In the film, after British and Russian submarines carrying nuclear warheads vanished, James Bond traveled to Egypt, where illicit microfilm plans for a submarine tracking system were being offered for sale.

 

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Let me share a little background of the film further: In Cairo he met KGB agent Amasova, who was on the same mission. After their contact was murdered, they fought Jaws, a steel-toothed villain in the pay of industrialist Karl Stromberg.

MI6 and the KGB ordered Bond and Amasova to work together. In Sardinia, they encountered Stromberg and suspected that he was behind the submarine disappearances.

After being chased by Jaws and Stromberg’s henchmen, they escaped underwater in Bond’s amphibious Lotus Esprit. Onboard a US submarine, the spies learned more about Stromberg’s underwater base, Atlantis, and about the supertanker The Liparus.

When their sub was captured by The Liparus, a huge vessel, that “swallows” submarines, Bond discovered Stromberg’s plan to trigger a nuclear war.

Bond led the captured sailors against The Liparus’ crew and defeated Stromberg. Atlantis sank but Jaws escaped.

 

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In present time Philippines, Guo was alleged by Senator Risa Hontiveros to have links to illegal activities by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) following the 2023 and 2024 raids in Bamban.

Her Filipino citizenship has been questioned due to inconsistencies in her documents and testimony.

According to POLITIKO, as Guo’s nationality comes under scrutiny, online sleuths have found images of full page ads congratulating her on World News’ May 12, 2022 issue.

World News is a Chinese language paper with an office in Binondo, Manila.

Guo was hailed as the “first Chinese mayor in the Philippines” in one of the ads. A Google translation of the text, however, labeled her as Chinese American.

“Congratulations to Guo Jian, a Xiangxian of Chaodai, for becoming the first female mayor in the Philippines and the first Chinese mayor!,” the text of the ad read, according to Google Translate as reported by POLITIKO.

Guo was described in the ad as a “businesswoman and a novice politician” who “was elected the town’s first female mayor and the first Chinese-American mayor in the town’s history with 16,503 votes.”

 

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Most of the congratulatory messages for Guo came from groups in Chaodai, a village in Jinjiang City, Fujian province in China.

While the ads have rattled some netizens, POLITIKO reported that those claiming to be knowledgeable in Mandarin said the ad could not be considered proof of Guo’s Chinese nationality.

“The Chinese in the mainland really do have this habit of claiming anyone with Chinese ancestry as their own and crediting their success to their common heritage,” one social media user said.

“(T)he newspaper (worldnews.net.ph) is a local Chinese paper based in the Philippines, not China. Notice that the text is in traditional form (Taiwan) and not simplified (China). In short, this does not prove anything re Alice Guo’s citizenship, just her ethnicity. But of course, we still need more info on her to come out to know for sure,” another netizen said.

 

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As this developed, we came across a report in the United States about an incident a few years earlier involving a  suspected Chinese intelligence operative who developed extensive ties with local and national politicians, including a U.S. congressman, in what U.S. officials believe was a political intelligence operation run by China’s main civilian spy agency between 2011 and 2015, Axios found in a yearlong investigation.

It triggered alarm in the intelligence community as the alleged operation reportedly offered a rare window into how Beijing has tried to gain access to and influence U.S. political circles.

The woman at the center of the operation, a Chinese national named Fang Fang or Christine Fang, targeted up-and-coming local politicians in the Bay Area and across the country who had the potential to make it big on the national stage, according to report.

Through campaign fundraising, extensive networking, personal charisma, and romantic or sexual relationships with at least two Midwestern mayors, Fang was able to gain proximity to political power, according to current and former U.S. intelligence officials and one former elected official, it was reported.

 

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Even though U.S. officials do not believe Fang received or passed on classified information, the case “was a big deal, because there were some really, really sensitive people that were caught up” in the intelligence network, a current senior U.S. intelligence official said.

Private but unclassified information about government officials—such as their habits, preferences, schedules, social networks, and even rumors about them — is a form of political intelligence. Collecting such information is a key part of what foreign intelligence agencies do.

Let’s hope the Tarlac mayor isn’t a Chinese spy like Fang Fang. If she is—or has been—a spy, she has no business staying in the Philippines and holding an elective position as her continued stay might cause irreparable damage in the national security, now reeling from the repeated firing of water canons by the Chinese Navy of our ships in the disputed South China sea.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

The megastar’s boo-boo

 

“I look back now, and most of the drama in my life was self-inflicted. I don’t need to make up so much drama now.”

— Boy George

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WHO actually started the fire? Was it a self-inflicted drama that turned into disaster?

It was showbiz megastar Sharon Gamboa Cuneta, 58, who first “invited” entertainment scalawags like Cristy Fermin to talk about them when the popular singer-actress posted their family photo on the social media showing her husband, former Senator Franciso “Kiko” Pangilinan, without a head during the Valentine’s Day on February 14, 2024.

The headless Kiko was seen on the social media photo standing together with Ms Cuneta and their children, a macabre post that shocked even the non-showbiz community.

In the first place, why did the Instagram allow it? How did Kiko’s headless body land in the supposed to be strictly sanitized social media platform?

Better still, why did the megastar, an educated and decent showbiz heartthrob idolized by millions of fans mostly in the bakya crowd, do that?

It naturally triggered a plethora of speculations and doubts from the nosy and suspicious public.

Fermin, 67, a former subordinate of Iloilo columnist Herbert Vego, 74, in the early 70s in Manila, and other trigger-happy entertainment writers feasted on the nasty social media photo, a one-of-a-kind in today’s gimmick-driven showbiz world.  

 

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Kiko and Sharon are not only celebrities, they are prominent social and political figures being looked up to by millions of family oriented Filipinos.

Thus, the people’s curiosity was valid. Did the couple split? Was a cold war or thunderstorm brewing within the Pangilinan household? If yes, what a way to announce the ugly domestic spat for all the world to know.

If there is smoke, there is fire.

If the popular singer-actress didn’t start the fire, so to speak, by posting on the social media that headless body of her husband, no one would badger them with those cyber “libelous” commentaries. We aren’t saying, of course, that slandering the celebrity couple, or any showbiz and non-showbiz characters for that matter, is justified. It’s the court that will determine the merits of the case.

When Ms Cuneta apologized and removed the vexatious photo from the Instagram when the fire of public annoyance turned into conflagration, it was too late. The damage to their hitherto immaculate image has been done.

In other words, she had intentionally posted that headless body of her husband, a defeated 2022 vice presidential candidate. But why?  

Why would Ms Cuneta do that bizarre act of humiliating husband Kiko if the problem was purely private?

Since that tragic Valentine’s Day social media boo-boo made by Ms Cuneta, media rascals like Fermin didn’t stop lampooning the couple.

 

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Three months later or on May 10, 2024, the megastar and the former senator filed a cyber libel complaint against the showbiz columnist at the Makati City Prosecutors Office.

They claimed that “their family was deeply affected” by the claims made by the lady columnist which led them to pursue legal action.

Ms Cuneta boomed: “Inalagaan ko ‘yung pangalan ko ng 46 years. Magandang palaki sakin ng magulang ko. At higit sa lahat, sabi nung tatlong anak ko, mabuti akong ina. So napaka sakit sakin. My children have suffered. Sama ng loob nila. We’ve been off social media partly because of this.”

She added: “Ayoko ‘to kung pwede lang, pero parang it’s a message also, artista kami pero ang daming nakakalimot na nasasaktan din kami na hindi niyo naman kami kilala nakikita niyo lang ‘yung trabaho namin.”

When asked what specific claim triggered the official complaint, the couple preferred not to disclose it, as they said it’s not allowed and it’s already included in the official written complaint.

 

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Like many tourists, I am also interested to know the following facts we did not know about the United Kingdom (U.K.) before honoring the invitation from my daughter, a registered nurse in London, to visit the U.K. (These facts came from the Internet):

1. The United Kingdom is actually made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

2. The UK is home to the world’s oldest underground railway system, the London Underground, which opened in 1863.

3. The official animal of Scotland is the unicorn.

4. The UK is the birthplace of famous authors such as William Shakespeare, J.K. Rowling, and Charles Dickens.

5. The King of the United Kingdom is the legal owner of one-sixth of the Earth’s land surface.

6. The world’s first public zoo, the London Zoo, opened in London in 1828.

7. The Big Ben clock tower in London is actually the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock, not the tower itself.

8. The River Thames, which flows through London, is the longest river in England.

9. The UK is the second-largest consumer of tea per capita, just behind Ireland.

10. The world’s oldest recorded town, Colchester, is located in England.

11. The city of Liverpool is home to the Beatles, one of the most famous bands in music history.

12. The UK is known for its love of fish and chips, a popular dish consisting of deep-fried fish and potato chips.

13. Scotland is home to the Loch Ness Monster, a mythical creature said to inhabit Loch Ness.

14. The world’s first public museum, the British Museum, was founded in London in 1753.

15. The UK is the birthplace of the English language, which is spoken by over a billion people worldwide.

16. The UK is famous for its castles, with over 1,500 castles scattered throughout the country.

17. The Queen’s Guard, responsible for guarding the British royal residences, is known for its distinctive red tunics and bearskin hats.

18. The world’s first postage stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in the UK in 1840.

19. The oldest university in the English-speaking world, the University of Oxford, was founded in the 12th century.

20. The UK is home to Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument believed to have been constructed around 3000 BC.

21. The sport of football (soccer) originated in England in the 19th century and is now one of the most popular sports in the world.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

Save the animals

 

“Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”

—Anatole France

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE image of a cow in a viral video taken in Igbaras, Iloilo in the Philippines that died slowly on May 11 due to suspected dehydration has touched a lot of netizens, including this writer.

Due to extreme heat in the Philippines, even animals are dying after suffering from severe dehydration.

No doubt we are now experiencing one of the worst heat waves brought by the dreaded El Niño, which refers to the above-average sea-surface temperatures that periodically develop across the east-central equatorial Pacific. Scientists say it represents the warm phase of the ENSO cycle.

According to AARP, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age, where I am a regular member for two years now, there are 11 ways to help animals.

We humans share the planet with 8 million other species of plants and animals, AARP said.

“We have a responsibility to future generations and all living things to protect the environment, so we can all thrive together. Protecting ecosystems and nature means protecting animals. Fortunately, there are many opportunities to help,” AARP explained.

 

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Here are 11 ways. 

1. Plant native species. Creating planet- and wildlife-friendly environments can start right in your own backyard and in your community. Plant native species of trees, bushes, and plants, especially those that flower and provide food sources for wild animals. Trees recycle oxygen, returning it to the atmosphere for us to breathe and absorbing potentially harmful gases along the way. Get involved in an organization that supports community trees like ACTress, or learn how to plant your own.

It’s also a good idea to think beyond the typical lawn, which can be a drain on water supplies and not offer much food or support for animal life. Allow your manicured lawn to go a little wild. Replace part of the lawn with vegetable or flower gardens filled with native species. Even a small garden can also have a big impact. Find out which species are native to your area. 

2. Help the zoo or aquarium. Zoos and aquariums often have wildlife conservation efforts. Find out how you can volunteer to help spread the word about or work to support wild animals through the Association of Zoo Docents and Volunteers. Or get your office involved. Whether you want to liven up your next office videoconference or want to have a special visitor when you video chat with your family, the Cincinnati Zoo puts the zoo in Zoom. For a fee, you can get a 15-minute call with zoo stars like Fiona the hippopotamus or a group of wallabies or goats.

3. Make your yard a wildlife haven. In addition to planting native food sources for wildlife in your area, you can also help them create habitats by installing bird feeders, baths, and houses. In addition to giving birds necessary shelter and sustenance, watching the birds that visit can be very entertaining. The National Wildlife Federation has other suggestions to make your yard wildlife friendly. 

 

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4. Avoid harmful chemicals. In our efforts to spur lawn growth and control pests, we may turn to chemical solutions, which can be very harmful to wildlife like bees and butterflies that are helpful to the environment. Fertilizers usually find their way into water sources, polluting rivers, and streams, causing harmful algae blooms, and poisoning the aquatic life.Instead, opt for natural pest control to discourage critters in your garden, and organic fertilizers like animal manure or compost.

5. Pick up trash. Picking up trash not only protects the environment and keeps our surroundings beautiful, but it can also save wildlife. Plastic bags and twine can easily trap birds and other smaller animals, hurting or killing them or making them easy prey. So put on your gloves, grab some trash bags, and pick up litter to protect wildlife—and keep your neighborhood looking good.

6. Become a citizen scientist. Researchers who need help gathering wildlife and insect counts may turn to the public for help. This provides interesting and fun opportunities for you to lend a hand from home. For example, the Great Sunflower Project is studying bee populations around the country. To participate, you need a bit of a green thumb. The project asks that you plant and grow lemon queen sunflowers in your yard. Once they bloom, you count the number of pollinators that land on the sunflowers in five-minute segments.

7. Learn about endangered species. The Endangered Species Coaltion helps identify endangered species and share how people can help to preserve them. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also has an endangered species website that shares information about endangered animals in the U.S. and how people can help them. Share what you learn on social media or get involved with a conservation organization. 

 

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8. Adopt an animal. Protect the animal of your choice—one either threatened by endangerment in a far-off land or by abandonment nearby. Defenders of Wildlife lets you symbolically adopt a wild animal of your choosing. Your donation goes to improving habitats, research, monitoring, and ultimately saving the species from endangerment. Make it a birthday gift for your animal fanatic friend! 

9. Do your part. What animal rights issue troubles you the most? Poaching? Cruelty? Fur? Whatever it is, you can act. Humane Society and World Wildlife Fund can help you find out petitions to sign, bills to support and state representatives to write. By acting, you’ll give a voice to those who don’t have one.

10. Donate. Your gift to a trusted animal rights organization will be appreciated and well utilized. By supporting their concerted efforts, you play a valuable role in the protection of wildlife and in helping our planet thrive. You can also donate to local shelters in need. Many animal shelters and rescue centers lack the necessary provisions to keep animals healthy and safe. If you can’t adopt, giving your extra food and supplies—or volunteering—can be just as valuable in helping these shelters survive.

11. Understand human impact . Population increases pose a threat to wildlife as previous resources diminish. Whether it’s for science, food or greed, humans endanger animals, sometimes without considering the positive impact wildlife can have on the posterity of our planet.

What can we do? Let’s stay informed on the issues, knowour impact in the ecosystem and take our part in protecting wildlife. Earth and its present and future habitants will be grateful.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

Warning against making politics a main livelihood

 

“Politics have no relation to morals.”

— Niccolo Machiavelli

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE had warned in the past that those who made politics as their main livelihood would always end up in grief and anxiety if they couldn’t sustain the momentum that brought them in that “profession.”

At this early, some of those aspiring for another term or itching to comeback in the local positions in 2025 have started to queue for slots in the most influential and rich political parties.

Affiliations with political parties have nothing to do with their principle. It’s a matter of survival thus they don’t give a hoot if they land in the most despicable party that does not represent their values and identity—as long as the party can ferry them to victory.

In the aftermath of the 2022 election when many so-called celebrities failed to secure a reelection, we had warned that in order to “survive” in life victory for them was a must; they must win in every election and there should be no room for failure or loss.

A defeat means losing their livelihood; it may not be the end of the world for them, but losing an election is tantamount to losing a major source of regular income, aside from losing their self-esteem.

 

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We know a lot of politicians who ended up like beggars after failing to secure a reelection victory. Some of these vanquished politicians languished in destitution and died a pauper after failing to win a reelection bid in the major positions especially in the local legislature.

If they joined politics purely with a passion to serve, losing in the election isn’t a major event. It can neither shake their spirit nor diminish their self worth.

Either they will try their luck in the next election or stay away from politics for good if they feel politics or civil service isn’t their forte.

They can survive without politics because they have been financially independent even before they dabbled in politics.

They must beware of politics. It can either make them rich and famous if they get lucky to always stay in the winning column every election, or make them poorer financially, dash their hopes for a glamorous life to pieces, and destroy their life.

 

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It’s been 12 years since I interviewed Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban in the media center of the MGM Gand in Las Vegas while covering the fight of defeated presidential candidate, Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

The chance to interview Cuban came when he visited the media center. Then ranked as among the richest in the world, according to Forbes, Cuban had failed to acquire the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers. My brief interview with him had something to do with his plan to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“When I become owner of Dodgers,” Cuban explained, “fans will never again have to worry about the Dodgers having enough money to sign the best players.”

Cuban continued: “I will spend so much money. Bud will consider fining me. As you know I’ve racked up something like $1.665 million in NBA fines, so if that’s what it takes to have the best team in Los Angeles, bring it on, Buddy Boy. I matched every dollar that I was fined and donated it to charity. I do believe in community, and have the check stubs to prove it.”

 

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The 2024 NBA Draft Lottery was nothing if not entertaining television.

Although the incoming draft is widely regarded as one of the weakest classes in NBA history, David Suggs and Brendan OSullivan reported that there’s something quite alluring about the concept of teams pinning their hopes for the future on a couple of plastic ping-pong balls.

They think this year’s version of the event was about as dramatic as one could hope for.

The Hawks and Rockets climbed into the top four despite entering the day with odds of 3.0 and 1.5 percent, respectively, of landing the No. 1 pick.

When the dust settled, it was Atlanta that nabbed the grandest of all prizes. The Hawks will select first in the NBA Draft for the first time since 1975 when they took Hall-of-Famer David Thompson.

At present, it looks unlikely that any of Atlanta’s potential options at No. 1 will be able to match Thompson’s peak. Then again, you never know.

Nevertheless, the Hawks will be buzzing with an opportunity to accelerate their retool and acquire more high-level pieces to pair with supernova Trae Young.

Atlanta will be followed by the Wizards, Rockets, and Spurs in the top four. The Pistons, who finished with the worst record in the league for the second-consecutive season, will pick fifth in this year’s draft…for the second straight season.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

But Jamjam doesn’t sink

“Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed.”

— Mao Zedong

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE main worries of the Treñas political bandwagon in Iloilo City nowadays is that it appears it has failed to convince many political leaders and allies in the barangays to shift their allegiance to Raisa Treñas-Tiu or Raisa Treñas two months after Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas announced his breakup with former protégé, lone district Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda.

The Treñas camp was expecting a tsunami to hit Baronda after that shock announcement of parting of ways, but what happened was a drizzle.

Based on most recent developments, there are pro-Treñas political leaders and allies, including their supporters, who are adamant to junk Baronda for Raisa.

In fact, the efforts to isolate and jettison Baronda may have backfired; the lady solon apparently continues to enjoy immense popularity among the women and young voters who have found no major reason to dump her.

This is a bad start and definitely a potential major headache for the Treñas camp.

 

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If city hall can’t halt Baronda’s surge despite the sustained carpet-bombing these past weeks, Treñas might indeed be forced to swallow his pride and face Baronda in the congressional battle, instead of risking everything by forcing his daughter to tangle versus the more popular and charismatic Baronda.

If Papa Jerry, who has an amazing string of political victory, will take the driver’s seat against Baronda, daughter Raisa will understand. She can pave the way and wait in 2028.

But if Papa Jerry really thinks daughter Raisa is ripe for the coveted congressional job despite the handwriting on the wall and they can hack the win against the “silent” Baronda, father and daughter might decide to cross the bridge together with bated breath.  

Politics has always been full of surprises and tense moments.

It’s too early to speculate and many things could happen before the serious campaign kicks off for the 2025 local election.

 

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MORE former Department of Health (DoH) secretaries and high-ranking officials have been implicated in plunder and charged with violation of anti-graft and corrupt practices act.

From now Iloilo first district Rep. Janette Loreto-Garin to Dr. Francisco Duque III, among other health department bigwigs.

In the list of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) for the most corrupt departments and agencies, the top three were the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs.

DoH could be in the top 10 along with Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Philippine National Police (PNP).

What happened to the big names from the aforementioned departments who were implicated in graft and corruption or those who enriched themselves while in office?

  

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(Ika-004 nga Binalaybay sa serye nga tag-ilinit. Ginbalay ni Ambassador, Leo Tito L. Ausan, Jr., sa Kaagahon sang ika-11 sang Mayo,2024, sa Dhaka, Bangladesh.)

 

BISAN PA NGA MABUDLAY

I

Ang mga ginaatubang nga kahimtangan kag bagay, Agud indî ka dayon magtigulang, mahapos lang kag tuman ka halay,

Atubanga lang ini nga nagayuhom kag may kalipay.

II

Bisan pa gabi tuman ka gin-ot,

Indî ka gid magbinuringot,

 Kay madasig lang sinâ ang hitsura mo maga kulurinot,

Ari ay laygay ko nga lusot,

Kabiga lang ini nga tion sang Kaham-ot,

Kay bulawanon ini nga tion kon san-o,

Tanan kita makapaindis-indis sang aton mga ilok, magpahamot-hamot!..

 

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FIRST CONTRACEPTIVE. The first known contraceptive was crocodile dung, used by the Egyptians in 2,000 B.C. It was replaced with elephant droppings when they realized it wouldn’t work.

CALORIES BURNT. The more intense the sex, the more calories are burnt: up to 10,000 calories annually. How? Having sex 3 times a week burns 7,500 calories per year. That’s the equivalent of jogging 75 miles (120.675 km).

PREGNANT AFTER ORGASM. If a woman experiences an orgasm during sex, she’s more likely to become pregnant, since orgasmic spasms in pelvic muscles can help move sperm up the vaginal canal to the uterus.

INFERTILE. Although it only takes one sperm to fertilize an egg, a man whose ejaculate yields less than 35 million sperm is considered infertile.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo. — Ed)

 

‘Tagging’

 “The spirit of arrogance most definitely makes you shine. It paints a bright red target on your own forehead.”

― Criss Jami, Killosophy

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IN Iloilo, Philippines in 1992, a colleague in the publication once “red-tagged” this writer and a colleague, now Atty. Teopisto “Pet” Melliza.

The publication would be better off without the two (yours truly and Pet) “reds”, the colleague told the management.

Honestly, I had no inkling then that being tagged as “red” in the Philippines was tantamount to being accused as “communist” or “left-leaning”.

Until now I can’t accept the “tagging” because I was not “left-leaning” and never a “communist”. It’s mind-boggling how I was dragged into that unwanted docket.

Back in 1987 in Baguio City, the late former Sun Star Iloilo editor-in-chief Ivan Suansing, West Visayas State University mass communication professor Ricky Aballena, and yours truly attended the last national congress of the “reformed” College Editors Guild of the Philippines as campus editors.

CEGP, an alliance of collegiate student publications in the Philippines and the oldest and only-existing publications alliance in the Asia-Pacific founded in 1931, had been tagged by the military as “left-leaning” even before the Marcos dictatorship in the 70s.  

 

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We weren’t supposed to be “left-leaning” because the national congress was officially known as the CEGP-RM or College Editors Guild of the Philippines-Reform Movement.

The attachment of the words “Reform Movement” by the organizers had sparked a tremendous controversy then nationally as some true-blooded CEGP veterans in the 60s and 70s resented it, but it was none of our business. We went to the national media congress as representatives of Iloilo City, not for any realpolitik or as political pawns or sympathizers and spies from the left or right hemispheres.

Red-tagging isn’t new to the country: Implemented in 1969, the government-backed campaign was designed to “tag” and counter communist and Maoist groups, particularly the New People’s Army (NPA), according to Human Rights Foundation Legal & Policy Intern Tanyalak Thongyoojaroen.

Red-tagging has since become a destructive tool to quash dissent. Under the former Duterte government and his National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), the regime has used the guise of red-tagging to crack down on activists and dissidents.

In the United States, “Red” is a short form of Redskin; usually an adjective in “the Red Man” or “Red Indians” and is referred to Native Americans, especially in North America; more often considered offensive since the mid-20th century; capitalization varies, leaning upper-case.

In North America, the term is now considered a racial slur.

The use of the term Indian or the natives of the Americas originated with Christopher Columbus, who mistakenly believed that the Antilles were the islands of the Indian Ocean, known to Europeans as the Indies. Though Columbus’ mistake was soon recognized, the name stuck, and for centuries the native people of the Americas were called Indians.

We are glad that the Philippine Supreme Court (SC) has declared that red-tagging in the Philippines and guilt by association threatens a person’s constitutional right to life, liberty and security.

 

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The SC noted in a 39-page decision that red-tagging has been acknowledged by international organizations as a form of harassment and intimidation.

According to SC, being labeled as “red” often comes with frequent surveillance, direct harassment and, in some instances, eventual death.

The high tribunal noted that being associated with communists or terrorists makes the red-tagged person “a target of vigilantes, paramilitary groups or even state agents.”

Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda, who penned the ruling, stated: “Thus, it is easy to comprehend how a person may, in certain circumstances, develop or harbor fear that being red-tagged places his or her life or security in peril.”

The SC further noted that red-tagging is the use of threats and intimidation to discourage “subversive activities.”

The ruling stemmed from a petition filed by our fellow Ilonggo, Siegfred Deduro, an activist and former representative of party-list Bayan Muna and a founding member and vice president for the Visayas of Bayan Muna and the Makabayan coalition.

Deduro sought in his petition the issuance of a writ of amparo, a remedy for those whose right to life, liberty or security has been violated or threatened.

He said military officers under the command of Maj. Gen. Eric Vinoya, the commanding officer of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, red-tagged and accused him of being a ranking member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo. — Ed)

 

Pinay who falsified name smitten by a Mexican lady

 

“As usual, there is a great woman behind every idiot.”

—John Lennon

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WHEN Josefa Alcoriza landed in the United States via Los Angeles, California sometime in May 1990, she knew flying back again into the “land of milk and honey”–if ever she decided to return to the Philippines–would be next to impossible.

“So, I decided to go TNT (tago ng tago),” she admitted while flashing a funny face, her mannerism.

Alcoriza, 65, of Purok 1 Sisi, Magsungay, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines, used a fake name in a valid passport when she obtained a tourist visa.

Her first application was denied in the US Embassy in Lahug, Cebu City.

“I was so desperate to go to the United States because of a very humiliating incident in our place where my name was implicated,” Alcoriza volunteered.

She did not give details.

“It was a love triangle turned awry and I don’t want to recall the past now. It gives me more pain each time I remember it,” Alcoriza explained in vernacular.

 

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When she first applied for tourist visa three months earlier sometime in 1990, her application was denied “because I didn’t know how to describe Mickey Mouse,” Alcoriza chortled.

“The consul said, ‘what is the purpose of your travel?’ I answered, ‘to see the Disneyland, sir.’ He asked me, ‘what is there in Disneyland that you want to see?’ I answered, ‘Mickey Mouse, sir.’ He asked more: ‘Who is Mickey Mouse?’ I answered, ‘He is a rabbit, sir. A big rabbit with tall ears, two big teeth, and small begotes (beard)’,” disclosed Alcoriza.

“It’s Bugs Bunny you are describing,” Alcoriza recalled the consul as telling her.

Nursing a heartache, Alcoriza returned to Bacolod, her passport stamped with a word “denied.”

Upon the advice of a travel agency fixer, she changed her name and applied for renewal of her passport.

 

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Alcoriza tried her luck in the US Embassy this time in Manila under a false name.

She succeeded in her nefarious act and was granted a tourist visa with multiple entry good for 10 years.

Alcoriza, a lesbian, stayed alternately in Los Angeles, Anaheim, Sacrameto in California for three years working as nanny and dabbled in housekeeping before flying to El Paso, Texas to work “under the table” in a garment factory.

“That’s where I met Rosanita (Ortaleza), the love of my life,” revealed Alcoriza, who was then 43 years old.

Rosanita, 30, was a Mexican illegal immigrant, who entered El Paso through the barricades or popularly known as “over the bakod” (over the fence).

“I loved Rosanita and she loved me, too. At least that’s what she told me,” Alcoriza alleged.

Single, with money to burn, and with no big family to support in the Philippines, Alcoriza showered Rosanita with amenities in life, including expensive jewelry and signature handbags.

 

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Through Alcoriza’s “kindness”, Rosanita was able to send $500 a week to her family in Ciudad Juarez, a neighboring Mexican border city located a stone throw away from El Paso.

“Rosanita was my world; she was my everything until one day in 1994 she just disappeared without a trace,” she said. “No any sign of departure. No letter. No notice whatsoever.”

Rosanita’s mobile phone “could not be reached”, she said.

Balajadia said she surmised either Rosanita was caught by border patrol guards and deported back to Ciudad Juarez or had eloped with a Hispanic man.

To compound the matter, Alcoriza discovered their joint savings account at Wells Fargo had been emptied.

“Only $15 was left out of about $8,000 in our joint account,” sobbed Alcoriza.

She approached a certain Romulo Contreras, a Hispanic-speaking bank executive and learned from him the money had been withdrawn through a normal process via ATM.

Alcoriza refused to believe she had been conned after being castigated by friends for trusting Rosanita.

 

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After a futile attempt to search or “rescue” her girlfriend in 1996, Alcoriza decided to “forget Rosanita for a while” and made a rendezvous to Jersey City in New Jersey.

When her tourist visa expired in 2000, Alcoriza was already a long-time “resident” of New York.

“I have made adjustment (with my life here) and I didn’t intend to go back to the Philippines anymore,” she intoned.

Balajadia found a new flame, Alma (not her real name), a Pinay caregiver in Long Island.

They lived together in one apartment in Queens.

Alcoriza disclosed she also maintained “off and on” relationships with two other Pinoy women — Jamjam and Rhodora (not their real names), both caregivers.

Alma, a public school teacher in Carmona, Cavite, Philippines, was building a P1.8-million house in Brgy. Barrios, Carmona through Alcoriza’s “generosity.”

Alcoriza admitted that “at this point of my life, I can’t afford to be alone. All I wanted was a woman, a life-time partner.”

Warned by “concerned” friends on the possible repeat of her ill-fated romance with the “desaparecido” Rosanita, Alcoriza bemoaned, “Give me a woman or give me death.”

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo. — Ed)

 

Baronda, Trenas cancel each other in social media posts

 “There will always be rivalry on the field. Off the field, we are friends, but on it, we have to do our job.”

— Shikhar Dhawan

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THOSE who followed the Meta or Facebook pages of political allies-turned-nemesis Iloilo City lone district Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda and Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas would easily notice a striking similarity in the way they recently handled some photos taken in public gatherings where they were both present.

In group photos posted on their respective social media accounts, they deleted each other from the group but retained all other political personalities present.

Those who followed only Treñas’ social media page where the photo or photos were posted, couldn’t see Baronda, for instance, in a round table where fellow high-ranking government officials were present.

Vice versa if social media followers saw only Baronda’s account and didn’t see or follow Trenas’ account.

 

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Although this may appear hilarious others who noticed this eerie treatment of social media photos did not really find it uncanny considering the fact that they are now estranged and, in fact, potential rivals in the 2025 election.

When two partners have severed their ties, we should always expect some rib-tickling and comical scenarios. Politics has always been full of amusing synopsis and waggish entertainment. And there will be more to come as the contest heats up.   

Their rivalry and cold war might escalate into a battle for appearances in more projects, public activities and programs, and social media followers.

Meta or Facebook, Instagram, X of formerly Twitter, TikTok, Youtube, Reddit, Linkedin, Tumblr, among others social media platforms, have become part of the major propaganda campaign platforms.

Technology—the Artificial Intelligence (AI) most particularly—will definitely play a key role in the next elections worldwide.

 

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A RETIRED former manager of the of the government-run television network Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation or IBC-13 has expressed relief that finally the long-overdue retirement pay for a total of 145 former employees would be released.

But the retired former manager, who requested anonymity until after he has made sure he was qualified to receive his part, was “half happy and half sad,” he said.

“Anohon pa ang damu kon patay na ang kabayo (What use will it be for the grass if the horse is dead)?” lamented the retired former IBC manager who is now based in the United States, referring to some of his former colleagues who have already died and could no longer enjoy the retirement pay.

But he said he was ready “to give credit where credit is due” if it is true that it was President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who really pushed for the release of their retirement pay.

It was reported recently that Presidential Communications Office (PCO) chief Secretary Cheloy Garafil has confirmed that settling the retirement pay of the former IBC employees was one of the marching orders of President Marcos Jr.

Around 200 families benefited from the development, according to IBC-13 president and chief executive officer Jimmie Policarpio.

 

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NO MAN IS AN ISLAND. The reason why a seesaw was made for two persons is that when you go down, there would always be someone there to lift you up again!

UNCOVER THE GIFTS. Happiness doesn’t come in brightly colored packages as gifts from others. It comes when we uncover the gifts within us and use them to serve others.

ALLERGIES. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about allergies New York City Health + Hospitals:

-My throat is sore, how do I know this is not an infection?

Post nasal drip from allergies can cause irritation leading to coughing and sore throat. Your Virtual ExpressCare provider can help you understand how this is different than a throat infection.

-My eyes are red. Do I have pink eye?

Seasonal allergies cause a type of pink eye called allergic conjunctivitis. This is not an infection and is not contagious.

-I have been using a nasal steroid spray for 24 hours, but my symptoms haven’t improved. Should I stop?

Nasal steroid sprays (fluticasone) can take up to 48 hours to fully take effect. Be patient, they will bring you relief. Call us for options for more immediate relief.

-There are so many allergy medications at the pharmacy, how do I know what’s best?

Allergy symptoms are caused by a complex immune system response. Different allergy medications block this response at different levels. Having options is good, but it can be overwhelming.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

Face to face with Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night

 

“Now, I understand what you tried to say to me

And how you suffered for your sanity

And how you tried to set them free

They would not listen, they did not know how

Perhaps they’ll listen now.”

—Don McLean in “Vincent”

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

I HAD the privilege to see face-to-face Vincent van Gogh’s real The Starry Night (Saint Remy, June 1889) currently being displayed at the The Alfred H. Barr, Jr. Galleries on 5^th floor of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City.

Thanks to UNIQLO, MoMA’s partner of #ArtForAll, which gave us free entrance as New York residents on May 3. UNIQLO NYC Nights is an event held in the first Friday of each month.

MoMA is actually staying open late on the first Friday of every month and admission is free just for New Yorkers. Its galleries are constantly changing to share new artists and ideas, “and we want you to be a part of it,” says MoMa admission ticket sent to yours truly online.

In creating this image of the night sky—dominated by the bright moon at right and Venus at center left—van Gogh heralded modern painting’s new embrace of mood, expression, symbol, and sentiment.

Inspired by the view from his window at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Remy, in southern France, where the artist spent twelve months in 1889–90 seeking reprieve from his mental illnesses, The Starry Night (made in mid-June) is both an exercise in observation and a clear departure from it.

 

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The vision took place at night, yet the painting, among hundreds of artworks van Gogh made that year, was created in several sessions during the day, under entirely different atmospheric conditions.

The picturesque village nestled below the hills was based on other views—it could not be seen from his window—and the cypress at left appears much closer than it was. And although certain features of the sky have been reconstructed as observed, the artist altered celestial shapes and added a sense of glow.

Van Gogh assigned an emotional language to night and nature that took them far from their actual appearances.

Dominated by vivid blues and yellows applied with gestural verve and immediacy, The Starry Night also demonstrates how inseparable van Gogh’s vision was from the new procedures of painting he had devised, in which color and paint describe a world outside the artwork even as they telegraph their own status as, merely, color and paint.

 

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MEET THE 10 NEW SUPERFOODS. The superstars — blueberries, almonds, tomatoes, flaxseeds, broccoli, red wine, salmon, olive oil, edamme, brown rice. The understudy — strawberries, peanuts, white button mushrooms, beer, sunflower seeds, cauliflower,  trout, safflower oil, black beans, barley. Source: Sally Kuzemchak, R.D., Fitness: Mind, Body + Spirit

OUTSMARTING A SNACK ATTACK. Eating two small snacks a day can help us lose weight. Trouble is, research shows that we’re munching more than ever before–choosing foods that are high in calories and fat–and packing on the pounds as a result. “Often we’re not even hungry, but because we’re surrounded by food, we’re tempted to eat anyway,” says Kerry Neville, Ph.D. of American Dietetic Assn.

RESPECT THEIR PRIVACY, PLEASE. If cops in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho suspect a couple is having sex inside a vehicle they must honk their horn three times and wait two minutes before being allowed to approach the scene.

LET US STAND UP BEFORE TOUCHING THE TOILET HANDLE.  One in three people flush while sitting down. If we are one of them, let us consider this: When we flush, droplets of water spray in the air. That means we can be exposed to bacteria, which increases our risk of getting a urinary tract infection (UTI). Source: Soap and Water & Common Sense.

POPULAR BRA. According to a U.S. market research firm, the most popular American bra size is currently 36C, up from 1991 when it was 34B.

POWERFUL GRASS. God wants us to live like the grass. Inspite of being stepped on, crushed, burned, or cut, it always persists and grow back…even greener and stronger. A blessed Monday to everyone.

IN BED TOGETHER. The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime-time television were Fred and Wilma Fintstone.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

NUJP Iloilo and World Press Freedom Day

 

“A free press can, of course, be good or bad, but, most certainly without freedom, the press will never be anything but bad.”

— Albert Camus

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

ON May 3, 1991, we (Diosa Labiste, Nereo Lujan, Femia Pedregosa, Danny Alcoriza, and yours truly) held our first meeting at 2 o’clock in the afternoon at the old Mansion House on J.M. Basa Street, Iloilo City to organize the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)-Iloilo Chapter.

Nereo, now an Iloilo capitol executive, was appointed by then NUJP national chair Leo Santiago as interim president. We elected Limuel Celebria as the first NUJP-Iloilo president thereafter.

The significance of this date was it coincided with the World Press Freedom Day, which has been observed annually on May 3rd, a significant day honoring and upholding the fundamental principles of press freedom.

It is a call to action, urging us to advocate for the independence of the media and the protection of journalists. It recognizes the vital role that a free and independent press plays in upholding the public’s right to information and holding those in power accountable.

The Government of Chile and UNESCO hosted the 31st World Press Freedom Day Conference in Santiago this year, with the theme for 2024 being “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis.”

 

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World Press Freedom Day this year was dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis.

Awareness of all aspects of the global environmental crisis and its consequences is essential to build democratic societies. Journalistic work is indispensable for this purpose, according to the United Nations.

It added that journalists encounter significant challenges in seeking and disseminating information on contemporary issues, such as supply-chains problems, climate migration, extractive industries, illegal mining, pollution, poaching, animal trafficking, deforestation, or climate change.

Ensuring the visibility of these issues is crucial for promoting peace and democratic values worldwide.

In the context of the world’s triple planetary crisis —climate change, biodiversity loss, and air pollution— dis-/misinformation campaigns challenge knowledge and scientific research methods. Attacks on the validity of science pose a serious threat to pluralistic and informed public debate. Indeed, misleading and false information about climate change can, in some cases, undermine international efforts to address them.

Dis-/misinformation about environmental issues can lead to a lack of public and political support for climate action, effective policies, and the protection of vulnerable communities affected by climate change, as well as of women and girls, as climate change tends to exacerbate existing inequalities.

To achieve sustainable development, it is necessary for journalists to report accurately, timely, and comprehensively on environmental issues and their consequences, as well as on possible solutions.

 

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UN said this requires a comprehensive strategy that includes:

-Preventing and protecting against crimes committed against journalists.  

-Ensuring the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of scientific research, and access to key sources of information, in addition to combating dis-/misinformation through journalism.  

-Promoting the plurality, diversity, and viability of media, especially regional, local, indigenous, and/or community-based media.  

-Ensuring that the governance of digital platforms foster the transparency of technology companies, their accountability, due diligence, user empowerment, and content moderation and curation based on international human rights’ standards, as indicated in UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms.

-Promoting Media and Information Literacy programs to empower users with skills to engage and think critically in the digital environment

As we commemorated World Press Freedom Day on May 3, we reflect on the importance of free and independent media and recommit ourselves to the protection and promotion of this fundamental human right as together.

We can ensure that journalists can continue to fulfill their vital role in informing and empowering the public without fear of reprisal or censorship.

 

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Here are some World Freedom Press Day quotes, wishes, images, and more below:

1. Celebrating the voices that bring us the truth. Happy World Press Freedom Day!

2. To all journalists worldwide: your courage in telling the truth makes a difference. Wish you a safe and free Press Freedom Day.

3. In honor of World Press Freedom Day, let’s remember the importance of a free press in keeping societies informed and accountable.

4. May the press always be free, and the truth never be a casualty. Wishing everyone a reflective World Press Freedom Day.

5. Here’s to defending and celebrating the journalists who face challenges every day to report the truth. Happy World Press Freedom Day!

6. Wishing all journalists and media professionals a very Happy Press Freedom Day 2024! May your courage and dedication continue to illuminate the truth and foster transparency in our society.

7. On World Press Freedom Day, let’s celebrate the essential role of the free press in upholding democracy and safeguarding human rights. Here’s to fearless journalism and informed citizens in 2024!

8. Happy Press Freedom Day 2024! May this day remind us of the importance of protecting press freedom as a pillar of democracy and a watchdog of justice and equality.

9. As we celebrate Press Freedom Day 2024, let us commit to supporting and defending the rights of journalists around the world to report freely and without fear. Your voices are vital.

10. This Press Freedom Day, let’s honor those who bring us the news with integrity and bravery. Wishing a safe and free journalistic environment for all media professionals in 2024!

11. On World Press Freedom Day, we recognize the essential work of journalists who strive to keep the public informed. May 2024 bring you greater freedom and protection as you continue your vital role in society.

12. Wishing everyone a thoughtful World Press Freedom Day 2024! May we all appreciate and uphold the freedom of the press, recognizing its critical role in our democracy and our lives.

13. Wishing a courageous Press Freedom Day to all journalists who tackle the environmental crisis through their reporting. May your efforts lead to greater awareness and prompt global action to safeguard our environment.

14. This Press Freedom Day, we celebrate the fearless and dedicated journalists who bring critical environmental stories to light. Thank you for being the voice of our planet during these critical times. Keep inspiring change!

15. Happy World Press Freedom Day! We celebrate the strength and bravery of journalists everywhere. Your dedication to unveiling the truth makes the world a better place.

16. Wishing everyone a thoughtful World Press Freedom Day 2024! May we all appreciate and uphold the freedom of the press, recognizing its critical role in our democracy and our lives.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)