The San Miguel Beermen (SMB) overcame a slow start and eventually cruised to an eighth straight victory by crushing the Terrafirma Dyip, 135-115, on Wednesday night, December 17, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Reigning nine-time PBA Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo showed off his all-around game, finishing with a triple-double of 10 points, 13 …
Monthly Archives: December 2025
Lack of notice | Baciwa puzzled over PrimeWater sale despite JVA
By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) has questioned PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. over its alleged failure to disclose the sale of the company despite their existing joint venture agreement (JVA), considering that the partnership directly affects the delivery of water services to city residents. In a media interview, Baciwa Acting Manager Engineer …
America in trouble
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim It is true that in these social media times, reading hard copy may not be the norm. Still, we love the feel and convenience of not turning on a device just for the simple pleasure of reading and manually turning actual pages. And Time magazine is our favorite hard copy. …
Christian confidence amid mysteries
By Fr. Roy Cimagala Each year, our longing for the birth of Christ is heightened, thanks to our tradition of the Simbang Gabi that up to now enjoys vast popularity especially among the simple people who are gifted with a lot of faith. Let’s hope that this tradition continues “sine fine” or “in aeternum.” We …
The unwritten code
By Herman M . Lagon We live in a world quietly guided by invisible rules — those unspoken cues we’re never formally taught, yet somehow instinctively follow. They don’t show up in manuals or school syllabi, but they shape our days just the same. These quiet norms make life a little less awkward, a …
Negros chief execs seek review of One Hospital Command referral system
By CESAR JOLITO III The Negros Association of Chief Executives (ACE) has raised concerns over the implementation of the One Hospital Command (OHC), calling for a thorough review and fine-tuning of the provincial health referral system following mounting public complaints. Negros ACE president and Cadiz City Mayor Salvador “Bading” Escalante said the initiative, while well-intentioned, …
Bacolod grants regular status to longtime job order workers
By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod City government has regularized several longtime job order (JO) workers, citing years of dedicated service and consistent performance, in a move that city officials say reflects a broader commitment to dignity and fairness in public employment. Mayor Greg Gasataya confirmed that the regularization forms part of the city’s policy …
P500 Noche Buena ‘far from reality’: NDF
By CESAR JOLITO III With just seven days before Christmas Eve, the National Democratic Front (NDF) in the Negros Island Region has challenged the government’s claim that a P500 budget is sufficient for a Noche Buena spread, urging instead a stronger push to develop local industries and revitalize the agricultural sector to ease the burden …
Full police deployment in NegOr for holiday season
The entire police force in Negros Oriental is fully deployed for the Christmas and New Year celebrations to ensure public safety, an official said on Tuesday, December 16. Lt. Stephen Polinar, acting spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO) and head of the provincial police tourism unit, said in an interview that 1,400 …
Victorias City passes ordinance to curb abuse in social aid payouts
The Victorias City council in Negros Occidental has passed an ordinance seeking to curb corruption and abuse in the distribution of government social assistance to Victoriasanons. Authored by Vice Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, the Social Assistance Monitoring and Transparency Ordinance establishes the Local Social Assistance Monitoring Team tasked to monitor, document and ensure transparency in …