By Ignacio R. Bunye The Philippine Senate has always been a stage for political maneuvering, but the recent takeover by the Gatchalian group has pushed the chamber into uncharted waters. What was once a bastion of deliberation is now fractured, with two blocs claiming legitimacy, holding parallel hearings and trading accusations of coups and circus …
Monthly Archives: June 2026
The anthem we half-sing
By Herman M. Lagon A public school Monday morning is easy to picture. The courtyard fills with uneven lines of students, some sleepy, some still eating pandesal. A teacher fiddles with the speaker. The flag rises and “Lupang Hinirang” begins. For a minute and a half, the courtyard echoes with the anthem — some voices …
Killing the mood: Smartphones reduce birth rate, studies say
As governments around the world struggle with ways to reverse plunging birth rates, new US studies suggest they have ignored a key culprit — the smartphone. “Is the iPhone Birth Control?” a paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, delved into why US fertility rates have fallen by 22 percent since 2007. For …
Bacolod SP backs bill on teacher salary hike
By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA The Bacolod City council has approved a resolution expressing its strong support for several pending legislative measures in the 20th Congress that seek to substantially increase the salaries and improve the benefits of public school teachers nationwide. Councilor Caesar Distrito said they appealed to both the Senate and the House of …
Bacolod celebrates 128th Independence Day
By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA The Bacolod City government will mark the 128th Philippine Independence Day on Friday, June 12, with athlete Brianna Nikola Ang as the guest of honor and speaker. The commemoration rites will be attended by city officials led by Mayor Greg Gasataya, department heads and representatives from various government agencies. The program …
Bacolod City positions as premier sustainable urban hub in Visayas
Bacolod City is positioning itself to become a premier sustainable urban hub in the Visayas through a strategic roadmap aligned with global standards. The goal was highlighted in the investment framework presented by the city’s Department of Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions (DLEDIP) during the European Union (EU) – City of Bacolod Economic Alliance …
Health monitoring in schools urged
By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA The Bacolod City council urged the City Health Office (CHO) to coordinate with all public and private schools in the city to monitor health, first aid readiness and emergency response plans for students. “Schools serve as a primary setting where health concerns, injuries and medical emergencies involving students may occur, necessitating …
P360-K property lost to Sipalay fire
By CESAR JOLITO III The estimated damage due to the fire at Barangay 2 in Negros Occidental’s Sipalay City was placed at approximately P360,000, the Bureau of Fire Protection said. The blaze, occurred at 8:28 a.m. on Wednesday, June 10, gutted the house of “Rang,” 39 years old, a resident of Purok 3. Fire investigators …
2 teenagers hacked
By CESAR JOLITO III Two male teenagers were injured after they were allegedly stabbed by an unidentified man during a drinking session following a sitio fiesta celebration at Barangay Magallon Cadre in Negros Occidental’s Moises Padilla town early Wednesday morning, June 11. The incident occurred at 3:25 a.m. in Sitio Takasan. The victims were identified …
Laborer found dead inside home
By CESAR JOLITO III A 56-year-old laborer was found dead inside his residence at Barangay Cabacungan in Negros Occidental’s La Castellana town at around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10. La Castellana police said a concerned neighbor informed them upon discovering the victim unresponsive inside his home at Purok 3. Based on the inquiry, the …