By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA “May this gathering inspire us to strengthen our love for our city, deepen our commitment to public service, and reaffirm our belief that Bacolod’s brightest future will be achieved when we move forward, stronger together.” This was stressed by Bacolod Acting Vice Mayor Caesar Distrito in his opening remarks during the …
Monthly Archives: June 2026
Kawit and the everyday test of freedom
By Ignacio R. Bunye On June 12, 1898, General Emilio Aguinaldo stood on the balcony of his ancestral home in Cavite el Viejo (now Kawit) and proclaimed the independence of the Philippines from Spain. The Philippine flag, sewn in Hong Kong by Marcela Agoncillo, was unfurled for the first time, and the Marcha Filipina Magdalo …
The wrong lesson
By Herman M. Lagon Most people attend review sessions expecting answers. One aspiring teacher left with more questions. What began as a discussion about the drug war eventually became a conversation about discernment, human dignity and the example being set before future teachers. I have never believed that teachers should leave their political views at …
Freedom of expression ‘shrinking dangerously’
The space for freedom of expression is shrinking dramatically as many countries, abetted by new technologies and digital giants, suppress dissent and as artificial intelligence runs “amok,” a United Nations (UN) expert warned. The UN special rapporteur on the freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan highlighted that the ongoing conflation of state and corporate …
Bacolod to remove shanties at plaza
By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA The Bacolod City government is set to remove shanties at the public plaza today. City Administrator Mark Steven Mayo said they will clear the plaza from obstructions following the alleged holdup incident on Sunday, June 14. Authorities observed that some individuals are now living within the plaza. “It is a public …
‘Holdup victim’ yet to surface to prove claims
By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA The Bacolod City Police Station 1 is still waiting for the alleged holdup victim to appear at the station and officially report the incident. This, after the alleged victim visited the office of City Administrator Mark Steven Mayo and gave her testimony regarding the incident on Wednesday night, June 17. Police …
Man shot dead outside Calatrava home
By CESAR JOLITO III A 39-year-old man was shot dead outside his residence in Negros Occidental’s Calatrava in the early hours yesterday, with police launching a manhunt for the still unidentified gunman. Calatrava police said the incident occurred at 1:35 a.m. in Barangay Patun-an’s Zone 3. Initial investigation showed that the victim had just arrived …
OCD promotes strengthened disaster readiness through quake drill
The Office of Civil Defense – Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) continues to ensure disaster readiness among Negrenses as it led the Second Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) yesterday. At the regional ceremonial site in the Victorias National High School (VNHS) in Victorias City, OCD-NIR administrative support and capacity building and training service staff Adonairam …
Eala repeats over Vekic in Berlin Open
By ADRIAN STEWART CO Negrense Alex Eala continued her impressive run on grass after defeating World’s No. 22 Donna Vekic of Croatia, 7-5, 6-4, in the opening round of the Berlin Open on Wednesday night, June 17 (Philippine time). The No. 35 ranked Filipina tennis star needed just two sets to dispatch the former Wimbledon …
What we learned after World Cup first round
From Lionel Messi rolling back the years to full stadiums and a Cape Verde team that shocked Spain, here is what we learned after the first round of games at the World Cup: Lionel Messi’s World Cup odyssey appeared to reach its perfect climax in Qatar four years ago when he lifted the trophy. Or …