Ischemic heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the Philippines, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. But behind many of these fatal heart conditions lies a far more common and often overlooked health problem — hypertension or high blood pressure. Often called a “silent killer,” hypertension develops gradually and usually without …
OPINION
Is Bato now a fugitive?
By Ade S. Fajardo Last week, the Supreme Court denied Senator Bato dela Rosa’s urgent motion for a temporary restraining order against his possible arrest by agents of the law in accordance with a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Dela Rosa bolted the Senate premises at the break of dawn last May …
Child abuse
By EMMANUEL CANTO There was an incident in Bacolod City, uploaded by a netizen, that went viral on social media weeks ago. On that video, a father repeatedly beat his six-year-old daughter at the Bacolod Public Plaza. It is not my cup of tea watching such a brutal act, considering that he is the father …
The folly of fame
By Herman M. Lagon There are moments in public life when a country does not know whether to laugh, cry or check the dictionary. Senator Robin Padilla’s latest “force majeure” moment gave us all three options. On paper, it was a question about whether international conflicts, natural disasters or national emergencies could justify remote voting …
The ad hominem habit
By Herman M. Lagon There was a moment during the recent Senate tensions when the debate suddenly stopped being about rules, quorum, online voting, or constitutional procedure. It became about credentials. Senator Rodante Marcoleta, in the middle of a heated exchange with Senator Risa Hontiveros, remarked that discussions become difficult “kung wala tayong legal background …
Pursuing the Trinitarian life
By Fr. Roy Cimagala With the celebration of the Solemnity of the Blessed Trinity, we are reminded of the most important mystery of our faith, the fount of all the other truths and mysteries of our faith, since it shows us the inmost and intimate life of God in himself, even before being the Creator …
Social media bad for children as smoking, doctors say
Social media ranks alongside smoking as a danger to children, senior British doctors said, as they urged lawmakers to tackle the harm that they say excessive screen time is causing to young people. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges detailed the impact of social media on children in a submission to the government’s consultation on …
A nation at the crossroads of justice, governance and resilience
By Ignacio R. Bunye The past week’s headlines have been nothing short of seismic. From the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) rejection of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s appeal, to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) order to arrest Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, to the Senate’s scheduled impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, the Philippines finds …
The power of eleven
By Herman M. Lagon There was something almost cinematic about that Senate walkout last night. Not cinematic in the polished Netflix sense, but in the very Filipino way where tension, absurdity, humor, and constitutional crisis somehow end up sharing the same cramped jeepney ride. One moment, senators were debating a proposal to allow remote participation …
Filipino students are ready to lead — but why are they leaving?
In classrooms across the Philippines, students are trained to think critically, communicate clearly and contribute to society. Yet for many, the path forward still points elsewhere. From crowded education fairs to rising interest in overseas study programs, more Filipino students are looking beyond the country — not only for education, but for a future they …