By Ade S. Fajardo According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), unprogrammed appropriations provide standby authority to incur additional agency obligations for priority programs or projects when revenue collection exceeds targets. Money may also come in when additional grants or foreign funds are generated. These cannot be programmed in the same manner as …
OPINION
Behind the ‘No Child Left Behind’ slogan
By Herman M. Lagon Some policies do not collapse because the goal was wrong. They collapse because the execution went sideways and everyone quietly learned to live with it. “No Child Left Behind” is starting to feel that way. It sounds gentle, almost untouchable, until you look at the classroom reality: teens who can quote …
Silver: Why the price of ‘poor man’s gold’ has hit a record
The price of silver has just reached an all-time high of more than $120 per ounce. Although gold has eclipsed the white metal as a store of value, DW explores why silver is regaining global relevance. What happened to the price of silver in 2025? Silver has experienced a remarkable bull market, more than quadrupling …
Be careful of ‘diskarte’
By Herman M. Lagon There is a reason the word diskarte feels familiar even before it is explained. Most Pinoys meet it early, long before it appears in essays or debates. It shows up in kitchens where budgets are stretched, at jeepney stops when the last ride leaves too soon, and in classrooms where teachers …
Creativity in preaching God’s word
By Fr. Roy Cimagala It’s amazing how St. Paul and his companions weathered all kinds of trials and challenges just to proclaim the Good News about Christ and our salvation. Even when he was mocked by non-believers, he just persisted in preaching, trying his best to adapt his preaching to the way the people were, …
2016 vs. 2026: Why we need ugly ducklings
Nene or totoy are the closest Tagalog translations for a rapidly disappearing phenomenon. The ugly and awkward phases of youth (nicknamed the “tweens”) are dying out. Up until recently, people went through a middling phase between childhood and maturity, looking frumpy and inelegant. You can still see some traces of this in current 2016 vs. …
Abuse at home, dropouts in the classroom
By Ignacio R. Bunye Education has long been hailed as the great equalizer in Philippine society. It is the promise that no matter where a child is born — whether in the crowded alleys of Tondo or the sugar fields of Negros — they can rise above poverty through learning. Yet for too many Filipino …
Protect Tarriela, protect WPS
By Herman M. Lagon Some issues only feel “national” when they reach the dinner table. The West Philippine Sea (WPS) is one of them. You can ignore it until galunggong or tuna gets pricier, a fisherman comes home early because the sea feels “crowded,” or students repeat a viral clip claiming we are “just visitors” …
Resolutions: Little treats or big plans? On money resolutions and habits
How do we balance living for the present and for the future? It’s a dilemma present in all of our life decisions, but the issue is especially prominent during the New Year: How does one set and pursue goals while still being able to enjoy and relish the present moment? This apparent contradiction sets the …
From urine to dental implant
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim Human urine may be used in dental implants. Believe it or not. Improbable that may be, researchers at the University of California in Irvine have devised a way to change wastewater into hydroxyapatite (HAp), a natural mineral. HAp is lightweight, strong and durable — an ideal material for dental implants …