WHILE other Christians believe that only God and the Bible have authority, we, Catholics, believe the ailing Pope Francis of Argentina is the highest representative of God on Earth.

No one can predict though what will happen next to the very ill Pope Francis, 88, except God.

Since God doesn’t report to us—or doesn’t have the obligation to tell us directly about the Pope’s life span, let’s now leave everything to the medical science, the area where there is no conflict with religion.   

Catholicism, which is dominant in my country of birth, the Philippines, is just a branch of Christianity, but the largest branch with about 1.3 billion followers worldwide.

We were born and baptized as Christians and our basic education in religion was about Christianity, about Jesus Christ as the “Son of God” our “Savior who died for our sins.”

Our education further brought us to Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, among other primitive religions.  

Then came Gandhi, a Hindu, who had allegedly proclaimed “he loved Jesus but not the Christians.” There were Christians who allegedly parried Gandhi by saying “they loved the famous Indian pacifist but not Hinduism”. A tit for a tat.

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Like all Catholics and Christians for that matter, the Pope, one of the most vilified persons in the world, isn’t perfect. Below are some of shocking myths we gathered about Christianity, which many of us may agree or disagree:

1. Christians force their morality on others.

-According to this myth, Christians are judgmental and act as society’s moral watchdogs. And they try to censor everything from the arts to sex education.

2. Christians suppress women.

-According to this myth, the church through the ages has stifled the voice and gifts of women and has treated women as second-class beings.

3. Christians caused the ecological crisis.

-According to this myth, the Christian religion is alienated from the natural world. The Bible says to subdue the earth, and Western Christian culture took that as a license to exploit nature.

4. Christians are anti-scientific.

-According to this myth, the church has historically suppressed learning in general and scientific inquiry in particular. Christians even promote pseudoscience by trying to force science to fit a literal interpretation of the Bible.

5. Christians have done terrible things in the name of Christ.

-This myth cited the wrongs that have been done in the name of Christianity—everything from the Crusades to televangelist scandals.

6. Christian missionaries destroy native cultures.

-According to this myth, Christian missionaries force indigenous peoples to give up their unique culture. Christians don’t respect the spiritual value in native customs and religions.

7. Christians are arrogant.

-According to this myth, all religions teach basically the same thing, but Christians insist their religion is the only one that’s right. They arrogantly claim that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. That may be true for Christians, but it isn’t true for everybody.

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Freelance writers Dale and Sandy Larsen of Duluth, Minnesota, ask if Christianity is defensible amid these myths.

“Isn’t it a backward religion based on primitive ideas that have no place in today’s world? Isn’t the Bible hopelessly out of date? And yet Christians insist on forcing their morality on other people!” they intone.

“And worst of all, isn’t Christianity the cause of so much pain and suffering in the world—from destroying native cultures to suppressing women to causing the ecological crisis?

“How can anyone take seriously a religion that is promoted by sleazy televangelists and that once sponsored the Crusade?

“These are honest questions that deserve straightforward answers. Separating the beliefs and actions of some Christians from our Christianity can be difficult. We need to go below the surface, see how these problems developed historically and go back to the Bible for the full story.”

They believe that there is “element of truth” in the above-mentioned myths.

“Some Christians are arrogant. Some Christians have made their faith into an exclusive club. But God’s forgiveness always reaches out to be inclusive, touching everyone who acknowledges need and and responds in faith to his mercy,” the conclude. “Anyone who has been hurt by Christians’ arrogance will need to summon extra courage and open-mindedness in order to take another serious look at Christianity.”

We must examine our heart. Are we willing not only to look at Christian faith but to find it true and begin to live by it?

Let’s examine the heart of Christian belief. Let’s examine the credibility of Christianity.

Alex P. Vidal, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed

The post We aren’t perfect first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

TWELVE scholars from the Philippines have been chosen by the Filipino-American Association of Engineers Incorporated (FAAE Inc.), an association of Filipino-American Engineers residing in the Tri-state (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) area.

Engr. Gerry Gamaro revealed that the 12 scholars for the first semester of this school year have been confirmed in a report released by FAAE Scholarship Chairman, Engr. Gene B. Salle on February 22, 2025.

They are:

1. Christine Lorilee Miranda from Tanza, Cavite with FAAE Coordinator Engr. Gene Salle, who is now 4th year B.S. Civil Engineering at Rizal Technological University. She started in August 2022 and is expected to graduate on May 2025. Two (2) semesters in 4 years;

2. Orlando Medrano Jr. from San Pascual, Batangas with FAAE Coordinator Engr. Roel Medrano, who is now in 4th year B.S. Mechanical Engineering at Batangas State University. He started in August 2021 and is Expected to graduate on May 2025. Two (2) semesters in 4 years;

3. Johnver S. Urcia from Binan, Laguna with FAAE Coordinator Pete Bonus, who is now 4th year B.S. Electronics and Communication Engineering at Technological University of the Philippines. He started September 2021 and is expected to graduate on April 2026. Two (2) semesters in 4 years;

4. Wenjan Reysel B. Bauzon from Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu with FAAE Coordinator Engr. Armando Caguete, who is now in 3rd year B.S. Civil Engineering at the University of Cebu. She started in September 2022 and is expected to graduate in April 2026. Two (2) semesters in 4 years;

5. Cyrill Dale Beredo from Batangas City, Batangas with FAAE Coordinator Engr. Arlyn Agasino, who is in 3rd year B.S. Communications Technology Management at Ateneo de Manila University. He started in September 2022 and is expected to graduate in April 2026. Two (2) semesters in 4 years;

6. Kate T. Brunidor from Tagbilaran, Bohol with FAAE Coordinator Engr. Bernalyn Barcelona and BAWHI June Faith Balquin. She is now in 2nd year B.S. Mechanical Engineering at Bohol Island State University (BISU). Started September 2023 and is expected to graduate on March 2027. Two (2) semesters in 4 years;

7. Thereza Mae M. Laylo from Pedro Garcia, Batangas with FAAE Coordinator Engr. Ismael Agasino, who is now in 2nd year B.S. Petroleum Engineering at Batangas State University (BSU). Started September 2023. She is expected to graduate in March 2027. Two (2) semesters in 4 years.

8. Jhemuel R. Togle from Tanza, Cavite with FAAE Coordinator Engr. Gene Salle. He is now in 1st year B.S. Civil Engineering at Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He started in August 2024 and is expected to graduate in March 2028. Two semesters in 4 years with one inter-semester;

9. Julienne M. Devanadera from San Pablo City, Laguna with FAAE Coordinator Engr. Gerry Gamaro. She is now in 1st year B.S. Civil Engineering at Laguna College. She started in August 2024 and is expected to graduate on March 2028. Two (2) semesters in 4 years with one inter-semester;

10. Ella Mae L. Guevara from Tuguegarao City, Cagayan with FAAE Coordinator Engr. Nick Arugay, who is now in 1st year B.S, Electrical Engineering at Cagayan State University. Started August 2024. Expected to graduate on March 2028. Two (2) semesters in 4 years with one inter-semester;

11. John Emmanuel Ditay from Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte with FAAE Coordinator Engr. Jojo Corpuz, who is now in 1st year B.S. Civil Engineering at Jose Memorial State University. Started August 2024. Expected to graduate in March 2028. Two (2) semesters in 4 years with one inter-semester; and

12. Maricar D. Enriquez from San Pablo City, Laguna with FAAE Coordinator Engr. Gerry Gamaro. She is now in 1st year B.S. Computer Engineering at Laguna State Polytechnic University. She started in August 2024 and is expected to graduate in March 2028. Two (2) semesters in 4 years with one inter-semester.

The school year 2024-25 was decided by the Board of Directors with the consent of the current President Aga Agasino and President-elect Gerry Gamaro to increase the number of scholars from existing ten (10) scholars to twelve (12) scholars.

They encouraged their  general membership to scout for potential scholars for the coming SY 2025-26 and be ascertain to select the qualified candidates to be financially and academically deserving.

They had produced 14 scholars who graduated since 2009 during the inception of the scholarship program and are now gainfully employed except for  the newly graduates.

Following is the list of 14 scholars who have graduated from the Scholarship Program:

1. Ramil Moses from Batangas- graduated on 2014

2. Vanessa Malonzo from Capiz graduated on 2016

3. Von Array Nifas from Pangasinan graduated on 2017

4. Gracel Chloe Padrones from Bacolod graduated on 2018

5. Neil Christian Dela Cruz from Rizal graduated on 2018

6. Christian Ros from Catanduanes graduated on 2019

7. Ivy Gamiton from Cagayan de Oro graduated on 2019

8. Rochelle Datuin from Cavite graduated on 2020

9. Aldrick Lance G. Hernandez from Batangas graduated on 2022

10. Jaime Joaquin S. Moulic from Dagupan City, Pangasinan graduated on 2023

11. Jessa Mae Jolampong from CSJDM, Bulacan graduated on 2023

12. Isabel A, Marcelino from Tanay, Rizal graduated on 2024

13. Jhean Arianne M. De Chavez from Oriental Mindoro graduated on 2024

14. Sydny V. Cortez from San Pedro, Laguna graduated on 2024

As you will notice, we expect two (2) scholars to graduate by this coming June 2025. So the Chairman of the Scholarship will publish in our FAAE website for the search of two (2) scholars for the school year 2025-2026. This search is open to all active and paid

members. Deadline of submission of the completed application forms and accompanying documents was February 28, 2025. The FAAE member who endorsed an applicant with his/her letter of recommendation became the Scholarship Coordinator of

that applicant. The chairman forwarded all received documents of the applicants to the Scholarship Committee, which would decide and choose the qualified recipient within the first two weeks of March 2025.

With the approved concept from the Board of Directors that we will increase the number

of scholars depending on those FAAE members who will form in form in group of 5s, 4s, 2s or 1s and will be willing to sponsor scholars. In this way, we will be able to help more Filipino youth who are financially underprivileged but have the great academic records.

The Scholarship Committee will determine the additional numbers of scholars depending on the number of sponsors.

They have requested our scholars to be in close communication with us thru emails. They also requested their  FAAE Scholarship Coordinators to regularly email their respective scholars to find out their status.

FAAE is a professional, non-profit organization whose members comprise of engineering professionals of different trades.

Gamaro said, “PEFAP is designed to support particular engineering projects in the Philippines; such as Communities, Churches, Day care centers, and other publicly owned facilities by sponsoring minor engineering improvement projects.”

The post 12 scholars make it in FAAE’s 2024-25 program first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

INTUITIVE Filipinos will agree that election results in the Philippines are more or less already “known” the moment prominent survey firms start to reveal their respective survey results even if, in the case this year, the May 12 general election is still about two months away.

Big survey outfits have always “predetermined” the outcome of any Philippine election especially in the senatorial race this year, where 12 seats will be contested.

To compound the matter, most of these survey outfits have already reported that media and entertainment celebrities are expected to dominate the senatorial contest.

The same names of possible “winners” kept on showing up again and again as if the survey networks have hired Nostradamus in their operations.

Thus, we are saying that the 2025 election, at least in the senatorial race, is almost over—except for the actual voting that will be done on May 12, and only the Commission on Elections (Comelec) can officially declare the winners.

This could also be the reason why Filipinos were split on their opinions whether allowing these survey companies to constantly release survey results months and weeks before the actual voting day will help guide the voters to pick the right occupants in congress’ upper chamber.

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We are zeroing in on the senators because those who will be elected in this election will serve until 2031, and will join the winners of the 2022 election to form the Senate’s delegation to the 20th Congress of the Philippines, with the senators elected in 2022 serving until 2028.

If survey firms play monkey business (we pray they won’t) and favor candidates who aren’t worthy to sit in the senate but “know how” to worm their way into the winning column (you know what we mean), the so-called taong bayan will again end up the real losers for having these cretins instead of the real statesmen and really brilliant senators.

This could be the gist of Comelec’s recent move calling to amend its latest resolution regulating survey firms conducting election polls so it can be fully enforceable in time for the 2028 presidential elections.

According to Comelec Chair George Garcia, “the Comelec is very much willing to amend our guidelines, to modify and change (provisions of the resolution), depending on the outcome of our discussion with the survey firms.”

Pollsters and research groups met with the Comelec earlier ‘February 27to iron out provisions of Comelec Resolution (CR) No. 11117, which mandates that only pre-registered entities are authorized to conduct and publicly disseminate election surveys.

They reportedly questioned, among others, Section 2, which mandates them to register with Comelec’s Political Finance and Affairs Department before they can conduct any election survey. They said the provision could be used for censorship.

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Among those who attended the signing of the pledge of commitment and the launching of Task Force Respect (Regulation and Enforcement of Survey Practices for Election Credibility and Transparency) at the poll body’s headquarters in Intramuros, Manila, were representatives from Social Weather Stations (SWS), Pulse Asia Research Inc., Ibon Foundation, Marketing and Opinion Research Society of the Philippines, Publicus Asia, Tangere, Laylo Research Strategies and WR Numero.

Surveys are supposedly lengthy and require more time to respond as compared to a poll. Many types of data analytics algorithms are reportedly applied on the responses collected and the insights generated are conveyed to various departments of an organization.

If we have a lot of time to generate reports and share it with our team members, surveys make a good choice for us.

Both poll and survey are reportedly used to gather feedback and choices of the target audience. In the same industry, both poll and survey can be used to gain insights that will help to make better decisions.

Online polls are also reportedly created during elections and give insights on the probability of particular candidates and political parties winning the seat.

This will give them an idea of how popular their party candidates are in that region. According to QuestionPro, election polls can help de-code what are the choices of different sections of the society, what concerns them most and what do they wish from the future government.

The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed

The post The election is ‘over’ first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

MUCH has been written about “Karma,” a universal law considered as immutable, a law of cause and effect constantly referred to by Oriental faithful and by both Luke and Matthew in the Bible.

In Dr. Deepak Chopra’s speaking engagement we attended at the St. Elizabeth Theater in Vancouver, Canada 15 years years ago, the author of the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, stressed that “karma is used philosophically to indicate conditions in the present stemming from thoughts and actions in the past.”

Could the past thoughts and actions of the late former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte became indications of the country’s current political, cultural, and economic conditions?

Karma’s Sanskrit meaning encompasses both action and reaction –or consequences. Its Hindu meaning encompasses work, or the labor of the soul seeking to attain union with God, according to Sanskrit believers.

If we believe Sanskrit’s explanation of karma, many of us will lend credence to a possibility the present political storms that threaten to tragically dismantle the quarreling President Marcos Jr. and embattled Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio are already the ramifications or by-products of their fathers’ past thoughts and actions.

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In the book, Edgar Cayce’s Story of Karma, author Mary Ann Woodward arranged and selected the “sleeping prophet’s” revelation of man’s destiny.

During his lifetime, Cayce–the world-renowned prophet and psychic–gave a series of clairvoyant trance reading devoted to metaphysics and revolving around the central theme of reincarnation. The shock waves from his revelations still reverberate in scientific and religious circles.

Although Cayce was a practicing Christian, his trance readings frequently embraced concepts of Oriental religions, according to Woodward.

From these discourses comes Edgar Cayce’s Story of Karma–his explanation of the powerful life forces generated by personal actions which can bless or plague us through many lifetimes.

Woodward wrote that Cayce told many seekers, in their physical readings, that their physical defect or disease was a karmic condition.

These readings emphasized the fact that our physical condition is directly dependent upon our mental and spiritual ideals, with their concomitant emotions, from one life to another.

“We do take it with us,” wrote Woodward. “Moreover, our daily stresses and strains, our emotional upsets, affect us physically.”

Many were reportedly told they would not be well, nor would their physical condition improve, until both their mental and spiritual attitudes changed.

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“They would have to give up such negative things as fears, hates, and resentments and become more in attunement with Creative Forces,” she added.

Here’s what we learned more about the subject matter in the book: (4021-1) To be sure the attitudes oft influence the physical conditions of the body. No one can hate his neighbor and not have stomach or liver trouble. One cannot be jealous and allow anger of same and not have upset digestion or heart disorder.

(1523-9) This dependency was explained thus: For their have arisen the acute conditions not only from physical reactions but mental conditions that have been as resentments, which have been built into mental forces of the body. These are indicated in the reacting with the physical effects upon organ centers…now finding reflexes in various portions of the body.

(5283-1) This body is meeting its own self. For it is meeting its own shortcomings, when judged from some moral standards. The body, then, must first in its mental and spiritual attitude make amends, not merely promises to others but to self and the sources of health and of life itself. These should be the beginnings and the body not merely being dependent upon the applications which must be, or may be, made by others; for there are within self the conditions here taken which now bring undesirable results in the ability of the body to function in the manner either physically or mentally as is most desirable. But there would be first a change in mental and spiritual attitude.

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“Of course, physical applications help healing and do alleviate the condition, but true healing comes from the mental and spiritual self,” added Woodward.

(1593-1) And there must be taken into consideration all phases of this entity’s experience in the present if the conditions would be wholly understood. For mind is the builder, and if there will be kept a balance–the physical mind and the spiritual mind should cooperate, coordinate.

There are those forces which the entity, then (not merely the body but the entity–body, mind, soul, is meeting in itself, called–by itself oft–karmic reactions. But karma–Well, these are the conditions as we find them in the body: The body, the mind, the soul are one within the physical forces; for the body is indeed the temple of the living God. In each entity there is that portion which is a part of the Universal Force, and is that which lives on. All must coordinate and cooperate.

The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed

The post Our destiny’s revelations first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

WE will always take the critical side when discussing issues about the government—especially the corrupt and bad government.

Our main objective is plain and simple check and balance, or acting as “Big Brothers” to the powerful and influential.

Our society needs a critical press to maintain balance, transparency and accountability because it is the government that calls the shot when it comes to disposition and handling of taxpayers’ money.

We need a critical press to review and check what’s going on; to mirror, inform or report to the public how public funds are managed and spent by those in power—elected or appointed public officials and their subalterns.

Public funds will always be the lifeblood and paramount assets of government.

It must be spent wisely and properly; public funds shouldn’t be wasted and stolen by those who are supposed to manage and safeguard them.

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Our role as critical journalists is to remind the crooks in government that “hey, somebody is watching. Your actions and activities are under close scrutiny and will be reported to the public.”

Critical means we must constantly remind our public officials—and chide them, if necessary, if they commit infractions or activities that are inimical to public interest and display actuations that expose them to scandal and compromise their image and functions basically as public servants.

We come in, so to speak, when public officials are on the brink of plunging into the abyss of moral turpitude.

That’s why the journalists—as watchdogs and “fiscalizers”—should be first and foremost also credible and knowledgeable.

If the watchdogs and “fiscalizers” are scoundrels and “fixcalizers”, they aren’t credible to handle and perform the responsibility of being investigative, confrontational and adversarial, which is what every democratic society needs.

Journalists who can be bribed are no better than the crooks in government the press is supposed to rebuke and expose.

Two wrongdoers—crooks in government and rascal journalists—means a total chagrin and gradual setback for Juan de la Cruz.

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Basically, a committed and principled journalist should avoid many friends in the political circle.

The more political friends a journalist acquires, the less he becomes effective as “catalyst of change.”

A genuine journalist is an ironclad gadfly of democracy, not an attack dog, lap dog or double-edged political mercenary.

At least this was how my mind as remnant of the original post-Martial Law years College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) member has been shaped and trained.

This was how I cultivated my principle when I became seriously involved in community journalism immediately after the EDSA Revolution, when press freedom and free speech were slightly and sardonically restored.

For my part, I would rather criticize than praise; I prefer to be hated as a critical journalist than to be praised (mostly by politicians) as a merchant of “praise release.” Everything boils down to walang personalan, trabaho lang.

Socrates said wisdom begins in wonder. I say journalism begins by being suspicious without being malicious, and in constructive—not destructive—criticism.

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Off to Bed-Stuy in Brooklyn, New York City we will go on February 21 where eggs will be given away.

According to the information we received February 20, FarmerJawn, Prince Abou’s Butchery and Triple J Farm will be offering a total of 100 dozen free eggs.

In an Instagram post, the two farms and butchery said in part, “Working people are the backbone of our communities, yet too often, relief isn’t made for us. So we’re doing what we can to pitch in.”

The egg giveaway will reportedly start at 10 a.m. at Brown Butter Craft Bar & Kitchen on 413 Tompkins Ave.

There will also be 100 dozen free eggs given away in Queens and Philadelphia, it was announced earlier.

Is the much-ballyhooed 2025 egg shortage in the U.S. real? Yes it is. And soaring prices aren’t going away anytime soon, as families and restaurants alike are struggling to purchase them. Why are egg prices going up, anyway?

There are several factors as to why eggs are so expensive right now. Here’s what we know based on information from the United States Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and more:

The commercial table egg layer flocks suffered a depopulation of birds due to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in December 2024 and continues into the first six weeks of 2025, according the USDA.

“The impact of these losses in the marketplace continues to be influenced by the timing of the losses relative to demand patterns, the type of production systems affected, legislated restraints in certain states, and the intended use of the production either for in-shell or egg products use with most impact currently being felt in the retail cartoned sector,” the report stated.

The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed

The post A journalist must be independent and credible first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

WE must welcome the likes of Philip Salvador, Willie Revellame, Manny Pacquiao, Robin Padilla, Lito Lapid, Jinggoy Estrada, among other comedians and stuntmen in the Philippine Showbiz-nate.

Times have changed, and we change with them.

If there is one thing the Filipinos should be proud of, it’s their being consistent in the eyes of the world in always electing sports and entertainment characters both in the lower and upper chambers of the national legislature.

Consistency is a solid identity. Identity—and being unique—is strength.

No other Southeast Asian—or even Asian—country for that matter holds the same distinction like that of the Philippines in as far as giving electoral mandate to serve as lawmakers to gung ho and run-of-the-mill personalities with incredulous cock and bull backgrounds.  

As the oft-repeated slogan states, “Only in the Philippines.” Unique, interesting, colorful, entertaining, and enthralling!

Here’s a situation where our supposed embarrassment becomes our leverage and muscle.

They are actually in the right place at the right time—those reality TV and social media show and sitcom ruffians.

If the senate, or showbiz-nate, will be packed once again with noontime TV show hosts, movie action stars, basketball and boxing stars, cult fanatics, TikTokers, traffic enforcers, coffeemakers, macho dancers, bodyguards, Filipinos hold your heads up high and be counted.

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At least that’s how the people around the world will always remember who we are and what kind of voters have we become.

No need for them to look anywhere else. Presto, just Google the Philippines and the country’s electoral system, as well as the Filipinos’ temerity to choose nondescript legislators.

If Robin Padilla and his ilk will continue to transform the showbiz-nate into a bullfighting arena and “live” comedy bar, it’s because they are delegated and programmed to act that way.

The system provides and promotes the mechanism for Padilla and his fellow scumbags to institutionalize idiocy and skullduggery right in the august halls of showbiz-nate and nobody and nothing can halt them. So instead of being embarrassed and distressed, sit down and relax; let’s accept this gnawing reality.

That’s the “beauty” of our constitution. Anybody has the opportunity to serve in the legislative body through the electoral process. The right to be elected in congress or in showbiz-nate is not limited to the elite or the holders of PhD and masters degrees.

The constitution allows even ordinary individuals, including the misfits and scoundrels, to sit in congress or showbiz-nate and legislate laws. Ditto for other national, regional, and local positions where the candidacies of boorish, vulgar, uncultured punks are footloose and untrammeled.

The caveat is, if we elect quality legislators, we get quality laws. If we elect shoddy and rotten legislators, we get rotten and shoddy laws.

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No one can tell what will happen next after news spread around the world as reported by Vatican February 22 that Pope Francis was in critical condition after suffering a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis while being treated for pneumonia and a complex lung infection.

As Catholics, we join the millions of faithfuls around the world in praying—and hoping—that the Supreme Pontiff will withstand the terrible ailment and survive.

Pope, 88, reportedly remained conscious and received “high flows” of oxygen to help him breathe. He also received blood transfusions after tests showed low counts of platelets, which are needed for clotting, the Vatican said in a late update.

“The Holy Father’s condition continues to be critical, therefore, as explained yesterday (Friday), the pope is not out of danger,” the statement said. It was the first time “critical” had been used in a written statement to describe Francis’ condition since he was hospitalized Feb. 14.

The statement also said that the pontiff “continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more pain than yesterday.” Doctors declined to offer a prognosis, saying it was “reserved.” Let’s continue to pray for Pope Francis.

The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed

The post Showbiz-nate? Why not? first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

UNLIKE China, which abandoned its commitment to help build the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island bridges project in 2020 when it probably realized it was no longer necessary to please the subservient Duterte administration, South Korea is expected to follow through with its commitment to finish the multi-billion-peso infrastructure project.

The Koreans are known for their unique values; they have obedience to family, hard work, protection of the family, and proper decorum among family members. And it is still important for them, even in the modern world.

By forging a commitment to support the bridges project, the Koreans will no longer allow our public officials to be embarrassed as they consider their Filipino partners in this huge project to be part of family.

Even local officials then—mostly from Guimaras Province—ended up red faced for constantly announcing to the press they were certain construction of the expensive bridges was to begin before former President Rodrigo Duterte’s term would end in 2022.

We had been taken for a ride. When China left, Korea came in.

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After all, PGN Island Bridges project was part of the Philippine government’s National Islands-Link Projects and ballyhooed as part of Mr. Duterte’s Build! Build! Build! program that supposedly consisted of two bridges the 2.7 km (1.7 mi) Panay–Guimaras Bridge (Phase I) and the 4.8 km (3.0 mi) Panay–Guimaras Bridge (Phase II).

Under the original plan, a third phase connecting Negros and Cebu islands with a 8 km (5.0 mi) was also earlier proposed and its construction was supposed to start early 2019 to be funded by the Chinese government through a grant.

After all the earsplitting and cacophonous noises and bluster, the Chinese investors junked the project in 2020 and offered no concrete explanation that would justify the mysterious dereliction.

By a stroke of fate, the Philippine government negotiated in May 2022 an alternative proposal from South Korean government for the PGN Island Bridges, which is now being finalized under the new Marcos Jr. administration.

To be funded via Korea Eximbank, the dream project underwent another feasibility study involving Yooshin Engineering with Kyong-Ho Engineering and Architects, Dohwa Engineering, Soosung Engineering and Dasan Consultants.

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According to a series of reports released recently about the bridge construction, the Section A or the Panay–Guimaras portion’s construction is projected to start in mid-2025 and finished by the end of June 2028.

Section B or the Guimaras–Negros portion is scheduled for completion by 2030 and whole project including the connecting roads is estimated to cost ₱189 billion.

When China abandoned the project, it nearly dashed to pieces the hopes of Ilonggos who were hoping a miracle would finally arrive after being hoodwinked by the previous Cory, FVR, Erap, Gloria, P-noy administrations into believing the construction “would start soon.”

Unsuspecting Ilonggos believed hook, line, and sinker when assured by the previous Duterte administration that two multi-billion peso infrastructure projects in the Visayas and Mindanao were “now ready to be financed by the government of China after the feasibility studies have been completed” in October 2019.

The Ilonggos’ false hopes were abetted by then Public Works Secretary and now Senator Mark Villar, who revealed his meeting with then Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce and International Trade Representative Wang Shouwen where they supposedly exchanged the handover certificates for the Panay-Guimaras bridge and the Davao City Expressway project.

CCC Highway Consultants Co. Ltd. Reportedly did both feasibility studies for the P27.1-billion Panay-Guimaras bridge and the P25.6-billion Davao City Expressway.

The exchange of documents was reportedly done on the sidelines of a high-level meeting between Philippine and Chinese economic ministers in Manila sometime in October 2019.

“The process of loan financing for the projects may now begin,” they falsely declared.

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HIGH RUBBER CONTENT. When our running shoes are worn beyond use, let’s not throw them away. Because of their high rubber content and the fact that rubber is easily recyclable, old sneakers are now being used to make new sports surfaces. Nike is one brand that operates this function by producing its Nike Grind material.

OLD TOOTHBRUSH. Let’s not throw away our old toothbush; let’s use it to clean tricky-to-reach areas like the caulking between floor and wall tiles and the area around bathroom faucets. Often a little more elbow grease will do the trick without resorting to harsh cleaners.

The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed

The post Korea won’t abandon the Ilonggos—unlike China first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

NOT all lawyers are despicable, but almost majority of the senators (at least in the Philippines) we always referred to as “sin-nators” are not only tainted by chicanery but are also shady and corrupt.

And it’s okay to threaten to “kill all the lawyers,” according to a character called Dick the Butcher in Act IV, Scene II of William Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part II, which was written between 1596 to 1599, and not the sin-nators?

Killing is murder and is a crime per se; it shouldn’t be promoted or dangled as a form of punishment in any civilized country.

If we are going to hold the swaggering Citizen Digong accountable for his threat to kill the 15 senators (mostly allied with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.), which was only a “joke” according to his defenders, then why the lawyers in the 16th century weren’t up in arms against the Bard of Avon (this was how Shakespeare was known) for “threatening” to exterminate all those involved in the legal profession?

The answer is simple: Shakespeare’s version of “let’s kill” was not considered a crime because it’s a fictional line spoken by a villainous character in a play.

And it was meant to represent the chaotic and destructive nature of a rebellion, not a literal call to violence against lawyers; it’s often interpreted as a commentary on the importance of law and order by showing what would happen without it, essentially praising the role of lawyers in society.

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Citizen Digong’s version was complicated, controversial and downright cryptic, especially that he is a notorious major player in the brutal summary execution of thousands of Filipinos during the dark years of the campaign against illegal drugs.

It can be misinterpreted by his legions of myopic-minded die-hards who might be persuaded to translate the “joke” into something we dread to imagine happening given his status as a political demigod.

To begin with, the quote, “The first thing we do is, let’s kill all the lawyers”, was real and not a myth; it wasn’t a misquoted aphorism.

Approximately 400 years after Shakespeare’s death, this pithy phrase, according to Olivia Rutigliano, has become one of his most famous witticisms, appropriated often to disparage the legal profession, or at least acknowledge the ubiquitous caricature of the crooked, overpriced, counselor.

Rutigliano wrote in LITHUB that “Let’s kill all the lawyers” is a complicated phrase that (somehow always) refers to the importance of maintaining a fair rule of law that protects the people.

Whether lawyers symbolize evil or good, she added, is almost irrelevant; the most important thing about the quote is the upholding of a fair and just law system, itself.

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The oligarchs who allegedly mediated the political feud between Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Trenas and Iloilo City lone district Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda last year may have succeeded in preserving the political status quo (whatever that means in their own terms) in Iloilo City when both camps averted a head-on collision course in the mayoral and congressional contests,  but not the more preferred and glorious unity.

As of this writing, sympathizers from both camps continued to hurl vicious insults and scurrilous accusations against each other both in the mainstream and social media.

And it appears there is no sign the hostilities will slow down especially now that the official campaign period for the May 12, 2025 elections has unfurled. It is even worsening.

The fact that both Baronda and Raisa Trenas, the city mayor’s daughter who is running for city mayor, don’t have clear and present threats of losing and are actually a cinch away from being reelected and elected respectively, makes the cold war and antagonism between two parties so riveting and outrageous.

The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed

The post It’s OK to kill all the lawyers but not the sin-nators? first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

NATIONAL and local candidates in the May 12, 2025 election—nuisance or serious—should be aware of their chances and be able to anticipate their fates this early.

Unless they are plain and simple ego trippers and nincompoops, candidates for any elective position with rationale and objective minds know if they are winnable or if their chances are nil, especially now that the official campaign period has blasted off and some of them are still eating the dust in credible and legitimate surveys.

The irrational and closed-minded candidates believe in their own invincibility and will normally refuse to acknowledge they can and will lose.

In their thinking, they’re always on top and nothing and nobody can beat them in any contest or election. Thus they will never lend credence to survey results and appeals from concerned friends and family members—unless favorable to them.

If they lag behind, they will only bellyache and discredit the surveys. These surveys can only be credible and realistic if they are the ones leading and “winning.”

“Mother, mother I am sick. Call the (mind) doctor very quick?”

These types of candidates are detached from reality. They are used to being hailed and glorified in pubic because of their past achievements that earned them applause and glowing recognition.
 
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To some extent, they believe their lofty standing in society can be translated into glorious public approval and sure victory in any election.

The superstar complex that gobbles up their egos gives them extra energy and confidence and bolsters their pathetic beliefs there’s no way the voters will not give them a resounding win.

We theorize senatorial candidates Rodante Marcoleta, Philip Salvador, Vic Rodriguez, Ariel Querubin, Jose Montemayor Jr., Raul Lambino, Norberto Gonzales, Bonifacio Bosita, Jimmy Bondoc, Ronnel Arambulo, Jerome Adonis, Apollo Quiboloy, Roberto Ballon, Angelo de Alban, David d’Angelo, Arnel Escobal are actually aware if they’re riding on a one-way trip train or in the luxury ship.

They haven’t been doing well in the surveys but have been brimming with confidence like Cyrus’ son Cambyses and Darius’ son Xerxes, giving campaign speeches left and right all over the archipelago, unfazed by the phenomenal popularity of candidates in the two leading political parties—Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas backed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino backed by former President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte.
 
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It’s too early to conclude, but all indications, analyses, circumstances and recent events have pointed to only one direction: another possible down-the-wire finish for candidates supported by President Marcos Jr. and ex-President Duterte.

Win or lose, it seems come-backing boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao is only enjoying what he is doing while going around and hooping from south to north vice versa shaking the hands of his legions of (mostly boxing) fans and watching them shriek as he waves and hands them cash for no apparent reason other than “to share my blessings.”

It’s normal for the former boxer to wish for the stars and entertain the possibility of winning once more now that he has embraced the politics of his rival in the 2022 presidential race, Mr. Marcos Jr.

If he won’t make it, we can see Pacquiao going back to the ring despite his age and “reviving” the career that gave him wealth and global fame.

Money doesn’t grow on trees, but for 46-year-old Pacquiao, an instant $1 million in a megabuck duel with any UFC star or the current champions in the WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO and other alphabet boxing bodies is easy to collect as long as he isn’t yet 60. Mark our word.

In this elections season, by being there—to be seen and heard by the Filipinos from all corners of the globe—waging marvelous crusades and inspiring the hoi polloi to rise from obscurity and being underdog in life, is already a victory, something they probably couldn’t achieve if they were only running for village chiefs.
 
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WE received a “Social media warning” from Chase, a bank that offers banking services to consumers and businesses in the United States and a subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase, a global financial services company, informing us that “nearly 50 percent of scams reported to Chase originate on social media.”

“Many of our customers are reporting to us that scammers on social media asked them to send their payment with Zelle® or Wires,” Chase disclosed in an email.

“Social media is flooded with fake ads for things like merchandise, cars, property rentals and home services. These scams can show up in marketplaces, spoof websites and groups you follow.”

I added: “Keep in mind that sending money with Zelle® or a Wire transfer is just like sending cash. It’s highly unlikely you’ll get your money back if something goes wrong.”

The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo.—Ed

The post Mother, mother I am sick first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

POLITICAL leaders and coordinators who didn’t follow the Commission on Elections (Comelec) guidelines on campaign materials—how and where to display them and what sizes are allowed—should be blamed why the posters of their candidates were taken down in Oplan Baklas.

These coordinators and leaders were aware that if they violated the campaign poster guidelines, the materials would be torn down and thrown to the garbage bins but they continued to ignore the poll guidelines thinking they could get away with their infractions.

As a result, campaign funds have been wasted; time and efforts have been frittered away. The candidates in the illegal posters are also in trouble of being reprimanded and even disqualified.

Serious candidates in the May 12, 2025 Philippine elections should carefully choose their leaders and coordinators. If they can’t follow simple or basic rules on campaign materials, they can’t be relied on when the goings get tough during the campaign period, which blasted officially on February 11.

It is important for the candidates—especially for national positions— to tap the right characters for the right job, not just thrill-seeking “volunteers” and irresponsible liaisons who will eventually give the candidates a king-sized headache.

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Unlike the other known political characters in the Philippines, Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas didn’t mince words when he openly declared “there are strong grounds to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, following the testimonies and evidence presented during the quad committee proceedings.”

Many solons, mayors and even governors have refused to criticize the vice president, or said something about the impeachment case scheduled in July or two months after the elections, for fear of political reprisal.

Many politicians angling for important elective posts in the May 12 elections also fear the wrath of the Duterte votes, including the Iglesia Ni Kristo, which they believe is sympathetic to the embattled daughter of Davao City. Not the Iloilo city mayor.

In fact, Treñas has agreed with former Senate president Franklin Drilon who recently “urged” President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to call for a special session to convene the Impeachment Court before the May elections.

“So I think, so far as the legal issues are concerned, once the president calls for a special session to approve some bills and, among others, take up the impeachment, the Senate is duty-bound by the Constitution to perform its constitutional duty and immediately take up these bills and also the impeachment,” Treñas said in a press conference February 10.

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Even if he has decided to back out from the Senate race, many voters will still vote for celebrity vlogger doctor Willie Ong, who is stricken with cancer.

Ong’s withdrawal came when the Comelec has finalized the printing of official ballots.

The Comelec has printed over 17 million ballots so far for the 2025 elections and Dr. Ong’s name was included.

According to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, the poll body produced 17,356,811 ballots as of February 7, or 24.07 percent of the total 72,107,420 ballots that have to be printed.

The two HP printers, the Comelec chair disclosed, produced 9,008,136 ballots so far. These equipment were part of the signed deal with Miru Systems as the poll body’s automated election systems provider.

Comelec can’t halt the printing each time a candidate decides to withdraw.

Canon printers from the National Printing Office (NPO) reportedly  printed 8,348,675 ballots. The poll body targeted to print over 1.5 million ballots per day.

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According to the ancient Greek myth, man was originally a composite being, half male and half female. A capricious god split him in two, with the result that the separated male and female have sought ever since to become reunited with the “other half.”

Modern psychologists make the same point in a somewhat different way when they say that “the deepest need of man is the need to overcome his separateness, to leave the prison of his aloneness.”

GOOD NIGHT, POUNDS. We don’t have to dream about weight loss. One way to make it a reality: Relax for 20 minutes before bed, suggests Dr. Dawn Jackson Blatner, author of The Flexitarian Diet. Winding down before hitting the pillows helps keep us out of the kitchen (and away from tempting leftovers). Let’s try mellowing out to soft music or soaking in a warm bath.

“Support our Troops” paraphernalia; however gov’t-issued brochures and videos featured a slightly different slogan during the WWII era–“Don’t forget– Put it on before you put it in.” During the Second World War, many soldiers returned home with veneral diseases, costing the gov’t millions of dollars in medical expenses.

The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed

The post Irresponsible political coordinators first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.