THE recent findings of the Commission on Audit (COA) on the Cebu Provincial Government’s mishandling of welfare goods are more than a routine audit reminder—they reveal a failure of governance with direct consequences for the most vulnerable. According to COA’s 2024 Annual Audit Report, thousands of essential items intended for distribution—9,720 expired bath soaps and 29,120 cans of beef loaf nearing expiration—were left unused in the province’s warehouses. More troubling, i

Let’s jump the bandwagon and talk about that P 500 worth of noche Buena for a Filipino family that everyone’s talking about. (Everyone’s also talking about the murder cases in Concepcion Pequena, which may join the list of unsolved mysteries.) Well, everyone’s been slapping, hitting and kicking the noche Buena issue, that it’s black and blue and bruised already. It’s a matter of perspective. At the minimum, a family could mean one parent and one child. That could qualify

Every month, workers like Jose watch a small but significant portion of their salary go to PhilHealth. They do not complain; they understand that these mandatory contributions form the bedrock of the country’s national health insurance system. For the poor and vulnerable, the government pays premiums using taxes and sin-tax revenues — also people’s money. In principle, this shared pool is meant to guarantee that every Filipino can access healthcare when illness strikes. PhilH

Why do I love cruising? How do I prepare not knowing what awaits me at our destination? Where do I get the patience when, at times, I find myself and my wife running full tilt to catch a connecting flight? What are the benefits of cruising? These questions were foremost in my mind when my wife and I embarked on a 12-day ocean cruise to Greece last October aboard Viking Vela, a new cruise ship from Viking Ocean Cruises launched in 2024. It can accommodate 998 passengers and sh

Bago matapos ang kada taon, ang mga agencias de gobierno nagkokondusir kan saindang kanya-kanyang “year-end evaluation” o sa Pilipino, taunang pagsusuri. Garo sana ma-exam ano? Ano ang sinusuri o ine-evaluar? Siempre performance o mga nahaman na trabaho segun sa mga targets o obheto kan opisina. Ano ang basehan kan pag-evaluar? Sa gobierno may inaapod kitang PPA’s, ang boot sabihon kan acronym ini iyo ang “Programs, Projects, and Activities” na hale sa AIP o Annual Investment

Maogma man nanggad mag taga pasyar sa kostal asin maka atubang ang mga parasisira. Saro na digdi si Bugoy, paradakop nin kasag. Ang kasag iyo ang saiyang buhay ta poon pa sa saiyang mga ninuno na tubong Barangay Castillo, Cabusao, ang pagdakop nin kasag iyo na ikinabuhay kan saindang familya. Digdi naipadara ni Bugoy an saiyang mga aki sa escuelahan asin makapag tapos nin kolehiyo sa Naga City. Nahiling ko si Bugoy kan ang samuyang familya mag attender kan nagtalikod na bul

Atty. Paolo Tolentino Nakagat kan ido kan kapitbahay Atty., kung nakagat ako kan nakadulag na ido kan kapitbahay, ano po an sakong legal rights asin ano ang obligasyon kan kapitbahay. Pwde ko po ba sindang pagastuson sa bakuna o darahon sa barangay an kaso? --- Kung nagkaigwa kang danyos dara kan paka-kagat saimo kang ido, pwde pabayadon ang kapitbahay mo na may sadiri o posesyon kan ido na nagkagat saimo. Kaiba sa posibleng danyos na ini ang nagasto mo sa hospital o bayad sa

By Rhaydz Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- Albay Governor Noel Rosal reopened the controversial Peñaranda Park as he lit a giant Disney castle-inspired Christmas tree on Friday night, braving intermittent rain to officially welcome the Christmas season. Rosal, whose first term as governor was cut short on December 1, 2022 following a disqualification case, was joined by Albay lawmakers Krisel Lagman (1st District) and Carlos Loria (2nd District), former governor and now Tabaco City V

By Rhaydz Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- Former Albay Representative Joey Sarte Salceda has denied any involvement in the controversial fund insertion in the 2024 national budget, after retired senior Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio named him as the alleged architect of the measure. Carpio, in a Facts First podcast hosted by Christian Esguera, claimed Salceda was the “main architect” of the fund insertion, saying: “The idea came from former Congressman Joey Salceda, w

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- Police arrested a 71-year-old suspect in a shooting incident in Bacacay, Albay that injured two female victims on Sunday. In a report, PRO-5 acting Regional Director Brig. Gen. Erosito Miranda identified the suspect as alias “Pilay”, a resident of Bacacay and was arrested without resistance in a mountainous area of Barangay Pigcobohan. Initial investigation showed that an ongoing land dispute between the suspect and the victims escalated int

Third Sunday of Advent First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 R. (cf. Is 35:4) Lord, come and save us. Second Reading: James 5:7-10 Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:2-11 When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their s

By CBCP News Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa on Dec. 1 officially assumed the presidency of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. Garcera, elected during the CBCP’s 130th plenary assembly in July, succeeds Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, who served two terms of four years. David is currently the vice president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences. As president, Garcera will lead the conference, oversee its work, and serve as its main sp

By Julma M. Narvadez On this Gaudete Sunday, we rejoice in the midst of Advent. Today’s readings shine with the light of steadfast hope, reminding us that joy is not the absence of struggle, but the presence of God drawing near. Isaiah speaks of blooming deserts —a sign of life where none was expected. The Psalm exalts a God who lifts up the lowly and brings justice to the oppressed. James urges us to be patient, like farmers awaiting a good harvest. In the Gospel, Jesus reaf

By YAR Osea/The Varsitarian Catholic Digital Missionaries must remember the value of community in their ministry, a Thomasian Archbishop said during the 14th Catholic Social Media Summit in Manila on Friday, Dec. 5. Caceres Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon, Chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Commission on Social Communications, reminded content creators that they do not work alone. “We need others [because] we are a community. We go out on miss

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- New Bicol Police chief, Brig. Gen. Erosito Miranda, on Friday committed to ensuring that the quality of police services is felt and appreciated to promote peace and security in the region. In a command turnover ceremony at the Police Regional Office 5 (Bicol Region) grandstand at Camp Simeon Ola, Miranda pledged to make the PRO-5 a dependable ally of the local government units, other government agencies, the private sector, and the general p