The colorful and traditional Fluvial procession of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia and El Divino Rostro for this year was conducted evening last Saturday, September 19 due to insufficient water level along the Naga river. (TOM FALCON PHOTO)

By JORDAN DOMINGO The Philippine National Police (PNP) supports two Senate-approved measures seeking to strengthen safeguards for children in schools and online, amid growing concerns over campus violence and digital threats. The proposed Comprehensive School Safety Act and Sagip Bata Act have also drawn support from parents, teachers, barangay officials, church and business leaders in various municipalities in Camarines Sur, who see the measures as additional safeguards for children and students. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the police organization is ready to work with the Department of Education (DepEd), local governments and communities to ensure that schools remain secure and protective environments for learners. The PNP statement came amid renewed concerns over school violence following the Sept. 18 shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato that left two students dead and several others wounded. Senate Bill No. 2426, or the proposed Comprehensive School Safety Act, seeks to establish a National School Safety Framework covering the prevention of, response to, and recovery from threats and incidents in schools. The measure would also require schools to develop localized safety plans that may include CCTV cameras, counseling and psychological support, emergency response mechanisms, additional security measures and anonymous reporting systems. The proposed Sagip Bata Act, or Senate Bill No. 1819, meanwhile, seeks to strengthen protection against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, including grooming, luring, sexual extortion, image-based abuse, livestreamed exploitation and technology-enabled abuse involving children. Nartatez said the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group is intensifying its monitoring of online platforms where children may be groomed, exploited or recruited, while strengthening digital forensics, evidence preservation and coordination with service providers. For the parents, teachers, barangay officials, church and business leaders, and police personnel in Camarines Sur who expressed support for the measures, stronger cooperation among families, schools, communities and authorities is essential in addressing threats to children. The PNP has likewise urged students experiencing threats, bullying, grooming or abuse to report the incidents and seek assistance from authorities. The police organization said it would continue increasing its presence in schools while strengthening efforts to address threats against children in both physical and digital spaces. The proposed Comprehensive School Safety Act and Sagip Bata Act have also drawn support from parents, teachers, barangay officials, church leaders, business leaders, and PNP personnel in various municipalities in Camarines Sur, who see the measures as additional safeguards for children and students. They asked that their names not be disclosed.

By Jason B. Neola About 500 female junior high school students from 15 schools in Naga City will take part in a girls’ rights workshop using film and music as platforms for dialogue, self-discovery and creative expression on Saturday, Sept. 26. The “Sine Niña Girls’ Rights Workshop Through Film and Music” will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. at the ST Quadrangle of Naga College Foundation, Inc. (NCF) along M.T. Villanueva Avenue. The activity is being organized by the City Government of Naga through the Naga City Youth Development Office (NCYDO), in collaboration with the Naga City Children’s Affairs Office (NCCAO), and in partnership with SPARK! Philippines and Sony Music, and the Naga College Foundation, Inc. Participants, mostly girls aged 13 to 17, will come from public secondary schools identified in coordination with the Department of Education Schools Division Office of Naga City, along with junior high school students from NCF. The workshop will center on “Sine Niña,” a documentary produced through the Sony Global Social Justice Fund that features real-life stories highlighting girls’ empowerment and community building. The program will include the documentary screening, panel interviews and guided discussions on girls’ rights, followed by a hands-on music creation workshop. Sony Music recording artist and Bicolana singer-songwriter dwta will co-facilitate the song-writing workshop, where participants will create original songs that will be performed during a live showcase. City Mayor Maria Leonor G. Robredo will deliver a pre-recorded message, while Vice Mayor Gabriel H. Bordado Jr. and Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Susan S. Collano will also address the participants. Representatives from SPARK! Philippines and Sony Music will join the panel discussions and music workshop. The participating schools are Balatas National High School, Camarines Sur National High School, Cararayan National High School, Carolina National High School, Concepcion Pequeña National High School, Del Rosario National High School, Leon Q. Mercado High School, Mabolo National High School, Naga City School of Arts and Trades, Naga City Science High School, Naga College Foundation, Salunguigui High School, San Isidro National High School, Sta. Cruz National High School, and Tinago National High School. The organizers said the initiative forms part of the city government’s continuing efforts to promote youth development while providing young girls with a creative space to learn about and express their views on their rights and experiences. The event’s panel will bring together three advocates and public servants working in the areas of gender equality, child protection, and youth participation: Shyla Joy R. Bernal-Dumalasa, Head of the Naga City Gender and Development Office (NCGADO), leads the city’s efforts to promote gender-responsive governance and advance gender equality. Glyza C. Nasayao, Executive Director of the Naga City Children’s Affairs Office (NCCAO) and Secretariat of the Naga City Council for Welfare and Protection of Children (NCCWPC), works to strengthen programs and policies that uphold children’s rights and welfare. Estella Khelen Shaye O. Chan, External Vice President of the Naga City Child-LED Network, brings the perspective of young people themselves, particularly in promoting meaningful child and youth participation in initiatives that affect their lives.

By Rhaydz Barcia No amount of obstacles dampened the spirit, faith and strong devotion of Bicolanos from all walks of life to Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, as devotees waited patiently for the annual fluvial procession despite its historic adjustment to night-time due to extremely low water levels in the Naga River. The night-time procession was held for the first time in its 316-year history after low tide and the effects of El Niño made it impossible for the pagoda to navigate the river during the day. Couple Dhang, 30, and Moneil, 36, Sesgundo, together with their nine-month-old son, Zev Hendrix, from Barangay San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur, were among the estimated 1.2 million devotees who thronged Naga City on Saturday to spend time with Ina on the final day of the nine-day novena and wait for the fluvial procession, which ended in the early hours of Sunday. Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia is fondly called “Ina” by Bicolanos. When asked why they brought their infant son to the celebration despite the risk of exposure to illness in the huge crowd, Dhang said that they wanted to express their gratitude to Ina for giving them Zev. “We have been together for 12 years since boyfriend and girlfriend before our marriage. We are praying for Ina to give us a child. Luckily, our prayers were heard by Ina, and now we have baby Zev. We’re visiting her this fluvial with Zev, to say thank you for giving him to us. We are also introducing and passing our devotion to our son at a young age,” he said. Dhang said she also prays every day for the good health and safety of her family. The adjustment of the fluvial procession to nighttime, she said, was not a hindrance. “We are here for Ina. Before, we're praying for Ina to have a baby and he was given to us. This is his (Zev) first time to join the Peñafrancia. We are praying for good health and our safety every day,” she said. Former Guinobatan Mayor Christopher Flores of Albay, whose family has been devoted to Ina for generations, said no economic crisis or natural disaster could dampen the faith and devotion of Bicolanos. Flores, the son of retired Court of Appeals Associate Justice Teresita Dy-Liacco Flores and Judge Emmanuel “Maning” Flores, said that their family has been devoted to Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia since their childhood. “The devotion of the Bicolanos to Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia is even deeper in times of economic crisis and natural calamities, specifically that we are facing a prolonged El Niño. From my parents, I’m also passing our devotion to my children. Yearly, we stay in Naga with my family to honor Ina in a fluvial procession. We are all pilgrims of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia,” he said. “But this year’s fluvial procession is different and the first time in history that it was held in the nighttime due to El Niño,” Flores said. Fr. Francis Tordilla of the Cáceres Commission on Communications (CCOM) said the water level in the Naga River was so low that it was impossible for the pagoda to leave at 5 or 6 p.m. because it would not float. “The situation is unusual right now; based on studies, water levels are extremely low this year, making it impossible to leave at 5:00 or 6:00 PM. It is quite strange—in my lifetime, this is the first time I have witnessed something like this,” he said. Fr. Wilmer Tria, parish priest of St. Anthony Parish in Iriga City, Camarines Sur, also underscored the impact of El Niño on the Naga River. In a Facebook post, Tria said El Niño had thinned the Naga River, forcing Ina’s pagoda to wait for the water that once carried her without hesitation. “Dear devotees, the late start is itself a parable. El Niño has thinned the Naga River, so Ina’s pagoda must wait for the water that once carried her without hesitation. We stand in the Season of Creation, whose 2026 theme is Living Water. Pope Leo XIV has named neglect and destruction of the earth a sin against creation and against the Creator,” he said. Tria urged the Church to pray for water, which he described as a gift from God and a right without borders, meant for every child and not reserved for those who can buy, monopolize or waste it. “If the river is too shallow for the Virgin, it is also too wounded for the poor who drink from it, wash in it, and live along its banks. A fluvial procession that merely floats past garbage, silt, and sewage is devotion without conversion,” he said. “The same river that bears Ina home must be kept clean enough to bear life. ‘Viva la Virgen’ cannot be only a shout for the mother of God. It must become a shout for the Mother of Creation: a promise that we will stop treating her waters as a dump and start treating them as a sacrament of God’s care for all,” he added. “Tonight, as candles line a delayed river, let the wait become prayer: forgive us the sins that dry and dirty this stream. Then let the cry ‘Viva’ that follows the pagoda mean what it says: care for Ina, and care for life and the river that carries her,” Tria said. After more than three centuries of devotion to Ina, pilgrims and devotees of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia experienced an unprecedented nighttime fluvial procession, waiting for hours despite uncertainty over whether the low water level would allow the pagoda to navigate the Naga River. “History was made last night as an estimated 1.2 million devotees flooded Naga City for the first-ever nighttime Peñafrancia Fluvial Procession! Low tides and schedule delays couldn’t dim the spirits of the faithful. Instead, the Naga River was lit up by an unforgettable sea of devotion as Inâ and El Divino Rostro returned home. Truly, no river is too dry and no night is too dark for the Bicolano spirit,” the Naga City government said in a Facebook post. The Naga River stretches approximately 2.8 kilometers and passes through 11 of the city’s 27 barangays. Tria said El Niño had thinned the river, forcing Ina’s pagoda to wait for sufficient water. The annual fluvial procession of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is a profound expression of faith and devotion, accompanied by prayers, songs and the enduring devotion of Bicolanos. The wooden image of Ina, believed by devotees to be miraculous, has been venerated in Naga City since the 1700s. Every year, pilgrims pass through an 11-meter-high arch dedicated to Our Lady of Peñafrancia as the Traslacion begins, marking the start of the nine-day novena. Voyadores — barefoot men from all walks of life — carry the image during the procession, bringing it together with the image of the Divino Rostro from the shrine to the Metropolitan Cathedral. On the ninth day of the novena, the third Saturday of September, voyadores bring the images of the Divino Rostro and Our Lady of Peñafrancia from the Cathedral to the Naga River for the hours-long fluvial procession, which ends at a dock near the Basilica Minore de Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia. Photo caption: History unfolds as the first-ever nighttime fluvial procession of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is held in Naga City on Saturday after the Naga River’s water level dropped due to the effects of El Niño.

By Darius Salvador V. Deiparine LIBMANAN, CAMARINES SUR — Mary Antonette A. Papin and Melan N. Bonza were named Libmanan’s Most Outstanding Campus Journalists at the Search for Gawad Leon Aureus for Outstanding Campus Journalism held at the Libmanan Sports Complex on August 29, 2026. The event was part of Libmanan’s Youth Convergence (Linggo ng Kabataan) 2026, which recognized local campus journalists for their work and achievements in journalism. Papin, a 17-year-old graduate of Homobono H. Gonzalez National High School, was named Most Outstanding Campus Journalist in the High School Category. Her journalism journey began at Fundado Elementary School, where she worked as a feature writer under Collaborative Publishing. She later gained experience in news writing, copyreading, headline writing, and broadcasting. Papin served as news anchor and editor-in-chief of The Sentinel for Academic Year 2025–2026. She also became the first circulations manager of the Libmanan Youth Press Club (LYPC). In an interview with the College Artisans Bulletin (CAB), Papin reflected on the challenges of campus journalism. “There is no easy path. You will make mistakes, face criticism, and sometimes question whether you’re good enough. But keep learning, keep writing, and keep showing up.” Also recognized among the High School Top 4 were Al Francis Jeanne L. Pesico of San Isidro National High School, and Jane Saila A. Autor, Kathleen Heart R. Macatangay, and Martin Ian N. Delos Reyes, all of Homobono H. Gonzalez National High School. In the College Category, Bonza, a fourth-year Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Mathematics student at Central Bicol State University of Agriculture–Sipocot, was named Most Outstanding Campus Journalist. Bonza began his journalism journey at Libmanan North Central School as a broadcaster for Ang Sentralista. He later became a writer and broadcaster for Ang Alingawngaw at San Juan National High School. At the College Artisans Bulletin, Bonza served as broadcaster and scriptwriter in 2023, senior broadcaster and scriptwriter in 2024, and associate editor in 2025. He currently serves as broadcast and script editor. In an interview with CAB, Bonza highlighted the role of journalism in society. “The power of the pen and the media lies in their capacity to influence, challenge, and ultimately contribute to changing the society we live in.” Before the awarding, the finalists underwent panel interviews on August 22, 2026, at the Conference Room of the Libmanan Municipal Hall. The panel was composed of Allen Marc R. De Jesus of the BISCAST Collegian, Sakia May D. Ahito of the Camarines Sur Division Federated Supreme Secondary Learner Government, Loissa A. Naval of The Mariner, Ryan O. Mostar of The Bicol Mail, and Darius Salvador V. Deiparine of the Libmanan Youth Press Club. Deiparine, convener and current adviser of LYPC, said the organization seeks to bring journalism beyond the campus and closer to the community. “With our motto being ‘Magmatyag at Magpahayag,’ we believe that journalism should go beyond the campus because our communities deserve journalists who seek and uphold the truth with utmost integrity and responsibility,” Deiparine said. The award carries the name of Leon SA Aureus, a Libmaneño whose wartime service, public leadership, and contribution to journalism remain part of Bicol’s history. Aureus became a leader of the Tangcong Vaca guerrilla unit during World War II. Historical accounts identify him as an important figure in the guerrilla resistance in Camarines Sur. The Tangcong Vaca unit took part in battles against Japanese forces and in the liberation of Naga. Following the war, Aureus became the first mayor of the newly chartered Naga City and served from December 1948 to December 1951. The City Government of Naga lists him as the city’s first mayor and presiding officer of its first Municipal Board. Aureus also founded The Bicol Mail in 1953. The newspaper identifies him as its founder and describes him as a journalist, guerrilla leader, and public servant. The award bearing his name was created to recognize young journalists from Libmanan and highlight the community’s connection to Bicol’s history of journalism and public service. The initiative was made possible through the Local Youth Development Office, headed by Ivan Jay C. Valleno, and the Local Government Unit of Libmanan, with sponsorship from The Bicol Mail through Neil Aureus. Photo credits: Darius Salvador V. Deiparine

The Xavier Batchmates Foundation Inc. (XBFI), founded by the scholars of the Ateneo Xavier Honors Dormitory under the care and guidance of Fr. Joel E. Tabora, SJ during his term as President of Ateneo de Naga University, will celebrate its 2nd anniversary with a special fundraising event. In pursuit of the group's mission to provide 30 scholarship grants for deserving students of Ateneo de Naga University, XBFI is honored to present a benefit concert featuring Jose Mari Chan — the iconic singer-songwriter who blessed the Philippine airwaves with his famous tracks Beautiful Girl and Constant Change. His popular album Christmas in Our Hearts is already considered as one of the essential soundtracks of December. He is also a close friend of Fr. Tabora and his sister Cristina Tabora. Jose Mari Chan has generously offered his talent in support of this cause. The concert will be held on November 28, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the Ateneo de Naga University Gymnasium. Tickets will be available beginning Saturday, September 26 at the ADNU Alumni Relations and Development Office (ARDO) and Marketing and Communications Office. Further details and updates will be shared through XBFI’s official Facebook page (facebook.com/ Xavier Batchmates FoundationInc).

For 39 years, the Constitution has carried a clear command: the State shall prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law. For nearly four decades, however, Congress has failed to enact the law that would give meaning to that constitutional provision. The Supreme Court has now made the issue impossible to ignore. In its Aug. 26, 2026 decision, the Supreme Court declared that Congress has a mandatory constitutional duty to enact a law prohibiting political dynasties and ruled that its prolonged failure to do so constitutes grave abuse of discretion. The Court directed Congress to act with “utmost urgency” and at the earliest opportunity. This is not a matter of the Supreme Court telling Congress exactly what law to write. The Court itself recognized that defining a political dynasty and determining the precise scope of the prohibition remain legislative functions. But there is an important distinction: Congress has discretion over how to prohibit political dynasties; it does not have discretion over whether to prohibit them. That distinction should now guide the legislative debate. The House has already approved House Bill No. 8389, the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act, on third and final reading. The measure was approved on June 3 by a vote of 267-20, with seven abstentions, and transmitted to the Senate on June 8. The difficulty is whether the measure goes far enough to fulfill the constitutional objective. The Supreme Court's decision has put forward a significant consideration: there is basis for covering relatives up to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity and affinity. The Court pointed to existing provisions in the Family Code, Civil Code, Revised Penal Code and Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees that already recognize relationships within the fourth civil degree in various legal contexts. That does not mean Congress is required to copy the Court's suggested framework word for word. It does mean lawmakers should seriously examine whether a narrower prohibition can effectively address the concentration of political power that the Constitution intended to prevent. This is where the debate over the House bill becomes important. A law that prevents only certain relatives from simultaneously occupying particular offices may restrict some forms of political concentration while leaving other arrangements untouched. The House itself has defended its measure as targeting monopolies of political power within a locality while preserving the right of individuals to seek public office. That argument deserves consideration. So does the contrary concern: if members of the same extended family can continue to occupy strategically important positions across different levels or jurisdictions, a formal prohibition may exist while political power remains substantially concentrated within the same family network. The Supreme Court's discussion is therefore timely because it shifts the question from whether something should be done to whether what is being proposed is sufficient. The Constitution did not say that political dynasties should merely be regulated. It said they should be prohibited, subject to a definition and scope established by law. That wording matters. At the same time, Congress must be careful not to enact a law that is so broad, vague or poorly designed that it creates new constitutional problems. The law must respect equal protection, the right of citizens to seek public office, voter choice, due process and the separation of powers. An effective anti-dynasty law must therefore achieve two things at once: prevent excessive concentration of political power while preserving legitimate democratic participation. That is the difficult legislative work now before Congress. The timing makes the task even more urgent. The country is moving toward the 2028 elections. Electoral calculations are already part of the political landscape, and any new rules governing who may run, who may succeed whom and what family relationships are covered will have significant consequences for candidates, political organizations and voters. The Supreme Court deliberately did not impose a specific deadline. But the absence of a judicial deadline should not be mistaken for permission to delay indefinitely. The Court has already found that 39 years is more than a reasonable period for Congress to perform its constitutional duty. Congress should therefore treat the decision not as an intrusion into its legislative authority but as a constitutional reminder of that authority's corresponding responsibility. The country does not need another cycle of promises, hearings and proposed measures that disappear when political circumstances change. It needs a law. More importantly, it needs a law that actually addresses the problem the Constitution sought to prevent. The test should not be whether Congress can produce an anti-dynasty bill. The test should be whether the final law meaningfully opens political opportunities to Filipinos beyond established family networks while protecting every citizen's right to participate in government. After 39 years, the constitutional promise deserves more than another legislative compromise that leaves its central purpose unresolved. The time for an anti-dynasty law is now.

This is what I’ve been talking about. It happened again, and this new incident shares the exact same significant element with the previous two. I have been telling you all, over and over again. Is anyone actually listening? It’s the students’ parents', uncles', or aunts' guns! All three of these kids who went to school and shot their fellow students got their weapons at home—straight from their fathers or aunts; two of them directly from their own fathers. These kids wouldn't be shooting anyone if they didn't have immediate, easy access to firearms within their own households. Furthermore, I would add that these kids were explicitly taught how to handle and fire these weapons. Handling real-world pistols, recoil management, and making a firearm shoot accurately is not as easy as it looks in video games or Hollywood movies. Yet, these kids knew exactly what to do when they pulled those weapons out of their bags. Go figure how they learned those skills while living under the same roof with parents or aunts who are arguably proud gun owners. Check the people who own guns! Check how accessible those weapons are to children at home! Penalize the adults who teach minors how to handle real firearms! That’s the true way to go. Focus the attention where it belongs: on the adults, not just on the children. These kids did not look for weapons from black market gun runners or arms traffickers. They did not steal guns from private security guards. They did not have any contacts with insurgent or rebel groups. They simply took the guns from their own family members at home, for crying out loud! In all three cases so far (and hopefully, we end with just three), the guns were fully licensed and legal firearms. Because these weapons are registered, they can easily be traced directly back to their licenses. PNP, through the Civil Security Group and the Firearms and Explosives Office could track these owners down right now and impose far more stringent safety measures, inspections, and legal penalties to prevent children from ever getting hold of these weapons in the first place. Instead, the primary culprit that authorities love to look at and pin the blame on is digital access. I have noticed this strong, unhealthy passion for analyzing and connecting real-world violence to whatever video games a student plays, or what sort of social media platforms and online forums he or she is engrossed with. Okay, I’ll give you that for a moment. Maybe playing shooter role-playing games or obsessing over true crime and violence simulation websites pollutes a person's mind and gives them violent ideas. But if this person does not have access to real firearms, he or she would never be able to shoot and kill other human beings. Maybe they would throw a violent tantrum and overturn some furniture. Maybe they would get into a fistfight and punch some of their peers. If they were really committed to violence, maybe they would grab a sharp, pointed object to slash like Jason or Freddy. I am certainly not saying those violent behaviors are okay. But those actions are relatively less dangerous and far less fatal than going around and randomly pulling the trigger on whoever happens to be standing in a hallway. Tantrums, fistfights, and slashings are all deplorably dangerous, but they won’t kill dozens of people in a matter of seconds. (Back in our time, long before Counter-Strike or mobile gaming, we played with concrete pellet guns. We even played with tiradors to shoot down birds from branches. But we didn’t shoot down our classmates in our classrooms.) I don’t understand why political figures, policymakers, social advocacy groups, legal advocates, news outlets, and media commentators are always so quick to make a direct connection between a troubled student and video games, social media, or internet culture. Maybe this is just an offshoot of traditional Filipino technoskepticism—this stubborn belief that modern technology is inherently bad, and that children should only be doing what their parents and grandparents did when they were kids. Sorry, Lolos and Lolas, but technology is here to stay, and even the older generation benefits massively from online access every single day. Besides, major scientific and medical organizations—such as the American Psychological Association (APA)—have consistently found no direct causal link between playing violent video games and committing real-world mass shootings. Millions of youth play violent games globally every day without ever engaging in real-world aggression. Maybe these adult family members are simply too proud to admit that they and their unsecured guns are the primary cause of this school violence. Maybe they refuse to accept stricter regulations or mandatory gun safes for their cherished firearm ownership. Maybe they just don't want to move an inch out of their comfort zones. Well, if we continue attributing the cause to the wrong culprit, this problem will never be solved. Matthew 26:52: ““Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.”

Sa XXX v. People (G.R. No. 274842, October 22, 2025), kinasuhan an sarong lalaki sa bisa kan Anti-VAWC Law matapos mag-post sa Facebook nin mapanlait asin makapaminsalang mga pahayag tungkol sa saiyang ex-girlfriend. Itinanggi niya na siya an nag-post. Sabi niya, posible na ibang tawo an naggibo kan account gamit an saiyang pangaran asin litrato. Sinabi kan Supreme Court na madali lang maggibo nin Facebook account, kaya posible man na may fake o dummy account. Pero sabi pa kan SC, dai man nangangahulugan na kaipohan may digital forensics o records hale sa internet provider bago mapatunayan kun siisay an nag-post. Pwedeng gamiton an direct o circumstantial evidence—arog kan pag-amin na saiya an account, pagkahiling saiya na ginagamit ini, mga detalye sa post na siya sana an makakaaram, an pamilyar na paraan niya nin pagsurat, koneksyon kan account sa saiyang cellphone o email, asin iba pang ebidensya na nagpapahiling na siya an nasa likod kan account o post. Sa kaso ni XXX, ginamit kan Korte an totality of the circumstances. An account nagagamit kan saiyang buong pangaran asin litrato; may testigo na nakatanggap na nin mensahe hale sa account; an post nagagamit kan palayaw kan ex-girlfriend na pamilyar sa barkada asin pamilya niya; asin may mga enot na post na nagpapahiling na bako ini basta account na ginibo sana para ipahamak si XXX. Para sa Supreme Court, an gabos na circumstantial evidence na ini nagdara sa sarong makatwirang konklusyon: si XXX talaga an naggibo kan post.

Some accidents are news. Others make you stop scrolling and think about how easily they could happen to someone you know. Sir Jao was hit by a car while crossing a pedestrian lane. It happened past midnight, when the road was relatively quiet. The CCTV footage showed the vehicle approaching at considerable speed. Now there is something almost absurd about how we treat an empty road. No traffic. No congestion. No apparent reason to slow down. Just a long stretch of pavement inviting us to find out what the accelerator can do. Until something appears. A pedestrian lane, for instance. Or a person. We have all seen it: vehicles speeding through intersections, motorcycles squeezing through spaces that do not exist, drivers accelerating because there is “still enough time.” Enough time is one of the most dangerous phrases on the road. There is always enough time—until there isn't. We like to think accidents happen because something extraordinary went wrong. Sometimes, they do. But sometimes, there is nothing extraordinary about it. Someone was just going too fast. Someone just assumed the road was clear. Someone just thought there was enough time. And for a few seconds, everyone was wrong. Of course, pedestrians have to be careful too. A pedestrian lane is not a force field, and crossing a road still requires attention. But drivers have something else to remember: the road may look empty but that does not make it yours. It belongs to pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycles, cars, trucks—and to the occasional person simply trying to get from one side to the other. That should not be a complicated concept. Yet every now and then, someone manages to make it one. Sir Jao should have been able to cross a road and continue with his life. Instead, a routine journey became his last. Of course, there will be questions about what really happened. But we do not need all the answers to recognize what should already be obvious: a few seconds of poor judgment and misplaced confidence behind the wheel can turn a normal walk into a tragedy. The road may have been empty that night. But an empty road is still full of consequences.

We are fond of claiming—and often strongly agreeing—that we Filipinos are resilient. I have previously shared my thoughts on this topic, arguing that we are not looking at resilience through a correct or objective lens. To address this, I thought of a more apt term: “Wrongsilience” (or simply "wrong resilience"), which describes a mistaken, misguided sense of endurance. A statement from a 2025 article titled "Resilience is Not a Personality Trait: The Myth of Filipino Endurance" hits the mark: "Filipino resilience is often praised, but it also masks systemic neglect." The article convincingly argues that "resilience has become a political smokescreen—used to excuse poor governance, lack of trauma care, and state violence." Whenever disasters and severe flooding strike, the long process of recovery forces us to rebuild almost entirely from scratch. Every single time, we reach a point where we resign ourselves to adjusting to reality as it is. Tayo na lang ba lagi ang mag-aadjust?! (Must we always be the ones to adjust?!) This mindset is fundamentally wrong—it is precisely what we refer to as toxic resilience. It must be clear; the Filipino is not waterproof! Our farmers and fisherfolk face this exact same dynamic. We continue with the status quo during calamities and price-driven economic crises, directly compromising their income and daily survival. This brings to mind a striking point raised by a guest speaker during a university forum back when I was teaching. Describing the country's agricultural sector, he observed: "It’s clear that the system is designed to make the poor poorer and the rich richer." Let that sink in. As this year’s Peñafrancia festivities draw to a close, the Bikol River offers us important lessons. Back in 1990, during the blessing of a newly constructed pagoda for the annual fluvial procession, the late Archbishop Legaspi uttered what now feels prophetic: "This pagoda will last for a century; I am not sure about the Bikol River." True enough, decades later, his warning is visibly unfolding. Our city is becoming increasingly tide-dependent—evident in the severe floods brought by Kristine two years ago, as well as the unusually low water levels recently caused by the ongoing Super El Niño. During this year's fiesta, we were forced to adjust the schedule for that exact reason. The fluvial procession started at around 9:30 PM last Saturday, and the succeeding Mass ended near midnight at around 11:30 PM—a record-breaking delay that felt surreal and deeply strange. This realization arrives amidst the annual celebration of the Season of Creation (September 1 to October 4, culminating on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi). This year’s theme, "Living Water," could not be more timely or relevant to our situation. The article cited earlier reminds us that we must slowly shift and unlearn the passive resilience we have normalized since time immemorial. Real Filipino strength, as stated in the article, should mean "not the ability to endure endless suffering, but the courage to demand care." Before we forget, we must remember that we are part of the very system we criticize. Because we are a part of it, we must actively contribute to changing and transforming it. After all, isn't that what empowerment is all about?

September 23 may become an important date in the history of Philippine impeachment. On that day, the Senate impeachment court is scheduled to hear oral arguments from the prosecution and defense on a deceptively simple question: How many votes are actually required to convict an impeached official? It sounds like simple math, but it’s not. Article XI of the 1987 Constitution is titled “Accountability of Public Officers.” It begins with a simple declaration: public office is a public trust, and public officers must remain accountable to the people. Then comes the machinery of impeachment. The Senate has the sole power to try and decide impeachment cases. When sitting for that purpose, senators take an oath. And the Constitution provides that no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate. Notice that it does not say a fixed number. Just a fraction: two-thirds. Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s hard-16 ruling at the outset has made that interpretation the immediate battleground. The ruling requires 16 votes or two-thirds of the full 24-member Senate to convict. The dispute arose because several senators are not participating in the trial, raising the question of whether they should remain part of the denominator. The Senate then sought guidance from former Supreme Court magistrates. Retired Chief Justices Hilario Davide Jr., Artemio Panganiban and Reynato Puno presented views under which the required number could change depending on which senators are legally able to participate. Retired Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna took the opposite position: the denominator remains all 24 senators because the Constitution says “all the Members of the Senate.” Three against one does not decide a constitutional question. But it establishes something important: Sixteen is an interpretation but not a constitutional number. Now consider the harder question. Suppose only fifteen senator-judges are legally able to participate. They hear the evidence. They deliberate. All fifteen vote to convict. Under a fixed sixteen-vote rule, conviction would still be impossible. If you cannot participate in the adjudication, haven’t you forfeited your opportunity to render a judgment? And if you cannot render that judgment, should your involuntary absence nevertheless determine how many votes your colleagues need to render theirs? This is not an argument for lowering the two-thirds requirement. It is an argument about who belongs in the two-thirds. The principle is simple: The denominator should follow the constitutional capacity to exercise the function—not merely the number of names on the Senate roster. Otherwise, nonparticipation can acquire the practical effect of a negative vote. You cannot sit out the trial and still cast a shadow over the verdict. And this is where Escudero’s role becomes impossible to ignore. In 2025, Escudero moved the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment from June 2 to June 11, citing legislative priorities. On June 10, with him presiding, the impeachment court voted 18–5 to return the Articles to the House without terminating the case. The constitutional clock did what clocks do: It ran out. The Supreme Court subsequently ruled that the one-year constitutional bar prevented a new impeachment proceeding before February 6, 2026. Now, in the second impeachment, Escudero’s hard-16 ruling has again placed a procedural question between the Senate and the merits of the case. And on September 23, he will preside as the court confronts that ruling—and, according to the court spokesperson, participate in the vote as a senator-judge. Escudero cannot single-handedly derail this impeachment trial twice. There is an irony here for Escudero. The same office that gives him extraordinary influence over these proceedings also gives him an opportunity to restore public confidence—not by determining the outcome, but by allowing the constitutional question to be decided on its merits. He cannot rewrite what happened in 2025. But he can decide what his role means in 2026. The larger question is precedent. A constitutional interpretation becomes precedent. And precedent becomes the road future institutions may travel. The framers of the constitution did not leave an immutable impeachment formula. Under the 1935 Constitution, conviction required three-fourths of all the Members of the Senate. Under the 1973 Constitution, the National Assembly handled impeachment and conviction required two-thirds of all its members. The 1987 Constitution returned impeachment trials to the Senate and established a two-thirds requirement. The fraction changed. The institution changed. But nowhere did the Constitution write 16. That history does not settle today’s dispute. It does, however, remind us that constitutional numbers exist within constitutional structures. And that responsibility ultimately rests with the senator-judges. We elect human beings, not constitutional machines. The Constitution cannot guarantee wisdom. It can demand judgment. It cannot guarantee courage. It can impose responsibility. Voters choose the senators who may one day sit as senator-judges. The lesson is not whom to elect. That decision belongs to the voter. The lesson is that the decision deserves thought because senators eventually leave office. The Constitution, however, remains. Whatever interpretation emerges from this controversy may become the rule invoked when another impeachment trial arrives—perhaps under circumstances nobody now imagines. That is why September 23 matters. The Senate will not simply be deciding how to count votes in one impeachment trial. It will be helping define the road future impeachment courts may follow. The road less traveled becomes the precedent a young democracy inherits. A sound precedent should not merely settle today’s dispute. It should bring stability to tomorrow’s impeachment trials. There may be no convenient answer. But convenience is not the standard. The task is to find a constitutional road sturdy enough for everyone to travel. Because this is not merely the trial of an impeached Vice President. It is a test of whether the impeachment judges can summon enough courage and rise to the occasion.