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By Rhadz Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- On the first day of August, thousands of Albayanos from the four island communities of Albay paid tribute to the miraculous image of Nuestra Señora de Salvacion through the 45th Annual Maritime Procession, held three weeks before the celebration of 250 years of devotion and the 50th anniversary of the image’s Canonical Coronation. The annual maritime procession brings together devotees from the BARACAS Islands—Batan, Rapu-Rapu, Cagraray, and San Miguel—in a moving display of faith and unity in honor of Ina, as the Blessed Virgin is affectionately called by devotees. Participating in the procession were parishioners from the Sacred Heart Mission Parish in Barangay Cabasan, Cagraray Island, Bacacay; St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Visita, San Miguel Island, Tabaco City; St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Villahermosa, Batan Island, Rapu-Rapu; and Sta. Florentina Parish in Poblacion, Rapu-Rapu. The four island parishes are under the pastoral care of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT). Devotees also brought the images of their respective patron saints aboard the participating boats. After several hours of sailing across the Pacific waters, they landed at Barangay Salvacion in Cagraray Island and joined a procession before attending a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Bishop Joel Z. Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi. This year’s maritime procession also marked the 45th anniversary of the Sacred Heart Mission, making the celebration even more meaningful for the island communities. The grandest maritime procession will take place on August 15, 2026, at the Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Salvacion in Joroan, Tiwi, as part of the celebration of 250 years of devotion and the Golden Jubilee of the image’s Canonical Coronation. Thousands of devotees, pilgrims from across the Philippines and abroad, and local parishioners are expected to converge in the pilgrimage town. The original miraculous image of Nuestra Señora de Salvacion, also known as Our Lady of Light, is permanently enshrined at the Diocesan Shrine in Barangay Joroan, Tiwi, and Albay. Devotees believe the Blessed Mother intercedes for hope, healing, protection, abundant blessings, strength, inspiration, and unity. Every third Saturday of August, pilgrims from different parts of the country and overseas gather in Joroan for the traditional “Aurora in the Sea,” one of the most distinctive Marian celebrations in the Bicol Region. According to Fr. Joseph Salando, parish priest of Joroan and shrine rector, pilgrims visit the shrine throughout the year, but the number of devotees significantly increases from July until September, particularly before the Feast of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia. The largest crowds arrive on the eve of the Aurora in the Sea and remain through the Segunda Dia celebration. The third Saturday of August is observed as the shrine feast through the Aurora in the Sea, while the last Saturday of August features a nine-kilometer foot procession from St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish in Tiwi to the Diocesan Shrine in Joroan. The Aurora in the Sea is a unique religious tradition as hundreds of boats from Albay’s coastal municipalities and neighboring Camarines Sur sail together in honor of Ina. The sea procession has become one of the most anticipated Marian events in the region, drawing thousands of faithful every year. The devotion traces its origins to the 1770s, when numerous miracles were attributed to the image during the Spanish colonial period. Historical accounts recount that during pirate raids, residents sought refuge in the hills of Joroan, where they prayed before an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary for protection. Tradition also tells of Mariano Dacuba, who discovered a tree whose leaves never withered. Sculptor Bagacumba carved three sacred images from its wood: Nuestra Señora de Salvacion, San Antonio de Padua, and Nuestra Señora de Soledad (Our Lady of Sorrows). The images of San Antonio de Padua and Nuestra Señora de Soledad, now enshrined in Buhi, Camarines Sur, are regarded as the “siblings” of Nuestra Señora de Salvacion and will join this year’s grand celebration. On August 25, 1776, the image was formally entrusted to the people of Joroan on the condition that a chapel be built in her honor. In 1853, the town of Buhi relinquished its claim to the image in exchange for P50 and P25 for the purchase of a church bell. In 1805, a powerful typhoon prompted the temporary transfer of the image to Tiwi, leading to a long-standing dispute over its custody. The conflict was finally settled during an assembly in 1918, and the image was returned to Joroan the following year. In 1975, then Bishop Teotimo Pacis of Legazpi officially proclaimed Nuestra Señora de Salvacion as the Heavenly Patroness of Albay. A year later, the Diocese celebrated the bicentennial of the devotion by constructing a new shrine and preparing the image for its canonical coronation. On August 25, 1976, Jaime Cardinal Sin solemnly crowned the miraculous image in a Canonical Coronation. As part of this year’s jubilee celebration, the Diocese of Legazpi will commemorate the 250th anniversary of devotion and the Golden Jubilee of the Canonical Coronation with a Pontifical Concelebrated Mass on August 22, to be presided over by His Eminence Jose F. Cardinal Advincula Jr., Archbishop of Manila, together with bishops and members of the clergy.

(As part of its advocacy for healthier lifestyles, The Bicol Mail is publishing this article to encourage smokers to take the first step toward quitting. Giving up smoking is one of the best decisions a person can make for their health, and the benefits begin almost immediately. Understanding the remarkable changes that take place in the body after quitting can inspire smokers to break free from this harmful habit and embrace a healthier, longer, and more fulfilling life. –Editor) QUITTING smoking is one of the most important decisions a person can make for their health. While many smokers worry that years of tobacco use have caused irreversible damage, medical experts emphasize that the human body has an extraordinary ability to heal. In fact, the recovery process begins within minutes after the last cigarette is extinguished and continues for years afterward. Although quitting is often challenging because of nicotine addiction, every smoke-free day allows the body to repair itself and lowers the risk of serious diseases such as heart disease, stroke, chronic lung disease, and cancer. No matter how long a person has smoked, stopping today is always better than continuing tomorrow. Within 20 Minutes The healing process starts almost immediately. About 20 minutes after the last cigarette, the heart rate begins to return to its normal level, and blood pressure starts to decrease. Blood circulation gradually improves, reducing the strain on the heart and blood vessels. After 24 Hours Within one day, the body removes much of the carbon monoxide that accumulated from cigarette smoke. As carbon monoxide levels fall, oxygen levels in the blood rise, allowing vital organs to function more efficiently. At the same time, the risk of a heart attack already begins to decline. After Two Days By the second day, most nicotine has been eliminated from the body. Damaged nerve endings responsible for taste and smell begin to recover, making food more flavorful and scents more noticeable. After Three Days As nicotine leaves the body completely, many people experience withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, headaches, and strong cravings. These symptoms are temporary and are signs that the body is adapting to life without tobacco. Breathing also starts to become easier as the lungs begin to function more effectively. One to Three Months Over the next several weeks, circulation continues to improve. The lungs become more efficient at delivering oxygen, making physical activities easier. Many former smokers notice that walking, climbing stairs, and exercising require less effort than before. After Three Months Women who stop smoking may experience improved fertility, while the risk of pregnancy complications and premature birth is reduced. Both men and women continue to benefit from healthier blood circulation and stronger cardiovascular function. After Six Months Persistent coughing and excessive mucus production usually become less frequent. The airways become less inflamed, making breathing more comfortable. Many former smokers also report that they are better able to manage stress without relying on cigarettes. After Nine Months Tiny hair-like structures in the lungs called cilia regain much of their normal function. These natural cleaners help remove mucus, dust, and germs from the airways, reducing the likelihood of respiratory infections such as bronchitis. After One Year One year after quitting, the risk of coronary heart disease is about half that of someone who continues to smoke. This is one of the most significant milestones in the body's recovery. After Five Years Blood vessels continue to regain their normal function, reducing the risk of dangerous blood clots. The likelihood of suffering a stroke also declines substantially and continues to improve over time. After Ten Years The risk of dying from lung cancer becomes about half that of a person who still smokes. The chances of developing cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas are also significantly lower than before. After Fifteen Years Fifteen years after quitting, the risk of coronary heart disease becomes similar to that of someone who has never smoked. For many former smokers, this milestone represents how dramatically the body can recover over time. Twenty Years and Beyond Long-term studies show that after two decades without smoking, the risk of death from many smoking-related diseases approaches that of people who never smoked. While some damage caused by smoking may not be completely reversible, quitting greatly improves both life expectancy and quality of life. Every Smoke-Free Day Matters There is no “perfect” time to quit smoking—only the best time, which is now. Regardless of age or the number of years spent smoking, the body begins repairing itself almost immediately after tobacco use stops. Many people attempt to quit several times before succeeding. Seeking support from healthcare professionals, family members, friends, or smoking cessation programs can greatly increase the chances of becoming smoke-free for good. The benefits of quitting are not limited to the person who stops smoking. Family members, especially children, also gain protection from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. Choosing to quit is therefore an investment not only in one's own future but also in the health and well-being of loved ones. Every cigarette not smoked is a step toward healthier lungs, a stronger heart, and a longer, healthier life.

THE Senate on Monday passed on third and final reading Senate Bill (SB) 1905 or the Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), which seeks to institutionalize their roles and provide them with incentives and benefits. Sponsored by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, SB 1905 was passed with a vote of 20-0 during plenary session. The bill will provide BHWs a monthly volunteer benefit of P3,000, financial support for transportation, hazard allowance, cash gift, loyalty incentive, insurance, free legal aid, and psychosocial and mental health services. It will also provide for the registration, certification, training, and continued learning of BHWs, along with paths for further education, scholarship, civil service eligibility, plantilla positions, and recognition of their years of service for retirement benefits. Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, hailed the approval of the measure as a well-deserved recognition of BHWs who are often the first touchpoint of Filipinos to health care in their communities. “The Magna Carta for Barangay Health Workers that we have passed will put an end to the lack of support and benefits for our frontline health workers in the barangay,” she said. “Just because BHWs are volunteers does not mean we should not recognize and reward their hard work and sacrifices in safeguarding the health of our fellow Filipinos. In fact, we should take care of them as well, so they can continue providing even better care to the members of their communities,” she said. Hontiveros said that local government units (LGUs) will not be left alone in providing the necessary financial support to provide benefits to BHWs. She thanked her colleagues, including the 13 other co-authors of the bill and the chairmen and members of the Senate Committees on Finance, Local Government, and Ways and Means, for joining her in supporting BHWs and voting for the passage of their Magna Carta. Sen. Raffy Tulfo, co-author of SB 1905, said the measure would not only strengthen protection for health workers but also improve access to health care in barangay. “For several years, my office received complaints that job security remains a problem among barangay health workers, especially because of local politics and changes in leadership. Health workers deserve stability, dignity, and protection. A health worker's job should not depend on the barangay chairman or on political loyalty,” Tulfo said. “The best way to make health care more accessible is to strengthen the people who bring healthcare closest to our communities — our barangay health workers,” he added. Sen. Joel Villanueva, co-author and co-sponsor of the measure, said this long-overdue legislation will finally give the BHWs the recognition, protection, and support that they have long deserved. “Our barangay health workers are the quiet heroes of our health care system. They are the first to knock on people's doors. They are the first to respond when a pregnant woman needs guidance, a child needs to be vaccinated, or a family requires basic health services. Even in the most remote barangay, they are there — tireless, uncomplaining, and all too often lacking the support they deserve,” Villanueva said. “By strengthening their training, providing better benefits, and recognizing the vital role they play, we also reinforce the foundation of our Universal Health Care system and bring quality health care services closer to every Filipino,” he said. Sen. Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan said the measure is a long overdue recognition for the country's front-liners at the community level. Pangilinan said barangay health workers have long served as the first line of care for Filipino families, especially in underserved communities, yet many continue to receive little compensation and limited government support despite the critical role they play. Pangilinan has authored Senate Bill 729, which was consolidated together with other measures to create SB 1905. Under the bill, the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will review and adjust the volunteer benefit every three years. The DBM, together with the Civil Service Commission, the DOH, and LGUs, will also establish the position classification for BHWs and the corresponding salary grades to eventually transition the compensation of BHWs from honorariums to regular salaries, in recognition of their essential role in delivering primary health care services. The measure also mandates insurance coverage and free legal services, as well as education, career advancement, and educational programs for BHWs.

BUSINESS owners, self-employed professionals, and individual taxpayers in the country can expect easier access to Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) services as the agency rolls out reforms aimed at simplifying tax compliance while offering relief to qualified micro taxpayers. BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza said the agency is expanding its digital services and implementing a one-time tax abatement program that allows eligible micro taxpayers to settle outstanding tax liabilities under more favorable terms. The abatement program, which took effect on July 7, is open to micro taxpayers with gross annual sales of not more than P3 million and total basic tax liabilities and/or penalties not exceeding P80,000 for a taxable year. Mendoza said many taxpayers have already availed themselves of the program, which forms part of the administration's effort to ease the burden on small businesses. The BIR is also preparing to expand the use of its taxpayer portal, which allows users to view registration details, monitor filed tax returns, track tax payments, and receive automated reminders for filing and payment deadlines. The online system, currently being tested with taxpayers under the Large Taxpayers Service (LTS), is expected to be rolled out to other taxpayers nationwide beginning next month. According to Mendoza, the digital initiative is intended to reduce paperwork, minimize personal visits to BIR offices, and make tax compliance more convenient for businesses and individual taxpayers. “My priority is to help our taxpayers voluntarily comply. We want to make compliance easier by simplifying the rules and the process, streamlining procedures, and continuing our digitalization efforts. At the end of the day, our goal is to make it easier for taxpayers to comply,” he said. Mendoza said the BIR collected P1.6 trillion in revenues during the first half of the year, more than 5 percent higher than collections during the same period last year, putting the agency on track to achieve its P3.393-trillion revenue target for 2026. At the same time, the commissioner warned that while the BIR is making compliance easier for honest taxpayers, it is also strengthening its campaign against tax evasion. He said cases have already been filed against 14 contractors allegedly involved in the flood control controversy. Mendoza also assured taxpayers that the BIR is prepared to implement President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s proposed tax reform measures, including income tax exemptions and the removal of the minimum corporate income tax for qualified small businesses once these are enacted into law.

By Rhaydz Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- Bishop Joel Z. Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi has lauded the City Government of Legazpi’s “Gift of Life” program, which provides cash assistance to pregnant mothers to help cover childbirth-related expenses. Baylon said the city government’s initiative would significantly help mothers meet their immediate needs, particularly those from underprivileged families, while also supporting the welfare of their new-born children. The bishop made the statement while in the city for a press conference on the proposed commemorative stamp marking the Diocese of Legazpi’s 75th anniversary, or Jubilee Year. The Legazpi City Government has committed to shoulder the cost of producing the commemorative stamp. Under the “Gift of Life” program, Mayor Alfredo S. Garbin Jr.’s chief of staff, Atty. Rodolfo Ismail, said that the initiative reflects the city government’s commitment to promoting maternal and child health care. Ismail, a nurse by profession, said the financial assistance would help address the immediate needs of expectant mothers, particularly their nutritional requirements and those of their newborns.

The year 2076 may seem unimaginably far away, but it is only 50 years from now. The children born today will likely live to see it. The question is not whether they will witness a more advanced world—they almost certainly will. The real question is whether that world will still be a safe and livable place to call home. The warning signs are already before us. Every year, the world experiences stronger storms, longer heat waves, devastating floods, prolonged droughts, raging wildfires, and rising sea levels. Scientists have repeatedly cautioned that if humanity fails to curb greenhouse gas emissions, global temperatures could rise beyond levels that would trigger far more severe and irreversible climate impacts. Entire coastal communities may disappear beneath rising seas. Once-fertile lands could become barren. Water shortages and food insecurity may become the new normal for millions of people. For the Philippines, these are not distant possibilities. They are realities that are unfolding before our eyes. Each destructive typhoon, every flooded community, every scorched farm, and every family displaced by extreme weather is a reminder that climate change is no longer tomorrow's problem—it is today's emergency. Future generations will pay an even greater price if the present generation refuses to act. Ironically, the same future also promises breathtaking technological advances. Artificial intelligence could transform education, healthcare, transportation, agriculture, and industry. Medical breakthroughs may allow people to live longer and healthier lives. Renewable energy may replace fossil fuels, while smart cities and sustainable farming could improve the quality of life for billions. But there is an uncomfortable truth that cannot be ignored: technological progress will mean little if the environment that sustains human life continues to deteriorate. No supercomputer can stop a super typhoon from making landfall. No robot can instantly restore a rainforest that has been destroyed. No medical breakthrough can save entire communities from rising oceans or prolonged water shortages. Human ingenuity is powerful, but it is not a substitute for responsible stewardship of the Earth. The greatest danger may not be climate change itself but humanity's complacency. Many still believe someone else will solve the problem—governments, scientists, engineers, or future generations. That belief is dangerously mistaken. Every unnecessary tree cut down, every river polluted, every ton of carbon released into the atmosphere, and every act of environmental neglect pushes the planet closer to a point from which recovery becomes increasingly difficult. The choices we make today will determine whether the world of 2076 is one of hope or hardship. Governments must enact and enforce stronger environmental policies. Businesses must embrace sustainable practices instead of pursuing profit at the expense of nature. Communities must protect forests, rivers, coastlines, and biodiversity. Families must teach the next generation that caring for the environment is not an option but a responsibility. The future has not yet been written. Humanity still possesses the knowledge, the technology, and the resources to build a cleaner, greener, and more resilient world. What remains uncertain is whether we possess the collective will to act before it is too late. History will not remember our generation for the smartphones we invented, the artificial intelligence we created, or the skyscrapers we built. It will remember whether we had the courage to protect the only planet capable of sustaining human life. The countdown to 2076 has already begun. Every day we delay makes the challenge greater. Every positive action brings hope. The time to choose is not tomorrow. It is now.

The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is more than a legal proceeding. It is a constitutional process that will test not only the strength of the evidence presented but also the integrity of those entrusted to decide the case. An impeachment court derives its credibility from one fundamental principle: no verdict should be reached before all the facts are laid on the table. Evidence—not political affiliation, public opinion, or personal belief—must remain the foundation of every decision. This standard applies equally to the prosecution and the defense, but it demands an even higher level of discipline from the senator-judges. The recent controversy involving one senator-judge's social media activity has highlighted the importance of maintaining both impartiality and the appearance of impartiality throughout the proceedings. While every individual has the right to express opinions, those serving as judges in an impeachment trial assume a constitutional duty that requires restraint. Public statements or online posts that may suggest bias can erode confidence in the fairness of the process, regardless of the author's intentions. The Filipino people deserve an impeachment trial where every piece of evidence is carefully examined and every argument is heard before conclusions are drawn. The public's trust rests on the belief that the outcome will be based on facts established during the proceedings, not on preconceived positions or political loyalties. Impeachment is, by nature, a political mechanism provided by the Constitution. Yet once senators take their oath as judges, they are expected to rise above partisan interests and discharge their responsibilities with fairness, objectivity, and respect for due process. Their conduct, both inside and outside the Senate chamber, should reflect the solemnity of that role. In the end, the credibility of the impeachment court will not be measured solely by its final verdict but by the manner in which that verdict is reached. Justice is best served when conclusions follow evidence—not the other way around. Only by observing this principle can the Senate strengthen public confidence in the rule of law and uphold the constitutional process entrusted to it.

Somehow, I think I understand how this got started, and how it spread. I have been writing this column for a decade now. (Could you believe that? There would be what I could call as “lean times”. These are times when there is no relevant issue to write an article about. (It is either that or I just haven’t been paying attention to what’s been happening around me.) ) As someone who works in media, that’s so difficult, because there’s nothing juicy or earth-shattering to talk about. A media personality would risk going on air or on print as boring. Of course, something always happens. (I remember this song that goes, “something’s always wrong”.) But I can’t write about brawls among drunkards on the barangay alleys, or street traffic caused by parked pedicabs. It has to be significant and relevant. (Although, I remember that I have written about trivial issues like brownouts, newly opened malls, or traffic; simply because there really isn’t anything “hot” for a topic.) On one hand, that is good because that means life is relatively peaceful and controversy-free for a time. Isn’t that we all want? (I can not be too sure. There could be people out there who crave controversy.) So, when a reporter stumbles upon a juicy viral Facebook post, he would plunge on it and toss that online, on air or on print to attract readers, viewers, listeners, reactors, commenters like moths to a light source. I heard about it while sipping coffee in McDonald’s in Bichara last Saturday. I went, ‘so, that’s an issue”. I heard there has been loud reactions that sprang and sparked and spread among the public. I’m talking about this 30-40 kph speed limit in Naga City. I internally exclaimed, “why on earth put a speed limit on vehicles in Naga?”. We shouldn’t be slowing down. If anything, we should be speeding up. I think jeepneys that cruise down General Luna and J. Hernandez could move a bit faster. There was a time when I was riding a tricycle along Panganiban, and I almost fell asleep because we were stuck there for a long time. (Come on, Am I the only one in a hurry around here?) Let’s set it straight. Many people may not know this, or already know it but choose to forget it. Ordinance no. 2019 099, An Ordinance Providing for the Speed Limits for All Kinds of Motor Vehicles within the TERRITORIAL Jurisdiction of the City of Naga, which provides that Default Speed Limit: 30 kph for all motor vehicles on city streets, was authored by Councilor Lito del Rosario, enacted on December 5, 2019. Of course, the ordinance was enacted in the time of former Mayor Nelson Legacion, not of Mayor Leni Robredo. Allegedly, the ordinance was not implemented immediately then (which was before the pandemic), because Public Safety Office personnel did not have speed guns. Apparently, they have recently acquired these devices that would tell if a vehicle is moving too fast, so, they suddenly remembered the ordinance. No, PSO won’t be implementing the ordinance in the near future. So, you can continue with your conventional speed. Reportedly, the Sangguniang Panlungsod will review the ordinance, as instructed by Mayor Leni. I presume, to check if the speed limit is still appropriate in 2026. However, the ordinance was based on national law, which means it’s just localizing a law which should be implemented anyway, because it is national law. Furthermore, since it got passed as an ordinance, it should have gone through sufficient public consultation. This means, people said “yes” to this. People raised thumbs up , agreeing “okay” to this. Now, fast-forward to 2026, some social media user decides to post about the speed limit in Naga as if it is current news, enacted by the incumbent Mayor. Then, media stations start broadcasting it as if it is current news. Then listeners, viewers, readers, start reacting vehemently, throwing their indignation against the current administration, because they just assumed so. Come on, guys who talk over microphones, who post and type articles, do some research. I read a comment that said that many people seemed to be bitter against the Mayor, the incumbent, current Mayor. Yeah, I have been hearing about it. I hear it from parents and teachers, from drivers, from employees, from small businessmen, from drivers and commuters who get hassled by carless streets, from impatient pedestrians waiting for Plaza Quezon repairs to get finished, and from different sorts of people. Yeah. Sometimes, leadership can become unpopular. But, isn’t democracy a popularity contest? Luke 6:26 ““Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.”

Electricity continues to haunt me. The issue refuses to go away after I wrote about the shocking increase in our small family store's CASURECO II electricity bill in Canaman. Our monthly bill, which used to average only ₱5,000 to ₱6,000, suddenly jumped to more than ₱14,000. Like many ordinary consumers, we were left asking: How are families and small businesses expected to survive? When President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.or BBM highlighted system loss charges and VAT-related concerns in his State of the Nation Address (SONA), it became one of the most applauded moments of his speech. He urged Congress to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), giving many Filipinos hope that electricity prices might finally come down. I could not help but smile and joke to myself, "Perhaps BBM has been reading my column." But the optimism quickly faded. Power producers and business groups questioned the proposal. If consumers no longer pay system loss charges, who will absorb the cost? Will the government subsidize it, or will utilities simply recover the money through other charges? It became clear that lowering electricity prices is far more complicated than removing one or two items from the monthly bill. This raises bigger questions. Why is electricity still so expensive in the Philippines? Can EPIRA, enacted in 2001, still deliver what it promised? Even if amended, will it significantly reduce the cost of living for millions of Filipinos? While this debate continues, another political drama has captured public attention—the Senate impeachment trial. Veteran lawyer Atty. Lorna Kapunan drew headlines by reading unusual names from a list of supposed persons of interest, including "Andy Lim Pikit" and even "Piattos." At times, it seemed less like a legal proceeding and more like political theater. The names may have provided a moment of comic relief, but for ordinary Filipinos there is nothing amusing about opening an electricity bill that keeps getting higher every month. While politicians exchange accusations and colorful sound bites, consumers continue to struggle with the real cost of keeping the lights on. Meanwhile, Congressman Leandro Leviste, widely known as "Solar Boy," has long promoted renewable energy as the key to cheaper electricity. Ironically, he now faces separate legal and administrative complaints involving his solar ventures, all of which he denies. Whether these cases prosper or not, they highlight a broader concern: despite the rapid growth of renewable energy, ordinary Filipino consumers have yet to experience the lower electricity bills they were promised. Renewable energy has expanded, but it operates within the same market created by EPIRA, where electricity prices are influenced by generation costs, transmission, distribution, taxes, and market mechanisms. Cheaper solar power does not automatically mean lower monthly bills. So I return to where this column began—not in Malacañang or the Senate, but in our family-owned store in Canaman. The electric meter continues to spin, the bills continue to arrive, and ordinary consumers continue to pay without fully understanding the many charges on their monthly statements. We hear about system loss, transmission charges, generation charges, VAT, universal charges, stranded costs, and now proposals to amend EPIRA. But what every Filipino family really wants is simple: a power bill that is fair, affordable, and easy to understand. Twenty-five years after EPIRA, the Philippines still has one of the highest electricity rates in Southeast Asia. Instead of making electricity more affordable, the law has largely resulted in privatization, market-based pricing, and the concentration of much of the industry in the hands of a few major players. Consumers continue to pay rising electricity bills while many power companies report substantial profits. For many Filipinos, EPIRA has failed. Perhaps the time has come not merely to amend it, but to seriously consider whether a more fundamental overhaul—or even its repeal and replacement—is needed. We should also rethink how we produce and manage electricity. Renewable energy should not be left solely to large private corporations. Government, electric cooperatives, local governments, and even communities should be encouraged to own and develop renewable energy projects. This can reduce dependence on imported fuel, improve energy security, expand electricity access in remote areas, and create genuine competition that benefits consumers. Electricity is not an ordinary commodity. It is an essential public service that powers homes, schools, hospitals, farms, and businesses. It should be managed not only for profit but, more importantly, for the public good. BBM. has started an important national conversation. The challenge now is whether government has the political will to confront powerful interests in the power industry and pursue reforms that truly benefit consumers. Whether this leads to meaningful change or becomes just another political promise remains to be seen. Until then, millions of Filipinos will continue hoping for something very simple: electricity that is fair, affordable, transparent, and truly serves the people—not just the power industry.

The new speed limits in Naga City have already sparked predictable reactions. “It’s too slow.” “Traffic will get worse.” “Thirty kilometers per hour? We’ll never get anywhere.” Others welcome the ordinance, saying it’s long overdue if it means fewer crashes and safer roads. I’m not here to argue whether the limit should be 30 or 40 kilometers per hour. The ordinance already says what it says. The debate over numbers belongs to engineers, traffic planners, and law enforcers. The ordinance itself sets different speed limits depending on the type of road and traffic conditions, with penalties that increase for repeat offenders. What interests me is something else. Why does slowing down feel like losing? We measure almost everything by speed. Fast internet. Fast food. Fast delivery. Fast replies. Fast promotions. The faster, the better. So perhaps it isn’t surprising that many of us instinctively feel that driving slower is somehow being held back. Yet speed has always been an odd thing. Saving five minutes feels like a victory—until we spend twenty waiting in line for coffee or scrolling through our phones without realizing an hour has disappeared. There is a strange contradiction in the way we drive. We complain about reckless motorists. We also become impatient the moment the car in front actually follows the speed limit. We want safer roads. Just not if we’re the ones expected to slow down. Perhaps that is why speed limits are unpopular almost everywhere they’re introduced. They don’t merely regulate vehicles. They challenge our habits. They force us to admit that the few minutes we believe we’re saving may not be worth the risk we barely notice. This is where the conversation becomes uncomfortable. Most drivers do not think of themselves as dangerous. The person weaving through traffic thinks he’s skilled. The motorcyclist squeezing between vehicles thinks he’s experienced. The driver accelerating through an intersection believes he has everything under control. Almost everyone assumes that crashes happen to someone else. Until they don’t. Road safety has a cruel way of exposing confidence. It doesn’t matter whether you’re late for work, rushing to pick up your children, or convinced you know every curve and intersection in the city. Physics does not negotiate. A vehicle traveling faster simply has less time to react and more force when things go wrong. None of this guarantees that lower speed limits will solve every traffic problem. They won’t. Bad road design, distracted driving, drunk driving, illegal parking, poor enforcement, and undisciplined motorists do not disappear because a new sign has been installed. But perhaps that isn’t the point. Maybe the ordinance is asking a simpler question. What kind of city do we want to be? One where arriving two minutes earlier matters more than making sure everyone arrives at all? There is a saying among race car drivers: Speed is easy. Slowing down is the hard part. The same may be true of cities. Any city can move fast. A disciplined city knows when not to.

The impeachment trial of the Vice President may ultimately determine the political fate of one individual. History, however, may remember it not for the person on trial, but for the constitutional questions it compelled the nation to confront. Every impeachment begins with an accusation against a public official. Some, however, become far greater. They become an examination of the Constitution itself. Born from the experience of martial law, the 1987 Constitution sought to ensure that never again would power become concentrated in one person or one institution. Its answer was constitutional design. Power was dispersed. The Executive would be checked by Congress. Congress would be checked by the Judiciary. Independent constitutional bodies would safeguard accountability. The people would remain sovereign. It was a charter born not merely of law, but of hope. Hope, however, is never the final measure of a constitution. Experience is. Nearly four decades have passed since the Constitution was ratified. It has weathered political upheavals, economic crises, landmark judicial decisions, impeachments, changing administrations, and deep national divisions. Each has tested the strength of the constitutional framework. The impeachment of the Vice President is another such test. Most Filipinos will remember this impeachment for its political color. They will remember the speeches, the rival camps, the alliances, the personalities, and the conduct of a few senator-judges whose political identities at times appeared to compete with their constitutional responsibilities. Its verdict will dominate the headlines. History, however, often remembers something else. Long after today’s passions have subsided, what may endure are the constitutional questions this impeachment compelled the nation to confront. The Constitution Under Examination No constitution arrives fully interpreted. Its text provides the framework. Experience reveals its strengths, exposes its ambiguities, and occasionally uncovers tensions its framers could not have foreseen. The impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona. The quo warranto removal of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. The Supreme Court’s intervention in impeachment controversies. The present impeachment of the Vice President. Viewed separately, each belongs to a different chapter of Philippine political history. Viewed together, they trace the continuing evolution of Philippine constitutional jurisprudence. The Constitution is still teaching the nation what it means. The Questions That Remain This impeachment compels us to confront questions extending far beyond one public official. How far does the impeachment power extend? When may the Supreme Court intervene? Where does the Senate’s exclusive authority end and judicial review begin? Can constitutional silence be filled through institutional practice, or does silence itself invite future clarification? When constitutional institutions begin judging one another, how is public confidence preserved? These are not questions about one administration. Nor are they questions about one Vice President. They are questions about the constitutional architecture that has governed the Republic for nearly four decades. A Republic Under Stress No engineer judges the integrity of a bridge on the day it is opened. Its true strength becomes known only after years of carrying the weight placed upon it. Constitutions deserve the same honest examination. This impeachment is more than a political event. It is a stress test of the constitutional order. The purpose of a stress test is not to condemn a structure. It is to understand it. To determine where it performs well. Where experience has revealed uncertainty. And where thoughtful reinforcement may someday become necessary. That is not an act of disrespect toward the framers. It is the highest respect that can be paid to their work. For they, too, understood that no constitution is beyond the judgment of history. The Senate will eventually render its verdict. Political fortunes will change. Some will celebrate. Others will condemn. Many will remember this impeachment for the conduct of certain senator-judges, the partisan divisions, and the political passions that surrounded the proceedings. Such memories are inevitable. They are also temporary. History has a different habit. It remembers not only the controversies of an age, but the constitutional precedents they leave behind. For some voters, buyer’s remorse has begun to creep in and may prove to be the impeachment’s quietest—and perhaps most enduring—legacy. The Constitution will have survived another stress test. Whether Philippine democracy has done the same is a question reserved for another day. For constitutions are not written merely for ordinary times. They are written for moments such as these. And when the passions of politics have subsided, what ultimately remains is not simply the memory of who prevailed, but the enduring strength—or weakness—of the constitutional order that carried the Republic through the storm. History will render that verdict.