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By RHAYDZ BARCIA MALILIPOT, Albay --- After seven long months in a tent city, joy and relief filled the faces of Mayon Volcano evacuees as they finally packed their belongings and headed home Thursday following the lowering of the volcano’s alert level from 3 to 2. Among those eager to return to a normal life were siblings Adelina “Deling” Bilolo-Francisco, 83, and Domingo Bilolo, 69, residents of Barangay Calbayog in this town, who had endured the longest evacuation of their lives. Albay Gov. Noel Rosal ordered the decampment of 1,132 families, or more than 4,000 individuals, from evacuation centers in Malilipot, Camalig and Guinobatan, and the cities of Ligao and Tabaco after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) lowered Mayon’s alert status from Level 3 to Level 2 at 3 p.m. Wednesday. “I was not able to sleep last night because of excitement,” said Deling, who had been staying with other evacuees in the tent city at Barangay San Jose for seven months. “At least we will be able to return to our normal life at home rather than living in the tent city, which is too hot during the day,” she said. Deling recalled that the latest evacuation was the longest she had experienced since she and her family first began fleeing Mayon eruptions in 1968, including the volcano’s powerful 1984 eruption. She will return home carrying nine family food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and one sack of rice provided by the provincial government. Rosal directed the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office to provide a sack of rice to each of the 1,131 families before they returned to their communities. Together with the DSWD food packs, the rice supply could last a family of five for about two to three months, according to evacuees. The governor, however, reminded the returning families to strictly observe safety protocols and stay out of Mayon’s six-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ). While the lowering of the alert level has allowed the evacuees to return, Mayon remains under Alert Level 2, or moderate unrest, and is still considered restless. Phivolcs and local disaster officials warned residents near the Miisi, Bonga and Basud gullies to remain vigilant for possible lahars and sediment-laden stream flows during heavy or prolonged rains. Pilots were likewise advised to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit because of the potential danger from sudden ash emissions and other volcanic hazards. Rosal directed city, municipal and barangay disaster risk reduction and management councils to remain on standby and closely monitor developments, while local governments facilitate the decampment and cleanup of the temporary shelters. For Deling and thousands of other evacuees, however, the return home marks more than the end of seven months in evacuation. It is a long-awaited return to the ordinary life they had been forced to leave behind. Mayon Volcano evacuees who spent seven months in the tent city at Barangay San Jose in Malilipot, Albay, joyfully head home after Gov. Noel Rosal ordered the decampment of 1,132 families following Phivolcs’ lowering of Mayon’s alert level from 3 to 2. Each returning family was provided with food assistance, including a sack of rice from the provincial government.

By Jason B. Neola A trade fair that seeks to promote local entrepreneurship while highlighting the role of faith in community development will be held in Naga City from September 10 to 21, 2026. The 2026 Bishop Francisco Gainza Trade Fair (BFGTF) will be held at Robinsons Naga under the theme “Ina: Nurturing a Growing Church.” Organized by the Caritas-Caceres (Naga), Inc., the BFGTF aims to provide a venue for local producers, entrepreneurs, farmers, artisans and other community-based enterprises to showcase and market their products. Organizers said the trade fair embodies the spirit of faith-based economic empowerment and community celebration, while promoting inclusive participation and opportunities for local economic growth. The theme, “Ina: Nurturing a Growing Church,” draws inspiration from the role of the Blessed Mother as a nurturing presence in the life of the Church and the community. The event also forms part of the celebration of the 75th anniversary, or Diamond Jubilee, of the Canonical Coronation of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, as well as the continuing recognition of the legacy of Bishop Francisco Gainza, whose missionary and educational work contributed significantly to the development of the Bicol community. According to the organizers, the BFGTF is envisioned as more than a commercial exhibition. It seeks to strengthen the connection between faith, community participation and sustainable local economic development. Among its objectives are to provide opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs, showcase innovative and locally made products, encourage people to patronize community-based enterprises, and help create stronger linkages among MSMEs, farmers, artisans and other producers. The trade fair will feature products and services from various sectors, including local food and agricultural products, handicrafts, fashion and other locally made goods. The BFGTF logo also carries symbols reflecting its objectives and religious roots. The word “GAINZA” incorporates visual elements representing Bishop Gainza, local craftsmanship and microenterprise, as well as the Peñafrancia Marian symbol. The logo likewise incorporates the official Peñafrancia symbol in connection with the Diamond Jubilee celebration and the active participation of Caceres and the wider Bicol community. Organizers emphasized that the trade fair is intended to help MSMEs move toward a more progressive and sustainable future by providing them with a platform to promote their products, expand their market and connect with consumers. Among the partners identified for the event are the Archdiocese of Caceres, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, Department of Tourism, City Government of Naga, Naga City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Caceres Social Action Foundation, Inc., and other organizations supporting local economic development. The organizers said the BFGTF reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that economic development remains inclusive, sustainable and rooted in the community. “The presence of the public to support local businesses while celebrating faith, culture and community is a meaningful way to honor the legacy of Bishop Francisco Gainza and the nurturing care of Ina,” the organizers said. The 12-day trade fair is expected to bring together businesses, consumers, faith communities and other stakeholders in a celebration that combines commerce, culture and service to the community.

By Ernie Delgado LEGAZPI CITY --- After spending seven months in evacuation centers, about 4,800 residents of Albay who had to leave their villages near the danger zone of the Philippines’ most active volcano were finally able to return home on Thursday, August 6. Their return followed the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s (Phivolcs) decision on August 5 to lower the alert status of Mayon Volcano from Level 3 (indicating an increased tendency towards hazardous eruption) to Level 2 (indicating a moderate level of unrest), which was imposed due to volcanic activity that began in early January. Albay Governor Noel Rosal announced on Wednesday that families residing in evacuation centers located in the cities of Ligao and Tabaco, as well as the towns of Camalig, Malilipot, and Guinobatan, could begin returning home starting Thursday morning. A total of 4,108 individuals, comprising 1,131 families, had been evacuated from those areas on January 6 after Phivolcs raised the alert level to 3. In an advisory, Oscar Robert Cristobal, the head of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (Apsemo), said Rosal’s order for the decampment of all evacuation centers housing families displaced by Mayon’s effusive eruption should be carried out by city and municipal governments. In Malilipot town, Mayor Cenon Volante announced that 405 families were returning to their homes in the villages of Calbayog, San Roque, and Canaway, which are outside the permanent danger zone. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has deployed personnel to oversee the decampment process. “DSWD Field Office 5’s role in the current decampment is to ensure that the homecoming of our evacuees goes smoothly,” Michael Gerome Bellena, the DSWD chief administrative officer for Bicol, said in Filipino. Bellena said that the DSWD would provide food packages sufficient for 15 days for the returning evacuees. “We will provide five family food packs to each family. Each food pack is enough to last three days,” he said. “People are already packing, and we can see that they are truly excited to return to their homes after spending seven months in evacuation areas,” said Leslie Benbing, an information officer for DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations. (PIA Bicol) An evacuee from the village of Anoling in Camalig, Albay, loads family food packs onto his motorcycle. The food packs were provided to his family by the Department of Social Welfare and Development to ensure their immediate needs are met during the transition period as they return home. (Image from the DSWD Field Office 5)

By: Ernie Delgado LEGAZPI CITY --- Bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled underground detonation of a World War II explosive in Albay on Saturday, a local government reported, after it was discovered south of the erupting Mayon Volcano. Nearly 30 operatives from the Regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit (RECU) cordoned off the site in the town of Camalig, where the 500-kilogram aircraft bomb was first discovered on July 21. Residents of Camalig heard the explosion around 10 a.m. as experts detonated the wartime bomb in a meter-deep (3.3-foot) pit in Barangay Palanog, away from residential areas. Footage of the operation showed rusted metal fragments at the bottom of a pit in an earth quarry site. “The operation was completed safely, with no reported injuries or incidents,” the Camalig Public Information Office (CPIO) said in a statement. Residents of Camalig who heard the bomb explosion initially mistook it for an explosive eruption from a volcano. “[Bomba] po pala ang malakas na pumutok kanina (It turns out the loud explosion earlier was a bomb),” Prince Exekiel Muyna commented on Facebook. “Akala ko po si Mayon [Volcano] na (I thought it was Mayon Volcano erupting). The bomb was discovered in Sitio Sogong, Barangay Ilawod, during work on a drainage near a World War II Japanese tunnel. The bulky, cylindrical, rock-encrusted bomb was discovered less than a kilometer from the Japanese tunnel at Quituinan Hill in Barangay Tinago, which served as a fortress, garrison, and stronghold for the Japanese Imperial Army during the occupation in the 1940s. The bomb was found just outside the extended danger zones established during the Mayon volcanic activity. Workers constructing a flood control system at the site uncovered the bomb when an earth-moving machine exposed it, having been buried several feet underground. According to Police Senior Master Sergeant Reynold Miraflor of the Albay Provincial Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit, the bomb was active and could still explode if its warhead were triggered. Miraflor said that the workers were fortunate their backhoe did not strike the bomb’s warhead. Unexploded World War II ordnance can still be found across the country, particularly in areas that experienced heavy fighting or served as military encampments and garrisons during the war. Regions such as Albay, Manila, Cebu, Zamboanga, Davao, and parts of Nueva Ecija frequently encounter old bombs being unearthed at construction sites, even 80 years after the conflict ended. In 2017, the discovery of a 1,000-kilogram wartime bomb halted business operations at Cebu IT Park, which is Cebu’s premier business process outsourcing (BPO) hub. Being buried underground for decades makes the detonators and explosives inside these old munitions highly unstable and sensitive to movement, Miraflor warned. According to the CPIO, when workers encounter suspicious metal objects or unexploded shells, standard protocol requires them to stop work immediately, clear the area, and notify local police or the military’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit for safe retrieval and disposal. (PIA Bicol)

By Jordan Domingo BULA, Camarines Sur --- A 40-year-old butcher was arrested after allegedly selling suspected shabu to an undercover police officer during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Inuyonan, Bula, Camarines Sur, Tuesday evening, August 11. Police identified the suspect as alias “Jojo Badiola,” 40, married and a resident of Bula. Personnel of the Municipal Drug Enforcement Unit of the Bula Municipal Police Station, led by Police Capt. Junel S.B. Cea, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 5, conducted the operation at around 7:40 p.m. Police said an officer acting as poseur-buyer purchased one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu from the suspect in exchange for a genuine P500 bill used as buy-bust money. A search conducted after the suspect’s arrest allegedly yielded two additional heat-sealed sachets containing suspected shabu. The three sachets had a combined estimated weight of 3.1 grams and a Dangerous Drugs Board value of P21,080, according to police. The buy-bust money was also recovered. Police said the marking, inventory and photographing of the seized items were conducted at the scene in the presence of the suspect and two insulating witnesses. The operation was documented using two alternative recording devices. The suspect was informed of the reason for his arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights in a dialect known to and understood by him. He was brought to the Rural Health Unit of Bula for medical examination before being taken to the Bula MPS for proper disposition. The seized suspected drug items will undergo laboratory examination at the Provincial Forensic Unit. Police said the investigator-on-case is preparing complaints for violations of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, pending the release of the chemistry report. Meanwhile, a man listed among the most wanted persons in Camarines Sur was arrested in Quezon City Tuesday night, August 11, in a manhunt operation jointly conducted by police and intelligence units. The suspect, identified as alias “Danny Doe Morico,” 33, single, a mechanic and resident of Canaman, Camarines Sur, was ranked No. 10 on the regional most wanted persons list and No. 5 on the provincial list, according to police. The tracker team of the Magarao Municipal Police Station, led by Police Capt. Mark N. Spaña, in coordination with Police Station 15 of the Quezon City Police District, Regional Intelligence Unit 5-Camarines Sur, Military Intelligence Group 5 of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Maritime Police Station-Camarines Sur, conducted the operation. The suspect was arrested at around 7:40 p.m. at the corner of Road 3 and Road 9 in Barangay Project 6, Quezon City, by virtue of a warrant of arrest for violation of Republic Act 10883, or the New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016. Police said no bail was recommended for the suspect’s temporary liberty. The arrest was documented using two alternative recording devices. Authorities said the suspect was informed of the reason for his arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights in a dialect known to him before being brought to Police Station 15 of the Quezon City Police District. He will subsequently be turned over to the Magarao MPS for proper disposition. Police verification through the Investigation Solutions System also showed previous records involving rape and violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, both marked as solved.

By Bobby Q. Labalan SORSOGON CITY --- Two Bicol provinces figured prominently in the malnutrition list of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) for 2025, the agency’s report published in its website revealed. Masbate continuously leads the statistics, ranking highest both at the regional and national levels for wasting children with a 4.49 percent prevalence, matching its 2024 placement. Camarines Sur followed in second place at 1.83 percent, with Sorsogon and Catanduanes closely tied at 1.72 percent. Albay and Camarines Norte recorded lower but notable wasting rates at 1.09 percent and 0.80 percent, respectively, the NNC record as of March 2026 showed. A similar pattern emerged in child stunting for 2025 with Masbate again leading the region with a 15.09 percent prevalence, followed by Catanduanes at 13.57 percent, and Camarines Sur at 11.01 percent. Completing the provincial stunting list are Camarines Norte at 9.01 percent, Sorsogon at 7.31 percent, and Albay at 5.86 percent. The list showed that among Bicol’s component cities, Masbate City ranked highest in both categories. For child wasting, it is followed by Iriga, Sorsogon, Ligao, Legazpi, and Tabaco while for child stunting, Masbate City is followed by Ligao and Iriga in second and third places respectively, with Sorsogon, Tabaco, and Legazpi trailing behind. These figures followed a trend from 2024, when Camarines Sur and Masbate both ranked among the top ten provinces nationwide for stunting, with Camarines Sur holding the highest regional spot that year, the NNC also reported. The two provinces also featured prominently in the national top ten for the total number of underweight-for-age children, where Camarines Sur recorded a magnitude of 11,257 children and Masbate logged 7,058. Meanwhile in Sorsogon province, the top five municipalities with highest number of underweight children for the first semester of 2026 were Irosin, Magallanes, Santa Magdalena, Prieto-Diaz and Bulusan as reported by the Provincial Nutrition Office (PNO). For stunted children the list also topped by Irosin town, followed by Prieto-Diaz, Donsol, Magallanes and Santa Magdalena while the “wasting” list had Santa Magdalena, Matnog, Pilar, Bulan and Magallanes, the PNO record showed.

THE recent exchange between Malacañang and members of the Duterte family over Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.’s remarks about “pro-China” public officials highlights a question that should rise above political personalities: Where should the loyalty of Philippine public officials lie? Teodoro’s call for officials who refuse to uphold the country’s policy on the West Philippine Sea to consider resigning may be provocative, but the principle behind it is not difficult to understand. Public officials take an oath to serve the Philippines and uphold its Constitution and laws. Their personal views may differ, but their official actions are expected to conform to established national policy. The controversy began to grow when Vice President Sara Duterte and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte demanded that Teodoro identify the officials he was referring to. Their objections, however, have shifted attention away from the more important issue: whether government officials are faithfully carrying out the country's policy and protecting its national interests. There is nothing wrong with demanding clarity from a government official who makes a serious allegation. If there are indeed public officials whose actions undermine Philippine interests in the West Philippine Sea, the public deserves facts, not insinuations. Names should not be casually thrown around, but neither should legitimate questions about national policy be dismissed as mere political attacks. The same standard should apply to everyone. Calling for officials to resign simply because they hold personal views that differ from the administration would be dangerous. Government must not become a place where political loyalty is tested through conformity of opinion. What matters is whether an official’s conduct violates the law, disregards established government policy, or compromises the country's interests. At the same time, telling a defense secretary to stop “demonizing China” should not obscure the reality that the Philippines has legitimate national interests in the West Philippine Sea. Protecting those interests is not equivalent to hostility toward the Chinese people or rejection of legitimate relations with China. A sovereign country can pursue diplomacy and economic cooperation while firmly defending its territory and rights. The exchange also demonstrates why responsible language matters, particularly among senior government officials. Suggesting that an official is “pro-China” can carry serious implications. Suggesting that another official's allegiance to the Philippines is “not solid” can be equally damaging. Such claims should be supported by evidence, not political suspicion. The country does not need loyalty tests based on personalities. It needs loyalty to the Constitution, the Filipino people, and the national interest. That loyalty should be measured not by who speaks the loudest or who reacts most strongly, but by what public officials actually do. In matters involving sovereignty and national security, there should be no room for ambiguity. But there should also be no room for reckless accusations. The Filipino people deserve both: clarity about where their leaders stand and evidence to support every serious claim about their loyalty.

THE enactment of Republic Act No. 12322 marks an important opportunity to rethink how the country approaches basic education. By giving the Department of Education (DepEd) greater flexibility to determine which curricular approach works best for Filipino learners, the law puts a principle that should have always been at the center of education reform: learning and mastery must come first. For years, the spiral progression approach required concepts to be introduced early and revisited in succeeding grade levels with increasing complexity. While the approach was intended to reinforce learning, evidence cited by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom II) pointed to persistent problems, including repeated competencies, gaps in foundational knowledge, poor retention, and classrooms burdened by too many competencies. RA No. 12322 does not simply discard spiral progression. Rather, it allows DepEd to retain, modify, or replace it based on evidence, subject-specific requirements, grade levels, and actual classroom conditions. This flexibility is significant because no single teaching approach can reasonably be expected to work equally well across every subject, learner, teacher, and learning environment. But flexibility must come with accountability. Giving DepEd the authority to choose the curriculum approach should not mean allowing reforms to be driven by preference, political considerations, or educational trends. The law's emphasis on evidence must be taken seriously. Any curricular change should be supported by data and assessed according to whether students actually understand, retain, and apply what they learn. Equally important is the recognition that curriculum reform cannot be separated from teachers. As Edcom II pointed out, teachers who are required to handle subjects outside their areas of specialization may struggle to provide the depth of instruction that students need. A better curriculum will accomplish little if educators are not adequately trained, supported, and given the time and resources to teach it effectively. The provision for regular curriculum and pedagogical review is therefore particularly welcome. Education cannot be a one-time reform. What works today may need to be improved tomorrow as new evidence, technologies, learning needs, and classroom realities emerge. Ultimately, the success of RA No. 12322 should not be measured by the removal of one curriculum model or the adoption of another. Its real measure should be much simpler: Are Filipino children learning better? Are they mastering foundational skills? Can they understand what they are taught and apply that knowledge in real life? The country has spent years confronting learning gaps. This new law provides an opportunity to move beyond rigid adherence to a prescribed approach and toward a more responsive, evidence-based system. The challenge now is for DepEd to use that flexibility wisely. Curriculum reform should never be change for change's sake. It should be about ensuring that every lesson counts, every teacher is equipped to teach it, and every child has a genuine opportunity to learn.

Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? More importantly, where in the world is Senator Loren Legarda? According to her office, she’s merely in France on a "pre-scheduled medical leave"—conveniently communicated to Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian right before her departure. Her camp insists this trip was planned well in advance for purely personal health reasons, and definitely not a desperate scramble to dodge any legal proceedings. How reassuring! Official NBI travel records show Legarda and her son departing for Hong Kong on August 2, with France listed as her final destination. Oh, and what a delightful family bonding opportunity: her son, Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste, also left the country on August 2. Naturally, they took separate flights—he slipped out in the early morning, while she waited until evening. Now, you might ask: is France really known for medical check-ups? Isn't it famous for the Eiffel Tower, fine art, and Bordeaux? Well, technically, France has one of the world's most highly regarded healthcare systems, consistently ranked among the best by the World Health Organization. While it isn't traditionally marketed as a cheap medical tourism hub like Thailand or South Korea, it remains a premier destination for high-end, executive health evaluations. Because when you need a routine check-up, why settle for Asian medical hubs when you can get your vitals taken in Paris? So fine. Maybe there’s nothing to see here. Maybe it’s just a totally innocent, high-society physical. But can you really blame the public for speculating? After all, the Office of the Ombudsman just opened a fact-finding probe into both Legarda and Leviste over complaints of plunder, graft, and alleged conflicts of interest involving government solar power contracts and legislative franchises. Leviste also happened to skip an NBI subpoena regarding an alleged "honey trap" plot against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto. Legarda dismissed the plunder charges as "utterly false and baseless," while Leviste claimed the probes were just a heavy-handed attempt to silence his expose on flood control corruption. The suspicion that Legarda fled to escape accountability isn't pulled out of thin air—it comes in the wake of a dark cloud lingering over the current minority senators. Let's take a quick stroll down backwards. In July 2026, Senator Rodante Marcoleta was arrested for plunder after the Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant over an illegal ₱75-million campaign donation from 2025—exceeding the ₱50-million statutory threshold. Former Representative Mike Defensor and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray were dragged along as co-accused. Marcoleta bravely marched into court to challenge the warrant, but after his motions were thrown out, he submitted to custody without resistance. Suddenly suffering from chest pains and high blood pressure, CIDG officers whisked him away to the comfort of the PNP General Hospital at Camp Crame. The court eventually committed him to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, sweetly reassuring the public of "impartial proceedings." Right before that, on June 1, 2026, Senator Jinggoy Estrada surrendered over a non-bailable plunder warrant involving an alleged ₱573-million flood control kickback scheme. Ever the showman, Estrada held a Senate press conference to announce his surrender, noble enough not to hide behind Senate custody. After being booked by the CIDG, he was hauled off to the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas to mingle with former public works officials. Simultaneously, law enforcement launched a nationwide manhunt for Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa after the Supreme Court denied his petition for a TRO against an International Criminal Court warrant. Tracker teams were deployed across the country, with intelligence placing the elusive senator somewhere in Mindanao, where he continues his high-stakes game of hide-and-seek. Meanwhile, the NBI and Ombudsman dusted off old files to reopen inquiries into the 2019 SEA Games, focusing on unliquidated funds and that notorious ₱50-million cauldron. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who chaired the organizing committee while serving as House Speaker, suddenly found himself under the spotlight once again. Now, you could naively argue that authorities are simply going after people tied to genuine wrongdoing—nothing political about it! But consider this fascinating twist: Amid these high-profile busts, Senator Joel Villanueva was also on the brink of arrest in late May 2026, with Ombudsman Boying Remulla declaring a non-bailable plunder case "ripe" for filing over a ₱150-million Bulacan flood control kickback scheme. But then, magic happened! In mid-June, Villanueva strategically jumped ship from Cayetano's faction to join the new Senate majority bloc. His jump provided the crucial 13th vote needed to break the leadership stalemate and crown Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President. And guess what? Senator Joel Villanueva hasn't been arrested. What an incredible coincidence! James 3:14 “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.”

Ang acquittal o pagdeklarar na mayong sala an akusado nag reresulta sa pagkakaigwang proteksyon laban sa inaapod na double jeopardy. Ini yaon sa satong Konstitusyon. Gusto sabihon, pag an sarong tawo nakasuhan na sa husgado, nagkaigwa ning arraignment, nagtao nin plea o pag simbag kung may sala o mayo, asin natapos ang kaso sa acquittal o pawalang sala kang akusado, dai na siya pwdeng kasuhan o husgahan giraray para sa parehong kaso. Sa kaso kan dating police officer na si SPO2 Badawi Bakal, G.R. No. 259277, sinabi kan Supreme Court na tama an pagprotekta sa saiyang naenot na acquittal ta natawan man nin sapat na pagkakataon an prosecution na ipresentar an saindang mga ebidensya, asin dai man peke o “sham” an naging trial na nag resulta sa acquittal kang nasabing akusado. Maski sabihon kan prosecution na nagkasala an trial court sa pagtimbang kan mga ebidensya, bako ini awtomatikong dahilan para baliktaron o ipawarang bisa an acquittal. Ang mahalaga, ang husgado ay dai nag-abuso sa saiyang kapangyarihan. An konsepto kang double jeopardy para ini proteksyon sa akusado tanganing dai siya pirming ibalik-balik sa kaso hasta makua kan Estado an desisyon na gusto ninda. An simbag na ini para sana sa pankagabsan na impormasyon asin dai dapat ituring na legal advice para sa partikular na kaso. Kung may mga kahaputan, mag email sa ihapotkiattorney@gmail.com.

It is not yet a done deal. But another electricity company is challenging the consumer cooperative that has long served Rinconada. Soon, this competitor may enter the territory of CASURECO III, then CASURECO II—as if competition alone could solve Bicol’s power problem. I have written repeatedly about high electricity rates and the burden they put on families, businesses and institutions, especially in Camarines Sur. The solution may still be far away. Competition should never be a substitute for reform. CASURECO III has served the six Rinconada municipalities and Iriga City for years. As a cooperative, it is owned by its member-consumer-owners. But cooperative ownership does not automatically mean affordable electricity, efficient management or reliable service. Consumers still complain about brownouts and undervoltage. Now comes Bicol Light and Power Corporation, a private company proposing to enter the same territory. Should we welcome competition? Perhaps. But competition is not necessarily the solution. If another company simply brings another version of the same system, what really changes for consumers? Electricity is not like choosing between restaurants or mobile phones. We cannot simply put up two sets of poles, substations and wires and let consumers choose. Electricity depends on generation, transmission, distribution, infrastructure and regulation. So the question should not simply be: CASURECO III or Bicol Light? The bigger question is: Why, after decades of reforms and private-sector participation, are Bicolanos still struggling with expensive, unreliable electricity? This brings us to EPIRA, the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001. The law was meant to reform the entire power industry and promote competition, efficiency, reliability and affordability. Twenty-five years later, we should ask: Did we get what EPIRA promised? If competition were enough, why are consumers still complaining about high electricity prices, brownouts and unreliable service? This brings us to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, or Republic Act No. 9136, was enacted in 2001 to restructure and reform the entire Philippine electric power industry. Twenty-five years after EPIRA, we should have the courage to ask: Have we achieved what the law promised consumers? We cannot solve this simply by changing the utility company and owners. If generation remains expensive, the grid is congested, transmission is inadequate and regulation is weak, consumers will continue to pay—regardless of who owns the poles. This is particularly important as Bicol prepares for more investments in offshore wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable energy. Grid planning should come first, rather than allowing projects to develop independently and discovering later that the grid cannot accommodate them. I propose a Bicol Grid. Instead of asking who should control the lines, perhaps we should ask: Why don’t we have a Bicol-wide power strategy? A Bicol Grid would look at generation, transmission and distribution as one regional system—not as separate franchise territories. It should plan where power is needed, strengthen the grid, prepare for renewable energy and make sure new investments benefit consumers. And consumers must have a voice. Decisions about Bicol’s power future should not be left only to utilities, investors, politicians or vested interests. A Bicol Grid should not mean creating another bureaucracy or another monopoly. It should mean better coordination, transparent planning and accountability among the Department of Energy, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, Energy Regulatory Commission, electric cooperatives, private utilities, local governments and investors Bicol needs power planning that puts people first. Because ultimately, Bicolanos don’t care who owns the poles. We care whether the lights stay on—and whether we can afford to keep them on.

There is apparently something suspicious about reading a book in public. Put a book on your table at home and nobody cares. Put the same book on the table at a café, and suddenly there is a possibility that you are trying to make a statement. Maybe you’re not even reading it properly. Maybe you’re just holding it there so people can see the title. At least, that’s what someone might think. It is a curious thing about us. We have become remarkably good at assigning motives to other people’s ordinary behavior. Someone sits in a café with a book, and somebody thinks, “Trying to look intellectual.” Someone takes a photo of their coffee, and we call it pretentious. Someone dresses carefully, and we say they’re trying too hard. Someone goes running every morning, and suddenly they’re “showing off.” We see the act. Then we invent the reason. Sometimes we don’t even realize we’re doing it. Perhaps the person with the book actually likes reading. Perhaps the coffee looked particularly good that morning. Perhaps the person who dressed carefully simply enjoys clothes. Perhaps the runner is trying to lose weight, clear his head, train for a race, or just likes running. Or perhaps they really are showing off. We don’t know. And that’s the uncomfortable part. We are often more certain about other people’s intentions than the facts allow. There is something especially amusing about accusing someone of being performative. The accusation itself assumes that we know what is happening inside another person’s head. “He’s only doing that for attention.” “She’s just posting that to make people jealous.” “They’re trying to look important.” Maybe. But maybe not. And sometimes, I suspect, the accusation says more about the observer than the person being observed. If I see someone reading a book and immediately think he’s trying to look intelligent, why did I arrive at that conclusion? The book didn’t say it. The reader didn’t say it. Nobody announced an intention to impress anyone. I supplied the motive myself. That is where things get deliciously uncomfortable. Maybe we are so accustomed to performing for an audience that we assume everyone else must be doing the same. There is also a strange double standard in how we treat visible interests. Read a book and you’re pretentious. Read a book on your phone and you’re probably just scrolling. Go to the gym and you’re showing off. Stay home and you’re lazy. Dress casually and you don’t care. Dress well and you’re trying too hard. Post your achievements and you’re bragging. Say nothing and you’re mysterious. At some point, a person simply cannot win. Maybe we should allow people to enjoy things without requiring an explanation. A person is allowed to like coffee. A person is allowed to like books. A person is allowed to run. A person is allowed to dress well. A person is even allowed to post a photograph of breakfast without it becoming a referendum on their personality. Not everything we see is a performance. Sometimes a book is just a book. A cup of coffee is just a cup of coffee. And a person sitting quietly at a café may not be trying to be interesting at all. Maybe they’re just having a good afternoon. Which brings us back to the reader with the book. Perhaps the funniest thing about seeing someone read in public is that the person reading is probably paying the least attention to everyone else in the room. And maybe that’s the real irony. We are so accustomed to performing for an audience that we sometimes forget how beautiful life can be when no one is watching.