Coronavirus Lockdown: Silent Struggle, Mask Up, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government. 

Suicide cases are on the rise in Davao and the pandemic is directly to blame.  

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/davaos-silent-struggleunderstanding-the-surge-in-suicide-cases

Davao City has been witness to a troubling surge in documented suicide cases recently. 

While the factual details of these tragedies — how lives are lost — are known, the haunting question of "why" continues to elude our grasp.

Recent incidents in Davao further underscore this grim reality. 

A call center agent tragically jumped off a bridge in Bankerohan on November 15, while just days earlier, an 18-year-old was rescued by the Ecoland Police Station-PS15 at Bolton Bridge due to family problems.

The Philippine Mental Health Association's (PHMA) Davao Chapter has noticed a steady rise in suicide cases from 2016 to 2022, mirroring similar trends in neighboring provinces of the Davao Region. 

One individual, identified as "Payton," not his real name as he requested anonymity, navigated the tumultuous waves of isolation during the peak of the pandemic in 2020. 

Isolated in a Davao City boarding house for four months during the start of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in March 2020, Payton found himself wrestling with the weight of contemplating an end to his life. 

He recalled calling his friends, classmates, and family, but there came a time when no one was contactable for “straight six weeks”.

Cut off from his family, his solitude deepened, exacerbated by the fear of stepping outside and falling ill amid the pandemic. These overwhelming circumstances pushed him to contemplate drastic measures. 

“Being alone, I have nothing to talk to, mura ko'g tala kay pandemic, hadlok kaayo mogawas and hadlok pod ko masakit (I feel insane during the pandemic, I am afraid to go out and get sick),” Payton said through Facebook Messenger when asked of his experiences back then.

He eventually discovered mental health hotlines that guided him toward seeking professional help.

Experts attribute the surge in suicide cases to the recent pandemic, exacerbating underlying mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. 

Societal factors such as lack of social support, economic hardships, peer pressure, and bullying also contribute significantly.

Understanding the nuanced motivations behind these suicidal thoughts poses a significant challenge.

It seems like every day we learn more about how the lockdowns did more to make people unhealthy. Of course those paying attention knew they were no good from day one. 

Duterte retained a high popularity rating during the pandmeic. One research firm says it was all fake.

https://fulcrum.sg/the-puzzle-of-rodrigo-dutertes-popularity-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

Rodrigo Duterte stands out as one of the most popular presidents in the history of the Philippines, but some initial studies show that all that glitters might not be political gold. If this is indeed true, it may have a bearing on other populist politicians, particularly his daughter Sara Duterte, who is said to be eyeing the country’s top job.

Various explanations for Duterte’s popularity have been put forward to make sense of this puzzle, including his charismatic personality, straightforward leadership style, non-Tagalog-speaking ethnic ties, and a sense of disillusionment with traditional elites. However, our recent research proposes an alternative explanation that hinges on the possibility of survey respondents “pretending to support” Duterte when confronted by canvassers.

This alternative perspective was hinted at by several analysts when Duterte scored a remarkably high approval rating during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite a lacklustre performance in controlling the virus’s spread, his approval rating soared to 91 per cent in the survey conducted in September 2020. Political commentators suggested that respondents might have provided “safe answers” to canvassers, hinting at the potential for preference falsification or social desirability bias (SDB). Preference falsification refers to the act of concealing one’s true preferences due to fear or shame, and SDB is an equivalent term specifically used in survey research.

To investigate this, we conducted a survey experiment employing the list experiment (also known as an item count experiment), a methodology often used to probe politically or socially sensitive topics. We conducted face-to-face surveys with 1,200 respondents and an online survey with 4,000 respondents between 22 February and 3 March 2021.

Our primary finding indicates that Duterte’s high approval rating was significantly inflated due to preference falsification. Specifically, SDB-induced over-reporting amounted to about 39.5 percentage points in face-to-face surveys and 28.3 percentage points in online surveys. To put it differently, in face-to-face surveys, when respondents were directly asked if they approved of President Duterte’s performance, approximately 89.7 per cent expressed support, but the list experiment revealed that respondents who genuinely supported him were about 50.2 per cent. In the case of online surveys, the figures were 80.8 per cent and 52.5 per cent, respectively. While some may perceive our SDB detection as unusually high, it is worth noting that a comparable list experiment conducted in late 2021 among Metro Manila respondents (N = 300) yielded a similar level of SDB.

These results challenge the conventional understanding of Duterte’s popularity and should be interpreted with certain caveats. They provide only a snapshot of voter sentiments during a specific time when the Covid-19 pandemic exerted substantial influence on society and the economy. It is plausible that Duterte was genuinely popular when he began his presidency in 2016. Further, even with a 50 per cent approval rating as of early 2021 (the time of our survey), he could still be considered a popular president. 

Overall, however, our study questions the dominant narrative that Rodrigo Duterte enjoyed unwavering popularity as suggested by polls.  This study also challenges the stereotype of Filipino voters as uninformed or unintelligent voters. In reality, many voters may be sophisticated strategists. Rather than being delusional, they may be intentionally deceiving the interviewers.

Perhaps those results were falsified but he retains a high rating to this day. 

The pandemic hampered one lady's agricultural plans but the government came through to help her. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1214299

After working for nine years in a microfinance company in the Philippines and as a financial expat in Myanmar, 37-year-old Macon Marcelino Dawey decided to quit her job to become her own boss and prove to naysayers that, indeed, there’s money in agriculture.

True enough, Dawey is starting to reap the fruits of her labor one day at a time as she is now being sought by farmers and plant enthusiasts for her fruits and vegetable seedlings, using a customized three-wheeled vehicle to reach out to more clients.

However, the lady farmer said being successful in agribusiness was not as easy as one would imagine.

She set up Dawey Integrated Farm in Barangay Maan-anteng, Solsona, Ilocos Norte with the support of her former co-worker, Juna Pearl Samar from Leyte.

"Through research, we started in hog breeding but we lost a lot due to the African swine fever. We also tried vegetable production but we are hard up in marketing our products,” she narrated.

Then the pandemic came.

But rather than going under, Dawey said it opened up a novel opportunity for their budding agribusiness -- catering to the needs of so-called plantitos and plantitas (plant enthusiasts) by producing quality seedlings for them.

An unexpected boost also came from the local government, which suggested that they should be producing more seedlings to cater to the needs of farmers.

“At first, sales were low in the local market, but with the help of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and other support agencies of the government in the production and marketing of our products, we were able to establish links to bigger markets that prefer to buy from us because of the quality of our seedlings,” Dawey said.

“We are very thankful to the local government, the DA and the government agencies for their encouragement, and invaluable inputs and support,” Dawey said,

Strange that the DA is looking to this lady to produce seedlings for farmers. Why are they unable to do this themsleves? 

The Commission on Population and Development says the pandemic lowered the population. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1865780/projected-ph-population-lowered-due-to-pandemic-deaths-dip-in-births

A drop in the number of births and an increase in fatalities due to the pandemic have resulted in a lower projected population for the country in 2023, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) said.

Instead of its earlier projection of 115 million people for 2023, the agency has adjusted the figure to 112 million.

“The lower projection … takes into account the drop in the number of births and high mortality rates in 2021 and 2022 — the period covering the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the CPD said in a statement on Saturday. “CPD thus acknowledges that the projected population it earlier stated was an overestimate.” The CPD was formerly known as the Commission on Population, or PopCom, before its mandate was expanded to include population and development under the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

Based on the latest figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released last year, the country logged a total of 1,528,684 live births in 2020, which is equivalent to a crude birth rate of 14.1. This translates to 14 births per 1,000 population.

According to the PSA, the country has been seeing a “generally decreasing trend” in the number of live births in the past eight years, from 1,790,367 births in 2012 to 1,528,684 births in 2020.

The biggest plunge was in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, when there was about a 9-percent decline in registered live births, compared to the previous year.

Reported deaths, on the other hand, have been on a slow upward trajectory since 2011, except in 2017 and 2020, available data from the PSA indicated.

“The increase during the ten-year period was 23.2 percent, from 498,486 in 2011 to 613,936 in 2020,” the agency noted.

Meanwhile, records showed that more than 4.1 million Filipinos fell ill to the novel coronavirus, while at least 66,755 died of the contagious disease.

On Nov. 14, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the Philippine Population and Development Plan of Action 2023-2028 to address the country’s slowing population growth and other population issues. The CPD has been tasked to lead the plan’s implementation.

I clearly remember a predicted pandemic baby boom because everyone was locked inside with nothing to do but bonk. It appears that is not the case though. 

China is experiencing a spike in respritory illnesses and Filipinos are being told to mask up. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/11/26/23/dont-panic-but-mask-up-as-respiratory-cases-spike-in-china-expert

The public should stay vigilant and keep their guard up as cases of respiratory illness spike in China, an infectious diseases expert said on Sunday.

Speaking on TeleRadyo, Dr. Rontgene Solante — Philippine College of Physicians president — said the public should also observe health precautions such as masking and keeping vaccinations up to date while health authorities keep an eye on the situation.

"Hindi tayo magpa-panic na baka sasabihin na naman nating another COVID or a novel pathogen na hindi natin alam," Solante said. 

"But it is also important while monitoring mag-iingat rin tayo dahil alam mo naman ang sakit ngayon mabilis nang mag-travel between country to another country dahil nga sa wala nang restrictions."

An increase in "influenza-like illness" has been recorded in northern China since mid-October when compared to the same period in the previous three years, according to the World Health Organization.

China has reported no "unusual or novel pathogens" in respiratory illnesses spreading in the north of the country, the WHO said.

Solante said that vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly should take extra precautions as they could be easily infected with respiratory illnesses.

"Importante na paalalahan natin ang population, particularly 'yung mga vulnerable population, na 'yung face mask natin isa sa mga layers of protection," he said.

"Sana hindi natin makakalimutan any time pupunta ka sa mga lugar na mga high risk, maraming tao, 'di mo alam sino doon ang nagkakasakit, it's important for this population na mag-mask pa rin atsaka maghugas ng kamay."

Don't worry but act worried by wearing a mask.

Hi, My Name is...42

In a Youtube comment I was asked if I had anything positive to say about the Philippines. Even though I concentrate on the negative I do have positive things to say. This time instead of highlighting disturbing crimes let me introduce you to some real achievers.  Say hello to these Philippine success stories. 

Hi, my name is Xavier Solda. I am the current jail warden of Zamboanga City Jail Male Dormitory. At the International Corrections and Prisons Association I was honored as the Outstanding Correctional Service Employee for my tireless dedication to improving the lives of people incarcerated in the Philippines. Kind of ironic seeing as the Philippines corrections system is overcrowded by 367%. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1212557

A Filipino jail officer was honored as the Outstanding Correctional Service Employee by the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA), besting other global nominees in the field of jail management and corrections.

In a statement Thursday, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said Jail Supt. Xavier Solda, current jail warden of Zamboanga City Jail Male Dormitory (ZCJMD), received the award in a special ceremony at the ICPA Conference in Antwerp, Belgium on Wednesday night. (Thursday morning, Manila time).

ICPA executive director Natalie Boal said Solda bagged the award for his tireless dedication to improving the lives of people incarcerated in the Philippines.

The ICPA Correctional Excellence Awards Committee, composed of corrections executives from different countries, cited Solda’s outstanding accomplishments in effecting jail management reforms, professionalism, and work ethics.

In his acceptance speech, Solda acknowledged the huge challenge of helping people behind bars rebuild their lives while citing national efforts to address the pressing concerns in jails.

“We will continue to move forward with concrete solutions; all for justice and human dignity,” said Solda, a member of the PNPA Class of 2008 and a product of the Development Academy of the Philippines and the Ateneo School of Government.

“I hope and pray that we can work together as one global community in the field of corrections, bonded with strong desire to build a better future, for the next generations to come,” he added.

In September, Solda’s unit was recognized as Best City Jail and a recipient of the first Gray Dove Award, the BJMP’s national recognition award for peacebuilding and innovations.

Before being named as ZCJMD head in January, Solda served as BJMP spokesperson.

Hi, my name is Antonio Mendoza. In October 2014 I played the 6/42 Lotto through "lucky pick." The next morning after the draw I learned I won. However, my granddaughter crumpled the ticket. In an attempt to flatten I try daughter has the bright idea to iron it with a cloth on top. This caused the ticked to be burned. It was a real mess and I ended up going to the Supreme Court. Thankfully they sided with me and the PCSO will soon be releasing the money to me.   

https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/26/pcso-assures-turnover-of-p12-m-prize-to-bettor-with-damaged-lotto-ticket

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Melquiades Robles has assured that the agency will comply with the Supreme Court's order to release the over P12-million Lotto 6/42 jackpot prize to the bettor who has a damaged winning ticket.

On Oct. 25, Robles welcomed lottery winner Antonio Mendoza to his office, where he gave him the assurance that the money would be given to him after the documentary and other processes are completed.

This comes after the SC issued a 17-page ruling ordering the PCSO to release Mendoza's winnings, which amount to P12,391,600.

"I assured him (Mendoza) that I will expedite the process of his claim," Robles said in a Facebook post on Thursday, Oct. 26.

"Kailangan lang may (We only need) certificate of finality from SC. I will make sure that he enjoys the fruits of his winnings ASAP (as soon as possible). I wanted to put a closure on this issue," he added.

The SC decision stated that “even in the absence of a readable ticket, he (Mendoza) was able to prove that he selected a set of numbers that corresponds to the winning combination number for the 6/42 Lotto draw on Oct. 2, 2014.”

“Thus, he is entitled to receive the jackpot prize for the said Lotto draw,” it added.

Moreover, the PCSO will pay six percent interest per annum from the date of the finality of its decision until fully paid.

On Oct. 2, 2014, Mendoza registered three bets for the Lotto 6/42 draw through "lucky pick" at a Lotto outlet in Batangas.

The following morning, on Oct. 3, Mendoza discovered that one of the "lucky pick" combinations had won, but his granddaughter had crumpled his winning ticket.

In an attempt to flatten the crumpled ticket, his daughter ironed it underneath a cloth, which unfortunately caused the ticket to be partially burned.

Hi, my name is Odette Aquitania Ricasa. I can now boast that I am the first Filipina to have travelled to every country in the world. That is 195 countries! But actually I have travelled to over 301 countries which includes obscure islands like the Robinson Crusoe Islands. For me, the real challenge is trying to get from one destination to another in the cheapest and most interesting way possible. And now I can say with Johnny Cash, "I've been everywhere man." Now if I can only get a ride from Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos into space!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1653634/77-year-old-woman-claims-to-be-1st-filipino-to-reach-all-195-world-countries

Odette Aquitania Ricasa, aged 77, takes pride in having accomplished a feat that just a few of people in history have managed to do: See all 195 of the world’s countries.

Last but not least, Ricasa touched down in Kurdistan, Iraq, on Thursday, completing that country her final journey.

The United Nations currently recognizes 193 of the world’s 195 countries, with the Holy See and Palestine serving as non-member observer states.

Ricasa told INQUIRER.net that she felt “ecstatic” about traveling to all the countries.

This year, she visited Sudan, Chad, the Central African Republic, Libya, and Iraq; before the pandemic, she had only seen five nations.

When asked why she goes on trips, she said that “travel is learning” and that no matter where she goes, folks have always been welcoming and friendly, despite the dangers she has seen.

“I love that challenge; the unknown of what might happen, or who I might meet, the possibilities are endless. I relied on people’ kindness” said Ricasa.

Ricasa had already accomplished numerous travel milestones before claiming she had visited every country. The Philippine Global Explorers said that by 2015, Ricasa had visited every continent.

Ricasa has journeyed to hundreds of locations, including offshoot remote islands.

“I have traveled to count 301 countries [sic], including remote islands, e.g., Robinson Crusoe Islands, Lakshadweep islands, Andaman Nicobar islands, etc.,” Ricasa said over a Facebook chat on Thursday.

According to the British public broadcaster BBC, islands such as the Robinson Crusoe Islands are under Chile, and the Andaman Nicobar islands are under India.

Ricasa is an icon in the travel community, being a member of the prestigious Travelers’ Century Club, which only allows members who have traveled to 100 or more countries, according to their website.

She is also the Los Angeles president of “Odette’s Travel Club”. They “have 300 plus members, only eight Pinoy members, all American,” she said.

Ricasa said she traveled while heading the U.S. West Coast chapter of the” Philippine Global Explorers travel community.”

“I need to be moving. For me, the real challenge is trying to get from one destination to another in the cheapest and most interesting way possible,” she said.

Having gone far and wide, Ricasa traced her humble beginnings to Quiapo, Manila.

When asked what inspired her to start traveling, she shared that geography was her favorite subject in school.

“When I was in high school and college, my fave was geography. The teacher will show pics of apple trees, deer, moose, mountains, snow, and white Christmas. I said to myself I will go to [the] USA one day,” she said on Thursday.

However, the road abroad was not easy, as her family faced financial difficulties.

“We were middle class. I studied at the exclusive girls school Assumption San Lorenzo [College]. But my father lost it all in gambling,” she shared.

Eventually, she applied for an immigrant visa and was able to immigrate to the US in 1971. But the challenges did not end there.

“All I had was $50 in my pocket, stayed with my bro in New York, worked in Manhattan,” she recounted.

Persevering, Ricasa worked hard as a systems analyst and a real estate broker to ensure that she could save money and eventually fulfill her travel dreams. At 40 years old, she was finally able to start traveling to different countries.

Ricasa has not stopped traveling since.

Aside from being a globetrotter, Ricasa is an accomplished author, an artist, a motivational speaker and a pianist.

With all her travels, it is no wonder she could write six books about her experiences on the road.

Ricasa is also an established artist, having learned from artists around the world during her travels. She has over 120 paintings on display at the Ricasa Art Gallery in San Clemente, Southern California, with even more pieces displayed around the world.

She has also been invited as a motivational speaker for events worldwide, encouraging others to pursue their passions.

On top of all of these achievements, she was also able to raise three children.

Ricasa is living proof that there can be no limit to one’s dreams as long as one has the perseverance to pursue them.

Hi, my name is Sebastian Esai Eco Eviot. In 2009 I left my home of Davao for Switzerland where I became very active in Youths For Christ Europe and a council member of the English-speaking Roman Catholic Community of Canton Berne. Being a devout Catholic I decided the best way to serve would be to join the Swiss Guard. After two years of basic training I became a second lieutenant of the Swiss Army. I am not the first Filipino to join the Swiss Guard but I am the first full-blooded Filipino to join the Swiss Guard. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180656

A first full-blooded Filipino has been appointed to the ranks of the Pontifical Swiss Guard at the Vatican City.

Fr. Gregory Ramon Gaston, Rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino, said Sebastian Esai Eco Eviota formally joined the ranks, citing a letter from Swiss Guard commander Christoph Graf dated Jan. 17, 2022.

"We are happy to see children of Filipinos incorporated into the Church and society abroad," he said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas Thursday.

Eviota, a native of Davao City is already active in serving in various ministries of the church.

The Catholic priest noted that the inclusion of Filipinos in the Swiss Guard is proof of the widespread missionary work of Filipinos as Christians, especially since the Philippines is the third largest country in terms of the number of baptized Catholics at over 80 million.

"As we begin the next 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines, the service of those with Filipino roots in the Pontifical Swiss Guards and in the Vatican as a whole is yet another manifestation that indeed we are gifted to give of ourselves wherever God has called us to be," Gaston added.

Eviota is the second Filipino to be included in the Pontifical Swiss Guard after Swiss-Filipino Vincent Lüthi.

His father, Diomedes Eviota Jr. is from Surigao City while his mother Editha Eco is from Agusan Del Sur.

In 2009, Eviota left the Philippines and went to Switzerland where he became active in Youths for Christ (YFC) Europe and a council member of the English-speaking Roman Catholic Community of Canton Berne.

He became a second lieutenant of the Swiss Army after two years of basic training and served in the Infantry 13th Battalion.

The Pontifical Swiss Guard is a minor armed force and honor guard unit maintained by the Holy See that protects the Pope and the Apostolic Palace within the territory of the Vatican City.

Hi, my name is Alfonso “Jojo” Bigay. I am a backward runner. You have probably never heard of my sport because it is not popular but I want to do this to bring honor and pride to our province and the country as well. I wanted to prove that Filipinos can excel in the field of track events where height is might by breaking the existing Guinness backward running word record. I have been trying to break the record since 2015. Surely my time will come and soon. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180331

A 53-year-old Pangasinense will attempt to set a Guinness World Records for backward running this December.

In a phone interview on Monday, Alfonso “Jojo” Bigay said the Guinness Book of World Records has accepted his application to beat the world record for fastest run backward 100 and 200-meter male category.

“There is a go-signal from Guinness. It will probably happen this December at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) oval area in Lingayen town, Pangasinan,” he said.

Bigay said he targets to beat the 13.6 seconds in 100 meters by Germany’s Roland Wegner and 30.99 seconds in 200 meters by Spain’s Christian Rodriguez.

“I wanted to prove that Filipinos can excel in the field of track events where height is might by breaking the existing Guinness backward running word record,” he said. 

Bigay was set for the bid last December but he was injured while training.

Nonetheless, Bigay is continuing with his training to achieve his goal.

“I am regularly training at the beachfront and at the NRSCC. I also do stationary bike backpedaling, skip rope, and many more. My sport doesn’t get that much attention because it is not popular but I want to do this to bring honor and pride to our province and the country as well. I thank my sponsors today for believing in me and my goal,” he said.

He appealed to Pangasineses for moral support as their presence and cheers will keep his adrenaline up to beat the world record.

Meanwhile, Bigay encouraged the youths to try his backward running sport, which is twice beneficial as the usual running sport.

Bigay started as a track runner before he became a backward runner in 1991.

Hi, my name is Emil Rebejo Vega. I have lived and worked in Japan for 16 years. On my way home from work I saw a woman about to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge. I immediately stopped my motorcycle and went up to her. I held her hand so she would not jump and we waited until the police arrived. I am no hero but later on the police gave me a citation for my actions. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/dispatch/832546/pinoy-in-japan-cited-for-preventing-woman-from-jumping-off-bridge/story/

A Filipino in Japan was given citation for rescuing a woman who was about to jump off a bridge, Unang Balita reported on Monday.

Leyte-born Emil Rebejo Vega was on his way home from work on board his motorcycle when he spotted the woman preparing to jump off the bridge.

According to him, he immediately went to the woman and held her hand while he asked for help from other motorists, who in turn called the police.

Because of what he did, Rebejo, who has been living in Japan for 16 years, was given a citation by the Asaka City police force.

Hi, my name is Lolo Romeo. I am an old man and I mend shoes for a living. In my 64 years I have never had a girlfriend until now. When I met Valentina I fell so in love that I could not sleep. She told me she had three boyfriends before she met me but none them lasted because none of them had a job. I courted her with flowers, bread, and soft drinks. Eventually she said yes to me and now we are planning our wedding. Thankfully her parents are ok with the situation despite me being old enough to be her grandfather. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/familyandrelationships/848163/64-year-old-lolo-falls-in-love-with-18-year-old-woman/story/

A 64-year-old lolo who has never had a girlfriend before fell in love with an 18-year-old woman in Monkayo, Davao de Oro.

According to an episode of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," Lolo Romeo is a shoe mender who had decided that it's better for him to be forever alone.

It all changed, however, when he met Valentina, who is young enough to be his granddaughter.

"'Yung unang kita  namin, na-in love ako sa kanya kasi napakabait na babae. Sa sobrang in-love ko sa kanya hindi ako nakatulog," he said.

("When we first met, I fell in love with her because she is such a kind woman. I was so in love with her that I couldn't sleep.")

Romeo has a simple job, but Valentina admires him. She had three boyfriends before, but their relationships didn't work out because none of them had a job.

("He courted me for three weeks. I liked him because he gave me softdrinks and bread. He gave me flowers.")

("I said yes because I fell in love with him. I liked him because he loved me first. Our age gap doesn't matter.")

Valentina said Romeo is her "The One." Romeo, meanwhile, said age doesn't matter in love as long as your hearts understand each other.

Other people had things to say about their May-December love affair, but Romeo has chosen to ignore all of them. For him, all that matters is Valentina, as well as her family.

Fortunately, Valentina's parents are accepting of their relationship.

("It's fine as long as they understand each other and treat each other properly. It's what my daughter wants. It's not our place to say anything."

Romeo and Valentina are currently living together. Romeo has also asked for Valentina's hand in marriage, but they are still saving up for the wedding.

Valentina takes care of Romeo and accompanies him in his job. They earn P300 a day, so funding their wedding is still a long way to go.

But they are not in a rush to start a family.

The couple recently celebrated their ninth monthsary. Romeo gifted Valentina new shoes, while KMJS shouldered their date so they can have fun on their special day.

("My love for you means I will stay true to you, the two of us will be together because you're the one I love the most.")

Hi, my name is Camille Jesalva. I was working as a caregiver when Hamas attacked Israel and another war began. My ward and I hid in a safe room which protected us when Hamas entered the house looking for hostages. But the fourth time they entered we were found out. I pleaded with the man to leave us alone because my ward was old and did not know anything. Then I reached in my wallet and pulled out my savings and gave it to him to go away. Thankfully he did and not long after we were rescued by the IDF.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1212879

The Filipino caregiver who willingly gave her savings to convince a Hamas terrorist to spare her and her elderly ward is finally flying home to the Philippines soon.

In a virtual interview with reporters on Tuesday, 31-year-old Camille Jesalva said the Philippine Embassy in Israel has offered her a seat in the government’s next repatriation flight.

Jesalva was alone with her 95-year-old ward Nitza Hefetz at their residence in a kibbutz in Nirim when the Hamas terrorist group mounted a deadly cross-border attack against Israel on Oct. 7.

From the morning of Oct. 7 until they were rescued by the Israeli Defense Forces in the afternoon, different Hamas members entered their home at least four times.

Jesalva, who was hiding in a safe room with Nitza, said the terrorists missed them the first three instances.

“Before 12, the fourth one entered. ‘I’m dead’ I’m already thinking like that and then Nitza heard the commotion and shouted to close the door,” she narrated.

Attempting not to upset their trespasser, Jesalva pleaded for understanding that Nitza was old and that “she don’t know anything”.

Without hesitation, she emptied out her wallet and gave the money to the armed man --money that she was supposed to give to her family when she returns to the Philippines.

“He asked if there was more money and I said no more and then after that, he got out the room,” she recalled.

Throughout that nerve-racking experience, Jesalva said she was thinking about her only child in the Philippines.

“Hiningi ko po ‘yong picture ng anak ko kasi alam ko na hindi na ako mabubuhay, gusto ko ‘yong last na image na makikita ko ‘yong anak ko (I already asked the picture of my child thinking that would be my final moment, I wanted that the last image that I will see is my child),” she said.

“Ayoko pa pong mamatay, kawawa ‘yong anak ko (I don’t want to die because what will happen to my kid),” she added.

Jesalva said she will go on a vacation to the Philippines and spend the holidays with her kid but promised to still return to Israel to take care of Nitza. 

Insurgency: To Foster Lasting Peace

Christmas time is here. Thank goodness 6 ex-rebels recently received 500,000 pesos each just in time for the holidays. One former rebel even called this money "a huge Christmas gift."

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1214141

Six former rebels who have opted to re-embrace allegiance to the government and support the cause for peace and security received PHP500,000 each from the Apayao provincial government on Wednesday.

“We did not expect this kind of amount but this will mean a lot for the change that we are starting with our lives. This is a huge Christmas gift, along with the chance to spend Christmas with our child for the first time,” “Ka Axel” (not her real name), 20, said in Filipino after receiving the cash assistance in a ceremony here. 

“Ka Axel” joined the communist movement in 2020 and stayed with the group for three years. She became the wife of 44-year-old “Ka Lar”, who was the squad leader of the East Front, operating in Cagayan Valley. 

After a very long time, she was again able to hold her child, now three-year-old, on Wednesday, which led to an emotional scene between a mother and child. 

Aside from the cash aid, which is part of the provincial government’s measures to address insurgency, the rebels also got commitments from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Department of Trade and Industry, Commission on Higher Education, the Department of Education, Department of Science and Technology, and several others in line with the government’s anti-insurgency program under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

The six former rebels also took their oath of allegiance administered by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

Teodoro, in a message delivered in Ilocano during the event, said that while the amount extended to the former rebels is sizeable it does not compare to the freedom of living freely.

"The amount, half a million, one million is huge but life is more expensive. We hope that this generosity of Apayao will be a proof of their sincerity towards peace and security that is boundless and will extend beyond Apayao,” he said.

He said local governments have a free hand on how they will manage peace and order situation in their respective areas, citing Apayao’s initiative to discourage rebels’ entry into the province and to urge those who are in the armed movement to voluntarily surrender.

The generosity of the Apayao provincial government?! What exactly is the source of this money? That is 3 million pesos that will not be going to help the community but will instead go into the pockets of rebels and traitors who will never face justice for their crimes against the state. It is a grave injustice to the law abiding citizens of Apayao. 

This is all part of the E-CLIP program which gives surrendering insurgents huge amounts of money, job training, and housing in an effort to reintegrate them back into society. 

The DSWD claims E-CLIP is the key to peace in Mindanao. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1214258

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary Alan A. Tanjusay on Thursday expressed “full confidence” that peace in Mindanao under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will soon be achieved through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and other related initiatives.

During the weekly media forum at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City, Tanjusay manifested the great success of E-CLIP citing the growing number of former rebels (FRs) and former violent extremists (FVEs) who surrendered to return to the social mainstream.

He said E-CLIP has been doing well through its socio-economic interventions – financial assistance and cash-for-work opportunities, among others.

Among the beneficiaries of the program, aside from their respective families, are former members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and former extremists from the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

For Calendar Year 2023, the DSWD had served some 907 ex-MNLF members as of Nov. 23, with the amount disbursed reaching about PHP40 million.

On Tuesday, DSWD provided cash grants to some 322 former ASG members. As part of their integration process into their communities, they were given seed capital and emergency cash assistance to enable them to lead normal lives.

These former extremists came mostly from the municipalities of Patikul, Talipao, Indanan and Maimbung in Sulu province.

"We found out that the primary cause why they became rebels is poverty. Almost all of them have not gone to school and due to extreme poverty, they can easily be recruited,” Tanjusay said.

In coordination with the local government units, he said the DSWD and other agencies concerned like the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Health (DOH), etc. were able to provide the needed interventions and assistance to the FRs and FVEs, as well as their families.

Poverty is why they became rebels? They did not even go to school because of poverty? That means schools are NOT the primary recruiting ground for the NPA. It means the incompetent government is the primary recruiting ground for the NPA. 

P40 million distributed amongst 907 ex- MNLF members amounts to P44,101 per person. Again, that is money which could have been spent developing the community but is now in the pockets of terrorists. 

After several months of hemming and hawing Marcos has finally issued a declaration of amnesty to the NPA and other terrorist groups.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/24/23/marcos-grants-amnesty-to-former-rebels

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has granted amnesty to former rebels "as part of the administration’s comprehensive peace initiatives," Malacañang said on Friday. 

Based on Proclamation Nos. 403, 404, 405, and 406, those granted amnesty were former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). 

The President also granted amnesty to members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB)

The President said the amnesty covered members of these organizations who committed crimes "in pursuit of their political beliefs, whether punishable under the Revised Penal Code or special penal laws." 

These are but are not limited to: 

•  Rebellion or insurrection;
•  Conspiracy and proposal to commit rebellion or insurrection;
•  Disloyalty of public officers or employees;
•  Inciting to rebellion or insurrection;
•  Sedition;
•  Conspiracy to commit sedition;
•  Inciting to sedition;
•  Illegal assembly;
•  Illegal association;
•  Direct assault;
•  Indirect assault;
•  Resistance and disobedience to a person in authority or the agents of such person;
•  Tumults and other disturbances of public order;
•  Unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances;
•  Alarms and scandals;
•  Illegal possession of firearms, ammunition or explosives, provided that these crimes or offense were committed in furtherance of, incident to, or in connection with the crimes of rebellion or insurrection; and,
•  Those charged, detained or convicted of common crimes but who can establish by substantial evidence that they have actually committed said crimes in pursuit of political beliefs.

In signing the proclamations, though, the President defined the clause "crimes committed in pursuit of a political belief" as "acts and omissions performed or undertaken as part of a plan, program of action or strategy decided by the rebel leadership to overthrow and replace the National Government, any of its political subdivisions, or duly constituted authority, with or without the use of arms."

A former member of the organization is defined as someone who has surrendered to the government and renounced their "rebellious activities." 

"A person who has already been granted amnesty under previous amnesty proclamations shall no longer qualify to apply for amnesty under this Proclamation," it read. 

"For avoidance of doubt, persons who applied for amnesty under previous proclamations whose applications were not considered for having been made outside the reglementary period for filing may apply under this Proclamation," it added. 

Applicants for amnesty must also admit their guilt of offense in which they are criminally liable. 

They shall also "turn over whatever firearms, weapons, and/or explosives he or she may have in his or her possession upon application for amnesty without incurring liability for illegal possession thereof, notwithstanding the grant or denial of the amnesty application," based on the proclamation. 

The amnesty, however, will not cover: 

•  kidnap for ransom
•  massacre
•  rape
•  terrorism
•  crimes committed against chastity as defined in the Revised Penal Code
•  crimes committed for personal ends, violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002
• grave violations of the Geneva Convention of 1949
•  genocide
•  crimes against humanity
•  war crimes
•  torture
•  enforced disappearances
•  other gross violations of human rights

In signing the proclamations, Marcos, Jr. said there was "an urgent need" to grant amnesty to these organizations, including the CPP-NPA-NDF. 

He described this as an "instrument of reconciliation and as a path for their return to a peaceful, democratic, and pluralistic society."

"The grant of amnesty in favor of the foregoing group and individuals will promote an atmosphere conducive to the attainment of a just, comprehensive," said the President. 

This was also "in line with the government's call for peace, unity, and reconciliation to bring closure to past enmity, rancor, and bitterness that has stymied lasting amity among the Filipino people."

Terrorism is not covered under the amnesty but the NPA is designated a terrorist group! How does that not nullify this decree? The NTF-ELCAC has said amnesty is key to ending the insurgency but we shall see how it plays out in the months to come. 

While violent crimes are not covered under the amnesty for one human rights advocate that does not matter because the case against him has been tossed for insufficient evidence. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/23/23/laguna-prosecutors-junk-raps-vs-20-yr-old-rights-advocate

Prosecutors from Santa Rosa Laguna have junked 5 criminal complaints against a 20-year-old human rights advocate and several others over their alleged involvement in an ambush of soldiers in Batangas.

Prosecutors found “no sufficient evidence” to indict Hailey Jade Pecayo and several others accused of terrorism, attempted murder and violation of international humanitarian law, based on 2 consolidated resolutions dated Nov. 20, 2023.

Pecayo was among those accused of being present in an armed encounter between soldiers and members of the New People's Army in Sitio Amatong, Barangay Ginhawa in Taysan, Batangas on July 18, 2022.

Sgt. Jean Claude Bacaro, who was wounded in the encounter, and Capt. Ival Neil Ogatis filed the complaints against Pecayo and some 15 others who were mostly identified by aliases.

Santa Rosa, Laguna Associate City Prosecutor Christian Castro dismissed all 5 complaints for failure of complainants and their witnesses to "correctly identify the respondents" as perpetrators of the crimes alleged.

“First, the spot report as well as the progress report failed to identify the respondents,” the resolutions said.

“Second, the firefight happened in a forested area as depicted in the pictures and complainant and his witnesses were ten (10) to fifteen (15) meters away from the persons shooting them,” it added, noting that the encounter lasted for only a few minutes.

The soldiers who filed the criminal complaints had presented 5 individuals who claimed to be former CPP-NPA-NDF members who allegedly identified Pecayo as being a rebel.

But the prosecutor said they were not in the area when the ambush happened.

“Too much emphasis on names was placed by the complainant and his witnesses in identifying the alleged wrongdoers in these cases. It is underscored that familiarity with the physical features, particularly those of the face, is actually the best way to identify the person,” he said.

“Given the aforestated second and third reasons, plus the fact that the incident happened during an ambush, familiarity with the faces of the malefactors is entirely nil,” he added.

That's good for him personally but one group has hailed the dismissal as proof positive that the anti-terror law must be repealed. 

Rights group coalition Karapatan hailed the dismissal.

“The dismissal of the complaints of soldiers of the 59th Infantry Battalion by Office of the City Prosecutor in Sta. Rosa, Laguna exposes the fabricated lies against Pecayo and other respondents and that such charges including the terror law were made to threaten, harass and intimidate Pecayo in a desperate attempt to dissuade her from doing her work as a human rights worker,” it said in a statement.

DEFEND Southern Tagalog said that with the dismissal of the complaints against Pecayo, the "domino has fallen."

It noted that the allegations of “rebel surrenderees” were also used against other activists and human rights defenders who are still facing terrorism raps.

“In the 59th IB’s attempt to throw the kitchen sink, they only unleashed a circus: their modern rendition of the Makapili, their “rebel surrenderees”, spouted unprovable and flimsy testimonies dragging the name of Hailey Pecayo – and eventually youth rights defender John Peter Angelo Garcia – as combatants of the New People’s Army, and through the Anti-Terrorism Council’s designations, be considered terrorists. These testimonies were rightfully and reasonably brushed off by the court,” it said in a statement.

“This is only proof of the Terror Law’s utility as the state’s treacherous weapon against critics and all those resisting the various attacks against their rights and liberties, and has only been allowed by the National Security Policy of the Marcos Jr administration. We reiterate the repeal of this act, which has also been used against 19 other activists and farmers in the Southern Tagalog region,” it added.

Why would this case even be taken to court if they did not have hard evidence to prove the identity of these men? It's this kind of ineptness that keeps the insurgency going.