Coronavirus Lockdown: Radiation Oncology, Skincare, and More!

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

After shutting down during the pandemic the National Kidney and Transplant Institute is set to reopen its radiation onocology services. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1266563

The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) is set to reopen its Radiation Oncology Services this year to expand access to life-saving cancer treatment, the institute said.

In a news release on Friday, the NKTI said the resumption of services will be made possible through the donation of a Linear Accelerator (LINAC) by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) following a ceremonial turnover and signing of the deed of donation.

The reopening marked the revival of NKTI’s Radiation Oncology Service, which ceased operations during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and has not been in use since 2022.

The Radiation Oncology Section was established to address the need for accessible, high-quality healthcare services, particularly in the delivery of radiation therapy for cancer patients, the NKTI said.

The service is part of the NKTI Radiation Oncology Project (NKTI-ROP), which was implemented through a public-private partnership in 2015.

The LINAC is commonly used for external beam radiation therapy and allows precise treatment of tumor sites by delivering high-energy X-rays or electrons while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

With more than four decades of experience in healthcare, NKTI emphasized that the facility underscores its commitment to improving patient care through expanded services and the adoption of modern medical technology.

The resumption of radiation oncology services is expected to significantly improve access to cancer treatment for patients who require radiotherapy, it said.

This begs the question: why now? Everything else has reopened. Why has this important medical service been shuttered until now?

In the Philippines men have been driving growth in the anti-aging skin care market.

https://tribune.net.ph/2026/01/09/filipino-men-drive-growth-in-anti-aging-skincare-market

Filipino men, particularly working professionals aged 30 and above, are increasingly investing in skincare products, signaling a shift in a market long dominated by women’s grooming routines.

Industry observers note a steady rise in men’s skincare purchases across e-commerce platforms, with anti-aging products emerging as one of the fastest-growing segments. Local brands are beginning to benefit from the trend, challenging the dominance of imported labels.

One of these brands is Zenith, a Filipino men’s skincare company that launched only months ago. The brand reports that more than 30,000 men have used its products within its first year of operations. Its anti-aging tallow cream has also ranked as the top-selling moisturizer on Lazada, according to the company.

Observers say the shift reflects changing attitudes among Filipino men, many of whom grew up associating skincare with women. That perception is now fading, particularly among urban professionals who increasingly link personal appearance with confidence and workplace performance.

Unlike multi-step skincare routines popularized in recent years, many male consumers favor simplified regimens. Products marketed as efficient, easy to apply, and designed specifically for men have gained traction, particularly those positioned for daily use in the country’s humid climate.

Actor and Marine reservist Enzo Pineda is among those who have spoken publicly about men’s skincare. After trying Zenith’s anti-aging cream, he shared his experience.

"This is one of the best products for my skin," Pineda said. "We're not getting any younger, and we're busy. But this product feels good on my skin after applying."

Pineda said he noticed changes within days, including brighter skin, a clearer complexion, and reduced dark spots and fine lines. He encouraged men to start early.

"Anti-aging doesn't mean we take it when we're already aging. Truth is, we're getting older. That's why we need to take care of our skin as early as possible," he said.

"I highly suggest this to all the guys out there. I love the product. Love everything about it."

Model and chef Rollo Espino also shared his views on men’s skincare, noting that signs of aging can appear earlier than expected. Describing his experience with Zenith products, Espino said they are "straight-forward, effective, and made for men."

Market analysts say several factors have contributed to the growing interest in men’s skincare. Increased exposure to video calls during the pandemic heightened awareness of appearance, while social media normalized grooming conversations among men. At the same time, brands have begun developing formulations tailored to male skin, which tends to be thicker, oilier, and more prone to environmental stress.

Zenith said its products are formulated using grass-fed beef tallow combined with retinol and hyaluronic acid, ingredients designed to support skin hydration and anti-aging without leaving a heavy or greasy feel.

For many male consumers, the decision to invest in skincare is driven by professional image, confidence, and accessibility. Online shopping platforms, free shipping offers, and customer reviews have made trying new products easier and less risky.

With local brands gaining visibility and consumer acceptance, industry watchers say men’s skincare is no longer a niche category but a growing segment of the Philippine beauty market.

All those zoom calls during the pandemic made men realize they need to look good on camera. 

More routes to Davao are being planned as part of the nation's post-pandemic recovery. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/amp/story/davao/triangulated-air-routes-to-boost-davaos-intl-links

FOR greater regional and international connectivity, the local government is exploring triangulated air routes to help sustain Davao City’s international links, attract investments, boost trade, and expand tourism opportunities.

Department of Trade and Industry-Davao Region (DTI-Davao) Director Romeo L. Castañaga said on Friday, January 9, 2025, that the proposed route strategy moves away from the traditional point-to-point model by linking multiple destinations in a single flight. He explained during the Business Insights media forum at NCCC Mall Maa that triangulated routes allow airlines to connect Davao with domestic and international destinations in one continuous loop, making operations more commercially viable.

Under the model, a single route could, for instance, link Davao with domestic hubs such as Siargao or Cebu before continuing to Manado, which in turn could connect to Bali. This setup increases passenger volume and reduces reliance on Manila as the primary transit hub.

“Some passengers are not only traveling to Manado but also to other destinations. Triangulated routes increase passenger volume and ensure sustainability,” Castañaga said.

He noted that major carriers, including Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines, have already expressed interest in the Davao-Manado route, which the government aims to revive as part of its post-pandemic recovery efforts. A working group, in coordination with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and airline partners, is currently assessing ways to ensure the long-term viability of the route.

Beyond BIMP-Eaga network

Castañaga added that the Davao City government has formed a special committee on air connectivity, co-chaired by the Department of Tourism in Region 11 (DOT-Davao). The committee is tasked with identifying potential direct-flight destinations beyond the traditional BIMP (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines)-Eaga network.

At present, Davao City maintains four direct international routes — Bangkok, Singapore, China, and Doha, Qatar. 

They are also looking to resume connections to Japan and possibly Kuala Lumpur in the near future.

Sea connectivity exploration

Beyond air travel, sea connectivity is also being considered as part of the city’s broader transport and trade strategy. Castañaga said there are still untapped opportunities for private-sector participation in developing shipping routes that could further strengthen Davao’s position as a logistics and trade gateway in Mindanao.

Economic doorway approach

The DTI official also highlighted the adoption of an economic corridor approach, which focuses on regional clusters rather than isolated city-to-city links. One example is the Mindanao-Sulawesi corridor, which integrates trade, tourism, and socio-cultural exchanges between the two regions.

Castañaga emphasized that improving air connectivity in Mindanao requires a strategic shift from the traditional Manila-centric aviation model to a more decentralized and region-driven network.

He said Mindanao’s current air travel setup remains largely dependent on flights routed through Metro Manila, limiting passenger traffic, increasing travel time, and discouraging potential investors and tourists who prefer more direct and efficient connections. By developing triangulated and multi-destination routes, Davao and other Mindanao gateways can serve as alternative international and domestic hubs.

He added that the expansion of air routes in Mindanao would not only benefit Davao City but also support nearby provinces by improving access to emerging tourism destinations, agricultural export points, and business centers. This, in turn, could stimulate job generation, strengthen regional value chains, and reduce economic concentration in Luzon.

Castañaga also stressed that sustained airline operations in Mindanao depend on coordinated efforts among national agencies, local governments, tourism stakeholders, and the private sector to ensure consistent passenger demand and route profitability.

With airports in Davao, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, and emerging gateways in Siargao and Cotabato, Mindanao is well-positioned to become a major aviation network in the southern Philippines once supported by innovative routing strategies and long-term policy commitment.

Castañaga concluded that building a stronger Mindanao air travel system is essential not only for mobility, but also for positioning the island as a competitive economic and tourism hub in Southeast Asia.

Again, why now? Why not open these routes earlier?

No Kidding Part 5: Follow the Traffic Rules

Philippine roads are dangerous. Change my mind. You can't! Even the Department of Transportation agrees. The current chief wants a review of the rules. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2055168/dizon-orders-sweeping-review-of-road-safety-policies

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will form a special task force to review road safety policies and procedures and implement reforms aimed at reducing road accidents.

DOTr chief Vince Dizon announced the formation of the task force in a press conference on Wednesday.

“Effective today, I am announcing the creation of a special task force to do a sweeping review of all our road safety policies and procedures,” he said.

Dizon added that the special task force will be composed of officials from the DOTr, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

“We should take road safety seriously because big vehicles like buses and trucks are deadly. If they hit you, you can’t do anything,” Dizon said in Filipino.

“And clearly, the policies and process now are not effective,” he added.

When will these people learn? It is not the rules that are the problem. It's bad drivers and NON-ENFORCEMENT of the rules that are the problem. And when they are enforced it is done in the stupidest way. For instance checkpoints are easily evaded by motorcycles and tricycles by simply pulling over to the side of the road and waiting them out. The DOTr needs to look at the PNP. 

I have written about overloaded trucks many times on this blog. Now another overloaded truck has collapsed a bridge. Senate President Escudero says this is a problem and there needs to be a review of anti-overloading policies. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/3/16/escudero-calls-for-comprehensive-review-of-anti-overloading-policies

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero is now pushing for a comprehensive review of all laws and policies against overloading by trucks and trailers across the country.

Escudero made the call for a review in light of the recent sudden collapse of the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela province that was reportedly triggered by overloading. 

The Senate chief said a parallel review of policies regarding overloading is in order to determine if these are enforced properly and if these are still effective, or if there may be lapses in enforcement. 

“We must find out how the truck that reportedly weighed 102 tons was able to get on the bridge that has a 45-ton maximum capacity,” Escudero said in a statement on Sunday, March 16.

“I am certain that this is not an isolated incident, and a lot of overloaded trucks are able to go about their business without being flagged,” the senator said. 

Escudero cited Section 6 of Republic Act 8794, or the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC) Act of 2000, which specifies the penalty for overloading, which is equivalent to 25 percent of the MVUC imposed on trucks and trailers. 

The same section also states that “no axle load shall exceed 13,500 kilograms,” he pointed out.

The lawmaker recalled that in November 2001, the DPWH, then Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued a joint circular laying out the mechanics of implementation and enforcement of the provisions on overloading and the maximum allowable gross vehicle weights.

The provisions depend on the configuration of trucks or trailers.

A revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA 8794 was also issued on April 5, 2013, which stated, among others, that the DPWH shall install and operate weighbridge stations or portable weighing machines at strategic locations along national roads for purposes of the implementation of the provisions of the law against overloading. 

Under RA 8794, the DPWH is also authorized to outsource to private contractors the operation of the weighbridge stations and portable weighing machines. Under the law, these machines should be in operation 24 hours a day, including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

"How many weighbridges do we have? What is the weight capacity or load of roads and bridges that we construct? Is this being followed? Is this being implemented? Is there a weighbridge before one can cross that bridge?” Escudero pointed out.

“If a truck was able to pass a weighbridge, maybe after passing it, they loaded more, and thus, there were changes in the weight of the truck,” the Senate President raised. 

He further said that based on the data from the Land Transportation Office (LTO), close to 400,000 trucks and 55,802 trailers were registered from January to September of 2023. The LTO recorded a total of 16,020 apprehensions based on axle overloading in that same period. 

According to Escudero, there are easy and practical ways to prevent the overloading of trucks, such as prohibiting the installation of reinforcements on the bed of trucks or trailers.

A visual inspection of the trucks would also already reveal if these have been reinforced and “if there are reinforcements then it means the trucks are most likely overloaded every time they transport cargoes,” he said. 

Escudero also noted that the DPWH has a significant amount of funding for the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of national roads and bridges under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

“Once we start deliberations on the proposed 2026 spending plan of the DPWH and the DOTr  (Department of Transportation) later this year, we will require an accounting of the expenses incurred as a result of infrastructure damaged due to overloading and the effectiveness of the policies and programs to prevent overloading,” he said.

“We have to put a stop to these recurring expenses that could easily be avoided,” he added. 

No kidding it's not an isolated incident. There does not need to be a review of anti-overloading polices. There needs to be enforcement of existing anti-overloading policies. It's as simple as that. Enforce the laws on the books. But heaven forbid anyone do their job like enforcing speed limits. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2052784/strict-enforcement-of-speed-limits-sought

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino has called on authorities to strictly enforce the 60-kilometer per hour (km/h) speed limit in major thoroughfares to ensure public safety.

He made the call following the vehicular accident that killed two passengers and injured 16 others when a passenger jeepney went wayward and hit other vehicles on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on Sunday morning.

The 60-km/h rule on the busy road was introduced by Tolentino himself in 2011 as chair of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. The speed limit has since been applied to other major thoroughfares.

“Commonwealth has been called the ‘killer highway’ due to the high number of accidents and fatalities there. To address this, we imposed the 60 km/h speed limit,” Tolentino said.

Initial police reports and CCTV footage indicated that the passenger jeepney involved in the smashup was running at high speed when the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle.

“Rules exist to ensure traffic order and public safety. On the other hand, it is the responsibility of drivers and motorists to observe discipline and road courtesy,” the senator said.

Imagine living in a country where the President of the Senate has to implore the police to enforce existing traffic rules. What a shameful mess. 

But it's not as if the PNP is always following traffic rules themselves. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/04/02/2432793/government-must-be-consistent-enforcing-laws

The government must be consistent in enforcing laws, particularly in traffic management and road clearing operations, a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) official said.

According to Gabriel Go, the MMDA’s Special Operations Group Strike Force head who recently figured in a viral post over a heated exchange with a police officer, his unit was trying to implement change by performing regular clearing operations and maintaining orderly traffic flow along highways and alternate routes in Metro Manila.

“We got used to times that when there is no traffic enforcer around, despite having traffic signages, we will park (in illegal parking areas). And when we get caught, we always say sorry and plead for us not to be cited for violation,” he said in an interview with The STAR’s online show “Truth on the Line” on Monday.

If motorists cannot follow simple rules such as avoiding illegal parking along major thoroughfares, chances are they could be “blatantly disrespecting” other laws – something that Go said wanted to change. 

He highlighted the importance of information dissemination on policies on road traffic and road clearing among citizens, as well as consistency in implementing them.

He also pointed out that with consistency comes the need for “collaboration and coordination with law enforcers and the local government units, especially the barangay.”

Go emphasized that in traffic rules and in road clearing operations, “no one is above the law, and the law applies to all.”

He reminded personnel under his unit to only remove obstructions, such as tables and umbrellas during clearing operations, and not confiscate vendors’ merchandise.

Meanwhile, MMDA Chairman Don Artes said a show-cause order has been issued to Go in connection with an altercation with a Quezon City police officer.

In his letter to Sen. JV Ejercito, Artes said the MMDA is taking the matter seriously and assured the senator that Go will be held accountable if found to be at fault.

“Mr. Gabriel Go is a good man and a dedicated MMDA enforcer. If he committed a mistake, we will accord him due process and penalize him as justified,” Artes said in a separate statement.

The controversy stemmed from a clearing operation wherein Go allegedly humiliated Capt. Erik Felipe of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) over a parking ticket dispute.

A video of the incident, reportedly taken outside Anonas police station 9 without Felipe’s consent, circulated online, subjecting him to criticism for parking his motorcycle on the sidewalk.

According to National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan, Felipe intends to sue Go and vlogger Dada Koo for violation of Republic Act 10173, or the Data Privacy Act.

Asked when the case might be filed, Calinisan said in a Viber message, “Toward the end of the week.”

Calinisan said he spoke with Go over the weekend and advised him to apologize to Felipe, but to no avail.

The MMDA was conducting clearing operations. A PNP officer illegally parked his motorcycle on the sidewalk. An MMDA officer, Go, and the PNP officer, Felipe, got into a heated argument over the parking ticket which was issued. This altercation was filmed and post to social media. Instead of the PNP officer taking his lumps and admitting he was wrong he now intends to sue both the MMDA officer and the man who filmed the incident. 

What a load of malarkey. This entitled PNP officer thinks he is above the law and does not have to follow basic traffic rules such as don't park on the sidewalk. But the fact is the law applies to all, including PNP officers who should be model to the rest of society. Seeing as the PNP is one of the most corrupt organizations in the nation it's no wonder Philippine society is the way it is.

An internet personality has written a whole article about how Filipinos need to use their turn signals when driving. 

https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2025/03/17/293383/turn-signals-driving-macoy-dubs/

Content creator and car enthusiast Macoy Dubs stressed the importance of using turn signals and the potential consequences of neglecting them.

The internet personality on Tuesday, March 11, shared the effects of failing to use signal lights, advising such motorists to attend "driving school."

“If you don't signal, you'll be a sweet potato, if you become a sweet potato, you'll crash, if you crash, you'll get killed, if you get killed, you'll go to jail, if you go to jail, you'll rot,” he wrote on Facebook .

“S*ET. Go to Driving School,” Macoy added with a sparkle emoji.

His post has earned 3,700 likes and reactions, 226 shares, and over 80 comments so far, with many Filipinos sharing their own experiences on the road.

“This is also [our] Pet Peeve!!!! Those who don't signal are annoying. Let's just guess where they're going,” a Facebook user wrote.

“Everyone should be required to go to driving school. You mentioned those who signaled but that's not where they went,” another online user commented.

“When you signal, the person behind you will speed up so you don't get hit,” different Pinoy  wrote.

Macoy has been consistently raising awareness about using turn signals.

Earlier this year, he reminded fellow drivers to use their signal lights when turning or switching lanes

“To my sissies who are main characters and feeling artists who are returning to Manila and neighboring provinces, please use your turn signal because I don't want to guess this 2025. Charet!” Macoy wrote last January.

His post has garnered 1,600 reactions.

In May 2024, the influencer posted dashcam footage of him being cut by another vehicle whose driver failed to use a turn signal when he switched lanes.

“I just want to sing, drive [in] peace and go home. You don't need to cut. Unless you're short-changing yourself when it comes to getting your license. Eme!” Macoy  wrote on Facebook before.

Using turn signals before turning or switching lanes is a common defensive driving habit.

Turn signals are a vital means of communication, alerting other drivers to your intended direction and helping to prevent potential collisions or accidents.

Signal lights should be turned on at least 30 meters before making a turn, whether to the right or left.

When changing lanes, they should be activated at least five seconds prior to making the move.

In most vehicles, turn signals are located on the left lever behind the steering wheel.

Moving it downward activates the left turn signal, while moving it upward activates the right turn signal.

It's common sense and common courtesy. Two things which are sorely lacking in the Philippines. 

Insurgency: Hero Narrative

The numbers for 2025 are in! 2,018 NPA rebels and supporters were neutralized last year. Let's see how it breaks down. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1266260

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said its units have successfully neutralized 2,018 New People's Army (NPA) and its supporters from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025.

In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said of the 2,018 communist insurgents and followers neutralized, 1,798 have surrendered, 93 were arrested, and 127 killed in various military operations nationwide.

"A total of 1,134 firearms and 531 anti-personnel mines were either seized or surrendered (during this period)," she added.

Padilla also said a total of 149 NPA encampments were also captured from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of last year.

Earlier, a ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said they have received reports citing only 780 New People's NPA are left all over the country.

NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., in a media briefing to observe the Dec. 4 7th founding anniversary of the anti-communist body, said this number is relatively small as the communist insurgents numbered about 25,000 at their peak in the 1980s.

"A recent report that we have received (indicate that) there are only 780 NPAs all over the country. That's relatively small because at their peak, they numbered to about 25,000," he added. 

Oh, look at that. The numbers are not broken down so they are worthless. The last estimated number of remaining NPA rebels is 780. Before that it was around 1,000. So that means only 220 actual rebels were neutralized while the rest were supporters.  That means the NPA has a large support base contrary to what the AFP claims. 

The government says the NPA is going online to disseminate propaganda in a desperate push to drum up support. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2162930/govt-warns-of-red-propaganda-drive

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) has warned the public against what it described as a “deliberate” and “synchronized” social media propaganda drive by the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army–National Democratic Front and allied groups.

NTF-Elcac Executive Director Ernesto Torres Jr. said dozens of interlinked pages have been pushing identical narratives, slogans, hashtags, visuals and calls for action—signs, he said, of central direction rather than spontaneous activism.

“This is neither coincidence nor spontaneity. This is central direction from the party,” Torres said in a statement on Saturday.

“The timing, language, framing, and cadence of these posts portray a party-imposed propaganda line—a textbook maneuver by a movement in decline attempting to manufacture an illusion of relevance and strength in the digital space.”

Torres said the content recycles calls for “armed struggle,” “revolutionary movement” and “lightning rallies,” targeting students, urban poor communities and other vulnerable sectors as the group shifts to online platforms amid waning support on the ground.

“The truth is unmistakable: this is the behavior of an organization gasping for its last breath,” he said.

“Unable to rebuild support through armed formations that are now fragmented, isolated, and rejected by communities, they have resorted to flooding social-media platforms with rage-bait, distortion, and incitement.”

Torres said the campaign aims to stir anger, normalize violence as “activism” and groom a new generation, but noted that public reaction has turned against the groups.

Ok, it's a propaganda drive on social media.  Which accounts?  Why don't they name the accounts?  This is very frustrating to be told watch out for dangerous propaganda and not be told where it's originating. 

The NTF-ELCAC says a recent clash with the NPA shows how they are grooming students to fight. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1266289

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Tuesday said the series of encounters in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro on New Year’s Day has revealed the New People's Army’s (NPA) terror grooming operations that had insurgents pulling young Filipinos away from school, family, and civilian life, and leading them toward violence and, in some tragic cases, even death.

NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., in a statement, added that this incident has shown how terror-grooming works as terror grooming recruiters exploit the vulnerability, idealism, and grievances of their intended youth targets and feed them romanticized narratives of struggle while concealing the realities of fear, deprivation, and lethal encounters.

“This is how young people are led down a path that ends in violence and loss. What happened in Abra de Ilog shows the real, human cost of that deception," he said.

Torres also claimed that the Jan. 1 clashes in Sitio Mamara, Barangay Cabacao did not occur in a vacuum.

Authorities acted after residents reported intimidation, extortion, and abuses linked to armed NPA elements—conditions that communities had endured for years before finally speaking up.

In the Abra de Ilog clash, a female student turned NPA member was killed during an encounter with government troops.

"Based on information and verification received by authorities on the ground, she had already been drawn into the NPA. This does not lessen the tragedy—it defines it. It is a tragedy of radicalization and recruitment, where a young life is taken from civilian pathways and brought into armed violence," Torres said.

“Communities that lived in fear are now asking the government for protection. That context matters."

Torres also called on parents, educators, faith-based groups, local governments, and civil society to treat the Abra de Ilog incident as a national warning and to work together to prevent further communist recruitment activities.

“Protecting the youth means exposing terror-grooming early, encouraging those deceived into armed groups to return home, and supporting peaceful, lawful pathways to address grievances—without sacrificing our children to violence,” he added. 

Oh wow.  A singular female student means they have a huge grooming network. This same student, likely the same student, is not a hero according her family. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1266439

One of the partner organizations of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Thursday said the family of the slain female New People's Army (NPA) during the Jan. 1 clash in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro rejected attempts by groups supporting the insurgents to portray her as a hero and instead asserted that she was a victim of deception, manipulation, and terror-grooming.

This was conveyed by Hands Off Our Children Movement (HOOCM) Inc. National Secretary Anabelle Sabado who added that the family also expressed alarm over the systematic exploitation of the victim's death by leftist groups.

While the family is grieving, Sabado said they were also angry at what happened to their daughter.

"She was not a revolutionary hero. She was a victim —of manipulation, deceit, and ideological grooming. They demand that these groups stop exploiting her memory,” she said.

Fearing further exploitation, the HOOCM official said the family made the painful decision to have their daughter's remains hastily cremated.

In what they described as a final act of protection and closure, her ashes were later scattered at sea —specifically to prevent any further attempts to politicize or exploit her remains.

Sabado revealed that the family was completely unaware that their daughter had already been designated as general secretary of the Kabataan Party-list —a fact they only learned after her death.

This disclosure, she said, compounded the family’s shock and grief.

Sabado said the victim's radicalization happened with alarming speed. She was reportedly seen attending a rally in September, and by December, she was already in the hinterlands.

The family described this rapid descent as wholly inconsistent with who their daughter was —a devout churchgoer, a kind and gentle person, and a student of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

The family also condemned what they described as intrusive and predatory efforts to extract information, photos, and personal details about their daughter — including an incident involving individuals allegedly posing as medical mission volunteers.

These acts, the family said, were deeply disrespectful and crossed moral boundaries. Sabado said the family is currently preparing an official statement to fully express their side. 

It would help to know more about this person such as her age and what school she attended. But the AFP is short on providing details. Was she "groomed" in college?" What exactly was her path from student to revolutionary? 

A Fil-Am woman was rescued by the AFP after getting caught up in this very same clash. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1266540

The Philippine Army (PA) on Friday lauded the 203rd Infantry Brigade which rescued Thursday afternoon a 24-year-old Filipino-American woman reported missing following the clash between government troops and New People's Army (NPA) remnants in Occidental Mindoro on Jan. 1.

"The PA commends our troops for rescuing 24-year-old Chantal Anicoche who was found hiding in a hole near the encounter site at Sitio Mamara, Barangay Cabacao, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro on Jan. 8," Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said in a statement.

He said Anicoche's rescue exposes the lies peddled by the communist terrorists and their mouthpieces, who accuse government troops of violating International Law in their legitimate missions.

"Her case clearly unmasks the CTG’s (communist terrorist group) way of exploiting and endangering young people through their deceptive recruitment tactics," Dema-ala said.

In the same clash, a female student-turned NPA rebel was killed.

Militant groups earlier claimed that Anicoche, a graduate of BS Psychology from the University of Maryland, and the fatality were in the hinterlands conducting research among farmers and indigenous people in the area.

Army troopers later transported Anicoche from the mountains to Abra de Ilog, where she was checked by municipal health workers.

Anicoche did not sustain any injuries, except for insect bites.

"Rest assured that we stand committed to neutralizing security threats and ensuring the protection of civilians, regardless of their circumstances," Dema-ala said.

This lady wasn't being groomed our recruited. She was conducting research. Best for all to stay away from those far-flung areas of the Philippines. 

Assassinated Citizens December, 2025

Assassination is normal in the Philippines not only for government officials but also for regular citizens. The most common method of assassination for both citizens and officials is a motorcycle duo riding up on the target and then blasting them away. This series will document the number of citizens assassinated on a monthly basis. These stories are to be distinguished from regular murder cases which happen on a daily basis. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/12/03/2-gunmen-wanted-for-shooting-woman-dead-in-antipolo

Authorities are now hunting down two unidentified men who shot a woman dead in Antipolo City early Wednesday, Dec. 3.

According to the Antipolo City Component Police Station (Antipolo CCPS), the incident occurred around 12:55 a.m. at Purok 5, Zone 8, Barangay Cupang.

Based on their initial investigation, the victim, identified as “Camille,” was walking home from Marikina when the two suspects allegedly appeared from behind her, and one of them shot her once in the head without any apparent reason.

The incident resulted in her immediate death.

The suspects then fled on foot toward a nearby alley.

Antipolo CCPS said they have requested the assistance of the SOCO team for crime scene processing.

They are now conducting a follow-up investigation to identify and locate the suspects.

 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/12/14/woman-gunned-down-in-laguna

A woman was shot dead in Cabuyao City, Laguna province, on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Police identified the victim as Rose Ann.

The victim was sitting in front of the main gate of Citadel Subdivision, Purok 3, Barangay Mamatid, at about 10:35 p.m. when two unidentified men wearing black jackets and riding a white motorcycle arrived.

A confrontation erupted and one of the suspects shot the victim twice with a handgun.

She was taken to a hospital here she was declared from bullet wounds.

Meanwhile, a 20-year-old tricycle driver was shot and wounded by an unidentified man in Barangay San Jose on Saturday.

Victim Raian was driving his tricycle when the suspect driving a motorcycle appeared and shot him in the head.

Raian was taken to a hospital where he is recovering.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/12/15/medical-representative-shot-dead-in-zamboanga-city

A medical representative was shot dead here on Sunday night, Dec. 14.

Police identified the victim as 43-year-old Nicolai Torres Asistido.

Investigation said the victim was talking to a companion on Calle Real St. in Barangay Mercedes when a man onboard a motorcycle appeared and shot him.

Asistido died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds. The suspect fled towards the MCLL Highway.

Police are conducting follow-up investigation.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/12/15/gunmen-shoot-livestock-buyer-dead

A 54-year-old livestock buyer was shot dead in Barangay Camansi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental on Sunday, Dec. 14.

The victim was identified as Alberto.

Police Lt. Col. Roberto Indiape Jr., Kabankalan police chief, said the victim was fixing a motorcycle when two men arrived and shot him.

The victim was wounded in the head and back and was declared dead in a hospital.

Recovered from the crime scene were two fired cartridges of a .45 caliber pistol.

Police said the incident may be insurgency-related since the victim allegedly introduced himself as a government asset.

Indiape added that the victim’s older brother was killed in an encounter with the military in Barangay Camansi in 2022.

He said the victim’s family is hesitant to provide more information due to the sensitivity of the case and security reasons.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2026/01/01/2498076/man-killed-maguindanao-del-norte-attack

A man was killed in an attack by motorcycle-riding assailants in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte on Tuesday night.

Rotas Mastura was on his way home on a motorcycle when he was killed in Barangay Macaguiling, according to Lt. Col. Hector Tanio Jr., Sultan Kudarat police chief.

Mastura died at the scene from six gunshot wounds in the body.

Witnesses said the assailants fled on a motorcycle.

Probers have yet to determine the motive for the killing and identify suspects.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/12/31/farm-specialist-killed-in-abra

A lone gunman shot and killed a farm specialist of the Mount Carmel Agri-Tourism and Training Center in Sitio Sinilagan, Barangay Lusuac, Peñarrubia, Abra, on Tuesday, Dec. 30.

Police identified the victim as Daniel Fatorog Pog-ok, 53, of Sadanga, Mountain Province.

Investigation said the victim was sleeping in his room when the suspect forced his way in by breaking the door knob and shooting him in the head.

The Abra Diocesan Teachers and Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative, which manages the facility, condemned the killing.

Pog-ok, they said, is kind, hardworking, and good at teaching in the field of agriculture.

Follow-up investigation is ongoing.

 

The God Culture: Typhoon Mental Gymnastics

In a previous article I posted a section from Fernando Pinto's journal which showed beyond all doubt that when he landed in the Lequios Islands he was in the Ryukyu Islands. Pinto said he could see Japan from where he was standing in the Lequios Islands. 

"Japan, which was the name of that big land mass outlined ahead of us"

It's a pretty open and shut case. Japan cannot be seen from the Philippines. I also wrote that I eagerly awaited what would no doubt be a gymnastic answer from Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture. He did not disappoint. 

https://thegodculturephilippines.com/pinto-the-typhoon-and-the-blogger-who-can-t-read-a-storm/

Here is the start.

Pinto, the Typhoon, and the Blogger Who Can’t Read Current Events [Literally... Pun intended]

The latest blogger critique is a prime example of selective outrage masquerading as scholarship. Faced with an overwhelming body of evidence from Fernão Mendes Pinto that clearly identifies the Philippines—not Ryukyu—as the Lequios Isles, this blogger has now narrowed the battlefield to one desperate hill:

The Typhoon Drift. [Except He Forgot the Typhoon Part!]

Let’s break it down

Now for the floor routine.

🌊 Pinto’s 23-Day Drift: What He Actually Says

Pinto states that after a battle near China, his ship was caught in a massive typhoon and drifted for 23 days through an archipelago before arriving at the land he calls Lequios Grande.

“...for twenty-three days until finally, at the end of that time, our Lord brought us within sight of land...” – Pinto (Catz translation)

The blogger wants to dismiss this as proof that Pinto landed in Ryukyu, citing a translation that refers to Lequios as such. But there's a major problem:

📉 The Coordinates, Dates & Distances Are Not Reliable

Even Pinto’s translator, Rebecca Catz, openly warned that:

• Pinto’s coordinates are often wrong.

• His distances and dates were edited before publication.

• His narrative was altered in its first printing.

Yet the blogger clings to these questionable elements while ignoring everything else Pinto describes. Remember, the blogger actually attempt to pawn off the manipulated text as the original Portuguese when it was not. 

🧭 The Typhoon Argument Fails Geographically

We modeled Pinto’s 23-day drift during a typhoon season, using:

• Historical typhoon tracks 

• Prevailing currents (Kuroshio, Luzon Strait flow) [And we did not forget there was a Typhoon, as the blogger did.]

• Residual drift patterns after Typhoons observed in satellite-era case studies

Let's also not overlook the witchcraft being employed by an agitator who claims Pinto's account should be thrown out, yet, then, still attempts to use it to support his argument that already failed. That is a losing strategy and indefensible. We have never said so, and in fact, have reasserted the account as valid in need of testing and reconciliation citing the very details Catz demonstrating are problematic in Pinto's account. We have also pointed out many times this is not the only detail of the account and all others support the Philippine position, none support Ryukyu. The blogger forgot there was a Typhoon and asserts normal currents at that time of year which would be changed for as much as 3 weeks following a major typhoon. Oops! Again, that is witchcraft, not academic reason. This methodology will be provided to academics who meet with us, not to a fake blogger who admits his end attempt is to commit criminal defamation of our leader and our group.

Result?

A disabled ship near the China coast would be naturally pushed southwest—toward Batanes and Northern Luzon, not Ryukyu.

In fact, the drift duration matches real typhoon-driven cases, including Typhoon Wayne (1986) and historic 1927 events where vessels were displaced for 15–21 days across this same region. {ADD: In that direction?????]

And now for the final landing.

📉 The One-Criterion Trap

This critic has reduced Pinto's richly detailed account to a single metric—his mistaken belief that Japan was "ahead" of him. Even that is questionable, as translation ambiguity remains.

🔥 Bottom Line:

The blogger’s desperate defense of a single flawed reading—while discarding Pinto’s full context and the warnings of his own translator—is not academic integrity. It’s narrative control.

Oh no! Tim has fallen flat on his face by totally dismissing the sighting of Japan as being unreliable. Yet somehow all the rest of the passage is reliable. Pinto didn't actually see Japan from the Lequios Islands. So what did he see? Tim doesn't offer an alternative explanation. He also misinterprets the fact that Pinto deliberately sailed through an archipelago for 23 days before he reached the Lequios Islands and then Japan. He did not drift as if his ships were disabled and being passively carried away by the current due to a typhoon. There is no archipelago between China and the Philippines. Pinto is clearly referring to the Ryukyu Islands chain when he says they made "with full sail for the island of the Ryukyus."

I will award Tim two points for effort. He did put in the time to chart out drift currents from China to the Philippines over a 23 day period. That's a lot of hard work. Unfortunately all that work is meaningless,  irrelevant, and contradicts the text. He should have worked smarter by reading the context of the entire passage including what comes next after sighting Japan, which is that Pinto and his crew immediately arrive in Japan. There are even Japanese titles of nobility in the text. 

We proceeded on our voyage in the battered condition we were in, and three days later we were struck by a storm that blew over the land with such fierce gusts of wind that that same night we were driven out of sight of the shore. And since by then we were unable to approach it again, we were forced to make with full sail for the island of the Ryukyus where this pirate was well known to both the king and the other people there. With this in view we sailed ahead through the islands of this archipelago, but since at this time we were without a pilot, ours having been killed in the recent battle, and the northeast winds were blowing head on, and the currents were running strong against us, we went tacking with great effort from one board to the other for twenty-three days until finally, at the end of that time, our Lord brought us within sight of land. Coming in closer to see if it showed any sign of an inlet or harbor with good anchorage, we noticed a huge fire burning over to the south, almost at a level with the horizon. This led us to believe that it was probably inhabited and that there might be people there who would sell us water, which we were running short of.

As we were anchoring opposite the island in seventy fathoms of water, two small canoes with six men on board came rowing out from shore. They came alongside, and after an exchange of greetings and courtesies in their fashion, they asked us whence the junk had come. Our answer was that we had come from China, bringing merchandise to trade with them, if they would give us leave to do so. One of them replied that as long as we paid the duties that were customarily charged in Japan, which was the name of that big land mass outlined ahead of us, the nautoquim, lord of that island of would readily grant us permission. He followed this up by Tanegashima, telling us everything else that we needed to know and showed us the port where we were supposed to anchor. 

Filled with excitement we immediately hauled in our moorings and, with the ship’s longboat at the bow, moved in to drop anchor in a little bay to the south where a large town called Miaygimá was located, from which many prows came rowing alongside with supplies of fresh food and water which we bought from them.

133

The Inquisitive Prince of Tanegashima

Hardly two hours had elapsed since we anchored in this bay of Miaygimá when the nautoquim, prince of the island of Tanegashima, accompanied by many merchants and noblemen, came out to our junk, laden with a large number of chests full of silver which they brought with them to trade. After the usual courtesies on both sides had been exchanged and he had been given assurance that it was safe to approach, he immediately drew up alongside. The moment he saw us three Portuguese on board he wanted to know what kind of people we were, for he could tell from looking at our faces and beards that we were not Chinese.

Pinto, pgs 274-275

Miaygima and Tanegashima are islands in JAPAN!

12. Tanegashima: Largest of the Osumi Islands, a group just south of Kyushu Island, Japan, part of Kagoshima Prefecture, separated from the southern tip of Kyushu by the Osumi or Van Diemen Strait. It was here, in the year 1542 or 1543, that a group of three Portuguese arrived in Japan on board a Chinese junk. They were the first Europeans to set foot on Japanese soil. That much is known for certain. What is not known for certain is that Pinto was one of that historical group of three, as he claims to be. Unlike his account of China, what he has to say about Japan is fairly accurate, yet some historians refuse to accept his version of the discovery of Japan or to accord him the honor of being among the first group of Europeans to set foot in Japan. The question still hangs fire.

13. Miaygimá: Possibly intended for Miyajima, which Pinto mentions in his letter of 5 December 1554. However, in that letter he correctly situates the island of Miyajima (or Itsukushima) off the southwest coast of Honshu, which is far from Tanegashima. (See Catz, Cartas, 45.) Lagoa (Glossário) identifies it as the island of Make-Jima or Make-Shima, off the coast of Tanegashima, which Father Schurhammer says is impossible. See Schurhammer, “Descobrimento do Japão” 21:565 n. 157.

The text says Pinto got caught in a storm off the coast of China. There is no indication this was "a massive typhoon." Pinto mentions typhoons twice in his journal. 

After a few days of navigating in the Gulf of Cochinchina under the most difficult conditions, we put into a port called Madel; and while we were there, on the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, the eighth of September, feeling quite apprehensive about the new moon—which in that latitude often brings with it a terrible storm the Chinese call “typhoon,” accompanied by rain and high winds too furious for any ship to withstand—when for the past three or four days the skies had been lowering and showing signs of what we had been dreading, and the junks had been hurrying into the nearest haven, it was the will of the Lord that, among the many ships entering this harbor, one of them should belong to a well-known pirate by the name of Hinimilau, a Chinese heathen who had converted to Islam a short time before. 

pg. 92

And just as we came within sight of the mines of Conxinacau, at latitude forty-one and two-thirds, we were struck by a storm coming out of the south—which the Chinese call a typhoon—that closed in on us darkly with winds and rain so fierce, that it seemed like something beyond the bounds of nature. And since our ships were oar propelled, not very large, low-built, weak, and shorthanded, our situation was so precarious that we saw very little hope of being able to save ourselves, so we let ourselves roll coastwards on the waves, taking it for the lesser of two evils to be dashed against the rocks than to drown at sea.

pg. 152

Pinto describes none of the conditions typical of a typhoon regarding this storm nor does he act the way he did when he was previously caught in a typhoon which was to "let ourselves roll coastwards on the waves." On the contrary, he is able to actively and purposefully "make with full sail for the island of the Ryukyus." He was not passively drifting on the current caused by a typhoon. His ships were not disabled as Tim claims. Pinto says they were navigating AGAINST THE CURRENT.

"the currents were running strong against us, we went tacking with great effort" 

He then intentionally sets course for the Lequios Islands and actively sails through that archipelago for 23 days. While anchoring off the coast of the Lequios Islands two canoes approach and ask about the stranger's business to which Pinto says they came to trade. They said that as long as they pay the duties customary to Japan which is the name of the big land mass outlined ahead of them the nautoquim, or lord, of that island would allow it. Then Pinto and his crew immediately arrive in Japan. 

Fernando Pinto seeing Japan from the Lequios Islands isn't ONE METRIC. Neither is it a "single flawed reading" or an ambiguous, questionable translation. Seeing Japan and then IMMEDIATELY arriving in Japan is the context of the passage. The title of the chapter is "THE DISCOVERY OF JAPAN."

The five subsequent chapters are all about Pinto's adventures in Japan. He obviously sailed to the Ryukyu Islands, saw Japan outlined just ahead, and then entered Japan. The Philippines does not factor into this story in the slightest. 

It is ridiculous for Tim to take a portion of Pinto's journal seriously going so far as to chart out drift currents and yet question the reliability of Pinto's clear and unambiguous language about Japan which appears in the very next paragraph. This is olympic-level mental gymnastics worthy of Mary Lou Retton. But instead of displaying his picture on a box of Wheaties, his visage deserves to be on a box of Cocoa Puffs because Timothy Jay Schwab is cuckoo for ignoring the plain words of Fernando Pinto.