Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Hi, My Name is...66

There are a lot of weird ways to die. There are also a lot of stupid reasons to die. Some people get angry over the pettiest things. Some people get into the stupidest accidents. Say hello to each of these unique people. 

Hi, my name is Noli. I was on my home on my motorbike when all of a sudden a carabao appeared in front of me! I rammed right into him. Sadly for me I was not wearing a helmet. I died on the scene. The owner of the carabao is being looked for. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/11/18/rider-killed-after-motorcycle-rams-carabao

A 27-year-old man died after his motorcycle rammed a carabao in Barangay Tangub here on Monday, Nov. 17. 
Police identified the victim as Noli, a resident of Barangay Pahanocoy here. 
Investigation said Noli was on his way home when the animal suddenly crossed the street. 
The victim crashed into the animal and sustained multiple injuries. He was not wearing a helmet, police said. 
Police are locating the owner of the carabao.

Hi, my name is SuSajid Alap-ap Hajula.  My neighbor, Remil Akil Jangas, and I were having a coffee outside my house with a friend. What goes better with coffee than a smoke? So I asked our friend  to buy me a cigarette. He refused.  So I asked Jangas to buy them.  He refused. So, of course I shot him dead. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/11/11/man-shot-dead-for-refusing-to-buy-cigarettes-for-neighbor

A man was shot dead before dawn on Tuesday, Nov. 11, here for allegedly refusing to fulfill a request of a neighbor to buy cigarettes. 
Victim Remil Akil Jangas, 25, was allegedly shot dead by SuSajid Alap-ap Hajula, 40. 
Initial investigation showed that Jangas and a companion, Chulo Amilasan Julbari, were having coffee outside the house of Hajula when Hajula asked Julbari to purchase cigarettes for him. 
Julbari refused as stores were closed at the time. Hajula made the same request to Jangas who also refused for the same reason. 
Hajula got angry and punched and shot Jangas. He ordered Julbari not to call the police. 
The suspect fled and was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead. 
No empty shells were recovered at the crime scene. 
Police are conducting follow-up investigation.

Hi, my name is Arnold Navares. I asked my wife, Mercedita, for some money to buy shabu. She did not decline. Instead she said she had no money. But that really got me angry. I trashed the house. Then I picked up a metal pipe and beat her to death. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/10/11/man-mauls-wife-for-failure-to-give-money-to-buy-shabu

A woman was beaten up by her husband after she refused to give him money to buy shabu.

The incident happened at the couple’s house in Barangay Poblacion Pardo here around 10 a.m on Friday morning, Oct. 10.

The suspect, Arnold Navares, 48, was arrested after the incident.

Police said the man arrived home and asked his 50-year-old wife, Mercedita, that he needs money to buy shabu.

She told Arnold that she does not have money.

Arnold was irked and trashed their house.

He took a metal pipe and struck his wife, knocking her unconscious.

The victim regained consciousness and with the help of neighbors, reported the incident to the police that led to her husband’s arrest.

The suspect sought forgiveness at the Inayawan Police Station and promised that the incident would never happen again.

Police said charges for violating the Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004 will be filed against the suspect.

Hi, my name is Vigil Cuevas. I was digging out a hole into which I could shove a huge boulder so we could have level ground to extend the house. My husband left to get coffee and sugar so it was me all alone in the hole digging at the base of the boulder. My mother-in-law said I should stop digging because the boulder was already loose but I ignored her and kept digging.  All of a sudden the boulder came loose and fell on top of me killing me instantly as my children looked on helplessly. 


https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/537885/boulder-falls-crushes-kills-woman-inside-hole-she-dug-in-negros-oriental

A 34-year-old woman was crushed by an estimated 1 ton boulder that fell on her as she was trying to find a way to let it fall on a hole so that she could have a level ground to extend her family’s house in Sitio Camogao, Barangay Tambulan, Tayasan town in Negros Oriental.

The plan of the victim’s famly was to push the boulder into a hole that she and her family had dug so that they could have more level space for the extension of their house’s terrace.

When the boulder would be inside the hole, they would then fill it with soil thereby, having a level ground that they could use.

After finishing digging the hole in front of the boulder, they would then dig the soil at the base of the boulder so that it would loosen and they could push it into the hole.

But then on that fateful day of November 4, the victim identified by the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, in a report, as Vigil Cuevas, was left alone in the hole and digging at the base of the boulder since her husband Bengie Cuevas went to buy sugar and coffee.

This was according to Barangay Councilor Edwin Callet of Tambulan, in an interview on November 4 with Lawyer Ruphil BaƱoc in his program Straight to the Point at dyHP, that the boulder was estimated to be at least a ton in weight.

Callet also said that earlier the mother-in-law of Vigil told her to stop digging because the boulder was already loosened.

(Her mother-in-law told her to stop digging already, but she told her that she will just finish this.)

So she went into the hole and continued digging near the base of the boulder. 

Callet said that she was the only one there in the hole and her four children, whose ages are seven years old, five years old, three-years-old and her 11-month-old child were staying in an area where they could see their mother in the hole.

Then the boulder suddenly fell into the hole falling on Vigil, hitting her from behind and crushing her.

The seven-year-old child rushed to get help but then it was already too late.

Callet said that it took a lot of people using ropes and wood as lever to to lift the boulder and remove the body of the victim.

According to Police Executive Master Sergeant Charliven Gantalao, spokesman and deputy chief of the Tayasan Police Station, that the victim must have miscalculated in digging inside the hole.

(She miscalculated. Because [with the hole there] she would have dug at the side of the base of the boulder and then the hole at the side of the boulder would be enough. They would just use a piece of wood as a lever to push the boulder into the big hole.

Barangay Councilor Callet said that the body of the victim was still at the funeral parlor [as of evening of November 4] and the wake of the victim would be held at house of husband’s father in Barangay Tambulan.

Hi, my name is Caryl Ann Mistola. I was standing outside the entrance of a church waiting for a friend who had gone inside to light a candle.  All of a sudden a huge piece of concrete decorative sculpture fell from the bell tower and onto my head. The forced knocked me down but thankfully I survived. 


https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/14/college-student-hurt-by-falling-concrete-church-decorative-sculpture

A 20-year-old college student was injured after she was hit by a falling concrete decorative sculpture from the bell tower at Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church in Barangay South, Ormoc City, on Thursday, June 13.

Police identified the victim as Caryl Ann Mistola, a student at the Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) and a resident of Purok 1, Barangay Naungan, Ormoc.

Initial investigation conducted disclosed that the victim was standing at the entrance waiting for her friend who was lighting a candle inside when a concrete decorative sculpture accidentally detached from the bell tower and fell from the ceiling of the hall entrance.

The falling debris from the ceiling and the concrete decorative reportedly hit the head of the victim.

Mistola sustained injuries on her head and was taken to a local hospital.

The church assured that they will shoulder the medical expenses of the victim who needs surgery.

Hi, my name has not been reported but I am a 20-year-old man. The garbage truck came by and I tried to toss in my trash but the garbage men said to put my sack on the ground and back up.  Well, I put the sack on the ground and waited for my empty sack. One of the guys tossed the trash into the truck and accidentally struck the tailgate support bar, causing it to fall and hit the me on the head. I died instantly.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/09/25/man-throwing-trash-dies-after-being-hit-by-garbage-truck

A 20-year-old man died after being accidentally hit on the head by a garbage truck's support bar while throwing trash in Tanay, Rizal, on Tuesday morning, Sept. 23.

According to the Tanay Municipal Police Station (Tanay MPS), the victim, identified as Jeffsy, went to the oval of Southville 10 in Barangay Plaza Aldea at around 9:37 a.m. to dispose of his garbage while the garbage truck was parked there for collection.

Upon arrival, the four garbage collectors instructed him to place the sacks on the ground and not to approach the truck for safety purposes.

At that moment, the victim waited for his empty sack while standing behind the garbage truck, seemingly unaware of the potential risk.

When one of the collectors threw garbage into the truck, it reportedly struck the tailgate support bar, causing it to fall and hit the victim on the head. This resulted in the victim's immediate death.

Authorities said the four garbage collectors are now in police custody and are facing investigation for negligence resulting in homicide.

Hi, my name is Novo Tadulma. I was out on a drinking spree with my friends Mario Mansigin and Gaspar Felipe. I asked them for more money to buy another bottle but they refused. So I stabbed them both to death. 


https://mb.com.ph/2025/06/24/2-vendors-stabbed-dead-over-refusal-to-share-money-to-buy-liquor

A drinking session in Pili town in Camarines Sur province turned deadly when a vendor allegedly stabbed fellow vendors to death over their refusal to share money to buy liquor on Monday night, June 21.

Police Lt. Col. Malu Calubaquib, Police Regional Office-5 spokesperson, identified the victims as Mario Mansigin and Gaspar Felipe.

Initial investigation said the victims and suspect, Novo Tadulma, were having a drinking session when Tadulma asked the victims for money to buy another bottle of liquor.

The victims got angry and a heated argument erupted. The suspect got a knife and stabbed the victims.

The victims were taken to a hospital where they were declared dead.

Tadulma was arrested by responding policemen and now under the custody of the Pili Municipal Police Station (MPS).

Hi, my name is Mar. My neighbor Mel built a fence on his land which I didn't like at all. One day I wandered over there a bit drunk and got into an argument about it with him. In the heat of the argument I stabbed him in the gut with my bolo. He died instantly. 


https://mb.com.ph/2025/4/7/man-stabbed-dead-during-argument-over-fence

A 43-year-old jobless man was allegedly stabbed to death by his neighbor over a fence in Sitio Kanto Bulaklak, Barangay San Jose, this town, on Sunday afternoon, April 6.

Police identified the victim as Mel.

Investigation said the suspect, Mar, 57, and a carpenter, confronted the victim drunk regarding the fence of their land.

A heated argument erupted and Mar stabbed Mel with a bolo in the abdomen.

The victim was taken to a clinic in Tiaong, Quezon where he was declared dead.

The suspect who faces a homicide case fled after the incident and the subject of a manhunt operation.

Hi, my name is Arman. Someone had been dumping trash in our neighborhood. Suspecting my relative Edgar I confronted him. We got into a fistfight but then I pulled out my gun and shot him.  Edgar tried to run away but I kept shooting him until he was dead. 


https://mb.com.ph/2025/4/7/man-killed-by-relative-over-garbage-dispute

A 24-year-old man was shot and killed by his relative over garbage dumped in a right-of-way in Purok Narra, Barangay Lopez Jaena, Murcia, Negros Occidental on Sunday, April 6.

Police Capt. Honey Labaro, deputy chief of the Murcia Municipal Police Station, said the victim Edgar was returning home with his family when the 47-year-old suspect Arman confronted him about trash dumped in the area.

A fistfight ensued where Arman drew a gun and shot Edgar. Edgar was wounded and tried to flee but Arman continued to shoot the victim until he collapsed and died from multiple bullet wounds.

The suspect fled but he was apprehended by police near a school building. Recovered from him was a .45 caliber pistol.

During the chase, a commotion broke out between the two families where three people were injured, including the victim’s brother, who sustained head injuries and was hospitalized.

Police recovered a knife, a bolo, a magazine with ammunition, and spent shells from the crime scene.

A follow-up investigation is ongoing.

Hi, my name is Julito Bacus Gerada Jr. I am a mason. I was working on the 8th floor of a building when an iron pipe fell from the 22nd floor and onto my head. I died instantly. 


https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/641473/falling-pipe-kills-26-year-old-mason-in-cebu-city

A 26-year-old construction worker died Tuesday, June 10, after he was struck on the head by a falling galvanized iron (GI) pipe while working at a high-rise building project in Barangay Zapatera here, authorities said.

The victim, identified as Julito Bacus Gerada Jr., a mason from Barangay Biga, Toledo City, was working on a gondola at the eighth floor of an ongoing mixed-use project when the tragedy occurred around 11 a.m., according to initial reports from the police.

Gerada sustained severe head injuries. He was immediately rushed to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

The GI pipe reportedly fell from the 22nd floor of the building before hitting him.

Marvin Gentapa, the project’s safety officer, reported the incident to the police around 5:30 p.m. the same day.

Authorities are conducting further investigations to determine whether proper safety protocols were observed at the site and whether there was negligence involved.

Tuesday’s accident adds to the list of workplace-related deaths in Central Visayas, where construction sites have consistently ranked among the most hazardous workplaces.

In an earlier report, the Department of Labor and Employment in Region 7 (DOLE-7) said the construction industry accounts for the highest number of workplace accidents in Central Visayas, many involving falls, falling objects, electrocution, and collapsed scaffolding.

Regulators have also urged construction firms to adhere more strictly to occupational health and safety guidelines, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), regular safety audits, and worker training programs.

In the meantime, authorities have yet to announce if charges will be filed or if the construction project will be temporarily halted pending investigation.

As of Tuesday evening, the body of the victim remains at VSMMC, while his family has been notified of the tragedy.

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Insurgency: Spearhead On Track To Eliminate CTGs

Another town has ben declared insurgency-free. This time in southern Bukidnon.  

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2157156/bukidnon-town-declared-insurgency-free

After decades of being beset by the communist insurgency, this town in southern Bukidnon was declared insurgency-free on Friday, joining nine other localities in the province with the same status.

The declaration was made during a ceremony at the municipal grounds led by Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III, with officials from the Army’s 1003rd Brigade, the Bukidnon Police Provincial Office, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Lorenzo said the declaration was anchored on a resolution passed by the municipal peace and order council.

He recalled the decades-long toll of the insurgency in the town, which reached its height in the 1990s. 

The mayor said that the declaration was not intended to erase history, but to honor the sacrifices of residents and security forces, and to secure a peaceful future for the next generation.

A Manobo-Matigsalug tribal leader shared that his father, a former communist rebel who surrendered in 2019, helped establish the vigilante group Alsa Masa that opposed NPA activities.

He thanked the authorities for their support and urged fellow indigenous peoples to prioritize educating their children for a better future.

Brig. Gen. Christopher M. Diaz, commander of the Army’s 1003rd Brigade, said peace in Quezon was once only an aspiration during his early years of service in Mindanao. 

He noted that the current stability was the result of years of sacrifice by soldiers and police, stressing that peace is a shared responsibility and that development should now be prioritized.

Diaz credited the support of the local government as crucial to the achievement and assured residents of the Army’s continued vigilance.

Col. Oliver S. Navales, Bukidnon police director,  described the declaration as a collective victory rooted in unity and cooperation. 

He said being insurgency-free goes beyond the absence of armed conflict, reflecting trust and collaboration between communities and government. 

Navales added that sustained peace would open opportunities for education, investment, and economic growth, and thanked former rebels who chose to surrender and support lasting peace.

The ceremony also featured the signing of a persona non grata declaration against the communist movement and the release of white doves, symbolizing a milestone in the town’s history.

Quezon now joins the other insurgency-free areas in Bukidnon, namely, the towns of San Fernando, Kadingilan, Damulog, Dangcagan, Kibawe, Don Carlos, Maramag, Kitaotao, and Valencia City.

Col. Oliver S. Navales, Bukidnon police director says that this declaration will open opportunites for development in many areas. That includes the NTF-ELCAC's barangay development program which they claim is not a reward for insurgency cleared areas. 

The Philippine Army's 3rd Infantry Division which covers the Western Visayas, Negros Island Region and the Central Visayas claims they are on track to eliminate the NPA by the end of the year. 


https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1265820

The Philippine Army's 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), also known as the Spearhead Division, is on track in its campaign to eliminate the local communist terrorist group (CTG) by the end of this year.

Accomplishments

Capt. Jessie Jun Ebalan, chief of the 3rd Division Public Affairs Office, said they have significant accomplishments when it comes to guerrilla units and reduction in manpower and firearms.

"We are on track; I could say that the 3rd Infantry Division is on track. We are winning our campaign in Western Visayas, Negros Island Region and Central Visayas. There is a significant decrease in the firepower and manpower of the NPA (New People's Army)," he said.

In June this year, through the National Joint Peace Security Coordinating Council, the vertical unit of Kilusang Rehiyon (KR) Panay, which is the Regional Sentro De Gravidad (RSDG) Madi-as, was declared as dismantled.

"A vertical unit is the regional striking force of KR-Panay. This is a big accomplishment since we have declared this as dismantled as of June 18 this year," he said.

This accomplishment won for the 3ID and its 301st Infantry Brigade the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Campaign Streamer Award, awarded during the 90th founding celebration at Camp Aguinaldo by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Other guerrilla fronts have been declared dismantled in previous years.

This year, they also neutralized 15 CTG members in Panay, to include the four who died in an encounter, one apprehended and the 10 who surrendered.

In Negros Island Region (NIR), there were 14 fatalities and 23 who surrendered.

Further, 82 firearms were seized, captured and surrendered. Of these, 47 were from Panay and 35 from the NIR.

Aid for rebels

Ebalan added that 17 former rebels received assistance under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).

Under ECLIP, a rebel upon surrender receives PHP65,000 in assistance; PHP15,000 for immediate assistance and PHP50,000 livelihood aid.

There is a separate firearms remuneration, depending on the number and the serviceability.

Meanwhile, the 3ID also extended support to the Philippine National Police in serving the warrant against Roberto Caballes, the second deputy secretary of KR-Panay, resulting in his death.

An encounter in Negros Occidental led to the neutralization of four CTG members.

They also apprehended Gaspar Matullano, former KR-Panay secretary with a PHP2.5 million bounty and multiple standing warrants of arrest in Iloilo City.

The surrender of a wounded CTG member in an encounter in Tapaz, Capiz, to the 301st Infantry Brigade was also among their latest accomplishments.

The 3ID has jurisdiction over Western Visayas, Negros Island Region and Central Visayas.

"Hopefully, the division can reach the target that has been set by higher headquarters," he said.

It is interesting that while they cite accomplishments they don't cite any real numbers. How many rebels are left in the region? 

December 26th is the 57th anniversary of the founding of the CPP. The NTF-ELCAC says there is nothing to celebrate. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1265854

The Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) is hard pressed to find "existential relevance" as it has failed to deliver on its promises to its followers, the government's anti-insurgency task force said Friday.

“The honest answer is clear. Fifty-seven years on, what remains of the CPP’s social experiment is not a mass movement, but a sunken organization that vainly clings to an outdated ideology, sustained by deception, coercion, and the continued sacrifice of lives that no longer believe in its cause,” NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a statement, as the CPP-NPA marked its 57th anniversary.

Torre said the CPP anniversary is not an occasion for celebration but a moment of sober reflection for its members.

“After more than half a century of armed struggle, even as it currently claims to rectify and recover, the CPP is plagued with a question of existential relevance. Has this ‘revolution’ truly delivered to the people it claims to serve?” Torres asked.

“The CPP would have the country believe that this is because of fear or coercion. It is desperate to hide the fact that these communities are already seeing tangible improvements in the people’s lives. They see roads being built, livelihoods restored, and basic services that finally reach areas long neglected,” he added.

Peace and development, not armed violence, have proven to be the real instruments of change, Torres said.

“Militarily and politically, the NPA is now fragmented and depleted. Its remaining units are isolated, undersupplied, and increasingly reduced to acts of extortion, intimidation, and punitive violence against civilians,” he said.

Torres noted that the “loud rhetoric of resurgence through rectification and recovery” being claimed by the insurgents cannot hide the fact that the NPA has ceased to become an organized armed group but has turned into a band of isolated bandits in survival mode.

“Unable to rebuild support in the countryside through the NPA, the CPP has turned its political focus toward one remaining lifeline: Its urban-based operations. Universities, urban poor communities and other vulnerable groups have become prime targets for ideological grooming,” he added.

Under this method, Torres claimed that the youth are bombarded with romantic narratives of struggle, even as CPP organizers deliberately hide from would-be recruits grim realities of hunger, fear, disillusion and death in the mountains.

“Even in tragic deaths, the family’s mourning is weaponized and monetized, while recruitment quietly continues. This is not genuine activism. This is pure exploitation,” he added.

Alongside these, Torres said the CPP is merely relying on its legal democratic organizations, the wolves in sheeps’ clothing, to maintain relevance, weaponize narratives, and squeeze out financing opportunities to sustain its operations.

“The Filipino people have seen and embraced the government’s evolving but steady approach to ending local communist armed conflict that is no longer driven by force alone. Through a whole-of-nation framework and flagship initiatives like the Barangay Development Program, we continue to focus on governance reforms, social services, infrastructure, reintegration, and amnesty for those who genuinely choose peace,” Torres noted.

He added that the National Action for Unity, Peace and Development continues these initiatives now and beyond.

Torres said these efforts will continue to evolve and these will deliver real results that decades of armed struggle never did.

“After 57 years of bloodshed, displacement and broken promises, how many more lives must be spent to keep the CPP’s failed ideology alive? How many more young Filipinos must be persuaded to die for a revolution that no longer has a future?” he said.

Torres urged all remaining NPA fighters to surrender while the door to peace remained open.

He said this is a very viable option as a lot of former NPA rebels already chose the path that allowed them to reunite with their families and communities.

While noting that reintegration is not perfect, Torres said it is far more humane and fruitful than a life spent in constant flight and fear.

“The task force extends the same call to the remaining cadres and organizers of the CPP’s white area and urban operations. The path of violence must be abandoned and we must, together, pursue non-violent and democratic means to address our nation’s problems,” he said.

Torres said the ideology of armed violence has become impractical, socially costly, and exacted a toll that the Filipino people can no longer afford.

“Join the growing number of peace advocates who continue to work for change constructively, lawfully, and with respect for life,” the NTF-ELCAC official urged the remaining communist rebels.

There are two take aways here. The first is that the CPP is still very much active in its legal fronts and through humanitarian groups according to the NTF-ELCAC. The second is that communities are now seeing "roads being built, livelihoods restored, and basic services that finally reach areas long neglected." And why is that? Because areas declared insurgency-free have been rewarded with basic government services through the Barangay Development Program. 

The NPA has declared a holiday truce but the AFP has decided to ignore it. Just before the unilateral truce was set to begin 2 soldiers were killed by NPA landmines. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2157409/npa-landmines-reportedly-kill-2-soldiers-ahead-of-unilateral-truce

Explosive devices installed by the New People’s Army (NPA) killed two soldiers in Camarines Sur days ahead of the ceasefire declaration of the Maoist rebels.

This incident occurred at Balatan town’s Cabungan village on Friday, Dec. 19, according to Maj. Frank Roldan, spokesperson of the AFP 9th Infantry Division.

“Armed rebels treacherously bombed the troops of the 9th Infantry Battalion using anti-personnel mines,” Roldan said in a statement on Saturday.

No further details were disclosed, and the soldiers remain unidentified.

Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete condemned the incident.

“We will not stop until we achieve justice and restore the peace they died to protect,” Nafarrete said in a statement.

Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) spokesperson Marco Valbuena said the local NPA command in the area confirmed that the incident took place.

“Troops of the 9th IB were conducting offensive combat operations, and were prepared to mount an attack against the NPA fighters in the area,” Valbuena said in a statement on Sunday. “The NPA unit was alerted of the plans of the 9th IB and promptly carried out active defense operations.”

Valbuena noted that NPA members withdrew from the site immediately.

After the incident, acting Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Sunday ordered police commanders in Camarines Sur to intensify security and augment soldiers in the conduct of operations against the NPA.

Nartatez also said police are now on alert as they conduct investigation and prepare appropriate charges against those involved.

“I have directed hot pursuit operations against the rebels behind this landmine blast,” Nartatez said in a statement.

The December 19 incident occurred days before the first leg of CPP’s four-day unilateral ceasefire starting Dec. 25, prompting some 780 NPA fighters to suspend offensives. 

Aside from commemorating the holidays, the CPP said this year’s ceasefire is also to mark its 57th anniversary on December 26, 1968.

CPP’s armed wing, NPA, was later established on March 29, 1969, waging the world’s longest Maoist insurgency to date.

In the same province 2 NPA leaders were killed in a clash with the AFP.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/12/24/3-npa-leaders-2-members-killed-in-camarines-sur-clash

Three leaders and two members of the New People's Army (NPA) were killed in a clash with government troops in Camarines Sur province on Tuesday. 
Major Frank Roldan, 9th Infantry Division spokesperson, said troops from the 83rd Infantry Battalion and the Philippine National Police encountered the group in a mountainous area in Barangay Burabod, Lagonoy. 
Roldan said the casualties were Bal, head of the Regional Urban Committee of the Bicol Regional Party Committee; Paeng, head of Platoon 1, Komiteng Larangang Guerilla Sub-Regional Committee; and Ter or Dado, head of KLG2, SRC2, and their members Cris and Pepe. 
Recovered from the encounter site were an M16 rifle, a caliber .45 pistol, three anti-personnel mines, a laptop, and personal belongings. 
The gun battle followed intensified pursuit operations by troops after the discovery of four M16 rifles in Barangay Pinamihagan, Lagonoy on Dec. 20. 
Roldan said the communist rebels are attempting to return to areas they previously controlled to garner support but some residents reported them to authorities. 
Major Gen. Aldwine Almase, 9th ID commander, thanked the community for its cooperation in maintaining peace and security. Almase urged remaining NPA members to surrender.

That's two more leaders from the leaderless NPA who have been killed. 

The Army is calling on all remaining rebels in Northern Samar to surrender after a recent deadly clash. 


https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1265764

The Philippine Army on Wednesday urged remaining New People’s Army rebels in Northern Samar to surrender following a clash that killed two insurgents last week.

Brig. Gen. Carmelito Pangatungan, commander of the 803rd Infantry Brigade, conveyed his sympathies to the families of the two rebels killed in upland Bulao village, Las Navas town, on Dec. 19.

“The tragic incident serves as a solemn reminder of the human cost of armed conflict, while we express hope that peace, dialogue, and reconciliation may ultimately prevail,” Pangatungan said in a statement.

“We urge the remaining communist terrorist group remnants, particularly the sub-regional committee Arctic, to lay down their arms and take the path of peace and reintegration while the opportunity remains,” he added.

The two fighters died in a firefight after attacking patrolling soldiers from the 20th Infantry Battalion. Troops recovered three M16 rifles.

The military heightened operations after residents reported armed men threatening farmers and extorting supplies in the area. 

They probably won't but maybe they will once they see the basic government programs set for 2026.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1265642

More projects designed to end insurgency will be implemented in Northern Samar province in 2026 under the Support to the Barangay Development Program (SBDP).

Citing reports from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Northern Samar provincial government on Monday said the SBDP has expanded with new recipient communities in 2026 and those part of the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) for the year 2025-2026.

Listed as new SBDP beneficiaries are Barangays Macagtas, Washington, Somoge and Libjo in Catarman town; Barangays Del Pilar and Quezon in Las Navas; Barangay Alejandro in Allen; Barangay Sumuroy in Bobon; Barangays Magtuas and Sulitan in Catubig; Barangays Sibunot and Yabyaban in Laoang; Barangay Bayho of Lope de Vega; Barangays Mirador and Talolora in Mondragon; and Barangays Guindauhan and Kailingan in Rosario town.

"DILG's programs and projects stand as powerful testaments of both the provincial and national government's continuing commitment to uplifting the current conditions of the province, particularly for the communities in need," the Northern Samar provincial government said in a statement.

In 2024, 161 projects were completed under the SBDP in the province, while for the year 2025, two projects were completed, two new projects in Gamay and Mapanas are ongoing, and three projects are still under procurement, according to the DILG Northern Samar field office.

SBDP-funded projects include rural roads, health stations, water systems and schools for conflict-cleared and far-flung communities, addressing the needs of the identified communities to alleviate poverty, sustain peace, and foster development.

The SBDP, a flagship initiative of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, seeks to close development gaps in remote and vulnerable areas by delivering essential infrastructure, improving access to basic services, and addressing the root causes of insurgency.

"Delivering essential infrastructure, improving access to basic services, and addressing the root causes of insurgency." Again, that is basic government services as a counter-insurgency program. 

Monday, December 29, 2025

No More Hell Run By Filipinos 18: Lack of Law Enforcement

Lapu-Lapu City is now going to regulate videoke and karaoke sessions in the city. Sounds good right? Wrong.  The laws have been on the book for a long time. Why are is they mayor deciding to enforce them now? 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/676749/mayor-cindi-videoke-karaoke-no-longer-allowed-after-10-p-
-in-lapu-lapu

Videoke and karaoke sessions are now regulated in Lapu-Lapu City.

Mayor Cindi King-Chan announced on Sunday, December 7, that her administration will strictly enforce existing regulations on videoke and karaoke.

“Videoke singing is allowed only until 10 p.m. in our city so that neighbor are not disturbed. Call 911 to report those who do not follow the ordinance,” King-Chan said in an advisory that was posted on her social media page on Sunday, December 7.

The mayor used as basis for her order a resolution passed in November 2025 that called for the strict enforcement of four City Ordinances, one of which is Ordinance No. 117-2002. 

The ordinance regulates the commercial use and operation of karaoke, videoke, sing-along, minus one, music box and other similar machines.

The same resolution, authored by Councilor Joseph Pangatungan, also called for the imposition of “strict time limits on the use of karaoke machines and outdoor discos to preserve peace and order, protect public health, and maintain the city’s image as a premier tourism destination.”

“No one is exempted from this, regardless of singing ability,” King-Chan said.

Her post caught the attention of many. It garnered over 3, 000 reactions and over 700 comments in just two hours from the time of posting.

In the comments section of her post, many asked if the restrictions would apply during the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations when parties are normally held.

Some netizens also requested for the deployment of barangay tanods for night roving to ensure that the city’s policy is implemented.

A netizen asked for the implementation of a curfew in Lapu-Lapu City while another asked for the regulation of the operation of internet cafes which are visited at night by minors who want to play.

Can you imagine that in November of 2025 the city passes a resolution to STRICTLY ENFORCE four city ordinances? They all should be enforced all the time!!! It's not this ordinance has never been enforced. A decade ago in 2014, 16 karaoke joints were shut down for violating this ordinance and for not having business permits. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/23343/noisy-karaoke-joints-closed

Sixteen karaoke bars in Lapu-Lapu City were shut down for operating without business permits and for violating the city’s anti-noise ordinance.

Nine establishments got the closure order Friday night while seven received the order last week.

Antonio Utrera,  task force head of the City’s Advocacy for Responsible Enterprise (CARE), served the closure orders which were reviewed by Mayor Paz Radaza.

The task force which  inspected the establishments under the new bridge in barangay Pusok  found them violating Ordinance No. 117-2002 which regulates the  commercial use and operation of “karaoke, videoke, sing-along, minus one, music box, other similar machines or contraptions.”

The bars had been warned several times before to comply with the ordinance especially the  provision which states that the volume of  noise be reduced by 10 p.m.

Some of the bars had business permits but these were revoked since the permit states that it can be revoked “any time for violations of any laws, rules and regulations  without any need for further written order from the city.”

The 16 bars were ordered closed effective immediately.

Miraflor Alegado, owner of Myra’s Videoke under the new bridge, was upset. She said she was not warned and she met Utrera only once.

She said she would complain against what she said was an unfair closure order.  The three-room establishment was full of customers when the closure order was served by the task force assisted by police and barangay tanods.

Utrera denied that the task force  only showed up once.

“We kept coming here to remind them to comply with the city ordinance because of complaints we received but they just laughed at us,” Utrera said.

Of the the nine videoke bars under the bridge, one had no business permit. Of the seven videoke bars along Maximo Patalinghug Avenue that were closed, four had no permits.

The Task Force CARE also monitors Internet cafƩs, billiard halls and dart halls that accommodate students during class hours.

Look at that! The head of the task force for enforcing these laws said when they reminded these business to comply with the ordinances they were LAUGHED AT!! What a revelation. Not only do business owners not care about complying with the laws but those tasked with enforcing the law are seen a joke with no authority. 

I can't find the exact ordinance but it appears it was enacted in 2002 given its number, 117-2002. The fact is laws need to be enforced as soon as they are enacted. This does not happen in the Philippines because oftentimes business owners do not care and those in charge look the other way. The lack of law enforcement is another reason Filipino politicians must be eliminated as the people must shout No More Hell Run By Filipinos!

Sunday, December 28, 2025

The God Culture: ChatGPT Analyzes TGC's Claim Tagalog Is Derived From Hebrew

In his books and videos Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture claims that Tagalog is etymologically rooted in Hebrew. He cites Padre Chirino, a Jesuit historian, and Stephen Levinsohn, a linguist as proof of his claim.

Lost Isles of Gold LIVE Series - Part 12: Hebrew in the Philippines?

6:43 Understand that, um, when, uh, Padre Chirino was writing about the Philippines, he said by the way that every Filipino he encountered could read and write. 100% literacy. 100%. So, this has been a mlanguage has the mystery and obscurities of the Hebrew language. What? Where did that come from? I'll tell you where it came from because we've now studied this out. We agree with him there are the mysteries and obscurities of the Hebrew language here. There are direct Hebrew words and it is indisputable at least for some. 
There was a, uh, a Jewish dude that came here named Steven Levinsohn, uh, conducting a linguist basically, uh, training and at the end of the workshop, this is the quote from that: "one mother tongue translator remarked that had he known of the parallels between Philippine languages and Biblical Hebrew he would have found the learning of the latter much easier. His remark led me to raise the matter with a couple of Seminary professors who teach Hebrew in Manila." See, they're saying even in modern times that even modern Tagalog has elements of Hebrew within and that if you understood that before you were teaching Hebrew to a Tagalog speaking person that they would understand Hebrew better because they would realize that the synergy between Hebrew and Tagalog is very similar. Very similar. There's a lot and there's a lot of words that you share even, even in definition.

I have previously critiqued this claim noting that it is a grave distortion of the sources Tim uses. Tim believes my critique is defamatory and libelous. So, why not ask ChatGPT about the matter?

I uploaded Stephen Levinsohn's PDF and what Chirino says about Tagalog and Hebrew then asked for an analysis. Then I uploaded Tim's claim and asked for a comparative analysis. Since Tim mentions a 100% literacy rate I also had to upload information about that. The conclusion is as follows:

The video misuses both sources to promote a fringe theory lacking linguistic rigor, historical support, or internal consistency.

The Lost Isles of Gold video exaggerates, misinterprets, and blurs categories—rhetorical praise becomes statistical fact, typological similarity becomes descent, admiration becomes conspiracy. 

The chat is posted below and can be read here.

analyze that PDF and the following from Jesuit Padre Chirino: There is no single or general language of the Filipinas extending throughout the islands; but all of them, though there are many and different tongues, are so much alike that they may be learned and spoken in a short time. Consequently if one is learned, all are almost known. They are to each other like the Tuscan, Lombard, and Sicilian dialects of Italia, or the Castilian, Portuguese, and Galician in Espafia. Only the language of the Negrillos is very different from the rest, as, in Espafia, is the Vizcayan [i.e., Basque]. There is not a different language for each of the islands, because some of them - as, for example, Manila, and even Panai, which is more than four hundred leguas smaller - contain several languages; and there are languages each of which prevails in several islands. In the island of Manila alone, there are six different tongues; in Panai, two; in some others, but one. The languages most used, and most widely spread, are the Tagal and the Bisayan; and in some regions of the Pintados another tongue is also prevalent, called Harayan. The Tagal embraces the greater part of the coast and interior of the islands of Manila, Mindoro, Luban, and some others. Bisaya is in use through all the islands of the Pintados, although in some of the villages therein the Harayan is spoken. Of all these languages, it was the Tagal which most pleased me and which I most admired. As I told the first bishop, and, afterwards, other persons of dignity in the islands and in Europe, I found in this language four qualities of the four greatest languages of the world, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Spanish: it has the abstruseness and obscurity of the Hebrew; the articles and distinctions in proper as well as in common nouns, of the Greek; the fulness and elegance of the Latin; and the refinement, polish, and courtesy of the Spanish. Examples of all these characteristics may be seen in the " Ave Maria" done into Tagal; and, as that is a short prayer, and more easily understood than the others, I will place it here with its explanation in our vernacular, and with word-forword equivalents. In this way may be seen the idioms and characteristic expressions of this language which will please some readers, and furnish information, both useful and curious.
ChatGPT said:

Both Padre Chirino’s remarks and Stephen Levinsohn’s linguistic analysis converge on a fascinating point: the structural similarities between Philippine languages and Biblical Hebrew, particularly in syntax and verbal system, offer a powerful insight for translation and language education. Let’s analyze this interaction in three layers—linguistic typology, cultural-linguistic reflection, and practical implications:


1. Linguistic Typology: Structural Parallels

Padre Chirino’s 1604 observation draws a parallel between Philippine languages and Romance dialects, noting their mutual intelligibility and shared features. He distinguishes between the general linguistic continuum of the lowland Filipinos and the significantly different language of the Negrillos (Aeta). His metaphor comparing Tagalog and Visayan to Tuscan and Sicilian implies that the differences among Philippine languages are dialectal rather than fundamental.

This harmonizes with Levinsohn’s modern linguistic view:

  • Philippine languages and Biblical Hebrew are VS/VO, aspect-prominent, and pro-drop languages.

    • VS (Verb-Subject) order is common in narratives.

    • Aspect, not tense, governs the verb system.

    • Subject pronouns are often omitted when verb morphology suffices.

These shared features suggest that Filipino translators can intuitively grasp Hebrew syntax far better than English speakers can. For example, a Filipino would naturally understand Hebrew’s verb-subject order and aspectual focus without needing to "translate" it into English grammar logic.


2. Cultural-Linguistic Reflection: The Prestige of Tagalog

Chirino praises Tagalog for possessing the:

  • Mystery of Hebrew

  • Precision of Greek

  • Elegance of Latin

  • Refinement of Spanish

Though hyperbolic in tone, this reflects genuine linguistic richness—agglutinative morphology, flexible word order, particles for focus and topic, and politeness levels. Tagalog’s capacity for nuance and refinement may have reminded Jesuit missionaries of classical languages used in theology and diplomacy.

Levinsohn, from a linguist’s perspective, supports this by showing how Filipino languages mark focus, topic, and verb aspect—all key elements in understanding Biblical Hebrew.


3. Practical Implications: Biblical Hebrew Teaching

Levinsohn criticizes the seminary approach in the Philippines for relying on European Hebrew grammars like Weingreen's, which assume English or German grammar as the baseline. This approach burdens Filipino students with grammatical frameworks foreign to their native linguistic intuition.

Instead, he recommends:

  • Teaching Hebrew from a comparative perspective that highlights similarities to local languages.

  • Avoiding tense-based categories in favor of aspectual analysis.

  • Acknowledging pro-drop patterns familiar to Filipino students.

Padre Chirino, without the benefit of modern linguistics, already grasped that learning Tagalog (or Visayan) enabled broader communication across the archipelago. Levinsohn’s work shows that this linguistic adaptability is mirrored in Biblical Hebrew, making Filipino MTTs uniquely positioned to master it if taught contextually.


Summary Comparison

FeaturePadre Chirino (1604)Stephen Levinsohn (2010)
View of Philippine tonguesDialectal continuum; mutually intelligibleShared linguistic typology: VS/VO, aspect, pro-drop
Prestige of TagalogComparable to Hebrew, Greek, Latin, SpanishStructurally similar to Hebrew in syntax and aspect
Implication for teachingAdmiration and linguistic depthContextual Hebrew instruction tailored to Filipinos

Would you like a write-up formatted for publication or blog, integrating these insights?

You said:
now analyze and compare the following to your analysis of Levinsohn and Chirino: Lost Isles of Gold LIVE Series - Part 12: Hebrew in the Philippines? 6:43 Understand that, um, when, uh, Padre Chirino was writing about the Philippines, he said by the way that every Filipino he encountered could read and write. 100% literacy. 100%. So, this has been a mislabeled, misconstrued nation all along by the Jesuits. But Padre Chino said it, the Taglog language has the mystery and obscurities of the Hebrew language. What? Where did that come from? I'll tell you where it came from because we've now studied this out. We agree with him there are the mysteries and obscurities of the Hebrew language here. There are direct Hebrew words and it is indisputable at least for some. There was a, uh, a Jewish dude that came here named Steven Levinsohn, uh, conducting a linguist basically, uh, training and at the end of the workshop, this is the quote from that: "one mother tongue translator remarked that had he known of the parallels between Philippine languages and Biblical Hebrew he would have found the learning of the latter much easier. His remark led me to raise the matter with a couple of Seminary professors who teach Hebrew in Manila." See, they're saying even in modern times that even modern Tagalog has elements of Hebrew within and that if you understood that before you were teaching Hebrew to a Tagalog speaking person that they would understand Hebrew better because they would realize that the synergy between Hebrew and Tagalog is very similar. Very similar. There's a lot and there's a lot of words that you share even, even in definition.
ChatGPT said:

The quote from the Lost Isles of Gold LIVE Series - Part 12: Hebrew in the Philippines? reflects a common pattern in pseudo-historical and pseudo-linguistic discourse: taking legitimate scholarly observations and stretching them into unwarranted conclusions. Let's break this down and compare it critically to both Stephen Levinsohn’s analysis and Padre Chirino’s historical account.


⚖️ Comparison and Analysis

šŸ”¹ 1. Levinsohn's Linguistic Approach vs. "Lost Isles" Claims

AspectLevinsohnLost Isles of Gold (Timothy Schwab / The God Culture)
FocusLinguistic typology: syntax, verb aspect, pronoun usageAlleged Hebrew origin or influence in Tagalog
MethodologyComparative linguistics with concrete grammatical analysisSpeculative interpretation of historical and linguistic data
ConclusionSimilarities in structure help teach Hebrew more effectively to FilipinosSimilarities "prove" Tagalog has Hebrew origin or is derived from Hebrew

Analysis:

  • Levinsohn never claims Hebrew influenced or is ancestral to Tagalog. He simply notes shared typological features, common among many unrelated languages.

  • The Lost Isles series conflates structural similarity with direct etymological descent or identity, which is a logical fallacy. Many unrelated languages can share features due to typological convergence, not shared origin.


šŸ”¹ 2. Chirino’s Praise of Tagalog vs. Misuse in the Video

AspectChirino (1604)Lost Isles Misuse
Literacy ClaimDoes not claim 100% literacyMisrepresents Chirino as saying every Filipino could read/write
Praise for TagalogNotes its richness and likens it to Hebrew, Greek, Latin, SpanishClaims this means Tagalog contains Hebrew or is derived from it
ContextHistorical admiration for the language’s elegance and expressive depthUsed to promote a fringe theory of Hebrew presence in precolonial Philippines

Analysis:

  • Chirino compares Tagalog's grammatical features and expressiveness to classical languages metaphorically, not genetically.

  • He does not suggest Tagalog is Hebrew or that it descended from it. He also does not claim 100% literacy—this is fabricated.


šŸ”¹ 3. Levinsohn Quoted in the Video: Accurate or Misleading?

The quote about a Filipino translator finding Hebrew easier if its similarities to local languages were emphasized is accurate—but its interpretation is not.

✅ Accurate: Levinsohn reports that a Filipino MTT said Hebrew would have been easier to learn had he been taught about linguistic parallels earlier.

❌ Misleading interpretation: The video spins this to claim that modern Tagalog has Hebrew elementswithin it—suggesting lexical or genetic relationship, which Levinsohn never claims.

Levinsohn’s point is that teaching should be contextualized linguistically, not that Tagalog is derived from Hebrew.


🧠 Summary: Linguistic Typology ≠ Language Descent

FeatureLegitimate (Levinsohn & Chirino)Misuse (Lost Isles Series)
Structural similaritiesYes: VS/VO word order, aspect-prominence, pro-dropExaggerated into ancestral or borrowed relationship
Hebrew in the PhilippinesNo evidence of presence or influenceAssumed based on structural/lexical coincidences
Use of historical sourcesCareful and contextualMisquoted, misrepresented, and decontextualized
Linguistic methodTypological comparisonPseudo-linguistics and cherry-picking

šŸ” Verdict

The Lost Isles of Gold video misrepresents both Padre Chirino’s historical praise and Levinsohn’s typological analysis, stretching them to support a baseless theory that Tagalog is related to Hebrew.

If you'd like, I can write a more formal article or a rebuttal piece summarizing this comparison. Would you like that?

You said:
The claim about 100% literacy from Chirino is taken from this quote: "“So accustomed are all these islanders to writing and reading that there is scarcely a man, and much less a woman, who cannot read and write in letters proper to the island of Manila, very different from those of China, Japan, or India.” –Pedro Chirino" revise your analyze accordingly. 
ChatGPT said:

Thank you for the clarification and the quote. That changes the analysis regarding literacy slightly but still exposes a misuse of Chirino in the Lost Isles of Gold video. Let's revise the analysis accordingly while maintaining a critical comparison between Stephen LevinsohnPadre Chirino, and the claims made in the Lost Isles of Gold LIVE Series - Part 12: Hebrew in the Philippines?*


šŸ” Revised Analysis and Comparison

šŸ”¹ 1. Pedro Chirino’s Account (1604): Language & Literacy

✅ What Chirino Actually Says:

“So accustomed are all these islanders to writing and reading that there is scarcely a man, and much less a woman, who cannot read and write in letters proper to the island of Manila, very different from those of China, Japan, or India.” –Pedro Chirino

This is extraordinary praise for native literacy in pre-Hispanic Manila, particularly in Baybayin, the indigenous script. But note:

  • He says “scarcely a man... who cannot read and write”—this is hyperbolic admiration, not a literal claim of 100% literacy.

  • The statement is region-specific (the island of Manila), not about the entire archipelago.

  • His focus is on the existence of a native script and widespread use, not Hebrew elements or foreign linguistic ancestry.

❌ How It’s Misused in the Video:

"Every Filipino he encountered could read and write. 100% literacy. 100%."

This is an exaggeration:

  • “Scarcely a man…” ≠ 100% literacy

  • Chirino was impressed by widespread literacy relative to European expectations at the time, not declaring a scientifically verified literacy rate.

  • The quote is selectively used to support a narrative that Filipino civilization was not only advanced (true) but also secretly Hebrew (not true).


šŸ”¹ 2. Chirino’s Praise of Tagalog vs. Video's Misinterpretation

Chirino wrote:

“I found in [Tagalog] four qualities of the four greatest languages of the world—Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Spanish…”

Chirino’s intention was clearly rhetorical and comparative, not genealogical. He saw Tagalog as:

  • Obscure like Hebrew (i.e., difficult to master)

  • Structured like Greek (articles and noun types)

  • Elegant like Latin

  • Refined like Spanish

He was praising the expressive and grammatical complexity of Tagalog—not claiming that it descended from Hebrewor contained Hebrew vocabulary.

❌ The Video’s Claim:

“Tagalog has the mystery and obscurities of the Hebrew language... There are direct Hebrew words and it is indisputable…”

This claim:

  • Misunderstands "mystery" and "obscurity" as linguistic evidence, rather than poetic description.

  • Offers no actual linguistic data or analysis to prove a shared vocabulary or etymological connection.

  • Ignores historical linguistics and the Austronesian roots of Philippine languages.


šŸ”¹ 3. Stephen Levinsohn vs. the Video’s Misrepresentation

✅ What Levinsohn Actually Says:

  • Filipino languages and Biblical Hebrew are structurally similar:

    • Both are VS/VO (verb-subject or verb-object)

    • Both are aspect-prominent (focus on verb aspect, not tense)

    • Both are pro-drop (omit pronouns when unnecessary)

These features are shared due to typological convergence, not common descent.

❌ How the Video Twists This:

“See, they're saying... even modern Tagalog has elements of Hebrew within…”

This is:

  • misinterpretation of Levinsohn’s observations.

  • An unsupported leap from typological similarity to historical or genetic relationship.

  • Devoid of phonological, morphological, or lexical comparisons needed for legitimate historical linguistics.


🧠 Summary Table

CategoryPadre ChirinoStephen LevinsohnLost Isles of Gold (Part 12)
View of TagalogRhetorical comparison to major classical languagesStructural typological similarity to Biblical HebrewTagalog has direct Hebrew influence
LiteracyWidespread literacy noted, particularly in Manila using native scriptNot discussedInflated to 100% literacy nationwide
Hebrew ConnectionHebrew used metaphorically (complex, obscure)Typological similarity onlyClaims shared words, Hebrew origin
Scholarly Grounding17th-century missionary documentationLinguistic analysis based on typologyPseudo-linguistic speculation and cherry-picking
ConclusionTagalog is expressive and sophisticatedTeaching Hebrew can be contextualized using Filipino language structuresHebrew was secretly present in the Philippines

🧾 Final Verdict

  • Chirino praised Tagalog but made no claim that it was Hebrew or descended from Hebrew.

  • Levinsohn demonstrated typological similarities useful for teaching, not historical linkage.

  • The video misuses both sources to promote a fringe theory lacking linguistic rigor, historical support, or internal consistency.

Would you like this as a formal written rebuttal or blog-style post?

You said:
you said the 100% claim is exaggerated. Tim's claim also comes from the preface of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898: Volume XII. The editors write: "A chapter is assigned to the native alphabet and mode of writing. All, women as well as men, write and read; and they have already learned to do so in the Spanish language as well as in their own."
ChatGPT said:

Thanks for the clarification—you're absolutely right to raise this point. Let's revise and sharpen the analysis further with the added context from the The Philippine Islands, 1493–1898: Volume XII preface.


🧠 Revised Analysis with Expanded Literacy Context

šŸ“œ Source: The Philippine Islands, 1493–1898, Volume XII (Preface)

“A chapter is assigned to the native alphabet and mode of writing. All, women as well as men, write and read; and they have already learned to do so in the Spanish language as well as in their own.”

This editorial summary of Chirino’s writings does indeed echo the Jesuit’s enthusiasm for widespread literacy, particularly among Tagalogs in and around Manila.


⚖️ Clarifying the Literacy Claim

✅ What the Source Suggests

  • Widespread literacy in native script (Baybayin) was observed and praised by Chirino.

  • Both men and women were literate—remarkable for the early 1600s, especially in global comparison.

  • Some natives had already learned to read and write in Spanish, in addition to their native language.

❗However...

  • The phrase “All... write and read” in the preface is a summary statement, likely rhetorical or idealized.

  • It does not constitute modern statistical literacy data. No formal census or universal schooling system existed then.

  • It primarily reflects conditions in and around Spanish-controlled areas like Manila, not the entire archipelago.


❌ The Problem with the “100% Literacy” Claim in Lost Isles of Gold

“Every Filipino he encountered could read and write. 100% literacy. 100%.”

This is still an overreach, even if based on enthusiastic early Spanish descriptions. Here's why:

IssueWhy It’s Problematic
Universal ClaimThe original quote reflects elite or coastal norms; it doesn’t account for rural, mountainous, or uncontacted groups.
Historical HyperboleJesuit reports often framed Filipino literacy as a marvel to emphasize their civilizing mission or the readiness of natives to be Christianized.
Misrepresentation of GenreA historical document’s preface or missionary praise is not equivalent to empirical evidence or census data.

This doesn’t mean literacy wasn’t widespread—it was, impressively so—but claiming 100% accuracy based on a rhetorical flourish is misleading.


šŸ”„ Updated Summary Table (With Literacy Clarification)

CategoryPadre Chirino / Vol. XII PrefaceStephen LevinsohnLost Isles of Gold (Part 12)
View of TagalogSophisticated, poetic, grammatically richTypologically similar to Hebrew in syntax and aspectContains Hebrew or is descended from Hebrew
Literacy ClaimPraises near-universal literacy in Spanish Manila areaNot addressed"100% literacy"—based on rhetorical summary, overstated as statistical fact
Hebrew ConnectionCompares abstract qualities of Tagalog to HebrewNotes structural (not genetic) similaritiesArgues shared vocabulary and ancestry
MethodologyHistorical missionary accountModern linguistic typologyPseudo-linguistic speculation
ConclusionTagalog is elegant and widely writtenFilipino languages help students intuit Hebrew structurePhilippines were secretly Hebrew-speaking

✅ What We Can Say Honestly and Accurately

  • The Philippines had remarkably high literacy, especially in native script before and during early Spanish contact.

  • Jesuit accounts like Chirino’s testify to this and are credible within historical context.

  • Chirino’s linguistic praise of Tagalog is a tribute to its expressive power, not an etymological claim.

  • Levinsohn offers a rigorous linguistic analysis that helps translation, not identity theories.

  • The Lost Isles of Gold video exaggerates, misinterprets, and blurs categories—rhetorical praise becomes statistical fact, typological similarity becomes descent, admiration becomes conspiracy.


Would you like a cleaned-up version of this analysis for use in an article or rebuttal?