The God Culture: Calling on His Name Book Review

Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture hates Jesus Christ. He hates Jesus Christ so much that he has devoted a whole chapter in his new study guide for high schoolers and college students about why he hates Him.  Let's take a look at this blasphemy.

Calling on His Name

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will:

Understand why the Messiah’s true Name must include the Father’s Name (John 5:43).

Learn that Yahusha (יהושע) literally means “Yahu is Salvation.”

Recognize that “Jesus” is a later Greek-Latin construct lacking the Hebrew meaning.

See scriptural proof that salvation is tied to the Name of the Father.

Realize prophetic fulfillment requires the form “Yahu-sha.”

Begin transitioning prayer, worship, and identity back to the true Name.

Key Scriptures

Passage Hebraic Truth

John 5:43 “I am come in My Father’s Name.” → Messiah must bear Yahu (יהו)

within His Name.

Acts 4:12 “There is no other Name under heaven given among men whereby we

must be saved.”

Joel 2:32 / “Whoever calls on the Name of YHWH (יהוה) shall be saved.”

Romans 10:13

Matthew 1:21 “He shall save His people…” → Hebrew context: YAH saves.

Philippians “A Name above every Name” — rooted in the Father’s Name.

2:9-11

Hebrew Form יהושע (Yahusha) “Yahu is Salvation.”

SECTION 1 – The Prophecy: Messiah Must Come in the Father’s Name

• “I am come in My Father’s Name.” — John 5:43

• If He came in the Father’s Name, it must appear within His own.

Components of the Name:

• Yahu (והי) = the Father’s short form.

• Yasha (ישע) = “to save / deliver.”

Combined → Yahu + sha = Yahusha (יהושע) = “Yahu is Salvation.”

This fulfills both linguistic and prophetic precision.

SECTION 2 – The Hebrew Proof: Yahusha (יהושע)

Form Meaning Usage / Notes

יהושע (Yahusha) “Yahu is Salvation” Original Hebrew form = Joshua

ישוע (Yeshua) Shortened post-exilic, Pharisaic corruption Drops “Yahu” entirely

Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) Greek transliteration of Yahusha Requires “-s” ending

Iesus / Jesus Latinized → Anglicized Lacks Hebrew meaning

Scriptural Proof — Acts 7:45

“Our fathers brought in with Jesus (Ἰησοῦς) into the possession of the Gentiles…”

It refers to Joshua son of Nun—the Hebrew Yahusha.

Therefore: Ἰησοῦς = Joshua = Yahusha.

There is no scriptural equation linking “Yeshua” to Jesus.

• Conclusion:

Jesus = Joshua = Yahusha (יהושע) — “Yahu is Salvation.”

“Yeshua” = a later supposed abbreviation (same syllables) that erased the Name.

SECTION 3 – Why “Jesus” Lacks the Hebraic Meaning

Greek limitations caused critical losses:

Hebrew Sound Greek Replacement Result

“Y” “I” (“EY” Sound still) Yah → I- (which is never “J”)

“H” dropped loss of breath sound

“Sh” (ש) “S” phonetic change

Masculine ending “-s” required becomes Iesous

Result:

• “Jesus” no longer connects to YHWH or the Hebrew concept of salvation.

• Restoring Yahusha revives both prophetic integrity and meaning.

SECTION 4 – Scripture Demands the Full Name

Prophecy Fulfillment in Yahusha

Joel 2:32 — “Call on the Name of YHWH to be saved.” Yahusha = “Yahu saves.”

Matthew 1:21 — “He shall save His people.” His very Name = salvation.

Acts 4:12 — “No other Name under heaven.” Must include Yahu.

Philippians 2:10 — “At the Name every knee shall bow.” A Name above all Names

= YHWH present.

Only Yahusha fulfills prophecy both linguistically and theologically.

SECTION 5 – Apostolic Witness

• Prophets’ names preserve Yahu (Eliyahu, YeshaYahu, MattithYahu).

• Hallelu-YAH remains untouched in Revelation.

• It would be inconsistent for the Messiah alone not to bear the Father’s Name.

There is no equation of Yeshua as Jesus in any scripture — only Joshua, whose Hebrew

form is Yahusha.

pgs. 37-39

There is so much wrong here. First of all the New Testament was written in Greek, not Hebrew. The name of our Saviour in Greek is IESUOS.

The name of Jesus in Greek is Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous).

It's pronounced roughly as "Ee-ay-soos."

• Grammar: It is a masculine noun.

• Etymology: The Greek name Ἰησοῦς is a transliteration of the Hebrew-Aramaic name Yeshua (ישוע), which is a shortened form of Yehoshua (יהושע), meaning "The Lord is salvation" or "Yahweh saves."

What Tim is ultimately saying is the Greek New Testament is corrupt and unreliable. This is a direct attack against the inerrancy and inspiration of the scriptures. It highlights the fact that Tim is not a linguist.

5:06 We are not linguists nor do we care to be but you will find no linguist is necessary in this case because come along with us and we'll interpret this together.

https://thegodculturephilippines.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-god-culture-100-lies-about_28.html

Second all Jesus identified Himself with YHWH!

Exodus 3:13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 

John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

The I AM THAT I AM is the same tetragrammaton in Exodus 6:3 translated Jehovah.

And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

Jesus is Jehovah, YHWH, which Tim claims is properly translated as Yahuha. Jesus is the ultimate revelation of YHWH and the fulfillment of the entire Old Testament. To ignore that is to not understand the meaning of YHWH. It's not about pronunciation, it's about the revelation of the Person of Jesus Christ who is the only mediator between God and men. 

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

In Isaiah 6 we read:

1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

LORD is YHWH.  Isaiah saw YHWH.  John says this was Jesus.

John 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

The Biblical testimony is crystal clear. Jesus is YHWH. Tim completely ignores that testimony. In fact, he completely messes this up by declaring YHWH is the name of the Father only. 

In prayer, in research, in worship, we began to see a pattern emerge: the Name of the Father—יהוה (YHWH)—was present in Scripture thousands of times, then hidden under titles. The Name of the Son—יהושע (Yahusha)—was replaced by transliterations stripped of prophetic meaning. Our identity as a people called by His Name was blurred.

Calling on His Name, pg. 5

It cannot be overstated that YHWH is not the name of the Father. It's the name of the triune God and Jesus identifies Himself with that name. This is heretical Christology rooted in Hebrew Roots and the sacred Name movement. But Tim does not stop here. He carries his doctrine into worship.

+ Discussion Questions

What does it mean that Yahusha came in the Father’s Name?

Does it matter if “Jesus” carries no Hebrew meaning?

Which form — Yahusha or Jesus — aligns with Scripture’s prophecies?

How does this affect how we pray, worship, and declare salvation?

+ Prayer Focus

“Yahuah, if Your Son carried Your Name, help me honor that Name fully.

Give me courage to return to what Your Word clearly shows.”

+ Memory & Practice Challenge

• Speak aloud: “Yahusha ha’Mashiach = Yahu is Salvation, the Anointed One.”

• End prayers: “…in the Name of Yahusha.”

• Say “Hallelu-YAH” with full understanding and conviction.

+ Next Week (Week 7 — Final)

The Restoration: Calling on His Name in Spirit and Truth — How Revival Begins with

Returning to YHWH.

(Concludes with a worship-night style celebration of the restored Name and identity.)

The implication here is that the name of Jesus offers no salvation. We have to utter the correct and now restored names Tim has made up, Yahusha and Yahuah. That is the message of this study guide. That is the message of Tim's new group Foundations Rising. 

There is not much more to say. Tim hates the name above all names, Jesus Christ. He prefers his own made-up Hebrew names of Yahuah and Yahusha. He is on record agreeing that the name of Jesus is evil.

Lost Isles of Gold LIVE Series - Part 13: End Times Prophecy of the Ophir Philippines

@rosecalero7369 Jesus is evil. Christ is evil. Messiah is not Jesus. It’s the God of Catholic Church and Christianity. Ophir is a Hebrew country.

@TheGodCulture Yah Bless.

Timothy does not merely prefer a different pronunciation. He declares the name Jesus, the name given by the angel (Matt 1:21), preached by apostles (Acts 4:12), confessed by martyrs, and exalted above every name (Phil 2:9–11), to be meaningless, corrupted, and insufficient for salvation. That is not a minor linguistic debate. That is a direct attack on the revealed name of God incarnate. This book makes it perfectly clear that Timothy Jay Schwab who is the God Culture hates the name of Jesus Christ. 

The God Culture: 100 Lies About the Philippines: Lie #43: A Spanish Document Says The Philippines is Ophir

Welcome back to 100 lies The God Culture teaches about the Philippines. Today's lie concerns Tim's claim that an old Spanish document maps the way to Ophir and ends in the Philippines. As we shall see that is simply not true in the slightest. 

Tim makes this claim in his videos.

NEW!!! Lost Isles of Gold LIVE Series. Part 3: Where Is Tarshish? Philippines? Not Spain or Britain!

22:43 In, uh, about 1519 or so even before Magellan landed in the Philippines the Spanish created a map in a Spanish government Document number 98 and it actually maps it all the way through. We have this in our source book. You can read it. We actually give it to you in Spanish and we show you how to read it in Spanish. So, you can read the original and you can see that they're leading you specifically to the Philippines as Ophir and Tarshish on a map. Wow! GMA mapped it in that interview that we showed in one of the last segments, uh, and this is their mapping so we're using that and you can see that Ophir and Tarshish, the end of this whole route is the Philippines. This isn't a mystery this has always been the case.

Tim claims GMA mapped out this route as if they are affirming his fake history but that is not the case. 

Lalaking nakahukay ng ginto noon at naging milyonaryo, kumusta na ngayon? | Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho

They are simply illustrating a speech given by Representative Dan Fernandez. But with the GMA seal Tim can strut and pretend that a news organization has legitimized his lies about the Philippines. 

He also makes the same claim about Document 98 in his book The Search for King Solomon's Treasure.

The Search for King Solomon's Treasure, pg 161

In fact, the Spanish even record directions from Spain East to Ophir or Lequios which it specifically equates affirming Magellan’s notes, and Tarshish. In Coleccion General De Documentos..., Doc. 98, detailed directions are provided over many pages from Spain, passing Africa, then India and Sri Lanka, to Burma, to Sumatra, to Moluccas, to China, then finally to Tarsis and then, Lequios and Ofir or Ophir, Philippines. [152, see Sourcebook for detail.]

Tim's comments on Document 98 in his Sourcebook are interesting. 

The Search for King Solomon's Sourcebook, pg  151

NOTE: This whole chapter progresses from Spain to Lequios and Ofir. Not a perfect translation but one can easily understand this is identifying the Philippines. It is not Japan which 149 clarifies. Taiwan is not a group of isles. This is the Philippines especially since Pigafetta and others found the Lequios in Luzon Philippines. 

Tim's claim that this document gives directions to the Philippines rests on his misidentification of the Lequios Islands with the Philippines. I have explored that issue in depth elsewhere. You can read about it here. 

His reference to 149 is to his source which is number 149. This source is another document from volume 5 of the Coleccion General De Documentos discussing the importance of document 98. Here is what it says in full.  

The Search For King Solomon's Treasure Sourcebook, pg. 150

Of undeniable importance is document number 98, entitled “Geographical description from the Cape of Good Hope to China,” and whose original heading reads as follows: “These are the places and ports and main islands that there are from the Cape of Good Hope to the Leyquios, which is what has so far been discovered the most and of which there is the most news in Portugal.” It is unsigned and undated, but there is no doubt, from what can be deduced from some sentences in the text, that this notable work was due to someone who, knowing what the Portuguese had until then written and reported verbally about their expeditions in that part of the world that belonged to them, managed to condense this sum of geographical knowledge into a few sheets. The collector has assigned it the date “1520-1528,” we believe based on the place that this precious manuscript occupies in the file of which it is a part; but in our opinion it must have been written before 1522. It describes with some detail the Asian coast from the part washed by the waters of the Red Sea to the beginning of the Chinese coast; it gives information on all the kingdoms that were more or less known at that time, as well as the islands of Ceylon, both Java, Moluccas, Celebes, Banda and others, up to Gilolo; from here it turns to the mainland of Asia, not without alluding to Borneo, and concludes with a vague allusion to Japan, or Lequios, as it was called then. There is not the slightest concrete allusion to the Philippine Archipelago, although the author mentions groups of islands situated at a short distance from it. This persuades us that the work we are dealing with was written before the year 1522, when the ship Victoria arrived in Spain after having sailed around the world. In that same year, the Portuguese captured the ship Trinidad in the Moluccas, which, like the Victoria, was part of Magellan's fleet. The Portuguese seized the logbooks and all the documents carried by the crew of the Trinidad, and it is reasonable to assume that the following year, 1523, such precious manuscripts were already in Portugal. For these reasons, we repeat, we believe that this remarkable Description must have been written before 1522.

http://bdh-rd.bne.es/viewer.vm?id=0000175741&page=1622

The compilers of these documents says that document 98 could not have been written before 1522 because there is no mention of the Philippines and the document is about Portuguese discoveries. Now, it is a fact of history that Portugal did not discover the Philippines. Why would they mention those islands? They wouldn't! 

Tim comments on this denial thusly:

NOTE: In other words, don't pay attention to conclusions of authors or historians who draw from antiquated information as this identifies. That is so 1520 when we are now beyond 1521’s find by Magellan. Why is this document from the Spanish so adamant about this being the thinking before 1522? Because Magellan found the Lequios again documented by Pigafetta and others following as Luzon Island Philippines is fully confirmed not Japan nor Taiwan who are proven false. To think otherwise, is simply a false paradigm of willing ignorance. Of largest note, that out thinking ignored the Philippines which you can find in British writings especially even today. We find it in Nowell, Suarez and other authors whom we even quote as well which is why we do as this Spanish document suggests, we ignore their antiquated paradigm of bias in conclusions which they clearly have and this document condemned in this writing as well in characterizing it as stuck in an old paradigm. The Lequios are not a scholarly mystery as you will find many who cite one quote after another and maps but all before Magellan and then actually use those in drawing a conclusion ignoring Magellan, Pigafetta and many others and ignoring the Philippines. Why is it that the Philippines must be ignored? Well, in reading this entire book, that reason is obvious. It is the only option as Ophir as there is no other and we are not supposed to know this. 

Tim simply brushes it off saying it's a false paradigm and hinting that the true location of Ophir as being the Philippines is being covered up. That is nonsense. 

Document 98 is not a list of Spanish discoveries. Once again, the subtitle of this document is:

http://bdh-rd.bne.es/viewer.vm?id=0000175741&page=921

These are the places and ports and the main islands that exist from the Cape of Good Hope to the Leyquios, which is what has been discovered the most so far and what is most known in Portugal.

Portugal did not discover the Philippines. The Spanish were the first Europeans to set eyes on the archipelago. It would not make sense for the Philippines to be included in a list of Portuguese discoveries until after 1522 which is when documents from the captured Trinidad would have made their way back to Portugal.  Tim simply ignores documented history for his own fabricated lies. 

No one in the history of the world has ever claimed the Lequios Islands were the Philippines until Tim came along. There is no map that shows this identification. The Lequios Islands are in between Taiwan and Japan and today are known as the Ryukyu Islands. A true mapping of the directions in Document 98 looks like this:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Mercator_1569_world_map_composite.jpg

This is a 1569 Mercator Map. The Lequios Islands are clearly separate from the Philippines. The claim that Document 98 leads to the Philippines false. It is simply one more lie taught about the Philippines by Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture. 

Retards in the Government 444

It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2139859/escudero-sorsogon-execs-hit-with-graft-raps-over-p352-m-anomalies

Graft and other criminal complaints have been filed against Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and several provincial officials before the Office of the Ombudsman after a private lawyer accused them of orchestrating “systematic corruption” and financial irregularities amounting to more than P352 million during Escudero’s tenure as Sorsogon governor.

Atty. Eldrige Marvin Aceron filed the complaint on Friday, citing alleged irregularities flagged in the Commission on Audit’s (COA) 2021 report on the Sorsogon provincial government.

Aside from Escudero, the following provincial officials were also named as respondents for possible violations of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as well as Articles 220 (Technical Malversation), 213 (Frauds Against Public Treasury), and 171 (Falsification of Public Documents) of the Revised Penal Code:

• Members of the Bids and Awards Committee
• Acting Provincial Accountant Rena Garcia
• Provincial General Services Officer Rosalina (surname not indicated)
• The provincial treasurer (name still to be determined)

The complaint was filed a month after Aceron also lodged an ethics case against Escudero at the Senate over alleged illegal campaign donations.

Aceron said the case involves purported irregularities and potential malversation totaling P352,679,063.46 in public funds during Escudero’s administration in Sorsogon.

Citing the 2021 COA report, he said auditors flagged eight questionable transactions, including:

• P125,704,889.93 in “physically impossible” overlapping infrastructure contracts awarded to the same contractors using the same personnel and equipment
• P15,474,262.65 in national government funds, including P10 million in typhoon relief money, that were allegedly unimplemented for up to six years
• P8,440,701.12 in janitorial and laundry contracts supported by purported falsified documents, conflicting notarizations, and fabricated client references
• P1,655,400.00 in TUPAD disbursements with defective signatures, missing authorizations, and alleged improper implementation by board members
• P5,654,955.90 in development projects allegedly charged to the 20-percent Development Fund but not included in the approved procurement plan
• P195,748,853.86 in purported unreliable Property, Plant, and Equipment accounts, including ghost assets and demolished structures that remained recorded in government books

“These are not mere accounting errors. These are deliberate acts that robbed the children of Sorsogon of their future. While families struggled through the pandemic, public funds were diverted, mishandled, or left to rot in government accounts,” Aceron said in a statement distributed during the filing.

“Moreover, 2021 is not an isolated year of malfeasance. The COA reports for 2022 and 2023 reveal the same pattern—qualified opinions on the province’s financial statements that persist to this very day,” he added.

Reporters tried to get Escudero’s reaction on the matter, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

Graft and other criminal complaints have been filed against Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and several provincial officials before the Office of the Ombudsman after a private lawyer accused them of orchestrating “systematic corruption” and financial irregularities amounting to more than P352 million during Escudero’s tenure as Sorsogon governor.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1263321

The National Food Authority (NFA) announced it is preparing to file a plunder case against a middle-level employee accused of misappropriating around PHP53 million worth of rice and palay stocks, as the agency enforces a wider crackdown on corruption.

In a press briefing on Friday in Quezon City, NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said the agency has intensified internal audits in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to eliminate misconduct.

Lacson said that since last year, the agency has already filed 35 administrative cases, issued 28 preventive suspensions, and served 99 show-cause orders.

“We will not stop fighting corruption and that is because of the mistakes of our, only a few who have lost their way,” he said. 

“But the most important thing here, we will file very soon. Very soon. The process of case build-up is almost over, we will file a plunder case against one of our employees,” he added.

Lacson, who declined to give more details on the accused middle-level position employee, said the plunder case stems from discrepancies accumulated over multiple years.

He said that based on NFA findings, the shortages accumulated between 2020 and 2021 and were detected after a series of strengthened audits that began when he assumed office last year.

“This is a multi-year action that people have taken, that resulted in, let's just say, our term, reduced or lost stocks. So, it accumulated over the years, and we intensified the audit, and now that we have all the documents, and that's it, we will file them very soon,” he said.

Lacson said the employee was given the chance to explain the shortages, but was not able to give a proper answer.

He said the accused employee remains active, but was already reassigned and no longer holds any post with access or authority over stocks.

“Since we assumed last year, we intensified gathering of pieces of evidence. You know, it takes a while to build a good case. Because when you say there are not enough stocks, one will be given an opportunity to explain why. Then he will ask for the computation of tolerable allowance, etc.," Lacson said.

“We will not condone mistakes or foolishness. NFA is not their playground, and we are serious about fixing it, and in support of the call of the President and Secretary Kiko for good governance,” he added. 

The National Food Authority (NFA) announced it is preparing to file a plunder case against a middle-level employee accused of misappropriating around PHP53 million worth of rice and palay stocks, as the agency enforces a wider crackdown on corruption.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/11/17/32-bacolod-gso-workers-probed-for-fake-gsis-loan-documents

The City Legal Office (CLO) is investigating an alleged mass falsification scheme involving 32 employees of the General Services Office (GSO) at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC). 

The  suspects—composed of utility workers, clerks, and drivers—allegedly tampered their documents to qualify for Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) computer loans. 

City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu on Monday’s said the incident was reported to him by the GSO department head, prompting the issuance of notices to explain to all involved employees, including the assistant GSO head. 

The tampering allegedly took place shortly after this city declared a state of calamity due to typhoon “Tino” on Nov. 5, which allowed employees easier access to certain loans. 

According to Chiu, they allegedly altered pay slips, loan forms, and certifications of net pay to artificially increase their net pay to the required minimum of P7,000. 

Some reportedly secured loans amounting to P50,000 to P60,000, he added. 

The irregularities were discovered on Nov. 12 when the Management Information Technology and Computer Services (MITCS) staff noticed discrepancies in the pay slips while processing the GSO payroll. 

Chiu confirmed that the assistant department head—whose name was withheld—signed the questionable documents. 

In her incident report, GSO head Gilda Lluisma said she immediately requested the loan applications and pay slips from the Human Resource (HR) and verified with MITCS that the documents were indeed falsified. 

Scanning the QR codes showed the employees’ actual net pay was only a little over P5,000, far below the P7,000 reflected in the altered pay slips. 

Lluisma called an emergency meeting with GSO personnel involved to inform them about the offense and the possible penalties under the law or consequences they may face for falsifying these. They were directed to submit written explanations. 

She noted that their applications bypassed her office and were instead signed by the assistant GSO head. 

Seven employees reportedly paid P200 to have their pay slips altered outside their office, while others did it themselves or in groups, and some admitted to tampering with these. 

Lluisma forwarded her findings to the CLO for appropriate action to prevent similar incidents in the future. 

If guilty, the employees face administrative charges for dishonesty and misconduct, with a maximum penalty of dismissal, according to Chiu. 

The CLO is currently awaiting the employees’ and the assistant GSO head’s written explanations, which must be submitted within five days before further evaluation proceeds.

The City Legal Office is investigating an alleged mass falsification scheme involving 32 employees of the General Services Office at the Bacolod City Government Center. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2142497/army-sergeant-nabbed-for-transporting-smuggled-cigarettes-in-maguindanao

Police in Maguindanao del Norte arrested an Army sergeant for transporting suspected smuggled cigarettes during checkpoint operations in Parang town on Sunday, police said on Monday.

Lt. Colonel Jopy Ventura, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), identified the soldier as Technical Sgt. Vergelio Marapao Jr, 46, a resident of Zamboanga City and a member of the First Army Scout Ranger Battalion in Carmen, Cotabato province.

Ventura said Marapao was driving a Toyota Vios and was flagged down about 7 p.m. on Sunday at a checkpoint manned by personnel from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion in Barangay Macasandag, Parang, Maguindanao del Norte.

He said the mobile force police found 10 small boxes containing 248 reams of smuggled San Marino cigarettes with an estimated value of P194,680.

Marapao is facing charges for violation of the Anti-Smuggling Act Law, even as his vehicle and the smuggled cigarettes were turned over to the Bureau of Customs.

In Midsayap, Cotabato, a trader was arrested on Monday for transporting smuggled cigarettes at a police checkpoint in Barangay Central Glad.

Police said P36,000 worth of contraband was seized from the suspect, identified as “alias Al.”  The investigation is still in progress.

In Makilala, Cotabato, agents of the Highway Patrol Group, while conducting a law enforcement operation, chanced upon a pick-up vehicle loaded with smuggled cigarettes in Barangay San Vicente, also on Monday.

The suspect, Jerric Albarico of Barangay Kawayanon, Makilala, was transporting in his Nissan Navara some P427,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes.

HPG personnel first discovered that Albarico had an expired car registration and, upon inspection, found piles of smuggled cigarettes.

Police in Maguindanao del Norte arrested an Army sergeant for transporting suspected smuggled cigarettes during checkpoint operations in Parang town on Sunday, police said on Monday.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2142388/ombudsman-files-cases-before-sandiganbayan

The Office of the Ombudsman has filed the first batch of cases against former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co and several former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over alleged anomalous flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro before the Sandiganbayan.

Officials from the Ombudsman, led by Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano, lodged the cases at 1:43 p.m. at the anti-graft court.

In a press conference shortly after the filing, Clavano said the cases stemmed from the first referral report submitted by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), involving a project implemented by the DPWH Region IV-B (Mimaropa) through contractor Sunwest, Inc.The project covers the construction of a road dike along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Oriental Mindoro project, along with others in Bulacan, will be the basis of the first cases they will file before the Sandiganbayan

These referrals and complaints stemmed from congressional inquiries that found several flood control projects to be non-existent, allegedly due to collusion among lawmakers, private contractors, and Department of Public Works and Highways officials to embezzle billions of pesos in public funds.

The controversy gained national attention after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his State of the Nation Address in July, reported that 5,500 flood control projects had been completed under his administration — figures that critics questioned amid persistent flooding.

The Office of the Ombudsman has filed the first batch of cases against former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co and several former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over alleged anomalous flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro before the Sandiganbayan.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Graft Cases In Pharmally Mess Withdrawn, P-Pop, and More!

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

Singer-songwriter Jona Viray rescues animals. She has been doing this since 2009 but acquired her current property during the pandemic. 

https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/pet-life/2025/11/11/2486434/70-dogs-cats-saved-jona-viray-tours-farm-rescued-strays

Singer-songwriter Jona Viray gave a glimpse of her Rizal farm where stray animals she rescued reside.

In her latest YouTube upload, broadcast journalist Karen Davila visited Jona's three-hectare farm in Tanay, Rizal, which the singer has been overseeing since the pandemic, though her rescue efforts date back to 2009.

Jona shared that she had rescued around 70 dogs and cats to date, though some of them that are ill or have disabilities are back in Manila, including one named Lupe, whose hind legs are paralyzed after an accident.

Some animals have been adopted but a majority of those still at the farm are those she and her companions have been looking after since being rescued and treated.

Many of the dogs that run free around the farm are named after celebrities like Kendall, Miley and Sitti — the latter Jona rescued from Boso-Boso in Antipolo, which she linked with the bossa nova singer.

Meanwhile, the cats — who have names like Hope, Gnocchi, Garfield and Tomas (who was rescued in Tomas Morato) — have all been neutered and spayed.

Karen asked Jona why she wasn't as public about her animal welfare efforts like fellow celebrities who are also animal advocates.

"Ginagawa ko ito not for publicity, basta I know may natutulungan kami and we're hopefully doing good work," Jona explained.

Jona joked that she isn't able to mingle or date because all her spare time and energy are dedicated to the farm.

She didn't let the pandemic slow down her efforts. 

The Philippine Stock Exchange index has fallen to a five year low due to the ongoing corruption scandal. 

https://business.inquirer.net/557749/psei-plunges-to-fresh-5-year-low-tracks-pandemic-level

The government’s corruption crisis, softer consumption and cut in public spending that led to economic growth slowing to a four-year low continued to erode investor confidence, with the capital index on track to drop to its weakest finish since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) fell by another 1.29 percent, or 73.57 points, to close at 5,629.07, a fresh five-year low.

The broader All Shares Index also declined by 0.94 percent, or 32.82 points, to 3,465.61.

Among the key sectors, only the services ended in the positive territory. Financials and property sectors bled more on Tuesday’s trading.

Analysts said that the local bourse continued to see a bloodbath as depressing government data clouded investor optimism.

“The market remained weak as investors continue to price in softer GDP (gross domestic product) growth for the next few quarters, with 3Q25 corporate earnings starting to show strain from the weakening economy,” said Alfred Benjamin Garcia, research head at AP Securities Inc.

Last week, the government reported that the economy grew by just 4 percent in the July to September period, its slowest since the first quarter of 2021—when the Duterte administration imposed hard lockdowns to lessen the virus’ blow.

The Marcos administration’s growth target, on the other hand, is set at 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent.

The sharp contraction in public spending was blamed on widespread anomalies linked to flood control projects. To recall, the Department of Public Works and Highways had suspended a number of activities, especially those covering bidding and procurement for local projects.

Household consumption also slowed to 4.1 percent due to a series of typhoons.

“While the index may stage an interim rebound due to oversold conditions, the general directional bias remains on the downside. Any rally, if any, may just be temporary,” Ron Acoba, chief investment strategist at Trading Edge Consultancy, said in a message.

“As of now, the index is clearly trending south, and is now eyeing its pandemic low of around 4,500,” Acoba added.

He even noted that the index would have already plunged to the pandemic level without a lift from International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and Manila Electric Co., which he said “account for about 20 percent weight in the index.”

“As for whether the weakness could drag on, short-term, the market seems to be trying to find a support level where valuations are cheap enough to justify bargain-hunting. Until that bottom is found, we can’t say for certain when this trend will reverse,” Garcia added.

For Tuesday’s trading, DigiPlus Interactive Corp. logged the highest gain, increasing 7.65 percent to P27.45. Universal Robina Corp., on the other hand, was the worst index performer, falling 6.64 percent to P66.10. 

Corruption is more destructive than actually shutting down the economy like what happened during the pandemic. 

Another P-Pop star is rising.  He started his journey for real during the pandemic. 

https://tribune.net.ph/2025/11/15/raks-the-dumaguete-born-dreamer-rises-in-p-pop

In a fast-evolving P-pop landscape dominated by powerhouse groups and genre-bending soloists, a new name is quietly but steadily carving his space — Raks, the 23-year-old artist from Dumaguete City whose journey is built on passion, grit, and an unwavering belief in what music can do.

Signed under Beetzee Inc., Raks embodies the new generation of Filipino performers: self-made, self-trained, and fueled by the desire to tell stories that resonate. His artistry is defined not just by talent, but by years of early-stage discipline, a deep sense of purpose, and a commitment to continuous growth.

Childhood shaped by stages and spotlights

Long before he stepped into the world of P-pop, Rakhim S. Tahir was a boy who simply loved to perform.

He began at six years old, joining local talent shows, school programs, and later, national and international competitions. One of his earliest breakthroughs came in 2018, when he represented the Philippines at the World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Long Beach, California — bringing home six medals across all categories he joined.

The following year, he tried his luck on national television through Idol Philippines, marking the beginning of his transition from a competition kid to a more intentional, self-aware artist.

Discovering his voice through songwriting

It wasn’t until 2023 that Raks found a deeper, more personal way of expressing himself — songwriting.

His debut single, “Me, Myself, and I,” marked his first step in crafting original music. Later that year, he joined a songwriting competition where his self-written and choreographed entry, “Care to Spend the Rest of the Night with Me,” earned him 2nd runner-up, proving that his artistry extends beyond vocals and performances.

His growth continued onstage, including a standout appearance at Sillimusika 2024 where he served as one of the front acts for Lola Amour, and a performance at V1BE Fest Manila’s Creators Studio inside the Mall of Asia Arena.

In August 2025, he also took part in the All-University Acquaintance Party of Silliman University, further solidifying his reputation as Dumaguete’s rising hometown performer.

A pandemic that sparked a dream

Like many Gen Z artists, the pandemic became a turning point.

Confined at home, Raks immersed himself in K-pop and P-pop, discovering a world where storytelling, choreography, and performance merged into something electrifying.

This was the moment he decided: he wanted to become an idol.

Since then, he has auditioned for shows, joined training camps, attended workshops, and honed his skills in singing, dancing, and stage performance. It was a long and often challenging road, but on 16 October 2024, his persistence paid off — he officially signed with Beetzee Inc.

Now, he is preparing for his grand debut as the label’s newest P-pop soloist.

Beyond the stage lights, Raks is grounded, thoughtful, and driven by both gratitude and ambition. Here’s a closer look at the artist behind the rising name.

His musical influences growing up

“It started with Bruno Mars. Pero habang nagshi-shift ako ng genre (But, I started shifting genre). I’m now heavily influenced by Jackson Wang on the foreign side, and BGYO and SB19 from the Philippines.”

These influences show in his sound —smooth, performance-heavy, and emotionally charged.

Life beyond music

“I am currently a second-year Mass Communication student at Silliman University. Before that, I studied Music major in Voice starting in 2021.

Tumutulong din po ako minsan sa mom ko (I sometimes help my)  who works as a fish vendor in the public market.”

Behind the spotlight is a student balancing academics, training, and family responsibilities — a testament to his determination.

Dream collaborations

“SB19 po, kasi they’re an all-around group. I love their songs and how they can perform any genre. Inspiring sila and amazing artists.

I also want to collab with Jackson Wang — I admire his artistry and how he expresses himself through music.”

These choices highlight his alignment with powerful, genre-fluid performers.

Songs he wants to cover

“It would definitely be ‘What’ by SB19. It would be really nice if I could have a mega crew dancing with me for that cover.”

A bold choice that matches his love for strong choreography and intense performance energy.

His goals as an artist

“As a growing artist, gusto ko pong ma-recognize ng maraming tao. I want to reach more people through my music and hopefully promote in Manila as an idol someday.”

It’s a simple but heartfelt dream — one that is already unfolding.

Now his persistence is paying off. 

The charges agains Pharmally have been dropped. The excuse is so that the Ombudsman can re-investigate it. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2141811/graft-cases-in-pharmally-mess-withdrawn-but-ombudsman-may-review

The Sandiganbayan has allowed the withdrawal of graft charges linked to the multibillion-peso Pharmally scandal, a controversy tied to the Duterte administration’s pandemic procurement, paving the way for the Office of the Ombudsman to review and reinvestigate the cases.

The anti-graft court’s First Division released on Monday a 12-page resolution, addressing the six graft cases filed against former Budget Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao and several other officials.

The other Procurement Service – Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) officials named are:

• Warren Rex Hernandez Liong, procurement director
• Augusto Menchavez Ylagan, PS‑DBM employee
• Webster Marmol Laureñana, acting division chief of procurement
• Paul Jasper Villanueva De Guzman, procurement officer
• Christine Marie Lecaros Suntay, administrative/finance director

Meanwhile, the Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. executives involved in this case include the following:

• Twinkle Dargani, president
• Mohit Dargani, corporate secretary/treasurer
• Linconn Uy Ong, director
• Justine Garado, director
• Huang Tzu Yen, chairperson
• Krizle Grace Ukkong Mago, executive
• Lin Weixiong, financial manager
• Jasonmer Lagarto Uayan, executive

The court emphasized that a sitting ombudsman has “the power to revoke or alter the rulings of a predecessor within the bounds of law.” 

“The Ombudsman is not barred from ordering a new review of a complaint, as he or she may revoke, repeal, or abrogate the acts or previous rulings of a predecessor,” the ruling said.

“After careful consideration of the facts, allegations, and records of these cases, this Court deems it appropriate to grant the withdrawal of the Informations against the accused despite the previous finding of probable cause and subsequent issuance of the warrants of arrest,” it further explained.

Last month, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the withdrawal of cases filed before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the Pharmally scandal. 

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla explained that the cases would be reviewed again to ensure they would be “ready for trial” before being refiled.

He noted that previous handling of the cases lacked coordination among the fact-finding, evaluation, preliminary investigation, and prosecution teams. 

“Everybody was in the dark. It was not working as a complete team. That should be a fully laid-out plan. It can’t be segmented, with one team not knowing what the other is doing,” Remulla said.

He added that withdrawing the cases would allow the anti-graft body to re-evaluate them and ensure that the work done by investigators and the Senate would not be wasted.

Previous investigations, including a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee probe from August 2021 to January 2022, found that Pharmally won contracts totaling P11.5 billion despite a paid-up capital of only P625,000. 

This was the largest single award of government COVID-19 supply contracts to a private company at the time. The contracts included 8,000 BGI real-time fluorescent RT-PCR test kits (P600 million); 2,000 A*Star Fortitude RT-PCR kits (P688 million); and 41,400 BGI RT-PCR kits (P2.877 billion).

Is anyone ever going to face the music over this debacle?