Retards in the Government 484

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

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2289138/nbi-nabs-its-employee-for-allegedly-using-matibags-name-in-extortion

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested in Pasay City one of its employees for allegedly using Director Melvin Matibag’s name to extort money from businessmen in Mindanao.

Matibag said in an interview that the arrested individual is a job order employee from the bureau’s main office in Pasay City.

He said the suspect posed as an NBI agent and roamed around Mindanao to collect money from various individuals with improperly registered businesses in exchange for supposed protection from the bureau.

(He circulated that the director ordered the collection of various amounts from people who have businesses there that are not properly registered.)

(We are not ordering anything like that, so my appeal to the people: If someone is using the name of the NBI and my name as director to gain financial advantage, please inform us and we will catch them.)

Initial information reported to Matibag revealed that the suspect had already collected around P1.7 million in Mindanao using the supposed modus operandi.

According to the NBI, its Organized and Transnational Crimes Division conducted the entrapment operation against the suspect in a Pasay City restaurant on Wednesday, Aug. 19, after receiving a complaint from a businessman in Tawi-Tawi.

The suspect demanded P300,000 from the victim for the issuance of an import permit and an additional P30,000.

The NBI said the suspect told the victim that should he refuse to provide the amount, his permit would not be issued and his business would instead be subjected to investigation.

During the entrapment operation, a Colt pistol, a caliber .45 firearm, was also seized from the suspect.

An NBI volunteer was also arrested along with the suspect for supposedly being involved in the scheme.

The two individuals are currently under the custody of the bureau and face charges for robbery-extortion and usurpation of authority.

Aside from these charges, the arrested NBI employee also faces a charge for illegal possession of firearms.

The National Bureau of Investigation has arrested in Pasay City one of its employees for allegedly using Director Melvin Matibag’s name to extort money from businessmen in Mindanao.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2289810/lanao-del-sur-vice-mayor-arrested-for-murder-frustrated-murder

The vice mayor of Marantao town in Lanao del Sur was arrested on Friday over separate cases of murder and frustrated murder, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Saturday.

According to the PNP, Vice Mayor Eli Eskandar Unte Alonto III, alias Bimmy Alonto, was arrested during an operation conducted by intelligence personnel and local police at around 8:45 p.m. in Crystal Inn in Barangay San Miguel in Iligan City. 

“The vice mayor is the subject of an arrest warrant for a case of murder with no bail recommended, and a separate case of frustrated murder with P200,000 bail. Both were issued by Hon. Jamel Tabao Mamutik, Presiding Judge of RTC [Regional Trial Court], Branch 44, Initao, Misamis Oriental,” the PNP said in a press release. 

The police noted that the arrest warrants were issued on July 15, 2026.

The PNP also shared that Alonto ranked first on the wanted list in Marantao, third in Lanao del Sur, and fourth on the Regional List of Wanted Persons in Police Regional Office 10.

In the 2025 midterm elections, Alonto defeated his opponent Saidamen Naga by a margin of 542 votes.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez commended the operation amid a holiday break “for exemplifying what the PNP truly means in this case.” 

The vice mayor of Marantao town in Lanao del Sur was arrested on Friday over separate cases of murder and frustrated murder.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2290490/ex-eastern-samar-mayor-arrested-on-graft-charges

Former Balangiga, Eastern Samar Mayor Randy Graza was arrested on Friday night, Aug. 21, over alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Graza, 52, was arrested at 10:40 p.m. in Barangay Guinmaayohan by personnel of the Balangiga Municipal Police Station, Provincial Intelligence Unit and the 2nd Eastern Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company.

Police said the arrest was based on a warrant issued on Aug. 19 by Presiding Judge Nelson Leyco of the Regional Trial Court, Seventh Judicial Region, Branch 27 in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

The warrant cited alleged violations of Sections 3(e) and 3(h) of RA 3019, with recommended bail set at P90,000 for each offense.

Section 3(e) of the law covers acts by public officers that cause undue injury to any party or give unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence. Section 3(h), meanwhile, prohibits public officers from having a financial or pecuniary interest in certain transactions in connection with which they intervene in their official capacity.

Graza served as mayor of Balangiga from 2019 to 2022. The historic municipality is known for the 1901 Balangiga Encounter during the Philippine-American War.

Police did not provide details on the specific circumstances of the graft case or the government transaction that allegedly led to the filing of charges against Graza.

Graza had earlier figured in a controversy involving the procurement of a property intended for the town’s evacuation center, which was funded through assistance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

It was not immediately clear whether the earlier controversy was related to the charges covered by the latest warrant.

After his arrest, Graza was informed of his constitutional rights under the Miranda Doctrine and the Anti-Torture Law in a dialect he understood, police said.

He was brought to the Albino M. Duran Memorial Hospital for a medical examination before being taken to the Balangiga Municipal Police Station for documentation.

Police said Graza would be turned over to the court of origin for proper disposition of the case.

Former Balangiga, Eastern Samar Mayor Randy Graza was arrested over alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2290674/ilocos-sur-policeman-nabbed-after-allegedly-assaulting-fellow-cops

A 44-year-old police officer assigned to the Narvacan Municipal Police Station was arrested over the weekend after allegedly threatening and assaulting responding police officers at Ambarangan Waterfalls in Barangay Mission in the Ilocos Sur town of Nagbukel. 

Police received a report regarding three successive gunshots in the area, but responding officers found no confirmed shooting when they arrived.

In a radio interview, Police Maj. Alberto Ramos Jr. said the officer was allegedly drunk, throwing objects and stirring fear among visitors at the waterfalls.

Ramos said the police officer resisted while they were helping him out of the water and allegedly threatened to kill them.

The officer also allegedly kicked Police Cpl. Marjille Villegas, prompting the responding officers to arrest and handcuff him.

The suspect is facing charges of grave threats, direct assault, and resistance and disobedience under the Revised Penal Code.

Authorities did not immediately release the identity of the police officer.

A 44-year-old police officer assigned to the Narvacan Municipal Police Station was arrested over the weekend after allegedly threatening and assaulting responding police officers at Ambarangan Waterfalls in Barangay Mission in the Ilocos Sur town of Nagbukel. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2291026/sultan-kudarat-village-chief-slain-in-gun-attack

Unidentified suspects shot dead on Monday a village chairperson in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat, police said.

The victim, Bernaned Acosta Barua, chairperson of Barangay Bannawag, was shot by one of two suspects at about 11:30 a.m.

Maj. Aljun Besario, President Quirino municipal police station chief, said the 53-year-old victim was sitting in front of a sari-sari store eating with his wife and another companion when the two unidentified suspects, wearing black jackets and bonnets, arrived on board a motorcycle without a license plate.

Without provocation, one of the two suspects opened fire on Barua. They then fled toward Barangay Malingon, also in President Quirino.

Barua sustained multiple gunshot wounds to different parts of his body. He was rushed by villagers to a hospital for medical treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police have launched a hot pursuit operation to arrest the suspects while the forensic unit of the Sultan Kudarat provincial police office conducted a crime scene investigation. 

Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the identities of the suspects and the possible motive for the shooting.

Unidentified suspects shot dead on Monday a village chairperson in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2291881/bfp-officer-arrested-for-alleged-p500000-recruitment-scam

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) arrested one of its personnel for allegedly being involved in a P500,000 “slot-for-sale” recruitment scam that promised entry into the bureau, the BFP said Tuesday.

The BFP, with the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), arrested the suspect during an entrapment operation after a series of meetings involving money exchanges between the victim and the suspect.

The suspect was caught after an initial meeting with the victim, during which he showed a BFP ID and claimed to have offered slots in other regions for a price, later demanding a P500,000 fee.

The victim initially agreed to give the suspect P300,000 as partial payment. This led to an entrapment operation in which CIDG and BFP operatives caught the suspect on site during the exchange of the remaining money.

The incident stemmed from the victim reporting that the suspect had contacted them through a fake Facebook account.

According to BFP officer-in-charge Fire Chief Superintendent Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu, the bureau condemns corruption in its ranks and remains dedicated to its strict and fair hiring processes.

“We will ensure anyone who exploits our aspiring applicants will face the law. … We will hold our personnel accountable for their actions,” he said.

The BFP reminded applicants that entry to the bureau is strictly based on merit and fitness, not on payment.

The bureau conducts its anti-extortion campaign covering recruitment, promotions and transfers through “Oplan Santindig” to ensure integrity within its ranks and the application process.

The Bureau of Fire Protection arrested one of its personnel for allegedly being involved in a P500,000 “slot-for-sale” recruitment scam that promised entry into the bureau.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1282458

The Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) has administratively relieved 13 personnel, including its National Capital Region (NCR) chief, following an uncoordinated raid that led to a confrontation with Bureau of Customs (BOC) agents at a warehouse in Bulacan.

In a news release Sunday, PNP-HPG Director Brig. Gen. Rommel Batangan ordered the relief effective Aug. 20 to pave the way for an impartial investigation.

Those relieved were HPG-NCR chief Col. Joey Tomas Caise; Lt. Col. Carlo Loñosa; Maj. Romar Exile; Senior Master Sergeants Dennis Ancheta, Jake Balberde and Bryan Castillo; Corporals Melvin Habbiling, Edrick Semilla and Reneboy Sumbilon; and Patrolmen Gabriel Capellan, Jeffrey Carilo, Bill Anthony Estrada and Andrew Marzan.

"Appropriate action will be taken based on the findings, in accordance with due process. The PNP-HPG recognizes the seriousness of the allegations and has taken immediate steps to ensure that the incident is properly investigated," the PNP-HPG chief said in a statement.

The confrontation occurred last week when armed civilian-clothed HPG operatives swooped down on the Bulacan warehouse and frisked uniformed customs personnel during a legitimate cigarette incineration operation. The standoff was eventually defused following the intervention of BOC officials.

It was later discovered that the raid stemmed from operational confusion, as the HPG operatives were actually targeting a different location within the area.

In a phone interview on Sunday, BOC Chief of Staff and spokesperson Chris Noel Bendijo described the incident as "unacceptable," saying it could have been avoided with proper coordination.

The Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group has administratively relieved 13 personnel, including its National Capital Region chief, following an uncoordinated raid that led to a confrontation with Bureau of Customs agents at a warehouse in Bulacan.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2293278/barangay-official-minor-arrested-in-iloilo-drug-bust

A barangay official tagged as a high-value individual and a 16-year-old minor were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Iloilo City on Tuesday, August 25, with police seizing around 90 grams of suspected shabu valued at P612,000.

The Iloilo City Drug Enforcement Unit and the Iloilo City Police Station 4–Station Drug Enforcement Team conducted the joint operation in Barangay Tap-oc in Molo district following extensive intelligence validation, surveillance, and target profiling.

Authorities identified the adult suspect by the alias “Bon-Bon,” 39, a barangay councilor in Molo.

The suspected illegal drugs were contained in five packages.

The adult suspect remains in police custody for proper documentation and the filing of criminal charges, while the minor is undergoing standard procedures for turnover to Balay Dalayunan in Barangay Barrio Obrero, in compliance with existing child protection laws and protocols.

An Iloilo City barangay official has been arrested on drug charges. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: Baguio, Jeff Ramos, and More!

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

Baguio is still reporting on COVID-19 cases. These are mild with no deaths. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/22/baguio-records-125-mild-covid19-cases-no-deaths

The City Health Services Office (CHSO) reported that Baguio has recorded 125 COVID‑19 cases as of Aug. 17, with 120 patients having recovered and five active cases, all classified as mild.

The update was presented during the Baguio City Council’s regular session, where representatives from the CHSO, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), and the Department of Health (DOH) were invited to brief officials on the city’s COVID‑19 situation.

CHSO Head Celia Brillantes and City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) head Donnabel Panes said most of the city’s cases were mild, noting that the majority of patients had been vaccinated.

Panes added that 99 percent of recovered patients were vaccinated, underscoring the role of vaccination in preventing severe illness.

A significant number of cases were recorded among health workers who undergo regular testing as part of infection prevention and control measures in medical facilities, the CHSO explained.

Health officials also reported that Baguio has not recorded any case of the Cicada COVID‑19 subvariant.

Across the Cordillera Administrative Region, the DOH logged 184 COVID‑19 cases from January to August 2026.

Baguio accounted for 129 cases, followed by Benguet with 39, Mountain Province with seven, Kalinga with four, Apayao and Ifugao with two each, and Abra with one.

While Baguio’s cases have generally been mild, officials urged the public to remain cautious, especially when interacting with senior citizens, children, pregnant women, and individuals with comorbidities.

They pointed to the city’s vaccination data as evidence of the protection vaccines provide against severe COVID‑19 outcomes.

Oddly enough the number of reported cases in the article, 129, is not the same as the humber in the headline, 125. 

During the pandemic most people stayed home. Jeff Ramos decided to volunteer in his community. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/759823/faces-of-cebu-jeff-ramos-emerging-host-young-volunteer/amp

For Jeff Ramos, serving the community holds no status.

For the 24-year-old from Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, service is not measured by the position attached to a name, the number of people under a leader, or the recognition that may come afterward.

It is measured by the willingness to help. 

Jeff Ramos, also known as “Jepay,” first found his way into volunteerism during the pandemic, when the crisis had placed communities in difficult circumstances and people were looking for ways to lend a hand.

Volunteerism had never been part of his original plans.

But in 2020, friends encouraged him to join the Youth Volunteers in Guadalupe, which was then looking for people willing to help their community. 

The group was open to anyone who wanted to lend a helping hand, and Ramos decided to join.

He was also the kind of person who found it difficult to simply stay at home doing nothing.

“I couldn’t just stay at home and do nothing. Ganahan jud ko nga ma-productive ko by volunteering and lending my helping hands to my community. Mao ‘to nakahuna-huna ko nga mo-join ko ug volunteer,” Ramos said.

The work placed him among hundreds of volunteers serving a barangay he described as having a large population spread across 84 sitios.

They distributed quarantine passes and rice, while also taking precautions because of their exposure as volunteers during the height of the pandemic.

The work was demanding, but Ramos remembers how the volunteers managed it through hard work and unity.

“With all hard work and unity as a team, nalabang ra gyud ’to namo siya,” he said.

Ramos’ entry into volunteerism came years after he had first encountered leadership in school.

Leadership, he said, can either be something a person is born with or something shaped by influence and experience.

His own journey started modestly.

In elementary school, he recalled leading Grade 1 pupils during the flag ceremony in Grade 6. His junior high school years were largely spent in lower-level classroom positions, including roles such as an auditor.

It was in Senior High School at Abellana National School that his exposure to leadership became more substantial.

In Grade 11, he became a Board of Director. By the following school year, his peers considered him among those fit to run for the Supreme Student Government (SSG) president.

He eventually decided to run and became SSG President for the 2019-2020 school year.

The experience gave him opportunities to attend leadership training and learn from his adviser and fellow officers.

Among the lessons that stayed with him was the importance of putting others first.

“During my SSG years, my SSG adviser really taught me to be selfless. You need to think of the welfare of others first before sa imoha,” Ramos said.

He also learned that leadership begins with strengthening oneself before trying to empower others.

“Be yourself. Para dili ka mag-lisod to lead others, you need to be yourself and you also need to build strength gikan jud sa imong kaugalingon para maka-empower sad ka sa others. Empower yourself first, before empowering others,” he said. 

Those lessons would later become part of how he approached volunteer work.

For Ramos, moving from lower positions in school to becoming an SSG president never meant that one role automatically allowed him to serve more people than another.

The number of people a person can serve, he believes, should not determine the value of the service itself.

“If you really want to serve, then bisag pila pa man na ka-population or unsa pa man na kagamay or kadako ang population, dili siya mag-matter,” he said.

“As they all say, with great power comes great responsibility. So if you can serve anyone and everyone, why not, ’di ba?” 

That belief also extends to the people he serves.

Ramos said he does not believe service should be limited by political affiliations, personal beliefs, or other differences between people.

For him, the decision to help comes down to whether someone needs help and whether he has something he can offer.

“Knowing the fact nga ang service, naa na gyud sa akong heart. So bisan pa man ug lahi mi ug political party or lahi-lahi mi ug belief, lahi-lahi mi ug religion, service holds no status,” he said. 

If a person or group needs help and he knows he can contribute, Ramos said, that is enough reason to extend it.

After the pandemic, Ramos became more closely involved with activities of the Sangguniang Kabataan in Guadalupe.

During the 2018-2023 term, although he did not hold a formal seat at the council, he experienced serving as vice chairman of different committees over the five-year period.

His first committee responsibility was Peace Building and Security.

From there came a series of community activities, including a fun run aimed at veering away the youth from illegal drugs, “Queen of Guadalupe,” “Operation Tuli,” “Skwela Karon, Trabaho Dayon,” and “Guadalupe Eco Ambassador and Ambassadress,” among others.

The work remained focused on the community, particularly the youth of Guadalupe.

“Para sa community jud siya, especially for the kabatan-unan sa Brgy. Guadalupe,” Ramos said. 

His involvement did not depend on holding an official position.

For one recent SK activity, the opening of the Asenzo Cup and the Drag Queen competition, Ramos was not originally part of the staff. He was appointed by an SK chairperson to serve as floor director.

For Ramos, the role itself mattered less than the trust placed in him to carry out the responsibility.

Regardless of whether he was officially part of the original staff, he said he was willing to take on the work if he was considered fit for it.

That willingness is also reflected in how he understands volunteerism within the barangay.

Even behind the scenes, without a formal position, he still considers the work volunteerism when it is done to help the community without expecting something in return.

For Ramos, volunteerism has never been about receiving something in exchange.

During the pandemic, he and the other volunteers did not expect compensation for their work.

Instead, fulfillment came from the people they helped.

Sometimes, it was as simple as a “thank you.”

Sometimes, it was seeing someone smile after receiving assistance.

“Siguro ang sense of fulfillment nga amoang ma-receive kay gikan gyud sa mga tao nga among gitabangan, like a simple ‘thank you’ as a gesture, mo-smile sila nga matagaan sila ug ayuda,” he said. 

That same sense of fulfillment continues even in activities that are no longer centered on emergency assistance.

During the Asenzo Cup, where he helped organize the opening and games, Ramos found satisfaction in seeing young people enjoy the activity the team had planned.

For him, that reaction was a sign that the work had achieved its purpose.

“Just by looking at the youth who enjoy playing a specific sport, murag it’s a fulfillment na sad sa amoang part,” he said. 

“The youth enjoyed the activity that we planned, we organized.” 

It is that kind of response that makes him want to continue serving, particularly the youth of the barangay.

Volunteerism, however, has also taught Ramos that serving a community means working with people who do not always see things the same way.

He considers dealing with different perspectives one of the hardest parts of volunteer work.

Volunteers sometimes have to relay instructions from leaders to residents who may have their own beliefs, principles, and reasons for disagreeing.

During the pandemic, one example involved quarantine passes.

The volunteers were instructed that one quarantine pass should be shared by at least five houses so that people would not all have to leave their homes at the same time.

Some residents initially resisted because they also had their own needs to attend to outside.

Ramos said the challenge was addressed through communication and explaining why the instruction was necessary.

The goal, he said, was to help residents understand that everyone needed to work together during difficult circumstances for the betterment of the community.

For him, remaining committed to the purpose of service becomes especially important when perspectives differ.

Ramos’ service also extends beyond organizing community activities.

He began hosting at 18 after someone believed in him and gave him the opportunity to handle an event.

Since then, hosting has become another skill he can bring into volunteer work.

He is part of a group of friends who volunteer and organize feeding programs in different communities, including parts of Cebu and Guadalupe.

In one recent feeding program in Barangay Bonbon, a mountain barangay in Cebu City, he used his hosting skills to help run the activity, introduce his fellow volunteers, hold the microphone, and interact with the children.

For Ramos, the connection is straightforward.

He found a way to use something he loves doing in service of something he also loves.

“With that, na-connect nako akong love sa hosting sa akoang love sa service,” he said. 

Ramos does not believe a person needs a particular position, skill, or qualification to become a volunteer.

For him, there is one thing that matters most: the willingness to serve.

He said volunteerism should not be treated as a path to popularity. A person should understand that they are there because the community needs them and because they have a purpose in helping others.

“Siguro, dapat naa ang heart to serve, mao ra gyud na,” Ramos said.

“Hopefully, ma-realize nimo na you are there to help others. You are there because the community needs you and you are there for a purpose.” 

That principle also explains why he rejects the idea of using leadership or volunteerism to demand recognition.

For Ramos, genuine service should not come with an expectation that people will repay the volunteer with money, recognition, or a sense of indebtedness.

“A true leader and a true volunteer will help without demanding any recognition or any kind of pag-tingala sa imoha,” Ramos said.

Fresh from graduating cum laude from the University of Cebu with a Bachelor of Arts in English Language, Ramos plans to pursue teaching.

He wants to review for the licensure examination, but he also plans to work first to help with his family’s needs and save enough money to send himself to a review center. 

For now, he continues to work as a freelance host while preparing to enter the workforce.

He can already picture what he hopes comes next: himself inside a classroom, sharing knowledge with his future students.

“I can really see myself in a four-walled classroom, kanang nag-impart ko ug knowledge to my students,” he said.

“Siguro mao na siya ang abangan sa usa ka Jepay.” 

For Ramos, however, whatever comes next remains connected to the same principle that has carried him from a student leader to a pandemic volunteer, from community activities to behind-the-scenes work, and from a microphone in his hand to service in his barangay.

Service holds no status.

A title may change, a position may end. Even the number of people one serves may grow or shrink.

But for Ramos, the purpose remains the same: if someone needs help, and he knows he can help, he chooses to serve.

As a seemingly principled man seeking no recognition he is certainly an anomaly.

Here is another story of pandemic resilience. JM Banquicio’s channel began during the pandemic when, after months of being grounded, he documented a restricted trip to the reopening of Boracay simply because he missed traveling. 

https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/08/23/the-sunday-times/filipino-champions/getting-to-know-jm-banquicio/2410349

JM Banquicio loved his corporate life. He had a good company, supportive bosses and great colleagues, and travel was something he carried alongside it, a passion that lived beside a career that was working. Leaving, when the time came in 2024, was not easy. 

“Deciding to leave wasn’t easy at all,” he says. 

But something had shifted, and he took the leap into full-time content creation. 

The story of his channel began earlier, in the middle of the pandemic, when Boracay announced it was reopening with restrictions. JM had spent months grounded, missing travel the way people miss something that is part of who they are. 

“I still needed to take a Covid-19 test back then before I could fly,” he recalls. 

He got tested, prepared all the requirements and went, not because of a content strategy but because he genuinely missed traveling. And he figured that if others wanted to go, they might need to see the whole process. 

“I thought of documenting the whole process since, if I was going to upload it online, many people who also wanted to travel to Boracay at the time might be able to relate to it.” 

That instinct, to show the practical side of a trip so someone else can find their way through it, became the foundation of everything he does. 

Today, his YouTube channel has more than 220,000 subscribers and 68 million views. He covers travel, food and lifestyle across Asia and beyond, breaking down itineraries, costs and logistics with the specificity of someone who has had to figure it all out himself. 

Viewers follow his trips in detail, and some take the exact same ones. 

“It’s also heartwarming to receive messages from the fam saying they followed my itinerary or watched my vlog before taking their trip,” he says. 

Fam is what he calls his audience, and the name fits. 

He is, by his own admission, naturally an introvert. Putting himself out there, meeting people and speaking in front of others did not come easily at first. 

“Vlogging pushed me outside my comfort zone and gave me confidence I probably wouldn’t have developed otherwise,” he says. 

The camera, it turns out, was its own kind of discipline. 

The videos that mean the most to him are not always about the biggest destinations. They are the ones with his family: traveling to Japan together, bringing his parents to China and celebrating milestones as a whole unit. 

“The first time traveling in Europe, visiting Christmas markets, and many more, but some of the videos that stay closest to me are really the ones with my family,” he says. 

He documents family life openly because family is genuinely central to who he is, and the channel has always reflected that. But he is also conscious of limits. Not everything becomes content. Some moments belong only to them. 

“Years from now, regardless of what happens to social media, we will have this archive of our family,” he says. 

The scale of the platform only becomes real to him in person. At his first Bloggers United event, he was caught off guard by how many people showed up. At airports and malls, strangers stop him to say they watched his vlog with their family before booking a trip. 

“There are actual people and families behind every view on YouTube,” he says. 

“Knowing that someone with their family gave 30 or 40 minutes of their day to watch my videos is something I never want to take for granted.” 

Behind what viewers see is work that is far less glamorous: research, planning, filming while still trying to actually experience the place, then transferring files and charging equipment late at night while others are already resting. 

“There’s so much more happening behind the scenes than what viewers see,” he says. 

He has learned to tell the difference between a day that needs rest and a day that needs showing up, and he no longer apologizes for either. 

I also asked JM about the online discussions that exist beyond his channel, including a subreddit dedicated to him and questions that have circulated about his health. He is aware of both. 

“As a content creator, I understand that putting myself and parts of my life online naturally opens me up to different opinions, both positive and negative,” he says. 

He pays attention to feedback he can actually learn from. The rest, he tries not to carry. 

On his health, he is direct: Yes, he takes care of it. Regular checkups, mindful choices and ongoing work. 

“What appears on camera is only a small portion of my everyday life,” he says. 

When things online become heavy, his family keeps him grounded. So do the messages from viewers. 

One has stayed with him: Someone wrote to say they were going through a very difficult and lonely time and that his vlogs gave them something to look forward to. 

“It could be a simple travel vlog, a family trip, or just an ordinary day for me,” he reflects, “but on the other side of the screen, someone might be watching because they need a little escape, comfort, or simply something that can make their day feel lighter.” 

That message, he says, became one of his whys. 

Last year, he received the No. 1 award at the World Creator Festival in Busan. Being recognized abroad, surrounded by creators from different places, made him proud not just personally but also as a Filipino creator. 

“Filipino creators have stories and perspectives that deserve to be seen globally,” he says. “So whenever I’m given an opportunity like that, I carry a sense of pride that I’m representing where I come from.” 

Then he came home, picked up his camera and kept going. 

Ask him what he wants viewers to feel after watching one of his videos, and he does not reach for something grand. 

“I want them to feel like they’re really with me in every vlog,” he says. 

He wants them excited to book the same trip or curious about a place in the Philippines they had never considered. And for those who cannot travel right now, he wants the video to give them 20 or 30 minutes where they can breathe, laugh and feel like they are part of something. 

“If someone closes one of my videos feeling a little happier, more inspired, or less alone,” he says, “that’s already something I’m very grateful for.” 

A corporate life set aside, a camera picked up, millions of minutes of someone else’s day given freely and watched. JM Banquicio made a bet on himself and on the fam waiting on the other side of the screen. So far, both are showing up.

The pandemic both forced the pause that made him start creating and shaped the useful, grounded approach that later allowed him to turn it into a career. It was a net benefit for him as for so many others. 

Manila cruise levels are back to pre-pandemic levels, surpassing 2019. 

https://www.nomadlawyer.org/philippines-cruise-tourism-manila-homeport-growth-passenger-volume-2026

Data from the Eva Macapagal Cruise Terminal indicates a significant acceleration in "turnaround" activity. As of April 2026, Manila recorded six turnaround cruise calls, a threefold increase over the two calls recorded during the previous year.

A turnaround call signifies that passengers both embark and disembark at the same location. This transition allows Manila to function as a starting and ending point for voyages rather than a transit stop, increasing the economic impact per passenger.

The terminal is currently equipped to handle medium and large vessels with capacities ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 passengers, primarily serving markets from the United States, Europe, and China.

Official figures from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) demonstrate a consistent upward trajectory in arrival numbers over the last three years:

• 2023: 88,080 cruise passengers
• 2024: 150,903 cruise passengers
• 2025: 226,247 cruise passengers

The 2025 figures represent a critical milestone, exceeding the 213,765 passengers recorded in 2019. While PPA national data for March and April 2026 is currently undergoing validation, early indicators suggest this growth trend is persisting.

The growth in cruise tourism is decentralizing, moving beyond the capital to distribute visitor traffic across the archipelago.

Active Regional Hubs: PPA-managed ports currently receiving regular cruise traffic include:

• Coron
• Puerto Princesa
• Currimao
• Salomague

Planned Development Zones: Further cruise-port infrastructure projects are advancing in the following locations:

• Coron (Palawan)
• Alegria (Buruanga, Aklan)
• Catagbacan (Loon, Bohol)
• Balbagon (Mambajao, Camiguin)

To support this influx, the PPA is implementing facility upgrades including covered walkways, improved gangways, and modernized restrooms. Sustainability initiatives are also being integrated, specifically the introduction of solar lighting and electric-powered port equipment.

The evolution of the Philippines from a "port of call" to a "homeport" destination is a strategic pivot that reduces reliance on foreign hubs like Singapore or Hong Kong. By increasing turnaround calls, the Philippines captures a higher share of the "pre- and post-cruise" spend, including hotel stays and local retail.

The expansion into secondary ports like Bohol and Camiguin is a calculated move to prevent over-tourism in Manila and Palawan while stimulating economic growth in underdeveloped provinces. The success of this model depends entirely on the PPA's ability to scale infrastructure at the same rate as passenger growth.

The Philippines is no longer just a stop on a Southeast Asian itinerary; it is becoming the anchor of the region's cruise economy.

The Philippines is quickly "becoming the anchor of the region's cruise economy."

Hi, My Name Is...74

Foreigners.  Some come, some stay, some leave, some die! Let's take a look at some foreigners in the Philippines. Say hello!

Hi, my name is Jeovani. I am from the Ivory Coast. I went to the mall in Bonifacio Global City and harassed a mall employee. I shouted profanities, and accused her of recording me without consent. I then issued verbal threats. But mall security was called and they subdued me and now I am facing charges. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/28/foreign-vlogger-arrested-for-harassment-threat-in-bgc

Taguig police arrested a 30-year-old foreign vlogger from Ivory Coast after he allegedly harassed and threatened a mall employee in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) on July 27.

The suspect, identified only as alias Jeovani, resides in Barangay Ususan, Taguig.

Police said the incident happened around 11:15 a.m. when the complainant, a 37-year-old female area manager, was outside her workplace.

The vlogger allegedly confronted her, shouted profanities, and accused her of recording him without consent. He then issued verbal threats.

Mall security subdued the suspect and turned him over to Fort Bonifacio Sub station 1.

He was later brought to the Taguig Pateros District Hospital for medical examination before being transferred to the Station Investigation and Detection Management Section.

Authorities said he will be charged with unjust vexation under Article 287 of the Revised Penal Code.

Hi, my name is American. I was walking down the street minding my own business when a motorcycle duo rode up on me and tried to snack my stuff. I resisted so they drove off. However they soon returned and one of them shot me in the shoulder and the head killing me instantly. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/11/american-shot-dead-after-resisting-robbery-in-rizal

A 35-year-old American was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding men during a robbery in Teresa, Rizal, on Friday, July 10.

According to the Teresa Municipal Police Station, the victim was walking in Barangay San Roque when the suspects confronted him.

He resisted, prompting them to flee, but they returned shortly after. The back rider allegedly shot him twice in the shoulder and head, killing him instantly, before taking his personal belongings.

The gunman and his accomplice escaped on a black Honda PCX motorcycle.

Police said the driver was wearing a black helmet, blue raincoat, blue pants, and slippers, while the back rider wore a gray helmet, black raincoat, gray and black pants, and slippers.

Authorities are conducting a follow up investigation to identify and arrest the suspects.

Hi, my name is Lars. I checked into a hotel, paid the fee, and then requested a four day extension. The next day housekeeping checked my room and saw that I had forced open the safe and I violated the no-smoking policy. They demanded I pay for the damages and the room but I could not. So I was arrested.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/05/15/danish-man-arrested-for-estafa-malicious-mischief-at-pasay-inn

Police arrested a Danish man after he allegedly failed to pay hotel charges and damaged property at a Pasay City inn on Thursday, May 14.

Pasay City Police chief Col. Joselito De Sesto said the suspect, identified as “Lars,” 50, was nabbed for alleged violations of Article 315 (Estafa) and Article 327 (Malicious Mischief) of the Revised Penal Code.

The arrest stemmed from an incident at Saiyan Travellers Inn located at the Salem Complex on Atayde Street, Domestic Road, Barangay 191, Pasay City.

According to De Sesto, the foreign national checked in at the inn at around 9:55 p.m. on May 13. He initially paid ₱2,998 for his accommodation, with a scheduled check-out time of 12 noon the following day.

Before his scheduled check-out, the suspect allegedly requested an extension of stay until 4 p.m. and agreed to pay the corresponding additional charges.

However, at around 4 p.m. on May 14, a room attendant reportedly discovered that the room’s safety box, valued at approximately ₱3,000, had been forcibly damaged. Management also found that the suspect allegedly violated the establishment’s no-smoking policy, which carried a penalty of ₱1,500.

Police said the hotel management demanded payment for the room extension worth ₱800, as well as penalties and damages totaling ₱5,300.

Despite being given sufficient time to settle his obligations, the suspect allegedly failed to pay the amount due.

The establishment’s security personnel held the suspect and sought assistance from personnel of Sub-Station 8 (Airport) of the Pasay City Police Station, leading to his arrest.

Authorities said the suspect is currently under police custody pending the filing of appropriate charges.

Hi, my name is Tim. In Makati City I entered a mall and suddenly went amok. I kicked over a TV and I destroyed a fire hose cabinet. I also hurt one of the security guards who tried to subdue me. I am now facing several charges and will likely be deported. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/03/19/german-national-arrested-for-mall-rampage-in-makati

A German national was nabbed by the police for destroying more than P80,000 worth of items and appliances in a fit of rage while inside a mall in Barangay Carmona, Makati City, last March 17.

According to the Makati City Police, the suspect, identified as alias "Tim," suddenly ran amok after entering the establishment and kicked a 55-inch television mounted on a vertical display rack valued at P79,240. 

He subsequently destroyed the glass cover of a fire hose cabinet worth around P3,000, prompting the mall's security personnel to subdue him. 

The mall management also reported that Tim had hurt one of the security guards who was trying to pacify him before he was turned over to the Makati City Police.

Based on the initial investigation, he may be overstaying in the Philippines, as his tourist visa reportedly expired last Jan. 24.

Authorities are now coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the German Embassy to verify the suspect's official status in the country.

The foreigner is currently facing charges for alarms and scandals and malicious mischief.

Hi, my name is Michael Patrick Oreilly. I illegally parked my SUV. When they tried to tow it I showed up and jumped in tot he vehicle and tired to released it. That didn't work so I jumped out and took a hammer to the tow truck. I smashed it up pretty good.  Now I am facing deportation. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/10/irish-man-nabbed-after-smashing-tow-truck-in-qc

An Irish man was arrested after allegedly smashing a tow truck with a hammer during a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) road clearing operation in Quezon City on Wednesday, July 8.

According to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), MMDA traffic enforcers were conducting a clearing operation along Regalado Avenue near Dahlia Street when they found the unattended sports utility vehicle (SUV) illegally parked on the roadside.

The vehicle was cited for illegal parking, clamped, and ordered to be towed to the MMDA impounding site in Marikina City.

Police said the SUV owner suddenly arrived while the vehicle was already secured to the tow truck and tried to free it by repeatedly driving forward and backward.

After failing to detach the SUV, the suspect allegedly got out, grabbed a hammer, and repeatedly struck the tow truck, causing damage to the towing vehicle.

The incident was reported to the Fairview Police Station 5, where responding police officers arrested the suspect.

He is facing a complaint for malicious mischief resulting in damage to property.

Meanwhile, MMDA Chairman Don Artes ordered the agency's Legal and Legislative Service to file a separate criminal complaint before the Bureau of Immigration (BI) seeking the Irish national's deportation.

Hi, my name is Bakhrom Uchkunovich Khamitov. I was driving my motorcycle when I was hit by bus. It caused me to lose control and I was thrown off and then run over by a truck. The bus did not stop. But the PNP did engage in a hot pursuit and caught him. He will be facing charges. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/04/02/uzbek-killed-in-bus-motorcycle-collision

An Uzbek national was killed in a bus-motorcycle collision in Badian town, Cebu province on Wednesday night, April 1.

Bakhrom Uchkunovich Khamitov, 30, was driving a motorcycle when he was hit by a passenger bus past 10 p.m. in Barangay Malhiao.

Police said Khamitov was driving home to Moalboal town, Cebu when he was sideswiped by a Ceres bus driven by Ramel Gutang Omaya, 49, of Barangay Cabutongan, Santander, Cebu.

The victim lost control of the motorcycle due to the impact and was thrown to the ground and run over by a truck, police said. The bus driver did not stop after the incident.

Police conducted a hot pursuit operation and eventually intercepted the bus. Emergency responders brought the victim to the Badian District Hospital where he was declared dead.

Police said the bus driver will face charges for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide. 

Hi, my name is Saeid. I am a gold and watch seller. Only this time the gold I was selling was fake. When my victims confronted me I pulled out a 9mm Smith and Wesson and told them to make my day. A scuffle followed and I was arrested. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/05/17/armed-iranian-national-yields-p186-m-fake-gold-bars

A 32-year-old Iranian national was arrested after allegedly selling fake gold bars worth P18,660,000 in Barangay Poblacion, Makati City.

The Southern Police District (SPD) said the suspect, identified only as “Saeid,” is a gold and watch seller. He was arrested inside a hotel during a transaction with victims to whom he was selling fake gold bars.

Based on the investigation, the suspect allegedly had a transaction with the victims inside a corporation office located within a hotel for the sale of 60 pieces of gold bars on May 15.

After receiving the payment, the suspect reportedly returned carrying a black hard-lock case containing the alleged gold bars along with purported certificates of authenticity.

However, when the victims examined the gold bars through physical inspection, weighing procedures, and gold solution testing, they discovered that the items were allegedly fake.

The victims confronted the suspect and asked for their money back, but instead of cooperating, Saeid allegedly pulled out a Smith & Wesson caliber 9mm pistol and threatened them and several witnesses not to seek police assistance.

It prompted a scuffle, which eventually led to the suspect’s restraint and apprehension before the arrival of responding personnel from the Makati City Police Station.

Authorities recovered pieces of evidence from him, including a black hard lock case, 60 pieces of alleged fake gold bars, 60 alleged falsified certificates of authenticity, a Smith & Wesson caliber 9mm pistol, a magazine loaded with seven rounds of live ammunition, a gold testing solution, a testing stone, a weighing scale, and an iPhone 16 Pro Max.

He also failed to present pertinent documents for the firearm.

The suspect is now under the custody of the Makati CPS Investigation and Detective Management Section (IDMS) and is facing charges for swindling, grave threats, grave coercion, falsification of documents, and violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

SPD chief Brig. Gen. Glenn Oliver Cinco commended the Makati CPS and emphasized that the accomplishment reflects SPD’s intensified campaign against all forms of criminality, including transnational fraud and armed offenses.

“This accomplishment demonstrates the Southern Police District’s commitment to aggressively pursue individuals involved in fraudulent activities and other criminal offenses. We assure the public that SPD remains steadfast in protecting the community and ensuring that offenders are held accountable under the full force of the law,” he said.

Hi, our names have been withheld but we are a motley group of 10 foreign nationals. We have been nabbed for a number of crimes "including undesirability, overstaying and engaging in gainful activities without permit." Of course we will all likely be deported. 

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/6/28/4-israelis-among-10-foreign-nationals-arrested-by-immigration-in-siargao-1850

Ten foreign nationals, including four Israelis, were arrested by Immigration agents during an operation in General Luna, Surigao del Norte last Friday.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said the foreign nationals were nabbed for violation of Immigration laws including undesirability, overstaying and engaging in gainful activities without permit. 

Aside from the four Israelis, Immigration agents also arrested two Chinese, one Lithuanian, one Australian, one Moroccan and one Nigerian.

The foreigners were previously arrested by General Luna MPS for crimes they have allegedly committed and the reports were forwarded to the Immigration bureau for follow-up and deportation proceedings resulting to the operation.

They are currently under temporary custody of General Luna MPS pending their transfer to the Immigration detention facility. 

The filing of immigration-related charges and deportation proceedings are being handled by the BI.

Hi, my name is Wen. A security guard was escorting me to Customer Relations Services to identify me due to a theft report against me. Instead I punched him the face breaking his nose, stepped on his eyeglasses, and attempted to flee. But I was immediately subdued and brought to the police. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/21/chinese-tourist-held-after-assaulting-pasay-mall-guard

A 21-year-old Chinese tourist was arrested after allegedly punching a security guard and breaking his prescription eyeglasses at a mall in Pasay City on Thursday morning, Aug. 20.

Pasay City Police chief Col. Joselito De Sesto said the suspect, identified as alias “Wen,” was arrested at around 10:40 a.m. at the mall complex in Barangay 76.

De Sesto said the suspect is a Chinese tourist with no permanent address in the Philippines and could not present identification documents.

Initial investigation showed that a female security guard asked the 49-year-old victim to bring the suspect to the Customer Relations Services (CRS) office for identity verification in connection with a previous theft report.

The victim confronted the suspect, who allegedly punched him in the face and fractured his nose.

The suspect then allegedly stepped on the victim’s eyeglasses, breaking them, before attempting to flee.

Other mall security personnel immediately chased and restrained the suspect before turning him over to responding police officers from Sub-Station 10.

The suspect was brought to the Investigation and Detective Management Section (IDMS) for documentation and the filing of physical injuries and malicious mischief charges.

Hi, my name is Bradley Vincent Gould. I am a homeless Australian living in the Philippines. You might remember me from 2022 when I got a little bit of viral attention and people were sending me donations. Well, the Bureau of Immigration finally caught up with me and now I'm being deported. I guess I will have to live on the streets of Sydney or wherever the plane lands. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1279829

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday reported the arrest of a 57-year-old Australian national with a standing deportation order in Bacolod City.

In a news release, Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said Bradley Vincent Gould was apprehended in Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod City, by operatives of the bureau's Regional Intelligence Operations Unit–Region VI, in coordination with the Philippine National Police, Naval Forces Central, and the Philippine Air Force on July 10.

Authorities said Gould was the subject of an existing warrant of deportation issued by the bureau following complaints of harassment and psychological abuse filed against him. He was located through intelligence monitoring and arrested after BI operatives confirmed his identity.

Following his arrest, the foreigner was informed of his constitutional rights, transported to Manila, and turned over to the Bureau of Immigration warden facility in Muntinlupa City, where he will remain pending deportation.

"We will continue to enforce our immigration laws decisively and work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those ordered deported are located, arrested, and removed from the country," Viado said.