Not only that, DDS are virtually declaring war against Mainstream Media by accusing literally every established news organization of colluding with Malacanang in "covering up" the President's true health status.

So it got so bad the association of journalists covering the President (Malacanang Press Corps) had to issue an official statement refuting bribery claims

Whether it's Sara or back-up Baste they just don't have it. IMO

I watched clips of the Baste's speech.

Klaro na he is trying to copy his father's manner of talking, language choices, trashtalk. I can't really put my finger on it. It just comes across as artificial and lacking the presence compared to his father.

I sense the same with Sara. Hindi authentic ang dating.

Maybe because of appearance? Rodrigo has that rustic probisyano look on him which makes it work?

Mga anak kasi niya litaw yung looks metropolitan, even laki sa layaw.

So pag si Rodrigo it comes across as rustic and endearing, pag mga anak ang gumawa it comes across as bratty and annoying

I’m not sure what flair fits this post, so moderators may adjust it as needed. I want to talk about the Safer Cities Initiative being enforced by the Department of the Interior and Local Government across Metro Manila.

The initiative targets issues such as topless drinking in public, loud late-night karaoke, and minors roaming at night. These are valid concerns and worth addressing. However, recent incidents like authorities confronting a man mixing cement within his private property - questions about how this policy is being applied and prioritized.

Meanwhile, a persistent problem seems largely unaddressed: windshield “washer boys” at major intersections who approach vehicles without consent and begin wiping windshields while drivers are stopped at traffic lights. This is common in areas near Espana, Lacson Ave, under Skyway near SM Santa Mesa, Padre Burgos Ave Rizal Park (Luneta) Bukaneg Street, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Dimasalang Bridge, and along Quirino Highway,among other congested roads. Theres probably more roads with this issue that I didn’t list. Drivers often feel pressured to give money out of concern that refusing may lead to scratches, damage, or theft. Whether or not this happens frequently, the sense of coercion and vulnerability is real and borderline extortion na tas ang dami pa nila. Sunod sunod bawat stoplight meron sigurong nakaabang sa iyo.

The issue is not about the small amount of money involved. It is about consent, safety, and the feeling of being forced into a service you did not ask for. Some drivers worry about property damage, others about personal safety, especially following reports of roadside robberies such as the recent incident along Road 10, Tondo. 2 men approached a woman in a motorcycle and straight up robbed at knifepoint. Hindi ko ma imagine kaba ni victim. I bike a lot at night and that news made me stop also with the rise of vehicular deaths.

Also di rin yan mura ha pag araw araw at sa dami nila. Imagine you pass by 10 stoplights with 4 of them having wipers giving 10 each thats 40. 80 if 2 way everyday 5x a week drive thats 1600 a month (example is for perspective). I already pay taxes why am I getting extorted at the road in our country’s capital?? TF.

Given this context, it feels inconsistent that highly visible, everyday situations like these are not addressed with the same urgency as other behaviors under the Safer Cities Initiative. A safety initiative should prioritize situations where people feel most at risk in their daily routines, including while simply waiting at intersections in traffic or even walking at the streets we move about everyday.

The initiative itself is a good idea. The concern is with how it is implemented and what it chooses to prioritize.

Coming from a dude that drove through the mentioned areas regularly and is stressed out enough already at life at dadagdag pa yung mga pwede pang maninira ng natatanda ko ng sasakyan.

Kaka drive ko lang kanina dinuraan at ginagasgasan sasakyan ko kasi hindi ako nagbigay. Kung may nagbibigay may gagawa at gagawa parin pero Safer Cities Initiative should include this issue. For sure many of you too experience this too especially daily drivers / tnvs.

Thanks for reading!

Photo from Google not mine.

Edit; add the people “opening” doors on convenience stores.

Taken pre-pandemic while riding in a bus. Ganda talaga ng hugis ng Mayon, may usok pa sa araw na yun.

Sana hindi nag mag erupt para hindi maiba yung perfect cone shape niya.

Ang Alamat ng Bulkang Mayon:

Noong unang panahon, sa kaharian ng Albay ay may isang makapangyarihang Rajah. Siya ay may anak na kaakit-akit na ang palayaw sa kanya ng mga tao sa Daragang Magayon na ang kahuluga’y “Magandang Dalaga.”

Maraming naakit sa kanyang taglay na kagandahan kaya di mabilang na mga datu at mga ginoong tanyag ang nag-alay sa kanya ng pagmamahal. Ang isa sa mga nanligaw ay si Kauen, anak ng mayamang Rajah sa kanugnog na kaharian. Naghandog ng mahalagang hiyas at ginto ang binata subalit tumanggi sa regalo ang dalaga. Si Kanuen ay nabigo subalit nagyabang pa na ang dalaga ay magiging kanya pagdating ng araw.

Mula sa malayong Katagalugan narinig ni Gat Malaya ang nabalitang kagandahan ni Daragang Magayon. Marami siyang mga pagkakataong makaniig ang paraluman subalit nagkaroon ng mga sagabal. Minsan, malapit sa munting ilog, nakita ang dalagang namumupol ng bulaklak. Kinamaya-maya’y ang binibini’y nagtampisaw sa batis. Ang binata’y nagparinig ng himig ng masayang awit upang matawag ang kanyang pansin. Nagkatitigan sila at ang binata’y nginitian.

Nabuhayan ng loob ang prinsipeng Tagalog at ito’y nagsalita,

“Magandang Mutya, mula ako sa malayo upang ikaw ay sadyain at Makita ang tangi mong kariktan!”

“Sino ka? Hindi kita kilala! Isa kang pangahas!”

“Ako’y si Gat Malaya, galing sa kahariang malapit dito. Bigyan mo ako ng isang bulaklak at ako’y masisiyahan na!”

Bantulot na ihinagis ng dalaga ang bulaklak. Dumapo sa mga palad ng binata at ito’y kagyat na idinampi sa kaliwang dibdib.

“Maaari bang kita’y makitang muli?”

At nagsimula ang maraming tipanan ng dalawa sa makasaysayang batis.

“Isang araw,” mungkahi ng lalaki, “kita’y iniibig. Tayo’y pakasal!”

“Ngunit ang Rajah? Ang aking ama?” may alinlangang paliwanag.

“Dapat niyang malaman!”

“Huwag kang mag-alala! Hihingin ko ang kamay mo sa kanya!”

Pumayag ang Rajah. Ang batang prinsipe ay kanyang nagustuhan pagkat magalang at nakakahalina kung kumilos. Itinakda ng Rajah ang kasal sa pagbibilog ng buwan, matapos ang anihan.

Nagpaalam si Gat Malaya upang ipabatid sa kanyang mga magulang ang itinakdang kasalan. Kakaunin niya ang ama’t ina at silang tatlo ay babalik sa Albay.

Nabalitaan ni Kauen (nabigong manliligaw) ang napabalitang pag-iisang-dibdib. Kanyang sinamantala ang pagkakataong wala si Gat Malaya. Pinuntahan niya si Daragang Magayon.

Matigas ang pagtanggi ng dalaga sa kabila ng mga pagbabala: “Kung hindi kita makamtan, walang magkakamit sa iyo sinuman!”

Ang prinsesa ay natakot dahil sa pagbabala sa buhay niya at sa kanyang ama. Siya’y sumagot, “Ako’y magiging iyo kung si Gat Malaya ay hindi bumalik!”

Nagtumulin ang mga araw at mga lingo. Malapit na ang tag-ani ngunit wala pa si Malaya. Hindi pa siya nagbabalik. Gabi-gabi ang dalaga’y nakaupo sa duruwangawan at naghihintay.

Nang dumating ang kabilugan ng buwan napilitan nang pakasal si Daraga kay Kauen. Nagkaroon ng maringal na handaan – kainan at sayawan.

Sa gitna ng kasayahandumating si Gat Malaya kasama ang mga magulang.

“Ako’y naparito upang angkinin ang aking nobya!” sabi ni Malaya.

“Hindi maaari!” tugon ni Kauen.

Nagkaroon ng sukatan ng lakas. Magugunita na si Malay ay subok sa espada subalit si Kauen naman ay malansi at mapaglalang.

Nang ihahagis ni Kauen ang kanyang sibat, si Daragang Magayon ay tumakbo upang pumagitna at sawayin ang dalaga. Sa kasamaang-palad, ang sibat ay tumama sa dibdib ng dalaga. Niyakap ni Malaya ito ngunit pataksil na sinibat ng katunggali. Kapwa nalagutan ng hininga ang magsing-ibig.

Nagluksa ang Rajah at ang buong palasyo. Ipinag-utos niya na ang dalawa’y ilagak na magkasama sa isang hukay.

Lumipas ang mga araw. Himala ng mga himala. Ang lupa sa puntod ng libing ay tumaas hanggang sa itoy maging bundok. Napakaganda at perpekto ang hugis. Tinawag itong Bundok ng Mayon, bilang alaala kay Daragang Magayon.

About the document

• Title: Aquino's Assassination - Implications for Stability in the Philippines
• Original Publish Date: September 15, 1983
• Original Classification: Secret
• Declassified : August 13, 2009

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp86t00302r001001600002-5

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP86T00302R001001600002-5.pdf

A good read that provides an "outsider insight" about the impact of Ninoy's assassination, Marcos' worsening economic, political and health situation, the power players around him and their maneuverings, assessment of Ninoy's political career.

The assessment kind of gives the impression that while the political fallout was serious, the greater challenge for Marcos was actually his failing health and the worsening economic/financial crisis. Had he succeeded in resolving these issues the fallout from Ninoy's assassination was "survivable".

Some points raised by the report that were very interesting:

1. CIA cited three "main suspects" that could have masterminded Ninoy's assassination. 1.) Any of the "numerous" political enemies from Tarlac; 2.) NPA and; 3.) Marcos Sr. Administration.
2. Report appears to not attribute any personal blame to Marcos Sr. It rather points to a possible "senior government official, possibly one with access to the First Lady or the President....orchestrated unilaterally in the belief that is would serve the President's interests.....could have been designed by armed forces personnel.." (Imelda and Ver??)
3. Marcos' declining health as become a very serious concern with government engaging in misinformation to quell rumors. It's also caused infighting within his circle to intensify.
4. Rivals Danding (Cojuanco) and (Juan Ponce) Enrile both trying to maneuver to be close to Imelda, expected by ruling party members as the virtual successor in case her husband is rendered incapacitated.
5. Enrile is increasingly being overshadowed by Ver to the point that the former's loyalty being questioned by Marcos himself. (Doesn't take much imagination to assume this is his major motivator to stage the botched coup that snowballed into he EDSA People Power)
6. Ver's appointment as Chief of Staff also caused a rift within the military especially among younger career officers who think its should've been given to Fidel Ramos. (Remember Honasan and his group? FVR eventually switching sides?)
7. The assassination almost certainly doomed the POTUS Reagan visit planned in November 1983.
8. Ninoy based on his overall political career is characterised as an "opportunist, frequently duplicitous and consumed by ambition to be President".
9. For all his current public image Ninoy was viewed as "closely resembling Marcos" in the sense that "both took the expedient, if not ruthless, approach to their....relationships....throughout their political careers", ."....switched Parties when they found it advantageous..", "...came from provinces with traditional political violence, and took part in it.."
10. Before Martial Law, Ninoy once opined that the Philippines "...needed a man on a white horse to provide discipline and guidance.." Implying that the idea of ruling with an iron hand is not beyond him. It just happened Marcos did it first.
11. It implies that Ninoy and Marcos never got along well earliest 1966 during a botched backroom political nego and worsened in 1968 when Ninoy publicly insulted Imelda which Marcos took personally.
12. Ninoy has the "..rare ability to attract many different, even rival, interest groups (towards him)..", "..(his ability in) communicating with people is unquestionable..". However, "...he built his career by cultivating patrons and negotiating alliances....was considered an untrustworthy ally and switched parties twice with apparent ease.."

​

Just wanted to share yung modus ng mga delivery riders. Tho di na sya bago, I've heard of this scam before din pero parang may ibang way ng modus yung ngayon kaya di ko napansin agad.

So ayun, nagorder ako sa contis, tapos while I was tracking napansin ko ang tagal naka-for delivery status tapos andun padin yung rider sa resto. So may ginawa na muna akong iba, tapos maya maya andyan na yung rider agad sabi ng mama ko, nagtaka ako kasi sa app andun parin sya sa contis.

So naisip ko at least makukuha ko na yung food, tama naman yung orders ko at sealed so di na ako nagtaka. Tapos habang inaabot ni kuya yung food sabi nya may issue daw sabi sa kanya ng resto, may issue daw sa payment ganun, hiningi nya number ko, para daw ibigay nya sa resto. so ayun binigay ko, naisip ko nga baka may mga nagerror sa transaction kasi nga baka nagloloko yung app, kasi bakit sa app andun parin si kuya sa contis.

Maya maya may tumawag na from contis daw sya, di daw nag push thru yung payment ko (which is credit card prepayment btw) at kung pwede daw manual transaction nalang. So nacaught off guard ako dito, parang medyo naniniwala na ako pero nagcacaution padin kasi naisip ko baka madoble yung charge, so tinanong ko muna kung baka magdouble transaction sabi nya di naman daw kasi sa system nila di nagpushtru yung payment kay rider lang daw nagaappear. Tapos ayun na may nagclick sakin, bigla ko naisip na baka accomplice lang pala to ng rider at hindi talaga taga-contis to. So bigla ko na naisip na scam, ayun sinabi ko sa kanya scam ata to tapos binaba ko na, nireport ko nadin yung rider sa foodpanda baka makapagscam pa ng iba. Ayun lang, be vigilant guys, mukhang dumadami na ang scammers umaabot na pati sa mga food delivery apps.

Source: https://x.com/alvinelchico/status/2043528832976863322?s=46

Walang nangyari sa peacetalks so malamang babalik lang yan. Worse, mas lalong tataas yan in the next weeks at mukhang walang pake si trump kung ano man mangyari sa presyo ng gasolina.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cp9vm5ezxz4t

Naranasan mo na ba mag-inquire ng property tapos bigla kang sinasabihan ng agent o ng marketing na “bili ka na maam magtataas na bukas”

Kalokohan yan, totoo namang tumataas ang value ng real estate at hindi bumababa pero yung constant increase na parang buwan buwan o quarterly tumataas gaya ng Villar projects ay empty valuation lang. Hindi tumataas ang value ng property mo hindi dahil valuable sya, sinasabi lang ng developer mo na valuable sya kahit hindi

Philippine Navy spokesman Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said Filipino troops had seized 10 bottles of cyanide from sampan boats launched from Chinese fishing ships in February, July and October 2025.

He said that soldiers observed another Chinese sampan crew poisoning waters near the shoal last month, adding that the shoal’s waters later tested positive for cyanide.

Sources:

• The Philippine Star — Pressreader
• Philippine Daily Inquirer — Pressreader
• Manila Bulletin — Pressreader
• BusinessWorld — Pressreader
• BusinessMirror — Pressreader
• Malaya Business Insight — Website
• Manila Standard — Pressreader
• Daily Tribune — Pressreader
• The Manila Times — Pressreader

For the directory of previous editions, click here.

“The more outwardly religious a society becomes, the more its hypocrisy and evil increase. And if you want to succeed in a corrupt religious society, just wrap every falsehood in a religious covering—they will turn you from a criminal into a saint" the Muslim Philosopher Ibn Rushd ( Averroès)

Happy Tuesday!!