THE POWER OF LISTENING

 

Do you sometimes feel like this, my dear readers, that you want to discuss something, but the people opposite to you simply cannot listen to you? Sometimes, I would love to tell them, "first, learn to listen"!

Listening is indeed the key in effective communication. A person does not have to speak all the time to be the smartest person in the room. Lack of listening may result in frustration, disappointment, and resentment in our relationships. When we listen, we are able to create stronger emotional connections with people.

Many times during my teaching, I'm happy when my students have one or more questions for me - so, I can listen to them first. Active listening promotes mindful thinking, which can reduce anxiety and depression in students. It can also help students build relationships because as they engage themselves in conversation, their peers are more likely to view them as open and interested.

However, every time you use active listening, it gets a little easier. It can help you to navigate through difficult conversations. More than that, it helps improve overall communication, builds a better understanding and ultimately leads to better relationships with family, friends and co-workers too.

Listening is an active process by which we make sense of, assess, and respond to what we hear. The listening process involves five stages: receiving, understanding, evaluating, remembering, and responding. Not only in school or at the workplace. But especially talking about the workplace: Listening helps managers to solicit feedback and proactively find out about problems before they escalate. It's also the only way for management to get to know people as individuals and ensure that they feel genuinely valued.

Listening and the supreme gift of wisdom belongs together. You can only become a wise person, if you know how to listen. Do you still remember the university lectures in your old student days once upon a time? Anybody can become wise, Proverbs says. Wisdom is not reserved for a brainy elite. Becoming wise requires self-discipline to study and humbly seek wisdom at every opportunity. And allow me to repeat: and, first, learn to listen.

Hot weather in the Philippines

 Some 28 areas in the country were expected to experience the “danger” heat index, from 42 degrees to 45 degrees Celsius, as warm and humid weather prevailed during the midterm elections on Monday, according to the PAGASA. https://tinyurl.com/2dwd544w

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Volcanic unrest continues as Kanlaon erupts anew

By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz

Published May 13, 2025 07:51 am

A moderately explosive eruption occurred at Kanlaon Volcano early Tuesday, May 13, lasting five minutes and sending a towering ash plume 4.5 kilometers into the sky, reported the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

This is the fourth eruption of Kanlaon since June 3 and Dec. 9, 2024, and April 8, 2025.

Phivolcs said the eruption began at 2:55 a.m. and generated a “voluminous” grayish ash plume that drifted southwest. 

Rumbling sounds were also heard in Brgy. Pula, Canlaon City, and in La Castellana, Negros Occidental. 

Pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) descended the southern slopes, reaching up to two kilometers from the crater, while large volcanic fragments were hurled within a few hundred meters of the summit, igniting nearby vegetation.

“Thin” ashfall was reported in parts of Negros Occidental, including Barangays Cubay, San Miguel, Yubo, and Ara-al in La Carlota City; Ilijan and Binubuhan in Bago City; and Biak-na-Bato, Sag-ang, and Mansalanao in La Castellana.

Phivolcs has maintained Alert Level 3 over Kanlaon, indicating ongoing magmatic unrest and an increased chance of further “short-lived moderately explosive eruptions.”

Residents within a six-kilometer radius of the crater are advised to remain evacuated due to the risk of pyroclastic flows, ashfall, and volcanic debris.

Local authorities are also urged to prepare for possible evacuation should the volcanic activity escalate.

Residents in affected areas are encouraged to take protective measures against ash inhalation, particularly vulnerable groups, including the elderly, infants, pregnant women, and individuals with respiratory conditions, who should exercise extra caution.

Phivolcs also warned of the potential for lahars during heavy rainfall.

Alex Eala jumps to career-high No. 70 in WTA rankings

By Kristel Satumbaga-Villar

Published May 05, 2025 11:42 am | Updated May 05, 2025 11:43 am

At A Glance

• Alex Eala boosted her Women's Tennis Association (WTA) rankings this week following her previous performance at the 2025 Madrid Open.  

Alex Eala boosted her Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings this week following her previous performance at the 2025 Madrid Open.

The 19-year-old Eala jumped two notches to post a career-high No. 70 after finishing in the Round of 64 of the said WTA1000 event.

In that tournament, the Filipina tennis sensation yielded to world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in three sets.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka eventually captured the crown after a 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory over American Coco Gauff.

Earlier this week, Eala decided to withdraw at the Catalonia Open, a WTA125 tournament, in Spain where she was seeded sixth, to compete at the Italian Open set this week.

The draw has yet to be released at press time where Eala was reportedly second on the alternate list in the main draw after Caroline Dolehide.

Reportedly seeing action in the tournament are defending champion Swiatek, last year’s bridesmaid Sabalenka, and other Top 10 seeds like Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Jasmine Paolini, Mirra Andreeva, Zheng Qinwen, Paola Badosa and Emma Navarro.

The Italian Open served as the last WTA1000 event before the Roland Garros scheduled on May 25 where Eala already earned a main draw berth -- her first in a Grand Slam tournament.

Eala hopes to weave the same magic she did at the Miami Open late last March where she finished in the semifinals after toppling Grand Slam champions Jelena Ostapenko, Keys and Swiatek.

A tough three-set loss to Pegula ended her Cinderella run.

Puregold OPMCON 2025 is coming: Tickets drop this May at Tindahan ni Aling Puring Sari-Sari Store Convention

By Manila Bulletin Entertainment

Mark your calendars! Tickets for Puregold OPMCON 2025 will be sold from May 16 to 17 at the Tindahan ni Aling Puring Sari-Sari Store Convention at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

The event gives Filipino music fans first dibs at passes to one of the country’s biggestcultural events of the year. Set for July 5 at the Philippine Arena, Puregold OPMCON2025 will feature an unbeatable lineup of today’s brightest OPM superstars andPuregold collaborators—SB19, BINI, Flow G, Sunkissed Lola, G22, Skusta Clee, andKAIA—as part of its wildly successful Nasa Atin Ang Panalo campaign.

The epic night of music, talent, and Pinoy pride is one of the high points of Nasa AtinAng Panalo campaign’s second year as it continues to champion Original Pinoy Music.Check out Nasa Atin Ang Panalo’s all-new roster of the most talked-about names in theFilipino music scene—G22, Skusta Clee, and KAIA—who will bring their own sound,grit, and panalo story to the stage.G22, dubbed P-POP’s alpha females, continues to stun audiences with theirpowerhouse vocals, intensity, and unstoppable energy.

Since debuting in 2022,members AJ, Alfea, and Jaz have serially released a slew of hits such as “Bang,”“Boomerang,” “Limitless”—and their latest, “Pa-Pa-Pa-Palaban.”G22’s music video collaboration with Puregold, “Pagpili,” dropped on April 9 and quicklyracked up over 3 million views in just two weeks. The song’s empowering messagereminds everyone to choose boldly and say it loud.

Meanwhile, Skusta Clee, one of the most influential names in Filipino hip-hop today,dropped a powerful track titled “Sari-Saring Kwento” on May 8, an explosivecollaboration with fellow rap phenom Flow G, with sharp bars, infectious beats, and amessage that cuts deep for every Pinoy listener.

Also joining the movement is KAIA, the five-member P-POP girl group known for strikingvisuals and emboldening anthems. Members Angela, Charice, Alexa, Sophia, andCharlotte are set to release their “Kaya Mo” music video on June 12—perfectly timed forIndependence Day to celebrate Filipina pride, independence, and strength.“Nasa Atin Ang Panalo has evolved into something more purposeful than a campaign.

It’s now a crusade—one that celebrates the strength, dreams, and talents of Filipinos,”Ivy Hayagan-Piedad, Senior Marketing Manager of Puregold, shares. “Through thisplatform, we hope to showcase our homegrown artists and inspire Puregold membersand customers as they relish original panalo music on a world-class stage.”

Ticket mechanics for OPMCON 2025 will be posted soon via Puregold’s official socialmedia channels—so stay locked in and ready.

The photo shows the Puregold OPMCON 2025, featuring performances from SB19, BINI, G22, KAIA, Skusta Clee, Flow G, and Sunkissed Lola, will light up the Philippine Arena on July 5. 

Extreme heat causing machines to reject ballots — Comelec

Cristina Chi - Philstar.com

May 12, 2025 | 1:48pm 

MANILA, Philippines — Some automated counting machines deployed for the midterm elections on Monday, May 12, appear to be rejecting ballots due to the extreme heat, according to the Commission on Elections.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia told reporters that the ballots are eventually accepted when reinserted into the machines but this is slowing down the voting process. 

"Due to the heat, it's really the machines – just a few of them – are heating up. These don't shut down, but they spit out the ballot," Garcia said in mixed English and Filipino.

While voting, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also encountered a brief glitch when his ballot was initially rejected by the automated counting machine, but it was successfully accepted on his second attempt.  

Garcia said the poll body is sending "contingency machines" to affected areas, including the precinct in New Era Elementary School in Quezon City, where some machines are reportedly rejecting ballots inserted on numerous attempts. 

"This is unusual. We didn't anticipate today's extreme heat and humidity. Inside the precincts, it's extremely hot," the Comelec chairperson added.

The Comelec chairperson also mentioned that some voters at priority polling places are insisting on personally feeding their ballots into machines, contrary to protocol, which is further slowing the process.

"For example, at BuCor, ballots should be brought to the precinct and fed into the machine by staff. But some voters are insisting on bringing their ballots to the precinct themselves," he said, referring to the voting process for persons deprived 

Garcia advised voters to bring water and stay hydrated while casting their votes at polling precincts. 

He also appealed for patience as long queues formed throughout the day, noting that some senior citizens and persons with disabilities, who did not avail of the early voting option, joined the regular 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. voting period.

At least 68 million voters are expected to participate in the midterm elections, which will decide, among others, 12 Senate seats, 63 party-list seats, hundreds of district representative positions, and more than 18,000 local government posts across the country. 

DA: Imported onions test positive for salmonella, heavy metals

By Dexter Barro II

Published May 10, 2025 14:40 pm | Updated May 10, 2025 18:12 pm

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel is warning consumers against buying imported white onions, following the recent seizure of smuggled onions that tested positive for salmonella and heavy metals.

"If possible, please don’t buy imported onions because they may be contaminated with salmonella. These contaminated onions are not fit for human consumption,” said Laurel in a statement.

Laurel said the DA has not authorized the recent importation of foreign-sourced white onions, which are typically larger than locally grown varieties.

In fact, the DA's Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) has not issued sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC) for onions since February.

On Friday, May 9, Laurel led the inspection of two container vans carrying 34 metric tons of smuggled white onions from China in Mexico, Pampanga.

Tests conducted by the BPI’s Plant Products Safety Services Division (PPSSD) and the National Plant Quarantine Services Division (NPQSD) showed that the produce was positive for heavy metals and salmonella.

Heavy metal poisoning has been attributed to cancer and damage to major body organs, while salmonella bacteria could cause food poisoning and various infections.

The shipments—misdeclared as processed chicken karaage strips—were allegedly consigned to Manila-based Leksei B. Specialized Goods Trading, arriving at Subic Port on April 20 aboard the SITC Hochiminh. 

The two containers were then transported to a warehouse in Mexico town, where it was seized by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on April 26.

BPI said the agency accredits neither the importer nor the warehouse. 

One container held 1,800 red mesh bags of white onions, while the other contained 1,600 bags, each weighing 9 kilos—bringing the total to around 34,200 kilos.

In total, the smuggled onions had a market value of approximately ₱4.1 million.

Initial investigation by the CIDG suggests that the shipments were planned to be distributed to Divisoria and parts of Nueva Ecija. 

Laurel has since requested the CIDG to investigate the “recurring preference” of smugglers to utilize Subic Port for such illegal activities.

“Preventing the entry of misdeclared agricultural goods is crucial not only to ensure food safety but also to stop the potential spread of plant diseases and pests,” he added.

Laurel is urging the public to report any sightings of unauthorized white onions in markets as a measure to safeguard public health.

A traveler’s guide to affordable and fun adventures

From take-off to touchdown, make your next travel worry-free with BDO

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Planning a four-day visit to Asia? Coverage for emergency medical treatment benefits of up to Php500,000 starts at Php350. Want more protection? Boost your coverage to Php1.5 million for just Php463. That’s a small price to pay for a big peace of mind.

Heading to the United States for 15 days? Enjoy up to Php1.5 million in emergency medical treatment for as low as Php917.

Planning to explore the Eiffel Tower in France? We’ve partnered with an accredited insurance provider whose plans are fully Schengen visa-compliant which is Php2.5M in Emergency Medical Treatment for as low as Ph1,749 for a 15-day trip.

Apart from these benefits, travelers can now opt in for a more comprehensive cover which includes emergency treatment of pre-existing conditions and extreme activities, reimbursement of rebooking fees, and additional benefit for first 4-hour delay and baggage delay for return flights.

For a more seamless experience, purchase your travel insurance in the Philippines at least four hours before your departure.

Next time you pack, remember to include peace of mind with an insurance package that lets you travel safely and enjoy every moment worry-free. BDO Insure Travel Insurance includes COVID-19 coverage, travel inconvenience benefits, and access to a 24/7 Emergency Travel Assistance Hotline.