A BURNING GLOBE

 

By Klaus Döring

Look around. Just any place on our globe. Yes, it's burning. Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war. Will be Asia another place?

In today's moment, nature's story line has reached a low point. It's unfathomable to me that some people can still so easily shrug it off—especially if they have kids or love anyone who is younger than they are—while for so many in my generation, it is such a constant, excruciating worry. Apathy, let alone denial, is no longer an acceptable option, because we know that if we stay on this course, the destruction will inevitably come for us, too.

I got the book "The Burning Earth: by Sunil Amrith. He is the Renu and Anand Dhawan Professor of History and professor in the School of the Environment at Yale University.

Ever since innovations in agriculture vastly expanded production of food, our remarkable achievements in reshaping nature have allowed billions of humans to exist and thrive. Yet every technological innovation has also empowered us to exploit each other and the planet with devastating brutality. In this magisterial book, historian Sunil Amrith twins the stories of environment and Empire, genocide and eco-cide, human freedom and planetary costs. His environmental lens provides an essential new way of understanding war as massive reshaping of the earth through global mobilizations of natural resources, including humans; and explains patterns of migration as a consequence of environmental harm. Amrith relates in gorgeous prose, and on the largest canvas, a mind-altering epic—vibrant with stories, characters, and vivid images and rich archival resources.

In my opinion: A brilliant, paradigm-shifting global history of how humanity has reshaped the planet, and the planet has shaped human history, over the last 500 years.

We all know: Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.

The main greenhouse gases that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and methane. These come from using gasoline for driving a car or coal for heating a building, for example. Clearing land and cutting down forests can also release carbon dioxide. Agriculture, oil and gas operations are major sources of methane emissions. Energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture and land use are among the main sectors causing greenhouse gases.

The Earth is feeling the heat. Humans are responsible for global warming. Climate scientists have shown that humans are responsible for virtually all global heating over the last 200 years. Human activities like the ones mentioned above are causing greenhouse gases that are warming the world faster than at any time in at least the last two thousand years.

The average temperature of the Earth’s surface is now about 1.1°C warmer than it was in the late 1800s (before the industrial revolution) and warmer than at any time in the last 100,000 years. The last decade (2011-2020) was the warmest on record, and each of the last four decades has been warmer than any previous decade since 1850.

Many people think climate change mainly means warmer temperatures. But temperature rise is only the beginning of the story. Because the Earth is a system, where everything is connected, changes in one area can influence changes in all others.

The consequences of climate change now include, among others, intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar ice, catastrophic storms and declining biodiversity.

We face a huge challenge but already know many solutions. Many climate change solutions can deliver economic benefits while improving our lives and protecting the environment. We also have global frameworks and agreements to guide progress, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (where I got some details!) and the Paris Agreement. Three broad categories of action are: cutting emissions, adapting to climate impacts and financing required adjustments.

Switching energy systems from fossil fuels to renewables like solar or wind will reduce the emissions driving climate change. But we have to act now. While a growing number of countries are committing to net zero emissions by 2050, emissions must be cut in half by 2030 to keep warming below 1.5°C. Achieving this means huge declines in the use of coal, oil and gas: over two-thirds of today’s proven reserves of fossil fuels need to be kept in the ground by 2050 in order to prevent catastrophic levels of climate change.

Let's entertain ourselves!

 

By

 Mindanao Daily News

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March 9, 2026

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If you’re waiting for brilliance to strike, try getting bored first. That’s the takeaway of a study published recently in the journal Academy of Management Discoveries, which found that boredom can spark individual productivity and creativity.

In the study, people who had gone through a boredom-inducing task — methodically sorting a bowl of beans by color, one by one — later performed better on an idea-generating task than peers who first completed an interesting craft activity. (The task: to come up with excuses for being late that wouldn’t make someone look bad.) The bored folks outperformed the artists both in terms of idea quantity and quality, as ranked by objective outsiders who assigned uniqueness scores to each one.   

It started with the evolution of mind and more usage of the brain. Meditation is the prime form to keep senses in place. But easier said than done. This brought the concept of entertainment. To keep us engaged in some or other way to channelize the thought process or in some cases to stop it.

Not a single day goes by without feeling good or even terribly sick. Many give up and withdraw in their loneliness. A legal solitude from “somewhere up there”.

Many wonder whether it is good for our future, for the economy, for education, and for our personal life and its surroundings. Well, I don’t want to swap with those up there ahd having to make the right decisions at the right time. You can already notice some things, people are becoming more and more aggressive, no matter where in the world.

Let’s entertain ourselves! Quite simply and clearly expressed. Since my retirement but staying longer  in my home office, I’ve been trying to entertain myself. I enjoy writing more – writing was and still is one of my hobbies. I enjoy playing my different instruments. I ignored that for years.

I enjoy listening to music from my incredibly large record collection back to 1936. I put my photo album collection in the right order. Incidentally, this is a wonderful task, since I am currently working on my  biography.

Entertaining means to talk with my wife and family personally too, and not only by messenger. Playing with the dogs, gardening, watching the daily TV-mass, praying … .

Yes, it’s our new abnormality we have to live with. We must not get down. Trust in God. It’s all in His hands.

A woman's work is never done

 

By Senator Risa Hontiveros

Published Mar 9, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Mar 8, 2026 04:11 pm

Senator Risa Hontiveros

Anne Curtis is, in many ways, a woman whom our society has long admired and celebrated. But during a recent hearing, Anne became someone whom Filipinas know too well: a woman subject to the crude imagination of a man who has forgotten the basic respect for others.

I felt disappointment. But I also felt recognition.

In moments like these, her name does not even matter. She could be any of our daughters or our sisters. Any of us, really!

Because abusers think that any visible woman, just her existence, gives them permission to speak about us in lewd ways. This behavior is not new. But it has never been acceptable.

That is exactly why I fought for the Safe Spaces Act, better known as the Bawal Bastos Law, which protects people from unwanted sexual remarks, gestures, and harassment in public spaces, workplaces, and online.

I am proud of this law, because it affirms that dignity is a right.

When disrespect like against Anne is laughed off, it becomes easier for the next person to repeat it.

That’s why catcalling is not harmless and offensive comments are not simple “compliments” that women should learn to ignore.

The hard truth is that the fight for women’s dignity has never been about just one law. Or one incident. Or one woman in the headlines.

The everyday realities that Filipino women carry quietly are not separate struggles. They overlap and spill into one another—a connection that has shaped my work in public service since the beginning.

Whether through the Safe Spaces Act, the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law, the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, the Healthy Nanay and Bulilit Act, or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children Act, the goal has always been the same: that women’s problems be addressed with urgency, compassion, and respect.

What does that mean in everyday life? It is a woman protected from harassment. A mother given the time to heal and care for her newborn. A solo parent recognized not as an afterthought, but as someone carrying an enormous burden with quiet courage each day. It looks like children protected from abuse online. That’s a country where women and our quiet courage are recognized and supported.

Just recently, I turned 60. Among friends, we’ve joked that I am now a dual citizen: citizen of the Philippines and a citizen of the senior lane.

Even so, I don’t feel like I am finished with the work I have been called to do. On the contrary, it made me feel even more certain about the work that still needs to be done.

A dear colleague of mine, Senate President Tito Sotto, once told our session that growing old is not something to fear. It is something to aspire to.

And he is right. It is not a burden, but a privilege. I am grateful to still be in the fight.

Like many seniors, this season of life also makes me think more deeply about the people who make all the work matter.

For me, they have always been my children.

Much of what we do, all the long days, late nights, and hard battles are for them.

I tend to think about the kind of country they will grow up in, the kind of world they will inherit, and whether we adults have done enough.

Are our laws fairer? Have we made them more humane? Have we built a culture of respect for both men and women? Or are we still raising girls to be careful, while men continue to believe that a woman’s discomfort is a small price to pay for some cruel amusement?

Because the real measure of a society is not only about putting women on a pedestal, but how consistently it protects us in ordinary places and everyday life. Whether we are famous or simply going about our day, we deserve to feel protected at work, online, on the street, at home, in school, in public.

So to Anne Curtis, and to every woman who has endured the same indignity: we see you. Know that this fight is for all of us.

There is still so much work before us. And I, for one, am not done.

Philippine peso, inflation face pressures from oil shock

 

Philippine peso, inflation face pressures from oil shock; 50% electricity discount bill pushed

A Gas station in Davao City displays current pump prices as of March 5, 2026, amid warnings of a significant price increase next week. (Photo by Keith Bacongco I MB)

Foreign banks have warned of rising risks to the Philippine peso, which could slide to the ₱60:$1 level, and to domestic inflation, which is poised to climb further if Middle East tensions persist. Read more

Meanwhile, the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) led by its president, Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez is banking on the party's pet measure in the House of Representatives to deliver relief in the form of a 50 percent electricity discount for qualified households. Read more

Filipina chefs share advice, break stereotypes, and champion women's place in the culinary industry

By Jessica Pag-iwayan

Published Mar 7, 2026 09:42 am

This 2026 marks the 115th year of observing International Women’s Day, a global celebration of women’s achievements and their continuing fight for equality. More than a century since the movement began, women across industries continue to break barriers, using their voices and influence to pave the way for the next generation and ensure that more women have a rightful seat at the table.

In celebration of this milestone, several brands and organizations have launched initiatives that spotlight the talent, leadership, and creativity of Filipinas. One of them is Starbucks Philippines, which introduced its “From Her Table to Yours” campaign. The initiative features limited-edition pastries co-created with three women chefs: Miko Calo of Taquería Franco, Cara Davis of Halong, and Amanda Hao of Seva.

During the launch, the three chefs shared words of encouragement and advice for young women who aspire to carve their own paths today.

"Your voice and your perspective are your strengths. Trust your instincts and truly believe in what you can do. There’s space for you at the table, there’s a room for each of us."

"It could be frustrating and tiring along the way, but if it is truly your passion, work will become your playground. Work hard and keep pushing. Learn and absorb what is taught to you in culinary school and from your internships. Explore new flavors by eating out and experimenting at home. This will help you find your culinary voice."

"There’s a misconception that women are not fit for the professional kitchen because we’re emotional and get mad easily. Why shouldn’t we have emotions? It’s part of us. It’s healthier to express emotions. Another one is being weak physically. Anatomically, we are very different from men, but there are things that we’re good at and strong at. But we can lift things, work in the heat of the kitchen, and we’re very resilient. And these are just misconceptions."

A healing encounter

 

By Fr. Rolando V. De La Rosa, OP

Published Mar 8, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Mar 7, 2026 03:27 pm

THROUGH UNTRUE

There are times when we experienced something so unexpected and life-changing that afterward we could only say, “I am never the same again!” Something like that happened to the Samaritan woman in today’s Gospel story. After her encounter with Jesus, she ran back to her town and told everyone, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.” Actually, Jesus did more than expose her past; he helped her see her true self (John 4:29).

That is often how grace works. God confronts us in surprising ways, not only to reveal who He is but also to reveal who we really are. For people who live with denial, guilt, or hidden wounds, this encounter can be both unsettling and liberating. God breaks through our defenses and invites us to a new beginning. Very often, He uses other people as channels of that grace. Consider the story of Paolo.

When Paolo was in high school, he was frail, sickly, and small for his age. One classmate constantly bullied him. He mocked him, pushed him around, and humiliated him in front of others. Yet Paolo never told his parents. He simply endured the daily abuse in silence, crying alone and carrying the pain within him.

Secretly, Paolo sometimes wished he could be like his tormentor—strong, athletic, and feared. But his better judgment prevailed. He wanted to be respected and loved, not feared.

One day the bully went too far. He brutally assaulted Paolo, and Paolo had to be hospitalized. Alarmed for his safety, his parents transferred him to another school.

Paolo went on to study medicine and eventually became a surgeon in a respected hospital. Colleagues admired his skill, but patients admired something even more: his compassion and gentle bedside manner.

Years later, one evening in the emergency room, a man was rushed in with a bullet wound in his chest after a shootout. His condition was critical. Paolo happened to be the attending physician and immediately led the surgical team. After hours in the operating room, the surgery was successful.

When the patient regained consciousness, the first face he saw was Paolo’s. Grateful to be alive, he thanked the doctor and asked his name. But the moment he heard it, the man’s eyes widened in terror. He suddenly recognized the physician standing before him. Paolo was the same boy he had once bullied and nearly killed.

Paolo looked at him quietly and said, “I know you. You bullied me in high school. See this scar on my neck? You caused it. I almost died because of it. When my parents transferred me to another school, I vowed that someday I would exact my revenge on you.”

The man panicked. Weak and helpless on the hospital bed, he confessed that after Paolo left the school, he had been haunted by remorse for what he had done. He had carried this guilt for years but had never found the courage to ask for forgiveness. Closing his eyes, he told Paolo to take his vengeance so that he might finally find peace.

But Paolo gently touched the bandages covering the man’s wounds and said softly, “This is my vengeance. When I became a doctor, I promised myself that I would fight violence not by inflicting more wounds, but by healing them. This is the revenge worthy of a merciful God who restores life instead of destroying it.”

The man slowly opened his eyes. Something inside him had shifted. It felt as though an invisible chain that had bound him to his cruel past had finally been broken. For the first time in his life, he felt healed, not only of the bullet wound in his chest, but also of the pride, remorse, and violence that had shaped his life. With tears in his eyes, he whispered, “Thank you, Paolo. After meeting you today, I know I will never be the same again.”

Perhaps that is another lesson of today’s Gospel reading. True encounters with grace do not merely heal our past; they transform our future.

March started with 'breaking news'

 

By Dr. Florangel Rosario Braid

Published Mar 7, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Mar 6, 2026 05:46 pm

PAGBABAGO

The month of March is known as a time for celebrating culture, women’s rights, social causes and of course for introspection reflective of the 40 days of Lent.

But this year, it was superseded with “breaking news” starting with the conflict in the Middle East that started six days ago. All the media – local and international TV channels like CNN, BBC, and AlJazeera, carried news on the US and Israel strikes on Iran which killed the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khomeini. Iran subsequently attacked Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf.

Iran describes the US and Israel attacks as “unprovoked, illegal and illegitimate” and carried out missile and drone attacks in response. The death toll since it started is estimated at over 1,000. An attack in a girls’ school killed 160. More than 30,000 people had been forced to flee their homes. Iran has accused US and Israel of targeting nine hospitals. Analysts foresee the far-reaching effect of the recent conflict not only in terms of disruptions in global travel through airport closures, global trade but also in regional security and international alliances. At this time of writing, the conflict continues to escalate.

The impact of the recent outbreak of conflict in the Middle East on the Philippine economy is considerable. We have 2.2 million Filipinos in the region, many of whom are based in Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain. The Department of Migrant Workers is ready to bring home 1,200 of our overseas workers. The Philippines, according to Nomura Global Research Portal, may emerge as one of Asia’s economic losers because of high oil prices which would rekindle inflation and erode the peso’s recent gains.

Other “breaking news” on the local scene include the recently concluded hearing on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte by the House Justice Committee sufficient in form and substance. It was endorsed by 54 members with one dissenting vote from Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay who was also asked to face the House Committee on Ethics for his sexist remarks about actress Anne Curtis.

For the past seven months or so, we have been deluged with front page news.

Since the flood control mess scandal broke out, our media has been coming out with “breaking news,” a mix of incredulous accounts and pleasant breakthroughs.

The “trillion march,” held several times in varied locations, and the last one during the EDSA 40 celebration, promises hope as it encouraged our citizenry to come together in addressing current social and political concerns.

Last week the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague held four pre-trial hearings which found reasonable evidence of former President Duterte’s participation as a co-perpetrator of the extrajudicial killings of thousands of suspected drug addicts. We look forward to the final deliberations. (Florangel.braid@gmail.com)

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Building businesses, not just relief for OFWs

 

By Manila Bulletin

Published Mar 7, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Mar 6, 2026 05:43 pm

When global tensions escalate, like the latest Middle East conflict, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are often among the first to feel the consequences. Economic disruptions, geopolitical conflicts, and labor market shifts in host countries can abruptly displace thousands of Filipino workers, exposing the fragility of livelihoods built far from home.

Against this backdrop, the government’s newly launched ₱2-billion OFW Negosyo Fund is an important and timely intervention. More than a financial safety net, it presents an opportunity to strengthen the long-term economic security of OFWs and their families.

Administered by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Small Business Corp., the fund allows qualified OFWs to borrow between ₱30,000 and ₱20 million, with a one-year grace period on both principal and interest and repayment terms of up to five years. The waiver of collateral requirements for loans up to ₱5 million further lowers the barriers to entrepreneurship for returning workers. These features demonstrate a clear intent to encourage enterprise development among OFWs who may suddenly find themselves rebuilding their livelihoods at home.

This financial facility is one way of honoring our OFWs who have been helping sustain the Philippine economy with billions in remittances each year. This is why we hail them as modern-day heroes.

Yet access to capital alone will not guarantee success. The true value of this initiative will ultimately depend on whether it produces sustainable businesses capable of generating stable income beyond the life of the loan.

For this reason, government support must extend beyond financing. Many small enterprises fail not due to lack of effort or determination, but because entrepreneurs enter markets without adequate preparation or strategic planning. To address this, the government should complement the fund with comprehensive mentorship and business incubation programs. Returning OFWs could be linked with experienced entrepreneurs, industry professionals, and academic institutions that can guide them through feasibility studies, market analysis, and operational planning.

Equally important is the provision of reliable market intelligence. Government agencies, in partnership with universities and research institutions, should help identify industries with genuine growth potential in various regions of the country. Sectors such as agribusiness, food processing, logistics, tourism services, and digital commerce may offer viable opportunities, but these must be carefully matched with local demand, supply chains, and available skills.

The private sector can likewise play a vital role in strengthening the prospects of OFW-led enterprises. Large corporations, financial institutions, and technology platforms can support these businesses by integrating them into broader commercial ecosystems. Retail chains, for example, could provide shelf space for locally produced goods from OFW entrepreneurs. Digital platforms can assist small enterprises in accessing wider markets through e-commerce. Meanwhile, banks and business associations could sponsor training in financial management, marketing, and operational efficiency.

However, the success of this initiative ultimately depends on the discipline and foresight of OFWs and their families themselves. Financial assistance must be approached not as temporary relief but as a carefully managed investment. Families should undertake thorough planning, prepare realistic business models, and ensure that borrowed funds are used strictly for productive purposes. Without careful stewardship, even well-intentioned programs can fall short of their transformative potential.

More than a credit facility, the OFW Negosyo Fund represents a strategic opportunity for the country to convert the vulnerabilities associated with overseas employment into a pathway toward domestic entrepreneurship and economic resilience.

If supported by sound guidance, strong public-private collaboration, and responsible participation from OFWs themselves, this initiative could help many Filipino families move from dependence on overseas work toward stable and sustainable livelihoods at home.

That would be the most meaningful protection of all.

Remolona warns BSP may raise rates if oil hits $100/barrel

 

Stocks fall as Middle East conflict drags peso to 59 Stock benchmark tumbled to end the week on a somber note, joining the regional retreat as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East drove the peso back toward record lows and clouded the outlook for domestic inflation. Read more Possible LPA may bring scattered rains to Visayas, Mindanao in coming days — PAGASA The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday, March 6, said a low-pressure area (LPA) may form east of Mindanao in the coming days and could bring scattered rains and thunderstorms to parts of Visayas and Mindanao. Read more Rockfalls, lava flows continue as Mayon Volcano eruption enters 60th day EFFUSIVE eruption at Mayon continues to generate incandescent lava flows, pyroclastic density currents or “uson,” and rockfalls. (Photo from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology) Effusive unrest at Mayon Volcano reached its 60th day on Friday, March 6, with persistent lava flows, volcanic earthquakes, and occasional explosive bursts, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. Read more Remolona warns BSP may raise rates if oil hits $100/barrel BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) may need to raise interest rates if global oil prices surge to $100 per barrel, as such a spike could push inflation beyond the central bank’s comfort range, BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. said. Read more