PH Government Issues Advisory for Foreigners Using Senior Citizen Discounts

22,111 views Premiered Jul 6, 2025

All passengers bound for the Philippines must register to E-TRAVEL: https://etravel.gov.ph/ PRA Advisory:   / 19p2bqjax9   https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/the... SRRV Discounts: https://pra.gov.ph/merchant-partner If you’re 50 years old or over and want a visa to stay long-term in the Philippines, go here: https://forms.gle/UtpidfyNVB6q1LrB6 Facebook Group:   / 16jp9sdepq   Foreign Tourists, except those covered by Balikbayan Privilege, may be required by airlines upon check in to show an onward/exit ticket or be denied boarding. You may rent a ticket here to satisfy this requirement for just $16: https://onwardticket.com/jennifer Send Money to the Philippines https://www.worldremit.com/en/downloa... $20 Voucher Code: JENNIFERTERRIH1 Some of the links above are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — thanks for supporting the channel. Hey there! I'm Jennifer Terri, your go-to gal for all things Philippine Travel News & Updates on YouTube since 2020. Facebook:   / jenniferterriupdates   Subscribe:    / jenniferterri   Support more through Paypal: https://www.paypal.me/jhodgson564 Email: Jenniferterricontact@gmail.com  DISCLAIMER: The content in this video is for general information only. This is not legal advice. Always do your due diligence.

WHAT LIES BENEATH

 

WHAT LIES BENEATH   Members of the Philippine Coast Guard deploy in the waters of Taal Lake off Talisay town in Batangas province on Thursday ahead of an organized search for the remains of dozens of cockfighting aficionados missing since 2021 to 2022. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MMFF 2025’s first 4 films promise horror, laughter and star power

 

Headlining the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival’s initial line-up of entries are major and fast-rising stars, including (clockwise, from top left) Vice Ganda, Nadine Lustre, Gerald Anderson, Piolo Pascual, FranSeth, Fyang Smith, Ivana Alawi and Dustin Yu.

Lyka Nicart - The Philippine Star 

July 10, 2025 | 12:00am

The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2025 has officially kicked off with the announcement of its first four official entries during the grand launch of the filmfest’s 51st edition with the theme, “A New Era for Philippine Cinema.”

According to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and MMFF concurrent chairman, lawyer Don Artes, the strong public support during the MMFF’s golden jubilee last year set a high standard for this year’s edition. The MMFF executive committee now hopes to keep that momentum going.

“We promise an even more exciting and engaging experience for the filmmakers and moviegoers alike for the 51st edition of the MMFF. With the first batch of entries revealed, get ready for an exciting cinematic journey in December,” said Artes during the event held at the Glorietta Palm Drive Activity Center, Makati City, on Tuesday afternoon.

For the MMFF’s 51st year, a total of 23 submissions were received, resulting in a competitive and challenging selection process.

“The MMFF’s call for entries, which yielded a large number of submissions, was overwhelming. The MMFF is committed to providing a platform for local filmmakers to connect with the audience. MMFF 51 is a new era for Philippine cinema,” said Artes.

The MMFF’s selection committee, headed by Boots Anson-Rodrigo, selected the first batch of entries from the script submissions, according to the following criteria: artistic excellence, commercial appeal, Filipino cultural sensibility and global appeal. Headlining the initial lineup are major stars, fueling excitement for what’s to come this year.

This includes “Call Me Mother,” set to be topbilled by Vice Ganda and Nadine Lustre, and produced by ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc., The IdeaFirst Company and Viva Communications, Inc. Director is Jun Robles Lana, who also wrote the script with Daisy Cayanan and Daniel Saniana.

Another entry is “Rekonek,” a production by Reality MM Studios under the direction of Jade Castro. Scriptwriters are Jericho Aguado, Leovic Arceta and Kat Naval.

The film’s cast is led by Carmina Villaroel, Gloria Diaz, Alexa Miro, Gerald Anderson and Zoren Legaspi.

“Manila’s Finest,” headlined by MMFF regular Piolo Pascual, is Cignal TV, Inc.’s entry for this year with Rae Red serving as a director. The script is written by Michiko Yamamoto, Moira Lang, Sherad Anthony Sanchez

Rounding up the list is the latest installment in the enduring horror franchise of Regal Entertainment, “Shake, Rattle and Roll: Evil Origins.” As the tradition, the film features three directors for the anthology film, namely Shugo Praico, Joey de Guzman and Ian Loreños.

Scriptwriters are Alex Castor, Onay Sales and Gina Marissa Tagasa. Lead actors are Ivana Alawi, Fyang Smith, Loisa Andalio, Ashley Ortega, Ysabel Ortega, Elijah Alejo, Carla Abellana, Marilyn Reynes, Janice de Belen, Kaila Estrada, Richard Gutierrez, Ryan Bang, JM Ibarra, Dustin Yu and the FranSeth loveteam (Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin).

These first four entries will form part of the official eight entries to the 51st MMFF to be shown in cinemas nationwide beginning on Dec. 25, Christmas Day.

The annual MMFF is organized by the MMDA and held during the Christmas season to support and celebrate Filipino films.

Proceeds from the MMFF go to a number of beneficiaries in the film industry, such as the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund), the Film Academy of the Philippines, the Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council, the Optical Media Board, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

Meanwhile, the grand launch was graced by Kapamilya Big 4 housemates Brent Manalo, River Joseph, Esnyr Ranollo and Ralph De Leon from the “Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition.”

The remaining four entries will be selected from finished film submissions with a deadline of Sept. 15. These will be unveiled on Sept. 30.

Other MMFF 2025 activities to watch out for are the MMFF 2025 media conference, Oct. 30; celebrity golf tournament, Nov. 12; Parade of the Stars, Dec. 19; nationwide showing of official entries, Dec. 25; and Gabi ng Parangal on Dec. 27.

Need to renew your driver's license? You can now do it online

 

Jean Mangaluz - Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation launched an online system where drivers can renew their licenses without having to physically travel to a Land Transportation Office (LTO). 

In a statement on Thursday, July 10, Dizon said that the Online Driver's License Renewal System has been integrated with the eGovPH app. 

"The President has directed the DICT and DOTr to make the processes involving the frontline agencies like LTO more accessible and easier for the general public,” Dizon said during the platform’s launch.

"Hindi ka na kailangan pumunta sa LTO office. Hindi ka na mabibiktima ng fixers," he added. (You don’t need to go to the LTO office. You won’t be victimized by fixers.) 

Dizon said that it was all end to end now, including the payment of fees and medical exams.

Drivers can choose to pick up their driver’s license from the nearest LTO branch or have it delivered to their house.

Malacañang also touted the new online platform. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that online driver’s education and telemedicine have been included in the app. 

Renewal can be done in 15 minutes, Castro said. 

PSEi dips as Washington hikes tariffs on Philippine goods

 

By James A. Loyola

Published Jul 10, 2025 04:58 pm

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) closed lower on Thursday, July 10, after the United States (US) increased tariffs on goods from Manila.

The main index shed 41.14 points, or 0.63 percent, to settle at 6,463.20. Banks led the decline, while Services and Mining sectors saw strong gains.

Volume increased to 1.4 billion shares valued at P9.45 billion. Advancers still outnumbered decliners 107 to 85, with 55 issues unchanged.

“Philippine shares fell as investors remained on the sidelines due to renewed tariff threats, with markets declining further towards the close on Trump’s latest round of imposing new duties on imports,” said Luis Limlingan, Managing Director of Regina Capital Development Corporation.

The Philippines was among several countries impacted by the US' plan to impose a 20 percent tariff on exports, a notable increase from the 17 percent reciprocal rate announced in April.

Philstocks Financial Research Manager Japhet Tantiangco noted, “The PSEi closed down as investors took profits following a three-day rally.”

He added, “The local market’s sideways movement ended in negative territory, reflecting investors’ reaction to the US’ upward revision of its tariffs on Philippine exports.”

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort stated that the PSEi corrected slightly lower after the higher tariff rates set by Trump. This could lead to slower demand for Philippine exports to the US, which accounted for 17 percent of the country's total exports in 2024.

Ricafort further commented, “The markets are still in a wait-and-see mode, anticipating whether Trump would be willing to compromise and settle for lower negotiated tariffs during the trade talks, given the TACO track record in recent months.”

He explained that “TACO” stands for “Trump Always Chickens Out,” referencing a pattern where Trump typically initiates with much higher tariffs as a negotiating tactic, then eventually settles for a significantly lower rate.

“Thus, there could be some volatility in the markets, but this is already partly priced in/expected, so it's not really as surprising anymore,” he noted.

Philippines, Brazil, 6 other nations slapped with higher US tariffs

 

President Donald Trump speaks to the media, Friday, June 27, 2025, in the briefing room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

By The Associated Press

Published Jul 10, 2025 05:41 am

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump singled out Brazil for import taxes of 50% on Wednesday for its treatment of its former president, Jair Bolsonaro, showing that personal grudges rather than simple economics are a driving force in the U.S. leader’s use of tariffs.

Trump avoided his standard form letter with Brazil, specifically tying his tariffs to the trial of Bolsonaro, who is charged with trying to overturn his 2022 election loss. Trump has described Bolsonaro as a friend and hosted the former Brazilian president at his Mar-a-Lago resort when both were in power in 2020.

“This Trial should not be taking place,” Trump wrote in the letter posted on Truth Social. “It is a Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!”

There is a sense of kinship as Trump was indicted in 2023 for his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The U.S. president addressed his tariff letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who bested Bolsonaro in 2022.

Bolsonaro testified before the country’s Supreme Court in June over the alleged plot to remain in power after his 2022 election loss. Judges will hear from 26 other defendants in coming months. A decision could come as early as September, legal analysts say. Bolsonaro has already been ruled ineligible until 2030 by the country’s electoral authorities.

Brazil’s vice president, Geraldo Alckmin, said he sees “no reason” for the U.S. to hike tariffs on the South American nation.

“I think he has been misinformed,” he said. “President Lula was jailed for almost two years. No one questioned the judiciary. No one questioned what the country had done. This is a matter for our judiciary branch.”

For Trump, the tariffs are personal

Trump also objected to Brazil’s Supreme Court fining of social media companies such as X, saying the temporary blocking last year amounted to “SECRET and UNLAWFUL Censorship Orders.” Trump said he is launching an investigation as a result under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which applies to companies with trade practices that are deemed unfair to U.S. companies.

Unmentioned in the letter was that X is owned by Elon Musk, Trump’s multibillionaire backer in the 2024 election whose time leading Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency recently ended and led to a public feud over the U.S. president’s deficit-increasing budget plan. Trump also owns a social media company, Truth Social.

The Brazil letter was a reminder that politics and personal relations with Trump matter just as much as any economic fundamentals. And while Trump has said the high tariff rates he’s setting are based on trade imbalances, it was unclear by his Wednesday actions how the countries being targeted would help to reindustrialize America.

The tariffs starting Aug. 1 would be a dramatic increase from the 10% rate that Trump levied on Brazil as part of his April 2 “Liberation Day” announcement. In addition to oil, Brazil sells orange juice, coffee, iron and steel to the U.S., among other products. The U.S. ran a $6.8 billion trade surplus with Brazil last year, according to the Census Bureau.

Trump initially announced his broad tariffs by declaring an economic emergency, arguing under a 1977 law that the U.S. was at risk because of persistent trade imbalances. But that rationale becomes problematic in this particular case, as Trump is linking his tariffs to the Bolsonaro trial and the U.S. exports more to Brazil than it imports.

Trump also targeted smaller trade partners

Trump also sent letters Wednesday to the leaders of seven other nations. None of them — the Philippines, Brunei, Moldova, Algeria, Libya, Iraq and Sri Lanka — is a major industrial rival to the United States.

Most economic analyses say the tariffs will worsen inflationary pressures and subtract from economic growth, but Trump has used the taxes as a way to assert the diplomatic and financial power of the U.S. on both rivals and allies. His administration is promising that the taxes on imports will lower trade imbalances, offset some of the cost of the tax cuts he signed into law on Friday and cause factory jobs to return to the United States.

Trump, during a White House meeting with African leaders, talked up trade as a diplomatic tool. Trade, he said, “seems to be a foundation” for him to settle disputes between India and Pakistan, as well as Kosovo and Serbia.

“You guys are going to fight, we’re not going to trade,” Trump said. “And we seem to be quite successful in doing that.”

On Monday, Trump placed a 35% tariff on Serbia, one of the countries he was using as an example of how fostering trade can lead to peace.

Trump said the tariff rates in his letters were based on “common sense” and trade imbalances, even though the Brazil letter indicated otherwise. Trump suggested he had not thought of penalizing the countries whose leaders were meeting with him in the Oval Office — Liberia, Senegal, Gabon, Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau — as “these are friends of mine now.”

Countries are not complaining about the rates outlined in his letters, he said, even though those tariffs have been generally close to the ones announced April 2 that rattled financial markets. The S&P 500 stock index rose Wednesday.

“We really haven’t had too many complaints because I’m keeping them at a very low number, very conservative as you would say,” Trump said.

Tariff uncertainty returns with Trump’s letters

Officials for the European Union, a major trade partner and source of Trump’s ire on trade, said Tuesday that they are not expecting to receive a letter from Trump listing tariff rates. The Republican president started the process of announcing tariff rates on Monday by hitting two major U.S. trading partners, Japan and South Korea, with import taxes of 25%.

According to Trump’s Wednesday letters, imports from Libya, Iraq, Algeria and Sri Lanka would be taxed at 30%, those from Moldova and Brunei at 25% and those from the Philippines at 20%. The tariffs would start Aug. 1.

The Census Bureau reported that last year that the U.S. ran a trade imbalance on goods of $1.4 billion with Algeria, $5.9 billion with Iraq, $900 million with Libya, $4.9 billion with the Philippines, $2.6 billion with Sri Lanka, $111 million with Brunei and $85 million with Moldova. The imbalance represents the difference between what the U.S. exported to those countries and what it imported.

Taken together, the trade imbalances with those seven countries are essentially a rounding error in a U.S. economy with a gross domestic product of $30 trillion.

The letters were posted on Truth Social after the expiration of a 90-day negotiating period with a baseline levy of 10%. Trump is giving countries more time to negotiate with his Aug. 1 deadline, but he has insisted there will be no extensions for the countries that receive letters.

The tariff letters are worded aggressively in Trump’s style of writing. He frames the tariffs as an invitation to “participate in the extraordinary Economy of the United States,” adding that the trade imbalances are a “major threat” to America’s economy and national security.

The president threatened additional tariffs on any country that attempts to retaliate. He said he chose to send the letters because it was too complicated for U.S. officials to negotiate with their counterparts in the countries with new tariffs. It can take years to broker trade accords.

The war for peace

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

IT’S, of course, intriguing that while Christ is known to often greet his disciples with peace, as in “Peace be with you” (cfr. Jn 20,19; Jn 20,21), he also said at one time: “Do not think that I came to send peace upon earth; I came not to send peace, but the sword.” (Mt 10,34)

Christ is supposed to be the Prince of Peace. (cfr Is 9,6) At his birth, a host of angels sang praises to him: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!” (Lk 2,13) Then why did he say he has not come to establish peace on the earth?

We have to understand that the sword Christ mentioned here does not mean to be destructive but rather constructive, driven by love and the desire to be united with God and with the others in a way proper to us as children of God and brothers and sisters among ourselves.

Our life here on earth cannot but be in some form of struggle. Aside from our innate urge to grow and develop that requires some effort, we also have to contend with the enemies of God and of our soul, whose sole intent is precisely to bring us down, to divert us from our proper path toward holiness.

We are not simply ranged against natural difficulties, challenges and trials in life, but also against very powerful and subtle nemeses. The natural enemies alone are already formidable.

But we still have enemies tougher than these. As St. Paul said, “Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.” (Eph 6,12)

Truth is many people—in fact, I would say all of us one way or another—are looking for effective ways to develop our spiritual life and to be skillful in the unavoidable spiritual warfare in this life.

People, including the young ones whose stirring for the spiritual can be sharp and intense if hidden, want to know, for example, how to pray, or how to keep it going amid the many concerns in life. Getting engaged with God all throughout the day eludes them.

The answer could very well be that war and peace somehow go together. To have peace, some war has to be waged. It cannot be any other way. A peace without a war, given our wounded condition, is a false peace.

And that’s simply because our life here on earth necessarily involves some warfare. The forces of good and evil do their battle all over the place, first in the hearts of men and then in many other arenas—practically in all the fields where human freedom is involved.

It’s true that peace is part of the ultimate goal all of us are seeking. It’s part of that inmost longing for joy that every human heart possesses. But to have that peace, we need to wage war precisely against those forces and elements that would undermine our pristine desire for endless peace.

That is how we have to understand those words of Christ cited above. He wants us to make war against the enemies of God and of men. And this war can take very subtle forms as when we have to contend with the so-called sweet poisons. We should always be on guard, and prepared to do battle against anything that goes against our own true good.

OUR INTERNAL CONFLICTS

 

Internal conflict refers to the struggle within a person's mind, a battle between opposing desires, values, or needs. It can manifest as a clash between what one wants to do and what one believes is right, or between different aspects of one's personality or values. These conflicts can be a source of stress and can impact various aspects of life, including work, relationships, and personal well-being. 

With individual internal conflict, we find ourselves at war with, well, ourselves. We have a strong desire to do something that's in conflict with our beliefs, values, or self-image. An example might be wanting to eat healthy foods, but stopping for fast food when tired.

We are in conflict with ourselves many times during life. Our future gives cause for concern; the past is captured, therefore we miss the future.

The grief and sorrow asked the hope, "How are you?" The hope answered, " I am a little bit low and sad today!" The sorrow replied sarcastically, "I hope so!"

When conflict is mismanaged, it can cause great harm to a relationship, but when handled in a respectful, positive way, conflict provides an opportunity to strengthen the bond between two people. Whether you’re experiencing conflict at home, work, or school, learning these skills can help you resolve differences in a healthy way and build stronger, more rewarding relationships.

When people get angry with each other, they often say or do things without realizing the cause of their feelings. Understanding the dynamics behind a conflict can make it easier to resolve issues. This insight also can help you mediate a conflict between friends and relatives. Many experts break personal and professional conflicts down into basic types, based on the underlying causes of disagreements and the dynamics.

Nobody really knows what might happen after reaching the retirement age. Sure, if we can observe our neighbors and all other people in our surroundings, we really don't like to know it. If we treat ourselves with care, our real age will not be shown. I won't make any secret about celebrating my 70th birthday sometime next year. I enjoy it. I am proud to reach this age with God's help.

It seems that the respectable treatment of our beloved seniors around us are disappearing into the past and are forgotten by the younger generation. Praising the elderly nowadays means to attest to their impudent and imperishable youthfulness.  I am sure, with His help many seniors are still strong, still indefatigable, still a phenomenon, still intellectual and still spiritual on top!

Let's not forget our respect, when sometimes just being artificial or  affected by stammering, that "our old lady" or "our old gentleman" hasn't become senile yet.

On our way to an honorable and respectful age we should try to fulfill some of our greatest longings in life.

During the last decades, I met many people around the whole globe. Unbelievable, I found out, no matter where in this world, the conflicting attitude is everywhere. "It's an absolute certainty, those doubts are the main certainty!" stressed already the German author, philosopher and dramatist Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956).

Please allow me, once in a while, to be able to say NO. Please allow me to delete inferior and defeatist feelings. Please allow me to admit that I can't do everything during a single day. Please allow me to no longer be afraid about other people and their spiteful comments about me.  

People love a good story. But what makes great literature so compelling? Is it the setting, the plot, the characters — or the rich inner world created by all of these things together?

The stories that rise to the status of “classics” are the ones that paint a character’s internal struggles against a larger, external conflict. Katniss wants to save her sister, at the risk of her own life. Frodo wants to return to the Shire, but the fate of Middle-earth depends on him.

It’s good reading, for sure, and all of us hope that we’d be as noble and heroic when the time comes. But as the main character in our own great dramas, we’re painfully aware of the choices (big or small) in our own lives — and the answers don’t always seem as clear as they do on the page.

Unlike external conflicts, which are forces that feel like they’re acting “on” us, internal conflicts are contradictions between a closely-held value and a course of action. If you find yourself pondering a decision, chances are, there’s some type of internal conflict at play.  

Conflict in literature tends to be clear because we only know what the author tells us about a character. In fantasy literature (my favorite kind) there’s often tension between what a character wants and what the world needs them to be. The plot of the book hinges on a few, pivotal decisions that often have the ability to decide the fate of the world.

If we take fantasy novels as a metaphor for our own inner lives, we can see how seemingly-small choices feel like they have earth-shattering consequences. This inner turmoil is known as cognitive dissonance. Because the psychological discomfort of cognitive dissonance is so painful, we’ll go through some pretty impressive hoops to overcome it. We might think of it as our very own Mount Doom.

Please allow me to accept my silence. Please accept me being terribly tired from time to time. Please allow me to be excused even without having an intelligent reply. Please allow me to be carried by salvation and bliss.

Hopefully, we may have enough understanding people with us to accompany us during the voyage of our sometimes very conflicting life.

NOBLE HEARTS AND MINDS

 

A Leader with a noble heart gives us a noble sense of moral support. Noble leadership is not about the self, but about caring for others, supporting others, guiding others, knowing that the needs of others are met and bringing out their best. A Leader with a noble heart gives us a noble sense of honor.

In times of natural disasters and again quickly dwindling hopes of many people around me (expats AND Filipinos), I still feel inspired to put the cart before the horse.

Maybe at the end of this piece I'll tread the footsteps of other columnists and commentators. So be it!

Pride comes before a fall - but never magnanimity. The dictionary defines magnanimity as in greatness of mind and generosity of heart especially in forgiveness. Filipinos oftentimes are really magnanimous people. Especially nowadays, Filipinos seem to have the quality of being high souled, rising above pettiness or meanness and the generosity in overlooking injury or insult.

The late Harry Emerson Fosdick, a famous Protestant teacher wrote: "No man ever saved anybody, or served any great or left any enduring impression, who was not willing to forget indignities, bear no grudges. The world's saviours have all, in one way and another, loved their enemies and done them good!"

Magnanimity, applied to relations between nations and/or people, transforms hostility into helpfulness. Consider the massive assistance the U.S. provided to its former enemies following World War II, enabling them to rebuild their blasted cities and shattered economies.

No 'West Berlin inhabitant' (and count me in!) will forget the U.S. airlift during the East German-Russian blockade, when the so-called "raisin bomber planes" kept West-Berlin and its people alive. Especially now, because of the 20th anniversary of the Berlin wall falling on November 9, 2009, such remembrances are coming back and let me write this piece.

The Philippine nation again faces a  lot of trials. These trials will prove the strengths of the Filipino people. But, not every tragedy unites a nation.

What quality in human character do you consider the most admirable of all? How about tolerance toward another's viewpoint without smugness? How about refusal to judge another's actions or motives without first knowing what lies behind them?

U.S. writer Clarence W. Hall said: "Magnanimity must be developed and habitual by practice, but it's a virtue that sweetens and glorifies life." Very well said.

People with a noble heart and mind are fond of daydreams. Of course fantasies don't have to be a flight away from reality. In fact, psychologists are discovering more and more that they can play a creative role in  self-development and a better mutual understanding. It's also one of the best things for the well being of a nation.

"Noble hearts and minds" refers to individuals who possess both strong moral character and intellectual depth. It signifies a person who is not only kind, compassionate, and virtuous (a "noble heart") but also possesses wisdom, insight, and a capacity for thoughtful consideration (a "noble mind").

Compassion and Empathy: A noble heart is characterized by genuine care and concern for others, showing empathy and a willingness to help.

The phrase "noble hearts and minds" suggests a holistic ideal of human excellence, combining ethical conduct with intellectual depth. It is a concept that has been revered throughout history and across cultures, inspiring individuals to strive for both moral virtue and intellectual growth.