WRITING AND VIGILANCE

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 Mindanao Daily News

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February 27, 2026

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I have loved writing for more than 50 years. My first article was published when I was 11. In a recently published article I learned that, the stark reality is, everyone is a writer. In all likelihood, we face a blank sheet every single day – a new slate, so to speak, where we, good writers, bad writers, writers-by-heart or by profession, and non-writers jot down to our agendas, our goals, our itineraries, our repertoire, our life… .

The objective of vigilance is to ensure that the management gets the maximum out of its various transactions. In the field of purchases, it should get the quality product at competitive rates. In the field of sales, it should get the maximum realization for its products at the minimal selling cost.

Of course, every new page marks a beginning, a fresh start. And, let me quote this unknown writer again: “We have the choice of writing down what is expected of us or we can challenge ourselves to turn a new leaf and write down something that is completely new.

Officially I have been with printed media since 1969. I learned that the following saying fits many times: Always do right, it will gratify some people and astonish others… .

Even after more than six years I like to repeat my words: Yes,  the primary responsibility of the media is to tell the truth. Although, reality looks very different. The freedom of expression has indeed a thin line between maligning people’s reputation and extortion. Telling the truth sometimes throws us into “hot water” or we ‘dance on eggs”.  

Conversely, staying constantly vigilant makes life much easier for you. You avoid self-created problems, which allows you to focus on things you enjoy, you have more money to spend on things that you love or that you need, you have less stress and more happiness. You accomplish more by staying constantly vigilant.

During these days everybody is talking about vigilance. Vigilance – especially in interrelation and connection of criminality rise On the side, vigilance is indeed important,no matter what topic we are writing about. 

Stay vigilant of your surroundings. Alert employees can identify suspicious behavior, such as: Putting down a bag or item and then walking away from it. A prolonged interest in or taking pictures/videos of personnel, facilities, security features, or infrastructure in an unusual or covert manner.

Would you believe it?!

 

“Would You Believe It!”  is a 1929 British silent comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Forde, Pauline Johnson and Arthur Stratton. It was made at the Nettlefold Studios in Walton-on-Thames and released as a supporting feature. It was later re-released with added sound effects and music. A British inventor develops a new high-tech tank and is pursued by foreign agents who wish to capture the design.

In a world as vast as ours, anything that can happen will likely happen. The only thing that can limit these possibilities is your own imagination. Experience the oddest, the fantastic, the downright impossible parts of history that the textbooks left out. Be prepared — it will expand the limits of your wildest imagination!

It is almost a ridiculous fact that man wants to know certain truths about mundane things. But really he seems least interested in even mundane truths as can be read many times in newspapers for example. There seem to be too many rash judgments, and the readers absorb these and make these their own. A fatal attraction!

This is sometimes referred to as journalistic mentality and social media comments wherein accusations are generously made without proof. Evolution started this trend, when scientists stated for example that man evolved from the apes, without proof. The only proof they had was the missing link, and if I am not mistaken, it’s still a missing proof until now.

To look for proofs is a mental activity, which is no longer a common thing nowadays, because it takes really time, effort and is too serious to think about. Yet, in Christian education, thinking right is very important.That’s why Philosophy is important in Christian life. To avoid error in thinking, the rules of right reasoning must be studied and mastered. Is it really totally neglected in today’s modern education?

Thinking is actually an enjoyable activity but when one is pressured to get a good job for one’s sustenance, then the other more mundane becomes attractive. After all, great thinkers often do not get (good?) jobs… .

Spiritual writers like the British Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) noticed that mankind had stopped thinking even two centuries ago. That was during his age. Man probably stopped thinking even earlier. He has ceased many times to search for the truth. It’s easier to listen to gossip and believe in it. What a sign of weak minds!

Too often are we blind to the truth and as a consequence we easily believe in lies we only have to like it. Too bad, if people always like to close their eyes and ears especially while experiencing the delusion of error.

Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Scribes and Pharisees…

 

By Manila Bulletin

Published Feb 27, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Feb 26, 2026 06:13 pm

REFLECTIONS TODAY

The basic element of “righteousness” (Hebrew sedakah, Greek dikaiosyne) is meeting a standard, that which is supposed to be.

Since in Israel actions are measured by the standard of the Law of Moses, a “righteous” person is one whose conduct is in accordance with the Law. When Jesus speaks of surpassing the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, he does not mean that the disciples must be more zealous than the Pharisees, outdoing them in observing the laws and the commandments.

What Jesus teaches is to view the Law with a new heart, with a new righteousness that does not start with human beings but with God. In fact, before a person can speak of any righteous act, he must speak of God’s righteousness.

God’s righteousness is Jesus himself, who is the fulfillment of the Law. The righteousness of the disciples will surpass that of the scribes and the Pharisees because they are given a new heart that makes it possible for them to do God’s will, learning by Jesus’ example.

Gospel • Matthew 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.

“But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.

“Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

“Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2026,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

Kuh Ledesma sets 'Ikaw Part Two' Valentine show on Feb. 28

By Manila Bulletin Entertainment

Are you still in love? Or has a new love found its way into your heart?  

As the song goes, each day is Valentine’s Day. And because love deserves more than just one night, we are celebrating it once again, with part two of the successful Valentine show “Ikaw” by Kuh Ledesma, with guests Bo Cerrudo and Jack Salud, plus a new breed of young singers, set at the new theater ARTE in Hacienda Isabella.

The first run left audiences wanting more. There are so many beautiful songs still waiting to be sung, so by popular demand, there’s part two.

But this second chapter is more than just a repeat or extended performance. It is a celebration. A reminder that love is not seasonal. It is a day-to-day commitment.

This show is extra special because it is staged at ARTE, a newly created venue born out of Kuh’s steadfast commitment to the arts. Known for her staunch and unwavering support of Filipino artistry, Kuh envisioned ARTE not merely as a performance space but as a nurturing ground for talents.

Just as she once founded the iconic Music Museum, a venue that became a landmark for live performances, Kuh now opens a new venue, ARTE. A place where seasoned artists can continue to shine and a new home where young artists can hone their talent.

For Kuh, producing shows is never just about mounting a production. It is about mentorship. It is about sustaining the arts. It is about providing the next generation of performers with another venue to grow, experiment, and try out different expressions. So are you still in love? Or have you found a new love?

Maybe both. It’s okay because in ARTE, each day is Valentine’s Day and always “Ikaw pa rin." Catch "Ikaw pa rin" will be held at the ARTE of Hacienda Isabella (0960-8850288/0920-2868895) on Feb. 28, 2026. (Robert Requintina)

Public awareness campaign on online gambling needed

By Manila Bulletin

Published Feb 26, 2026 12:01 am | Updated Feb 25, 2026 04:12 pm

There was a time when gambling required effort. One had to travel to a casino, a cockpit arena, or a betting station. Today, it takes only a smartphone and a few taps on a mobile phone or gadget screen. In the Philippines, online gambling has moved from the margins to the mainstream, embedding itself in daily life with unprecedented speed and reach.

Recent estimates suggest that about 32 million Filipino adults are now participating in some form of online betting—nearly half of the country’s adult population. Just a few years ago, that number was closer to eight million. This dramatic surge reflects more than shifting tastes; it signals a structural change in how gambling is accessed and consumed. The casino is no longer a destination. It is in every pocket.

The Covid pandemic accelerated this transformation. With people confined to their homes, digital entertainment flourished. Online betting platforms seized the moment. Boredom, isolation, and financial anxiety created fertile ground for apps promising excitement—and quick money. Then came technology that made it seamless to transfer money, and hide one’s losses from family and friends.

Aggressive marketing has further normalized online betting. Regulators such as the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) have responded with tighter know-your-customer rules, bans on primetime broadcast ads, restrictions on credit card and cryptocurrency payments, and the rollout of responsible gaming tools. Lawmakers have called for stronger enforcement against illegal operators. Many operate offshore and quickly resurface even after being blocked.

Yet regulation alone cannot offset the scale and accessibility of the problem.

Online gambling now comes in many forms: digital slots and card games, e-Bingo, sports betting, live dealer platforms, remote cockfighting streams, and app-based betting embedded in games. Each format targets a different demographic.

Addiction is alarmingly easy. Platforms operate 24/7. Deposits are instant. Push notifications encourage repeat play. “Near-miss” designs and promotional bonuses keep users engaged. Wins trigger dopamine surges; losses push the urge to chase luck in the next game. Because gambling happens privately on a personal device, escalation often goes unnoticed until debts mount and relationships fracture.

The social costs are profound. Families see savings meant for food, rent, or tuition vanish. Workplaces suffer as employees borrow money or struggle with mounting obligations. Mental health deteriorates under the weight of shame and financial stress. For low-income households, the illusion of a life-changing win can entrench cycles of poverty rather than break them.

The debate over legalization remains contentious. Proponents argue that regulation allows oversight, taxation, and consumer protection. A total ban, they warn, would simply drive gambling underground, where there are no safeguards and no accountability. Critics counter that legalization legitimizes a highly addictive activity and that tax revenues cannot compensate for social harm.

Both sides raise valid points. But regardless of where one stands on prohibition, one conclusion is unavoidable: public awareness has not kept pace with technological change.

Filipinos must understand that online gambling apps are not harmless games. They are designed to maximize engagement and spending. Responsible gaming slogans are not enough in an environment engineered for impulse.

A stronger, sustained public awareness campaign is urgently needed—one that meets citizens where the risk resides: on their smartphones, on social media, in schools, and in workplaces. Digital literacy must now include gambling literacy.

The smartphone is one of the most transformative tools of our era. It connects families, fuels businesses, and democratizes information. But without vigilance, it can also become a 24-hour casino—private, portable, and perilous.

The country must decide whether convenience will continue to outpace caution. The stakes are no longer confined to gaming tables. They are embedded in everyday life.