'Lord of the Flies'

 

From our Lifestyle section

Set on a remote island in the Visayas, “Bangaw” begins with a plane crash that leaves a group of high school students from different schools stranded without any adult supervision, government, or rules.

This local production presents a reimagination of 'Lord of the Flies'

William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies” serves as the inspiration for Far Eastern University Theater Guild's (FTG) upcoming show “Bangaw.” Opening on March 5, 2026, the theater play explores the meaning of survival through a Filipino lens. Read more

SSS record net income: Boon to workers, retirees

By Manila Bulletin

Published Feb 23, 2026 12:02 am | Updated Feb 22, 2026 02:51 pm

Social Security System (SSS) members and pensioners received good news last week. As the state-run pension fund recorded a sharp hike in net income to ₱143 billion — and its reserve fund also hit the ₱1-trillion mark for the first time in the state insurer’s history — SSS President and CEO Robert Joseph Montes announced that the ten percent yearly increases for retirement and disability pensions and five percent for survivor pensions that were given starting in 2025 will be implemented through 2027.

This unprecedented three-year boon to workers and retirees mitigates the sluggish GDP growth performance as well as the less than robust outlook for the economy for the next three years.

Aside from granting ₱304.9 billion in pensions and benefits to some 5.7 million members last year, the SSS extended ₱61.1 billion in loans to workers and their families. Moreover, loan access was given to an additional 1.2 members, just as the pension loan program was expanded to include survivor pensioners.

The declaration of record net income and the extending of substantial benefits over a three-year period to members reaffirms the State’s solemn covenant with Filipino workers. Built on solidarity, sustained by contributions and safeguarded by prudent stewardship, the attainment of record income levels and the provision of substantial benefits manifests the that the government’s commitment is guaranteed not just for the present but for future generations.

Social security’s core purpose is to provide social safety nets for millions of workers in the formal and informal sectors. It spells the difference between vulnerability and stability: keeping food on the table, medicines within reach, and grandchildren in school. Maternity and sickness benefits cushion income shocks. These are not abstract concepts, but lifelines integrated into the daily lives of Filipino families.

The attainment of record net income reflects institutional discipline. Prudential fund management brings about strong investment performance. Hence, the fund’s actuarial life is enhanced, thereby assuring members that social insurance is financially sustainable.

Moreover, retirees are sufficiently assured that their pensions are secure and that further improvements in benefits could be expected. Active members could appreciate the value of their sustained contributions. As the country struggles to rein in factors that could lead to inflation surges, the reliability of a pension system shelters members from economic headwinds.

Social security does not only equate with social protection. In a broader sense, it provides quiet economic stimulus, as members’ spending circulates through towns and cities throughout the archipelago. This supports local enterprises, neighborhood groceries, pharmacies and transport services.

As it fortifies its stability, the challenge to the SSS is to build on the momentum by expanding coverage, especially among informal workers and micro-entrepreneurs. By strengthening digital access and service delivery, efficiency of services will be upgraded and benefit extended will be more responsive.

As the SSS takes pride in achieving record earnings, it must rededicate itself to assuring that the lives of members have been uplifted and their secured futures will be sustained for decades to come.

When the Social Security System performs well, it more than pays benefits. It affirms the dignity of labor and honors the promise that those who have worked hard all their lives will not be left behind.

MOVIEGOER: Charo Santos lets her hair down

 

By Nestor Cuartero

Published Feb 18, 2026 11:45 pm

Love, love, love is bursting on social media in this post-Valentine season.

Matteo Guidicelli wrote on socmed: Don’t forget to smile, it’s Valentine’s Day. He did so as he and wife Sarah Geronimo reopened a part of their Italian restaurant in Alabang that had been damaged by a car that crashed right into the property.

Charo Santos (Instagram)

Aiko Melendez says Onemig Bondoc is her Valentine soulmate. The two lovebirds reconnected after many years of separation, since the 1990s. The couple officially announced on social media that they are now officially together.

Jomari Yllana and Abby Viduya have been flooding the same media with their lovey-dovey posing and postings whether or not it’s Valentine season.

Catriona Gray admits she was hurt deeply when her relationship with Sam Milby ended. She told Karen Davila on the broadcast journalist’s channel, "There was a point in our relationship where I think he just realized that he wasn't ready to take it to the stage of commitment.” Earlier, Sam had proposed marriage.

"And then, a few months later, he realized that hindi pala siya ready. So, that was very hurtful for me, and I was really blindsided at the time."

Vice Ganda posted, “I waited for someone and I was blessed with not just one. So blessed to celebrate Valentine with my loving husband (Ion Perez) and son (Ryan Bang).” Picture shows the trio having dinner in a cozy restaurant.

Nakakaaliw.

Charo Santos is turning a new, exciting leaf via her series of short reels portraying her in various capacities, completely shedding her corporate, presidential, woman-in-business image.

The reels, viewed on Tiktok and other social media platforms, are actually short films launching Charo in roles ranging from comedic to serious, singing and dancing, but always with a happy, funny twist.

The veteran actress lets her hair down through these videos, and it’s such a relief to see Charo in a more casual, light-hearted mode, so far detached from the untouchable image she has worn all these years. Asked why she’s doing TikTok at this point in her life, she said that, being in entertainment, she wanted to discover social media. The entertainment landscape, she added, continues to evolve and she wants to be in sync with what’s going on.

These reels casting Charo in a different light call attention to this other side to the actress, who quite coincidentally, has a new film opening on February 25. Until She Remembers, by Brillante Mendoza, is another experimental, out-of-the-box project for Charo as she plays a woman engaged in a same-sex relationship with the character played by Boots Anson Roa. Note how the two actresses are cut almost from the same mould, the same sweet, nice and wholesome padron. Interesting how the two women could do justice to the roles of two women in love with each other. In the old days, two women engaged in a same-sex relationship were tagged as beauties (byuts).

Charo and Boots have a young co-actor, Barbie Forteza, one of the better actresses of her generation, who has had the good fortune of having acted with other great Philippine actors, notably Nora Aunor in a Cinemalaya film called Tuos (2016) by director Derick Cabrido.

Ashes and the mercy of God

 

By Manila Bulletin

Published Feb 18, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Feb 17, 2026 04:04 pm

Ash Wednesday, to some Christian denominations, is the beginning of the Lenten Season. The imposition of ashes frames the Christian understanding of human frailty. And as it is written in Genesis 3:19, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”. This underscores that humanity is finite, accountable, and wholly dependent upon the mercy of God.

Yet Ash Wednesday does not claim to save as salvation belongs to Jesus Christ alone. The Scripture affirms that redemption is accomplished not through ritual observance but through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus when He died on the cross. As the apostle Paul writes, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). It is through His death on the cross that we are redeemed from sin and reconciled to the Father. The ashes, therefore, do not redeem; they remind. They direct the believer’s gaze toward the cross, where true and final salvation was secured.

The prophetic call resounds in Joel’s exhortation: “Return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning… Rend your heart and not your garments” (Joel 2:12–13). The emphasis falls not on outward display but inward transformation. Ash Wednesday opens a season in which Christians are urged to examine the condition of the heart. Repentance is a deliberate turning away from sin and a renewed submission to the lordship of Christ.

Fasting, long embedded in the Church’s spiritual discipline, acquires renewed significance during this season. Our Lord’s instruction is unequivocal: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do… But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face” (Matthew 6:16–17). Fasting trains the appetites, reorders priorities, and exposes hidden dependencies. It is a tangible acknowledgment that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). By voluntary self-denial, believers cultivate spiritual attentiveness and humility before God.

The 40-day observance of Lent finds its model in Christ Himself. Following His baptism, “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1). For 40 days and 40 nights He fasted, entering fully into the vulnerability of human hunger and temptation. In that wilderness, He did not rely upon miraculous power for self-preservation but answered each temptation with the authority of the Scripture. His obedience in deprivation foreshadowed His ultimate obedience at Calvary. It reveals the steadfast righteousness of the Son who would bear the sins of the world.

Prayer likewise occupies a central place in the Lenten journey. Christ teaches, “When you pray… your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6). Prayer is a disciplined return to communion with God. It cultivates contrition, dependence, and trust. Through prayer, the believer aligns personal will with divine purpose, seeking not merely relief from guilt but transformation of character.

Repentance completes this triad of disciplines. The promise of Scripture is both clear and consoling: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Confession is an act of faith in the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. Because He has borne the penalty of sin, the penitent may approach God with confidence in His forgiveness.

Thus, Ash Wednesday is not an end in itself but a solemn commencement. The ashes signify mortality; the disciplines cultivate humility; the cross secures redemption. In remembering that we are dust, we are directed to Jesus Christ—the one who, through His death and resurrection, grants eternal life to all who believe.

Seek a sign

 

By Manila Bulletin

Published Feb 16, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Feb 15, 2026 03:31 pm

REFLECTIONS TODAY

A “sign” (Hebrew oth) in the Old Testament and Jewish literature signifies a token which guarantees the truthfulness of an utterance or the legitimacy of an action. The words of the prophets which could not be verified were frequently accompanied by a sign which authenticated the prophecy. In that context, a sign is a further prophecy that is to be fulfilled within a short period of time. Because miracles or “mighty deeds” are effective and extraordinary, they occupy a privileged place among the divine signs, but they are not always “signs” pointing to God’s saving action. Jesus does miracles designated as signs of the coming of the Kingdom, but they are not considered to be signs by the Pharisees. When they see with their very eyes Jesus’ mighty deeds, they conclude that these are of demonic agency and that Jesus is in league with Beelzebul, the prince of demons. In today’s Gospel, they seek a sign from heaven. They demand that Jesus demonstrate the legitimacy of his actions. But what mighty deed can truly satisfy them? Jesus is thoroughly aware of the hostility and unbelief of the Pharisees who are opposed to the revelation of God’s grace in him. In their case, he absolutely refuses the demand for a sign.

First Reading • Jas 1:1-11

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings. Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways. The brother in lowly circumstances should take pride in high standing, and the rich one in his lowliness, for he will pass away “like the flower of the field.” For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass, its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes. So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

Responsorial Psalm • Ps 119

“Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.”

Gospel • Mk 8:11-13

The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.

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.

Love, broadly given: Strengthening the social fabric that binds generations

By Manila Bulletin

Published Feb 14, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Feb 13, 2026 05:52 pm

For many, Valentine’s Day arrives wrapped in predictable gestures — roses, ribbons and restaurant reservations. It is a welcome ritual to celebrate romance and devotion. Yet for a nation navigating anxious times, perhaps the truest observance of the day calls us to something broader and more enduring than candlelight and confections.

Love, at its best, is not confined to romance. It is a virtue — steady, generous and quietly transformative. It is found in the daily decision to place another’s well-being alongside our own. Today, Valentine’s Day, we might consider reclaiming the holiday not by diminishing its traditions, but by enlarging them.

For 126 years, Manila Bulletin has chronicled the story of our people and one truth appears again and again in our archives: Filipinos endure not by sentiment alone, but by sacrifice, solidarity and service.

Love, in our tradition, has never been confined to courtship.

It is found in the quiet heroism of mothers and fathers who leave for overseas work so their children may have opportunities they themselves did not.

It is seen in neighbors who arrive unasked when a typhoon floods a barangay, bringing food, blankets and steady hands.

It is present in parish volunteers who organize relief drives, in jeepney drivers who extend kindness to a struggling passenger, and in teachers who dig into their own modest resources so their pupils can learn with dignity.

The need for such quiet acts has not diminished. If anything, it has grown. We live in an age of speed and distraction, when disagreement too often drowns out decency. Public discourse can feel sharp-edged. Loneliness, though seldom visible, is widespread. Under such conditions, a single act of kindness can carry significant weight.

What might it look like to honor Valentine’s Day in this spirit?

It may be as simple as writing a note of gratitude to a teacher who shaped a life long ago, or to a colleague whose diligence often goes unremarked. It may mean checking in on an elderly neighbor, or extending patience in a long queue when tempers run thin. It may be choosing civility in conversation where disagreement would be easier.

For congregations and civic groups, Valentine’s Day offers an occasion to reaffirm bonds of fellowship. A community meal, a blood drive, a coordinated effort to assist a struggling household — these are expressions of love that ripple outward. They strengthen the social fabric that binds town to town and generation to generation.

Even within marriage and romance, the most meaningful tokens are rarely the most extravagant. A faithful presence through hardship, a willingness to forgive, a shared commitment to weather life’s uncertainties — these are the foundations upon which lasting affection rests.

To broaden our understanding of Valentine’s Day is not to scorn its sentiment, but to deepen it. Romance remains a worthy and beautiful expression of love. Yet if the holiday begins and ends at the dinner table, we have missed an opportunity.

In a world inclined toward self-interest, choosing kindness is a quiet act of courage. It affirms that we belong to one another. It declares that courtesy and compassion are not antiquated virtues but living necessities.

Today, let us celebrate love in all its forms: in romance, certainly, but also in responsibility; in affection, but also in action. Let us give generously of our time, our patience and our goodwill.

Love, broadly given, remains the surest foundation of a strong and decent society.

From within the man, from his heart

 

By Manila Bulletin

Published Feb 11, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Feb 10, 2026 05:58 pm

REFLECTIONS TODAY

People are often judged by their external behavior. However, Jesus focuses his attention to the primacy of the “heart”— the interiority of intention and volition.

The Scriptures figuratively use the “heart” (Greek kardia) as the seat and center of human life, since it is the center of man’s personality, and it controls the intellect, emotions, and will. It is not the external things that make us holy or unholy, but the heart which expresses our intentions, our choices, and the will to do all for the love of God. External behavior is the result of what we decide in the heart, and not the other way around.

The standard between good and evil starts from within us and not from outside of us, that is, from the beginning motives/intentions and not just at its ending goals. But the intentions and the desires of the heart are not often holy; in fact, a lot of mundane cravings spring from the heart. The prophet Jeremiah declares: “More tortuous than anything is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it?” (Jer 17:9). That is why the heart needs purification and conversion. Furthermore, the Lord declares, “I, the Lord, explore the mind and test the heart, giving to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their deeds” (Jer 17:10).

It is God who judges the real motives and value of things. The heart is the repository of what we hold dear. Jesus declares, “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Mt 6:21).

Gospel • Mark 7:14-23

Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.”

When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)

“But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”

You nullify the word of God

 

By Manila Bulletin

Published Feb 10, 2026 12:05 am

REFLECTIONS TODAY

What is clear here is that Jesus accepts the Law in the Decalogue (Ten Commandments) as binding. What God said to Moses holds. On the other hand, Jesus assails the oral tradition which renders the true aim of the Law void. One such case is the qorban.

As Mark explains it to his non-Jewish readers, qorban means “dedicated,” a gift given to God. People dedicate some things to God, reserving them for sacred use and withdrawing them from their intended use. In a hypothetical situation suggested by Jesus, the son declares his property qorban, legally excluding his parents from its use. Should he regret his decision, he must submit his case to the Pharisees and scribes for arbitration. In this case, to satisfy God’s legal claim, the experts of the Law tell him that his vow must be honored, thus not allowing him to help his parents in need. This tradition may be based on honoring one’s vow (Dt 30:2), but this should not be used to negate the greater commandment of honoring and supporting one’s parents in their old age. There is a saying in Latin, ubi maior, minor cessat. “Where the greater is there, the lesser ceases.” Before the greater commandment of honoring one’s parents and caring for them, the qorban becomes negligible.

Gospel • Mark 7:1-13

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!

For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die. Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban” ’ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2026.” E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

Fire & Ice Entertainment ignites 2026 with concerts, music, movies, and theater

 

By Robert Requintina

Published Feb 7, 2026 11:30 pm

Fire and Ice Entertainment officially unveiled its expanded creative ecosystem with a day of music, storytelling, and significant announcements. The launch brought together concerts, upcoming music releases, original films and series, and theatre productions that will be introduced throughout 2026.

The grand media launch at Noctos Music Bar brought together artists, industry partners, press, and cultural stakeholders as Fire and Ice Entertainment introduced its five interconnected brands: Fire and Ice LIVE!, Fire and Ice Music, Fire and Ice Studios, Fire and Ice Media, and Fire and Ice Consultancy.

OPM icon Ice Seguerra, Liza Diño, Chief Executive Officer of Fire and Ice Entertainment, and other Filipino artists pose during the Fire and Ice Entertainment trade show held in Quezon City.

These divisions together create an artist-led platform spanning live events, music, theatre, film, series development, and cultural consultancy—a significant evolution from project-based work to a fully integrated creative ecosystem.

Beyond a company launch, the event established Fire and Ice Entertainment as a lasting creative home for artists, prioritizing sustainability, authorship, and collaboration over one-off projects.

“Fire and Ice Entertainment was built on the belief that artists and ideas deserve long-term support, not just one-off projects,” said Liza Diño, Chief Executive Officer of Fire and Ice Entertainment. “By formally launching these five brands, we are putting structure behind a vision that allows creativity to thrive across live performance, music, screen, theatre, and cultural development while contributing meaningfully to the growth of the Philippine creative industry.”

Fire and Ice LIVE!: Expanding the live entertainment landscape

Fire and Ice LIVE! presented an extensive lineup of major concerts and live productions for the year, underscoring its commitment to high-quality, artist-focused live experiences.

Confirmed headline events include:

● Being Ice: Live! at the New Frontier – Feb. 27, New Frontier Theater, headlined by Ice Seguerra

● Love, Sessionistas – April 18, Waterfront Cebu Hotel and Casino

● Sittiscape: The City of Bossa – May 17, Newport Performing Arts Theater, featuring Sitti

● Divine Divas: Divine Rules the World – May 31, Newport Performing Arts Theater, starring the Divine Divas.

Fire and Ice LIVE! also announced overseas touring plans, with “Being Ice” scheduled to visit Australia and Europe, signaling the company’s expanding international ambitions.

To further strengthen its presence in theatre, Fire and Ice LIVE! in partnership with Fire and Ice Studios announced upcoming stage productions:

● Still Alice (Sept. 27 – Oct. 5)

● ’Night, Mother (Nov. 26 – Dec. 5)

Fire and Ice Music: Building artist-centric careers

Fire and Ice Music officially unveiled its artist roster, underscoring the company’s commitment to music as a platform for creative expression and career growth. The initial lineup features Ice Seguerra, Princess Velasco, Divine Divas (Precious Paula Nicole, Viñas DeLuxe, Brigiding), and Louise.

The label also announced a slate of upcoming EP releases:

● Tamang Panahon – Ice Seguerra

● Always You – Louise

● Divine Rules The World – Divine Divas

● Still Here – Princess Velasco

These releases are part of a wider strategy focused on original music, narrative-driven projects, and increased artist participation in creative decision-making.

Fire and Ice Media: Original stories for screen and sound

Fire and Ice Media described its expanding pipeline of screen and audio projects, combining auteur-driven works by established and emerging filmmakers with original projects developed by the in-house creative team. This reinforces the company’s commitment to long-form storytelling in film, series, documentary, and audio.

Feature films:

● Aid directed by Brillante Mendoza

● Karaoke News directed by John Paul Su

● Becoming Ice documentary by Tey Clamor

● Funeral Flowers - an original Fire and Ice Media project by Liza Diño and Ice Seguerra

● Island Girl - an original Fire and Ice Media project by Ice Seguerra

Series in development:

● Never The Bride - an original series created by Liza Diño

● Behind The Line - an original series created by Liza Diño

Key announcements include the return of Talk Sheets with Ice and Liza for its second podcast season.

Fire and Ice Consultancy: Creative Strategy and Cultural Development

Completing the ecosystem is Fire and Ice Consultancy, the company’s professional advisory arm focused on cultural, creative, and strategic consulting. Initial initiatives include consultancy support for UNESCO Creative City applications and involvement in the development of QCinema Industry 2026, extending Fire and Ice Entertainment’s impact beyond production into policy and cultural planning.

Fire and Ice Entertainment: A multi-platform creative group

“At the heart of Fire and Ice is the artist. Everything we announced today—concerts, music releases, films, theatre productions—comes from a desire to create work that is honest, intentional, and deeply collaborative,” said Ice Seguerra, Fire and Ice Entertainment’s Chief Creative Officer. “This ecosystem allows artists to tell their stories across different platforms without losing their voice.”

Matters of the heart

 

By Manila Bulletin

Published Feb 8, 2026 12:05 am

February is often called the month of hearts—thanks largely to Valentine’s Day, with its flowers, chocolates, and professions of love. But beyond romance, February carries a more urgent reminder. It is Philippine Heart Month, a designation that underscores a reality we cannot afford to ignore – heart disease remains the country’s leading cause of death.

Declared under Proclamation No. 1096 in 1973, Philippine Heart Month was meant to promote national awareness, continuing education, and collective action against cardiovascular disease. More than five decades later, the challenge persists, intensified by lifestyle changes, limited access to care, and the growing spread of health misinformation.

The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) has raised alarm over the rise of false and misleading information about heart disease circulating on social media. Cardiologists report that some patients are persuaded by friends, neighbors, or online sources to stop taking prescribed medication once they feel better—despite medical advice that such treatment is often lifelong. This dangerous misconception can delay recovery, worsen illness, and, in many cases, prove fatal.

To counter fake news, the PHA has stepped up efforts through lectures, community consultations, and public education campaigns, particularly during the observance of Philippine Heart Month. With the theme “Bringing heart care closer to every Filipino all over the country,” the association, together with the Department of Health (DOH), continues to stress that heart health decisions must be guided by science and medical expertise—not viral posts or hearsay.

The DOH has likewise reiterated the basics of heart disease prevention: early intervention, healthy lifestyle choices, and regular health checkups. The advice is clear and consistent—eat a proper and balanced diet, avoid vices such as smoking and excessive alcohol intake, engage in regular physical activity, and consult health professionals regularly.

These recommendations may sound simple, but following them is not always easy, especially in a country where access to specialized care remains uneven.

According to the PHA, there is only one cardiologist for every 44,000 Filipinos nationwide, and nearly half of these specialists are based in Metro Manila. This concentration leaves many provinces with limited or no access to cardiology services, making early diagnosis and timely treatment difficult for patients outside the National Capital Region.

The imbalance has serious consequences. Heart disease does not wait for convenience, nor does it respect geography. Delayed consultations and untreated conditions can quickly turn fatal, particularly in areas where specialist care is scarce. While the PHA is expanding its network by opening new chapters and planning subchapters in underserved provinces, the shortage highlights the need for stronger preventive measures and better primary care support at the community level.

Recent data further underscore the urgency. Government health records show that more than one in three Filipinos were affected by heart disease in 2024. In Metro Manila alone, ischemic heart disease claimed nearly 24,000 lives that year. These are not just statistics—they represent families broken, livelihoods lost, and futures cut short.

Philippine Heart Month is a reminder that caring for the heart is both a personal responsibility and a national concern. In an era when misinformation spreads faster than medical advice, choosing to listen to qualified health professionals can save lives.

February may celebrate hearts in a symbolic sense, but its deeper meaning lies in protecting the very organ that sustains life. We have only one heart. Taking care of it—through informed choices, healthy habits, and timely medical care—is the truest expression of self-love, and one the nation must continue to promote long after the month ends.

The Filipino multi-concept lifestyle store toasts its arrival in Bangkok with Thai spice and cocktails

By Manila Bulletin Newsroom

Published Feb 4, 2026 10:57 am

Sunnies Studios started 2026 with the opening of Sunnies World in Bangkok, Thailand, on Jan. 29, 2025. But before the unveiling of the Filipino multi-concept lifestyle store, its founders, Eric Dee Jr., Bea Soriano-Dee, Georgina Wilson, Martine Cajucom-Ho, and Jessica Wilson, treated the brand’s Thai and Filipino friends to a party, toasting its arrival.

Jessica Wilson, Bea Soriano-Dee, Martine Cajucom-Ho, and Georgina Wilson

The welcome dinner, which took place at Charmkrung restaurant, gathered many Thai creatives, including Paula Taylor, Janesuda Parnto, Ploy Chermarn, and Beau Victoria, among others. Keeping everyone in a merry mood was the music set by DJ About Time.

Sunnies set the scene perfectly. The space glowed warm and inviting, plates arriving colorful and meant for sharing, flavors bold enough to stop the conversation for a second before starting it up again. Glasses clinked, chairs shifted closer, and the table slowly filled with the comfortable chaos of a good dinner.

Em Enriquez and Jacqueline Dizon

BJ Pascual

Pacharee Sophie Schuemers-Rogers, Woonsen, Ase Wang, and Janesuda Parnto

Paula Taylor and Ploy Chermarn

Safa Almusallam and Nannapin Banjurtrungkajorn

Raymond Gutierrez

Carla Buyo

The opening of Sunnies World in Bangkok marks a major milestone in the Filipino brand’s international expansion. Located at the newly opened Dusit Central Park, the store is the vision of Sunnies' founders.

Sunnies currently operates five stores in Bangkok with plans of opening several more in the Thai capital as well as other territories.