Break, break!

 

By Jullie Y. Daza

Published Dec 20, 2025 12:05 am | Updated Dec 19, 2025 04:20 pm

MEDIUM RARE

That’s what a referee would be shouting inside the ring as two boxers cling to each other in what looks like a fight to the death.

Break, break! That’s also what we should be telling ourselves in the middle of the week – get away from work even before the weekend comes along. As they do in certain towns and cities in Western Europe, where kids stay away from school to do their own recharging in the middle of the week.

Break, break, so I took last Wednesday off to go malling, where the malls are wall-to-wall in the city where I live, to observe the traffic on the road – it wasn’t bad at all, not at 4: 30 p.m. – as well as the foot traffic going into and out of the malls. I couldn’t believe my luck! There was a bit of a slowdown as we approached the parking building, but no problem finding a space to park. Seven days before Christmas Eve? I felt like pinching myself.

One week before Christmas Eve, yet the reality was contrary to the expectation. Either the working class are smarter and thriftier now, and they don’t make their purchases during the high season, or I was in the wrong mall. Good thing about this mall was that it was where I found — without looking for it — a pair of purple sandals! Where in the world could you find shoes in such a color, a sparkly shade between lavender and violet in – of all places – the children’s section? I could not believe the price tag: those shoes designed for partying and dancing cost just a bit more than a day’s wage.

Start or end of the week, our department stores carry such a humongous shoe section that, the last time I toured a visitor at the mall nearest my house, she went crazy buying not only sandals but also high heels and bedroom slippers, for herself and her sisters-in-law.

It’s true, based on experience, that tourists, Balikbayan, and other types inevitably find themselves wishing they had more time to shop and spend their money in Mega Manila. Take them to a department store and our supply of foreign exchange will instantly put a smile on the face of Bangko Sentral.

Sleep is more important for longevity than diet, exercise, social ties, study says

 

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Sleep is possibly the most important factor for longevity, research shows. Image credit: Maria Korneeva/Getty Images

• Insomnia is a disorder characterized by experiencing difficulty falling or staying asleep, or waking up too early.
• Past studies have linked inadequate sleep to several health conditions, all of which can negatively impact a person’s life expectancy.
• A new study found that insufficient sleep had a more significant impact on decreased life expectancy than other lifestyle factors, such as diet, physical activity, and social isolation.

If you struggle getting a good night’s sleep, you’re not alone. Researchers estimate that about 16% of the world’s population lives with insomnia, while a recent survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation found that six out of every 10 adult Americans report they don’t get enough sleep.

Past studies have linked inadequate sleep to several health conditions that can negatively impact a person’s quality of life and life expectancy, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, depression, anxiety, gastrointestinal issues, and dementia.

“Sleep plays a vital role in nearly every biological process within our body, yet it is still one behavior that I think we commonly take for granted,” Andrew McHill, PhD, associate professor and director of the Sleep, Chronobiology, and Health Laboratory in the School of Nursing at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), told Medical News Today.

“It is something that is easy to put off until the weekend or deprioritize based on work or social events, but getting shorter sleep truly has ramifications for our health and wellbeing,” McHill added.

He is the senior author of a new study recently published in the journal Sleep Advances, which found that insufficient sleep had a more significant impact on decreased life expectancy than other lifestyle factors, such as diet, physical activity, and social isolation.

Insufficient sleep affects health outcomes

For this study, researchers analyzed data from the 2019-2025 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys to look for a link between insufficient sleep and life expectancy.

“While sitting in on a research advocacy meeting with government officials, someone mentioned that if you want your research to truly make an impact, you need to look at how it affects people in your local community and state,” McHill recalled. “It got me to thinking, ‘how do people in Oregon sleep?’ and it set me and my team off on an adventure.”

“We first examined the relationship between insufficient sleep and [the] number of health outcomes in Oregon, to which there were robust relationships, particularly with life expectancy, which was somewhat surprising that the relationship was so strong,” he continued.

“So we thought, let’s look at other states. And time and time again, when we analyzed the relationship between rates of insufficient sleep and life expectancy at the county level, regardless of state, there were strong relationships across the country.”

– Andrew McHill, PhD

Inadequate sleep one of the most powerful drivers of lower life expectancy

At the study’s conclusion, McHill and his team discovered that when compared to common behaviors associated with life expectancy — such as diet, physical activity, and social connection — inadequate sleep was a more powerful driver of lower life expectancy than any other factor other than smoking.

“These findings really highlight the importance of sleep among all other behaviors that we commonly think of being essential for health — the food we eat, the air we breathe, or how much we exercise,” McHill said.

Additionally, researchers found that not getting enough sleep was significantly negatively linked with life expectancy in most U.S. states from 2019-2025.

“These findings really deliver the message that regardless of where you live, whether it be rural, urban, north, south, east, or west, sleep plays a vital role on our health and wellbeing,” McHill emphasized.

“Moreover, because we had multiple years of data, these findings also highlight that even when faced with extreme circumstances (i.e., COVID pandemic), sleep still plays a key role in our health,” he added.

“We are hoping to really dive into the specific reasons as to why sleep is associated with shorter life expectancy,” McHill continued. “We are currently doing this through tightly-controlled in-laboratory studies funded by the National Institutes of Health, but we are also hoping to get into the local community and different pockets across America to identify specific mechanisms by which sleep impairs health.”

‘Sleep is not a luxury, it is a biological necessity’

MNT had the opportunity to speak with Pakkay Ngai, MD, medical director for the Sleep-Wake Center at Palisades Medical Center in New Jersey, about this study.

“As a doctor who regularly treats patients struggling with sleep, my first reaction to this study is one of profound validation, yet also surprise at the sheer magnitude of the findings,” Ngai, who was not involved in this research, commented.

“In the medical community, we have long understood that sleep is a critical pillar of health, affecting everything from mood and cognitive function to the immune system and cardiovascular health,” he told us.

“However, to see that insufficient sleep outweighs the impact of diet and exercise as a predictor of life expectancy is a stunning and powerful confirmation of what we often try to impress upon our patients,” Ngai continued.

“It reinforces the message that sleep is not a luxury or something to be sacrificed; it is a biological necessity on par with, and in some ways more impactful than, other cornerstone health behaviors.”

– Pakkay Ngai, MD

MNT also spoke with Jimmy Johannes, MD, a pulmonologist and critical care medicine specialist at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, CA, likewise not involved in the study, who made similar comments about its findings.

“This study supports existing evidence that inadequate sleep is associated with a shorter lifespan,” Johannes said. “It’s not a surprising finding since this association has been described previously, but is nevertheless sobering. I am curious if there is a minimum duration or frequency of sleep deprivation that is needed to affect lifespan.”

How can I get sufficient sleep each night? 

For those who may be struggling to get enough sleep each night, Ngai and Johannes shared some tips

First, prioritizing sleep is an important first step to getting sufficient sleep, Johannes said: “Often, we sacrifice sleep for various life responsibilities, duties, or even fun things. This study reminds us that getting adequate sleep is important for our health, and prioritizing sleep is one way to prioritize health.”

He advised that creating a sleep environment that promotes sleep — a quiet, cool, and dark environment — can help improve sleep quality and duration.

Furthermore, consistency is key, Ngai suggested, recommending to “go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends, to regulate your body’s internal clock.”

Ngai also suggested establishing a relaxing pre-sleep routine, such as reading a book, taking a warm bath, or practicing meditation, to help clear your mind. It is also crucial to be mindful of what you consume in the hours before bed, he said — “avoid caffeine, large meals, and alcohol, as they can disrupt sleep patterns.”

Finally, Ngai advised limiting exposure to blue light from electronic devices like smartphones and computers for at least 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. “This light can interfere with the production of melatonin, the hormone that makes you feel sleepy,” he explained.

“Mental illness and excess stress can be important barriers to adequate sleep, so getting help for mental illness and improved stress management can help improve sleep,” Johannes emphasized. “Further, inadequate and poor sleep can be a sign of a sleep disorder, so exploring with your doctor why you might have poor sleep can be quite important.”

Rentenpaket kann zum 1. Januar in Kraft treten – Bundesrat billigt Gesetz von Schwarz-Rot

nd: 19.12.2025Lesedauer: 3 Minuten       

Der Bundesrat hat dem schwarz-roten Rentenpaket, dem neuen Wehrdienst, der Pendlerpauschale und der Steuersenkung in der Gastronomie zugestimmt. Reporterin Dorothea Schupelius berichtet.

Der Bundesrat billigt das Rentenpaket von Schwarz-Rot. Das Rentenniveau wird bis 2031 bei 48 Prozent stabilisiert, die Mütterrente ausgeweitet. Neu sind steuerfreie Zuverdienstmöglichkeiten für Rentner und eine Stärkung für Betriebsrenten.   

Der Bundesrat hat den Weg für das heftig umkämpfte Rentenpaket der schwarz-roten Koalition freigemacht. Das Gesetz zur Stabilisierung des Rentenniveaus und zur vollständigen Gleichstellung der Kindererziehungszeiten kann somit nach Ausfertigung durch den Bundespräsidenten am 1. Januar in Kraft treten. Eine neue Steuerbefreiung wird mit der Aktivrente eingeführt. Verbesserte Regeln kommen für Betriebsrenten.

Die Beschlüsse im Überblick:

Eine Haltelinie beim Rentenniveau galt bisher nur bis dieses Jahr. Nun bleibt sie bis 2031 auf Höhe von 48 Prozent. Bei dieser Größe wird eine Standardrente ins Verhältnis zum Durchschnittseinkommen gesetzt. Mit Bundesmitteln werden die Renten jährlich so angepasst, dass das Sicherungsniveau vor Steuern nicht unter die Haltelinie sinkt. Zum Beispiel fällt dann laut Regierung eine Rente von 1500 Euro zum 1. Juli 2031 um 35 Euro pro Monat höher aus.

Das kostet ab 2029 zunächst jährlich Summen von 3,6 Milliarden Euro bis zu 11 Milliarden 2031, aber auch danach zweistellige Milliardenbeträge. Das Rentenniveau sinkt zwar ab 2032, aber von einem höheren Niveau aus. Die Niveaustabilisierung war der SPD besonders wichtig. Mecklenburg-Vorpommerns Ministerpräsidentin Manuela Schwesig (SPD) betonte im Bundesrat, es sein „ein Kern des Sozialstaats“, dass sich Arbeit lohnen müsse.    

Die Mütterrente ist die Anrechnung von Kindererziehungszeiten bei der Rentenberechnung. Die für die Rente anrechnungsfähige Zeit wird für vor 1992 geborene Kinder um sechs Monate auf drei Jahre verlängert. Ab 2027 soll Erziehung durch Mütter oder Väter in den ersten drei Lebensjahren der Kinder ohne Unterschied gewürdigt werden, für das erste Jahr erst im Folgejahr rückwirkend. Kosten: 5 Milliarden Euro jährlich. Das war vor allem ein CSU-Anliegen. Bayern Ministerpräsident Markus Söder (CSU) lobte das Rentenpaket als wichtiges Signal für die Anerkennung von Lebensleistung.   

Weiterbeschäftigung eines Arbeitnehmers ohne Sachgrund über das Rentenalter hinaus. Kombiniert wird das mit dem auch beschlossenen Aktivrentengesetz: Ab kommendem Jahr können Rentnerinnen und Rentner in einer Beschäftigung 2000 Euro pro Monat steuerfrei verdienen. Laut Regierung könnten 168.000 Menschen in Rente arbeiten. Der freiwillige Steuerbonus war eine Idee aus der CDU.

Zudem beschloss der Bundesrat ein Gesetz zur Stärkung der Betriebsrenten. Auch sie bleiben freiwillig, sollen aber attraktiver werden. Vor allem bei kleineren Unternehmen sowie Geringverdienern sollen sie ausgebaut werden. Der steuerliche Förderhöchstbetrag steigt.

Auf die Bürger sollen unter Schwarz-Rot noch weitere Rentenreformen zukommen. Zwei Tage zuvor hatte das Bundeskabinett eine Rentenkommission eingesetzt. Sie soll Vorschläge machen, wie die Altersvorsorge gesichert und eine Überlastung von Beitrags- und Steuerzahlern vermieden werden kann – auch nach dem immer zahlreicheren Renteneintritt der Babyboomer. Ab Mitte 2026 soll Gesetzgebung folgen.

dpa/jho

Finding the Christmas spirit — even in holiday traffic

By Manila Bulletin

Published Dec 14, 2025 12:05 am

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very December, Metro Manila gears up for the familiar holiday rush: fuller roads, slower drives, and the chorus of horns echoing the season’s peak energy. Holiday traffic may test our patience, but this time of year also reminds us of what makes Christmas uniquely Filipino—our ability to bring warmth, cheer, and generosity into even the most challenging situations.

Yes, the congestion is predictable. Year after year, we brace for it, and year after year, it seems to grow tougher. Payday weekends merge with bonus season, malls brim with shoppers, and deliveries multiply by the hour. None of this comes as a surprise. And yet, our traffic responses still feel reactive—quick fixes rolled out like holiday decorations, just in time for the rush but never lasting long enough to create real change.

The truth is simple: holiday traffic is not tradition; it is the result of structural issues that have long needed attention. Our road network has not grown in proportion to the number of vehicles. Enforcement varies across local governments. Long-term planning often gives way to seasonal stopgaps. The MMDA reports around 450,000 vehicles on EDSA daily—far beyond the highway’s intended capacity. These pressures existed long before the first parol lit up the streets.

But Christmas is not the season for blame. It is the season for hope—and for all of us to do what we can, however small, to make our shared spaces more bearable, more cheerful, and more humane.

And there is much that individuals can do.

We can begin simply by practicing small courtesies on the road—gestures that lighten the load for everyone. Letting another car merge, avoiding the temptation to counterflow, keeping intersections open, parking responsibly, and following traffic rules even when enforcement officers aren’t around. These aren’t just good habits; they are acts of kindness, especially during the busiest time of year.

Pedestrians, too, play a role by keeping sidewalks clear and crossing responsibly, helping maintain a predictable, safer flow for all. Commuters and motorists can plan errands more wisely, carpool when possible, take P2P buses or trains, or choose non-peak hours for gift shopping.

These small choices may not erase gridlock, but they can prevent it from becoming the full-blown standstill we’ve all come to dread.

Still, the responsibility cannot fall solely on the public. Even with our best intentions, no amount of courtesy can replace long-term planning, continuous enforcement, and coordinated traffic management. Government must deliver solutions that last beyond the holiday season, addressing the long-standing gaps that make December feel like a yearly exam in patience.

But while we push for structural improvements, we can also choose to embrace the season with a bit more grace and generosity. After all, Christmas is about community. It is about sharing space—not just at home or at gatherings, but on the roads, in terminals, in parking lots, and along every crowded stretch of the city.

This year, instead of letting traffic dampen the spirit, we can meet it with the very values we celebrate during Christmas: patience, kindness, and goodwill. A courteous driver can change the tone of an entire intersection. A considerate pedestrian can make a commute safer. A small act of respect can ripple into a smoother, calmer journey for dozens of others.

Traffic may be predictable each year, but so is the Filipino capacity for cheerfulness and compassion. If anything, the holiday rush gives us daily opportunities to practice the very spirit of the season.

And that may be the sweetest Christmas gift we can give each other—no wrapping required.

Davao travel agencies reveal major events in 2026

 THE Davao Travel Agencies Association unveiled travel events for 2026 during their year-end gathering dubbed ‘Class of 2025’ on Dec. 6 in Davao City. (Photo via Ivy Tejano)

By Ivy Tejano

Published Dec 8, 2025 10:17 pm

THE Davao Travel Agencies Association unveiled travel events for 2026 during their year-end gathering dubbed ‘Class of 2025’ on Dec. 6 in Davao City. (Photo via Ivy Tejano)

DAVAO CITY – The Davao Travel Agencies Association has unveiled a packed lineup of travel events for 2026, offering Mindanao travelers greater access to international destinations and major airfare and tour discounts.

The first event on the calendar is the Davao Mega Travel Sale, as announced by DTAA President Gian Carlo Caguiat, from Feb. 27 to March 1.

Long known for slashing prices on travel packages, Caguiat said the DMTS is expected to draw strong interest with its selection of high-demand “bucket list” destinations, including Turkey, Africa, Georgia, Brazil, Antarctica, and Morocco.

In June, Davao will host a travel milestone, as the Travel Tour Expo VisMin Edition, jointly organized by the DTAA and the Philippine Travel Agencies Association, will be held in the city for the first time.

Scheduled for June 5 to 7 at the SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang, Caguiat said the expo is expected to gather travel agents, operators, and airlines from across the Visayas and Mindanao.

The DTAA president said the two major events will showcase Mindanao’s position as a fast-growing tourism hub and strengthen Davao City’s role as a premier gateway for both leisure and business travel.

He added that the activities are poised to boost local tourism, stimulate business activity, and draw in thousands of visitors from outside the region.

“These are significant milestones for the industry,” Caguiat said, noting that the travel sale will expand next year with more partners and airlines on board.

“We are expecting 2026 to be a breakthrough year not only for Davao’s travel market but for the entire Mindanao region,” he added.

Caguiat urged DTAA members to give their 100 percent full support, emphasizing that the organization is preparing for its biggest year yet.

He said the TTE VisMin Edition could even rival its Manila counterpart, as it will directly cater to the concentrated market of the Visayas and Mindanao.

The announcements were made during the DTAA’s year-end gathering with the theme “Class of 2025” on Saturday evening, Dec. 6, at Lanang Business Park in Davao City.

Caguiat shared a reflective message for fellow travel agents. He likened their profession to multiple roles rolled into one, from caretakers to memory-makers.

“Travel agents are on-call memory makers,” Caguiat said. “We monitor our passengers around the clock." He emphasized that being a travel agent is more than a job, it’s a calling.

Arnold Vegafria says foreign backers want a Filipino to run Miss Universe

By Annalyn S. Jusay

Published Dec 7, 2025 10:38 pm

Could the next owner of Miss Universe be a Filipino? This question emerged as Arnold Vegafria of ALV Pageant Circle confirmed that he has been approached by several international investors urging him to take over the global pageant brand.

ALV Pageant Circle owner Arnold Vegafria (middle) with his Miss Grand International queens CJ Opiaza (2024) and Emma Mary Tiglao (2025)

"We have the network. We have the capacity. We have the capability. If Thailand can do it, the Philippines can do it even better," Arnold declared in an interview after the contract signing between Beauty&U Philippines and Miss Grand International 2025 Emma Mary Tiglao at Victoria Sports Tower in Quezon City.

"I know I can do it. I have the experience, and marami ring tumatawag sa akin na mga international investors that they're willing to support kung Philippines na lang ang mag-handle, na baka raw mabuti kung Filipino ang mag-handle. Kung ako ang pipiliin eh siguro pwede mo nang tanggapin, di ba? Kung iisipin ko, good opportunity ito sa akin, and good also for the country. (Many international investors have been calling me, saying they’re willing to support if the Philippines takes over, and that it might be better if a Filipino handles it. If I’m the one chosen, then maybe I can accept it, right? If I think about it, this is a good opportunity for me and also good for the country)," Arnold revealed.

MUO is currently co-owned by Raul Rocha Cantu, who is under investigation in Mexico for alleged drug, gun, and fuel trafficking, and Jakkaphong "Anne" Jakrajutatip, who has been served an arrest warrant for a fraud case in Thailand. Their legal entanglements have brought the future of MUO into question, especially after they expressed interest in selling their stakes and faced rigging allegations during the 2025 edition, when Mexico's Fatima Bosch was crowned.

Arnold heads the ALV Pageant Circle, which holds the Philippine franchises for Miss World, Mister World, Miss Grand International, and Miss Asia Pacific International. His organization delivered several major global crowns for the country in 2024 and 2025, including back-to-back victories at MGI and Face of Beauty International.

Arnold said he is interested in acquiring the Miss Universe franchise because it will also promote the Philippines as a global beauty and tourism destination. Pageantry, he noted, is one of the most affordable and far-reaching platforms to promote the country. He cited tourism videos produced by lovely candidates that introduce local places to global audiences.

Arnold Vegafria and Miss Grand International 2025 Emma Mary Tiglao with major sponsor Ralph Lim and Michael Rey Almazan of Hikari Skin Essentials

“Other countries use the pageant industry as their tourism. And here in our country, we have a lot that we can offer and showcase to the world,” he said.

Arnold also expressed hopes that the Philippine government would one day support pageantry the way it supports sports. “These beauty queens are also considered champions in their own field. Give them a little incentive, give them a grant, so that the pageant industry will grow and be respected.”

As for what it would mean to run Miss Universe itself, Arnold acknowledges the responsibility but remains enthusiastic. “Number one, it's a big responsibility. But it's good for our country that we can have one of the biggest, you know, pageant organizations,” he noted.

If he's given the chance to acquire MUO, Arnold acknowledged the complexities of handling another global brand while managing multiple franchises locally. However, he emphasized that he is willing to study the opportunity seriously if the doors open.

“It's a big responsibility, but it's good for our country, once in a lifetime. If we can grab it, we should," he closed.

PSYCHOLOGY FACTS

 

Human Mind (Psychology)

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Hoorab Jahangeer

 

1y

PSYCHOLOGY FACTS

1. If someone walks fast, they tend to have a strong sense of purpose.

2. Someone who hums or sings often might be feeling nervous or anxious.

3. If someone fakes a smile a lot, they could be battling inner struggles.

4. People who apologize often may value peace over pride.

5. If someone spends a lot of time alone, they either enjoy solitude or feel misunderstood.

6. Someone who finds it hard to say "no" likely craves acceptance.

Thank you for reading 🙂