With rainy season, heat index alerts suspended

 

A delivery rider motors his way through rain in La Trinidad, Benguet yesterday. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration officially declared the start of the rainy season on Monday. - Andy Zapata Jr.

Christine Boton - The Philippine Star 

June 4, 2025 | 12:00am

With rainy season, heat index alerts suspended

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday announced the suspension of its daily heat index advisories, following the official declaration of the rainy season.

In a Facebook statement, PAGASA said the issuance of daily heat index information has been paused and will resume on March 1, 2026, in time for the hot and dry season in many areas of the country.

“During this period, it is important to focus on providing accurate and timely information related to hazards and potential impacts associated with the rainy season,” the agency said.

Despite the suspension, PAGASA assured the public that heat index data from its automatic weather stations, as well as the iHeatMap, remain accessible through the Department of Science and Technology’s official website.

Authorities also advised residents in regions still experiencing warm weather conditions to stay updated with local government advisories and take appropriate precautions to safeguard health and safety.

The heat index measures the apparent temperature felt by the human body, factoring in both air temperature and humidity. It is commonly used to assess risks of heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke and dehydration, especially during peak summer months.

With the rainy season now underway, PAGASA is shifting focus to monitoring rainfall, potential flooding and other weather hazards that typically accompany the wet months.

Rains in Luzon, Mindanao

The southwest monsoon and the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) are currently influencing weather conditions in the Philippines, bringing rains to parts of Luzon and Mindanao, according to PAGASA.

There are no tropical cyclones or low-pressure areas within or near the Philippine area of responsibility, but these two weather systems are producing significant rainfall across the country.

The monsoon remains dominant over Luzon, bringing scattered to widespread rains to provinces such as Ilocos, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Benguet and Abra.

Metro Manila is also expected to experience isolated showers, with clearer skies in the morning giving way to localized thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening.

These conditions are typical of the southwest monsoon, which pulls in warm, moisture-laden air from the West Philippine Sea and causes prolonged rainfall, particularly on the western side of Luzon.

In Mindanao, the ITCZ continues to trigger rain over the southern region, particularly in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Davao Occidental and Davao Oriental. The persistent convergence of winds in this area is causing heavy downpours and thunderstorms, increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides, especially in mountainous and low-lying communities.

lsewhere in the country, including Palawan, the Visayas and other parts of Mindanao, fair weather is expected for most of the day. However, localized thunderstorms remain a possibility in the late afternoon and evening, particularly in areas where heat and moisture are high.

Air temperatures across the country remain within seasonal ranges. Metro Manila is experiencing temperatures between 25 to 33 degrees Celsius. In Tuguegarao, temperatures are rising to 35 degrees, while Baguio City remains cool with a low of 16 degrees and a high of 21. Other key cities such as Legazpi, Tagaytay, Cebu, Tacloban, Zamboanga and Davao are reporting highs between 31 to 34 degrees Celsius.

Communities in flood- and landslide-prone areas are advised to take precautionary measures and remain alert for emergency advisories.

Prepare for monsoon

Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government directed local government units (LGUs) to prepare for the impact of the monsoon in their communities.

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla ordered LGUs to adopt proactive measures anchored on the Operation Listo protocols for hydrometeorological hazards.

Remulla said local chief executives should ensure their emergency operations centers are functional and with adequate personnel and equipment.

They should also activate their local incident management teams.

Local governments must also identify and prepare evacuation centers with essential facilities such as sanitation, medical aid and designated areas for senior citizens and other vulnerable groups.

Apart from evacuation centers, LGUs must also revise their contingency and action plans based on assessments of areas prone to flooding, storm surges and landslides.

To ensure readiness, Remulla said simulation drills and community exercises should be conducted to test response and evacuation procedures.

The DILG urged local officials to strictly implement no-build zones in high-risk areas, and ensure that emergency services and supply chains remain operational. — Emmanuel Tupas

Unconditional love

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

THERE is no doubt that this is the kind of love that Christ is showing us and is commanding us to also live. “Love one another as I have loved you,” he said. (Jn 13,34) And we know that he went all the way by offering his life on the cross for all our sins, offering us mercy even if we have not yet asked for it.

He not only became a man to identify himself with us all the way to our worst condition. Not only did he proclaim the Good News to us. Not only did he work wonderful miracles that alleviated and continue to alleviate our wounded condition here on earth. 

He had to offer his life in the most ignominious way, not minding the worst injustice that can be committed in this world, since he was completely innocent and sinless and yet was given the worst punishment.

We should meditate often on the passion and death of Christ if only to be inspired as to what real love is, the love that we also are supposed to live also. We know that Christ’s love has a universal scope. It covers everyone, the saintly and the sinful, the friendly and the hostile, the likeable and the hateful, the hero and the villain, etc.

This is, of course, a tremendous, if not an impossible, challenge for us. But we should not waste time agonizing over the thought of how this can be tackled. If we have faith, one that is operative, we know that what is impossible to us can be made possible because Christ himself has assured us of his grace.

We have to realize that this kind of love is first of all supernatural. It is not simply human and natural love, depending only on some natural conditions and forces. And Christ is ever eager to share this kind of love with us. Things would just depend on how receptive and responsive we are to God’s grace.

On our part, we should just try our best to develop the appropriate virtues needed for this kind of love to be lived by us. This will take time, of course. In fact, it will involve our whole life. But we should just go through the discipline required, developing the appropriate requirements gradually and at one step at a time.

This will obviously involve times when we succeed and also times when we fail. But however things go, we should just move on, rectifying and growing in that kind of love. To be sure, we need to be tough. And it would also be helpful if we equip ourselves with a healthy sporting spirit and a good sense of humor. Whether we win or lose in a particular battle of love, we should just go on.

We have to learn how to be understanding and compassionate with everyone, always taking the initiative to reach out to others. We have to learn how to be adaptive to everyone, to be all things to all men as St. Paul once said. (cfr. 1 Cor 9,22)

We have to learn how to give ourselves to everyone without expecting any return, eager to offer mercy to those who may have done us wrong, and to ask for forgiveness once we ourselves can offend others.

There should never be the dregs of whatever resentment and critical thoughts in our hearts. On the contrary, we should always show affection to everyone, irrespective of how they are to us. We should be willing to suffer for others.

Just breathe

 

BY FATIMA GIMENEZ

JUNE 2, 2025

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So when are you going to take a break?” I looked her squarely in the eye and replied, “I will, after I finish my commitments.” She shook her head and said, “That was your line the last time we had a reunion. When are you going to learn how to incorporate the word ‘no’ in your vocabulary?”

Her words echoed those of a well-meaning sibling, who on more than one occasion pointed out that my schedule was so stretched and the accompanying stress experienced was self-inflicted. She ended the early morning conversation with, ”Shouldn’t you be rethinking about what needs to be prioritized?” That piece of advice was welcomed. I was starting to feel less optimistic, easily irritated and impatient, losing a little bit of my sense of humor, and worst of all, feeling dangerously close to being resentful that with an overflowing plate, there was no room to pause and breathe. Acknowledging that being in that particular frame of mind was definitely unhealthy, it was time to practice saying that all-important word and make peace with the decision to do so.

Analyzing how I got to this point, I realized that saying yes to all the things thrown my way came from a place of guilt and not wanting to disappoint people who needed a helping hand. After all, what they were asking was aligned with what I was doing and fueled my sense of purpose. I failed to realize the all-important point that if people value and respect you, they will understand why you may need to decline certain requests.

'Habagat' is back; rainy season may be declared soon — PAGASA

 

By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz

Published May 30, 2025 05:59 pm

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has confirmed the return of the southwest monsoon, locally known as “habagat,” as of Friday, May 30.

The weather bureau said this development may lead to the official start of the rainy season within the next two weeks.

“Recent weather analysis over the past several days has shown the persistence of low-level southwesterly winds over the western section of Luzon and the frontal system over extreme Northern Luzon. With the weakening of the easterlies, these developments indicate the beginning of the southwest monsoon (habagat) in the Philippines—one of the precursors of the onset of the rainy season,” PAGASA said in a statement.

The start of the rainy season is declared when the southwest monsoon becomes the dominant wind pattern and at least 25 mm of rain is recorded for five consecutive days in at least seven monitoring stations in western Luzon.

The agency added that as the habagat becomes more dominant, occasional to frequent rains and thunderstorms are expected, especially over the western parts of the country.

It also noted that while the rainy season may be declared soon, periods of “monsoon breaks” or temporary pauses in rainfall activity may still occur.

Residents are urged to stay vigilant as increased rainfall and thunderstorms are expected in the coming weeks.

How Thinking About the Future Makes Life More Meaningful

During these awful and negative minded times all over the world, thinking about the future keeps me not really positive.

Well, mindfulness is all the rage these days, and for good reason. Focusing on the moment can improve our well-being, foster compassion, and help our relationships. What about going beyond the present moment? Yes, thinking about the future can trigger anxiety—but a growing body of research suggests that it can also make our lives more meaningful.

Humans aren’t alone in having some ability to consider the future, a process that scientists call “prospection.” After all, your dog gets excited when they see you holding a leash because they anticipate a walk is imminent; your cat may show similar excitement at the sound of a can being opened. There’s even evidence that some animals—like bonobos and ravens—can choose and save tools that they plan to use in the future.

But prospector's unique benefits to humans extend beyond that of other animals. Not only do we fantasize about our next vacation or decide whether it would be better to take the stairs or the elevator, but our perspective can cast far into the future: We might save for our children’s education or plan for our retirement decades from now. We can make predictions about our own futures based on what we’ve learned about other people’s experiences and even from characters in books and movies. And we can consider multiple directions our futures might take.

It is this remarkable ability to simulate our possible futures that makes prospection special. Just like gold prospecting may literally make you rich, studies suggest that prospecting about your future can enrich your life in at least four ways.

Perhaps one of the most fundamental and important functions of prospection is that it helps us decide how to act: Thinking about what the future likely holds helps us decide what course to take in the here-and-now. Several studies have examined how thinking about the future shapes our decision-making.

Researchers have been particularly interested in the psychology that drives our process of deciding between receiving something now versus receiving something of greater value later. In general, people tend to choose smaller but more immediate rewards over larger rewards that they have to wait for, a phenomenon known as “delay discounting.”

But they don’t always choose short-term rewards over long-run gains. For instance, studies have shown that present-day connection to a possible future event can counteract delay discounting. 

Another study showed that participants who felt closer to their future selves were more willing to wait for a larger reward than those who anticipated changing; the same was true when they were asked to make decisions on behalf of a fictional character who they knew would go through a life-changing event (like a religious conversion or returning home from war).

While interesting in its own right, this research could have important personal ramifications. If people could be made to feel a more immediate connection to their eventual retirement (and consequent drop in income), they may be more motivated to make prudent decisions.

In fact, one experiment found that manipulating how people think about the time until their retirement—in days rather than years—caused them to plan to start saving for retirement sooner, because the shift in time perspective made the participants feel more connected to their future selves. A 2014 study found that viewing realistic computer-generated images of what they may look like in the future decreased their discounting of future rewards and led them to contribute more to a hypothetical retirement account.

Prospection has another important application: It motivates us to achieve our goals. But the relationship here is not a simple one. Work by psychologist Gabriele Oettingen and colleagues shows that whether thinking about the future helps us actually reach our goals depends on how we think about the future.

In fact, research has found that positive thinking about our future can backfire. The more people positively fantasize about successfully reaching their goals, the less effort they actually put into realizing them. For example, in one study, the people who fantasize more about successfully losing weight actually lost less weight. Another study found that students who fantasized about their transition into a professional career were less successful in their job search and students who dreamed more about their crush were less likely to start a relationship with their crush.

Importantly, both of these studies found the opposite effect for having positive expectations (“judging a desired future as likely”). People who expected to lose weight were more likely to actually lose weight; students who expected they would find a job were more likely to actually land one; and students who expected to enter a relationship with their crush were more likely to actually do so.

It makes sense that having positive expectations—optimism, essentially—could increase our ability to achieve our goals, but why might fantasizing about the future actually decrease the chance of achieving what we want? Because, write Oettingen and Klaus Michel Reininger, positive fantasies “lead people to mentally enjoy the desired future in the here and now, and thus curb investment and future success.”

But often our goals come from our fantasies. We want to excel at work, find Mr. or Mrs. Right, or run a marathon. How do we turn these fantasies into behaviors that can help us reach our goals? Research suggests that while optimism is important, it is also helpful to draw a contrast between our fantasies and our current reality, which allows us to see barriers that must be overcome.

Results from a later study suggest that the effectiveness of mental contrasting is due to “energization”—meaning that, when people have high expectations for succeeding at something, considering what might impede their goals gives them energy to try to overcome those barriers. In other words, it helps to stress yourself out a little bit.

Mental contrasting, particularly when used in conjunction with “implementation intentions”—making plans to help move past potential barriers—has been shown to help people reach their goals. To describe this process, Oettingen and colleagues use the acronym WOOP : Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan. In studies, WOOP-type interventions have helped people break a bad snacking habit, get more exercise, and improve academic performance.

Thus, research suggests that thinking about the future can motivate us to take the steps necessary to reach our goals—but only if we take obstacles into account.

Discover the four stages of change. Find out how to set up the right environment for changing your habits.

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Besides helping us make decisions and reach our goals, there is evidence that prospection may improve psychological health more generally. It might even help people who are struggling with depression and those recovering from trauma.

Indeed, some researchers pose a link between poor prospection and certain psychological disorders such as depression.

“We see faulty prospection as a core underlying process that drives depression,” write psychologists Martin Seligman and Anne Marie Roepke in the book Homo Prospectus. In particular, they note that people with depression imagine possible futures that are more negative than people without depression. Moreover, people with depression tend to overestimate risk and to have more pessimistic beliefs about the future.

One way to engage in anticipatory savoring, suggested by Roepke and Seligman in a recent review article, is to modify the “three good things” gratitude exercise. Instead of writing three good things that happened today, you can write three good things you anticipate happening tomorrow and what you can do to make it more likely that those things actually happen. For people who are struggling, they suggest also writing down three methods that could be used to mitigate disappointment if the good things do not actually happen. These could include coping strategies (exercise, reaching out to a friend, etc.) or alternative strategies to making the good thing happen (e.g., if a friend canceled lunch, you could suggest lunch next week).

While there’s a lot left for researchers to discover about prospection, you don’t need to wait for their published studies. You can try your own experiments right now, to see if prospection helps you to live a more generous, happier, and more meaningful life.

What are the top rules for success?

 

Anubhav Jain

164,583 followers

89 following

Lives in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India2011–present

1. A stress-free, good night’s sleep is the biggest success.
2. When you are passionate about something, and you can pursue it with dedication, it's success.
3. When you are miserable, and you don't give up and give a strong fight, it's success.
4. When you succeed in routine tasks and get a smile on your face, it's success.
5. When you face a complex and tough situation in life and you don't procrastinate and do you deeds, it's success.
6. When you lose something or can't have something, and you cope with the fact and move on, it's success.

Having wealth, fame and power is not success; success is how well you live your life with limited resources and never let the faint smile wipe away from your face.

The classroom shortage needs a nation's effort

 

The problem of a shortage in classrooms has been around too long. Every school opening, we read about that and we see photos of overcrowded classrooms and campus open spaces converted into makeshift learning areas.

This week, the gravity of the crisis was laid bare by Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara: The country is short by 165,443 classrooms — and at current budget levels, it would take the Philippines 30 years to close that gap.

The implications are staggering. For every year this backlog persists, millions of Filipino children are denied quality learning environments. Many of them study in cramped, hot rooms or outdoors under temporary structures. In some places, children do not go to school every day because of the absence of classrooms. This isn’t just an infrastructure problem — it’s a learning and national development crisis.

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With a reduced budget in 2025, the department is left to do more with less, even as the number of students continues to grow. At a time when other countries are investing heavily in education to build globally competitive workforces, the Philippines continues to face a basic education problem – lack of classrooms.

With these limitations, the DepEd has pursued public-private partnerships (PPPs) to speed up the construction of additional classrooms.

The initial goal is to build 15,000 classrooms by 2027. That’s just a fraction of the total need—but it’s a start.

The private sector has long been a sleeping giant in national development. Many private companies have donated school buildings and classrooms as their corporate social responsibility program.

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President Marcos has expressed support for PPPs to accelerate classroom construction, particularly in underserved regions. That endorsement must translate into more enabling policies, streamlined regulations, and incentives for private players to participate more deeply in education infrastructure.

An initiative to gather more private sector support was launched recently as Generation HOPE, a collaboration between DepEd, social enterprise HOPE, and a coalition of well-known brands. This partnership empowers consumers to directly contribute to classroom construction every time they make a purchase of participating products.

During the launch of Generation HOPE, Angara emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing the classroom crisis.

“Education is not just a duty — it’s a solemn responsibility we all share,” he said.

By enabling the public to take part in funding education through daily consumption, DepEd is helping Filipinos translate their goodwill into real-world impact. Angara said, this initiative is not just about funding classrooms; it’s about “nation-building.” And in the absence of sufficient government funding, such grassroots, consumer-driven support could be a game-changer.

This model of citizen-powered development is not new, but its application to education in such a systematic way is bold and commendable. It reflects a growing recognition that education is not solely the government’s responsibility — it’s everyone’s.

The learning crisis brought on by the classroom shortage is not insurmountable — but it demands urgency, creativity, and unity. DepEd’s openness to partnerships, and the people’s willingness to engage, show that there is hope.

This is the moment for Filipinos — government, business, and everyday citizens — to come together for education. Every classroom built today is an investment in the dreams of tomorrow.

Kuh Ledesma speaks about the perseverance of a mother's love

 

By Robert Requintina

Published May 28, 2025 10:10 pm

Mother's Day has passed, but pop diva Kuh Ledesma believes that we should celebrate Mother's Day every day.

"One of God’s greatest blessings is the love of a mother for her child. It is selfless. It is enduring.  A mother is willing to sacrifice without expecting anything in return. She forgives without hesitation and prays constantly for her child," said Kuh as she prepares for a special post-Mother’s Day celebration, "Mamma Mia," at the Hacienda Isabella on May 31.

Kuh believes that a mother’s love is steadfast, especially when life becomes messy. It doesn’t give up, it doesn’t give in—it continues to hope and believe even when others no longer do. It is a love that stands the test of time, just like the bond between Kuh and her daughter, Isabella.

Kuh revealed that their journey hasn’t always been easy, adding that deep personal challenges marked the years. 

It came as an unexpected blow when Kuh’s marriage fell apart—a painful and turbulent season that deeply affected Isabella.

The trauma of witnessing her parents’ separation, twice, left lasting emotional and mental wounds. The mental anguish was further aggravated by prescribed psychotropic medication, which Isabella took for years.

Kuh said that it took time, faith, learning from the experiences of others with the same challenges who had overcome similar situations, and biblical counseling to realize that true healing would not come from medicine alone. 

It was through Kuh’s unwavering relationship with Jesus Christ that she found the strength to see her daughter through.

She would not believe that the psychotropic drugs were the solution to Isabella's healing, but in the power of prayer and holding on to the promises of God and God's faithfulness, and most of all, in Isabella's obedience to the word of God.

Kuh remained steadfast, prayerful, and immovable."It was in those hardest months that her love for Isabella proved deepest. In meals prepared with care, in conversations filled with God's word, in prayers—countless, unrelenting prayers," she said.

But most of all, in her decision to stay and endure the process and not let the psychotropic drugs and psychiatrists handle the situation, walking away would have been easier, but not beneficial. "And without a doubt, believing that God can do the impossible and that God is the true healer."

Today, Kuh continues to minister to other parents going through the same trials, offering comfort, wisdom, and the reminder that they are not alone. "That healing is possible. That God is very able."

"And by God's grace, after a long break, Isabella is once again sharing her incredible talent through her music and her art," Kuh added. 

With her recent very successful concert and return to the recording studio, Isabella isn’t just going back to what she used to do—she’s stepping into a new chapter with a deeper purpose, becoming who God designed her to be and using her God-given talent to the fullest.

Kuh also believes that there is no shame in sharing their story. "The process was not simple, but it was God's plan and purpose for both of them to learn how healing happens and how God can use their experience to encourage others who are going through similar challenges."

She believes in Isabella's tremendous talent in singing, thus she continues to mount concerts to encourage Isabella and unashamedly asks for the support of friends and family.

Behind that, moving up and moving forward is Kuh—the mother whose perseverance, relentless prayers, and unshakable faith have been the anchor. "Sometimes with force, sometimes with tears, but always with hope. Always with love."

Citing 1 Corinthians 13:70-8, Kuh mentioned: "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”

Catch this mother-daughter tandem in a very special post-Mother’s Day celebration, "Mamma Mia," at the Hacienda Isabella on May 31, 2025. Dinner at 6 pm/show at 8 pm/ snacks follow after the concert.

This year’s Binibinis are competing for more than just a crown

 

Charmie Joy Pagulong - The Philippine Star 

May 28, 2025 | 12:00am

The stunning 36 Binibinis, in their swimsuit and evening gowns, are introduced during the Bb. Pilipinas 2025 press presentation held recently at the Novotel Manila Araneta City. The lovely ladies are vying for the Bb. Pilipinas International and Bb. Pilipinas Globe 2025 crowns. The grand coronation night is set to take place on June 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Swimsuit and Evening Gown competition winners and the Face of Binibini will also be announced during the finals night.

The 36 candidates of the 61st Binibining Pilipinas confidently walked the runway in their swimwear and evening gowns during the press presentation and preliminary competition held recently at the Novotel Manila Araneta City.

The stunning ladies are vying for the Bb. Pilipinas International and Bb. Pilipinas Globe 2025 crowns. The grand coronation night is set to take place on June 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Swimsuit and Evening Gown competition winners and the Face of Binibini will also be announced during the finals night.

This year’s bets include: Jeannette Reyes; Liiya Patricia Santiago; Jercy Raine Cruz; Mia Betina Golosino; Lois Vivien Garce; Nichole Nash Andrea Vergara; Annabelle Mae McDonnell; Andrea Clavel Sumadsad; Jenesse Viktoria Mejia; Kimberly Naz; Alyssa Mildred Villariña; and Francesca Beatriz Abalajon.

They are joined by Stella Zacarias; Devine May Torres; Bianca Mae Hernandez; Alyssa Rae Zabala; Vivian Hernandez; Kathleen Enid Espenido; Ma. Andrea Endicio; Farah Jane Rebustillo; Pretty Shane Arnejo; Anna Carres de Mesa; Joanna Francez Batalang; and Radha Marie Cabug.

Completing the list of contenders are Katrina Anne Johnson; Cyril Reign Nulud; Jemille Rustia Zosa; Ma. Alexandra Mata; Glycelle Achurra Navares; Blessie Villablanca; Nica Dacanay; Joanne Marie Thornley; Jerimi Nuqui; Patricia Layug; Alyssa Marie Geronimo, and Dalia Varde Khattab.

Actor and event host Wize Estabillo was joined by Bb. Pilipinas International 2024 Myrna Esguerra and Bb. Pilipinas Globe 2024 Jasmin Bungay on stage during the press presentation. P-pop girl group KAIA also rendered an energetic performance during the show.

The panel of judges during the preliminary competition include Bb. Pilipinas executive committee member Veana Fores; Bb. Pilipinas junior deputy executive committee member Pia Ojeda; Bb. Pilipinas executive committee member and Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1971 Vida Doria; Bb. Pilipinas trustee and Uniprom Inc. office-in-charge Irene Jose; Araneta City vice president for marketing Marjorie Go; Araneta Hotels, Inc. Cluster general manager Maria Garcia; public relations manager Badette Cunanan; Executive Training Institute of the Philippines, sole franchisee of Dale Carnegie Training in the Philippines president and chief executive officer (CEO) Doodz Policarpio.

Also serving as judges were My Daily Collagen president Anna Perez; Pizza Hut brand manager Michelle Binoya; Wellness Whispers by Dani Barretto founder and CEO Dani Barretto; Victory Liner marketing manager Raul Ecaldre; Playmate Leisure Solutions Inc. PR director for Playtime Krizia Cortez; Thunderbird Resorts and Casinos marketing and entertainment head Michael Angelol; and Nhue Creative Studios president Jonna Cenica Cabuyao.

During the event, some of the returning candidates informed The STAR why they chose Bb. Pilipinas as the pageant to compete in again.

McDonnell, who’s representing Iligan City, an MQuest talent, Miss Charm 2023 first runner-up, and Miss Universe Philippines 2022 first runner-up, told this paper that she doesn’t want to put her pageant career on hold.

“I think I still have something to give. And Bb. Pilipinas has always been a childhood dream of mine. I don’t wanna end my pageant journey without representing my hometown. It’s been seven years since I finally got to represent my hometown and I’m making the most out of it.”

She initially planned to join next year but with the encouragement from her beauty camp Aces & Queens, her family and her boyfriend, she decided to enter the pageant this year.

On the other hand, De Mesa from the province of Batangas earlier competed in Bb. Pilipinas 2022 edition. “This is my second try and from that moment, I was sure that I’m going to join again Bb. Pilipinas and no other because Binibini is my dream. And now I feel like I’m living the dream and I’m very happy and I hope that people are, too. I’m so grateful.”

Johnson from the province of Davao who placed first runner-up in Bb. Pilipinas 2023 felt like she “had unfinished business.”

“And there was part of me that I was so eternally grateful that I was able to place for the first time around. So there was a part of me that was like, ‘Do I wanna put myself back out there and kind of put myself in a position being vulnerable and being judged again, right?’”

She deeply pondered whether she wanted to give the pageant another try — and eventually, she did. “I didn’t wanna live my life with what ifs,” she mused. “I knew that this would be my last year to join if I did want to so I wanna take advantage of it. So it’s really just me taking a leap of faith giving it everything I have.”

“He’s Into Her” actress and Las Piñas representative, Khattab, is eyeing the Bb. Pilipinas International title. It’s her first time to take part in the beauty contest.

“That is the crown that is aligned with my values the most. Because a lot of me, a lot of Dalia is rooted in Japan. And that is where Miss International is based,” she expressed.

The Kapamilya actress established a business in Japan and is fond of Japanese culture. “I even speak a little bit of Japanese since I’ve already started studying over a year ago. And that was way before I decided I was gonna be a Binibini.

“Everything that I’ve been doing, starting my business there, really living life in Japan as a tourist and falling in love with the country, I realized that maybe I wanna strengthen my bond with the country even more by hopefully winning the Bb. Pilipinas international crown and then one day getting to compete and represent the Philippines in Japan as Miss International.”

On how her showbiz career will aid her bid for the crown, she said, “It’s such a blessing to be an actress first before I joined pageantry… Everything that I learned, the long taping days, yung mga scripts, everything I had to memorize, all of that helps me today, until now, to really perform and always be at my best on stage. I really believe that it’s my chance now to really shine as an artist here and in pageantry.”

The Bb. Pilipinas will mount their 2025 Bb. Pilipinas Lagoon Fashion Show at the Lagoon in Gateway Mall 2, Araneta City on May 28 and the Grand Parade of Beauties on June 7.

“Your sorrow will be turned into joy”

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

WHAT reassuring words Christ was addressing to his disciples, and now to us! While it is a given that we will have all kinds of sorrows in this life, we should avoid falling into a state of sadness that can only mean that we are not with Christ, that we do not believe him.

But if by our faith we stick to this promise of Christ, we know that our sorrows indeed will become joy that will also give us peace, a peace that is not of the worldly kind, but one that comes from Christ himself.

We need to know the real nature and character of this virtue of joy, now facing possible extinction amid the complicated air of modern times. It sadly has suffered many distortions lately such that its common understanding is now quite off the mark.

We also need to update our ability to develop and strengthen it, realistically factoring elements that now define our lives, as well as acquiring the relevant skills and art to effectively tackle our tricky times.

We cannot remain at the superficial level, restricting joy as a function only of biological, emotional, social causes, etc. Joy has deeper roots that go all the way to our Creator. We need to realize this truth more deeply, and do all, helping one another, to work out the proper mentality and culture of joy for one and all.

As such, joy has an eminently spiritual and supernatural nature. To develop it, we need faith, hope and charity, we need to pray and appreciate and live the value of sacrifice, and everything else that goes with these elements. 

It has to go all the way to the theological level as well as to the most cutting-edge practical skills we can get. The complexities and challenges of our times demand nothing less.

We have to wean ourselves from that childish notion that joy is just an emotional thing or some chemical or biological phenomenon that can be affected by certain drugs, potions and therapeutic exercises. Joy is neither just a matter of character or temperament.

Not that these things do not contribute anything. They do, and we need to give due consideration to their objective good effects as well as to the objective needs and conditions, both good and bad, of our body in all their aspects.

But we have to understand that they only play a secondary and instrumental role. They are useless if they are not attached to the real source of joy, and that’s nothing less than God himself.

Without God, these elements have no other way but to sooner or later succumb to our weaknesses, to the temptations around and eventually to death. With God, we can always find ways to go on and ultimately enter into eternal life.

Certainly, we need to be very discerning in knowing the actual state and conditions of our life insofar as the virtue of joy as a goal is concerned. We have to be very practical on how to go about developing it, doing the usual give-and-take that is unavoidable.

But we have to learn first how to be theological in developing and living our Christian joy. Thus, we need to see the example of Christ, trying to enter into his mind and heart, such that our thoughts and even our feelings can reflect the thoughts and feelings of Christ himself.

We have to convince ourselves that it is only in him that we find true joy and peace. It’s in his heart where we can find the way and strength to grapple with any trial and difficulty, and to derive some good from evil.

DAVAO CITY: Blessing of New Disaster and Emergency Vehicles and Equipment

“Today's batch of 22 new vehicles and equipment is a reflection of our continuing commitment to ensure that government funds - sourced from the people - are given back to the people, in concrete and tangible programs, projects, vehicles and equipment that will be felt both by Dabawenyos and all those who come here for business and leisure.” - Davao City Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte

1. City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO)

* 1 unit rubber boat

Equipment

* 1 unit ram jack

* 1 unit engine duo pump

* 1 unit life detector device

* 1 unit spreader

* 1 set hydraulic hose, blue

* 1 set hydraulic hose, orange

* 1 set hydraulic hose, double hose reel core

* 1 unit v struts

* 1 unit mobile high-pressure compressor

* 120 pcs rescue helmets with head lamp

* 2 units fiberglass multipurpose ladder

* 2 units portable power station

2. City Engineer's Office (CEO)

* 4 units emergency response vehicle, pick-up type

3. Bureau of Fire Protection - Davao City Fire District

* 4 units fire truck

* 1 unit incident command vehicle

4. Coast Guard Station Davao

* 1 unit pick-up truck

* 1 unit patient transport vehicle

5. Task Force Davao (TFD)

* 6 units mobile emergency vehicle*

* 2 pick-up vehicles*

6. City Agriculturist's Office (CAgrO)

* 2 units farm tractor

Total: 22 Vehicles

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