Mindanao Weather Update

 Mindanao Weather Update

THE potential LPA embedded along the ITCZ to bring rains over the Visayas and Mindanao this week between December 17-21, 2025.

Keep monitoring for udates.

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Kayla Sanchez gets feet wet for SEAG action with relay gold

By Reynald I. Magallon

BANGKOK — A strong finish propelled the Philippine men's ice hockey team toward a convincing 7-2 victory over Malaysia in their opening match of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games here at the Thailand International Ice Hockey Arena on Wednesday night, Dec. 10.

BANGKOK — Kayla Sanchez may have already experienced the highest of competitions in the Olympics but the 33rd Southeast Asian Games brought a different level of pressure on the Filipina tanker.

The 24-year-old swimmer, who had already won a medal in the Olympics as part of the Canada’s women’s relay team, admitted that she was feeling the nerves heading into the competitions at the SAT Swimming Pool.

Good thing, she officially made her debut with the relay team, allowing her to be more relaxed as she got her feet wet with the SEA Games action.

“Very special. I love all my teammates. My whole family is here. I'm very excited to make the country proud,” said Sanchez who was joined by Chloe Isleta, Heather White and Xiandi Chua.

“My first race was a relay so it wasn't just me. It was a team. And they made me less nervous and it was much more fun as a first race to be with the relay,” she added.

Of course, it was also a huge boost that the women’s 4x100-meter relay team not only allowed Sanchez to test the water but also break the ice for the Philippine swimming team after bagging the federation’s first gold medal.

The PH tankers clocked 3:44.26, almost two seconds clear of silver medalist and swimming powerhouse Singapore which recorded 3:46.53. 

“I’m excited. I like the race, I like the chase so I was just really excited to get in the water and swim,” Sanchez said as she talked about the come-from-behind win.

Sanchez is expected to bag more medals for Team Philippines as he vies in nine more swimming events.

“The atmosphere is the same. It's a smaller competition, and meets go by really fast. I'm still learning, I have my teammates here to teach me and to keep me grounded. So I'm excited for the rest of the competition. And one for the rest of the team,” she added

900 senior citizens, PWDs join PPP Fun Run in Davao City

By Ivy Tejano

Published Dec 13, 2025 02:02 pm

MORE than 900 senior citizens and Persons with Disability participate in one of the Pulong Pulong ni Pulong Movement’s most inclusive events of the year—the PPP Seniors and PWD Fun Run 2025—on Saturday morning, Dec. 13, at the Talomo Coastal Road in Davao City. (Photo via Ivy Tejano)

DAVAO CITY – Nine-hundred eighteen senior citizens and Persons with Disabilities took part in one of the most inclusive community sporting events of the year, the PPP Seniors and PWD Fun Run 2025, organized by the Pulong Pulong ni Pulong Movement on Saturday morning, Dec. 13, at Davao City Coastal Road.

With the theme “Padayon Ta (Let’s Keep Moving Forward),” the activity promoted active aging, wellness, and social inclusion by providing senior citizens and PWDs a safe, accessible, and enjoyable running experience tailored to varying mobility levels.

Jay Villarica, chief of staff of Rep. Paolo Duterte, said the fun run reflects the office’s continued commitment to initiatives that prioritize health, dignity, and community solidarity.

“This event is about encouraging movement, confidence, and togetherness among our seniors and PWDs. Everyone deserves opportunities to stay active and feel included,” Villarica said.

Participants 73-year-old Merlyn Palabrica and 78-year-old Ligaya Petero, both residents of Barangay Duterte in Agdao, expressed joy and gratitude for being part of the event.

“This isn’t about winning,” Petero said in the local dialect. “What matters is enjoying an event meant for senior citizens and PWDs like us. We’re grateful and hopeful there will be more activities like this in Davao City.”

The race started at 5 a.m., with runners flagging off from several points, including Bago Aplaya Park, Talomo Junction, and Talomo Bridge.

Medical teams, ambulances, and wheelchairs were strategically deployed on the route to ensure participant safety and well-being.

All runners received free registration, race singlets, meals, souvenirs, and timing chip-enabled race bibs.

Participants were required to submit medical certificates and clearances from their doctors before joining.

Families, friends, and supporters lined the route to cheer on the runners, while non-runners participated in photo-and reel-making contests to document the event's highlights.

A visible message during the run, “Bring Rody, A True Dabawenyo, Home,” reflected continued public support for former President Rodrigo Duterte, whom Villarica said remains deeply connected to Davao City’s identity.

Davao City second district Rep. Omar Duterte, who attended the event, thanked participants for the strong turnout.

“Thank you for joining. Many more wanted to participate, and we will continue organizing activities that strengthen health and unity in our community,” Omar said.

Rep. Paolo Duterte said the initiative underscores the importance of uplifting vulnerable and often underserved sectors by giving them visibility, meaningful participation, and sustained support.

He expressed appreciation for the continued public support for the Duterte family, noting that former President Duterte regularly asks for updates about the people and the city of Davao.

The fun run featured multiple categories designed to accommodate different ages and mobility levels, including the Super Seniors 5K Run, the Super PWD 5K Wheelchair Division, the Seniors 3K, the PWD Able-to-Run 3K, and a 2K Assisted PWD/Senior category.

‘Silent Night’, and what’s the story of the Christmas carol?

4 December 2024, 16:56

'Silent Night' performed by St Paul's Cathedral Choir

By Maddy Shaw Roberts

Simple but moving, ‘Silent Night’ is a perennial favourite among carollers. But who composed the carol, and what are the original lyrics?

‘Silent Night’ is one of the world’s most famous Christmas melodies. The story goes that the carol (originally ‘Stille Nacht’) was first performed on the evening of Christmas Eve in 1818.

Joseph Mohr, a young Catholic priest at St Nicholas Church, Oberndorf bei Salzburg in Austria, was in despair: the organ at his church had been incapacitated by mice, and the chances of fixing the instrument before the evening service were looking slim.

But young Joseph had an idea. A few years before, he had written a rather beautiful poem called ‘Stille Nacht’. So, he asked Franz Xavez Gruber, a schoolmaster and organist in a nearby town, to set his six-stanza poem to music.

That night, the two men sang ‘Stille Nacht’ for the first time at the church’s Christmas Mass, while Mohr played guitar and the choir repeated the last two lines of each verse. Good thing they didn’t call an engineer…

Classic FM     Making radio history! The first major radio broadcast with voice and music was by Canadian inventor and radio pioneer Reginald Fessenden on Christmas Eve, 1906, in Brant Rock, Massachusetts. During the transmission, he played a piece of music on his violin and followed it by reading the story of the nativity from the gospel of Luke. The song he played on the violin is often cited as being John Sullivan Dwight's 'O Holy Night', making it one of the earliest, if not the first, musical pieces ever transmitted and heard over the radio. The song has since been recorded by a number of musicians, including Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and Luciano Pavarotti, and has been voted No.1 in The Nation's Favourite Carol on Classic FM for nine years running.

Voting for the Nation's Favourite Carol 2025 closes on Sunday 14 December at 23:59. Have your say here: https://clssicfm.co/nationsfavouritecarol

Pictured: Reginald Fessenden

Kayla Sanchez bags 3rd gold in SEAG; San Beda reclaims NCAA crown

 

Kayla Sanchez (left), San Beda Red Lions celebrating after their victory over Letran (right)

Olympic swimmer Kayla Sanchez made sure to give her father a birthday to remember by winning her third gold medal in the women's 100-meter backstroke in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games at the SAT Swimming Pool on Saturday, Dec. 13. Read more

Meanwhile, San Beda climbed back to the NCAA summit after beating archrival Letran Knights, 83-71, in Game 2 to reclaim the crown in Season 101 men's basketball Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday, Dec. 13. Read more

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.

Quo vadis?

By Dr. Florangel Rosario Braid

Published Dec 13, 2025 12:05 am | Updated Dec 12, 2025 06:26 pm

PAGBABAGO

This Latin phrase which means “Where are you going?” aptly describes the state we are in today. Are we in a state of impasse because of slow response or inaction on our expectations? I hope not, and that we must not stop striving till we reach our goal. Let me share my own thoughts based on my experiences while facing a major crisis in our nation’s history.

I am fortunate to have been involved in two initiatives toward drawing a blueprint for national development in the country.

The first is the 1987 Constitution where I was one of the 47 members of the body and chaired the article on General Provisions. It was here where we were forced to envision priorities and strategies that had guided legislation in our country for the past 39 years. I had to refer to it again following the recent crisis over the flood control mess which again brought up the need to implement new laws, among them an acceptable anti-dynasty law, a party-list system, and freedom of information.

As we know, the constitutional provisions of accountability and transparency in governance, among others, provided guidance in restructuring critical systems in budgeting and brought to light the inadequacy of our current systems in keeping track of critical processes such as monitoring implementation of large-scale projects, malpractices and unlawful expenditures.

Now, we are again at a crossroad. The question on amending or merely implementing new laws as remedies have surfaced. While many including myself would disagree with Senator Lacson who recently stated that the Constitution has failed to serve national interest, we may have to think twice whether we need to amend the Constitution or shift to a parliamentary form of government and the like.

A reality that came out when I went through another review was that we had not truly taken advantage of the full strength of our Charter over past charters and over other Constitutions of the world. I am referring to the heart of the Constitution which is “social Justice.”

As former Supreme Court justice Reynato Puno pointed out, ours is not merely social justice in form like that of other countries, but one of “substance.” He meant that when we talk of social justice, it is not merely providing each man equal access and opportunity but in addition, providing him equal opportunity at the starting line. It means that there is considerable inequality in our society and therefore a boy from the hinterlands would find it difficult to compete with one from a family with adequate means at the starting line. This unique state provides our country a positive image of real democracy at work and could help us move forward.

Another area that could be re-examined is the priority we have given to our land resources. Despite being an archipelago, we have a Department of Agriculture but only a Bureau of Fisheries and thus, have given the former more resources. Today, we are still even in conflict over ownership of our own waters in the West Philippine Sea.

We are aware of our deficiencies but after the recent unpleasant mess, we shall perhaps be more motivated to turn these negatives just as long as we arrive at a consensus on where we ought to go and are confident support by the majority.

The other opportunity although limited, is having been a part of earlier initiatives on multi-sectoral consultations. This was 37 years ago when six of us, social scientists in economics, culture and communication, political science, public administration, and development studies, went around the country to gather what we described as “visions from below.”

We held focus group discussions with local government and nongovernment sectors, organized panel discussions on varied development issues with colleagues in the academe, government and business sectors. The need to focus on “the common good,” revitalization of indigenous cultural practices, creating spaces for greater participation of marginalized sectors, and decision-making based on an inclusive human development framework The two years of consultation yielded a comprehensive report, “The Philippines at the Crossroads: Some Visions for the Nation.”

Some of us who have had similar experiences could share their learnings on future directions. The difference between then and now is that while we need to act now, the outcome we desire can happen only within a time frame of two decades. Many are aware of the desired changes in the Constitution, laws to be amended and a radical restructuring of existing governance policies and practices.

It is now a matter of how we are able to sustain needed action so that we can reach our goal without getting sidetracked. It is identifying how each of us and each sector to which we belong can organize into a collective.

It means evaluating our current resources – advances in technology like artificial intelligence, and motivated human resources that can help us find the way towards 2045, at the rate of socio-political technological change, we are not able to imagine what to expect.

But we trust that the insights we have gathered over the years would help us navigate our way forward. (Florangel.braid@gmail.com)

TWICE to proceed with Hong Kong concerts

By Jonathan Hicap

Published Dec 4, 2025 12:19 pm

TWICE in Taiwan (X)

K-pop girl group TWICE will proceed with their two-day “This Is For” concert on Dec. 6 and 7 in Hong Kong, their agency announced on Dec. 4. 

“First and foremost, we would like to express our deepest condolences to the victims of the recent incident in Hong Kong, as well as to their families and loved ones. Our thoughts are with everyone affected,” JYP Entertainment said in a notice. 

It added, “Regarding the TWICE This Is For Hong Kong concerts scheduled for December 6 and 7, we held many discussions and gave careful consideration to whether it would be appropriate to proceed under such heartbreaking circumstances.”   

TWICE in Taiwan (X)

“Together with our concert promoter, Live Nation, we have been closely monitoring the situation. After thoughtful deliberation, we have decided to proceed with the concerts at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong,” it said. 

The agency added, “Given the gravity of the situation, we will approach the performances with sincere respect and remembrance. We truly hope that these concerts can offer, even in a small way, comfort and strength to those finding their way forward after the tragedy. This hope guided our decision to move forward.”

“Once again, we express our deepest sorrow for the victims of this devastating incident and extend our heartfelt sympathies to their families and to all those affected. We sincerely hope for a swift and steady recovery,” it said. 

Fire hit the Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po District in Hong Kong on Nov. 26.     

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government announced that as of Dec. 3, 159 died in the fire. 

Fixing firecracker industry: Be on the side of safety

By Manila Bulletin

Published Dec 10, 2025 12:05 am

Manufacturers and distributors, on the other hand, must understand that safety is not a bureaucratic hoop but a business imperative. An explosion does not merely injure workers—it destroys inventory, cripples operations, and permanently tarnishes the reputation of the industry. Companies must craft OSH policies tailored to the unique hazards of pyrotechnics work: chemical handling, heat exposure, combustible dust, storage protocols, and emergency procedures. Investments in proper ventilation, blast-resistant structures, personal protective equipment, and fire-suppression systems are moral obligations. Likewise, safety committees must be real, not symbolic—composed of empowered workers and managers who meet regularly, inspect actively, and intervene decisively.

Workers in the pyrotechnics sector also bear a shared responsibility. Compliance should be selective, especially in a field where one person’s shortcut endangers everyone. Workers must participate in training, report hazards without fear, and adhere to safety procedures even when production deadlines loom. But their ability to comply hinges on a culture of trust. They must be assured that reporting violations will not cost them their jobs, and that protective equipment will be provided, not deducted from their wages. Empowerment, not intimidation, is what turns workers into partners in prevention.

Citizens, too, play a role that is often overlooked. Every year, the demand for dangerously powerful—and often illegal—firecrackers pushes small manufacturers into unsafe, unregulated production. Consumers must reject products that are clearly unauthorized or suspiciously cheap, because bargain pyrotechnics often come at the cost of workers’ limbs or lives. Communities must also be vigilant—reporting unsafe factories, supporting local education efforts on firecracker safety, and favoring businesses known for compliance.

Ultimately, real safety cannot be enforced through fear—neither fear of explosions nor fear of corrupt inspectors. It is built on accountability, transparency, and shared responsibility. When the government regulates honestly, when businesses invest responsibly, when workers comply diligently, and when citizens choose conscientiously, the country can celebrate year-end traditions without sacrificing lives.