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.

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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.