Goodbye, Fr. Bel San Luis

 

By the Manila Bulletin Team

Published Feb 1, 2026 12:05 am

Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD, Manila Bulletin and Tempo columnist for many decades, who believed in the power of media to reach people beyond the walls of the church, devoted many years of his life to serving the media ministry.

Fr. Bel was the founder of the Mission Communication Foundation Inc., which helped promote the SVD’s missionary work, spiritual outreach, and evangelization efforts. Through the years, his work reflected a consistent commitment to using communication as a form of public service, especially to audiences who encountered faith through radio, television, and print.

He used his talent for writing to reach many people, writing the weekly “Word Alive” column in the Manila Bulletin and Tempo. In his writings, Fr. Bel did not forget one of his favorite advocacies – education for seminarians. At the end of each column, he would remind readers of the need to support seminarians because from these groups will come future priests, bishops and the Pope.

Writing in an entertaining style with a sprinkle of humor, Fr. Bel would preach the lessons of the Sunday gospel, leading readers to relate Biblical situations to their own lives.

Word Alive, his regular column, won Best Opinion Column at the 46th Catholic Mass Media Awards.

Perhaps what he is most known for is the radio program on Holy Week – The Seven Last Words. Without fail, and despite his busy schedule, Fr. Bel would invite guests and sponsors to support the program through his weekly columns.

He contributed much to the Society of the Divine Word’s missionary work through the Mission Communication Foundation Inc., which helped promote its spiritual outreach, and evangelization efforts. Through the years, his work reflected a consistent commitment to using communication as a form of public service, especially to audiences who encountered faith through radio, television, and print.

Beyond print media, Fr. Bel established the Family Mass television apostolate and produced the annual “Seven Last Words” program. He also hosted the television show Salitang Buhay, which extended his pastoral presence to viewers across the country.

Colleagues and readers remember Fr. Bel for his steady voice and gentle approach. Rather than offering grand declarations, he preferred explanation and conversation, inviting readers and viewers to reflect with him.

Fr. Bel, who was born on Nov. 19, 1944 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, passed away on Jan. 28, 2026. He was 81. (With a report from Jay Ferson Comitan)

Lover or loved? Confessions from Anne Curtis, Jericho Rosales, and Catriona Gray

 

From left: Catriona Gray, Max Eigenmann, Luis Alandy, director Irene Emma Villamor, Anne Curtis, Jericho Rosales, and Ian Pangilinan.

By Robert Requintina

Published Jan 31, 2026 11:57 pm

During a public media conference held at Robinsons Ermita, the three stars reflected on the experience of giving and receiving love.

Jericho said, "(I'm a) lover. But on certain days, I am also the loved one. But recently, I taught myself to receive love. This time, I am learning to be the loved one."

Anne answered, "I guess a little bit of both, because while it takes a lot to love a crazy Aquarius like myself, if you end up loving someone who loved me, and if you really love me, the loved one, and when that happens, I give so much love. Hence, I became the lover."

Catriona remarked, "Maybe, I'm the lover. I'm a very loving person."

Celebrating love on and off screen

Produced by Cornerstone Studios and Viva Films, "The Loved One" explores the beauty and challenges of loving and being loved, both on and off screen. It also marks Catriona's first try at acting.

"It was great. Maybe, I was nervous going into it because I respect them both (Anne and Jericho). It was such an enjoyable experience. I was observing how everything goes," the former Miss Universe said, adding that she was amazed at how Jericho and Anne prepared for scenes.

On Catriona's acting, director Irene Emma Villamor (Sid & Aya: Not a Love Story, Meet Me in St. Gallen) said, "She's very instinctive. At first, she was hesitant about acting. She said, 'Direk, I only know how to be excited and happy.' That's how she usually is as a host, right? She's serious about going into acting."

Responding to the director's statement, Catriona said, "I really admire Direk Irene. I love her energy. It was an incredible experience for me. Everyone was so kind and accommodating. I am proud that this is my first acting stint. It's a beautiful story, that's why I said yes to the project."

Director Irene encouraged moviegoers to immerse themselves in the film’s story of love and connection while watching it in the cinema.

"There are moments of thrill and pain. When you're happy, maybe you'll only shed a few tears. But it's different if you're not happy right now.

"If you're on your cellphone while watching this movie, you'll miss out on the experience. You need to have full attention. That's the kind of experience you'll only get in the cinema," she said.

"The Loved One" follows the quiet, high-stakes reunion of former lovers Ellie (Anne Curtis) and Eric (Jericho Rosales), who meet 10 years after their final goodbye.

As Eric waits, he retraces fragmented memories of their relationship, searching for the exact moment they began to fall apart. 

The film experience is a celebration of love itself, serving as a poignant guide for anyone who has ever navigated the complexities of a relationship. It poses the haunting questions that linger after every great love: In every relationship, have we ever asked ourselves whether we are the lover or the loved one?

Heightening the romantic experience, the film features the Billboard Philippines Hot100 song "Multo" by Cup of Joe as its sonic heartbeat. The track perfectly mirrors a narrative in which memories refuse to stay buried.

126th Anniversary of the Manila Bulletin

 

HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE: One hundred twenty-six, and counting!

Philip Cu Unjieng

Tomorrow, Monday, Feb. 2, we will be celebrating the 126th Anniversary of the Manila Bulletin. Part of the celebration is the awarding of the “Manila Bulletin Newsmakers of the Year.” The ones receiving their awards are a mix of the popular and familiar, along with the relatively unsung, who managed to ‘catch our eye’, and fire up our imagination and admiration, for their accomplishments. Read more

A lesson of obedience and humility

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

THAT’S what we can gather from the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Imagine Christ, the very son of God, submitting himself to some ritual when it would have been unnecessary for him.

Obviously, the child Jesus could be exempted from this law, and we can suppose that both Mary and Joseph would know this. Still, they proceeded to follow the law, giving us the precious lesson that like them, we should try to behave like any ordinary person, following the just laws and customs of the time and place, and choosing to forgo certain privileges that we may have. That’s humility in action.

That’s how we should behave. We may be quite privileged in life because of the many gifts and other endowments God and others may have given us, but we should never feel entitled to anything. Instead, our attitude toward these privileges should be one of willingness to serve more, doing a lot of good while passing unnoticed, and all for the glory of God and for the good of all.

It is something worth emulating, since this is a clear expression of humility, an indispensable virtue that would enable us to stick with God and his will and ways. We have to be most wary when we happen to enjoy some privileged positions or status in life because we tend to think that we deserve more entitlements. And not only would we expect them. We may even demand them for us. Without this humility, we in the end would separate ourselves from God.

Let’s be reminded that whatever privileges, favors and blessings we may enjoy in life are meant for us to strengthen our desire to serve God and others, and not to be served. But as it is, we should try to avoid them, since they tend only to spoil and corrupt us. Rather, we should try to follow what Christ himself once said—that we enter by the narrow gate instead of preferring the wide gate and the broad road that can only lead us to our destruction. (cfr. Mt 7,13-14)

This is also the example of Christ himself who, as St. Paul noted in one of his epistles, being God emptied himself to become man and went all the way to offering his life for all our sins. (cfr. Phil 2,7) This was also shown when Christ went ahead to pay temple tax when he obviously would have been exempted from it. (cfr. Mt 17,24-27) Seemingly impossible for us to do, we should just try our best to imitate that example, relying on God’s grace and on our all-out effort.

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord also reminds us that we have to give not only the best that we have to God first, but also everything that we have. We have to remember that our life ought to be spent as an offering. It has to be lived as a gift, because it is first of all a gift also from God to us. This is a fundamental attitude to develop toward our life, because absent that, we would have a gravely handicapped understanding of life, prone to all sorts of anomalies.

The feast of the Presentation of the Lord can also be considered as another epiphany, another manifestation of Christ as our savior. This time, the manifestation is done not to the three magi anymore, but to two characters, Simeon and Anna. 

The feast is a good reminder to all of us, Christian believers, that we have a duty to present Christ to everyone as he truly is to us—the pattern of our humanity and the savior of our humanity that has been damaged by sin.   

Class, work suspensions expand in Central Mindanao following earthquakes

 DISPLACED residents in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat receive food aid from the government. (DSWD-12)

By Keith Bacongco

Published Jan 29, 2026 04:55 pm

DAVAO CITY – As earthquakes continue to rock many parts of Central Mindanao, class and work suspensions have expanded to several municipalities and provinces outside of Sultan Kudarat province which has been experiencing a swarm of earthquakes totaling 2,264 as of 7 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 29.

Sultan Kudarat Gov. Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu ordered the suspension of classes and work in government offices in the coastal towns of Kalamansig, Lebak, and Palimbang following the magnitude-5.7 tremor that hit the province before dawn on Thursday.

Mangudadatu expanded the suspension of classes and work in the entire province following a magnitude-5.9 earthquake with epicenter 40 kilometers southwest of Kalamansig at 2:46 p.m. Wednesday and a shallow depth of four kilometers

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said both earthquakes were tectonic in origin.

“The provincial government assures the public that the situation is being closely monitored and managed with the highest level of readiness. All concerned offices are on heightened alert to safeguard the safety and welfare of our communities,” the governor said in a statement.

Kalamansig Mayor Ronan Eugene Garcia has ordered the preemptive evacuation of all residents in 10 coastal barangays of the municipality, citing the possible occurrence of a tsunami.

“These offshore seismic activities may result in strong ground shaking, aftershocks, sea disturbances, and possible tsunami events that may endanger lives, livelihoods, and properties,” he said in an executive order issued late Wednesday afternoon.

Following the earthquake on Wednesday, some towns in the neighboring provinces of Cotabato, South Cotabato, and Maguindanao del Sur that shares a boundary with Sultan Kudarat cancelled classes due to possible tsunami.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has not issued any advisory indicating an imminent tsunami but thousands of residents in most coastal barangays have evacuated to higher grounds following the Wednesday earthquake.

“Our latest advisory reminded the public to duck, cover, and hold, and, in addition, be mindful of the damages to structures, in case of a strong earthquake. Residents of coastal communities should be watchful of the natural signs of a local tsunami, and evacuate if any one of these signs is experienced,” Phivolcs said in a media advisory.

Phivolcs said that it is well within the mandate or discretion of local government units to decide on matters related to response actions, such as evacuation, based on the local assessment and their preparedness protocol.

As of 7 a.m. Thursday, Phivolcs recorded 2,264 earthquakes off Kalamansig since Jan. 19. It added that 677 of them were plotted by monitoring stations, of which 84 were felt. Recorded magnitude ranges from 1.3 to 5.9.

In neighboring South Cotabato, the local government units of Koronadal City and the municipalities of Surallah, Polomolok, Norala, Banga, Tboli, and Lake Sebu and General Santos City have suspended face-to-face classes as a precautionary measure against possible hazards due to the quakes also felt in the province.

Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua suspended work in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) agencies located in Cotabato City. Macacua, however, said work will continue for those involved in rescue, emergency, and health services, among other frontline offices.

Some of these class and work suspensions are until Saturday, Jan. 31.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Region 12 Disaster Response Management Division has activated its quick response teams, mobilizing personnel and resources to ensure the delivery of assistance to affected communities in the municipality of Kalamansig and neighboring towns.

DSWD-12 chief Loreto Cabaya Jr. said that as of Jan. 28, the earthquake has affected over 50,000 individuals in the towns of Kalamansig, Lebak, and Palimbang.

Cabaya said they have dispatched food aid for affected families, particularly those who are still in evacuation centers. He added further validation of affected communities is still ongoing. The DSWD has put up modular tents for affected families in evacuation centers in Kalamansig.

Viva artist Jacqueline Gulrajani to represent Tacloban province in Miss Universe Philippines 2026

By Robert Requintina

Published Jan 29, 2026 11:28 am

Miss Universe Philippines Tacloban has announced that Filipino-Indian Jacqueline Gulrajani has been chosen as the province's official representative in the prestigious national pageant later this year.

Miss Universe Philippines Tacloban 2026 Jacqueline Gulrajani

Jacqueline was welcomed by Mags Cue, Miss Universe Philippines Vice President for Global and National Search, and Rachelle Erica Chua Pineda, Local Director of Miss Universe Philippines Tacloban, during a media conference in Quezon City recently. The Viva artist said she is excited to meet her pageant sisters.

"I'm very excited to meet them. Last year, I had the opportunity to host the swimsuit competition backstage. I got to meet the girls. This year, I'm sure we will have a lot of amazing ladies with their specific advocacies. I cannot wait to meet them and learn from them," she said.

This is the first time Jacqueline is joining a national pageant, though she said she never really expected to compete in the Miss Universe Philippines contest. "I think things are just aligning this year. Now I understand that this platform is powerful. I really think this year is definitely it."

Asked how old she is, the beauty queen answered, "I feel very young."

Jacqueline also said she asked Viva Films for permission to join the competition "so there's no problem." She mentioned Miss Universe 2025 third runner-up as her favorite beauty queen.

A mentor, educator, host, and model, Jacqueline is the daughter of a saleslady and a businessman. Her mother had her at 18 and chose motherhood over college.

Growing up, Jacqueline learned at an early age the quiet cost women pay when access to education and representation is limited.

Born and raised in Tacloban, Jaqueline later moved to Manila after graduating from the University of the Philippines, with P10,000, a broken suitcase, and a borrowed place to stay.

Jacqueline applied for a one-day hiring role the next morning and worked her way from taking calls to leadership roles, mentoring emerging and senior leaders along the way.

Alongside her corporate career, she began modeling and hosting, building her name as Jacqy Raj while sharing beauty and skincare content to help young women make more informed choices.

These experiences shape Jacqueline’s advocacy today, grounded in a vision of a world where women are free to choose themselves through access to education.

Higherley provides access to education and skills, empowering people to build a living of their own. In Pen & Pearl, she writes stories that speak to readers as they heal their inner child.

Miss Universe Philippines Tacloban 2026 Jacqueline Gulrajani is flanked by Mags Cue (left), Miss Universe Philippines Vice President for Global and National Search, and Rachelle Erica Chua Pineda, the local director for Miss Universe Philippines.

Through Glow Up Diaries and her podcast, she shares her personal inner and outer glow-up journey, helping women feel safer, more informed, and more confident as they create their own paths.

“As Miss Universe Philippines Tacloban continues to rise, it stands as a testament to unity, vision, and unwavering dedication," said Rachelle. "Tacloban City moves forward with pride and confidence. Tacloban is ready. Tacloban will be seen."

PSEi suffers deepest retreat in months on disappointing GDP data

 

By James A. Loyola

Published Jan 29, 2026 05:03 pm

Philippine stocks suffered their steepest decline in months, tracking a selloff that erased more than two percent of the benchmark index’s value after government data showed economic growth stumbled to a near five-year low.

The disappointing gross domestic product (GDP) figures triggered a broad retreat across most sectors as investors reassessed the country’s recovery trajectory amid high interest rates and sluggish state spending.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 132.42 points, or 2.08 percent, to finish at 6,223.36 on Thursday, Jan. 29. While mining companies found a foothold on the back of rising bullion prices, the rally was insufficient to offset heavy losses in heavyweight banking and property stocks.

Market turnover was active, with 1.34 billion shares valued at ₱7.55 billion changing hands. Decliners dominated the session, outnumbering gainers 124 to 75, while 56 issues remained unchanged.

The selloff intensified after the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the economy expanded by just three percent in the fourth quarter of 2025, a deceleration from the 3.9 percent growth recorded in the preceding three-month period. For the full year, GDP growth averaged 4.4 percent.

Luis Limlingan, managing director at Regina Capital Development Corp., noted that the PSEi ended lower amid strong, broad-based selling pressure after the figures failed to meet market consensus.

He added that the softer growth data raised immediate concerns over the near-term economic outlook, prompting a shift toward risk-off positioning.

The equity market also faced headwinds from a weakening local currency as Japhet Tantiangco, research manager at Philstocks Financial, said the market was weighed down by the depreciation of the peso following the United States Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain its current policy rates. 

Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., meanwhile, characterized the three percent fourth-quarter growth as the slowest pace since the first quarter of 2021.

Excluding the pandemic-induced contraction of 2020, the full-year performance represents the weakest expansion for the Philippines since 2011.

Ricafort attributed the slowdown to a combination of internal and external pressures, ranging from reduced government infrastructure spending amid heightened scrutiny of flood-control projects to adverse weather and geopolitical risks that have dampened global trade.

 

Strict monitoring vs Nipah virus ordered

President Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to intensify its surveillance against the Nipah virus amid growing concerns over the disease. According to the WHO, Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness transmitted to people from animals. It can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly from person-to-person. Read more

In a related report, DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said that they are tracking seasonal Nipah virus outbreaks in Bangladesh and India. No Nipah virus infections have been recorded in the country since 2014. Read more

The magic of moving forward

 

The other day, I was driving when I saw a familiar face on the street. It was my ex. Seeing him felt like seeing any other random pedestrian passing by.

I remembered an old joke I used to tell my friends: that if I ever saw him while I was driving, I would run him over just to feel his bones cracking beneath my tires. Quite brutal, right? But the moment I saw him; those thoughts never occurred to me. I simply continued driving.

I told the friend sitting next to me that I had seen him and even joked about the old “hit and run” threat, but the truth is, I did not want to. I just smirked, feeling a wave of pride. Who would have thought that despite everything I went through, I would finally see myself healed from the things that used to break me?

It was a moment that made me truly proud. At first, life felt unimaginable without the people I once cared for. I used to yearn for them, praying that things would work out again, only to lose my self-respect in the process. There were moments when I felt completely alone, and the stages of grief felt agonizingly real. I never imagined that life would reintroduce me to those people, only to show me that our lines will never intersect again. Seeing their faces and recognizing them only as someone I used to know is a strange gift.

Back when the wound was fresh, I knew I would not have been able to control my tears or temper. This time, our eyes may have even met, but the magic was gone. Even the familiarity had vanished; he felt like a place I had visited once, a long time ago.

On a random Sunday afternoon on the porch of a new house, or in the driver’s seat of a brand-new car, the things that used to hurt you will lose their power. You will feel the magic of moving forward.

You will wake up fine, no longer comparing your hands to the ones they hold now. You will simply smile at the memories and the pain they caused, because those experiences made you who you are. The strong, wary person you have become exists because of the trials you faced. Surprisingly, you might even say “thank you.” You were once too comfortable believing things would never go wrong, but they did. And when they did, you thought it was the end of the world, but you were wrong. The moment it ended, something beautiful began. You noticed new patterns, you were introduced to people you never would have met otherwise, and you met a better version of yourself. The things you thought were impossible became your reality.

You can thank them for the catalyst but never give them credit for the person you have become. They may have contributed to the pain, but they were absent in the grueling process of your healing. Thank yourself because you are the one who survived. You held on when you were drowning, and you managed to save yourself. You were brave enough to let go and run toward something better.

That unimaginable moment of clarity arrived on a random Friday in December. I was not looking for him, but there he was, a familiar silhouette in the distance. I just drove past and smiled. The peace I have now is more important than anything that happened in the past. I have forgiven him for breaking my heart, and I appreciate the lessons he left behind. I am now familiar with the patterns he showed me. I recognize the “tricks” so that I am ready if someone else ever tries to deceive me the same way.

Life feels wonderful because one day it hurts, and the next, you are laughing about it. This does not just apply to an ex, but to everything we once thought we could not live without. You can rest easy knowing you were genuine and kind; if they could not see that, it was their loss.

One day, the people who hurt us will realize the weight of what they did. No matter how they try to start over, how much they give to charity, or how they flip the script to fit their narrative, there will always be a hollow space where they failed you. While they deal with the ghost of their mistakes, you are miles ahead. You are driving your car to places they will never see, leaving the prison they once built for you. Your heart finally feels victorious.

You realize you are lightyears away from the person you were when they left. And it feels good. If they ever decide to knock on your door again, your guard is up, and you are brave enough not to answer the call. Their names no longer carry any pain. Despite everything, you are still here, standing whole, and that is all that matters.

ATF Forum 2026: 'Navigating our tourism future together'

By Manila Bulletin

Published Jan 29, 2026 12:01 am | Updated Jan 28, 2026 04:02 pm

The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) that was opened by President Marcos, Jr. in Cebu on Jan. 28 has adopted a theme that captures both the urgency of the moment and the promise of the region: Navigating our tourism future together. It is a fitting call to action at a time when global economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, climate risks, and shifting travel patterns continue to test the resilience of nations and industries alike.

The forum’s artistic and thematic logo—drawing from the ancient balangay or balanghai, the seafaring vessel that carried early Filipinos across open waters—offers a powerful metaphor. Just as the balangay relied on collective effort, shared direction, and trust among those on board, ASEAN’s tourism future depends on solidarity, coordination, and a common sense of purpose. No single country can weather global storms alone; progress requires moving forward together.

At the heart of ATF 2026 is the ASEAN Tourism Sectoral Plan for 2026–2030, a strategic roadmap that elevates tourism from a recovery tool to a long-term driver of sustainable and inclusive growth. The plan recognizes tourism as one of ASEAN’s most people-centered industries—one that creates hundreds of jobs quickly; supports micro, small, and medium enterprises; and strengthens cultural and community ties across borders.

Before the pandemic, tourism accounted for roughly 12 percent of ASEAN’s gross domestic product and sustained the livelihood of millions of families. Its rebound in recent years has been among the clearest indicators of regional recovery. Yet the lesson of recent disruptions is clear. Resilience cannot be improvised. It must be built deliberately through cooperation, innovation, and foresight.

The tourism sectoral plan seeks to do just that. By promoting ASEAN as a single yet diverse destination, enhancing digital transformation, prioritizing sustainability, and improving connectivity—especially to secondary destinations—it encourages longer stays, multi-country travel, and broader economic spillovers. In uncertain times, this collective approach stabilizes demand, strengthens investor confidence, and anchors growth in shared regional strengths.

For the Philippines, hosting ATF 2026 in Cebu is both symbolic and strategic. Cebu’s selection reflects international confidence in its tourism infrastructure and its capacity to showcase the best of Filipino hospitality, culture, and creativity. The immediate economic boost—from hotel bookings and transport services to local food and retail—will be felt across the city and nearby communities.

More importantly, the forum reinforces tourism’s central role in Philippine economic growth. Tourism generates employment faster than many sectors and disperses income more widely, reaching local communities that are often left behind by capital-intensive industries. In a period marked by fiscal pressures, infrastructure gaps, and climate vulnerability, tourism remains one of the country’s most practical engines for inclusive development.

The balangay imagery also carries a quiet reminder for our policymakers. Regional cooperation can amplify national efforts—but only if the Philippines rows in step. This means easing travel frictions, improving connectivity, investing in digital platforms, safeguarding environmental assets, and ensuring that tourism growth translates into decent jobs and resilient communities.

ATF 2026 is more than a showcase of destinations. It is a reaffirmation of ASEAN’s collective journey. As the region navigates uncertain waters, the message from Cebu and the Philippines is clear. The voyage toward a sustainable, resilient tourism future is best undertaken together, guided by shared values, common direction, and the enduring spirit of the balangay.