WORLD PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING DAY

 WORLD PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING DAY

Observed every February 23, this day marks the first meeting of Rotary that later led to the formation of Rotary International in Chicago, USA.

It began as a small gathering of businessmen and grew into a global movement promoting humanitarian service, peace, and goodwill. Today, it’s celebrated as part of World Understanding Month every February.

#TheFreeman #Cebu

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Hearts2Hearts releases new single 'Rude!'

By Jonathan Hicap

Published Feb 21, 2026 04:10 pm   

K-pop’s rising stars Hearts2Hearts dropped their new single “Rude!,” their first music release in 2026. 

Hearts2Hearts won seven Rookie of the Year awards last year, establishing themselves as one of the industry’s most promising new acts.

“Rude!” captures the playful spirit of cheeky rule-benders who refuse to be confined by convention.     

While their previous house track “Focus” leaned into a sleek and chic mood, “Rude!” delivers brighter textures and a more dynamic take on the genre, showcasing a new dimension of the group’s evolving sound. 

In the music video for “Rude!,” the members appear as employees at a factory that manufactures social media “likes,” visualized as glowing hearts. When the emergence of a ‘fake heart’ causes the once-radiant ‘Super Heart’ to lose its glow, the members set out to restore it. The imaginative storyline mirrors the song’s vibrant, fearless energy – a reminder that authenticity always wins. 

Hearts2Hearts' "Rude!" (SM Entertainment)

Hearts2Hearts will debut the performance of “Rude!” live at their 2026 Hearts2Hearts Fanmeeting, which will be held on Feb. 21 and 22 at Olympic Hall in Seoul’s Olympic Park. 

The event marks the group’s first fan meeting and is expected to highlight both the song’s addictive appeal and the members’ growing stage presence.     

The comeback also arrives just ahead of a meaningful milestone. Hearts2Hearts will celebrate their first debut anniversary on Feb. 24 before heading overseas to meet global fans. 

They will hold North American showcases in New York on March 19 and Los Angeles on March 22. The US shows will be followed by a fan meeting in Jakarta on March 28, expanding their international momentum as they step confidently into their second year.

All eyes are on Hearts2Hearts as they continue to build their distinct music universe through a diverse range of releases, which include the mysterious and dream-like “The Chase,” the bubbly disco-house “Style” and five-track debut mini album “Focus.”  

Hearts2Hearts (SM Entertainment)

Hearts2Hearts (SM Entertainment)

GMA Network earns 5th TV Station of the Year title, major awards at 2026 Platinum Stallion National Media Awards

By Manila Bulletin Entertainment

Published Feb 22, 2026 08:47 am

Marking another milestone in its broadcasting legacy, GMA Network was named TV Station of the Year for the fifth time at the 2026 Platinum Stallion National Media Awards.

The Network further received other major awards across TV, regional broadcasting, and radio, highlighting GMA’s wide reach and consistent delivery of trusted content nationwide.

Wish Ko Lang was celebrated as the Best Public Service Program while its host Vicky Morales won Best Public Service Program Host

The Network’s flagship newscast, 24 Oras, was once again named Best TV News Program. Meanwhile, veteran broadcast journalist and State of the Nation anchor Atom Araullo was hailed as the Male News Anchor of the Year.

GMA’s extensive reach across the country was also recognized, with GMA Regional TV being named Regional TV Network of the Year for the 9th consecutive time.

Solidifying its excellence on the airwaves, Super Radyo DZBB maintained its leadership position, winning AM Radio Station of the Year.

Underscoring the Network’s excellence in impactful storytelling, its public affairs programs likewise earned top distinctions.

GMA Public Affairs’ top-rating and multi-awarded program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho took home the award for Best News Magazine Program, while the country’s most-awarded documentary program I-Witness was recognized as the Best Documentary TV Show. Further, the country's longest-running morning show, Unang Hirit, was named Best Morning Show.

Wish Ko Lang was celebrated as the Best Public Service Program, while its host, Vicky Morales, won Best Public Service Program Host.

GMA Network

Further cementing its leadership in the entertainment industry, the GMA Entertainment Group showcased its creative excellence by garnering numerous accolades.

The action-packed drama series Mga Batang Riles triumphed as the Best Primetime Drama Series, with its lead star Miguel Tanfelix earning the distinguished TV Actor of the Year award.

The iconic fantasy series Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre also brought in several trophies. Rhian Ramos was honored as the TV Actress of the Year, while her co-stars Kelvin Miranda and Angel Guardian were recognized as the Best Primetime Drama Series Actor and Actress, respectively.

GMA Synergy sportscaster Martin Javier was celebrated as the Best TV Sports Program Host.

Capping off the Network’s diverse wins, Sparkle artist Will Ashley took home the Best Film Actor award for Bar Boys: After School, and the popular daily program It's Showtime won once again, taking home the Best Noontime Show award.

Established in 2015, the Platinum Stallion National Media Awards, presented by Trinity University of Asia, recognize individuals and institutions for their contributions to the industry that inspire the Trinitarian community.

The awarding ceremonies were held at the Trinity University of Asia University Theater last Feb. 18. (Robert Requintina)

More airlines join NAIA's self-check-in and automated gates

By Manila Bulletin Newsroom

Published Feb 20, 2026 11:47 am

More passengers can now use NAIA’s Self Check-in kiosks, automated Pre-Security screening gates, and Self-Boarding gates at Terminals 1, 2, and 3, as additional airlines complete system integration and join the airport’s automated passenger processing program.

The system, which has been progressively implemented across the airport, allows eligible passengers to check in, print boarding passes, tag their bags, clear initial security, and board flights through automated lanes, helping reduce queuing times and ease congestion at traditional counters. A phased activation of automated Bag Drop features is also ongoing.

The services are currently enabled for the following airlines and passenger categories:

Terminal 1

-Philippine Airlines: International destinations, excluding Middle East and Japan routes

-Asiana Airlines: Korean nationals and foreign passengers with no visa requirements

Terminal 2

-Philippine Airlines: All domestic destinations

-Cebu Pacific: All domestic destinations

-AirAsia: All domestic destinations

Terminal 3 

-Cebu Pacific: All domestic and international destinations

-AirAsia: All international destinations

-United Airlines: Foreign passengers with no visa requirements

-Qatar Airways: All passengers

-Air Canada: All passengers

“These systems are already operational, and we are seeing more airlines come on board as integration is completed,” New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the airport’s private operator, said. “As participation expands, more passengers will be able to move through check-in, security, and boarding more efficiently.”

The automated processing systems form part of NAIA’s broader efforts to improve passenger flow and align airport operations with biometric-enabled standards used at major international hubs across Asia, the Middle East, and North America.

Passengers on eligible flights are encouraged to use the Self Check-in kiosks located near the check-in areas of each terminal. After printing boarding passes and bag tags, they may proceed to Bag Drop counters or automated lanes before continuing through the Pre-Security and Self-Boarding gates. Additional airlines and routes will be enabled in the coming months as integration work continues.

 

Gold medalist Alysa Liu of the United States displays her medal after competing in the women's free skate program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Alysa Liu returns with renewed mindset, captures Olympic gold after skating hiatus

With her striped hair, frenulum piercing, and carefree attitude, Alysa Liu probably cared the least of all the women in figure skating at the Milan Cortina Olympics about winning the gold medal. Maybe that is why she won it. Read more

 

VETERINARIANS check the wings of a Philippine Eagle. (Photo by Keith Bacongco)

An inside look at the Philippine Eagles' yearly health examination

Just like humans, the critically-endangered Philippine Eagles also undergo an extensive annual health check-up to ensure them a clean bill of health. The annual health check-up is a routine effort of the Philippine Eagle Foundation to monitor the wellness of the country’s national bird. Read more

“Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life”

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

THAT’S from the Gospel of St. John (6,63) and is used often as a Responsorial Psalm in many Masses. It reminds us that God’s words, though written also by men and use human elements with all their limitations, have a transformative power that gives spiritual nourishment and guidance to us. In the end, we are reminded that God’s words are what would actually give us the real life meant for us.

We need to understand that God’s words should take precedence over any human reasoning, philosophy or ideology. And that’s because God’s words are obviously divinely inspired that originate from a higher power and not limited by human understanding. They have a timeless and universal scope that will always be relevant across eras and cultures. They are actually infallible and contain wisdom that is beyond human comprehension.

In contrast, human philosophies and ideologies are limited by human perspective, shaped by individual or cultural biases. They are imperfect, prone to errors and flaws. And they usually are relevant only to specific contexts or times. God’s words offer, on the other hand, a broader, deeper and more enduring truth, transcending human wisdom.

Let’s remember that God’s words as spoken to us by Christ are no ordinary words that would just come and go. His words are eternal, effective and ever relevant to everything that happens in our life. His words will always shed light and give meaning to every event, situation and predicament we can have in this life.

The Letter to the Hebrews says as much: “The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to the dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (4,12)

The Letter to the Hebrews continues by saying: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (4,13)

We have to realize that we need to be guided by God’s words rather than by our own thoughts, reasoning and estimations of things alone. No matter how brilliant and clever we are, we can only go so far in understanding things in this world, many of which are very mysterious to us.

We have to develop a fondness for the words of God. This we can do as long as we exert due effort and continually ask, with humility, for the grace of God. Without these requirements, we can easily be swept away by the many alluring ideologies in the world.

It’s when we listen and live by God’s words that we attain our human and Christian maturity. And as St. Paul would say, we would then be like infants no longer, “tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of the people in their deceitful scheming.” (Eph 4,14)

It’s important that we spend time developing a liking and an intimacy with the words of God. We have to read and meditate on them daily, and use them as the spirit behind all events, activities and concerns that we have during the day.

Let us promote a culture of gospel-reading and meditation everyday. A few minutes with the gospel daily can go a long way in putting our life on the right path. We should not miss the great treasure we have in the gospel. We can use the new technologies to promote this culture.

FAITH CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS

A person is said to buy in good faith when he or she holds an honest belief in his or her right or title to the property and has no knowledge or reason to know of any defect in the title.

Trust or reliance? What is faith for you? To say it clearly: without faith we are really nothing. Faith is belief; believe in us, beliefs in our works, talents and personalities.

We also should believe in our parents or better, in the whole family including the black sheep, who can be found everywhere. We should also believe in our friends, even sometimes it seems to become a very difficult task. A friend? A real friend? An expatriate friend...?

Without faith, we will be reaching the rock bottom. Please don't say, it's a likely story. The German poet Johann Christian Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1815) mentioned in his drama "Maria Stuart": "Even the word might be dead, but faith keeps it alive." Yes, I can live with this.

Faith and hope belong together. In his book "Through the Valley of the Kwai", Scottish officer Ernest Gordon wrote of his years as a prisoner of World War II. The 6'2'' man suffered from malaria, diphtheria, typhoid, beriberi and jungle ulcers. Many circumstances quickly plunged his weight to less than 100 pounds. Lying in the dirt of the death house, he waited to die. But every day, a fellow prisoner came to wash his wounds and to encourage him to eat parts of his own rations. As this fellow prisoner nursed Ernest back to health, he talked with the agnostic Scotsman of his own strong faith in God and showed him that, even in the midst of suffering - there is hope - and faith!

Faith is indeed tantamount to convincing and conviction. Richard Wagner, a German classical composer and poet found the following lyric: "Blessed are those people, who know how to live their life in humility and faith!"

Well, let's even continue believing in our government. Faithful hope is loyal, reliable, exact and honorable.

Faith looks beyond the transient life with hope for all eternity. The hope we read in scripture is not a wishy-washy optimism. First and second Chapter of Thessalonians, for example, give encouragement to all Christians, who have been undergoing persecution for their faith. And, Corinthians 13:2 says: "If I have faith it can move mountains!"

Davao City greets Muslims on Ramadan

By Ivy Tejano

Published Feb 20, 2026 05:47 pm

DAVAO CITY – The Davao City government wished Muslim residents peace, reflection, and abundant blessings as they began observing the holy month of Ramadan.

Rep. Paolo Duterte greeted the Muslim community Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh (May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah (God) be upon you) and  emphasized the month as a time for fasting, prayer, and reflection. 

Duterte highlighted the values of faith, compassion, discipline, and care for one another and called on Filipinos to renew their commitment to justice, humility, and service while strengthening unity across communities.   

“May this holy month bring peace to our hearts, clarity of purpose, and strength to face our shared challenges,” Duterte said. “May it inspire us to lead with integrity, serve with sincerity, and act with mercy.”

“Ramadan Mubarak (Have a blessed Ramadan). May Allah accept our fasting, prayers, and good deeds,” the Davao lawmaker added and wished for a peaceful holy month.

Davao City Police Office acting director Police Col. Mannan Muarip joined the Muslim community in the first night of Ramadan at the Davao City Islamic Center on Trading Boulevard.

Muarip donated a sack of rice to support the congregation’s daily iftar, highlighting DCPO’s “Oplan: Amanah,” which seeks to strengthen partnerships, unity, and community service.