White Party Manila returns with renewed purpose in pride-powered comeback

By Neil Ramos

Published Jun 28, 2026 01:47 pm

At A Glance

• White Party Manila makes a dazzling return for Pride Month 2026 with Vice Ganda, celebrity guests, performances, fashion, and a meaningful LGBTQIA+ community donation.     The return of White Party Manila became one of the biggest highlights of Pride Month 2026, as the iconic LGBTQIA+ celebration transformed the World Trade Center in Pasay City into a dazzling showcase of love, acceptance, creativity, and community.

After more than a decade away from the spotlight, the much-awaited comeback drew thousands of proud members of the LGBTQIA+ community, allies, celebrities, performers, and fashion personalities for a night filled with music, glamour, self-expression, and purpose.

The celebration lasted until the early hours of the morning, proving that White Party Manila remains more than just an event. It is a vibrant movement that honors identity, inclusivity, and the power of coming together.  

One of the biggest moments of the evening was the arrival of Vice Ganda, the Phenomenal Box-Office Star who once again proved why he remains one of the most influential figures in Philippine entertainment.

Known for his blockbuster films and long-running television presence, Vice Ganda stole the spotlight with a show-stopping all-white ensemble that became one of the most talked-about fashion moments of the night.

The award-winning comedian and host also took the stage to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and recognize the allies who continue to stand with the movement.

His presence carried special significance as he became the face of White Party Manila’s revival, representing visibility, pride, and the celebration of authentic selves.  

White Party Manila’s comeback attracted some of the country’s biggest entertainment names, turning the celebration into a gathering of cultural icons, performers, and proud supporters of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Among the personalities seen at the event were Mayor Isko Moreno, who attended as an ally; OPM icon Ice Seguerra with wife Liza Diño; comedian and host John Lapus; television personality Joey Mead-King; actor Martin del Rosario; and veteran actress Yayo Aguila, among many others.

The stage also came alive with performances from OPM artists including Maki, Gloc-9, Marina Summers, Maxie Anderson, Ben&Ben, and the legendary SexBomb Girls led by Rochelle Pangilinan.

The SexBomb Girls were also honored as the “Gay Icon of the Year” during the historic return of White Party Manila.

Beyond music and performances, White Party Manila became a celebration of style as celebrities embraced the all-white theme with unforgettable looks.

The fashion showcase featured Janella Salvador, Mimiyuuuh, Chie Filomeno, Alex Diaz, Kirk Bondad, Ron Angeles, and Teejay Marquez.   

The runway moments captured the true essence of Pride, confidence, freedom, and the celebration of individuality.

The biggest highlight of the evening was the event’s commitment to making a difference.

Vice Ganda and Mentorque Productions officially turned over a ₱1 million donation to LoveYourself PH.

The contribution came from funds raised during the celebration, with Mentorque adding support to complete the one-million-peso donation.

Mentorque CEO Brian Dy shared:

“Having Vice as the face of this year’s comeback feels more meaningful, especially as we reignite the spirit of Pride through celebration, community, and purpose while delivering a Pride night to remember.”

With its unforgettable performances, dazzling fashion moments, celebrity presence, and meaningful advocacy, White Party Manila’s 2026 comeback became a defining Pride Month celebration, proving that love, unity, and self-expression will always have a place under the spotlight.

Cagayan's Rina Andrea Delos Santos crowned Miss Philippines Earth 2026

 

By Carissa Alcantara

Published Jun 29, 2026 10:54 am

 

Rina Andrea Delos Santos of Ballesteros, Cagayan, was crowned Miss Philippines Earth 2026 during the pageant's coronation night held at the Cultural Center in Malitbog, Bukidnon, on Saturday, June 27.

Delos Santos bested 31 other candidates to win the coveted crown under this year's theme, "Love in Action."

Aside from the title, she also received the Miss Hana special award.  

During the Top 5 question-and-answer round, Delos Santos was asked, "People often remember what a queen says, but even more, they remember what she does. In the spirit of love and action, how would you honor the responsibility that comes with the crown?"

She answered:

"As a community tour guide, I'm not just ready for the crown, but I am ready for the environmental and global responsibility that comes with it. I guide it every single day in working towards putting the Philippines in a position that is not just a model for sustainability and environmental stewardship, but also a destination of beauty.

"And for me, that exactly what is love in action. Remember, love changes nothing unless it moves, and when it moves, it truly changes everything. Thank you."  

Although Miss Philippines Earth 2025 Joy Barcoma was unable to make her final walk and formally pass on the crown, reigning Miss Earth Natalie Puskinova, who flew in from the Czech Republic, took part in the coronation ceremony.

The pageant also crowned its Elemental Queens.

Prima Joy Alamban of Tumauini, Isabela, was named Miss Philippines-Air, while Alyssa Mildred Villariña of Mandaluyong City won the Miss Philippines-Water title.

Patricia Anne Nichole Bangug of Agoo, La Union, was crowned Miss Philippines-Fire, while Roveelaine Eve Castillo of Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, was named Miss Philippines-Ecotourism.

The decline of parental discipline

By Fr. Rolando V. De La Rosa, OP

Published Jun 28, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Jun 27, 2026 03:51 pm

THROUGH UNTRUE

The recent tragic school shootings in Tacloban involving minors have prompted calls for stricter gun control measures and lowering the age of criminal liability. Such initiatives may have some value, but they will accomplish little unless we confront a more fundamental problem: the steady erosion of parental discipline.

Every social crisis is ultimately a moral crisis before it becomes a legal one. Metal detectors, security guards, surveillance cameras, and harsher penalties may help protect schools from external threats, but the first and most effective defense against violence remains the moral formation that takes place at home. If we hope to build a safer society, we must begin by strengthening the family, for it is within the home that children first learn responsibility, self-control, compassion, and respect for others.

Sadly, the UP Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study reports that about one in three Filipino youth have, at some point during their upbringing, lived without both biological parents in the home. Many are left to seek guidance from relatives or, worse, from virtual “elders” who often monopolize their waking moments: The social media influencers, internet celebrities, movie and television personalities, and even video game characters whom they admire and imitate as role models.

Laws can restrain wrongdoing, but only a well-formed conscience can prevent it. The greatest safeguard of any society is therefore found in mothers and fathers who lovingly teach their children the difference between right and wrong and who have the courage to correct them when they go astray.

I once witnessed a young boy bullying one of his playmates. His mother glared at him and asked, “What’s wrong with you?” Yet moments later she gently patted him on the back without correcting or disciplining him. Such mixed signals can confuse a child. Instead of feeling guilty for doing wrong, he may conclude that something is inherently wrong with him. He will probably grow up offering this excuse for his misdeeds “I can’t help it. I was born this way.”

Many parents hesitate to discipline their children because our increasingly permissive culture places such a high premium on personal freedom, self-expression, and tolerance. Discipline is often portrayed as manipulative and authoritarian. Also, many parents want their children to treat them more as friends than as parents.

Effective discipline corrects behavior without diminishing the child's dignity. It should never be confused with punishment or the harsh enforcement of rules. Its purpose is to teach children that they cannot always have what they want, that every action has consequences, and that the rights and dignity of others deserve respect. Without such formation, they may develop an unhealthy sense of entitlement and a lack of social responsibility.

Today's Gospel offers a timely challenge to parents who hesitate to exercise their God-given authority. Jesus declares, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37).

These words remind us that parental love is measured not merely by its intensity but by the way it is expressed. A parent may love a child deeply, yet that love can become harmful when it is detached from the responsibility to guide and correct the child when necessary. Jesus calls parents to place truth, goodness, and God's will above even their strongest emotional attachments.

A child’s character must be formed early in life because harmful habits, once deeply ingrained, are difficult to unlearn. Poor choices leave lasting scars, and destructive ideas, once firmly rooted, are not easily uprooted. Disciplining children may be unpopular today, but, as the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us, “The Lord disciplines the one he loves” (Hebrews 12:6). Discipline is not the opposite of love; it is one of love's highest expressions.

For parents who abdicate their sacred responsibility to guide their children along the right path and instead entrust that task to virtual “elders,” like cellphones, television, and the internet, God has this stern warning: “If you do not tell the wicked to turn from their ways and save their lives, I will hold you accountable for their blood” (Ezekiel 3:18–20).

Unwetter in Südtirol löst riesige Mure aus: Wanderer stundenlang in Tal eingeschlossen

 

Stand:

28.06.2026, 10:44 Uhr

Von: Christoph Gschoßmann

Ein Gewitter trifft das Trentino mit voller Wucht. Eine Schlammlawine reißt eine neu gebaute Brücke mit – und das ist nicht das erste Mal.

Val Genova – Ein Donnern, dann Stille – und eine ganze Talstraße war verschwunden. Am Samstagnachmittag (27. Juni 2026) löste ein heftiges Gewitter in der Val Genova im Trentino in Italien eine gewaltige Mure aus. Dutzende Wanderer waren stundenlang von der Außenwelt abgeschnitten. Gegen 16.15 Uhr riss der angeschwollene Rio Dosson bei Strembo (Provinz Trient) eine riesige Masse aus Schlamm, Fels und Geröll mit sich – und begrub damit die Forststraße, die das Tal mit der Malga Bedole verbindet.     

Im Trentino gab es einen Erdrutsch. © x/@lavocedelne

Eine Anwohnerin aus dem Nachbarort Spiazzo beschreibt den Moment: „Ich dachte, es wären ferne Donner – aber es war das Geräusch der Mure.“ Ein Autofahrer, der kurz nach dem Abgang ankam, fasst die Lage in einem Satz zusammen: „Die Straße existiert nicht mehr.“ Laut RAI TGR Trento waren rund siebzig Personen unmittelbar im Rifugio Bedole eingeschlossen, laut Corriere del Trentino insgesamt über hundert Menschen im gesamten Bereich oberhalb der Mure.   

Unwetter in Südtirol: Über hundert Menschen im Trentino eingeschlossen

Mehr als siebzig von ihnen fanden Zuflucht im Rifugio Bedole auf 1.600 Metern Höhe. Eine der Hüttenwartinnen beschrieb die Lage: „Mit dem Auto kommt man weder raus noch rein. Die Schlammlawine hat auch die Brücke mitgerissen, die gerade erst neu gebaut worden war.“ Sie betonte zudem, dass es in diesem Bereich schon früher zu ähnlich schweren Abgängen gekommen sei.

Die Notaufnahmeleitstelle alarmierte sofort die Bergwacht-Station Pinzolo, die mit zwölf Einsatzkräften ausrückte. Ein Hubschrauber überflog das Gebiet rund um den Matarot-Wasserfall, um sicherzustellen, dass niemand verschüttet worden war. Dabei entdeckten die Retter auf dem Wanderweg Nr. 241 einen Bergwanderer, den sie per Helikopter in Sicherheit brachten. Freiwillige Feuerwehren aus Strembo, Carisolo, Spiazzo und Pinzolo sowie eine Suchhundestaffel der Finanzpolizei-Bergwacht übernahmen die abschließende Kontrolle des gesamten Murenbereichs.  

The Hard Dreamer

June 28, 20263 min readThe BoholTimes

A “dreamer personality” describes someone highly imaginative, idealistic, and deeply connected to their inner world. They are big-picture thinkers who frequently envision possibilities beyond everyday realities, often prioritizing core values, empathy, and creativity over strictly pragmatic or purely logical concerns.

Series of images or thoughts in the mind of a person asleep – the idle fancy, the vision, the aspiration, the yearnings… they are dreams that have interested, puzzled and frightened people for thousands of years. All kinds of strange explanations have been written about dreams.

Interpreters of dreams have published innumerable books. I bought some of those books. I caught myself reading them and trying to analyse my dreams, resulting in my becoming unsure and sometimes really undecided about the many different explanations regarding the same dream’s meaning.

At one time, people thought that the figures appearing in dreams were messengers from the Gods. It was generally believed that dreams came from something outside a person’s special skills. Do you believe this?

Today it is believed that the dreamer himself creates dreams; and, because dreams are something a person creates, they may have special meaning for the dreamer. Just why should one have a dream when one may depend on many things. Your health may have an effect on your dreams. A person who is ill or feeling uncomfortable will have different kinds of dreams than that of a person, who is doing good and who is happy.

If a person is hungry, or feels cold, or very tired – his dreams may include those feelings. Also the events of the day before may have a lot to do with what people dream about. Often, the persons or situations in a dream are those in our life. Or your emotions may make you have the kind of dream you have. Needing or wanting something may be expressing a dream, and being frightened may become part of a dream.

I dream a lot. I am always wondering about myself. I am still dreaming of a better world, yes, it’s blue eyed, but these are my dreams. No ignorance and no arrogance, a world with real friends, who don’t turn back if we need them; a world with people who will stop killing each other because of stupid and incomprehensible reasons; a world with people who will stop hurting and insulting each other because of envy.

I also dream, Filipinos will not always talk about an unfinished revolution and an inchoate nation still in the process of becoming.

Dreams are foams? Maybe. Maybe not. Confucius said a long time ago: “The one who steals our dreams brings us to death!” PWEDE! Let’s dream hard, and let’s work harder!

This is Davao History: Indelible German traces

 

This is Davao History: Indelible German traces

 by Antonio V. Figueroa

Although the Europeans, particularly the Spaniards, first set foot in Davao in 1521, German imprints did not find space in local historical accounts until the 1880s, chiefly in scientific explorations that placed the region in world map. The legacy the Germans have left behind has only been sparingly mentioned in Davao’s study of historical writings.

In the region’s floral past, several German names stand out as indelible milestones given their names have been immortalized in two significant flower discoveries in Davao.

The Rafflesia schadenbergiana, called by the Bagobo as ‘bo-o,’ is named after naturalist Alexander Schadenberg, a native of Breslau, Germany, who braved the forest fastnesses of Sibulan, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur. The burrowing skink (Brachymeles schadenbergi Fischer), discovered in 1885 in Davao, was also named in his memory. He was, in personal life, a pen pal of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the Filipino national hero.

On the other hand, Vanda sanderiana, the waling-waling discovered in 1882 in Mount Apo, was named after Heinrich Friedrich Conrad Sander, a German orchidologist, while Rafflesia apoanum Stein was in honor of Stuttgart, Germany-born Berthold Stein, a German botanist (orchid specialist), lichenologist (lichen expert), and mycologist (a scientist who studies fungus and its genetic and biochemical properties) known for his contributions in the field of taxonomy.

Dr. Otto Koch, a German naturalist then living in Cebu, collaborated with Schadenberg in the discovery of the rafflesia, the world’s largest parasitic flowering plant. Together, they made two successful ascensions of Mount Apo.

German legacy was further magnified during American occupation, this time in public governance with the appointment of Henry Gilsheuser who, during and after war, also went to serve the Philippine government in different capacities.

Born in Hessen, Germany, in 1881, he became the penultimate American governor of Davao before a Filipino administrator governor was appointed in 1915. He took up public education in Germany but continued his studies in New York when his parents migrated to the U.S.

Gilsheuser fought in the Spanish-American War, appointed third lieutenant in the Philippine Constabulary in 1903 and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He served as district secretary of Cotabato, governor of the Lanao province, and later appointed by Gen. John J. Pershing, commander of the Military Department for Mindanao and Sulu, as Davao governor in 1910.

Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon, when war broke out, appointed him fuel and transportation administrator of the Civilian Emergency Administration and was in-charge of the Emergency Control Commission during President Sergio Osmeña’s watch. During the presidency of Manuel A. Roxas, he was a member of the US-Philippines War Damage Commission.

For his efforts, he was awarded by the Philippine government the Philippine Legion of Honor. A dyed-in-the-wool Mason, he died in Manila at the Lourdes Hospital in Manila on Feb. 27, 1964 at age 83.

Germany, a country with a third of its population affiliated with Roman Catholicism, shares religious affinity with Davao. In fact, three of the religious orders founded by St. Arnold Jannsen, born in Goch, Germany, have provinces (branches) in Davao City, namely the Societas Verbi Divini (SVD, 1875) the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSps, 1889), and the Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (SSpSAP, Sept. 8, 1896).

The SVD priests took over the management of the Saint Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary at Catalunan Grande, Davao City, in the 1980’s from the Foreign Mission Society of Quebec (PME Fathers), while the SSpSAp, also known as the Pink Sisters, holds court at the Holy Spirit Adoration Convent, along Seminary Road, Catalunan Grande, Davao City.

To underpin Germany-Davao alliance, the University of Southeastern Philippines, a state learning institution, introduced years ago under its Institute of Language and Creative Acts the study of German language, which was initially headed by journalist-professor Klaus Döring, a native of Spenge, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and Davao resident since 1999.

Adding another feather to the partnership was the opening of the consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany in Davao with Döring, a long-time German court interpreter, language teacher and married to a Davaoeña, was installed as honorary consul in southern Mindanao.

An indication that German descent is here to stay, Davao City mayor, Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio is a scion of German-born migrant who became naturalized American.

LEAVE ME ALONE!

 

"Leave Me Alone" is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson from his seventh studio album, Bad (1987). It was released as the eighth single outside of North America on February 13, 1989 and appears only on the CD and 2001 cassette editions of Bad. It was written and composed by Jackson and produced by Jackson and Quincy Jones.

When you want someone to leave you alone, be clear and direct. Use firm but polite language like “Please leave me alone” or “I'd like to be on my own right now.” Try not to make excuses—it's okay to be assertive!

"Leave Me Alone" topped the charts in Greece, the Republic of Ireland, and Spain (in 2006), and peaked within the top ten of the charts in Belgium, New Zealand, Spain (upon its original release), and the United Kingdom. "Leave Me Alone" was generally well received by critics. In the music video, Jackson pokes fun at the rumors about him. The video was the recipient of a Grammy Award in 1990 for Best Music Video. The song was never performed on any of Jackson's tours.

Leave me alone! Give me a break! I can be a reluctant socialiser. Or should I better say I could. I got restless a few hours into a hangout. Maybe, I would not be invited any more. Or not so often... . I even once went on a free 10-day silent meditation retreat – not for the meditation, but for the silence. No matter if staying in the Philippines, in Germany or somewhere else.

So I can relate to author Anneli Rufus, who recounted in Party of One: The Loners’ Manifesto: “When parents on TV shows punished their kids by ordering them to go to their rooms, I was confused. I loved my room. Being there behind a locked door was a treat. To me a punishment was being ordered to play Yahtzee with my cousin Louis.” Being a little boy, "my room" was really my castle.

Wanting to be alone: social tendencies like these are often far from ideal. Abundant research shows the harms of social isolation, considered a serious public health problem in countries that have rapidly ageing populations (though talk of a ‘loneliness epidemic’ may be overblown). In the UK, the Royal College of General Practitioners says that loneliness has the same risk level for premature death as diabetes. Strong social connections are important for cognitive functioning, motor function and a smoothly running immune system.

This is especially clear from cases of extreme social isolation. Examples of people kept in captivity, children kept isolated in abusive orphanages, and prisoners kept in solitary confinement all show how prolonged solitude can lead to hallucinations and other forms of mental instability.

But these are severe and involuntary cases of aloneness. For those of us who just prefer plenty of alone time, emerging research suggests some good news: there are upsides to being reclusive – for both our work lives and our emotional well-being.

Social anxiety (please check out my previous columns here!) is the single most common psychological problem according to innumerable survey results worldwide. The magnificent, gorgeous and excellent isolation, resulting from being nervous when meeting people is really the opposite. The state of being isolated reminds me of being in a hospital with an infectious disease. Easy to say nowadays ... .

A recent vindication of these ideas came from University at Buffalo psychologist Julie Bowker, who researches social withdrawal. Social withdrawal usually is categorised into three types: shyness caused by fear or anxiety; avoidance, from a dislike of socialising; and unsociability, from a preference for solitude.

There is gender and cultural variation, of course. For instance, some research suggests that unsociable children in China have more interpersonal and academic problems than unsociable kids in the West. Bowker says that these differences are narrowing as the world becomes more globalized.

Still, it turns out that solitude is important for more than creativity. Since ancient times, meanwhile, people have been aware of a link between isolation and mental focus. After all, cultures with traditions of religious hermits believe that solitude is important for enlightenment.

Recent research has given us a better understanding of why. One benefit of unsociability is the brain’s state of active mental rest, which goes hand-in-hand with the stillness of being alone. When another person is present, your brain can’t help but pay some attention. This can be a positive distraction. But it’s still a distraction.

Daydreaming in the absence of such distractions activates the brain’s default-mode network. Among other functions, this network helps to consolidate memory and understand others’ emotions. Giving free rein to a wandering mind not only helps with focus in the long term but strengthens your sense of both yourself and others. Paradoxically, therefore, periods of solitude actually help when it comes time to socialise once more. And the occasional absence of focus ultimately helps concentration in the long run.

I learned, if your personality tends toward un-sociability, you shouldn’t feel the need to change. Of course, that comes with caveats. But as long as you have regular social contact, you are choosing solitude rather than being forced into it, you have at least a few good friends and your solitude is good for your well-being or productivity, there’s no point agonizing over how to fit a square personality into a round hole.

So feel free to de-clutter your social calendar. 

Alone in the dark

 

One impact of being in complete darkness is that it can wreck your sleep cycle. Two of the key mechanisms for sleep cycle regulation, the hormone melatonin and the brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus, both rely on light to function. Daylight reduces our levels of melatonin, helping us feel awake.

When I was still hosting my radio shows with classical music  on different Philippine radio stations, I really got surprised how many people tried to come in touch with me after listening to not only the (wonderful?) classical music as well as my inspirational thoughts in between. Yes, I really felt glad and honored to be on air and getting the chance to share my passion for classical music with a really great listener ship. Once upon a time –  already many years ago.

In total darkness there are many people right now because of the number of cases increasing to astronomical heights all over the world. Strategies against darkness?  “Why am I so sad? What am I so troubled about?” (Psalm 42,11).

If it’s becoming dark, we usually turn on our lights. But, it’s still daylight. It’s a magnificent and wonderful day! The sun shines with might in the sky. The flowers are ablaze with amazing colors; the birds are chirping cheerfully. – “Yet, why am I so sad? Why am I so troubled?”

We experience feelings, as if darkness lies onto our souls, and light cannot get through any more. Yes, we make head or tail of it, because some really bad things happened since a couple of  months in many of our life and surroundings:

Several good friends passed away unforeseen; a wish, carried with us in our hearts never became true; all doors seem to be locked forever; financial problems bother us and don’t allow the chance for three daily meals; and arduous illness seems to become incurable.

Why are we so sad? Why are we so troubled? The psalm’s poet voices out innermost feelings and emotions during those times. 

A very good friend ( a really very good one!) asked the following question: “How can you praise and worship this God, who allowed me always to get into a never-ending darkness?” Is my friend a dyed-in-the-wool-atheist”, who underpinned his opinion with even the Psalm: “Day and night I cry and tears are my only food; all the time my enemies ask me, “Where is YOUR “God”?””

I was trained how to survive such periods of life. Even in this pandemic situation. Be patient and pray. Yes, pray! Or: “Quarrel with your soul!” No, it’s not nonsense, it really works. 

“Don’t make such a fuss; get out of your dump and be happy!”

Or, read Psalm 103: “The Love of God”.