Boom Cagayan de Oro

A Brown Company is moving forward with two major renewable energy projects in Mindanao, both targeted for completion by 2029.

The projects include the 190MW Manolo Fortich Solar Project in Bukidnon and the 200MW Misor Wind Project in Misamis Oriental.

Once completed, the company expects its renewable energy business to contribute 50% of the Group's total income, marking a major step in expanding beyond its real estate business.

Source: Minutes of the General or Special Stockholders’ Meeting – June 25, 2026

Why do old people get tired so easily?

 

Alan Fothergill

 · 

Im almost 70 and in great shape and as fit as a fiddle. I walk at a pace, carry heavy shopping loads, don't look my age, don't feel anywhere near my age.

I went to my doctor surgery recently and had several tests. ECG, blood pressure, Sats test etc and the doctor was visibly surprised when he saw me. “I expected a grey haired old man with a walking stick” he said. “Instead I see a fit, healthy man who looks no older than mid fifties!”. His final words were “ You will easily live to 100”.

Here's the strange thing. I never exercise or play any sports. I eat whatever I like and never diet. I often sleep only 3 or 4 hours a night. Im still slim and have a decent head of hair with very few greys. I never feel tired except for in the early hours of the morning. Im a full time carer and keep busy all the time. Im sharp of mind and often multi task. Maybe Im just lucky but I must be doing something right. Im never sick and cant recall the last time I had as much as a headcold.

I don't eat between meals and eat healthy most of the time. I cook most food from scratch and eat lots of veg and fruit. I bake all my pastries, cakes and biscuits from scratch. Only eat chicken meat and oily fish. Have the occasional beer or glass of wine. Drink breakfast tea and green tea and the occasional coffee. Keep my mind active every waking hour. I consider myself very fortunate.

For those negative people who have commented below claiming I haven't answered the question. My personal experience contradicts the questioner because I rarely feel tired. I was simply pointing out that not all people over a certain age get tired so easily. Clearly that never occurred to the snipers and jealous types who think that once you reach a certain age you should be as miserable as they are and suffering pain and discomfort every day!

What are the biggest culture shocks people face when they arrive in Germany?

 by Emi Rina

The culture shocks I experienced during my 6-month stay in Heidelberg, Germany were:

1. Respect for pedestrians: 

People stopped their luxury cars to let pedestrians cross the street even when the traffic light indicated otherwise. And they did it respectfully and with a smile on their faces, without getting angry. This was truly unusual for me, in a happy way.

2. Punctuality: Everyone respects each other's time. Trains and buses, the preferred means of transportation, are mostly on time (99% of the time). I could predict my office time every day with near-certainty. Living in Bangalore definitely makes time uncertain. :P

3. Drinking habits: People drink beer at all hours of the day, in the morning, before lunch, and even before going to the office. I had this preconceived idea that drinking was associated with parties or usually in the evening/night. My bad! :P

4. Leftovers: We used to get emails at the office like, "Leftovers from a kitchen party. Please help yourself." At first, I was shocked to see this kind of email. I wondered why someone who works for a reputable company with all the resources and means would want to eat leftovers from a party? But then I discovered that leftovers are usually part of the fresh, untouched food. And people have no inhibitions about eating leftovers. I, too, joined in several times afterward to eat leftovers again and again. :)

5. Free things and gifts: I've seen couches and other luxurious-looking furniture outside a couple of homes many times. I thought people were probably having their homes remodeled or cleaned or something. Later, I saw a message board that said something like, "We don't need it anymore. Feel free to take it if you want." (Not exactly, but something like that.) Living in India, where people usually cling to things, even my family, seeing this attitude was a new sensation for me.

Living alone in a foreign country for about six months taught me a lot about every aspect of my life. And I recommend everyone do it at least once.

Letting my curly hair flow wildly

 

By Maryryn Queenie

Most girls get hair treatments done during their teenage years or even in their 20s, when they’ve decided whether or not they love their natural hair. I got it at 6 years old. And I wasn’t even given a chance to like mine.

I vividly remember 14 years ago; it was a sunny afternoon. Like most children, I waited all day to finally be able to play outside. To fill my hands with mud and pretend to cook leaves. My mom, dressed, slowly approached me. “Aalis tayo, (we’re leaving)” she said as she took my hand.

After a six-minute jeepney ride from our barangay, I walked into a place where the sounds of hairdryers and multiple scary machines filled the space. I didn’t know what the place was. I couldn’t even read yet what the sign outside said.

My mom said, “Upo ka diyan. Magpapa-rebond ka (Sit down, you’re getting a rebond).” I sat there as people worked on my hair using smelly chemicals that hurt my nose and hot equipment that burned me multiple times.

And I did it every six months. For years.

My hair had always swirled like telephone wires. As much as I love playing with it (every time I pull it, it would bounce back to its original shape), it was the reason why I was different from the rest of them.

“Bruha!” “Kulot salot” and even “aeta” were the words I heard people say to me every day. And not only outside but by my own family.

That was the kind of environment I was born and raised in—loud, not with laughter, but with anger and hatred. Where people rejected progress and little children couldn’t even think to dream. I hated it.

It made me question, what was wrong with my hair? What was wrong with me?

As I grew up, I knew who I was and what I am for. I should never be like them. I made efforts to stand up for myself and all the injustices that came my way. But if you are a child, doing it all alone, it is impossible to be heard in all its noise. And if you’re a child, unheard, with no resources, it’s impossible to get help, especially professionally. Still, I persisted.

I studied harder and eventually became interested in politics and journalism. All this knowledge gave me even more courage to rise above where I’ve come from. It became my everything. It gave me a space where I was heard, a platform to make a change. I used it to speak up, not only for me but for others.

One pandemic night after crying to myself and being tired of everything, the urge of wanting total change electrified me. I stood in front of the mirror, steady with courage. There I saw a girl built on worn-out threads but was able to turn it into steel covered in roses — there may be thorns but she never failed to bloom.

I gathered my long straight hair and slowly, my hands trembled reaching for the scissors. I never knew the sound of scissors cutting into hair would be something that would finally bring light into such a dark place. I’ve never felt so alive and free. It was my own form of rebellion.

As I cut my hair, I also cut the shadows of my past and my poisonous relations along with it. And then tears started falling down. And for once, it wasn’t for pain but for the lightness I felt in my heart for the first time.

“Healing is the best form of revenge,” they said. I am now an independent 20-year-old woman and my curly hair also had its time to finally grow, flowing wildly into the rhythm of nature.

I graduated high school with nine medals while navigating my way toward adulthood. I managed to fly higher — in life and into the mountains of Baguio. I now live alone; I get to do everything on my own yet somehow, there’s always a smile on my face in each part of it. I am halfway through college with the best risks I’ve ever taken.

The daughter of emotionally unavailable people even found it in her heart to love … and be loved. Opening my doors to people took a lot of courage. I never trusted anyone, especially myself for that matter. Thankfully, I found Risha, Rica, Isa, and all my friends — the wind that inspired me to fly, especially in the most lifeless times. They made me realize that I was never too much. And my Sam, whose gentle and kind love made my rainy days full of rainbows.

And most importantly, I learned to be kind to myself … and to the little girl I once was. I now make sure to get all I need. I listen to my body. I work on my growth, empowerment, and healing. I take care of myself — not only physically but also emotionally and mentally.

To my 6-year-old-self and her telephone curls, life gets better. You can make it better. You will write your own story. You will decide your own hairstyles. You will be loved. You will be free. You may have had to grow up too soon, but you will find ways to heal the little you later. You will grow up into such an empowered woman who empowers others too. A soft universe awaits you. I am proud of you.

Life truly gets better.

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

By

 Mindanao Daily News

 -

July 21, 2026

0

6

The phrase “good old days” is a nostalgic idiom used to describe a bygone period in someone’s life that they remember as being simpler, happier, and generally better than the present. It reflects a psychological tendency to fondly romanticize the past while viewing the present or future more negatively.

People often use this expression because of rosy retrospection—a cognitive bias where individuals recall the emotional states of past events more positively than they actually were at the time. Unpleasant memories fade, leaving behind a polished, idealized version of history that provides emotional comfort.

This sentiment frequently highlights a perceived loss of innocence or a yearning for a world with fewer modern distractions (e.g., lamenting the rise of digital technology or fast-paced modern life).

Good old days – commonly stylized as “good ol’ days” – is a cliché in popular culture used to reference a time considered by the speaker to be better than the current era. It is a form of nostalgia that can reflect homesickness or yearning for long-gone moments.

Is it correct to say “good old days”? If you talk about the good old days, you mean a time in the past when you believed life was better: I wish my grandma would stop going on about the good old days.

Why does it feel like everything was better in the past?

We have a tendency to rehearse and dwell on the good things that happened, we retell them a lot more often, and so we reinforce the good memories. Moreover, we tend to remember the great songs or cars or football players from the ‘old days’ and forget all the bad ones.”

When people refer to the good old days, they are referring to a time in the past when they think that life was better than it is now. He remembers the good old days when you could leave your door open at night.

Rosy retrospection refers to our tendency to recall the past more fondly than the present, all else being equal. It is a cognitive bias that runs parallel with the concept of nostalgia, though the latter does not always directly imply a biased recollection.

Human nature makes us remember more of our youth, it was delicious and it lasted a long time. So that’s my explanation of why people think the past was better….and also why the older we get the faster time moves for us.

I grew up old school in a time with no technology, or very little that is. I thought life was perfect when I grew up.

Our social network was our neighborhood friends and our school. We weren’t so narcissistic that we posted everything we think and do on the internet. No Internet yet.

And we played Sports rather than video games. That to me is the most important thing. Things were simpler then, yes. But in a way better.

But I’m not foolish enough to think that technology hasn’t given us a plethora of opportunities and things that we didn’t have before. I’m always amazed that I can ask my smartphone anything in the recorded history of mankind , and get an answer! So cool. Science and medical advancements through technology have astounded us. So in this aspect technology has been a tremendous influence. But unfortunately the internet has morphed into a social media platform more than an educational platform.

NOBLE HEARTS AND MINDS

 

Having noble hearts and minds is about pairing deep compassion with intellectual integrity. It means acting selflessly, seeking truth bravely, and leading with empathy rather than ego. Cultivating this balance allows individuals to face challenges with resilience and serve their communities.

When you merge a noble heart with a noble mind, you unlock a specific set of characteristics that elevate both personal and professional life: A noble mind actively seeks the truth, while a noble heart provides the bravery to stand up for justice and do the right thing—even when it is risky.

 Leaders with these traits focus on guiding and supporting others rather than serving their own egos. This approach fosters honor and trust within teams.Resilience and Vulnerability: Operating with a noble heart allows you to be fearless by accepting fear and hardship. It uses vulnerability as a spiritual resource to navigate life’s obstacles.Altruism and Compassion: True nobility means putting others first and recognizing that your actions affect the greater good.

A Leader with a noble heart gives us a noble sense of moral support. Noble leadership is not about the self, but about caring for others, supporting others, guiding others, knowing that the needs of others are met and bringing out their best. A Leader with a noble heart gives us a noble sense of honor.

In times of natural disasters and again quickly dwindling hopes of many people around me (expats AND Filipinos), I still feel inspired to put the cart before the horse.

Maybe at the end of this piece I'll tread the footsteps of other columnists and commentators. So be it!

Pride comes before a fall - but never magnanimity. The dictionary defines magnanimity as in greatness of mind and generosity of heart especially in forgiveness. Filipinos oftentimes are really magnanimous people. Especially nowadays, Filipinos seem to have the quality of being high souled, rising above pettiness or meanness and the generosity in overlooking injury or insult.

The late Harry Emerson Fosdick, a famous Protestant teacher wrote: "No man ever saved anybody, or served any great or left any enduring impression, who was not willing to forget indignities, bear no grudges. The world's saviours have all, in one way and another, loved their enemies and done them good!"

Magnanimity, applied to relations between nations and/or people, transforms hostility into helpfulness. Consider the massive assistance the U.S. provided to its former enemies following World War II, enabling them to rebuild their blasted cities and shattered economies.

No 'West Berlin inhabitant' (and count me in!) will forget the U.S. airlift during the East German-Russian blockade, when the so-called "raisin bomber planes" kept West-Berlin and its people alive. Especially now, because of the 20th anniversary of the Berlin wall falling on November 9, 2009, such remembrances are coming back and let me write this piece.

The Philippine nation again faces a  lot of trials. These trials will prove the strengths of the Filipino people. But, not every tragedy unites a nation.

What quality in human character do you consider the most admirable of all? How about tolerance toward another's viewpoint without smugness? How about refusal to judge another's actions or motives without first knowing what lies behind them?

U.S. writer Clarence W. Hall said: "Magnanimity must be developed and habitual by practice, but it's a virtue that sweetens and glorifies life." Very well said.

People with a noble heart and mind are fond of daydreams. Of course fantasies don't have to be a flight away from reality. In fact, psychologists are discovering more and more that they can play a creative role in  self-development and a better mutual understanding. It's also one of the best things for the well being of a nation.

Rep. Paolo Duterte reports mid-year accomplishments

 

By Ivy Tejano

Published Jul 20, 2026 10:17 pm

DAVAO CITY – Davao City first district Rep. Paolo Duterte reported his accomplishments from Jan. 1 to June 30 on Monday, July 20.

He said healthcare remained his top priority through the Southern Philippines Medical Center Patient Assistance Desk, the Senior Maintenance Program, and medical missions.

Duterte said 12,060 hospitalized patients received medical assistance through the SPMC Patient Assistance Desk, including 11,015 regular patients and 1,045 cancer patients.

Duterte provided maintenance medicines and healthcare support to 465 senior citizens under his Senior Maintenance Program.

He said 1,637 individuals benefited from medical missions while 1,292 families affected by fires received relief assistance.

Duterte distributed 47,625 kilograms of rice, 19,650 food packs, 18,266 meal packs, 9,055 rice porridge, 8,527 bottles of 350-milliliter drinking water, 1,850 breakfast meals, 1,240 water containers, 807 disaster kits, 782 pairs of eyeglasses, and 1,371 malongs and clothing sets.

Nineteen orphanages and six homes for the aged also received assistance and seven heads of cattle were distributed to support livelihood programs.

Thirteen undergraduate students, five post-graduate law students, and four post-graduate medicine students received educational assistance.

Duterte has authored 28 bills since 2025 and a total of 214 bills since 2022. Among these measures was House Bill No. 9652, which seeks to establish a Comprehensive Child-Minding Facility Act.

He vowed to continue delivering accessible healthcare, humanitarian assistance, educational support, and people-centered public service to residents of Davao City's first district.

Andi Eigenmann reveals the one regret that still haunts her despite dream life in Siargao

By Neil Ramos

Published Jul 21, 2026 09:18 am

At A Glance

• Despite finding happiness in Siargao, Andi Eigenmann admits her biggest regret is that her late parents, Jaclyn Jose and Mark Gil, never got to see the life she built.

From the outside looking in, Andi Eigenmann appears to have found the life she had always wanted.

After leaving showbiz, the actress embraced a quieter life in Siargao, where she now raises her family with fiancé Philmar Alipayo.

Her social media has long reflected a life centered on nature, motherhood, and peace, leading many to admire the fresh start she created away from the spotlight.

But behind that seemingly idyllic life is a heartbreak that continues to weigh heavily on her.  

In an emotional interview with Karen Davila, Andi admitted that her biggest regret as a daughter is that her late parents, Mark Gil and Jaclyn Jose, never got to see how much she had changed or witness the life she built for herself in Siargao.

"It's been a struggle, of course. I feel like I am always able to talk about my life here or my island life as though it's such a perfect and happy life.

"It is, I am happy, I am content but there's now that big hole that can never be patched up because of the fact that my mom and my dad never got to see this life, and it's been really hard for me."

Mark passed away in 2014 at the age of 52, while Jaclyn died in 2024 at 60.  

For Andi, the pain goes beyond losing both parents. It is knowing they were never able to witness the chapter where she finally found contentment and a deeper sense of purpose.

She also opened up about her complicated relationship with showbiz following the deaths of her parents, both respected figures in the entertainment industry.

"I feel like my connection to showbiz as someone who is not in it anymore, it's always going to be them and agreeing to interviews like this will always for me get there at some point because you know I'm supposed to be their legacy.

"And sometimes I question myself, should I keep going so that I could uphold their name? Give it life even long after they're gone, but at the same time I tell myself that's not the only way for me to give their names justice."

While Andi has chosen a different path from her parents, she hopes the life she has built is enough to make them proud.

"My mindset is just I hope that they can see me flourishing in this life and that it's who they are as authentic as strong people that inspired me to do the same and somehow it gets easier.

"But I miss them and I feel like me living here on an island, being who I am, finally finding myself and being secure in this, I hope that I am making my dad happy.

"I can't help but imagine him coming here, wanting to go fishing with (Philmar) and trying out surfing. And my mom, you know, staying here in Maison Bukana 'cause she's glamorous."

As she reflected on everything she has accomplished since leaving the entertainment industry, one thought continued to bring her to tears.

"I'm sad they never got to this point, that they never got to visit me here or see this life that I've built for myself, but I sure hope they're proud."

Despite the peace she has found in Siargao, Andi admitted there is one part of her happiness that will always feel incomplete. For her, the greatest loss is that the two people who knew her before anyone else never got the chance to see the woman she eventually became.

Double whammy: Diesel jumps over ₱10 per liter as power bills threaten to spike

 

Filipino households face an imminent double whammy of rising energy costs as pump prices surge and power bills threaten to escalate further due to global supply disruptions. Effective today, July 21, diesel prices will jump by ₱10.68 per liter, while kerosene will rise by ₱11.77 per liter. Gasoline will see a smaller increase of ₱3.65 per liter. Read more

What are the regional languages in Germany besides High German, and where exactly are they spoken?

Bavarian and Swabian are just dialects. Germany is home to five officially recognized regional languages that are entirely distinct—including a Slavic tongue and English's closest relative.

Low German (Plattdeutsch)
Spoken across the northern third of Germany—including Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and parts of North Rhine-Westphalia and Brandenburg—Low German is the most widespread regional language. It never underwent the High German consonant shift, meaning it sounds closer to Dutch and English than to standard German. For instance, the Low German word for "water" is Water, and "to make" is maken, aligning perfectly with their English and Dutch counterparts rather than the High German Wasser and machen.

Frisian
Frisian is spoken in two distinct pockets and is the Germanic language most closely related to English. North Frisian is spoken on the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein and its adjacent North Sea islands, like Sylt and Föhr. Saterland Frisian, a remnant of East Frisian, survives in a single municipality in Lower Saxony.

Sorbian
Deep in eastern Germany near the borders of Poland and the Czech Republic lies the region of Lusatia. Here, a minority population speaks Sorbian, which is not a Germanic language at all, but a West Slavic one related to Polish and Czech. Upper Sorbian is spoken in the state of Saxony around the city of Bautzen, while Lower Sorbian is spoken further north in Brandenburg around Cottbus.

A place-name sign on the outskirts of Bautzen displaying the city's name in both German and Upper Sorbian. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Danish
Danish is an officially recognized minority language in the northernmost state of Schleswig-Holstein, specifically in the region of Southern Schleswig just south of the Danish border. The Danish minority operates its own network of schools, libraries, and churches in the area.

Romani
Unlike the others, Romani has no specific geographic concentration. It is the language of the Sinti and Roma people, who have lived in German-speaking territories since the early 15th century. It is recognized as a minority language nationwide under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.