NOT SEEING A TRASH BIN IS NOT AN EXCUSE TO LEAVE YOUR TRASH BEHIND

I’ve seen comments saying, “Wala namang kasing makitang basurahan,” and that parks should have more trash bins so people have somewhere to throw their garbage.

But here’s something we also need to understand: there are already trash bins placed in parks. They may not be positioned just a few steps away from each other and that is intentional.

If you don’t immediately see a trash bin, keep your trash with you until you find one. That simple act is part of being responsible.

Should parks have trash bins? Absolutely. But putting too many bins everywhere is not necessarily the solution. A park is meant to be clean, peaceful, and pleasant. Having long lines of trash bins scattered throughout the area can be unsightly, and accumulated garbage can produce unpleasant odors. Nobody goes to a park hoping to relax while surrounded by overflowing garbage bins.

The rule of thumb is simple: KEEP YOUR TRASH WITH YOU UNTIL YOU FIND THE NEAREST BIN.

And if the nearest bin is already full, look for another one.

It may take a little extra effort, but that effort is called discipline.

A clean park is not created by trash bins alone. It is created by people who choose to take responsibility for their own trash.

Let’s not make “Wala namang basurahan” an excuse.

If you brought it with you, you can carry it with you until you find where it belongs. That small act of discipline makes our parks cleaner, more beautiful, and more enjoyable for everyone.

#responsible

#clean

#reminder

#baguio

#wowCordillera

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Phivolcs records minor phreatomagmatic eruption at Taal Volcano

A dark gray plume rises from the main crater of Taal Volcano following a minor phreatomagmatic eruption on Oct. 8. (Screenshot from Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology)

A five-minute minor phreatomagmatic eruption occurred at the Main Crater of Taal Volcano on Thursday evening, Oct. 8, producing a dark gray plume that rose 4,000 meters above the crater. Phivolcs warned that thin ashfall may affect the southwestern lakeshore towns of Agoncillo, Lemery, San Nicolas, Taal, and Batangas, as well as adjacent areas. Read more

TRUST OR RELIANCE? WHAT IS FAITH FOR YOU?

 

By

 Klaus Döring

 -

Friday, October 9, 2026

TO PUT it clearly: without faith, we are really nothing. Faith is belief — belief in ourselves, in our work, in our talents, and in who we are.

We should also believe in our parents — or, better yet, in the whole family, including the black sheep who can be found almost everywhere. We should believe in our friends, too, even when doing so sometimes becomes a very difficult task. A friend? A real friend? An expatriate friend…?

Without faith, we may eventually hit rock bottom. Please don’t say it’s just another likely story. The German poet Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (1759–1805) wrote in his drama Maria Stuart: “Even the word might be dead, but faith keeps it alive.” Yes, I can live with that.

Faith and hope belong together. In his book Through the Valley of the Kwai, Scottish officer Ernest Gordon wrote about his years as a prisoner during World War II. The 6-foot-2 man suffered from malaria, diphtheria, typhoid, beriberi, and jungle ulcers. His ordeal quickly reduced 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 encouraged him to eat, even sharing portions of his own rations. As this fellow prisoner nursed Ernest back to health, he spoke to the agnostic Scotsman about his strong faith in God and showed him that, even in the midst of suffering, there is hope — and faith.

Faith, indeed, is closely linked to conviction. Richard Wagner, the German composer and poet, expressed it this way: “Blessed are those people who know how to live their life in humility and faith!”

Well, perhaps we should continue believing in our government, too. Faithful hope calls for loyalty, reliability, integrity, and honor.

Faith looks beyond this transient life with hope for eternity. The hope we read about in Scripture is not some wishy-washy optimism. First and Second Thessalonians, for example, offer encouragement to Christians who were undergoing persecution for their faith. And 1 Corinthians 13:2 reminds us of faith powerful enough to “move mountains.”

Faith is one of those words that is commonly used but not always fully understood. Some of the confusion comes from the many different ways the word is used in everyday conversation. One common understanding of faith is belief in something despite the absence of evidence. But is that what the Bible means by faith? The answer is a resounding no. So, what does faith really mean?

The closest the Bible comes to offering an exact definition is Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” From this passage, we see that the central feature of faith is confidence or trust. In the Bible, the object of faith is God and His promises. A clear example is Abram’s encounter with God in Genesis 15. In response to God’s promise of countless descendants, Abram “believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Commenting on this, the Apostle Paul writes: “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:20–21). Thus, faith means putting our trust in God and having confidence that He will fulfill His promises.

Faith is more than intellectual agreement. To use an old illustration, imagine yourself at Niagara Falls, watching a tightrope walker push a wheelbarrow across a rope high above the falls. After going back and forth several times, he asks for a volunteer to sit in the wheelbarrow while he pushes it across. On an intellectual level, you may believe that he can safely push you across the rope. But you are not exercising biblical faith until you actually get into the wheelbarrow and entrust yourself to the tightrope walker.

Genuine biblical faith expresses itself in everyday life. James writes that “faith by itself, apart from works, is dead” (James 2:17). Faith works through love to produce tangible evidence of its presence in a person’s life (Galatians 5:6). Put another way, the obedience that pleases God comes from faith (Romans 1:5; 16:26), rather than from a mere sense of duty or obligation. There is a world of difference between a husband who buys his wife flowers out of love and delight and one who buys them simply out of duty.

Faith is important because it is the means through which we have a relationship with God: “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). Through faith, we receive the benefits of what Jesus has done for us. He lived a life of perfect obedience to God, died to pay the penalty for our sinful rebellion against Him, and rose from the dead to defeat sin, death, and the devil. By putting our faith in Him, we receive forgiveness for our sins and the gift of eternal life.

So, what does faith mean? Simply put, faith means relying completely on who Jesus is and what He has done to make us right with God. Are you considering a faith-filled call to Christian ministry? The programs at Grace Theological Seminary will help ensure that you grow in your faith while equipping you to help others do the same.

To walk by faith, it is not enough to believe that God’s Word and promises are true. We must act on that belief and stand on the Truth. When what we believe overflows into the way we live, our faith becomes complete and is reflected in our actions.

***

Mail: doringklaus@gmail.com. Follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn, or visit my blogs: German Expat in the Philippines and Klaus Döring’s Classical Music./PN

Sharing valuable information and public service from the No. 1 regional newspaper in Western Visayas. https://lnk.bio/panaynews

 

Senate OKs bill restricting minors from 'high-risk' digital platforms Meta, Roblox

A mobile device displays the interface of the video game GoreBox on Thursday, June 25. A temporary ban was imposed on the game after investigators find that a 14-year-old student involved in a fatal school shooting in Tacloban City was a frequent player before the incident. (John Louie Abrina)

The Senate approved on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 2424, or the SMART KIDS Act, with a 16-1 vote, seeking to restrict minors from accessing high-risk digital services. Read more

 

PSEi sinks to 5,610 on rate hike fears

BY EMMANUEL JOHN ABRIS

OCTOBER 9, 2026

Philippine stocks fell sharply on Thursday as expectations of further interest rate hikes in the United States and at home dampened investor sentiment, while foreign funds pulled out of the market.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) dropped 2.20 percent, or 126.30 points, to close at 5,610.39.

 

BIZ BUZZ: End of an era at Chinabank

BY EMMANUEL JOHN ABRIS

OCTOBER 9, 2026

It is the end of an era—and the start of a new push—for Sy-led China Banking Corp. (Chinabank).

Gilbert U. Dee has resigned as vice chair and executive director after 57 years on Chinabank’s board.

The bank named him chair emeritus in recognition of his service, including 22 years as board chair and 15 years as vice chair.

THOSE WERE THE DAYS...

 

During my time as radio host in different radio stations in the Philippines, this song has been requested innumerable times. "Those Were the Days" is a song credited to Gene Raskin, who put a new English lyric to the Russian romance song "Дорогой длинною" (literally "By the long road"), composed by Boris Fomin (1900–1948) with words by the poet Konstantin Podrevsky. It deals with reminiscence upon youth and romantic idealism. It also deals with tavern activities, which include drinking, singing and dancing.

Mary Hopkin's 1968 debut single of "Those Were the Days", which was produced by Paul McCartney of the Beatles, and arranged by Richard Hewson, became a number one hit on the UK Singles Chart and on the Canadian RPM Magazine charts. The song also reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, behind "Hey Jude" by the Beatles.

McCartney also recorded Hopkin singing "Those Were The Days" in other languages for release in their respective countries: In Spain, Qué tiempo tan feliz;in (West) Germany,  An jenem Tag; in Italy, Quelli erano giorni; in France, Le temps des fleurs.

Yes, time flew by. I think about sitting in a jet plane. Almost November 2026 again. Wow!

Do you always count the days up to the next legal holidays without being on duty? Or do you start as early as September longing for Christmas? And do you wish the weeks or months hopefully pass by like an assault up to the next possible salary increase?

Many times, we are really in too much of a hurry while feeling uncomfortable if we notice how time flies. We have  no time for someone or something or even for ourselves.

When I was still a teenager, I was longing to be an adult already. Later, I enjoyed listening to my grandmother's stories such as "Once upon a time" or "When I was young" from her "yesterday's life"... .

After a couple of years, especially while observing that time really flies like a racket to the moon, I also have the same question in mind: Are the present hours and days less valuable?

Of course, each day has its own set of happiness and trials. But it also holds very high possibilities of us taking the initiative to do or to move something, if... !

Many of us retreat into the past and forget their present existence. A possible topsy-turvy world of a golden youth tries to let us forget that also the past has had its share of disappointments, pains, tears, darkness, tricky as well as desperate days... yes, lost days, irretrievable time... .

Without having achieved anything, we dream our impossible dreams from last to future and vice versa. We forget that between yesterday and tomorrow is our valuable present. Well, now well then - if we know just how to fulfill this period.

"Once upon a time there was a tavern

Where we used to raise a glass or two

Remember how we laughed away the hours

Think of all the great things we would do?

Those were the days, my friend

We thought they'd never end

We'd sing and dance forever and a day

We'd live the life we choose

We'd fight and never lose

For we were young and sure to have our way..."

 

House probe eyed on cutting of 255 mature trees for SALEX

(L-R) Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio (Photo by Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The Makabayan bloc is asking the House Committee on Ecology to carry out an inquiry on the alleged cutting of 255 mature trees along Quirino Avenue in Manila for the construction of San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEX). Read more

Manila Council orders prep for 'Very Strong El Niño'

Manila is bracing for a “Very Strong El Niño,” with the City Council warning its impact could hit as early as November and peak by February, prompting stepped‑up water conservation, disaster readiness, and public information drives. Read more

Die Praxis der Hermetik

Wir leben in einer Zeit, in der Oberfläche zur zweiten Haut geworden ist. Alles drängt zur Darstellung, zur Meinung, zur Haltung in Echtzeit. Und während alle sich zeigen, wird das eigene Innere leicht zum blinden Fleck. Das Füttern des eigenen Profils ersetzt das Prüfen der eigenen Motive. Und so wird das Ich zur Marke, die Beziehung zur Bühne, Erfahrung zum Content. Was dabei auf der Strecke bleibt, ist oft die Fähigkeit, Stille auszuhalten, Widersprüche stehen zu lassen, nicht sofort zu reagieren. Der Preis ist nicht nur Zerstreuung, sondern innere Unverbindlichkeit. Vielleicht ist Erwachsenwerden heute gerade das, was am wenigsten belohnt wird. Nicht alles zu teilen, nicht jede Rolle anzunehmen, nicht jede Ablenkung zu füttern. Und vielleicht fühlt sich genau das deshalb so oft wie Einsamkeit an. Obwohl es der Anfang von etwas Echtem sein könnte.

We live in an age where the surface has become a second skin. Everything pushes toward self-presentation, toward expressing opinions and stances in real time. And while everyone is busy showing themselves, one’s own inner self easily becomes a blind spot. Feeding one’s profile replaces examining one’s motives. Thus, the self becomes a brand, relationships become a stage, and experience becomes content. What falls by the wayside is often the ability to endure silence, to let contradictions stand, and to refrain from reacting immediately. The price paid is not merely distraction, but a lack of inner commitment. Perhaps growing up today is precisely what is least rewarded: not sharing everything, not assuming every role, not feeding every distraction. And perhaps that is exactly why it so often feels like loneliness—even though it could be the beginning of something real.