35 business, civil society groups demand removal of questionable ₱180-billion budget insertions A coalition of 35 business and civil society groups pressed lawmakers to reject every unjustified and politically motivated insertion in the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 to shun corruption and strengthen investor confidence. Read more PH boosts defense ties with US, Australia, India; reaffirms partnership with EU The Philippine and European Union delegations during the 6th Meeting of the EU-Philippines Sub-Committee on Development Cooperation, held in Manila on October 1, 2026 Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and his counterparts in the United States, Australia, and India agreed to strengthen their cooperation, especially in maritime domain, training programs and military modernization amid the present situation in the West Philippine Sea. Read more Meanwhile, the Philippines and the European Union (EU) reaffirmed their commitment under the EU-Philippines Partnership and Cooperation Agreement during the 6th Meeting of the Sub-Committee on Development Cooperation held in Manila, Philippines on October 1, 2026. Read more JBC names 11 nominees to SC associate justice post to be vacated by Justice Lazaro-Javier Eleven aspirants to the post of Supreme Court (SC) associate justice that will be vacated on Nov. 16 with the compulsory retirement of Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier were nominated by the Judicial and Bar Council (JC) on Thursday, Oct. 29. Read more Peso breaks ₱64:$1 streak as Marcos' reassurance, Fed rate hold ease pressure President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s reassurance and the United States (US) Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates steady shored up the Philippine peso against the dollar, snapping its streak of closing at ₱64.00 per dollar. Read more

What is the deep secret of life?

 

Hector Quintanilla

 ·

Founder at BeBusinessSmart.com (2019–present)

This is the biggest SECRET to life. Sadly very few people live by this principle.

This is the secret to an extraordinarily ABUNDANT life … It’s very simple:

• If you want friendship: You’ve got to first give friendship.
• If you want respect: You’ve got to first give respect.
• If you want energy: You’ve got to give energy (exercise).
• If you want love: You’ve first got to give love.
• If you want happiness: You’ve first got to give happiness.
• If you want money: You’ve first got to give VALUE.

Never forget this powerful principle of life:

The more we GIVE, the more we’ll receive.

Somewhere hidden inside this wisdom hides the secret to human happiness and fulfillment.

Selfishness is taking over our world, and it doesn’t work!

Try giving first. You’ll be amazed!

Warum Menschen am Mittelmeer gesünder altern – und was Olivenöl damit zu tun hat

 

Stand:

29.10.2026, 14:23 Uhr

Von: Robin Dittrich   

Olivenöl allein erklärt es nicht: Studien zeigen, warum Menschen am Mittelmeer gesünder altern – und welche Rolle Alltag und Gemeinschaft spielen. (Symbolbild) © dpa | Karl-Josef Hildenbrand

Olivenöl allein erklärt es nicht: Studien zeigen, warum Menschen am Mittelmeer gesünder altern – und welche Rolle Alltag und Gemeinschaft spielen.

München – Das Mittelmeer macht Menschen wohl gesünder – aber nicht wegen eines einzigen Superfoods. Jahrelang rückte die Wissenschaft Olivenöl ins Zentrum der Forschung, suchte nach dem einen Wirkstoff, der mediterrane Bevölkerungen vor Herzerkrankungen, Demenz und Diabetes schützt. Doch immer mehr Studien zeigen: Es ist das Zusammenspiel vieler Faktoren, das den entscheidenden Unterschied macht.   Der Mittelmeer-Lebensstil lässt sich nicht auf ein Produkt reduzieren. Wer wirklich verstehen will, warum Menschen in Griechenland, Süditalien oder Spanien statistisch gesünder altern, muss das gesamte Bild betrachten – von der Ernährung über soziale Gewohnheiten bis hin zur körperlichen Alltagsaktivität.

Mittelmeer-Lebensstil: Mehr als Olivenöl und frisches Gemüse

Die Ernährung bleibt natürlich ein zentraler Baustein. Viel Gemüse, Hülsenfrüchte, Vollkornprodukte, Fisch, Nüsse und tatsächlich auch hochwertiges Olivenöl – all das prägt die mediterrane Küche. Entscheidend ist dabei nicht ein einzelner Inhaltsstoff, sondern das Muster: wenig rotes Fleisch, kaum hochverarbeitete Produkte, dafür saisonale und regionale Zutaten. Studien wie die PREDIMED-Studie aus Spanien belegten, dass eine mediterrane Ernährung als Ganzes das Risiko für Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen signifikant senkt – nicht einzelne Komponenten isoliert betrachtet.  

Doch selbst die beste Ernährung wirkt weniger, wenn andere Lebensbereiche fehlen. Bewegung spielt eine ebenso große Rolle: In traditionellen mediterranen Gemeinschaften ist körperliche Aktivität kein Fitnessprogramm, sondern Teil des Alltags – Spazierengehen, Gartenarbeit, handwerkliche Tätigkeiten. Diese moderate, kontinuierliche Bewegung schützt Herz und Stoffwechsel nachhaltig.

Mittelmeer-Lebensstil: Warum soziale Bindungen unterschätzt werden

Ein oft übersehener Faktor ist das soziale Leben. Gemeinsame Mahlzeiten, enge Familienstrukturen, ein aktives Gemeinschaftsleben – all das reduziert chronischen Stress und fördert mentale Gesundheit. Wissenschaftler sprechen inzwischen davon, dass soziale Isolation ähnlich schädlich wirken kann wie Rauchen. Im mediterranen Alltag ist Einsamkeit kulturell weniger verbreitet als in nordeuropäischen Gesellschaften.   Hinzu kommt ein entspannterer Umgang mit Zeit: die Siesta, längere Mittagspausen, bewusstes Genießen beim Essen statt hastiges Schlingen. Chronobiologische Forschung deutet darauf hin, dass auch Schlafrhythmus und Erholung erheblichen Einfluss auf Entzündungsprozesse im Körper haben. Wer den Mittelmeer-Lebensstil wirklich adaptieren will, sollte also nicht nur Olivenöl kaufen – sondern langsamer essen, mehr draußen sein und häufiger mit anderen Menschen zusammenkommen.

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Song of songs

 

ABOUT US

The Daily Guardian is a renascent Iloilo-based publishing firm and media outfit with bureaus across Western Visayas and beyond. Led by Iloilo's most respected journalists, we pledge to tell the Ilonggo story as seen through the various lenses of society so that every side may be told.

BUREAUS:KaliboBoracayRoxasBacolodAntiqueGuimarasManila

By Klaus Döring

October 30, 2026

The Song of Songs (or Canticle of Canticles) is an exquisite collection of love lyrics, arranged to tell a dramatic tale of mutual desire and courtship. It presents an inspired portrayal of ideal human love, a resounding affirmation of the goodness of human sexuality that is applicable to the sacredness and depth of married union.

U.S. musician and author Ted Gioia argues in his excellent book “Music: A Subversive History” (2019): “At every stage in human history, music has been a catalyst for change, challenging conventions and conveying coded messages — or, not infrequently, delivering blunt, unambiguous ones. It has given voice to individuals and groups denied access to other platforms for expression. Pop music has often been dismissed as ‘lightweight’ given its young audience, simple snappiness and mainstream status, but those elements are really where its strength is concealed. Pop songs don’t originate themes of mental wellbeing, equality, liberty, activism — but they do transmit them to the broadest platforms possible.”

Snap the radio on, zip to any station, and what are you likely to hear? Love songs. Songs of new love, songs of disappointed love, songs of grateful love, songs of crazy love. I still remember my time as a radio host in Davao City several years ago, playing the hits of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Nothing has changed. Times change, but throughout history, the flow of love songs has been a constant.

Plenty of people are surprised or even shocked to find an explicit love song in the Bible — complete with erotic lyrics. But the “Song of Songs” is exactly that. It shows no embarrassment about lovers. Consequently, intermittent attempts have been made to rule the “Song of Songs” out of the Bible. It’s like making it “for adults only.” Imagine, my dear reader, in 16th-century Spain, for instance, professor Fray Luis de León was dragged out of his classroom and taken to jail for four years. His crime? He translated the “Song of Songs” into Spanish.

If you start reading the “Song of Songs,” you will find that this book conveys a very different atmosphere from most modern love songs and pop music. Since love songs are always popular, many people approach the “Song of Songs” with great expectations. However, readers often find the book quite different from what they had expected. One challenge is its poetic imagery. Another is that the “Song of Songs” is hard to follow. One part doesn’t seem connected to the next.

explore the “Song of Songs.” One thing is for sure. You’ll learn a lot about the love between God and His people.

***

Email: doringklaus@gmail.com, or follow me on Facebook or LinkedIn, or visit my blogs at www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

Non-native honeybee species found

 

By Razl EJ Teman

MindaNews

EXPERTS from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) are now studying the presence of Apis florea, a non-native honeybee species, in Mindanao.

The species is found in Southern and Southeastern Asia, including Thailand and Indonesia.

Dr. Editha C. Jose, a UPLB mathematics professor and one of the leads of the UPLB Bee-keeping Program, told MindaNews on Friday that they have been studying the presence of this bee species since February this year to validate their hypotheses and establish its profile in the locality.

Jose, who is also president of the Mathematical Society of the Philippines (MSP), discussed her research on bees in a presentation titled “Interdisciplinary Mathematics: A mathematician’s journey among bees” during the second day of the MSP Davao Region Research Convention.

She said the team is composed of eight experts, including mathematicians, entomologists, and biologists.

Asked whether the presence of this honeybee species is beneficial, Jose said the team is currently investigating whether it competes with native bees for resources when foraging.

“So, we are looking at, are these Apis florea also foraging on the same flowers as our native bees? So that’s our problem. So, we are getting the resource profile,” she said.

Apis florea is identifiable by the red area behind its neck. Jose, however, said the team will also validate other reported sightings of the species in different parts of the country.

Among the prominent pollinating bee species in the country are Apis cerana (commonly known as Laywan), stingless bees, and Apis mellifera (western honeybee).

A study published in February this year documented 10 nests of Apis florea in Davao City, Panabo City, and Monkayo, Davao de Oro.

Jose added the team attempted to establish a colony of the species at a beekeeping site in Toril, Davao City. However, the Apis florea left the area.

The team is investigating the possible reasons for its departure, including the site’s relatively higher elevation and more frequent rainfall.

In Panabo, the colonies have remained in the area.

Jose said the team will visit Samal Island on Sunday to validate another reported sighting of the bee species.

During her presentation, Jose said the team was still trying to determine why these bees remain in specific areas.

She said the team has been conducting experiments, fieldwork, and data collection since February to better understand the species and its behavior.

Based on the February study, the nests were observed on mango, malunggay, Podocarpus sp., sampalok, talisay, and cacao trees.

The team’s ongoing fieldwork has also found that the bees feed on and pollinate mango trees, similar to stingless bees.

One theory the experts are investigating is that the bees may have reached the country through trade, possibly transported aboard boats, she said.

Should the team find that the species is non-invasive and does not compete with other bees, its presence would be good because there would be more bees to pollinate plants, she said. (Razl EJ Teman / MindaNews)

No photo description available.

Alex Eala asserts mastery over Gibson to reach Tokyo Open quarters

 

By Reynald I. Magallon

Published Oct 28, 2026 08:18 pm

Alex Eala recovered from a first-set hiccup and dominated the next two to cruise to a 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 victory over Talia Gibson and barge into the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Open on Wednesday, Oct. 28, in Japan.

Eala had to buck a slow start against the Australian but eventually found her way back into the contest behind her aggressive shots and strong service game to complete the come-from-behind win.

The 21-year-old Filipina asserted her mastery over Gibson who she already faced and defeated twice in International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments. The Tokyo Open was their first meeting in a WTA-sanctioned event.

Although Eala was holding a psychological advantage over Gibson with their head-to-head record, the 22-year-old Australian gave Eala a run for her money in the opening set, breaking through with a backhand winner in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead.

The Filipina tennis returned the favor in the next game but Gibson broke Eala’s serve once more to take the opening set.

Eala, however, came alive in the second and took the first two games, setting the tone to the comeback.

Gibson stayed within striking distance and kept it close, 2-3, but Eala maintained the pressure, saving a break point and then finding her range on the serve to pull away and force the decider.

Feeling the momentum, Eala went on to dominate Gibson and seized a commanding 5-0 advantage — highlighted by a blistering stretch where the Filipina won eight consecutive games.

Gibson tried to stay alive, saving a match point and forcing a deuce but Eala would not be denied and sealed the victory to arrange a clash against the winner of the match between third seed Diana Shnaider of Russia.

DPWH-DOTr secretary switch: Beyond changing faces

lletin Newsroom

Published Oct 29, 2026 12:01 am | Updated Oct 28, 2026 04:03 pm

The decision of the President to switch the heads of two critical government departments is a welcome move, but it also raises an important question: Can changing the people at the top bring meaningful change to institutions whose problems have persisted for decades?

On Oct. 26, Malacañang announced that Vince Dizon would return to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), while Giovanni Lopez would take over the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The Palace explained that the reshuffle was intended to accelerate reforms. Dizon was being sent back to ease the daily struggles of commuters, while Lopez, described as a systems builder, was tasked with institutionalizing reforms at the DPWH.

Both departments face enormous challenges. The DOTr must address worsening traffic congestion, unreliable public transportation, delayed infrastructure projects, and bureaucratic inefficiencies. The DPWH, meanwhile, must confront corruption, questionable infrastructure spending, unfinished projects, and the continuing controversy surrounding flood control programs.

Dizon knows these challenges firsthand. In fact, social media memes have even portrayed him as having visibly aged during his stint at the DPWH, perhaps reflecting the enormous pressures associated with leading an agency battered by allegations of corruption.

The symbolism became more pronounced during the two secretaries' joint press conference on Oct. 27. Instead of the traditional turnover of a flag, Dizon handed Lopez envelopes containing documents on alleged corrupt officials, whom he described as “rotten apples.” He urged his successor to remove those responsible while protecting honest employees.

The gesture was revealing. It suggested that the problems confronting the department extend well beyond its leadership. And herein lies the greater challenge—changing secretaries may provide fresh leadership, renewed energy, and different management approaches. But will changing faces be enough when the problems themselves are systemic?

The DPWH and DOTr are sprawling bureaucratic institutions, with central offices, regional units, attached agencies, and thousands of personnel. Their operations depend on established systems, administrative procedures, procurement practices, and organizational cultures developed over many years.

A secretary may issue directives, dismiss erring officials, or introduce reforms. Yet unless these changes reach the foundations of the organization, old practices can easily return once that secretary leaves.

We could appoint 10 different secretaries, but if the underlying systems remain unchanged, the same problems will continue under 10 different names.

What the administration must pursue, therefore, is not simply a reshuffling of personalities but a fundamental transformation of these agencies. Stronger accountability mechanisms, transparent procurement, merit-based appointments, independent monitoring, and enforceable safeguards against corruption must become permanent features of government operations.

Such reforms should not depend on the personal determination of whoever occupies the secretary's office.

We wish Dizon and Lopez success in their new assignments. Their success, if any, will ultimately benefit millions of Filipinos who deserve safer roads, reliable transportation, and infrastructure built with integrity.

But the Marcos administration must demonstrate greater firmness and resolve in pursuing changes that will outlast its remaining years. Cabinet secretaries come and go. They serve at the pleasure of the President, and their faces change with every administration.

Institutions, however, must endure.

The true measure of this reshuffle will not be the personalities involved, but whether it produces reforms that remain effective long after these officials have left office. The next generation of Filipino taxpayers deserves to inherit institutions that function properly, not the same problems under different names.

Singapore and Indonesia set up a task force to combat haze from illegal burning

By The Associated Press

Published Oct 28, 2026 10:38 am

A street vendor walks amid thick haze from wildfires in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Yulianus Stefan Lundju)

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia and Singapore agreed Tuesday to cooperate more closely to combat the illegal burning of land that has contributed to a toxic haze that has blanketed multiple cities across Southeast Asia in recent weeks.

Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir in Jakarta and said afterward that the two countries agreed to establish a task force to strengthen enforcement under existing regulatory powers, and to consider new ones.

The haze comes primarily from western Indonesia where forest and peatland fires often are started to clear land for farming. While such fires are common during the dry season starting in April, this year’s are the worst on record, partly because of hotter and drier weather attributed to the El Niño weather pattern.

“El Niño is a natural phenomenon, but the burning of the forest and land is caused by human actions," Balakrishnan said in a joint press statement. “We have a responsibility to ensure the health of all the citizens of Indonesia and Singapore. Therefore, I hope that the Indonesian and Singapore governments will work together to overcome this challenge.”

The haze in Southeast Asia has triggered health concerns and ignited a public backlash from Singapore, Malaysia and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

A thick haze obscures the skyline behind the Central Business District area in Singapore, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/David Hu, File)

Singapore recently announced it had sent warning letters to 10 Indonesian companies that may have been linked to forest fires.

Nasir added that Indonesian authorities also have taken law enforcement actions resulting in hundreds of individuals and more than 50 companies facing legal proceedings. Some of them have been found guilty under Indonesian law.

“Smoke can cross borders, so can money. That is why we must follow the money trail these companies have left behind. Singapore offered to share data on companies linked to the fires, which we welcome as a valuable opportunity,” Nasir said in the joint statement.

The thick haze has turned the skies orange over the Indonesian sections of Borneo Island, and has spread across neighboring Singapore, Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia where it has disrupted life and prompted schools to close.

Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry has recorded more than 2,020 square kilometers (780 square miles) of burned land between January and July, while the Nusantara Atlas project estimated that nearly 8,960 square kilometers (3,460 square miles) had burned by the end of August.

Inflation fears drag down PSEi by 1.87%

 Inflation fears drag down PSEi by 1.87%

BY EMMANUEL JOHN ABRIS

OCTOBER 29, 2026

Philippine stocks fell on Wednesday as higher oil prices and a weakening peso stoked inflation concerns, while elevated treasury yields dampened demand for equities.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) slid 1.87 percent, or 107.64 points, to close at 5,653.55.