Welcome to Hell University: Where survival is the curriculum

 

The cast of 'Hell University' (Viva One)

By Robert Requintina

Published Jan 23, 2026 02:46 pm

This February, Viva One proudly presents "Hell University"—a new series co-produced by Studio Viva and WEBTOON Productions that promises to elevate the thrill like never before.

Written by KnightInBlack, "Hell University" began as a Wattpad webnovel and has amassed 182 million reads to date. In 2017 and 2018, it topped Psicom Publishing's bestseller lists in paperback form. KnightInBlack now boasts over three million followers across Wattpad and social media, with 17 stories accumulating more than 330 million reads.

At Hell University, tuition is free and meals are provided—but it's a secret institution beyond the reach of government laws. Violence is so normalized that there's a designated Bloody Night, from 7 PM to 5 AM, when even murder is permitted.

Hidden from the outside world, Hell University ensnares six adventurous friends who are inadvertently enrolled. Inside, they are caught in the crossfire of two deadly rival gangs—the Black Blood Gang and the Devil God Warriors—whose feud is steeped in the school’s dark history.

Heart Ryan (Da Pers Family, Ang Mutya ng Section E) stars as Zein—a feisty, courageous, and slightly reckless leader whom her friends admire. Determined to protect those she cares about, Zein’s fight for survival brings her face-to-face with the enigmatic student council president known as "Supremo."

Zeke Polina (Ang Mutya ng Section E) portrays Supremo—real name Ace Craige—a man of few words with an undeniable command over the school. His warnings are never taken lightly; to ignore them is to risk your life.

The official poster of Hell University

The official poster of Hell University

Zein’s friends are played by Andre Yllana as Matt, who secretly harbors feelings for Zein; Gabbi Ejercito as Mia, the group's kindest soul who stands up for her friends; Derick Ong as Dave, Matt’s loyal best friend; and Jastine Lim as Vanessa, the smart, outspoken member who shares a mutual affection with Jerome.

The cast also introduces Gabbi Ejercito and Jac Abellana as young showbiz royalties—Gabbi plays Mia, while Jac takes on the role of Jerome, the group’s playful and dependable companion.

Following the success of Avenues of the Diamond, Aubrey Caraan and Lance Carr return to the screen. Lance Carr plays Raze, the masked leader of the Devil God Warriors, whose striking red eye hints at a secret identity that will stun everyone. Aubrey Caraan embodies Samantha, a mysterious student deeply connected to the unfolding events at the school.

Keagan De Jesus portrays Nazzer, the deceptively nerdy and innocent-looking leader of the Black Blood Gang. His charming demeanor is simply a mask for his dangerous true self. Jemima Rivera stars as Nicky, the sole female member—and queen—of the Black Blood Gang.

At the cast reveal last November, director Bobby Bonifacio, Jr. shared his pride in the carefully selected actors, chosen through auditions and go-sees, who are working closely together to bring the characters from page to the University” opens on Viva One.

Stocks drop as investors await GDP data, weigh risks

 

By James A. Loyola

Published Jan 23, 2026 04:24 pm

Local equities market declined as investors adopted defensive posture ahead of next week’s economic growth data, erasing previous gains in session characterized by thinner trading and political uncertainty.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi)) fell 65.34 points, or 1.02 percent, to 6,333.26 on Friday, Jan. 23. The benchmark retreated for the fifth time in six trading days, testing the 6,300 support level as lenders led the drop, while mining stocks saw a modest recovery from prior losses.

Investor sentiment was weighed down by anticipation of fourth-quarter 2025 gross domestic product (GDP) figures due next week. Market participants are seeking clarity on the economy’s trajectory as the central bank monitors inflation and global interest rate paths.

“The local market dropped as investors took a cautious stance ahead of next week's release of our fourth quarter 2025 GDP data,” said Japhet Tantiangco, research manager at Philstocks Financial.

Political developments also filtered into the trading floor as Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., noted that recent impeachment complaints filed against President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte have contributed to the “political noise.”

These maneuvers could potentially distract the administration from delivering priority reforms and maintaining governance standards, complicating the outlook for debt management and broader economic initiatives.

Despite the day’s decline, some analysts view the movement as necessary cooling period following a sustained rally that began in late December.

“We still consider it a healthy correction after gaining for most trading days since December 22,” Ricafort said.

The retreat came even as the peso showed strength against the United States (US) dollar. Luis Limlingan, managing director at Regina Capital Development Corp., attributed the decoupling to profit-taking and a shift toward near-term consolidation.

Market breadth was negative, with 119 stocks declining compared to 86 that rose, while 59 remained unchanged. Turnover slowed to 758 million shares valued at ₱6.29 billion, a decrease that signals “defensive investor stance amid lingering uncertainties,” Limlingan said.

Wo jetzt überall Glätte droht

:Eisregen! Hunderte Crashs! Schulausfälle!

Glatteis!:Drei Tote bei Unfallserie auf der A44

01:00

Quelle: NonstopNews23.01.2026

Peter

Amenda

23.01.2026 - 11:12 UhrGlatteis-Alarm! Am Freitagmorgen kam es in NRW zu heftigen Unfällen mit Toten und Verletzten. Es bleibt gefährlich!

Bei einer Unfallserie aufgrund von Glätte auf der Autobahn 44 bei Paderborn sind am frühen Morgen drei Menschen ums Leben gekommen und mindestens elf verletzt worden.

Auf den Straßen kann es heute Morgen glatt sein, sagt der Deutsche Wetterdienst (DWD). Vor allem in Niedersachsen, NRW, Rheinland-Pfalz, Hessen und im Saarland gebe es zum Ausgang der Nacht anfangs noch Glatteis durch leichten gefrierenden Regen.

Am Vormittag kann es noch zu Glatteis und Eisregen (rote Kringel) kommen

Foto: Deutscher Wetterdienst

Blitzeis-Alarm auch in Osnabrück: Schulen sind geschlossen. Der Winterdienst ist im Dauereinsatz. Seit den frühen Morgenstunden verzeichnete die Polizeidirektion Osnabrück, vom Teutoburger Wald bis zu den Ostfriesischen Inseln, bereits mehrere Hundert Glätteunfälle - und ein Ende ist noch nicht in Sicht.  

Die Polizei Osnabrück meldete um 10 Uhr: „Eine spürbare Entspannung der Lage ist derzeit nicht in Sicht. Die Glätte führt zu erheblichen Verkehrsbehinderungen.“

Neben dem Landkreis Osnabrück waren auch die Landkreise Grafschaft Bentheim, Emsland und Vechta betroffen.

In Vechta ist die Lage „katastrophal“

In Vechta sei die Lage „katastrophal“, sagte ein Sprecher. Auch Lastwagen stünden quer. Überwiegend handelt es sich bei den Unfällen in dem betroffenen Gebiet um Blechschäden, es gibt aber auch Leichtverletzte. „Wenn es irgend möglich ist, sollte man zu Hause bleiben“, riet der Sprecher der Polizei Osnabrück. Auch Radfahrer und Fußgänger seien stark gefährdet.

Klimatologe Dr. Karsten Brandt von Donnerwetter.de zu BILD: „Es ist gefährlich. In der Höhe ist wärmere Luft, die die Schneeflocken abtauen lässt, daher der Regen, und unten ist der Boden gefroren.“  Spiegelglatte Straßen infolge von Eisregen haben auch in Ostfriesland zu Dutzenden Unfällen geführt. Ein großer Unfallschwerpunkt sei die Autobahn 31, sagte eine Sprecherin der Polizeiinspektion Leer/Emden. Die Autobahn wurde deshalb dort von Emden in Richtung Leer gesperrt.

Mehr zum Thema

Verschnaufpause vom Winter-Chaos vorbei!Schnee-Gürtel schnallt sich um Deutschland

Kälte und Glätte prägen das Wetter, Schnee kommt aus dem Südosten nach Deutschland.

Glatteis! Autobahn gesperrtDrei Tote bei Unfallserie auf der A44

Drei Menschen starben und elf wurden bei einem Glätteunfall auf der A44 verletzt.

Am Freitag dann mehr Wolken, als Sonne. „Sachsen bleibt die letzte Sonnenhochburg“, sagt DWD-Meteorologe Markus Eifried. Im Westen fällt weiterhin etwas Regen.

Die Tagestemperaturen bleiben zweigeteilt. Im Westen und Südwesten milder, in der Osthälfte und im Norden gibt es verbreitet Dauerfrost, selbst an den Küsten.

Diplom-Meteorologe Dominik Jung von wetter.net zu BILD: „Ab heute Abend dann wieder Glatteis-Gefahr. Das sind immer so Wolken mit etwas Regen, die sich vom Atlantik bis zu uns voranschaffen, denen geht aber dann bei uns die Puste aus. Trotzdem: Ein paar Tropfen fallen.“

Am Samstagmorgen droht wieder Eisregen (rote Kringel)

Foto: Deutscher Wetterdienst

Auch in der Nacht zu Samstag kann es örtlich begrenzt regnen und die Glättegefahr steigt bei Tiefsttemperaturen von bis zu minus vier Grad an. Eis-Wetter-Gefahr!

prüft aktuelle Wetterwarnungen für Ihre Region

App-Nutzer gelangen hier zum Wetter-Alarm-Check-von Hey_

Für Samstag rechnet der Deutsche Wetterdienst (DWD) mit Regen oder Schnee und damit einhergehender Glätte. Die Temperaturen liegen zwischen null und fünf Grad, im Bergland steigen sie auf maximal minus ein Grad an.

Der Winter bleibt. Auch Wetterexperte Brandt warnt: „Am Samstagmorgen legt sich eine „Eisregenbanane“ von Bremen über Hannover und Göttingen bis vereinzelt nach Franken in Bayern. In NRW und Westniedersachsen droht den ganzen Tag Glätte.“

Taylor Swift, Kenny Loggins, members of Kiss and more get into Songwriters Hall of Fame

By Associated Press

Published Jan 23, 2026 08:03 am

Taylor Swift appears at the MTV Video Music Awards (AP)

New York (AP) — Taylor Swift, Kiss’ Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, Alanis Morissette and Kenny Loggins make up the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees.

Swift’s songwriting has undeniably shaped contemporary pop music trends — and she’ll no doubt bring extra attention to this year’s new class.

Kiss founders Simmons and Stanley — fresh off the band’s farewell — will also be recognized for their glam rock classics “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “I Love It Loud.”

In addition to Swift, Simmons and Stanley, nominees this year include the soft rock legend Loggins (“Footloose,” “Danny’s Song”), the alt-rock icon Morissette (“You Oughta Know,” “Ironic”) and the game-changing R&B songwriter, producer and rapper Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, best known for work like Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” and “Break My Soul.”

The 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held June 11 in New York City.

The Hall annually inducts performers and nonperformers alike. This year, the latter category includes the duo Terry Britten and Graham Lyle (Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It.”)

It’s also not uncommon for performers to gain entry after multiple nominations. Walter Afanasieff, who helped Mariah Carey with her smash “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” was previously nominated in the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame class. He didn’t make the cut then, but this year, will be inducted.

“The music industry is built upon the incredible talent of songwriters who create unforgettable songs. Without their artistry, there would be no recorded music, concert experiences, or engaged fans. Everything originates from the song and its creator,” Songwriters Hall of Fame chairman Nile Rodgers said in a statement. “This year’s lineup not only showcases iconic songs but also celebrates unity across various genres.”

The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to honor those creating popular music. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song.

Some already in the hall include Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Carole King, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, Lionel Richie, Bill Withers, Neil Diamond, Phil Collins, R.E.M., Steely Dan, Dean Pitchford, Hillary Lindsey and Timbaland.

The 2025 class included George Clinton, The Doobie Brothers, Ashley Gorley, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, The Beach Boys’ Mike Love and Tony Macaulay.

Tying ribbons to your suitcase is a bad idea. Stop.

 Hashem Al-Ghaili

Why shouldn’t you do it? Airport workers recently explained…

Many passengers try to make their bags easier to spot by tying bright ribbons or bows to the handles. According to an airport baggage handler at Dublin Airport, this well‑meant trick can actually increase the chances your suitcase goes missing.

The problem is that airline identification tags are usually fixed to the handle, and extra decorations can obstruct the automated scanners used in the baggage hall. When a bag cannot be scanned properly, it is diverted for manual processing, which increases the risk it will be delayed or fail to make it onto the correct flight.

Travelers are also advised to remove old tags and stickers from previous trips, as outdated labels can confuse the system and send luggage to the wrong destination.

The baggage handler also shared a more surprising warning: avoid packing marzipan in your luggage. This almond-based confection has a density and texture similar to certain explosives, meaning it can trigger alarms and attract extra scrutiny from security staff. While this does not make marzipan dangerous in itself, it can slow down screening and complicate your journey. Together, these tips highlight how small choices—like decorating your suitcase or tucking sweets into your bag—can have unintended consequences in tightly controlled airport systems, and why keeping luggage simple and clearly labeled is often the safest approach.

References

Hale, T. (2024, June 7). Airport worker explains why you should never tie ribbons to your luggage. IFLScience.

RSVP Live. (2024). Don’t tie a ribbon on your suitcase as it could cause major airport delays, says baggage handler. RSVP Live.

When illness becomes the wake up call we never wanted

By Millie Manahan

Published Jan 23, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Jan 22, 2026 06:27 pm

GUEST COLUMNIST

I came across a quote online that said, “Make time for your health, or it will make time for you.” It is a familiar sentiment, often shared casually, yet rarely acted upon. For many of us, self care only becomes urgent when illness forces it into focus—when health, long neglected, demands attention.

I came to understand this more clearly in the quiet corridors of an oncology ward in Australia, where I was caring for my father during his cancer treatment.

I expected the ward to be filled mostly with the elderly. I expected faces marked with time, bodies worn down, and conversations hushed and restrained. Instead, I saw children as young as seven, smiling and joking with nurses, carrying a lightness that seemed almost impossible given the pain their bodies endured. Morphine had become their constant companion, yet their spirits remained intact, unbroken by the severity of their circumstances.

One man beside us was given only minutes to decide whether to stay in the hospital and wait for the inevitable, or go home—to a home that, in any meaningful sense, no longer existed. Watching him struggle with that decision made the limits of human control painfully clear.

Another patient, a woman likely in her late 40s, spent much of her time on video calls with her daughter. She asked whether their house would be livable for her, whether her daughter would have help or a caregiver when she could no longer manage on her own. Each conversation carried the weight of a life continuing beyond the hospital walls.

Across from us was a man whose pain never seemed to rest. He cried out often, and throughout our 14-day stay, no family came to visit him. The nurses were his only constant. At first, I was hesitant, unsure of how to speak to someone so exhausted by suffering. And then one day, he looked at me and said, “I just have cancer. You can still talk to me.”

I noticed that whenever someone spoke to him, even briefly, his pain seemed to ease. A simple conversation, a shared moment, becomes a small but meaningful relief.

Each day brought different faces, different struggles, different realizations. And each day served as a reminder of how fragile life is—and how profoundly presence, however small, can matter.

Being a caregiver teaches humility. It shows that presence—simply staying—is often the truest form of love. It reveals how little control we truly have over life, and yet how much comfort can come from a hand to hold or a quiet conversation can make.

Cancer may not be the leading cause of death in the Philippines, but it remains a powerful reminder of how precious, and how fragile, health can be. While some have access to timely care and insurance, many others live day to day with uncertainty.

This reality underscores the importance of valuing every check-up, every preventive measure, and every effort to care for ourselves and those we love.

Life is unpredictable. But the small choices we make in favor of health and presence are never wasted.

Between hospital walls, life reveals itself in its most honest form, fleeting, fragile and worth cherishing.

(Millie Manahan is a freelance writer who regularly contributes to Manila Bulletin’s TechNews and Environment sections.)

Be kind With your Mind

 

Be kind With your Mind (psychology)

 · 

Posted by 

Ali Nawaz

 

1. They don't compare themselves to others. (There is nothing useful in comparison, everyone is on a different journey.)
2. They don't dwell on mistakes. (It is pointless to dwell, they look for solutions.)
3. They adjust to and welcome change. (Change is inevitable. You have to learn to accept it, adjust to new situations, and learn to work with changes.)
4. They take care of themselves and learn to say No. (They know boundaries are important to their wellbeing.)
5. They are positive and confident in their endeavors. (They go into every situation with a good attitude.)
6. They know they will experience failures. (Some failures are part of the course. They just handle them accordingly.)
7. They practice gratitude. It keeps life in perspective and keeps the good energy flowing.)
8. They Don't stay stuck on things they can't control focus on solutions and move forward.
9. They know the world does not Owe them anything they have to make their own way.

Thanks for Reading