Laughter is the best medicine

 

By Klaus Döring

Laughter acts as natural medicine, triggering healthy physical and emotional changes. It relaxes your body, boosts your immune system, and triggers the release of endorphins—the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals—to elevate your mood and diminish pain. A hearty laugh delivers science-backed benefits for both the mind and body:

Laughter is a pleasant physical reaction and emotion consisting usually of rhythmical, often audible contractions of the diaphragm and other parts of the respiratory system. It is a response to certain external or internal stimuli.

The aphorism “laughter is the best medicine” has been attributed to the Book of Proverbs in the Old Testament: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones”. This ancient wisdom might also hold true for some medical conditions.

It’s true: laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. It also helps you release anger and forgive sooner.

With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.

As children, we used to laugh hundreds of times a day, but as adults, life tends to be more serious and laughter more infrequent. But by seeking out more opportunities for humor and laughter, you can improve your emotional health, strengthen your relationships, find greater happiness—and even add years to your life.

Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.

Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

Laughter burns calories. Okay, so it’s no replacement for going to the gym, but one study found that laughing for 10 to 15 minutes a day can burn approximately 40 calories—which could be enough to lose three or four pounds over the course of a year.

Laughter lightens anger’s heavy load. Nothing diffuses anger and conflict faster than a shared laugh. Looking at the funny side can put problems into perspective and enable you to move on from confrontations without holding onto bitterness or resentment.

Laughter may even help you to live longer. A study in Norway found that people with a strong sense of humor outlived those who don’t laugh as much. The difference was particularly notable for those battling cancer.

More than just a respite from sadness and pain, laughter gives you the courage and strength to find new sources of meaning and hope. Even in the most difficult of times, a laugh—or even simply a smile—can go a long way toward making you feel better. And laughter really is contagious—just hearing laughter primes your brain and readies you to smile and join in the fun.

Laughter shifts perspective, allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light. A humorous perspective creates psychological distance, which can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and diffuse conflict.

Laughter draws you closer to others, which can have a profound effect on all aspects of your mental and emotional health.

Laughter releases endorphins, known as ‘feel-good hormones’. It increases the oxygen-rich air you take in and reduces stress hormones, bringing down your heart rate and blood pressure, and causing your muscles to relax.

Well, even if we think we don’t have reasons to laugh during times today, we should try to express mirth spontaneously, and we should try to be merry or gay. We still have reasons to start with the softest form of audible laughter—the vocalized smile. This is what I learned and experienced from the first moment on while travelling in Asia since 1978, and being an expat living in the Philippines since 1999 for good. Keep smiling—even you are overloaded with huge problems.

Experts also say good humor works because it helps people feel easier in mind. The French psychotherapist Sylvie Tenenbaum stressed that, in her patients, laughter often signals the dawning of a wholesome awakening to reality. Gallow humor might be dubious in the eyes of others. But try to sing out loud, try to cry, but try to laugh!

As a devout Christian I love reading the bible. Ecclesiastes 3:1–4 say: “There is a time for everything… a time to be born and a time to die… a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh!”

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, X -Twitter or Linkedin or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com.or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com .

Homo, quo vadis? 

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Quo vadis: Means “Where are you going?” or “Whither goest thou?” It comes from a Christian tradition where Saint Peter fled persecution in Rome and met Jesus on the road, asking him, “Domine, quo vadis?” (“Lord, where are you going?”)

Culture can be defined as all the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of a population that are passed down from generation to generation. Culture has been called “the way of life for an entire society.” As such, it includes codes of manners, dress, language, religion, rituals, art. 

Living in the Philippines for almost 29 years now, I learned a lot about Philippine culture.  

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Driving in big cities is not a joke for beginners. It’s an ordeal, especially driving during heavy traffic hours. One must know where to go and which way to take. Otherwise, one’ll end up bumping somewhere somehow… .

But, driving a car in a small village, where roads are simple, is for neophytes an enjoyable one. No traffic, or less traffic, no traffic lights, no complicated ways… .

In the same way, railroads can make train drivers ill at ease when they are also in big cities. I remember Munich in my home country Germany, where railways appear like spider’s cobwebs. They go in several directions. No wonder, accidents happen many times.

In life we, too, have roads which lead us in several directions. To go to heaven, man’s eternal destiny, one can either choose the shortest road, or one can make detours. Not so many perhaps fall by the way and end up in eternal damnation.

There are some of us, Christians, who take the shourt-cut road to heaven. This is the road of suffering, of the actual practice of Christian virtues, of serving God and our neighbour. Others take the circuitos road of easy life, thinking that at the end they still have time to amend themselves and lead a good life. This is risky, since no one can guarantee that an opportunity will be given at the eleventh hour. Unfortunately, there are still others, who prefer to take that opposite rod, which leads to eternal damnation. So they live, so they die! In John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress”, we read, “Then I saw that there was a way to hell, even from the gates of heaven!”

Homo, quo vadis?

SexBomb Girls feud? Aira Bermudez, Jopay Paguia break silence on Rochelle Pangilinan issue

 

By Neil Ramos

Published Sep 20, 2026 06:52 pm

Aira Bermudez defended SexBomb Girls leader Rochelle Pangilinan, while Jopay Paguia resurfaced an old interview denying any rivalry between them amid renewed talk of a rift within the iconic dance group.

The renewed talk of a supposed rift within the SexBomb Girls has drawn reactions from two of its members, Aira Bermudez and Jopay Paguia.

Aira came to the defense of their leader, Rochelle Pangilinan, while Jopay appeared to push back against the idea that there is a rivalry between them.

On Facebook, Aira shared an art card from the group’s recent guesting on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” where they were asked what kind of leader Rochelle is.

“May mga taong ginagawang bossy ang pagiging matatag, at tinatawag na control freak ang pagiging deretso magsalita. But what they don’t see is the heart behind it all. Rochelle is the kind of leader who will always put the group’s growth above her own career,” Aira wrote.

She acknowledged that Rochelle can be strict, but said it comes from wanting the group to maintain a certain standard.

“Strict sya kasi mataas ang standards niya, and she pushes us to have this level of discipline so we can give our absolute best sa lahat ng naniniwala sa talent namin,” she said.

Aira also pointed to what she described as the sacrifices Rochelle has made for SexBomb.

“She just wants to share the blessings, wisdom, and success na pinaghirapan nya. People love to embrace the wins without seeing the silent sacrifices she makes to get us there and that’s okay,” she added.

“I know her heart, I see her hard work, at buong-buo ang respeto ko sa kanya. A true leader who carries us all with pure love.”

Jopay, meanwhile, chose a different way of addressing the issue.

Rather than make a new statement, she recently reshared a clip from her December 2025 appearance on “Toni Talks,” where she was joined by fellow SexBomb members Sunshine Garcia and Yvette Pabalan.

In the interview, Jopay was asked directly about the supposed rivalry between her and Rochelle.

“Wala po talagang issue sa amin,” she said.

Jopay admitted that disagreements happen, especially among members who have spent so many years together, but said these should not be mistaken for competition.

“Syempre kami sisterhood, may mga pagtatalo kami, may pag-aaway kami pero pagdating doon sa kung ano ‘yung sikat si Rochelle, sikat si Jopay, si ganyan, si ganito, pantay pantay kami e,” she said.

“Syempre ayun din ‘yung sinasabi namin na wala sa amin kung sikat ka or sumisikat ka, wala e.”

“Hindi malaki ang ulo namin.”

Their reactions come days after Rochelle herself addressed the talk surrounding the group, acknowledging that misunderstandings can happen among the members but stressing that these can be resolved if both sides want to make things right.

She also explained that getting the entire group together has become more difficult as the members now have families, businesses and individual careers.

Link between Metro Manila flooding, reclamation projects must be studied--ranking solon

 

Flooding in España, Manila in August 2026 (Photo by Michaela Sy)

House Deputy Minority Leader Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña has underscored the need to determine the correlation--if any--between the many reclamation projects in Manila Bay and the seemingly worsened flooding in Metro Manila. Cendaña raised this matter during the plenary deliberations on the budget of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) under the P7.2-trillion 2027 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). Read more

Leaving everything behind to follow the Master

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

IT all happened in a moment. "As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. He said to him, 'Follow me.' And he got up and followed him" (Mt 9:9). No arguments. No excuses. No delay.

Matthew simply stood up and followed Christ. He left behind his work, his security, his plans, and even his reputation. Humanly speaking, it looked foolish. Supernaturally, it was the wisest decision of his life.

That is how every Christian vocation begins—not with a career move or a personal project, but with a personal encounter with Christ. Before asking us to do something, he asks us to be with him. Christianity is not first about rules or duties. It is about following a Person.

The beautiful thing is that Christ calls us where we are. Matthew was not in the Temple praying. He was at his tax booth, doing a job despised by many. Yet Jesus saw beyond appearances. He saw an apostle, an evangelist, a saint.

God always sees more than we do. He looks beyond our past, our failures, and our weaknesses. He sees what his grace can accomplish if only we cooperate.

That should give us confidence. No one is disqualified from holiness. Every baptized person is called to become another Christ. Whether we are parents, professionals, students, workers, or priests, our vocation is the same—to seek holiness in the middle of ordinary life.

But following Christ always requires leaving something behind. Perhaps not our profession, but certainly our sins, selfishness, pride, comfort, and attachment to our own will. We cannot cling to the "tax booth" of our old life while expecting to walk with Christ. Love always demands self-giving. The more we detach ourselves from sin and self, the freer we become to love God and others.

Many want Christ without sacrifice, holiness without conversion, and discipleship without the Cross. It cannot be done. The Cross is not an obstacle to love. It is its clearest expression. Every genuine vocation is marked by generous self-giving.

The Gospel then shows Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees are scandalized. But Christ answers with words we should never forget: "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I desire mercy, not sacrifice."

The Church is not for perfect people. It is where sinners meet the mercy of God. Christ does not wait for us to become worthy before calling us. He calls us so that we may become worthy through his grace.

That mercy, however, is never an excuse to remain where we are. It always urges us toward conversion. God's love accepts us as we are but never leaves us as we are.

Like Matthew, we are sent back to ordinary life with a new purpose. Our work becomes prayer. Our family life becomes a path to holiness. Our daily duties become opportunities to love God and serve others. We do not run away from the world. We transform it from within by living our faith in ordinary circumstances.

Matthew's response also reminds us that every vocation is apostolic. God never calls us for ourselves alone. He calls us so that others may come to know him through our fidelity. One generous "yes" can touch countless souls.

Christ is still passing by today. He is still saying, "Follow me." The only question is whether we will remain seated at our comfortable table—or rise without hesitation and follow the Master.

Stop adding AI, start redesigning your business

BY TOM OLIVER

SEPTEMBER 21, 2026

--RUTH MACAPAGAL

Artificial intelligence (AI) is moving so quickly that many CEOs are asking the wrong question. They ask: “Which AI tools should my people use? The better question is: “If we were building this company today, with AI available from Day One, how would we design it differently?”

That is the difference between an AI-enabled company and an AI-native company. An AI-enabled company takes the old organization and adds tools on top. Employees use ChatGPT or Claude to write an email, summarize a document or create a presentation. Useful, yes. Transformational, no.

And here is the guiding principle: An AI-native company redesigns the way work gets done. In my work with CEOs, founders and family business owners, I increasingly see this as one of the biggest competitive questions of the next few years.

Living life in a duffel bag

 

by

Isabelle Myeisha R. Cembrano

September 21, 2026

If you ask me to pack my entire life in a duffel bag, I could probably do it in less than 10 minutes—a survival instinct, or, as some would say, a life skill learned by someone who grew up with separated parents.

In the Philippines, where divorce remains illegal and annulment deemed inaccessible, children like me have to take the brunt by living double lives that came with two sets of everything: Two toothbrushes. Two bath towels. Two groceries. Two laundry baskets. Two birthdays. Two Christmases.

While other kids associate packing a duffel bag with going on a holiday, I had associated it with short weekends that left me with only little to no time to relax.

At 7 years old, my life had become an endless series of packing and unpacking toward an unknown destination held by two completely different people who were entrapped by a marriage contract.

For more than a decade, this has been the living conditions of my two brothers and me: ready to leap and always on the go.

It wasn’t until my parents had a huge argument one night that led us to stay at my grandparents’ house for a “short vacation.” What initially began as a two-day stay was extended into a weekly routine that became a routine not by choice, but out of sheer necessity.

I became one of three Filipino youth who grew up without both parents. I was at the most formative stages of my life when I had to grapple with the confusion of why I had to pack my bags every so often to settle in a new household.

In retrospect, it was never really a spoken agreement between my parents on who got who on what days; it was more of a sporadic arrangement of when and where the three children would be spending the weekend.

Still, it was a disorienting experience. Going back and forth between two cities and transferring to three different high schools for my basic education was a lot to take in such a short time.

It was only in 2018 when my parents decidedly separated that a set-up for us siblings to spend the weekends at my dad’s and weekdays at my mom’s was established.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, which only made our schedule more unpredictable due to restrictions brought by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). The set-up was reversed. My siblings and I would stay at my dad’s place during weekdays and at my mom’s place during weekends.

This also came with the discomfort of having to answer the simplest of questions with difficulty. “Where do you live?” friends and teachers would ask me. I could either tell a long sob story of my life or cut to the chase by saying how my parents are separated. I eventually learned how to answer the question truthfully without batting an eye.

But I no longer wanted to just be the girl who was known for growing up with unfortunate circumstances. I wanted to be someone who people remembered for her fortitude despite the cards she was dealt.

I became a meticulous person who planned out every single detail of my life. I built a feasible routine that worked for my parents but, at the same time, was still convenient enough to get me the results that I wanted.

I would stay at my dad’s place during weekdays for school and at my mom’s place to rest during weekends if I was not busy doing schoolwork.

For the first time in my life, I had a clear vision of where I wanted to go: I was to take the UPCAT, graduate senior high school at the top of my class, study journalism, and permanently stay with my mom for college.

I was adamant about getting what I wanted, and I was not about to let anyone tell me otherwise, or at least that was what I thought.

The day of the UPCAT 2024 results came, and a green congratulations glowed from my laptop screen. I had passed in a UP campus that was kilometers away from my home and that I was waitlisted for my first degree program of choice—all of which were not in my plans.

I was at the crossroads on whether I was to stay in the comfort of my hometown or take a leap of faith by uprooting myself for the nth time to study in an entirely foreign city.

Thankfully, I had a breakthrough: perhaps this was what the long days of packing and unpacking my life in and out of a duffel bag were preparing me for.

Tus, a month later, I did what I did best by once again packing up my entire life and said my goodbyes to everyone I knew. All the routines I built and the comfort I grew accustomed to were soon forgotten and replaced with new ones.

Now I’ve unpacked in my dorm in Baguio City, settled into my priority college program, and am finally living on my own terms with the liberty to decide when and where I get to go home next.

In this third city where I made a new home, I no longer carry the weight of my duffel bag as if it were a burden trying to drag me down. I now understand that it was only training me to be strong and independent enough to live even 255 kilometers away from home.

Moral and human values

 

By Klaus Döring

Human values are virtues — desirable character traits — that guide us to consider the human element when interacting with other people. Human values are those that enable people to live in harmony with the rest of the world. Without values, human life would be devoid of meaning, devolving into a bland, textureless existence without distinction. Human values are the deepest moral aspirations of humanity, and they are the foundation of our lives as individuals and societies. Human values are universal in nature because they are shared by all people, regardless of religion, nationality, or cultural background. Human values encourage consideration for one another.

Moral and human values are the fundamental beliefs and principles that guide our behavior, define our character, and help us distinguish right from wrong. While human values are universal and promote overall well-being and dignity, moral values are specific guidelines shaped by cultural and societal norms.

In these eventful times, with calls for peace all around the globe but also with “lust after war,” with corrupt politicians and terrorist attacks against innocents, and with cries for justice, it is very easy to forget moral and human values. People, don’t let this happen!

Allow me to ask you a question: “What makes a modern person?” Technology and knowledge, for sure? If not, we couldn’t operate our computers or other devices. Skills, of course, are part of it. But more important are attitudes and values, and our readiness for new ways of reacting, feeling, and looking at things.

I am afraid that we have to look first into ourselves. Many of us can notice our sense of group feeling alongside terrible egoism. We care so much for the good of our own families and ourselves by making great sacrifices, even for a long time. Charity starts and ends mostly at home. Why are we not able to develop fidelity that expands into a wider field of action so that we can go beyond the limits of our unsocial system and reach others around us?

We easily blame our government. This happens in almost every country worldwide. But don’t we only get the government that we deserve? Misuse, improper treatment, rude language and behavior, and corruption — these are all reflections of ourselves. Mistakes, injustice, the wrong sense of values, and the lack of priorities caused by arrogance and ignorance are with us daily and are simply our own.

A nation might have been rich with abundant blessings; it is only unfortunate that these blessings could not be made useful because of some flaws in the entire system. Why do we have collapsing economies or huge foreign and national debts? Because human values are not put in place. It’s easier to fill your own pockets than to care for a neighbor. Aren’t we paid for the service we render, so why do we resort to other unlawful and shameful activities? Are we really prioritizing material things over and above spiritual satisfaction?

We are becoming weaker and weaker when we lack punctuality, honesty, and responsibility. We have to improve as human persons with national pride, discipline, and consistency, because skills, knowledge, and technology are not enough. We have to avoid too many subjective comments, excessive sensitivity, and being fancy and conceited. If a nation like the Philippines is still rich in natural resources and intelligent, highly creative people, its people should guard against know-it-all criticism about insufficiency, imbalance, or inequality.

Moral and human values can only grow if we are willing to undergo renewal of will, mind, and heart. Let us give moral and human values a try. They could do great things to alleviate economic life, to save us all from imminent spiritual degradation, and to allow us to live in peace and harmony.

Why Filipinos still go to malls even when they can shop online

By Jane Kingsu-Cheng

Published Sep 20, 2026 06:22 am   
Shopping may still be one of the main reasons people go to the mall, but it is no longer the only reason to stay. A meal with friends, a concert, an anime event, pickleball, time with a pet, or simply somewhere to spend the afternoon are now part of the mall experience.

Hanna Carinna Sy and Steven Tan at the launch of 'My SM' campaign

That is the idea behind My SM, SM Supermalls’ newest campaign. Launched at The Podium on Sept. 10, it offered a teaser of what shoppers can expect next, from new destinations and more dining and leisure spaces to facilities for different communities and younger shoppers.

Some of these changes have been years in the making. When Steven T. Tan, president of SM Supermalls, joined the company in 2004, restaurants and food concepts accounted for less than five percent of its mall mix. Today, he says that figure is closer to 30 percent.

As e-commerce continues to grow, the question becomes more relevant: What can a mall offer that people cannot get online?

“It’s not just about creating retail spaces anymore. It’s about creating experiences, things that you cannot experience in e-commerce,” Steven says.

More reasons to stay

Food is one answer. “People go to the mall now to celebrate, to dine, and to experience,” he points out.

Spaces are also being designed for people to sit, meet, and spend time. Steven refers to “Gala to the Max,” built around the Filipino habit of going out. “We really created that space for people to gala, to hang out.”

This same thinking can be seen in larger projects. SM Nuvali, set to open in November, is being positioned as an eat-and-play destination with a new LED cinema screen experience. In Cebu, the recently opened 25,000-seat SM Seaside Cebu Arena gives the region a new venue for concerts and major entertainment events.

Animezing 2026 event at SM North EDSA

A place for your people

The changes are not always about building something large. They can also begin with a group of people who share an interest.

During the media gathering’s question and answer segement, I mentioned how my son will travel all the way to SM North EDSA for an anime event. For him, the trip is worth it because he knows he will find other people who enjoy the same things.

This idea of creating a “home for every tribe” is something Hanna Carinna T. Sy, senior assistant vice president for Marketing and Leasing at SM Supermalls, says the company is paying attention to.

“It’s really about listening to our customers. What do they want? What are people looking for?”

Anime and other fandoms have become part of that conversation, along with K-pop, P-pop, pets, sports, and active living. Pickleball now has 102 courts across 32 SM malls, while more than 40,000 runners participated in the Galaxy Manila Marathon and SM2SM Cebu events this year.

Hanna says SM is also looking at ways to make malls more convenient for people bringing their pets along. The Podium recently introduced a pet changing station, with plans to bring similar facilities to other malls. “Since the pandemic, there has been a boom in pet owners and people really treat their pets like family.”

The pet programs are especially close to her. “Personally, I think it would be the pets,” she says when asked which program she considers her favorite. “Maybe because that was the program I really started. It was my first program.”

Other long-running programs cater to younger mallgoers in different ways. SM Little Stars, which has been around for 17 years, gives children a platform to showcase their talents, while the SM Spelling Bee adds an educational component. “We really try to offer something that works for every age.”

Galaxy Manila Marathon

Gen Z gets a say

Another group helping SM think about what comes next is Gen Z itself. Steven says the company has formed a Gen Z council whose members share ideas on trends, interests, and what their generation is looking for.

The younger council brings in new ideas, while the older team contributes years of experience. “There will be a balance of new ideas, plus experiences that you have had before,” Steven says.

The same focus will be seen at the upcoming SM Harrison Plaza, where an entire floor will be dedicated to younger mallgoers, given its proximity to schools such as De La Salle University and St. Scholastica’s College.

Hanna also noted that Gen Z and Gen Alpha are not just today’s customers. They are the mallgoers SM will continue to serve in the coming years, which means paying attention not only to how they shop, but also to how they spend their time together.

The mall's Sensory Lab for PWDs

Culture, creators, and weekends at the mall

SM has been adding art, heritage, and cultural activities through projects such as Museo del Galeon, Art for Everyone, and its AweSM festivals.

It has also introduced SM SuperMakers, a creator community built primarily on TikTok, giving content creators opportunities to participate in events and experiences across SM malls and share them with their own audiences.

Changes you may not notice

Steven also noted that solar energy currently supplies more than 10 percent of SM’s power, with that figure expected to increase as technology improves. Collected PET bottles are also sent to third-party partners that recycle them into usable products such as bags, containers, chairs, and other items.

At SM City Marikina, a water catchment basin beneath the property can hold the equivalent of more than 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools, according to Steven. Rainwater is held during heavy downpours and released after the rain subsides to help avoid adding to flooding in the area.

SM malls have also long allowed motorists to leave their vehicles overnight in elevated parking areas without charge during severe weather.

What comes next

When asked what he is most excited for people to experience, Steven does not point to one particular mall, restaurant, arena, or attraction. “It’s how we evolve. You would see a lot of them in the coming months or even years.”

Shopping will always be part of the mall. But what may keep bringing us back are the things we cannot add to an online cart: meeting people, trying something new, cheering at a concert, playing a game, eating together, or simply finding a place to spend a few hours.

For many Filipinos, the mall has become more than somewhere to shop. It is also a place to meet, spend time, and, in its own way, feel at home.