Author: user user

The government of the day-the administration of President Marcos Jr. and Congress-is not the entire state. Its failures may expose flaws in the Constitution, but they do not necessarily undermine the viability of the constitutional state itself.

It is worth keeping this distinction in mind amid the growing calls questioning the Marcos government’s capacity to curb corruption. Even in the absence of political consensus, institutional stability can endure. In modern society, conflict is almost a ritual feature of democracy, pitting government against opposition within rules set by the Constitution-the anchor of stability from election to election.

Still, the deficiencies of governance cannot be ignored. Corruption today afflicts not just agencies involved in procurement but seems rooted in Congress and the budgetary process itself. It has seeped into the very organs meant to ensure accountability, including the Commission on Audit.

Mr. Marcos now faces a serious credibility crisis. From the evidence revealed in congressional hearings, while big-time corruption erupted during Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency, it flourished during the Marcos administration’s first three years in office. The young Marcos cannot escape responsibility for it. The kindest interpretation is that he underestimated its extent when he dared to address it in his State of the Nation Address last July. The harsher view is that he tolerated it until confronted by the sheer brazenness of ghost projects.

His main advantage is that he is president, able to act swiftly to stay ahead of the crisis. He began by overhauling the Department of Public Works and Highways, epicenter of the scandal, replacing the ineffectual Manuel Bonoan with the more visible and assertive Vince Dizon as secretary. He then created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), a fact-finding body tasked to investigate corruption in public works.

The ICI has no prosecutorial powers, but its implicit purpose is to demonstrate that the government can investigate itself credibly and impartially. To do so, it must operate transparently-communicating regularly with a public weary of secrecy and conspiracies. While private hearings may be justified to protect witnesses and preserve evidence, the failure to provide prompt and regular briefings was a mistake. In the absence of clear updates, rumor and speculation fill the void. Even a brief, livestreamed media update every few days would reinforce public trust.

Another hopeful step is the appointment of a new Ombudsman-an office empowered by the Constitution to investigate and prosecute graft. Properly used, it can act on its own initiative and need not wait for formal complaints. Had it been more proactive, the ICI might have been unnecessary. Given the gravity of the scandal, speed is crucial. The quicker charges are filed, and trials commence at the Sandiganbayan, the better the chances of preserving the credibility of the constitutional order. The straight-talking former Justice Secretary Boying Remulla seems perfect for the role.

Asset recovery must also proceed without delay. The country has seen how sequestered or frozen assets quietly disappear when cases drag on. With stronger post-Edsa laws, it should now be easier to seize unexplained wealth. The government must show that corruption will no longer pay.

This reckoning began with high-profile figures, but the problem runs through every level and branch of government. The cleansing must be comprehensive. Much can still be achieved in the next two years if urgency is matched by resolve.

Yet the deeper reset can come only with the 2028 national elections. That will be the opportunity to confront the political dynasties that have long treated public office as hereditary property and government as a source of family income. These are the same clans that have corrupted the party-list system and perpetuated the politics of patronage. If the outrage now sweeping the nation is to mean anything, it must lead to their decisive defeat.

We have less than three years to turn this anger into a movement for renewal-one that reclaims the republic from those who mistake it for a cluster of fiefdoms. The process of building that movement has to begin with the self-questioning of our own everyday failures to recognize the difference between what is private and what is public, and to act ethically in conflict-of-interest situations.

La Salle is hoping for the best after forward Mason Amos went down with a knee injury during a loss to National University on Sunday.

Amos collided with the Bulldogs’ Gelo Tolentino at the 6:51 mark of the fourth quarter and stayed down on the floor in pain while clutching his right leg. He did not return after being wheeled out of the court. ‘Based on what he (Amos) told us, he heard a pop in his knee,’ La Salle coach Topex Robinson said after the Green Archers’ 82-78 loss in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

‘It’s accidental, it can happen to anybody. At this point, we’re just hoping that he’ll be okay,’ he added.

Amos’ injury deals a big blow to La Salle’s campaign, which is off to a rough 2-3 start. La Salle’s Mason Amos is currently being attended to by medical personnel after a collision with National U’s Gelo Santiago Despite being tagged as title favorites before the season began, the Green Archers absorbed their second consecutive defeat in just a span of a week after falling to fierce rivals Ateneo Blue Eagles last Sunday.

Amos, the former Ateneo cog who had seven points and four rebounds prior to the injury, is set for an MRI.

‘Those things really happen and what we’re hoping for right now is a positive result on his checkup.’

The night should have ended with a homecoming party.

The University of Santo Tomas Tigers had other plans in mind.

With the UAAP returning at the newly renovated Blue Eagle Gym for its first men’s doubleheader there in two decades, UST and Ateneo dragged the game-and each other-through 55 breathless minutes before the Growling Tigers finally broke free, 98-89, in the tournament’s first triple-overtime game of the Final Four era.

In the middle of it all was a guard who used to know every groove of the floor.

Had this game been played about three years ago, Forthsky Padrigao would be fueling Ateneo to the finish line. But things change. Now in gold, he gave his former alma mater a heartbreak, drilling the three that sent the game to its first extra period and finishing with 20 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal.

‘All we needed to do was show our heart and grit and it paid off in the end,’ said the graduating guard, who showed no ill feelings for the school that birthed his collegiate career.

‘Our respects are with Ateneo because they battled us for three overtimes,’ he said.

UST had little time for nostalgia. The Tigers were busy putting points up the scoreboard.

Nic Cabañero set the pace with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Collins Akowe turned in a marathon 51:03 with 20 points, 19 boards, three steals and three blocks. Gelo Crisostomo delivered a career line-18 and 17-adding the timely makes that kept UST upright through the first two OTs.

‘Triple overtime, throw away the numbers. It was all heart for both teams. Both teams were going down already because of fatigue and cramps, but we fought all the way. No one wanted to go out. So it boiled down to that last quarter, and between the two, we made more shots,’ said UST assistant coach Juno Sauler.

By the third OT, it was all about who had enough gas-and attrition-left. Ateneo fought with a depleted group-Divine Adili had fouled out, Kymani Ladi was cramping and Jared Bahay, who later finished with 17, couldn’t return after a shoulder knock.

UST pounced as Akowe struck first, Cabañero’s and-one also sent Dominic Escobar to the bench, Mark Llemit knifed for a layup and another Akowe finish made it 94-85 with 2:17 left.

From there, the Tigers managed the clock and the crowd. Ateneo’s effort ran on tired legs and the numbers showed: 33-of-118 from the field (28.0 percent) against UST’s 34-of-96 (35.4). Ladi added 14 and nine but shot 4-of-21; Escobar had 13, 20 rebounds and five steals; Shawn Tuano chipped in 12; Adili logged 10 and 17 before fouling out with 2:54 in the second OT.

It was a sorry finish for Bahay, who shook off a 1-of-11 regulation to hit big shots in overtime in front of wildly cheering home fans

Police arrested three alleged big-time drug traffickers and seized 100 grams of suspected shabu (crystal meth) worth P680,000 from them during a buy-bust operation in Dasmariñas City, Cavite province, on Saturday night, October 11.

In a report released Sunday, the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) regional police said a team of anti-illegal drugs operatives apprehended ‘Boss,’ ‘Maria,’ and ‘Heart’ at around 10 p.m. after they sold P500 worth of shabu to a poseur buyer in Barangay (village) Burol 3 of Dasmariñas.

Police said the three arrested suspects were ‘high-value individuals’ (HVI) in the illegal drug trade.

HVIs are classified as financiers, traffickers, manufacturers, importers of illegal drugs, or leaders or members of drug syndicates.

The Cavite police said it was still conducting further investigation to determine the source of the illegal drugs.

The detained suspects will face charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The MassKara Festival goes far beyond its vibrant street performances and grand parades. It is the very heartbeat of Bacolod City-a powerful symbol of resilience, creativity and unity for its people.

‘It’s our way of saying: ‘We’ve been through worse-and we’ve come out smiling,” says Rodney Mitz Ascalon, this year’s festival director and president of Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc., the festival organizer.

MassKara was born in the face of immense adversity.

Over the years ‘it has become a cultural expression of who we are as Bacolodnons: hopeful, joyful and always looking forward. It reminds us that even during the darkest times, we can choose to smile and move forward together,’ Ascalon explains.

The MassKara Festival began in 1980 during one of the most challenging periods in Bacolod’s history.

‘It was a response to grief, economic hardship and loss. The people of Bacolod chose to rise through art, dance and smiles,’ says Ascalon, a seasoned creative director, choreographer and artist. Portmanteau

The word ‘MassKara’ is a portmanteau, coined by the late artist Ely Santiago from mass (a multitude of people) and the Spanish word ‘cara’ (face), thus forming MassKara (a multitude of faces). The smiling masks are the main feature of the festival, proudly reflecting Bacolod’s well-known nickname, the ‘City of Smiles.’

When the festival began in 1980, Bacolod and the province of Negros Occidental were reeling from a drastic plunge in sugar prices. This economic crisis was tragically immortalized in photos of malnourished children and compounded by the devastating sinking of the inter-island vessel MV Don Juan. The ship, which collided with the tanker Tacloban City and sank in Tablas Strait off Mindoro, resulted in 18 lives lost and 115 missing, many of them Negrenses.

In the midst of these tragedies, the local government, then headed by the late Mayor Jose ‘Digoy’ Montalvo, who had also lost family members in the MV Don Juan sinking, made the pivotal decision to hold a ‘festival of smiles’ to lift the spirits of the people.

‘That spirit is still relevant today. We continue to face new challenges, but MassKara reminds us of the strength in community, the power of creativity and the resilience of the human spirit,’ Ascalon says. In the DNA

For Eli Francis Tajanlangit, a former MassKara Festival director, ‘MassKara festival is us: it traces its roots to our DNA as Negrenses, people who were blessed with the capacity to celebrate even in the face of tragedy and crisis. And we do it in style.’

He illustrates this unique cultural trait: ‘This is pretty evident in even the humblest of communities: somebody dies, we turn the wake into a celebration. We play parlor games, we recite homespun poetry (luwa) and music (composos). Even our prayers for the dead we have styled, reciting them in a sing-song, but solemn way. We even cook up a feast every night.’

He adds that ‘KBL’ in local parlance, meaning Kasal (marriage), Bunyag (baptism), and Lubong (burial), are all occasions for celebration.

‘And so are almost all milestones: departures, homecomings, reunions, etc. This ability and capacity to celebrate were fine-tuned in the haciendas, where work goes on for only 4 months in a year and 9 months are spent celebrating, or preparing for celebrations,’ Tajanlangit explains.

‘The bailes in the grand mansions are echoed in ‘purok baylehans.’ Things may have changed, but our penchant for celebrations have survived in many, many forms. Dancing in the streets to music, as in MassKara, is one of them,’ Tajanlangit adds. Global fame

The festival has since evolved into a major Philippine festival that has brought global fame to Bacolod. The MassKara dancers have performed at annual street parades and festivals around the world, from New York to California, Europe to neighboring Asian countries like South Korea.

Bacolodnons are once again celebrating the MassKara Festival this month. The festival kicked off on Oct. 1 with multiple simultaneous concerts at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds and the Bacolod Public Plaza, an event that drew more than 50,000 Bacolodnons to their feet to dance and celebrate. The festival will run until Oct. 19, with its peak activities happening on the third week of October.

A three-night giant street party will be held at Lacson Street from Oct. 17 to Oct. 19, with live bands and Bacolod’s famous food expected to draw thousands of merrymakers. Another main attraction is the Electric MassKara on the evening of Oct. 17, where dancers on lighted floats will perform.

A burst of colors from dancers wearing smiling masks will then perform at the arena and street dance competitions. The school category competitions will be on Oct. 18 and the much-anticipated battle of the barangays will be on Oct. 19.

Even before the final weekend, numerous events have already taken place. This year’s focus is inclusivity: ‘We are committed to making MassKara 2025 a festival for all-every barangay, every age group, every sector of Bacolod society,’ says Ascalon.

‘It’s important that everyone sees themselves reflected in the celebration. Our programs are designed to not only entertain but also empower communities and provide a platform for local talents, artisans, workers, youth and even those often left out of mainstream celebrations,’ Ascalon adds. Open invitation

One must come to Bacolod to truly experience the festival ‘because you don’t just watch MassKara-you’ll feel it,’ Ascalon stresses. ‘The city transforms into one big celebration of life, art and community. It’s a festival where smiles aren’t just worn-they’re lived,’ Ascalon adds, where visitors can ‘experience genuine hospitality, unforgettable performances, food that reflects our rich culture and people who make you feel like family. It’s more than a trip-it’s a cultural immersion in joy.’

‘MassKara is a celebration of joy in motion. Imagine a city bursting with colors, music and energy-where everyone, from kids to elders, dances in the streets, wearing vibrant masks and beaming smiles. It’s not just a festival you attend-it’s one you join. Whether you’re watching dancers light up the streets, trying local delicacies or meeting the warmest people you’ll ever encounter, you’ll understand why we call Bacolod the City of Smiles,’ Ascalon concludes. /cb

University of the Philippines extended its win streak to four after edging Far Eastern University, 69-66, in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday at Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Gani Stevens, who finished with 14 points and nine rebounds for the Fighting Maroons, buried a crucial short stab that kept the Tamaraws at bay and set the final count with 1:45 to go.

‘As we always say, the UAAP is composed of teams you can’t take for granted,’ said UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon after the Maroons tied Ateneo in third at 4-2.

‘Considering the limited amount of games, you can expect every game to be a dog fight and FEU, as expected, showed that tonight.’

The Maroons, however, nearly blew it down the stretch after their six-point cushion was trimmed to one with still 2:07 remaining.

Harold Alarcon led UP with an all-around effort of 15 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Reyland Torres chipped in 12.

Jorrick Bautista scored a game-high 18 in the FEU loss, while Mo Konateh recorded a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.