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Manila Doctors Hospital’s (MDH) renowned urologist Dr. Eduardo R. Gatchalian has been conferred Honorary Membership in the Urological Association of Asia (UAA) at the 23rd UAA Congress held on September 4, 2026, in recognition of his excellence in Reconstructive Urologic Surgery and distinguished contributions to the field of Urology.

Widely regarded as the “Father of Modern Philippine Reconstructive Urology,” Dr. Gatchalian’s prestigious recognition goes beyond the distinction itself, honoring his decades-long of service, expertise, and excellence in advancing urologic medicine in the Philippines and across Asia through clinical practice, research, education, leadership and mentorship.

Dr. Gatchalian’s influence extends across some of the country’s most respected medical institutions and professional organizations. He has previously served as President of the Philippine Urological Association and President of the Philippine College of Surgeons, as well as Chairman of the Philippine Board of Urology. He was also the founding member of the Asian Society of Female Urology, Philippine Erectile Dysfunction Research Organization, Asia-Pacific Continence Advisory Board, Philippine Multicenter Urologic Research Foundation, and the Philippine Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons.

Urological Association of Asia is a premier international body dedicated to advancing urology and enhancing patient care in Asia. With 25 national member societies, the Association represents a growing community of more than 25,000 practicing urologists across the region.

As Manila Doctors Hospital strengthens its mission to provide excellent, patient-centered healthcare, the recognition bestowed upon Dr. Gatchalian serves as a meaningful reminder of the institution’s commitment to excellence.

It is also a strong testament to MDH’s pride in having accomplished physicians whose expertise contributes not only to its patients but also to the continued growth and reputation of Philippine medicine.

Sen. Mark Villar twice strayed from the Senate minority bloc on Wednesday, September 23, by abstaining from his bloc’s bid to block the threshold vote, then joining the majority in lowering the bar for convicting Vice President Sara Duterte.

Villar was the only minority senator to take part in the second vote that sought to settle the question raised by Sen. Erwin Tulfo whether the 16-bar threshold for conviction should still hold given four senators’ absence from the trial.

Thirteen senators including Villar voted in favor, while Presiding Officer Sen. Chiz Escudero cast the lone vote against overturning the ruling he himself issued when the trial opened in July.

The rest of the minority bloc members chose to boycott the proceedings and keep out of the chamber during the vote, namely Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Sen. Bong Go, Sen. Imee Marcos, Sen. Camille Villar and Sen. Robin Padilla.

Cayetano earlier raised a point of order in an attempt to prevent the court from holding a vote at all. He argued the court had no authority to reopen the threshold in the middle of the trial and that the question belonged to the Supreme Court.

To address Cayetano’s point of order, Escudero divided the house and called for a vote. Thirteen senator-judges voted to shoot down Cayetano’s appeal, while the five other minority senators present backed Cayetano. Villar abstained.

Legal issues

Both Mark and Camille Villar are among the members of their family facing criminal and administrative complaints the Ombudsman filed last Friday over PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp.’s water district deals.

The agency found the joint ventures grossly disadvantageous to the government. It identified the senator, who served as public works secretary from 2016 to 2021 under then-President Rodrigo Duterte, as the company’s beneficial owner.

It was against this backdrop that Camille made a rare emotional interjection earlier Wednesday to urge her colleagues to stop invoking the criminal cases of the senators who have missed the trial. Two of the four, Senators Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada, are detained on nonbailable plunder charges.

“Lahat naman po ng wala dito, hindi naman po sila napatunayan na may sala. Hindi po sila plunderer. Hindi po sila magnanakaw,” she said. (Those who are not here have not been proven guilty. They are not plunderers. They are not thieves).

She was answering Sen. Erwin Tulfo, who had argued that the framers of the 1987 Constituion never anticipated senators facing plunder charges, since those in their time faced subversion, sedition and rebellion.

Tulfo later said he had called no one a convicted plunderer and was merely speaking of the reality that four senators cannot take part in the trial.

Hours later, Camille left the chamber with the rest of the bloc. After the lunch break, she was seen briefly returning to the Chamber and conversing with her brother before leaving.

The court ruled on Wednesday that the two-thirds needed to convict will be computed only from senators legally and factually capable of taking part when the verdict is called.

Excluded are senators who are detained, suspended, medically incapacitated or beyond the Senate’s coercive processes and others similarly situated.

Contact lenses were invented to work as an alternative for eyeglasses. They serve as corrective lenses that are meant to help a person see better and clearer when worn. You put on these round glass lenses on the eyes manually and remove them manually, too. It’s a ‘tedious’ process that involves constant touching of the eyes themselves in one way or the other for someone who does not want to wear eyeglasses for corrective purposes.

But, now, contact lenses are no longer just worn as corrective lenses these days. Teenagers and young adults wear them as fashion accessories, as cosmetic colored contact lenses meant to help them achieve a beauty goal – that of turning the usual black or brown eyes of Filipinos into foreign-looking green or blue eyes, and with patterns to boot.

They have become a beauty staple worn by persons with no vision problems and no need for corrective lenses whatsoever. They promise a striking ‘Caucasian’ look that is as easy to achieve as taking a short walk to the neighborhood beauty store or ordering it online. The purpose may have changed, but putting these colored contacts on is still done manually and still involves constant touching of the eyes that can put a strain on them.

While colored contact lenses complement your makeup and get-up and make you look prettier and more fashionable, the question is: Does doing so cause harm on your eyes and, in the long run, will it be worth it?

The urgent message from eye care professionals from Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed): Cosmetic contact lenses can put your eyes at serious risk.

Risks

Contact lenses are, above all, a medical device. When prescribed to help correct a refractive error, such as nearsightedness or astigmatism, a trained eye care professional evaluates the patient’s eye health, fits the lens precisely to the cornea’s dimensions, and provides detailed safety guidance. It’s a carefully managed risk which experts take because of the potential benefit of improved vision for the patient. But must you run the risk of harming your eyes by using colored lenses purely for cosmetic effect?

‘If your eyes are healthy and you have no refractive error, putting on a pair of contact lenses introduces an unnecessary foreign body onto your cornea. You are accepting all the risks of contact lens wear with absolutely none of the clinical benefit,’ explained Mary Ellen Sy, MD, Cornea and External Eye Disease Consultant at MakatiMed’s Department of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Sy added that even properly prescribed, quality-controlled lenses carry serious risks when not used correctly. Wearing contact lenses may bring about complications, such as corneal hypoxia or when the cornea doesn’t get enough oxygen; microbial keratitis or when bacteria, fungi, and amoebae colonize contact lenses and cause corneal infections that are difficult to treat; corneal abrasions, which is often caused by an ill-fitting lens or improper handling; and chronic inflammation and dry eye.

If these complications occur even among patients who have already received professional guidance and used regulated lenses, every one of these possible issues get amplified for cosmetic lens wearers.

Dr. Sy pointed out that colored contact lenses are designed differently from the usual corrective ones, emphasizing that the tint on a lens adds another layer of risk for users.

‘The colored pigment layer is thicker than a clear lens, which further reduces oxygen transmissibility to the cornea. And if obtained without a prescription, they are never fitted to the individual’s corneal curvature and diameter, which creates micro-trauma to the corneal surface,’ the doctor explained.

She further explained that many cosmetic contact lenses are sold through fashion stores, novelty shops, and online marketplaces with no regulatory oversight. This means that users have no way to verify the safety of the materials, pigments, and manufacturing process. If the lenses are purchased without an eye health specialist, users would also not receive hygiene and safety instructions, which include safe wear duration and proper cleaning and information on the warning signs that require urgent medical attention.

‘We have seen young, otherwise healthy patients develop corneal ulcers from cosmetic lenses purchased at a market stall. Some have required corneal wearing transplantation. This is preventable blindness, and that is what makes these cases so heartbreaking,’ Dr. Sy warned.

Thus, Dr. Sy recommends that, as a general rule, all contact lens users must seek immediate medical attention if they experience eye pain or increasing discomfort; redness that persists after removing the lens; discharge, excessive tearing, or sensitivity to light; blurred or reduced vision; a persistent sensation of having a foreign body in the eye; and any whitening or opacity on the cornea.

‘Do not wait for symptoms to improve on their own. Corneal infections can progress from mild irritation to permanent vision loss within 24 to 48 hours,’ revealed Dr. Sy, who encourages everyone to first get guidance from an ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist when it comes to contact lens use, whether it’s for cosmetic or corrective purposes.

‘Insist on a proper prescription specifying lens brand, base curve, and diameter suited to your individual corneal measurements, and purchase only from reputable, regulated sources. Never buy contact lenses from novelty stores, market stalls, or unverified online sellers,’ she added. ‘Follow all professional instructions on insertion, removal, cleaning, storage, and replacement schedules exactly. Attend regular eye examinations so that any early signs of corneal damage can be detected and managed promptly.’

‘No cosmetic trend is worth the permanent loss of vision. If you have questions about contact lens safety or are experiencing any eye symptoms, please seek professional care without delay,’ Dr. Sy ended.

Two 15-year-old boys died last Sunday noon after the motorcycle they were riding hit a passenger bus along the national highway in Barangay West-Canayaon, Garcia-Hernandez town, Bohol Province.

Police said the accident happened after the motorcycle, traveling at high speed heading to Jagna town, overtook another vehicle and got into the lane the bus was on, hitting it head-on.

The boys, who were cousins and residents of Barangay West Poblacion of the town, suffered serious head injuries as a result of the accident and died on the spot.

In the many areas, people have no other option for transportation except the motorcycle. And for many, the earlier they know how to operate one the sooner they can help their family out or even start to earn a livelihood.

But there’s also such a thing as too young to drive. As was the case for whoever was driving that motorcycle in the Bohol incident, who was without a license, without a helmet, and obviously without adequate training on road safety.

We have all been young once; with youth comes a certain recklessness stemming from a feeling of invincibility. The youth cannot be blamed for this, but this attitude and behavior can lead to serious injury or even death.

We are sure those boys aren’t the only underage motorcycle riders driving without a license, without a helmet, and without proper training. We see a lot of them already working as motorcycle-for-hire drivers in different barangays.

Obviously, we need to keep those who aren’t old enough or ready enough to drive yet from doing so. No one is too old or too young to die in an accident.

That aside, we are again wondering if this is another test case for House Bill 10196 filed Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores to ‘clarify the presumptions that are applicable in road safety incidents or vehicular mishaps to protect law-abiding persons from misapplied presumptions.’

Because it’s still possible the bus driver will face unfair consequences; his only fault being unable to prevent a series of unfortunate events, and being unable to stop such a huge vehicle on a dime.