Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

A plebiscite was conducted during the synchronized elections to ratify the conversion of Biliran from a subprovince to a regular province, in accordance with Section 462 of Republic Act No. 7160, which was approved on Oct. 10, 1991. Ten days later, on May 21, 1992, Biliran was officially proclaimed as an independent province. The name ‘Biliran’ is believed to have been derived from ‘boro-biliran,’ a native grass once abundant in the area. Today, Biliran is classified as a second-class province with a total population of 184,095 as of 2024 Census. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, it is also the fastest-growing province in Eastern Visayas, recording an average annual population rate of 0.63 percent during 2020 to 2024.

May 15, 2025

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines unveiled a historical marker which designated the Celso Ledesma House in Iloilo City a heritage house. Built in 1922 by Engineers Mariano Cacho and Mariano Salas in the Beaux-Arts style, it was named after its first owner, Don Celso Ledesma. It is also known as the ‘Eagle House’ due to its iconic eagle designs atop its fence posts. Located within the Calle Real Heritage Zone in Iloilo City Proper, it survived World War II and was passed between generations of the Ledesma family who continue to maintain it into the present day.

This week’s festivals

Palong Festival (May 1 to May 13)

The Palong Festival takes place in Capalonga, Camarines Norte. It is best known for its lively street dancing and agro-industrial fair, reflecting the community’s gratitude for the origin of their town’s name and symbolizing the abundance of roosters available in the locality. Adding to the excitement for this year’s celebration are the various competitions and other fun activities that will showcase the talent, skills, and energy of the community. The festival also coincides with the town fiesta and honors the feast of the Black Nazarene, observed on May 12 this year.

Pahiyas Festival (May 9 to May 16)

The Pahiyas Festival in the agricultural town of Lucban, Quezon, is a thanksgiving feast for a bountiful harvest, held every May 15 in honor of San Isidro. It is dubbed one of the country’s most colorful festivals with its exquisite display of colorful ‘kiping’ (rice-based wafers arranged in chandelier-style artwork), fresh harvest and other native products in every house along the procession route in the town. This year’s celebration carries the theme, ‘Keeping the Color, Keeping the Vibes, Keeping the Tradition-KIPING PAHIYAS!’- A Thanksgiving to San Isidro Labrador!’ The crowd-drawing festival has various activities lined up such as a grand parade, concert, film fest, beauty pageant, thrilling competitions and more.

Dana Gracielle Quirante, Inquirer Research, Sources: Inquirer Archives, biliran.gov.ph, psa.gov.ph, blgf.gov.ph, pna.gov.ph, tpb.gov.ph, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Local Government Unit of Lucban Quezon, Love Capalonga Facebook pages

MANILA, Philippines-The NBA Playoffs conference semifinals continued today, May 10 (May 9 in the United States), with a pair of Game 3s featuring the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons in the East, Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder in the West.

Below is the roundup of scores from today’s NBA playoffs matchups:

Cavaliers vs Pistons (Game 3)

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat Detroit 116-109 on Saturday to cut the Pistons’ lead to 2-1 in the NBA Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Plagued by turnovers and shooting woes, James Harden bounced back with hit three clutch shots in the final two minutes to finish with 19 points.

Cavaliers main man Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 35 points.

Thunder vs Lakers (Game 3)

The Oklahoma City Thunder extended their unbeaten playoff run to the brink of another NBA Western Conference finals with a 131-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the second round on Saturday night.

Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell had career playoff highs of 24 points and 10 assists.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 23 points and nine assists for the Thunder, who coolly improved to 7-0 – both in these NBA playoffs overall.

Fans’ prayers have been answered, as Westlife is returning to the Philippines for their ‘WESTLIFE 25: The Anniversary World Tour’ in January 2027, three years after meeting their Filipino supporters.

Westlife announced that the Philippines is one of the stops for their ‘WESTLIFE 25: The Anniversary World Tour,’ which will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena on January 20 in celebration of their illustrious career.

The group hinted that the show features a ‘euphoric, hit-filled set spanning their extraordinary career,’ including ‘timeless ballads and global chart-toppers.’

It will kick off in Dublin, Germany, in September 2026.

Other stops include London, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand, among others.

Confirmed to participate in the concert are Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, and Kian Egan. Mark Feehily is on hiatus due to health concerns.

Westlife also released their latest album, ’25 – The Ultimate Collection,’ which commemorates their journey as one of the leading boy groups.

It features new tracks, including ‘Chariot,’ co-written by Ed Sheeran, and ‘Your Love Amazes Me,’ as well as fan favorites like ‘Uptown Girl’ and ‘Flying Without Wings.’

‘What better way to mark 25 years of Westlife than with an album that brings together our biggest hits alongside new music we’re so proud of. We’re beyond excited to head out on a global tour and celebrate these songs with the fans who’ve made it all possible,’ they said.

Wilbros Live will be the concert promoter for the group’s Philippine stop. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale on May 15.

Myanmar survivors are urging Philippine authorities to advance a 2023 criminal complaint against junta leader Min Aung Hlaing that remains pending before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The Chin Human Rights Organisation (CHRO), which represents the complainants, said in a statement that the push is linked to broader international accountability efforts, including proceedings involving former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

‘Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte’s trial at the ICC in The Hague has breathed new impetus into our case,’ said lawyer Romel Bagares, who represents the complainants.

The appeal was made on Saturday as Southeast Asian leaders met in Cebu City for regional talks where Myanmar’s ongoing conflict remains a key issue for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

The complaint was filed in 2023 before the DOJ by survivors and relatives of victims from Myanmar’s Chin State.

It alleges violations of the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity that obligates the prosecution of war crimes committed elsewhere under the principle of universal jurisdiction.

Bagares said the justice department had already acknowledged that the allegations could fall under Philippine law, but the case has not yet advanced to a formal investigation.

‘The evidence we submitted corresponds to offenses punishable under the International Humanitarian Law Act,’ Bagares said.

Among the incidents cited is the killing of Pastor Cung Biak Hum in September 2021 in Thantlang, Chin State.

Rights groups said he was shot while trying to extinguish fires during military operations in the area. Myanmar’s military has denied allegations of widespread abuses.

Myanmar has been in crisis since the military takeover in 2021 that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering armed resistance and accusations of widespread human rights violations.

The CHRO said the push reflects growing international accountability efforts and cited similar legal actions in other jurisdictions.

‘The Philippines under President Bong Bong Marcos has shown Asean and the world great leadership in advancing international accountability,’ the organization said.

‘We trust that his administration will support decisive action in our case in the Philippines, moving with the trend towards accountability against the Myanmar junta in Asean and beyond, given that there are now cases against Min Aung Hlaing in Argentina, Indonesia, Timor Leste and Turkey,’ it added.

The Asean has excluded Myanmar’s military leadership from summit-level meetings since the 2021 coup, as the bloc continues efforts toward a regional peace plan aimed at ending the conflict.

Amid the bureaucratic layers that attended the full implementation of the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act (Republic Act 11861), there is still a glimmer of hope for solo mothers who comprise more than 93 percent of single parents in the Philippines.

Several legislative measures at the House of Representatives have been filed seeking to make applications and collecting benefits easier for solo parents.

Since the 20th Congress, at least three resolutions (House Resolutions No. 27, 99 and 173) call for an inquiry in aid of legislation into the implementation of RA 11861.

On a similar note, House Bills No. 6328 and 8256 push for strengthening the enforcement of both solo parent laws.

HB No. 2372 aims to amend RA Nos. 8972 and 11861 to simplify the process to register as solo parents, while HB No. 1030 particularly seeks the removal of barangay certification for the issuance of solo parent identification cards.

Further, HB Nos. 240, 2059, 2231, 3059, 4088, 5331, 6979, 6995, 7310 and 8088 seek to provide more benefits under the existing solo parents laws, some of which particularly call for financial assistance; mental health and wellness support; and exemptions from parking fees.

Other solo parent-related legislation includes HB No. 1423, which would provide for a six-percent budgetary allocation at the barangay level to implement programs for solo parents among other sectors.

They also include HB No. 2057, which would amend the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act to include a provision on solo parents.

Meanwhile, HB No. 6330 aims to penalize derogatory remarks against solo parents on the basis of their social status; and HB No. 8120 seeks to advance free tertiary education and mandatory tuition discounts for children of solo parents.

All House bills but HB Nos. 2057 and 6979 are still pending in their respective committees.

The former has been referred to a technical working group, while the latter has been transmitted to and received by the Senate.

HB No. 6979 would expand travel tax exemptions to include solo parents among other sectors.

Determination pays

No matter how difficult the process is, mothers Emer and Ligaya, both 55, are grateful that there is at least a law that supports them as single parents.

Both are active leaders of a chapter of their solo parents’ group in Quezon City and Pasay City, respectively.

Emer, the family breadwinner with seven children, manages to get by as a beautician. She and her husband had encouraged three of their children to enroll in a fencing training program mounted by a local congressman, also offering a scholarship.

Tragedy struck when her husband passed away about eight years ago. Ultimately, all three of her children would go on to become medalists in fencing, not least of which is her daughter, Jylyn, who won gold at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

”Pag may determination ka sa sarili mo na gusto mo bigyan ng magandang bukas yung mga anak mo, marami kang isa-sacrifice. Hindi mo iintindihin yung hirap, yung puyat,’ Emer said.

(If you have the determination within yourself that you want to give your children a bright future, you’d sacrifice a lot. You wouldn’t mind the pain, the sleepless nights.)

‘Siguro, lahat ng diyos tinawag ko noon para lang mabigyan ng magandang bukas mga anak ko,’ she added.

(I must’ve called all the gods I can call just so I can give a bright future to my kids.)

Emer knew firsthand the hardships of being a single parent, and she knew that there are many others like her who are trying to keep afloat amid the rising cost of basic commodities and to give their children a shot at a brighter future.

Now as one of the directors of the National Council for Solo Parents, it became Emer’s advocacy to help single parents get oriented with what services are available to them under the law.

Ligaya, meanwhile, who used to work as a domestic helper in Hong Kong and is now a freelancer in Manila, is grateful that the solo parent program helped her enroll her kids via a scholarship.

Her husband had died of cancer, leaving her with four children to raise on her own, and a huge medical bill to pay off. She is thankful that by the time she found herself alone to care for her family, two of her children have already finished their studies, while one of the two remaining kids still completing their studies has a scholarship.

Her own experiences as a solo parent led her into to a solo parents’ group in Pasay, which she now leads.

‘May mga programa naman ang mga solo parents na scholarship. Napakalaking bagay yun para sa amin… Mahirap kasi wala kang kaagapay,’ she said.

(There are some scholarship programs out there for solo parents. That’s a big deal for us… It’s hard not to have help.)

For her part, Abigail is not losing hope, but that doesn’t erase the fact that help should be extended to those who need them the most.

‘We are often not helpless. We just want to protect our babies,’ said Abigail, who has joined her own group of solo parents. ‘Hindi lang ako nag-iisa. Marami kami at pwede kami magtulungan.’

(I’m not alone. There’s so many of us and we can help each other.)

Emmalyn, on another hand, is proud that both her children turned out to be not only such achievers but also understanding of their mother’s journey in navigating parenthood alone.

‘Hindi man naging perpekto ng pagkakaroon ng buong pamilya, pero yung pagpapalaki, perpekto,’ she said. ‘Lakasan ang loob. Dasal sa bawat araw.’

Shortly after National University was knocked off its throne in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball Finals, coach Regine Diego was already thinking about her team’s redemption bid.

Going for a three-peat, NU was denied by rival and undefeated top seed La Salle, which pulled off a perfect 16-0 championship run in Game 2 on Saturday before 22,509 fans at Mall of Asia Arena.

‘I know for sure that the girls gave their best. We just have to be better next time,’ said Diego in Filipino after the 25-22, 25-16, 25-16 loss.

‘Of course, since we’re still a top two team, we’re hopeful that we can get back to the championship again.’

The Lady Bulldogs still booked their fifth straight trip to the finals in their first season without Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon after beating University of Santo Tomas in the stepladder semifinals.

‘At the start, we honestly weren’t expecting too much, but we still had to give our best, right? The fact that we made it here shows that we’re still capable and still among the top teams. For sure, we’ll come back hungrier next year,’ said Diego.

Diego hopes this heartbreak will only make NU stronger in its pursuit to regain the title next year, with setter Lams Lamina graduating, while Vange Alinsug and other seniors will still ponder about their next move.

‘It wasn’t easy. This team went through a lot of setbacks. The transition wasn’t as smooth as I wanted it to be, but this is the UAAP-it’s not just some random competition. This is where you really discover who you are, and not only the players’ character was tested, but mine as well as a coach. Hopefully, this experience helped me grow both as a coach and as a person. I hope to learn a lot from this and become better next time,’ Diego said.

‘We also have reinforcements coming from our high school program. That’s really part of NU’s tradition, and hopefully, that will make us even stronger next year. Just like all the other teams, we’ll prepare even better,’ she added.

A deputy secretary of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Masbate province was wounded after government troops clashed with communist rebels in Palanas town on Sunday morning (May 10), the military said.

In a phone interview with the Inquirer, Col. Angel Lutera, commander of the 903rd Infantry Brigade, said soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Battalion encountered five members of the Komiteng Larangang Guerilla South under Sub-Regional Committee 4 in Barangay Miabas around 5:30 a.m.

The firefight lasted about five minutes before the rebels fled, leaving behind a caliber .45 pistol, magazines, documents and personal belongings.

Lutera said troops launched the operation after receiving a text message from a resident reporting the presence of armed rebels in the area.

He identified the wounded rebel leader as Raul ‘Luding’ Tolingin, also known by the aliases ‘Dadi’ and ‘Herman,’ deputy secretary of the group.

‘We airlifted him and he is now being treated at a government hospital in Masbate,’ Lutera told the Inquirer over the phone.

The military official said Tolingin was allegedly involved in several atrocities and killings in the province.

Lutera said the arrest of the rebel leader could encourage other NPA members to surrender.

‘The government is ready to accept rebels and provide them with livelihood assistance through the E-CLIP program,’ he said.

Major General Aldwine Almase, commander of the 9th Infantry Division, commended the troops for observing human rights and complying with international humanitarian law during the operation.

I have a confession. My most profound lessons in strategy no longer come from the frameworks of elite business schools or the high-stakes intensity of a corporate war room. They are being refined in the quiet, clinical stillness of my mother’s bedside.

In business, we are trained to chase ‘the next big thing.’ We map customer journeys, invest in artificial intelligence and engineer ‘high-touch’ experiences in a ‘high-tech’ world. Yet sitting with my mother, I’ve come to a simpler realization: No system can replicate the value of presence. In an increasingly automated world, physical presence may be the only asset that cannot be disrupted, outsourced or digitized.

The memory bank

Since November 2025, my mother’s world has narrowed. The woman who once navigated life’s complexities now lives within a smaller, quieter space, shaped by routines and care.

A recent medical test introduced a possibility I could not ignore-that I may one day walk a similar path.

In business terms, it is a high-risk scenario. But instead of fear, it brought clarity. If memory can fade, then presence becomes an investment. Every visit, every hand held, every familiar voice is a deposit into a ‘memory bank’-not just for her, but for me.

We are not only caring for our parents; we are quietly defining the standard of care the next generation will learn from us.

Efficiency and presence

My days are structured around meetings, decisions and responsibilities. Like many executives, I am trained to optimize time, to batch tasks and protect the calendar. But when a caregiver sends a simple message, ‘amah is awake,’ the decision is no longer operational. It is personal.

Whenever possible, I step in, even briefly. I reintroduce myself, hold her hand and sit with her for a few minutes.

I have realized that the quality of my attention is a singular resource. I give my best to my mother; therefore, I am able to give my best to my clients.

They are not competing interests. They are the same commitment to integrity, expressed in different rooms.

But there are mornings when the timing does not align. I may have an urgent board meeting or a keynote to deliver, and she has not yet awakened. In those moments, I have to take what I call my ‘antiguilt pill.’ I remind myself that my commitment is to the consistency of my presence, not the perfection of every single hour.

By showing up when I can, I earn the right to step away when I must. It is not a compromise of care; it is the management of a dual responsibility.

Over time, I’ve learned this distinction. Efficiency is for tasks. Presence is for people.

What the heart remembers

From a purely analytical perspective, one could argue that these visits have limited ‘utility.’ She may forget them shortly after. But life does not operate purely on transactions. There is something deeper at work, something beyond memory.

My eldest sister lives in Sydney, but she calls every single day, sometimes to sing to our mother. I was in the room recently during one of these calls. Mom’s eyes were open, searching the air, until the melody began. As my sister sang, Mom slowly closed her eyes, drifting into a peaceful stillness.

It wasn’t an act of falling asleep; it was an act of letting go. The mind may struggle with the distance of continents or the fog of age, but the heart recognizes the frequency of a familiar love.

When a child or grandchild enters the room, her face changes. There is recognition that does not depend on recall.

Simple gestures-holding her hand, performing mano-still carry meaning. They are signals that bypass cognition and go straight to connection. Even if she forgets the moment, I will not. And that matters.

The next room

My mother often asks me the same question, ‘Where do you live?’

For a time, I treated it as confusion to be corrected. Now, I see it differently. It is a search for reassurance.

In a world that no longer feels stable, she is asking if something familiar still holds. If someone she trusts is still near. My answer is always the same, ‘Next room, mom. I’m just in the next room.’ And she smiles.

In that moment, success is redefined. It is no longer about titles, scale, or achievement. It is about being present enough that when someone calls out, you can answer.

The real opportunity cost

In business, we are trained to evaluate opportunity cost-what we give up when we choose one path over another.

In life, the greater risk is often unseen: the conversations postponed, the visits delayed, the moments assumed to be repeatable.

Time is a nonrenewable resource. But unlike capital, its depletion is not always visible until it is gone. We often say, ‘I’ll visit when things slow down.’

But things rarely slow down on their own. They are reprioritized. The question is not whether we are busy; it is whether we are allocating our time to what will still matter when the pace of everything else fades.

A strategic imperative

This Mother’s Day, my message is simple: show up. Not out of guilt, but out of clarity.

In business, we adjust priorities when conditions change. Life requires the same discipline. If you can, make the visit. Share the meal. Sit, even briefly.

The meeting can be moved. The task can be rescheduled. But some windows, once closed, do not reopen.

Presence cannot be delegated. It cannot be replaced by gifts, messages, or transactions. In the end, the highest return is not measured in efficiency, but in trust, in knowing that when it mattered, you were there.

I’m in the next room, mom. And I’m not going anywhere.

The House of Representatives will not be swayed by political threats from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) ahead of Monday’s vote on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment, Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V said on Sunday.

In a statement, he said congressmen ‘will not be cowed, blackmailed, or threatened’ in carrying out their constitutional duty, including handling impeachment charges.

‘Voting on impeachment is not an act of political persecution. It is a solemn constitutional obligation,’ he said.

Ortega issued the remarks after the PDP, once the ruling political party, threatened to blacklist lawmakers voting in favor of elevating the charges to the Senate, saying ‘they will not be allowed to cross over to the party.’

It also said it might field ‘competitive’ candidates in the districts of lawmakers who vote for Duterte’s impeachment.

‘The voice that matters to us is not the voice of a discredited political party trying to regain relevance,’ Ortega said. ‘It is the voice of our constituents – the Filipino people – who expect public officials to answer serious allegations through constitutional processes.’

Duterte faces the possibility of being tried by the Senate as lawmakers are inclined to indict her over corruption and constitutional violations, potentially sending the charges to the upper chamber on Monday

The Department of Energy (DOE) on Friday said the moratorium on new coal-fired power plants remains in effect, noting that existing facilities and projects already in the pipeline are sufficient to meet the country’s power requirements.

In a statement, the DOE said the current policy still exempts projects that secured Certificates of Non-Coverage before the moratorium was imposed.

It also allows coal power projects considered committed for expansion, as well as indicative projects with substantial accomplishments, to apply for noncoverage.

Despite concerns over power supply security, the department said there is currently no compelling reason to suspend or lift the moratorium.

‘Moreover, coal-fired power plants already under development and expected to come online are projected to provide sufficient capacity to support grid reliability in the near term,’ the DOE said.

The agency emphasized that renewable energy development remains a key component of the government’s long-term energy agenda.

‘In this context, accelerating the development of renewable energy remains a central pillar of the country’s long-term energy strategy,’ the DOE said.

The department added that it is reviewing indicative coal projects proposed before the moratorium to determine which developments may no longer be viable.

‘Facilities found to be unreliable may be considered for voluntary retirement, re-purposing, or transition to cleaner energy sources,’ it said, adding that ‘while coal continues to play a role in the current energy mix, its use is being carefully managed.’

The DOE reiterated its commitment to maintaining a stable and affordable power supply while pursuing a balanced energy mix.

‘The DOE remains firm in its policy direction and will continue to pursue initiatives that ensure the reliability, affordability, and security of the country’s electricity supply through a balanced energy mix,’ it said.