Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

There are halls of justice built by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with ‘listed contractors,’ Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said Wednesday.

‘We are also surveying because there are budgets included in the halls of justice; some of them were built by DPWH, and as of yesterday (Tuesday), Justice in-charge [Samuel] Gaerlan is looking at several projects done by some contractors that are listed,’ Leonen said during the 3rd anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovation (SPJI).

Although Leonen declined to provide further details, he assured that the Supreme Court is conducting a thorough review of the findings.

‘Unfortunately, most of the projects for now have been built, and in order to make sure that we were not shortchanged, we are doing our own due diligence,’ he said.

When asked what kind of support the Supreme Court can provide to the authorities investigating the flood control projects, Leonen stated that they can offer an assurance of impartiality.

He added that there will be an application of all the learnings of the SPJI, which means upholding the ethical standards and integrity of every proceeding. /mcm/abc /gsg

Last Oct. 12, Jeff Napa made his way from the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in España, Manila, to Ynares Center in Antipolo City. Having steered his National U squad to a victory over La Salle in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament, the Bulldogs coach snaked through the winding roads of Rizal province to get to the hilltop venue.

There, Napa helped Terrafirma log a breakthrough victory in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup.

On Wednesday, Napa will make a shorter trip-from Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, to Ninoy Aquino Stadium in neighboring Manila.

Is another double in the offing for the Dyip assistant coach, who is often seen handling timeouts and disgramming plays while designated head coach Ronald Tubid looks on?

‘There’s no head coach here. We’re all head coaches here,’ Tubid said after the Dyip’s 97-91 upset of the NLEX Road Warriors over a week ago, the franchise’s first victory since starting last season’s Philippine Cup with a win.

The victory snapped a string of 11 consecutive defeats for the franchise which could not sell itself in the offseason. Terrafirma rode on a stirring performance of unheralded rookie JM Bravo, the sixth-round pick in last month’s Draft out of Lyceum of the Philippines.

Bravo brings with him some motivation every game. Not only is he riding a comeback since being knocked unconscious while playing for the Pirates in last season’s NCAA, eventually returning to action after weeks of recovery.

‘It’s very special because of what happened last year,’ Bravo said in Filipino after earning Best Player of the Game honors. ‘But I just put in the past and I just focus on what I have now.’

The 25-year-old forward admitted that his dad was instrumental in his comeback-his inspiration as he worked through his recovery.

Unfortunately, the elder Bravo died earlier this year.

‘I told him that I won’t give up [and] that I [will] enter the professional level,’ Bravo said.

Bravo and his teammates battle Converge at 5:15 p.m., the first game of a doubleheader that also features the later match between Phoenix and NLEX. -INQUIRER SPORTS STAFF INQ

Palace press officer Claire Castro confirmed Tuesday the appointment of Gay Jane Perez as officer in charge of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA).

Perez replaced Joel Joseph Marciano Jr., who resigned in September. The new PhilSA chief has served as deputy director general for the agency’s Space Science and Technology department since 2021.

Perez earned her physics degree from the University of the Philippines and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Nasa Goddard Space Flight Center from 2010 to 2011

ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said Tuesday the House of Representatives should look into the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) following revelations that the state-run insurer had suffered more than P8 billion in investment losses, a setback being blamed on its president, Jose Arnulfo ‘Wick’ Veloso.

In a statement, Tinio said the House needs to check on GSIS and its actuarial life, noting that the status of government employees’ pension for the coming years is of paramount concern.

He said he will file a resolution seeking the probe, adding that President Marcos should hold Veloso accountable rather than continuing ‘to express confidence in the embattled GSIS chief.’

‘The House of Representatives must immediately investigate these alarming allegations of financial mismanagement, lack of transparency, and apparent circumvention of proper governance procedures at the GSIS,’ Tinio said.

‘We cannot allow the hard-earned contributions of our teachers, nurses, and other government workers to be gambled away through reckless and dubious investments,’ he noted.

According to Tinio, the call from current and former GSIS board members for Veloso to resign only highlights the pressing need to check on the issues in GSIS.

‘If the board members of GSIS itself, including those heading legal, risk, and audit oversight, are asking for the resignation of their president, we know the problem is serious,’ Tinio said in Filipino.

‘This is not just about poor investment performance-the allegations point to systematic bypass of governance safeguards, splitting of transactions to evade board review, and investments that serve interests other than those of GSIS members,’ he added.

‘Nearly a million teachers contribute a portion of their already meager salaries to GSIS every month, trusting that their retirement will be secure. Instead, they hear that billions may have been lost through risky investments-including P1.2 billion in an online gambling company and questionable ‘rescue’ operations for politically connected businessmen,’ Tinio said.

Unified focus

In a letter dated October 14, 2025, current and former high-ranking officials of GSIS called for the ‘immediate and irrevocable’ resignation of Veloso for alleged ‘poor investment decisions’ that led to the huge losses.

The letter was signed by Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez, chair of the legal oversight committee; Emmanuel de Leon Samson, chair of the risk oversight committee; Rita Riddle, chair of the audit committee; board member Evelina Escudero; and former board members Jocelyn de Guzman Cabreza and Alan Luga.

Gutierrez, Samson, and Riddle eventually submitted their respective resignation letters to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., citing deep divisions over Veloso’s investment strategies.

‘Moving forward’

Marcos on October 17 appointed Gilbert Tan Sadsad, Enrico Gregorio Molina Trinidad, and Cenon Cruz Audencial Jr. to the nine-member GSIS board of trustees, replacing Gutierrez, Samson, and Riddle.

The GSIS issued a statement on Tuesday saying it was ready to move forward with new board members replacing those who had sought the ouster of its president and general manager, expressing confidence that its revamped leadership would now function as ‘a solid and cohesive team.’

‘The GSIS is moving forward with a renewed and unified focus on its mission,’ the pension fund for public sector workers said in a statement on Tuesday.

‘We look forward to working with them, knowing their extensive experience will be invaluable as we build on the pension fund’s historic gains,’ it added.

The reshuffle marked a turning point in a monthslong rift within the state pension fund, which manages nearly P2 trillion in assets for millions of government employees.

It also drew attention to issues of due diligence, risk exposure, and the management of pension funds in the stock market.

Replacements

Documents showed the seat vacated by Gutierrez, a former ombudsman under the Arroyo administration who chaired the GSIS legal oversight committee, was filled by current board member Garry de Guzman, whose position, in turn, was taken by Audencial.

Samson, who led the pension fund’s risk oversight committee, was succeeded by Trinidad.

Both Audencial and Trinidad would serve as acting board members representing the banking, finance, investment, and insurance sectors, the documents showed.

Riddle, the former chair of the GSIS audit committee, was replaced by Sadsad, who was the president of the Philippine Public School Teachers Association. – With a report from Halle Danelle Yuson

The following article contains a plethora of yellow-skinned humans, an unhealthy dose of donuts, and at least one mention of a cartoon character’s catchphrase, and lastly, more donuts, of course!

The latest and most breaking Hollywood news that has surely made Homer Simpson let out a jubilant ‘Woohoo!’, the venerable animated series The Simpsons is not only coming back to the big screen with a brand new movie but has also been renewed for a whopping four more seasons. The mega-deal between Disney (via 20th Century Studios) and Fox, announced in April 2025, guarantees that the citizens of Springfield will continue their antics through season 40, which is scheduled to air during the 2028-2029 television season.

The move cements the legacy of what is already the longest-running American animated series, sitcom, and scripted primetime television series in history. But in a time of revivals and reboots, this isn’t just a simple extension of a long-running gag. It’s a statement, a testament to a pop culture phenomenon that refuses to be put to bed, much like Homer on his couch. And honestly, who can blame them for giving in to the temptation? With the announcement came the news that a sequel to The Simpsons Movie, released way back in 2007, is also on the way, scheduled for a summer 2027 theatrical release. Imagine that, the year is 2007, wow, it is hard to believe that the first The Simpsons movie came out roughly twenty years ago already at this point. I, in fact, was lucky enough to have gotten to watch it in cinemas during its premiere in our side of the world.

In fact, the first movie turned out to be a global box office smash hit that raked in over $536 million, and had moviegoers under a giant glass dome, quite literally and figuratively. The new feature, which has taken the place of an untitled Marvel film on the Disney release calendar, is keeping its plot details tightly under wraps. But the promotional material, which features a rainbow-sprinkled doughnut, which is a classic move on their part, in the shape of the numeral ‘2,’ teases that ‘Homer’s coming back for seconds.’ It’s so simple, straight to the point, and a brilliant promotional tease that touches base on anyone familiar with The Simpsons, all shaped into that rainbow-sprinkled donut. Hehe.

Now, the analyst in me-who is not shallow, not narrow-minded, and whose frame of thinking is never one that can be pigeon-holed-wonders aloud: Yep, I do reuse my phrases and lines as long as they fit what I am writing about. Leads me to ask this: Is this a good thing? Can ‘The Simpsons Magic’ be recaptured? For a decades-old running show that has had its share of creative valleys alongside its celebrated peaks, will this new mega deal simply prolong the inevitable, or is it a sign of a creative renaissance? Personally, I am hoping for the latter outcome, because The Simpsons has been a staple on television for nearly thirty years, and to lose this show either by the all too dreaded cancellation or not getting renewed for additional seasons after their current upcoming mega deal ends would be a significant loss and something irreplaceable by any other type of programming. I can still remember as a kid when The Simpsons were shown on two channels here (one was a local one, and the other was an Asian based channel), and they both showed The Simpsons at different time slots and days. Even back then, in the early to mid-90s, The Simpsons was a big deal, so it is not surprising that The Simpsons has supporters from some of the biggest worldwide streaming services and movie studios because there is a likelihood, in fact, a huge probability, that they were themselves fans of this groundbreaking animated series growing up.

On the other hand, some might argue that the best years of The Simpsons are long gone, relegated to a ‘golden era’ back in the 1990s. For all of us who grew up with The Simpsons and watched the show regularly for the first few seasons, like I did, with the first five, which were some of its all-time best, then all of you can relate as to why The Simpsons was a vital piece of our television viewing during our youth and well into our adulthood. But let us not forget that the show has proven time and again its ability to remain relevant and even surprise us, from timely social commentary to clever meta-humor.

I mean, have you guys not seen all the eerily accurate predictions the show has made throughout the many years that turned out to be true? There are compilations on YouTube that have gotten everyone talking about the uncanny ability of The Simpsons to predict with precision, with sharpness, and with, more importantly, timing, global events, key figures, and anything to do with the direction of a country, whether that be in politics and Hollywood, with ‘Nostradamus-esque Potential.’ Haha. In all seriousness, The Simpsons episodes that have predicted future events perfectly are surreal. It’s proof of how in-tune, in the know, and aware its writers are. They know their stuff to a T!

Which leads me to say this next: I have seen and lived through numerous groundbreaking animated series that have come on the air, made an immediate cultural impact with their viewers, and become global phenomena, and let me say, nothing compares to The Simpsons when it came to their popularity. For example, the types of merchandise they had were everything from shirts, dinnerware, portraits, posters, snacks, video tapes, action figures, magazines, stuffed toys, albums, and so on. You name it, The Simpsons had merchandise on it. They were trademarked like crazy back in those years by numerous companies to capitalize on their incredible popularity that was skyrocketing, and even now, there is still a good number of The Simpsons merchandise available for everyone.

From a personal perspective, I can still remember having a giant Bart Simpson stuffed toy in which you could pull the string at the back, and Bart Simpson would say any of his classic catchphrases like ‘Eat My Shorts!’ among others. Haha. I really got a kick out of that giant Bart Simpson stuffed toy growing up and using it to talk to my friends and sometimes relatives and instead of giving them a direct answer, I would first pull the string and wait for it to say something, then, I would, of course, answer them afterwards, but the point is, it tapped into our childhood innocence, sense of humor and most of all, imagination.

That is why I am one of the millions of fans of The Simpsons from all over the world that is hoping current showrunner of The Simpsons, Matt Selman, will immensely help the show find a new and younger audience in Disney+, then, in what would be a smart strategic move to also reconnect with older demographics, proving that these yellow cartoon characters have the kind of staying power that is generational and that is far from being outdated or a thing of the past. Why so? Because if The Simpsons were irrelevant or stuck in the past, then why would they have a mega-deal in place with Disney+ and a second movie that is going to be made and released sometime in 2027? It’s all self-explanatory and reveals how much faith the people with power in the entertainment industry from their side of the world still have in The Simpsons, as we all do who got to watch it growing up. Regardless of your opinion on the matter, one thing is certain and for damn sure: The Simpsons (Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie) are here to stay for a while longer, yehey, which is a huge relief. The mega-deal ensures hundreds more episodes are on the way, with a mix of releases on FOX (their original channel) and Disney+ exclusives, all leading up to the historic 800th episode in 2026. So get ready to hear Homer’s signature ‘D’oh!’ for many, many more years.

We all owe a big thanks to Matt Groening for creating The Simpsons and making television a much happier ‘yellow place’ because of their decades-long presence on our screens, and in fact, on any screen now, thanks to streaming services already.

Long live The Simpsons!

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) on Wednesday called out the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for its ‘abysmal performance’ in its classroom building target and completion rate.

ACT chairperson Ruby Bernardo said that the target of 1,700 classrooms by the DPWH was not even enough to address the 165,000 classroom shortage.

‘This is enraging considering that many teachers and students are suffering from our situations in classrooms,’ Bernardo said in a statement.

‘Thousands of students are being crowded in small classrooms and some classrooms are being divided.’

‘This is a clear case of negligence of the state to the education sector and to the rights of students when it comes to our education quality,’ she pointed out.

Bernardo also called out the ‘extreme low completion rates’ of classrooms, saying this only revealed the government’s ‘true priorities’-which is to invest billions of pesos to the flood control projects which are now under scrutiny while quality education infrastructure was ‘completely abandoned.’

She was also skeptical over the proposed Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CBAP), wherein lawmakers want to involve local government units (LGUs) and the private sector in addressing the persistent nationwide classroom shortage.

‘Instead of outsourcing its responsibility, the Marcos administration and the DepEd (Department of Education) must fix and streamline the classroom construction process, hold erring officials accountable for anomalies and corruption in school building projects, and ensure that agencies mandated to deliver these services are competent, transparent and credible,’ Bernardo said.

She urged the Marcos administration to address the worsening classroom shortage, as well as the broader education crisis and to increase the education budget equivalent to 6 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) under the international guidelines.

‘While billions are wasted on corruption, public schools continue to suffer from the lack of teachers, education support personnel, classrooms, textbooks and basic facilities,’ Bernardo said.

‘This is nothing less than a grave injustice to teachers, learners and the Filipino people,’ she also said. /gsg

Pets are more than companions. They are family, confidants, and, in many ways, mirrors of our own behavior. Their presence enriches our homes with warmth, joy, and unconditional love-from the quiet hum of a cat purring on your lap to the jubilant welcome of a dog at the door, as if you were the best thing to happen all day.

Yet, for all the affection they offer, pets also invite us to practice responsibility. Just as good manners make life smoother among people, petiquette extends the same spirit of hospitality and grace to our life with animals.

The heart of petiquette

At its core, pet etiquette, or ‘petiquette,’ begins with awareness. It affects not only family but also friends, neighbors, and even strangers who share your spaces-whether in a park, at a café, or in a mall. It is a quiet blend of responsibility, respect, and mindfulness-the kind of grace that speaks without words.

Simple gestures, like teaching a dog not to jump on guests or reminding guests to greet pets calmly, go a long way toward preventing overstimulation, especially for senior dogs. And it keeps everyone comfortable. Picking up after your cat, or keeping the coat clean and brushed, are more than habits of hygiene; they communicate care. A well-mannered pet signals thoughtfulness, just as a host who remembers to refill your glass or sends a handwritten note does.

For families, petiquette becomes an early education in empathy, accountability, and responsibility. When children learn to approach animals gently, understand their cues, and meet their needs, they are also learning grace and compassion-qualities that extend far beyond the leash or litter box. Hygiene and health

Good pet manners start with good care. Cleanliness is both courtesy and comfort. Regular grooming keeps your pet comfortable and ensures your home remains inviting.

Vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, and routine veterinary visits are acts of respect, not only for your animal, but also for the wider community of pets and people.

Daily rituals-tending to their paws after a walk outside, cleaning litter boxes or washing dog beds, refreshing water bowls-may seem small, but they are gestures of hospitality. They create an environment where both human and animal guests feel at ease.

Behavior and training

Training, like children, all begins in the cradle or, in this case, at the end of a cute little leash. The morning ritual of guiding your puppy to a designated spot to do their business may seem ordinary, but it’s these quiet, consistent moments that teach structure. Routines become rhythms, and rhythms become second nature.

Enrolling your pet in obedience classes is the cornerstone of petiquette-not a display of dominance, but a quiet choreography of trust and ease that makes a home feel gracious. It’s teaching them not to vault onto the sofa uninvited, to wait patiently during meals, and to keep their commentary (

Our pets, like ourselves, occasionally step out into the world-to parks, cafés, malls, or the homes of friends. Here, petiquette becomes a measure of good breeding-for both pet and owner. A leashed and calm animal communicates consideration, ensuring they don’t disturb or make others feel uneasy. Respecting the comfort of those who may be fearful or allergic. these are all signs of refinement.

Even the friendliest dog with the best intentions can overwhelm someone unaccustomed to animals or still carrying past fears. I, for one, am guilty of that. I love dogs deeply, yet it’s something I am still healing from. A gentle reminder that affection and fear can coexist, and that empathy should always lead the leash in this case.

Thoughtful pet owners anticipate these nuances, adjusting with grace and consideration. Because at its heart, petiquette, much like true hospitality, is about making everyone feel safe, seen, and at ease.

In the digital age, social etiquette extends online. Sharing photos of your pet can bring joy, but remember, privacy still applies. Avoid including others’ faces, homes, or property without permission. Grace, whether offline or online, remains timeless.

Mindful interactions with guests

When entertaining, your pet becomes part of the welcome experience, not a source of stress. A polite host means knowing the comfort levels of your guests, and that includes managing how pets participate in the welcome.

Some visitors adore animals, others may be apprehensive. Petiquette means finding the balance:

Offer gentle introductions rather than enthusiastic leaps

Keep nails trimmed and coats clean

Provide a quiet retreat for your pet if the atmosphere becomes too lively

Avoid feeding your pet treats at the table, especially when guests are present or dining

Speaking of petiquette, I remember a rather funny incident with our beloved corgi, Cupcake, an alpha female with a healthy appetite, short legs that somehow defy gravity, and who has since crossed the rainbow bridge. One evening, as we were entertaining guests, the Stilton on the coffee table suddenly went Houdini. It vanished without a trace-until later, when Cupcake’s breath carried the unmistakable perfume of blue cheese. Mystery solved.

By thoughtfully integrating pets into hospitality, you demonstrate respect for both your guests and your animals.

Pets and children

Children often learn their first lessons in empathy and responsibility through animals. Teaching them petiquette-gentle handling, respecting boundaries, feeding and walking responsibly fosters patience and awareness.

When a child fills a water bowl or brushes a dog’s coat, they learn that care is active, not passive. Pets reward kindness with trust, affection, and loyalty-qualities that shape not only good owners but good people.

When our furry companions are treated as members of the family, not indulged without boundaries but cared for with consistency and respect, they become ambassadors of calm, joy, and connection. In their presence, we are reminded that the essence of good manners, whether within the comforts of home or out in the wider world, lies in consideration.

October is National Pet Wellness Month-a timely reminder that happy, healthy pets make for a harmonious home. And that, at its heart, is the ‘pawlite’ companion.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget submitted by the executive department contained lower allocations for more dense provinces while some less populated areas had bigger funding, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste said on Wednesday.

Leviste, in his latest criticism of the DPWH, said that he has been reviewing the agency’s entries in the National Expenditures Program (NEP) and finding that some areas got a bigger allocation despite having a lower population.

The NEP is the budget submitted by the executive branch to Congress, which then deliberates line items to create the General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

The lawmaker cited the case of Western Visayas, which only got P16.37 billion despite having a population of 4.86 million – compared to the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) which has a 1.81 million population and got a P17.00 billion allocation.

With this, Leviste said it might be better if the DPWH budget was given to local government units (LGUs) through an equitable manner.

‘Given the smaller DPWH budget for certain regions compared to their much bigger contribution to national taxes, they would be better off if the DPWH budget were instead given to local governments equitably through the National Tax Allotment, which is based on a formula 50 percent population, 25 percent land area, and 25 percent equal sharing,’ Leviste said.

Aside from Western Visayas, Leviste also noticed that the country’s populous regions – Central Luzon, Calabarzon, National Capital Region, and Ilocos region which make up around 41 percent of the country’s population and 60 percent of the economy, only get around 25 percent of the DPWH budget.

Leviste also reiterated the under-allocation for Calabrzon, which led to him voting against the House GAB. According to the lawmaker, the DPWH can lower prices by 25 percent by removing P150 billion in possible kickbacks, while reallocating these to classrooms and underfunded regions.

Furthermore, the lawmaker said that there should be a shift from horizontal projects like flood control, asphalt overlay, and slope protection – projects that are easy to implement corruption schemes – towards classroom construction.

‘The reason there’s a classroom shortage is because there are almost no kickbacks in classrooms. It is easier to do substandard work on the thickness of an asphalt project than on a three-story classroom building,’ Leviste said.

This is not the first time that Leviste called out DPWH. Last October 8, the Batangas solon said that while he agrees with the steps taken by Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, DPWH has been hounded by systemic problems – which means the best way to avoid corruption is to reduce the allocation for the agency.

Aside from these, Leviste has been looking for ways to trim down the DPWH budget – and possibly realign it towards funding college scholarships. Last September 12, the lawmaker said lower allocation for DPWH can be used to provide college scholarships through the Commission on Higher Education’s Tulong Dunong Program.

On August 19, Leviste said that amid concerns of corruption and substandard work in flood control projects, the over P250 billion fund in 2026 for such projects should just be allocated to the construction of classrooms and other more important matters.

Leviste said that since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself has indicated that flood control projects may have been affected by corruption, half of the funds for this purpose can be used to create more classrooms while the other half can help in lowering taxes.

Eventually, the resubmitted DPWH budget was slashed by P255.5 billion, part of which were allocated towards social aid, health programs, and a higher education budget.

Early October, Leviste urged DPWH to release a breakdown of allocations per district for 2026, amid concerns that some steps to rid the agency and the budget of corrupt activities have not been taken yet.

Despite these, the lawmaker said that he remains optimistic that the 2026 DPWH budget contained several improvements, and continued deliberations would result in an even more equitable and responsive appropriations. /jpv

Letran is heating up, and Lyceum finally has a win to show.

The Knights grabbed their fourth straight win in NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball, outlasting defending champion Mapua in overtime, 85-82, on Tuesday at San Juan Arena.

And one guy on the team is making sure Letran continues riding the neat little wave that has enabled them to bounce back from a rocky start to the tournament.

‘I keep reminding my teammates that this win is done. Let’s move on to the next opponent,’ said Jonathan Manalili, the rookie who played hero in extra time, who has his reasons to keep the team grounded. ‘This should not end here. This won’t fully measure if we can be champions.’

Manalili delivered the go-ahead layup with 2:14 left in OT, part of a five-point spurt that broke an 81-all tie. Mapua’s Clint Escamis, fouled on a three-point try in the final 30 seconds, missed two of three freebies-sealing the Knights’ escape.

Jimboy Estrada led Letran with 20 points, Aaron Buensalida added 16 and 10 boards, while Manalili finished with 14 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. The Knights improved to 4-3 in Group B, just behind San Beda (4-1).

Mapua fell to 3-3 in Group A.

Earlier, the Pirates survived a furious Jose Rizal University rally to notch their first win, 78-76, snapping a five-game slide. -INQUIRER SPORTS STAFF INQ

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday cautioned students against seeking the help of artificial intelligence (AI) tools instead of talking to a school guidance counselor, noting that such forms of technology are not yet able to recognize and manage emotions.

In observance of this year’s Mental Health Month, the DOH held interactive workshops at Cavite National High School to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and the need for peer support groups in schools to provide ‘safe spaces’ for students.

‘Not wrong’

When asked how it feels to seek the help of a school guidance counselor, a student shared, ‘I’m afraid. When I go to the guidance counselor, it feels like I did something wrong.’

Tina Marasigan, health promotion bureau director at the DOH, acknowledged that some students may feel uncomfortable reaching out to someone older than them, but she assured them that ‘it’s not wrong to go to a guidance counselor.’

‘Your guidance counselors are there. They will help, but your emotions and reservations are valid,’ she stressed.

Their own classmates can also be of help, Marasigan pointed out.

‘We want to strengthen your capacity to become peer support to your fellow youth, because it’s very effective,’ she said.

‘We want to have a safe space where you can talk about your problems, that you’re not okay . but someone will listen to you without judgment, and that’s the first step in preserving mental health,’ she added.

‘It cannot feel’

At the event, DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo said students should be careful about seeking help from AI tools instead of another person regarding their mental health.

‘We are not saying it’s wrong, but this is one of the challenges that we have to overcome,’ Domingo said. ‘AI is a machine, it cannot read your face, it cannot feel.’

‘The technology is not yet there, probably not in our lifetime, where it can recognize and respond through conversation. So, there would always be a role for our guidance counselors, our school counselor associates, and your peers,’ he added.

More counselors soon

According to Domingo, the Department of Education is set to hire around 10,000 school counselor associates ‘very soon’ to address the lack of guidance counselors in schools.

For Cavite National High School, Domingo noted that only four guidance counselors handle 7,500 students. One is assigned to 2,500 senior high school students, while the other three are in charge of 5,000 junior high students.

‘Before, we had a hard time finding guidance counselors because there were only a few [of them]. Now, around 10,000 of what we call school counselor associates will be hired, not as job order or contract of service [staff], but as ‘plantilla’ items,’ he said.

‘Most likely, they will be the ones training [and] forming the peer support groups,’ Domingo added.