Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

After nearly two decades together, Hollywood couple Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have separated, despite the former’s effort to save their marriage, according to US media reports.

TMZ reported, citing close sources, that the pair had been living apart since early summer. Urban has spent much of the year on tour, while Kidman has been in London filming ‘Practical Magic 2.’

The outlet reported that Kidman has been taking care of their two daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret, stating, ‘Holding the family together through this difficult time since Keith has been gone.’

‘Keith has acquired his own residence in Nashville and has moved out of their family home,’ continued the outlet, with other reports stating that the actress has leaned heavily on her sister, Antonia, for support throughout the difficult months.

Multiple media outlets, including People magazine, also reported that the ‘Moulin Rouge!’ actress didn’t want the separation and had been fighting to save the marriage.

Kidman and Urban first met in 2005 at the G’Day USA gala in Los Angeles. They tied the knot in June the following year in a church ceremony in Sydney, Australia.

Back in June, Kidman celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary with a black-and-white photograph of herself cuddling up to Urban, captioning the Instagram post, ‘Happy Anniversary Baby.’

Kidman was previously married to Tom Cruise from 1990 to 2001, during which time they adopted two children, Bella and Connor.

Kidman is known for her award-winning performances in ‘The Hours,’ ‘Eyes Wide Shut,’ ‘The Others,’ ‘Practical Magic,’ and in television series such as ‘Big Little Lies.’

Urban, meanwhile, is recognized for his hits like ‘Somebody Like You’ and ‘Blue Ain’t Your Color.’ He is a multiple Grammy Award winner, a regular award recipient from the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music, and has served as a judge on ‘American Idol.’ /ra

For the longest time, Ogie Alcasid’s monthly listeners on Spotify never went beyond 500,000. And for the longest time, he wondered how he could grow that number, knowing that his core audience-the fans who grew up with him and are now in their middle age-aren’t typically active music streamers.

The answer was obvious: court a young crowd.

He wrote new songs with more contemporary production, like ‘IN LAB,’ an alternative-pop track stylized in casual, all-caps in its title to project a more hip aesthetic. He stayed active on social media, posting lighthearted clips and hopping on dance trends. He continued visiting schools to teach songwriting and reach out to the students. He put out ‘Ulit,’ an EP of reimagined old hits, which did well, but still appealed mostly to his market.

The answer was obvious: court a young crowd. He wrote new songs with more contemporary production. e continued visiting schools to teach songwriting and reach out to the students.

But in the end, the formula for virality has yet to be cracked, and an artist can only do so much with strategy. If there’s one thing we have seen time and time again in the streaming era, it’s that sometimes, a track will blow up when least expected, and for a confluence of reasons that are quite hard to pin down.

Such was the case with ‘Nandito Ako’-Alcasid’s first major hit written by Aaron Paul del Rosario and released in 1989-which recently saw a massive resurgence after a live cover by Rob Deniel went viral.

The viral trigger

Last January, at the 10th Wish Music Awards, Alcasid was honored as an Icon of Music Excellence. And as part of the tribute, Deniel-one of today’s Gen Z artists leading the OPM charge-took the stage and delivered an impassioned rendition of the Alcasid hits ‘Ikaw Sana’ and ‘Nandito Ako.’

Alcasid was impressed. He accepted the award, gave a speech, and went on his way, thinking not much of it afterward. The crowd, at the time, felt similarly. But roughly seven months later, the performance exploded online, catching Alcasid completely by surprise.

Reaction videos and covers by other singers further fueled the hype. Before long, his monthly listeners had swelled to well over three million. The official performance video has 40 million views on YouTube. And as of this writing, the song remains in the Top 50 of Spotify Philippines’ Daily Top Songs chart, where it peaked at number 23.

‘Rob’s fans liked the song, but since he doesn’t have a recording of that, they ended up on my Spotify page instead.They had no choice!’ Alcasid says in a recent group interview, including Lifestyle Inquirer. ‘Surprisingly, this came at a time when I was trying to grow my listenership.’

That the performance’s impact took more than half a year to be felt remains a mystery-perhaps the timing simply wasn’t right, the algorithm failed to pick it up, the public wasn’t in the mood for it, or it didn’t immediately reach the ears of a big name influencer.

But here’s something hard to argue with: quality transcends. ‘Nandito Ako’ is a beautiful ballad-and without that simple fact-no amount of luck or outside variables could have propelled it. And in the hands of a talented artist currently making waves like Deniel, a resurgence was always just a matter of time.

Learning from the young

This phenomenon also confirmed what Alcasid has believed all along: that even music icons like him have just as much to gain and learn from rising talents as the other way around. In fact, he shares, it was young stars Maki and Angela Ken who helped him make sense of why ‘Nandito Ako’ became a new old hit.

‘Maki told me that young people these days actually love emo songs,’ Alcasid shares. ‘And that they find our contrasting interpretations interesting: that when they listen to Rob’s take, they feel a sense of yearning, and when they listen to mine, they feel security and reassurance. It’s all very fascinating, and I love that I’m learning from them.’

As for himself, he has been having a kick at revisiting the original version. ‘My vibrato was faster and my singing was more carefree. Now it’s airier,’ says Alcasid, who has always held the song dear, has made it the final song in most of his shows.

‘My vibrato was faster and my singing was more carefree. Now it’s airier,’ says Alcasid

Ogie Alcasid. Contributed photo

It’s worth noting, though, that the song’s enduring popularity is no accident. ‘Nandito Ako’ has had multiple, high-profile revivals over the decades, most notably by Lea Salonga in 1993, Thalia in 1997, and David Archuleta in 2012. But unlike sales, radio airplay, and media hype, today’s success metrics-by way of streaming-are more transparent and immediate, making it easier to gauge a song’s reach.

Alcasid and Deniel are wisely following this momentum. Deniel recently recorded ‘Ikaw Sana,’ while Alcasid himself plans to re-record ‘Nandito Ako,’ this time with string instrumentation. ‘Rob and I performed together in ‘It’s Showtime.’ He’s a better singer, I should say. But really, I’m just happy that someone so influential among young people appreciates the music we do,’ he says.

A catalog-wide effect

The ‘Nandito Ako’ hype inevitably rubbed off on the rest of Ogie Alcasid’s formidable discography, leading young fans to discover the classics he actually wrote, like ‘Sa Kanya,’ ‘Kung Mawawala Ka,’ and the duet ‘Hanggang Ngayon.’ Now, even his other hits are gaining steam across the board.

Last month, on the variety show ‘ASAP,’ Kai Montinola, another promising young talent, convinced Alcasid to sing a duet of ‘Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang.’ It became another viral moment-maybe not to the same magnitude as ‘Nandito Ako,’ but no less thrilling for Alcasid, who’s embracing his newfound visibility among Gen Z.

‘I’m thankful for all these young people starting to discover and recognize my music. I’m humbled and shocked,’ he says.

‘I’m thankful for all these young people starting to discover and recognize my music. I’m humbled and shocked

.

‘

Where this wave will lead him, Alcasid isn’t sure yet. But what’s certain, he says, is that what happened has only inspired him to keep writing new music, find new ways to reach listeners, and avoid relying on the legacy of his old hits. He wants to continue keeping his finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the industry, and on emerging artists moving the needle and keeping local music alive.

‘I want to do new projects using my classic hits. I’m more open than ever to collaborating with young artists,’ he says. ‘And I hope to see more of my old songs come to life again.’

The Court of Appeals (CA) has denied the motion for reconsideration filed by TAPE Inc. in the Eat Bulaga copyright infringement lawsuit filed by TV hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon (TVJ) against the production company.

The CA affirmed that the trio owns the copyright of the audiovisual recordings and jingles of Eat Bulaga, which the company used without consent. The appeals court also ordered TAPE to pay damages and attorney’s fees totaling P3 million.

‘For having determined that TAPE committed unfair competition and copyright infringement, we sustain the RTC’s award in favor of TVJ, et al. the following amounts of PHP 2,000,000.00 as temperate damages, PHP 500,000.00 as exemplary damages, and PHP 500,000.00 as attorney’s fees pursuant to Sections 156.1 and 216.1 of the Intellectual Property Code as well as Article 2208(1)6 of the New Civil Code,’ a part of the decision read.

Senate President Tito also spoke about the ruling in a statement released by his office. ‘The decision upholds the earlier ruling recognizing TVJ as the copyright owners of the materials in question.’

The Intellectual Property Office (IPOPhl) favored TVJ in December 2023 and dismissed the trademark registration of TAPE for the names ‘Eat Bulaga’ and ‘EB.’

The following month, TVJ won their copyright infringement and unfair competition case against TAPE after the Marikina City Regional Trial Court ruled in favor of the trio

American actor Josh Hartnett was briefly hospitalized after he and his driver were involved in a two-vehicle collision in St. John’s in Canada.

According to multiple foreign outlets, Hartnett, who was in St. John’s for the filming of an untitled Netflix series, was on his way home from the set when the accident happened last Sept. 25. The sports utility vehicle Hartnett was in reportedly collided with a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) patrol car.

The actor and his driver, as well as the officer riding the patrol car, were then taken to the hospital after sustaining minor injuries.

‘RNC collision analysts are seeking any witnesses or video footage (CCTV, dash-camera, cell phone) from the area in the lead up to, or immediately following the collision,’ the RNC said.

Hartnett’s rep Susan Patricola told Deadline that the actor has been discharged and has already returned to work. She added that the incident did not affect the show production.

Hartnett is best known for starring in the films ‘The Virgin Suicides’ (1999), ‘Black Hawk Down’ (2001), ‘Sin City’ (2005) and ’30 Days of Night’ (2007). His recent movie stints include ‘Oppenheimer’ (2023), ‘Trap’ (2024) and ‘Fight or Flight.’ /ra

When we hear of abaca, what often comes to mind is Manila envelope and Manila paper. But this humble crop, which is mostly cultivated in Catanduanes, Eastern Visayas, and Mindanao, may one day be our ticket to aerospace and space tourism.

Abaca is the source of the strongest natural fiber in the world, making it essential for ship ropes, filters, medical fabrics, textiles, special papers like banknotes, and other applications that require strength, durability, and water-resistance. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world was short of disposable face masks, abaca was utilized as a natural source of fiber, a contribution from the Philippines during those unprecedented times. As the largest abaca exporter in the world, we clearly had the advantage of its accessibility and opportunities to capitalize on it. My article was later featured by the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority on their social media.

This special interest in abaca, which I developed during the pandemic, was amplified later on by my passion for surfing. I’ve visited almost every famous surfing spot in the country, except for Catanduanes.

As I read more about the surfing life in Catanduanes, came the undeniable facts and potentials about abaca. As an academic pharmacist, I’ve also thought of researching on the isolation and development of abaca cellulose fiber as a novel excipient in making medicines.

For example, a cellulose powder from abaca could be a binder to hold a tablet together, or a sustainable and alternative ingredient in making ‘veggie’ capsule shells. A lot of people don’t know that most shells that hold a capsule come from gelatin, which is derived from the collagen of cows or pigs, hence not suitable for vegetarians, vegans, or certain religious groups like Muslims.

Although these are just a few applications of abaca cellulose in pharmaceutical research, in the bigger picture, this could be our ticket to the new frontier.

The answer is simple: abaca is lightweight, natural, and sustainable. Today, the manufacturers of spacecraft (even aircraft) are pressured to reduce carbon emissions. Abaca fibers deliver high quality and strength without the burden of using metals, hence less fuel is burned. Most importantly, abaca is biodegradable and absorbs carbon dioxide while growing, which is a far greener option than petroleum-based synthetic fibers.

Today, companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic are racing to make suborbital flights routine. Imagine telling the whole world that the seats and panels inside a space vehicle carry fibers grown by the farmers in Catanduanes. It is both a poetic and practical vision: the Philippines being a supplier of natural materials for humanity’s journey beyond Earth.

Now, the challenge is, will the Philippines seize the chance to move up the value chain? For a very long time, our abaca has been exported raw and bought from our farmers at a low price by foreigners who then process it, sell it at a high price, and reap the margins.

If we invest in processing hubs, certification facilities, and research partnerships, we can export not just fiber but semi-finished products such as composite panels and specialty mats. That is where the real money is, and that is how rural communities progress.

To achieve this, interagency collaboration is important. Together with the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Philippine Space Agency, the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Tourism, along with local universities, we can create a national innovation pipeline: from farm-to-fiber-to-flight.

We are already known as the world’s capital of the strongest natural fiber. Let us take that seriously. We can make the Philippines a global leader in sustainable materials in the next frontier.

Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III on Monday night accepted the resignation of Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co as a member of the House of Representatives, while an investigative body formed by Malacañang asked the Ombudsman to look into its recommended charges against the lawmaker and 17 others, including some officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

In his letter to Dy on Monday informing the speaker of his ‘irrevocable resignation,’ Co cited ‘the real, direct, grave and imminent threat’ to him as well as ‘the lives of my family members.’

Amid the unraveling scandal over the government’s flood control projects, Co has been accused of getting billions of pesos in kickbacks by contractors and DPWH officials testifying in congressional inquiries into these projects.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has requested the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a blue notice on Co.

The notice practically allows surveillance on the lawmaker, since it serves to advise Interpol’s member states to ‘collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a criminal investigation.’

Co, in his letter, lamented ‘the evident denial of my right to due process of law.’

Posting on Facebook, he said that, as a lawmaker, he had tried to work in the best interest of each Filipino, especially his constituents in the Bicol region.

He said his party list group will soon inform the House about his replacement.

‘Voluntary renunciation’

Lawmakers like Co are allowed ‘voluntary renunciation’ of his or her office, under Article VI of the 1987 Constitution regarding the legislative department.

Dy told reporters on Monday night that he had accepted Co’s resignation, but the House leadership ‘needs to discuss how to address this properly.’

He also advised the resigned lawmaker, who has been on an extended medical leave, to return home and answer the ‘issues’ against him.

Also on Monday, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) asked the Office of the Ombudsman to study whether charges may be filed against Co and 17 other officials of the DPWH and officers of Sunwest Inc. over a substandard flood control project in Oriental Mindoro worth P289.5 million.

Sunwest, which was cofounded by Co, was included in President Marcos’ list of 15 contractors that bagged most of the government’s flood control projects.

In its first interim report and recommendation submitted to the Ombudsman, the ICI cited deficiencies in the construction of a road dike along Mag-Asawang Tubig River in Barangay Tagumpay, Naujan town.

The project, funded through the 2024 General Appropriations Act, was implemented by the Mimaropa (Region 4-B, or Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) office of the DPWH.

According to the ICI, total disbursements for the project amounted to only P246.16 million-short of the estimated project cost by P43.3 million.

Among the ICI’s preliminary findings was that the materials used for the project ‘appear to be grossly substandard and not in line with required specifications.’

‘Discrepancy, losses’

The ICI noted further that when Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor inspected the project on Sept. 9, they found steel sheet piles used in the dike measuring 2.5 to 3 meters-less than the 12-meter-long sheet piles required in the approved plan for the project.

The ICI said ‘this discrepancy could potentially result in public losses estimated at over P63 million.’

The commission also found deficiencies in the project’s documentation, including progress billings, which ‘appear to have been paid despite the absence of material supporting documents.’

Moreover, documents such as Form No. 2307 and Form No. 2550M of the Bureau of Internal Revenue ‘do not appear to have been submitted by the contractor,’ Sunwest.

No certifications

The DPWH Mimaropa also failed to submit such documents as the certifications of clearance for the payment of labor, materials, equipment, and other costs, as well as certifications on quality control.

As the ICI noted, failure to submit these documents warrants administrative sanctions, based on the guidelines of the DPWH itself.

Progress photos depicting the construction of the dike ‘hardly justify or accurately depict the actual progress of the works,’ the commission said, adding that only two photographs were submitted for the first progress billing.

These consisted of ‘a dimly lit photograph of steel sheet piles and a photograph of workers supposedly engaged in ‘clearing and grubbing,” which was meant to show that 25 percent of the work had already been accomplished.

The ICI said further that what made the progress photos ‘all the more anomalous or suspect is that they were the very same photographs used in support of Progress Billing No. 2.’

‘Beneficial ownership’

Before the third progress billing, P35.134 million had been paid to Sunwest for supposedly completing 40 percent of the project, the ICI said.

The commission also said it had yet to receive any documents on the third progress billing, aside from photographs ‘concerning or justifying payment’ to the project.

The ICI identified Co as having ‘reportedly founded’ Sunwest in 1992, when the company was then called Sunwest Construction and Development Corp. (SCDC).

Although Co was said to have divested himself of SCDC in 2019, he ‘supposedly maintains ‘beneficial ownership’ in various entities linked to Sunwest,’ the ICI said, even as it noted that this finding still needed further validation.

The Ombudsman was also asked to consider if charges should be filed against Gerald Pacanan, former director of DPWH Mimaropa, and 16 other officials of the DPWH and officers of Sunwest, including company president Aderma Angelie Alcazar.

Possible charges include malversation and falsification under the Revised Penal Code and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Government Procurement Reform Act, and the Code of Conduct for Public Officials and Employees.

The ICI clarified that its findings remained preliminary ‘at this stage,’ adding that ‘it does not make categorical findings of guilt and responsibility for determining liability rests with the proper authorities.’ -With reports from Luisa Cabato, Zacarian Sarao, and Inquirer Research

Modern smartphones have become everyday companions that fuel both entertainment and passion. From capturing daily vlogs to conquering late-night gaming marathons, the realme 15 Pro 5G offers an all-in-one experience for creators and players alike. With its slim design and stylish finishes in Velvet Green and Flowing Silver, it strikes a balance between performance and aesthetics, serving as both a pocket-sized studio and a dependable gaming partner that keeps pace with every story shared and every rank climbed.

A Sleek and Slim Studio in One’s Pocket

Content creators will find plenty to work with on the realme 15 Pro 5G. With its triple 50MP AI cameras with OIS, the device transforms ordinary scenes into professional-looking shots – whether it’s shooting a vlog, snapping photos for the ‘gram, or capturing travel getaways. Up front, the 50MP selfie camera records in 4K at 60fps, making it great for vlogs or livestreams.

To top it off, the Dual Video Mode allows creators to film with both the back and front cameras simultaneously, ideal for capturing action and real-time reactions in a single take.

In addition to the camera hardware mentioned above, the realme 15 Pro 5G features a suite of AI-powered tools that simplify content creation. AI Party Mode, specially tuned for night parties, allows you to add playful filters that match the vibe. AI Smart Remover 2.0 erases photobombers with a tap, and the AI Ultraclear Nightscape Algorithm ensures clear, vivid shots even in low-light conditions. Rounding it out is MagicGlow 2.0, a built-in lighting feature that allows users to adjust the brightness and tones of the lights on the back of the phone, enhancing skin tones and details in dim settings, making the phone a true pocket-sized studio.

A gaming partner built for long sessions

Beyond content creation, the realme 15 Pro 5G also doubles as a reliable gaming companion, built for players who spend hours climbing the rank ladder or grinding through highly competitive titles like Mobile Legends. Its expansive 6.8-inch 144Hz AMOLED display delivers crisp visuals and buttery-smooth gameplay, making every skill shot, ultimate, and team clash feel immersive. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, the device maintains fluid performance even in high-stakes battles.

To maintain momentum, a 7,000 mm² vapor chamber cooling system prevents overheating during extended gaming sessions, while the massive 7,000mAh battery ensures marathon play without frequent charging breaks. And when it’s finally time to recharge, the 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging gets players back in action in no time. Whether it’s casual games or all-night ladder climbs, the realme 15 Pro 5G is built to handle the demands of intense mobile gaming.

From content creation to gaming, the realme 15 Pro 5G embodies the #LiveForReal campaign, providing fans with the tools to capture, create, and play anytime, anywhere. Fans eager to get their hands on the device can enjoy a Free TechLife Smart Band Fit worth P1,599 with every purchase of the brand-new realme 15 Pro 5G until October 5. It is now available at realme’s partner retailers nationwide.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Congress leaders identified 44 priority legislative measures they wanted to be passed in the next three years.

The President convened on Tuesday the first full meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) for the 20th Congress at Malacañang.

According to a news release from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the executive and legislative branches decided to make good governance and transparency to be among Common Legislative Agenda for the current Congress.

Among the key measures are the Progressive Budgeting Act, the Right to Information Act or the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act, and a comprehensive review of the Local Government Code.

‘These, together with the proposed tax amnesties, reforms on civil service accountability such as requiring bank secrecy waivers, and the Magna Carta for Barangays, are intended to modernize institutions, strengthen fiscal responsibility, and promote accountability,’ the PCO said.

Malacañang earlier called on lawmakers to pass the FOI bill amid the clamor for transparency and accountability in the flood-control projects.

‘In a nation like ours, where natural disasters are an ever-present threat, access to environmental data is not just a matter of governance-it is a matter of survival,’ PCO Secretary Dave Gomez said during the opening of the Global Conference of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) on Tuesday.

‘Through technology, we must ensure that communities, especially the most vulnerable, have the information they need to stay safe, plan, and thrive,’ he added.

According to PCO, President Marcos emphasized that amendments to the Local Government Code and the Rice Tariffication Law should be prioritized and crafted comprehensively, ‘ensuring that governance efficiency and agricultural competitiveness remain central to the nation’s progress.’

A total of 44 measures were listed under the Ledac Common Legislative Agenda for the 20th Congress (2025 to 2028):

1. Amendments to the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act 2. Amendments to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act 3. Department of Water Resources (DWR) Bill 4. Waste-to-Energy Bill 5. EPIRA Amendments: Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Strengthening Bill 6. National Land Use Act 7. Excise Tax on Single-Use Plastics 8. Blue Economy Act 9. Amendments to the Bank Deposits Secrecy Law 10. Progressive Budgeting for Better and Modernized Governance Act 11. Right to Information Act 12. Amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act 13. Philippine Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Act 14. Amendments to the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act 15. National Center for Geriatric Health 16. Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) Act 17. Amendments to the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act 18. Amendments to the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act 19. Amendments to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act 20. Amendments to the Teachers Professionalization Act 21. Amendments to the Local Government Code (Comprehensive) 22. General Tax Amnesty 23. Extension of Estate Tax Amnesty 24. Amendments to the Fisheries Code 25. Amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law or Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act, including AAES Act minor amendments (Comprehensive) 26. Amendments to the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Law 27. Amendments to the Biofuels Act 28. Cybersecurity Act 29. Amendments to the National Building Code 30. Amendments to the Magna Carta for MSMEs 31. National Reintegration Bill 32. Reprogramming of Seal of Good Local Governance 33. Digital Payments Act 34. Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development 35. Classroom-Building Acceleration Program Act 36. Requiring Civil Servants to Waive Bank Secrecy 37. Law on Online Gambling 38. Disaster Risk Financing Insurance 39. Strengthening the Bases Conversion and Development Authority 40. Presidential Merit Scholarship Program 41. Disqualifying Relatives of Officials (4th degree) in Government Contracts 42. Fair Use of Social Media, AI and Internet Technology in Elections 43. Modernizing the Bureau of Immigration 44. Magna Carta for Barangays

Of these, 11 were carried over from the 19th Congress (2022 to 2025):

Department of Water Resources (DWR) Bill

Waste-to-Energy Bill

EPIRA Amendments: Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Strengthening Bill

National Land Use Act

Excise Tax on Single-Use Plastics

Blue Economy Act

Amendments to the Bank Deposits Secrecy Law

Amendments to the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act

Amendments to the Fisheries Code

Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development

Progressive Budgeting for Better and Modernized Governance Act

From a total of 64 Ledac measures since the opening of the 19th Congress, 40 have been enacted into laws as of Sept. 25, 2025.

Created through Republic Act No. 7640, Ledac serves as a consultative body to the President.

During Ledac meetings, lawmakers and Cabinet members are expected to discuss priority policies and government programs that would improve the country’s socioeconomic conditions. Under the law, the Ledac is composed of the President as chair; the Vice President; the Senate President, and Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR); seven members of the Cabinet as determined by the President; three members of the HoR to be designated by the Speaker; a representative from the minority, as well as other government and nongovernment representatives as assigned by the President, including those from the local government units, youth, business, cooperatives, agriculture, or labor sectors.

Ledac should meet at least once every quarter, but special meetings can be convened as necessary.

‘Here comes the rain again,’ to quote The Eurythmics. Falling on my head like a memory, the memory-still very fresh-is of staggering amounts of money stolen by contractors and congressmen, even senators, in the form of kickbacks, suitcases full of kickbacks, for flood control projects that never once saw the light of day.

Along with rising water levels, school closures, and lost working days, sudden downpours summon with alarming frequency the ghosts that we have so desperately and ineffectively failed to banish from our cursed existence: the ghosts of corruptions past, present, and future.

Sudden downpours summon with alarming frequency the ghosts that we have so desperately and ineffectively failed to banish from our cursed existence: the ghosts of corruptions past, present, and future.

These ghosts live not just in luxury penthouse apartments and sprawling mansions in gated villlages, basement garages lined with top-of-the-line European cars, or row upon row of Birkin bags. They cling to every substandard bridge that’s collapsed, every potholed road that leads to nowhere, and every floodgate whose construction was approved and funded but never built.

And they taunt us from their social media accounts, thanks to their clueless nepo babies who fancy themselves influencers as they flaunt their ostentatious (and often tasteless) lifestyles-filched from our taxes.

Money, money, money

A recent report issued by the United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese named the companies are aiding and abetting an ‘economy of genocide,’ fully complicit in Israel’s ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people of Gaza. The list includes tech giants such as Alphabet, Microsoft, and Palantir, as well as industry titans like Lockheed Martin, Caterpillar, and even Hyundai, to name a few.

When asked why Israel’s genocide continues, she replied, ‘because it is lucrative for many.’

When asked why Israel’s genocide continues, she replied, ‘because it is lucrative for many.’

By the same token, one could say that an economy of corruption persists in the Philippines because it is lucrative for many. So lucrative for contractors in particular that many of them were emboldened to run for office and today sit as elected members of Congress. One could thus conclude that being an elected representative of the people and holding office is extremely lucrative for many, despite official monthly salaries not exceeding P334,059 for a senator, congressman or department secretary, while a department undersecretary earns P226,319, max.

These are decent salaries in a country where the median monthly salary is P44,979.62, according to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). However, they won’t necessarily cover the mortgage payments on that unit in Aurelia, much less an afternoon’s shopping spree at Chanel in Paris. Ditto a business class ticket to New York.

Yet corruption apparently pays, if the ongoing Senate investigative hearings are anything to go by. And funds these lavish lifestyles. It’s an ecosystem entrenched in hierarchy, too, it seems, where everybody has their price for looking the other way and getting things done. Or in the case of ghost projects, not done.

Ten percent for the departmental employee who issues the necessary permits, fifteen percent for the next higher-up and so on, each one taking their cut of the project, with an astonishing thirty percent (if not more) for the congressman or senator, bundled into suitcases and hand-delivered to their homes by trusted bagmen.

No Lalamove for this sort of delivery. For a project that’s worth billions, that’s easily a van-load of suitcases. Or, to use the clever little code name given to these money drops: basura. As in, ‘Take the trash to Congressman So-and-So’ (who’s another piece of trash, by the way).

Selling your soul

The levels of meta here are just beyond. They’ve rubbished our own hard-earned contributions to the country’s coffers; they’ve rubbished the trust given to them by virtue of being elected into public office; they’ve certainly rubbished all those so-called Filipino and Christian values of honesty, hard work, and integrity. They’ve rubbished themselves. And they’ve rubbished the country’s reputation.

This is what really irks me. That deep down, they have such little regard for the country they profess to love, and zero respect for the people they are supposed to serve, that they can’t even do a proper job of building what they were contracted to do.

Take your ten percent. Yes, you-engineer, contractor, undersecretary, congressman, senator. Hell, take your twenty, even your thirty percent. I don’t really care. But build the goddamn flood control barriers to the requisite standards of quality, safety, and durability. Present something decent to show for the billions you stole apart from the fourteen houses in Forbes Park.

Build the goddamn flood control barriers to the requisite standards of quality, safety, and durability. Present something decent to show for the billions you stole apart from the fourteen houses in Forbes Park.

Have a modicum of shame, if not for your countrymen who are literally drowning in fetid flood waters every time it rains, then for the foreign direct investments you keep trying to woo to our shores. Is it any surprise that investors choose Vietnam, Thailand, or Indonesia over the Philippines when corruption is so rampant, the infrastructure so inferior, and the cost of doing business so high? In an economy of corruption, basura begets basura.

We now know the price for your willingness to compromise your own morals in pursuit of wealth, power, and, it would seem, immunity from prosecution. Apparently, it runs to billions. But what is the price for you to grow a conscience?

The great Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, writing with acute eloquence over fifty years ago about his own people’s exile and occupation, penned these lines:

‘I don’t know who sold our homeland

But I saw who paid the price.’

How profoundly tragic it is that we Filipinos know exactly who sold our homeland. And that we will still be paying the price for generations to come.

Sen. Francis Escudero on Monday pointed a finger at former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez for supposedly orchestrating allegations linking him and other senators to anomalous flood control projects.

‘There’s only one person behind this script and ‘sarswela (local theater and opera show),” Escudero said in a manifestation before the plenary session on Monday. ‘Why is it that in the House of Representatives, also right here in the Senate, and in some media outlets, they are unable to blurt his name? Then, I will say it: Martin Romualdez.’

The senator questioned the absence of Romualdez and other congressmen from ongoing investigations, despite being named in affidavits and testimonies.

He also alleged that House lawmakers wield direct control over the budget in hundreds of districts across the country, including funds intended for infrastructure and flood control projects.

‘Is this how powerful Martin Romualdez is? That despite no longer being speaker, it appears that he remains ‘the name that cannot be mentioned,’ and he can still do what he wants in terms of selective justice,’ he said.

Deflection

Escudero and Romualdez previously led the two chambers in the 19th Congress and briefly in the 20th Congress. Escudero was ousted as Senate President on Sept. 8 while Romualdez stepped down from the speakership nine days later.

In a statement on Monday, Romualdez said Escudero’s speech was merely recycled accusations. He also noted that the senator chose to deflect instead of answering allegations against him. (See related story on this page.)

‘With respect, what we heard was not an exposé but a [Duterte Diehard Supporters] script-the same recycled accusations we have long seen on troll pages and social media posts. Nothing new and no truth to them either,’ he said in a statement.

Escudero, on the other hand, said Romualdez could not escape accountability following the testimony of retired Sgt. Orly Guteza, a former VIP security for Rep. Elizaldy Co, that he had delivered 37 pieces of luggage containing cash amounting to P1.7 billion to the Makati residence of the Leyte congressman. Co resigned as Ako Bicol party list representative on Monday.

‘Let all those who were name-dropped answer and be investigated – all congressmen, senators, and other officials mentioned. And they should include Martin Romualdez,’ he said.

Bigger fish?

He lamented that Romualdez was neither included in the recommendation of the National Bureau of Investigation for possible graft and bribery charges nor in the asset freeze order by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

He said witnesses kept on name-dropping senators despite the lack of direct evidence implicating them.

‘Why? Is it because the senators are the bigger fish, their positions are higher, and they are more well known than congressmen, and they are hoping that the anger of the people over the anomalous flood control projects would subside, and they would be able to escape their accountability?’ Escudero said.

He also vowed to defend himself against malicious accusations. ‘In fact, I will be filing the necessary and appropriate charges against my accuser [.] I am confident that I will be vindicated and declared innocent,’ he said.

‘Mob justice’

He warned against political machinations aimed at weakening the Senate as an institution, misleading the public and shielding the real masterminds from accountability.

‘For that is what is happening now – selective justice and mob justice. Members of the Senate have been thrown off a cliff and before the court of public opinion in an attempt to mollify the people’s rage, thereby covering up the real perpetrators and giving them a chance to get away,’ Escudero said.

‘Are we truly for transparency and accountability? Or are we merely offering a politically convenient sacrificial lamb?’ he asked.

He ended his speech by reiterating his opposition to Romualdez’s alleged efforts to deflect scrutiny and destabilize institutions.