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Media and Information Literacy (MIL) is vital to nation-building. It empowers Filipinos to make informed decisions by fostering critical thinking, strengthening media awareness and encouraging responsible digital use.

This call was echoed last Oct. 1 when United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and MediaQuest’s THINKaMuna campaign representatives came together for a small but meaningful gathering. The event underscored their shared commitment, with discussions centering on projects to push MIL forward in the Philippines.

‘Most young people today turn to social media as their first source of news,’ said UNESCO Jakarta director Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa. ‘With AI making it harder to tell what’s fake from what’s true, it’s even more important for all generations to think critically and share information responsibly.’

They are making this happen in several ways.

Explainer videos

The UNESCO-THINKaMuna partnership has rolled out three of six digital episodes so far: Cognitive Biases in July, Critical Thinking in August and Tech Addiction in September. Each is short, visually appealing and easy to understand, perfect for audiences with short attention spans.

‘Most MIL materials are very academic because they were made for schools,’ shared MediaQuest corporate communications consultant Ramon Isberto.

‘We want ours to be different – playful and something people can casually talk about in their neighborhoods.’

This approach has brought the digital episodes closer to audiences, helping them reach nearly five million views.

‘In the Philippines, MediaQuest is our first media partner piloting media literacy in different ways and integrating it,’ added UNESCO Jakarta program specialist Ana Lomtadze. ‘Our mission is really about reaching out in new, innovative ways and showing audiences how and why they should discern information and check their sources.’

Taking MIL to classrooms

While UNESCO provides guidance, Katsuno-Hayashikawa noted that implementation depends on local, on-the-ground initiatives.

THINKaMuna recognizes this, which is why they are distributing 1,000 MIL journals to schools across the country.

‘A substantial percentage of grade school and high school students are not functional readers – they can read, but don’t fully understand what they’re reading,’ explained Isberto.

To address this, the journals are filled with visuals to ensure the message comes across. Workshops for senior journalists and the MILCON 2025 are also in the works to complete the offline component of the collaboration.

‘Society exists because we communicate and learn from each other,’ Isberto concluded. ‘Today, media and information literacy is our way of continuing that conversation.’

The Senate has adopted a resolution urging President Marcos to revert the imported rice tariff rate from the current low 15 percent to 35 percent, in a bid to reduce farmers’ income losses to importation.

The resolution was adopted during the plenary session on Wednesday, and called on the executive to reinstate the ‘most favored nation’ tariff rate back to 35 percent.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, a sponsor of the measure as chair of the Senate committee on agriculture, food and agrarian reform, said in his privilege speech that imported rice should be levied with the previous rate, ahead of the end of the 60-day rice importation ban earlier imposed by the President.

Pangilinan said it is time to raise the tariffs because of low world market prices at $376 per metric ton this year, from $700 per metric ton last year, and the threat of imported rice to the harvest of domestic farmers.

Bringing back the 35 percent tariff rate would strengthen domestic rice production, narrow the gap of farmgate prices and production cost and restore the government’s P27-billion revenue loss due to the lower rate.

The P27-billion could have been used to fund the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, which provides financial aid and equipment to farmers.

The move last year to lower the tariff rate from 35 percent to 15 percent resulted in a drop of farmgate price of palay to P7.66 per kilo, below the production cost of P13.51 per kilo, Pangilinan said.

‘The winner? Importers and traders who pocket the difference of P7 at less than P1 per kilo. Who lost? Palay farmers and consumers. The loser: government,’ Pangilinan said in Filipino.

During yesterday’s Senate hearing on the proposed budget of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev), Senate finance chair Sherwin Gatchalian asked about the executive’s plan to bring back the 35 percent tariff.

DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the agency ‘has been discussing with the President’ the issue of the low rice tariff rate despite a decrease in world prices and a drop in farmgate prices.

Balisacan said one option besides raising the tariff rate is giving price support to farmers, while moderating the increase in tariffs and not putting pressure on inflation.

Sen. Bong Go visited the families affected by fire in Sampaloc, Manila on Wednesday and provided them with additional assistance to help them recover from their loss.

‘Material things can be bought, money can be earned, but life cannot be bought. A lost life is a life lost forever,’ Go said as he reminded the victims on the importance of prioritizing and valuing life more than material things.

Go, in coordination with the Manila city government, collaborated with the national government in providing help through the Emergency Housing Assistance Program – an initiative he supported to help families rebuild their destroyed houses.

As principal author of the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2021, Go also advocates for enhanced firefighting capabilities by modernizing BFP equipment, hiring more personnel and offering specialized training programs.

Go, also known as Mr. Malasakit, provided snacks, caps, fans, vitamins, shirts, basketballs and volleyballs to 286 affected families in Barangays 459 and 548.

As vice chair of the Senate committee on health and demography, Go encouraged everyone to visit any Malasakit Center whenever they need medical assistance.

In Manila, these centers are in Tondo Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center and San Lazaro Hospital.

Team North stood firm under the rain and powered its way to a wire-to-wire triumph in the ICTSI North vs South Elite Junior PGT Championship yesterday.

After dominating the Four-ball format with an 8-4 win and grinding out a hard-fought 6 1/2- 5 1/2 victory in Foursomes, North proved it could also excel when the pressure was squarely on individual shoulders.

In the decisive Singles matches, they delivered yet again – claiming 11 of the 24 showdowns while halving two others – to power past the 24.5-point title threshold and seal a convincing 26 1/2-21 1/2 triumph at The Country Club.

North needed just 10 wins in the head-to-head battles to wrap up the title in this inaugural Ryder Cup-style finale.

South mounted a spirited comeback late, overcoming early setbacks to notch 11 victories and narrow the overall gap to 21-23 with several matches still to be played.

With the championship hanging in the balance, North’s Vito Sarines delivered.

Locked in a tense, all-square battle with South’s Ralph Batican, Sarines pulled off a stunning 20-yard chip-in on the treacherous 18th hole. The ball rolled into the cup, triggering a thunderous applause from the North camp and sealing a dramatic 2-up victory in the boys’ 11-14 division.

Severe Tropical Storm Paolo has exited the Philippine area of responsibility, the state weather bureau PAGASA said Saturday, October 4, as it continues moving west northwestward over the West Philippine Sea.

As of 4 a.m., Paolo was located 295 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour near the center, with gusts of up to 135 kph and a central pressure of 985 hPa.

The storm’s winds extend up to 430 kilometers from the center. It is moving west-northwestward at 20 kph.

Wind signals

PAGASA said the following areas remain under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, which warns of strong winds of 39 to 61 kph that could cause minimal to minor damage:

western portion of Abra (Danglas, Bangued, Langiden, San Quintin, Pidigan, San Isidro, Pilar, Villaviciosa, Peñarrubia, Manabo, Luba, Tayum, La Paz, Lagayan, Tubo, Bucay, Dolores, San Juan, Lagangilang)

western portion of Benguet (Bakun, Kibungan, Kapangan, Sablan, Tuba, Mankayan, Tublay, La Trinidad, Baguio City)

southern portion of Ilocos Norte (Nueva Era, Banna, Badoc, Pinili, City of Batac, Paoay, Marcos, Currimao)

Ilocos Sur

La Union

western and central portions of Pangasinan (Bolinao, Bani, Agno, Burgos, Dasol, Mabini, Infanta, Bugallon, Labrador, Sual, City of Alaminos, Lingayen, Aguilar, Mangatarem, Urbiztondo, San Carlos City, Binmaley, Dagupan City, Calasiao, Basista, Bayambang, San Fabian, San Jacinto, Mangaldan, Mapandan, Santa Barbara, Malasiqui, Alcala, Bautista, Santo Tomas, Villasis, City of Urdaneta, Manaoag, Laoac, Pozorrubio, Sison)

northern portion of Zambales (Iba, Candelaria, Palauig, Santa Cruz, Masinloc)

PAGASA warned that minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are still possible in these areas. The outer rain bands of Paolo are also expected to bring strong to gale-force gusts in Batanes, northern Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Zambales, and Bataan.

Storm surge, sea conditions

There is a minimal to moderate risk of storm surge, with peak heights of 1.0 to 2.0 meters expected along low-lying coastal areas in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan and Zambales.

Sea conditions remain moderate to rough, with waves up to 4 meters in the seaboards of mainland Cagayan, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union; up to 3.5 meters off Batanes and Pangasinan; and up to 2.5 meters in the seaboards of Isabela, northern Aurora and Zambales.

Small vessel operators are advised to avoid travel while conditions persist.

Track and intensity outlook

PAGASA said heavy rainfall, strong winds and storm surge may still occur in areas outside the landfall point and forecast cone.

Paolo is expected to re-intensify into a typhoon as it continues west-northwestward toward southern China later Saturday.

Gunmen killed a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman and wounded two others, including a policeman, in an ambush at a busy thoroughfare in this city at noon on Saturday, October 4.

Prince Mohaz Rafsanjanie Matanog, SK chairman of Barangay Poblacion 5 and a third-year engineering student at Cotabato City State University, died instantly from multiple gunshot wounds.

His relative, Muamar Salvador Matanog, was seriously wounded in the attack.

The two were aboard a red Toyota Raize and were reportedly on their way to an undisclosed location when gunmen opened fire at the intersection of Jose Lim Sr. Street and Sinsuat Avenue – just a short distance from Cotabato City Police Precinct 1.

Also injured was Patrolman Norsaiden Laguiali, who was on duty and had responded to the incident when he was shot by the suspects.

The gunmen fled on motorcycles before police reinforcements arrived.

Cotabato City police director Col. Jibin Bongacayao and Brig. Gen. Jaysen De Guzman, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, said investigators are coordinating with Matanog’s relatives and barangay officials to identify the assailants.

Police forensic teams recovered 92 empty bullet shells from the scene.

National U shoots for the solo lead against struggling reigning champion UP in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball today at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.

Action sizzles at 4:30 p.m. for the main game of the twin-bill that also features Santo Tomas’ goal for a quick rebound after losing to NU when it meets winless UE at 2 p.m.

The Bulldogs share pole position with Ateneo at 3-0 in a massive turnaround for both squads after finishing at the bottom last season, potentially pushing them into an even better position midway through the first round.

And NU has all the confidence to do the feat, riding on two blowout wins against Far Eastern U, 84-68, and UE, 72-57, laced by a 76-69 comeback on Santo Tomas which beat top title contenders UP and La Salle.

”Yung character kasi, hindi na para kuwestiyunin ko sa mga players ko,’ said head coach Jeff Napa.

Two persons of interest who were caught on video using the credit cards of a Taguig businessman and his wife are under police custody, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said yesterday.

CIDG National Capital Region field unit chief Lt. Col. John Guiagui said the two, a man and a woman, surrendered after seeing their faces in news reports.

Guiagui did not name them, but said that the two were the subjects of a follow-up operation in Manila following the disappearance of the couple and their business partner in July.

He said the two used the credit cards of spouses Henry Angelo and Margie Pantollana at two malls in Quezon City and Cavite. The couple and business associate Richard Cadiz were last seen in a sport utility vehicle on July 6.

According to Guiagui, the two claimed they bought the credit cards from a man in Quezon City. The cards were used in the purchase of over 50 cell phone products from a coffee shop.

He said the CIDG is preparing charges for violation of Republic Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act.

‘I just don’t believe that the credit cards randomly landed in their hands,’ Guiagui said, adding that the CIDG is investigating the extent of their participation in the couple’s disappearance.

Initial investigation showed that the Pantollanas, along with Cadiz, left Bonifacio Global City in Taguig for a business transaction with a man identified only as Jeff.

Guiagui said Jeff had submitted a sworn statement to the CIDG. Jeff allegedly told investigators that he met the victims on July 6 at his condominium in Pasig.

Jeff claimed Henry became agitated when a person called him on his phone and that the couple and Cadiz left after their meeting – an allegation that the CIDG is also investigating.

Alex Eala may finally get the chance to play on home soil if and when the Philippines hosts a WTA Tour leg early next year.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio disclosed the possibility the other day, saying the agency will move heaven and earth to make it happen after the 2026 Australian Open slated in January.

‘Hahabulin natin ‘yang WTA125 at sino ba gusto nating maglaro diyan? Syempre si Alex (Eala). This 2026 po two-three weeks right after the AO (Australian Open),’ said Gregorio during the Batang Pinoy launch at the Century Park Hotel.

The good news, however, came after Eala, the 20-year-old Filipina tennis star who’s now No. 58 in the world rankings, yesterday bowed to WTA No. 70 and No. 6 seed Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland, 2-6, 6-2, 6-7 (0-7) in the quarterfinals of the WTA125 Suzhou Open in China.

The No. 4 seed Eala fumbled a strong start and got blanked in the tiebreaker of the deciding set to miss out on her second Final Four appearance.

Still, Eala who took home $3,450 (over P200,000) has made the quarterfinals in four straight WTA Tour events.

That should create and stir the excitement in the PSC-backed event that could be branded as the Manila Open or Philippine Open.

It could serve as Eala’s first tournament on Philippine soil since she turned pro.

Eight retired military personnel sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after falling victim to an investment scam that targeted pensioners.

According to NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin, the DS Mejia Documents Facilitation Service solicited pensions from military retirees or their widows, promising high returns.

‘This company offers facilitation of the release of military pension, but, upon release, not all money goes straight to the retirees. The company’s leader tells them that it would be placed in investments,’ Lavin said yesterday.

An NBI operation led to the arrest of company owner Dominga Mejia in a restaurant in Quezon City on Tuesday over charges of estafa, swindling and violations of the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act and the Securities Regulation Act.

One of the victims, Commander Bernard Jacob, said he served the Navy for 25 years and invested P1.3 million of his lump sum pension in August last year after the company promised him a return of 10 percent per month.

Jacob said he received P200,000 in cash for the first two months. However, he was issued a bouncing check on the third month, with the firm making several excuses.

‘I was buried in debt and got stuck because I couldn’t pay our creditors anymore,’ Jacob told reporters.

He said Mejia’s late husband also worked for the military, which could have given her knowledge of the Army’s pension system.

Mejia denied the allegations, as her lawyer questioned why the NBI presented her to the media.

‘She remains a suspect,’ Mejia’s lawyer said. ‘Please respect her right to be innocent.’