Magnum Opus

Magnum Opus The official English student publication of
City of Balanga National High School- JHS

๐ˆ๐ ๐“๐‡๐„ ๐๐„๐–๐’| ๐‘จ๐‘ต๐‘ฎ๐‘จ๐‘น๐‘จ: ๐‘ซ๐‘ฌ๐‘ท๐‘ฌ๐‘ซ ๐‘ผ๐‘ท๐‘ฏ๐‘ถ๐‘ณ๐‘ซ๐‘บ ๐‘ฐ๐‘ต๐‘ป๐‘ฌ๐‘ฎ๐‘น๐‘ฐ๐‘ป๐’€ ๐‘จ๐‘บ ๐‘ผ๐‘ต๐‘ซ๐‘ฌ๐‘น๐‘บ๐‘ฌ๐‘ช๐‘น๐‘ฌ๐‘ป๐‘จ๐‘น๐’€ ๐‘ป๐‘จ๐‘ฒ๐‘ฌ๐‘บ ๐‘ณ๐‘ฌ๐‘จ๐‘ฝ๐‘ฌ ๐‘จ๐‘ด๐‘ฐ๐‘ซ๐‘บ๐‘ป ๐‘ท๐‘น๐‘ถ๐‘ฉ๐‘ฌ โš–๏ธBy Fieryn Zhier P. EbidoDepart...
26/09/2025

๐ˆ๐ ๐“๐‡๐„ ๐๐„๐–๐’| ๐‘จ๐‘ต๐‘ฎ๐‘จ๐‘น๐‘จ: ๐‘ซ๐‘ฌ๐‘ท๐‘ฌ๐‘ซ ๐‘ผ๐‘ท๐‘ฏ๐‘ถ๐‘ณ๐‘ซ๐‘บ ๐‘ฐ๐‘ต๐‘ป๐‘ฌ๐‘ฎ๐‘น๐‘ฐ๐‘ป๐’€ ๐‘จ๐‘บ ๐‘ผ๐‘ต๐‘ซ๐‘ฌ๐‘น๐‘บ๐‘ฌ๐‘ช๐‘น๐‘ฌ๐‘ป๐‘จ๐‘น๐’€ ๐‘ป๐‘จ๐‘ฒ๐‘ฌ๐‘บ ๐‘ณ๐‘ฌ๐‘จ๐‘ฝ๐‘ฌ ๐‘จ๐‘ด๐‘ฐ๐‘ซ๐‘บ๐‘ป ๐‘ท๐‘น๐‘ถ๐‘ฉ๐‘ฌ โš–๏ธ
By Fieryn Zhier P. Ebido

Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara announced yesterday, September 25, that Undersecretary Trygve L. Olaivar has taken a voluntary leave of absence, making a clear stand on institutional integrity following his implication in the anomalous flood control projects.

The statement comes after former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo implicated Olaivar, along with several other government officials, in an affidavit submitted to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee concerning anomalous flood control projects.

In his official statement, Secretary Angara assured the public that the move was made "to allow due process to take its course without distraction to the Department." He emphasized that the DepEd "upholds the highest standards of integrity in all our work" and remains "firmly focused on its mission of delivering quality education to every Filipino learner."

Undersecretary Olaivar's voluntary leave signals a commitment to transparency, allowing the investigation to proceed without interference while ensuring the DepEd's critical operations continue uninterrupted.




Source: Stament issued by Secretary Sonny Angara on his page

๐Ÿ…ข๐Ÿ…๐Ÿ…ฅ๐Ÿ…” ๐Ÿ…ž๐Ÿ…ค๐Ÿ…ก ๐Ÿ…ข๐Ÿ…—๐Ÿ…˜๐Ÿ…”๐Ÿ…›๐Ÿ…“ โš ๏ธToday, September 26, marks Save Sierra Madre Day, an annual observance rooted in tragedy and vital for...
26/09/2025

๐Ÿ…ข๐Ÿ…๐Ÿ…ฅ๐Ÿ…” ๐Ÿ…ž๐Ÿ…ค๐Ÿ…ก ๐Ÿ…ข๐Ÿ…—๐Ÿ…˜๐Ÿ…”๐Ÿ…›๐Ÿ…“ โš ๏ธ

Today, September 26, marks Save Sierra Madre Day, an annual observance rooted in tragedy and vital for our future. This day was established by Presidential Proclamation No. 413, s. 2012, after the devastating lessons of Typhoon Ondoy (2009). That catastrophe, which brought historic flooding and took countless lives, clearly linked the disasterโ€™s severity to the relentless deforestation of our country's largest mountain range. Environmental advocates, including the Save Sierra Madre Network Alliance, Inc., pushed for this declaration to ensure that tragedy was never forgotten.

The Sierra Madre is the "Backbone of Luzon." Right now, as tropical cyclones like "Opong" threaten our shores, the mountains are performing their essential role as they silently protect us from the brute force of Pacific storms, slowing winds, and mitigating floods. It is our natural fortress, saving lives and protecting economies.

But the shield is deteriorating.

The strength of this natural fortress is being eroded not just by nature, but by the greed of individuals and entities prioritizing profit over public safety. Illegal logging, destructive quarrying, and development projectsโ€”often shielded by self-interest and corruptionโ€”are tearing apart the ecosystems that protect us.

This decay leaves our communities increasingly vulnerable, making every subsequent storm more dangerous than the last.

We are past the point of mere awareness.

We cannot simply rely on this mountain range to absorb our environmental neglect. The Proclamation demands that ALL SECTORS OF SOCIETY AND GOVERNMENT join hands. Whether you are a student, a professional, or a public official, your participation is non-negotiable.

๐“๐ก๐ž ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ž ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐œ๐จ๐ง๐ฏ๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฏ๐ž๐ซ. ๐ƒ๐ž๐Ÿ๐ž๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐’๐ข๐ž๐ซ๐ซ๐š ๐Œ๐š๐๐ซ๐ž ๐ง๐จ๐ฐ. ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐ž๐œ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐š๐ข๐ง๐ฌ, ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐š๐ข๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐ž๐œ๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ.





๐—–๐—”๐— ๐—ฃ๐—จ๐—ฆ ๐—ก๐—˜๐—ช๐—ฆ| ๐˜พ๐™Š๐˜ฝ๐™‰๐™ƒ๐™Ž-๐™…๐™ƒ๐™Ž ๐˜พ๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™™๐™ช๐™˜๐™ฉ๐™จ ๐™‡๐™š๐™–๐™™๐™š๐™ง๐™จ๐™๐™ž๐™ฅ ๐™๐™ง๐™–๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™œ: ๐™ˆ๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ๐™–๐™ก ๐™ƒ๐™š๐™–๐™ก๐™ฉ๐™ ๐˜พ๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ง๐™š๐™™ ๐˜ฟ๐™ž๐™จ๐™˜๐™ช๐™จ๐™จ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ by Jayra Clarize R. AlfonsoIn an...
25/09/2025

๐—–๐—”๐— ๐—ฃ๐—จ๐—ฆ ๐—ก๐—˜๐—ช๐—ฆ| ๐˜พ๐™Š๐˜ฝ๐™‰๐™ƒ๐™Ž-๐™…๐™ƒ๐™Ž ๐˜พ๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™™๐™ช๐™˜๐™ฉ๐™จ ๐™‡๐™š๐™–๐™™๐™š๐™ง๐™จ๐™๐™ž๐™ฅ ๐™๐™ง๐™–๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™œ: ๐™ˆ๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ๐™–๐™ก ๐™ƒ๐™š๐™–๐™ก๐™ฉ๐™ ๐˜พ๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ง๐™š๐™™ ๐˜ฟ๐™ž๐™จ๐™˜๐™ช๐™จ๐™จ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ by Jayra Clarize R. Alfonso

In an effort to nurture leadership roles, DepEd - City Of Balanga National High School โ€“Junior High School (COBNHS-JHS) alongside the Supreme Secondary Learner Government (SSLG) held the 1st day of the leadership training on Thursday, September 25, at the Audio-Visual Room, inviting all club top officers.

โ€‹The program officially began with opening remarks from the school head, Dr. Jennifer G. De Guzman, who delivered a motivational speech. This was followed by an energizer activity to boost the student leadersโ€™ energy.
โ€‹Maโ€™am Sarah B. Cruz, Guidance Counselor II, was formally introduced as the resource speaker for the discussion. The program was divided into four sessions: Mental Health Fundamentals, Active Listening and Empathy, Mental Health Warning Signs, and Self-Care for Peer Facilitators.

โ€‹The first session focused on the fundamentals of mental healthโ€”why it matters and how it influences daily life, relationships, and physical well-being. The resource speaker also introduced several common mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This was followed by an interactive activity where student leaders shared their personal experiences and insights related to these conditions.

โ€‹Session 2 highlighted the importance of active listening and empathy. Maโ€™am Cruz emphasized that these are essential for productive communication, which requires attentiveness, genuine understanding, and the ability to place oneself in another personโ€™s shoes. The discussion was followed by an activity where the leaders practiced active listening and empathy through communication.

โ€‹Session 3 centered on recognizing mental health warning signs. Maโ€™am Cruz discussed the behavioral, emotional, cognitive, physical, and social indicators that may show that a person is struggling mentally. She elaborated on the importance of the ability to recognize these signs. To apply their learning, participants presented a skit regarding the lesson.

โ€‹Session 4 focused on self-care for peer facilitators. She addressed the key traits and skills needed to assist others. Ma'am Cruz also shared some tips concerning the topic. Before closing the 1st day of the leadership training, she provided a list of doctors and contacts of institutions to seek professional help from.

โ€‹The discussion equipped student leaders with skills and knowledge to share and pass onโ€”sustaining a cycle of wisdom and support within the youth community.

Photos by Shean Rhovie F. Garcia


25/09/2025

๐—๐—จ๐—ฆ๐—ง ๐—œ๐—ก| ๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐˜€ ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ธ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—–๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜€๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—™๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ฎ๐˜†, ๐—ฆ๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฒ, ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฑ

Malacaรฑang has announced the suspension of government work and classes at all levels in several areas on Friday, September 26, 2025, due to the forecasted heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm "Opong".

The suspension of work in government offices and classes at all levels applies to:
* Metro Manila
* Biliran
* Eastern Samar
* Northern Samar
* Samar
* Masbate
* Romblon
* Sorsogon

Classes are also suspended at all levels in the following provinces:
* Aklan
* Albay
* Antique
* Batangas
* Bataan
* Camarines Norte
* Camarines Sur
* Capiz
* Cavite
* Catanduanes
* Guimaras
* Iloilo
* Laguna
* Leyte
* Marinduque
* Negros Occidental
* Oriental Mindoro
* Rizal
* Quezon

Government agencies responsible for basic, vital, and health services must continue to operate. The suspension of work and classes in private companies and offices is left to the discretion of their respective heads.


๐—–๐—”๐— ๐—ฃ๐—จ๐—ฆ ๐—ก๐—˜๐—ช๐—ฆ| ๐˜พ๐™Š๐˜ฝ๐™‰๐™ƒ๐™Ž ๐™…๐™ƒ๐™Ž ๐™‚๐™Ž๐™‹ ๐˜พ๐™š๐™ก๐™š๐™—๐™ง๐™–๐™ฉ๐™š๐™จ ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š ๐™‡๐™š๐™œ๐™–๐™˜๐™ฎ ๐™ค๐™› ๐™…๐™ค๐™จ๐™š๐™›๐™– ๐™‡๐™ก๐™–๐™ฃ๐™š๐™จ ๐™€๐™จ๐™˜๐™ค๐™™๐™–The Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) of Cit...
25/09/2025

๐—–๐—”๐— ๐—ฃ๐—จ๐—ฆ ๐—ก๐—˜๐—ช๐—ฆ| ๐˜พ๐™Š๐˜ฝ๐™‰๐™ƒ๐™Ž ๐™…๐™ƒ๐™Ž ๐™‚๐™Ž๐™‹ ๐˜พ๐™š๐™ก๐™š๐™—๐™ง๐™–๐™ฉ๐™š๐™จ ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š ๐™‡๐™š๐™œ๐™–๐™˜๐™ฎ ๐™ค๐™› ๐™…๐™ค๐™จ๐™š๐™›๐™– ๐™‡๐™ก๐™–๐™ฃ๐™š๐™จ ๐™€๐™จ๐™˜๐™ค๐™™๐™–

The Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) of City of Balanga National High School - Junior High School (COBNHS JHS) held a commemorative program today, September 25, in honor of Escoda Day.

โ€‹The annual celebration pays tribute to the remarkable legacy of Josefa Llanes Escoda, a Filipino war heroine, social worker, and founder of the GSP.

Escoda Day is celebrated every September 20, her birth anniversary, to remember her ultimate sacrifice during World War II. She was martyred for her courageous efforts in aiding Filipino and American prisoners of war, embodying a spirit of selfless service and patriotism.

โ€‹The program was held under the guidance of GSP Coordinator Ms. Galilie Atienza. It was led by emcees Maricel D. Lemen and Claire Dennise L. Vargas, and featured an inspirational message from the school's supportive Principal, Dr. Jennifer G. De Guzman. The opening prayer was delivered by Khatelyn Fhaye M. Leaรฑo. The event also saw the presence of GSP Troop Leaders Mrs. Mary Ann Quitalig, Mrs. Rosemarie Tinao, Ms. Maria Christina Dagohoy, and Mrs. Juri Khrisna A. Cunanan, and concluded with closing remarks from OIC Assistant Principal, Sir Gerry A. Deocareza.

Through the ceremony, GSP members reflected on Escoda's core values of leadership, service, and courage, reaffirming their commitment to the principles of the Girl Scout movement she founded.

Photos by: Jessca Jem Cuasay


๐Ÿ…˜๐Ÿ…๐Ÿ…ข๐Ÿ…˜๐Ÿ…–๐Ÿ…—๐Ÿ…ฃ๐Ÿ…ข| ๐‘ป๐‘ฏ๐‘ฌ ๐‘พ๐‘ฌ๐‘ฐ๐‘ฎ๐‘ฏ๐‘ป ๐‘ถ๐‘ญ ๐‘ฌ๐‘ฟ๐‘ท๐‘ฌ๐‘ช๐‘ป๐‘จ๐‘ป๐‘ฐ๐‘ถ๐‘ต๐‘บ: ๐‘ผ๐’๐’…๐’†๐’“๐’”๐’•๐’‚๐’๐’…๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐‘จ๐’„๐’‚๐’…๐’†๐’Ž๐’Š๐’„ ๐‘ท๐’“๐’†๐’”๐’”๐’–๐’“๐’† by Djean V. DiwaThe academic journey is often port...
24/09/2025

๐Ÿ…˜๐Ÿ…๐Ÿ…ข๐Ÿ…˜๐Ÿ…–๐Ÿ…—๐Ÿ…ฃ๐Ÿ…ข| ๐‘ป๐‘ฏ๐‘ฌ ๐‘พ๐‘ฌ๐‘ฐ๐‘ฎ๐‘ฏ๐‘ป ๐‘ถ๐‘ญ ๐‘ฌ๐‘ฟ๐‘ท๐‘ฌ๐‘ช๐‘ป๐‘จ๐‘ป๐‘ฐ๐‘ถ๐‘ต๐‘บ: ๐‘ผ๐’๐’…๐’†๐’“๐’”๐’•๐’‚๐’๐’…๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐‘จ๐’„๐’‚๐’…๐’†๐’Ž๐’Š๐’„ ๐‘ท๐’“๐’†๐’”๐’”๐’–๐’“๐’† by Djean V. Diwa

The academic journey is often portrayed as a path to success and growth, but for many, it's also a source of immense pressure. Academic pressure is a silent weight that almost every student feels, yet few fully understand its origins. It's the reason for sleepless nights and constant worry. This pressure often leads students to experience stress, anxiety, self-doubt, and frustration, all stemming from a fear of failure and an unwillingness to share their struggles.

But why are students struggling so hard to prove themselves? And to whom are they trying to prove it?

For many, the pressure begins at home. Well-intentioned phrases from parents and relatives, such as "Do your best, it's for your future!" or "You should be the top of your class!" may sound supportive. But when they are repeated without regard for a student's mental or emotional state, these words become a source of pressure rather than encouragement. Some parents see academic success as a measure of how well they've raised their children. Little do they know, their child may be suffering from exhaustion. Many students are afraid to tell their parents about their anxiety or the pressure they feel, fearing they will be misunderstood with comments like "Just like that?" or "Back in our day, life was even harder!" So instead, they choose silence.

Academic pressure can also stem from the classroom. Students can feel overwhelmed by constant pressure from teachers to compete and meet high expectations. In some classrooms, a single mistake can lead to judgment or being labeled as "not smart enough." This environment can make students feel that mistakes are treated as failures rather than opportunities for learning. When a school system values performance over a student's well-being, it can be damaging.

Finally, some of the most intense pressure comes from within. Many students hold themselves to an impossible standard of perfection, driven by an inner voice saying, "You should be doing better." Chasing this ideal is a painful and unsustainable pursuit.

Ultimately, academic pressure is a heavy burden, but it is not one you must carry alone. It's time to redefine success not by grades or awards, but by our well-being and personal growth. By speaking up, setting boundaries, and supporting one another, we can shift the narrative from one of relentless pressure to one of balanced and healthy ambition. Your worth is not defined by your performance. Itโ€™s time to put your mental health first.

23/09/2025

๐—ก๐—˜๐—ช๐—ฆ ๐—”๐——๐—ฉ๐—œ๐—ฆ๐—ข๐—ฅ๐—ฌ| ๐˜พ๐™ก๐™–๐™จ๐™จ๐™š๐™จ ๐™Ž๐™ช๐™จ๐™ฅ๐™š๐™ฃ๐™™๐™š๐™™ ๐˜ฟ๐™ช๐™š ๐™ฉ๐™ค ๐˜พ๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™ช๐™ค๐™ช๐™จ ๐™ƒ๐™š๐™–๐™ซ๐™ฎ ๐™๐™–๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™›๐™–๐™ก๐™ก

All classes, across all levels, in both public and private schools in Bataan Province are suspended tomorrow, Wednesday, September 24.

โ€‹This decision is based on the latest forecast from PAGASA and the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) to ensure the safety of all students and the public.

โ€‹According to PAGASA, the province is currently under an Orange Rainfall Warning due to the southwest monsoon brought by Typhoon Nando This is expected to last until tomorrow, bringing heavy rainfall and potential flooding to low-lying areas.
โ€‹School administrators have the discretion to implement online classes or modular distance learning.

โ€‹Stay safe, everyone ๐ŸŒจ๏ธโšก


๐’๐‚๐ˆ๐„๐๐‚๐„ ๐€๐๐ƒ ๐“๐„๐‚๐‡๐๐Ž๐‹๐Ž๐†๐˜|| ๐‘บ๐’„๐’“๐’†๐’†๐’ ๐‘ป๐’Š๐’Ž๐’† ๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐‘บ๐’•๐’–๐’…๐’†๐’๐’•๐’”: ๐‘ญ๐’Š๐’๐’…๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐’‚ ๐‘ฏ๐’†๐’‚๐’๐’•๐’‰๐’š ๐‘ฉ๐’‚๐’๐’‚๐’๐’„๐’† by Marcus Aeden Jhon R. TampincoThe world i...
23/09/2025

๐’๐‚๐ˆ๐„๐๐‚๐„ ๐€๐๐ƒ ๐“๐„๐‚๐‡๐๐Ž๐‹๐Ž๐†๐˜|| ๐‘บ๐’„๐’“๐’†๐’†๐’ ๐‘ป๐’Š๐’Ž๐’† ๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐‘บ๐’•๐’–๐’…๐’†๐’๐’•๐’”: ๐‘ญ๐’Š๐’๐’…๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐’‚ ๐‘ฏ๐’†๐’‚๐’๐’•๐’‰๐’š ๐‘ฉ๐’‚๐’๐’‚๐’๐’„๐’† by Marcus Aeden Jhon R. Tampinco

The world is changing, and so are we. While technology has become a powerful tool for entertainment and learning, its excessive use is raising concerns about the well-being of today's students. This article explores the impact of excessive gadget exposure on the behavior, health, and academic performance of young people.

Many students now spend their free time on online games or using artificial intelligence (AI) for schoolwork. This over-reliance on technology can hinder the development of critical thinking skills. With daily screen times often exceeding nine hours, students can become restless and distracted when their gadgets are taken away. This obsession can lead to a shorter attention span and a loss of focus during class, which is a common problem attributed to fast-paced social media content found on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels.

This lack of focus can also lead to a decline in academic performance. Students who are frequently on their gadgets may be more prone to procrastinating on assignments and performance tasks. Furthermore, certain online games can lead to increased aggression and difficulty with anger management.

The overuse of gadgets also poses significant risks to students' physical health. Chronic absenteeism due to complaints of dizziness, headaches, and eye problems is becoming more common. Recent studies have linked prolonged screen time to these very issues, along with other vision-related problems.

The dangers of excessive gadget use extend to mental health as well. The internet can be a hostile environment, and cyberbullying is a serious concern. Unfiltered and negative messages can easily lower a student's self-esteem and lead to changes in their behavior. In some extreme cases, prolonged exposure to cyberbullying can even contribute to suicidal thoughts and tendencies. According to a 2018 study published in the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest, there's a "significant link between heavy screen use and negative mental health outcomes in adolescents, including a higher risk of depression and anxiety." This finding highlights just how serious the issue is.

The key to mitigating these negative effects isn't to get rid of technology entirely, but to establish a healthy balance. Parents and guardians play a crucial role in setting screen time limits and monitoring the content their children consume online. By using technology as a tool for assistance rather than a complete replacement for their own skills, students can benefit from its advantages without falling victim to its downsides.

Ultimately, technology should empower people, not replace them. With a mindful approach and responsible use, students can use technology to enhance their daily lives, improve their learning, and safeguard their health.





๐‚๐Ž๐‹๐”๐Œ๐|๐”ธ ๐•ž๐•š ๐•ž๐• ๐••๐•  ๐••๐•– ๐•ง๐•–๐•ฃ| ๐‘ช๐’‚๐’ˆ๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐‘ท๐’๐’๐’Š๐’„๐’š: ๐‘ด๐’–๐’›๐’›๐’๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐‘ด๐’‚๐’”๐’”๐’†๐’” by Janina Kaye O. PuaEvery voice counts, and every march is ...
23/09/2025

๐‚๐Ž๐‹๐”๐Œ๐|๐”ธ ๐•ž๐•š ๐•ž๐• ๐••๐•  ๐••๐•– ๐•ง๐•–๐•ฃ| ๐‘ช๐’‚๐’ˆ๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐‘ท๐’๐’๐’Š๐’„๐’š: ๐‘ด๐’–๐’›๐’›๐’๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐‘ด๐’‚๐’”๐’”๐’†๐’” by Janina Kaye O. Pua

Every voice counts, and every march is a step toward progress. To suppress the people's voices is to deny good governance. The Filipino people are rightfully enraged following recent anomalies in flood control projects involving numerous people in power. The Department of Finance recently declared that the estimated economic loss from "ghost projects" could be as high as 118.5 billion pesos, money that was stripped away from municipalities and provinces that were left vulnerable to typhoons. It's no surprise that this rage has turned into protests and rallies across the nationโ€”not as an act of violence, but as a demand for change.

Amidst these assemblies, the Philippine National Police is strictly enforcing a "no permit, no rally" policy in the name of "peace and order." This was also explicitly stated in the Fourth State of the Nation Address by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. This policy is a cage for the people's right to free expression. It is absurd that a country that calls itself democratic demands permission for its citizens to call out an unjust and corrupt system.

๐‘ผ๐’๐’‹๐’–๐’”๐’• ๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐‘ผ๐’๐’๐’‚๐’˜๐’‡๐’–๐’ ๐‘พ๐’†๐’‚๐’๐’•๐’‰

Rallies are being held to fight the never-ending corruption in the Philippines. Filipinos demand accountability and justice. For years, despite the alleged dishonesty of the government and the disappearance of billions of pesos from citizens' taxes, no one has been held liable. The nation has had enough of these schemes that benefit the self-interests of those in power.

Filipinos put in endless effort to make ends meet, often working eight hours a day, five days a week, with little time to rest. While their exhaustion might be bearable, their hard-earned money vanishing into thin air, flying straight into the pockets of "tuxedos and luxury cars," is unacceptable. And now, voicing their disappointments is considered unlawful. A recent study by IBON Foundation showed that the daily minimum wage of โ‚ฑ610 is not enough for a family of five to meet their basic needs, which now requires over โ‚ฑ1,200 per day. The wage gap only highlights the injustice of public funds being stolen.

๐€๐ง ๐”๐ง๐œ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐š๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐š๐œ๐ญ๐ข๐œ๐ž

The "no permit, no rally" policy is based on Batas Pambansa Blg. 880, also known as the Public Assembly Act of 1985, which was declared during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. The law requires a written permit from a local government unit before any public assembly can be held.

However, Article 3, Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution is clear: "No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances." Therefore, the policy directly contradicts the country's own Constitution. It is questionable why this law, enacted before Filipinos' constitutional rights were fully established, has not yet been abolished, as it clearly restrains the liberty to seek justice and accountability.

While the procedure of obtaining a permit is meant to ensure public order and safety, it is widely believed to be a tool to justify the dispersal of rallies, hindering the exercise of constitutional rights. Framing peaceful assemblies as threats to order denies the reality that most rallies are conducted responsibly and lawfully. According to authorities, recent protests have been generally peaceful. These assemblies resist the violence committed by corruption, negligence, and and injustice.

๐€ ๐‘๐ž๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐๐š๐ฌ๐ญ

This policy re-echoes the dictatorial practices of the Marcos Sr. regime, where public dissent was heavily controlled. The Filipino people's right to speak, disagree, and voice their frustration is once again under siege. The freedom that took so long to attain is slowly being taken away.

The "no permit, no rally" policy is nothing but an act of repression. It does not align with the Constitution and serves only to silence the complaints of millions of Filipinos. Despite these obstacles, Filipinos continue to stand for their rights and for the future of the nation, showcasing true patriotism. Hopefully, more people will realize that protests are not acts of chaos, but expressions of hope and courage. For in every raised voice and every march forward lies the people's unyielding demand for justice, accountability, and a better Philippines.

Editorial Cartoon by Steaphiene Kirvy S. Derla




๐๐„๐–๐’ ๐€๐ƒ๐•๐ˆ๐’๐Ž๐‘๐˜| ๐‘ต๐‘ถ ๐‘ช๐‘ณ๐‘จ๐‘บ๐‘บ๐‘ฌ๐‘บ ๐‘ป๐‘ถ๐‘ด๐‘ถ๐‘น๐‘น๐‘ถ๐‘พ, ๐‘ป๐’–๐’†๐’”๐’…๐’‚๐’š, ๐‘บ๐’†๐’‘๐’•๐’†๐’Ž๐’ƒ๐’†๐’“ ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‘, ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“Classes are suspended at all levels, both public and priv...
22/09/2025

๐๐„๐–๐’ ๐€๐ƒ๐•๐ˆ๐’๐Ž๐‘๐˜| ๐‘ต๐‘ถ ๐‘ช๐‘ณ๐‘จ๐‘บ๐‘บ๐‘ฌ๐‘บ ๐‘ป๐‘ถ๐‘ด๐‘ถ๐‘น๐‘น๐‘ถ๐‘พ, ๐‘ป๐’–๐’†๐’”๐’…๐’‚๐’š, ๐‘บ๐’†๐’‘๐’•๐’†๐’Ž๐’ƒ๐’†๐’“ ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‘, ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“
Classes are suspended at all levels, both public and private, in the entire Province of Bataan tomorrow, Tuesday, September 23.

The decision was made following the official announcement of Governor Jose Enrique "Joet" S. Garcia, based on the latest report from PAGASA and the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) to ensure the safety of students and the public. According to the PAGASA forecast, the province remains under a Yellow Rainfall Warning due to the southwest monsoon and Typhoon Nando. Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected, along with the possibility of flooding in low-lying areas.



๐ˆ๐ ๐“๐‡๐„ ๐๐„๐–๐’| ๐‘ฉ๐’‚๐’•๐’‚๐’‚๐’ ๐’€๐’๐’–๐’•๐’‰ ๐‘บ๐’•๐’‚๐’ˆ๐’† ๐‘บ๐’š๐’Ž๐’ƒ๐’๐’๐’Š๐’„๐’‚๐’ ๐‘จ๐’๐’•๐’Š-๐‘ช๐’๐’“๐’“๐’–๐’‘๐’•๐’Š๐’๐’ ๐‘ท๐’“๐’๐’•๐’†๐’”๐’•Despite the unfavorable weather conditions, the anti-c...
22/09/2025

๐ˆ๐ ๐“๐‡๐„ ๐๐„๐–๐’| ๐‘ฉ๐’‚๐’•๐’‚๐’‚๐’ ๐’€๐’๐’–๐’•๐’‰ ๐‘บ๐’•๐’‚๐’ˆ๐’† ๐‘บ๐’š๐’Ž๐’ƒ๐’๐’๐’Š๐’„๐’‚๐’ ๐‘จ๐’๐’•๐’Š-๐‘ช๐’๐’“๐’“๐’–๐’‘๐’•๐’Š๐’๐’ ๐‘ท๐’“๐’๐’•๐’†๐’”๐’•

Despite the unfavorable weather conditions, the anti-corruption movement of the youth pushed through today, September 22, 2025, relocating from the planned Plaza Mayor de Balanga to the formation center of Saint Joseph Cathedral. The symbolic and peaceful activity was marked by the tying of white ribbons around the vicinity, serving as a powerful gesture of unity and a collective call for integrity in governance.

The protest, originally dubbed as an effort to "flood the streets with youth's voice," transformed into a quieter but equally impactful demonstration. Participants held up signs and echoed a resounding collective cry: "Tama na ang nakawan, panagutin ang may sala, at iligtas ang bayan at kinabukasan ng mga kabataan mula sa bulok na pamamahala!"

The peaceful demonstration concluded with a message and a prayer led by Fr. Noel C. Nuguid, the Rector and Parish Priest of the Cathedral and Shrine Parish of Saint Joseph, reinforcing the moral and spiritual foundation of the youth's call for change.

PNP Provincial Director, PCOL Marites A. Salvadora, was also present, personally thanking the attendees for the peaceful conduct of the protest. Her presence and message underscored the organizers' successful ex*****on of an orderly and respectful public assembly.

Photo Credits: Leo Iane Capuli and John Louis Tolentino




21/09/2025

๐—™๐—œ๐—ก๐—”๐—Ÿ ๐—”๐——๐—ฉ๐—œ๐—ฆ๐—ข๐—ฅ๐—ฌ| ๐˜พ๐™ก๐™–๐™จ๐™จ๐™š๐™จ & ๐™‚๐™ค๐™ซ๐™š๐™ง๐™ฃ๐™ข๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ ๐™’๐™ค๐™ง๐™  ๐™Ž๐™ช๐™จ๐™ฅ๐™š๐™ฃ๐™™๐™š๐™™ ๐™ž๐™ฃ ๐˜ฝ๐™–๐™ฉ๐™–๐™–๐™ฃ, ๐™Ž๐™š๐™ฅ๐™ฉ. 22

This advisory officially supersedes the previous announcement regarding a half-day schedule.

Following an announcement from the provincial government, classes at all levels, in both public and private schools, and work in all government agencies and offices in the province of Bataan are suspended tomorrow, Monday, September 22, 2025.

โ€‹This decision is in line with Memorandum Circular No. 97 from Malacaรฑang and aims to ensure the safety of students, employees, and the public.

โ€‹According to PAGASA's forecast, Bataan remains under a Yellow Rainfall Warning due to the Southwest Monsoon and Typhoon Nando. Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected, with the possibility of flooding in low-lying areas.

โ€‹While government operations are halted, agencies directly involved in emergency operations and calamity response will remain open. Meanwhile, the decision to suspend work in private companies and offices is left to their respective management.

โ€‹Schools may conduct online or modular distance learning, which will be at the discretion of school heads.

โ€‹For immediate assistance, you can call the following emergency numbers:
โ€‹Emergency Hotline - 911
โ€‹Landline - (047) 613-8888
โ€‹Smart - 0919 914 6232
โ€‹Globe - 0927 605 6991

โ€‹Please take all necessary precautions and stay safe.


Address

Phase III Doรฑa Francisca Subdivision Talisay Balanga City, Bataan
Balanga

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Magnum Opus posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share