Mindanao Journal

08/06/2026

This coming June 12, we are again celebrating and commemorating our Philippine Independence Day. We remember how our forefathers fought hard for Filipinos to gain liberty from captivity and slavery. Fast forward to 2026, we still find most Filipinos struggling and fighting not necessarily for physical freedom but freedom from poverty and financial woes caused by lack of knowledge, poor governance, corruption and political deception and manipulation. Unfortunately, the people who were elected and given the power to liberate them are the very people who caused and led them to their misery. The sad truth is, if they wait and depend on these officials, they will never achieve the financial independence they deserve.

Photo credit: Shutterstock “I believe that through knowledge and discipline, financial peace *(freedom) is possible for us—all of us.” —Dave Ramsey This coming June 12, we are again celebrating and commemorating our Philippine Independence Day.  We remember how our forefathers fought hard f...

08/06/2026

LOOK: ALEX EALA IS A WTA 125 CHAMPION AGAIN! 🏆🇵🇭 Final: 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 vs Nikola Bartunkova. From rain delays to match point — she did it on grass! Laban Pilipinas!”

📸LTA

07/06/2026

LOOK: Fashion and creativity took center stage as House of Musa unveiled its latest collection during the 33rd PTAA Travel and Tour Expo at SM Lanang in Davao City on June 6, 2026. Models graced the runway in elegant and intricately crafted designs, showcasing the brand’s signature style and artistry.

The fashion show added glamour and excitement to the travel expo, bringing together fashion enthusiasts, tourism stakeholders, and mallgoers for an afternoon of style and inspiration. The showcase highlighted the growing connection between fashion, culture, and tourism, making it one of the event’s standout attractions.

06/06/2026

LOOK: HSBC Philippines officially unveiled the refreshed HSBC Premier during an exclusive event at Dusit Thani Davao on June 4, 2026, bringing together valued clients, business leaders, and partners for an evening celebrating the future of international banking. The launch showcased HSBC Premier’s four key pillars—Wealth, Health, Travel, and International—through immersive lifestyle experiences designed for today’s globally connected customers.rtners for an evening celebrating the future of international banking. The launch showcased HSBC Premier’s four key pillars—Wealth, Health, Travel, and International—through immersive lifestyle experiences designed for today’s globally connected customers.

06/06/2026

The Sandiganbayan has dismissed Civil Case No. 0141 with respect to the remaining alleged ill-gotten wealth of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and former First Lady Imelda Marcos that were not covered by previous forfeiture rulings.

Ang Republika sa Pilipinas gi representar niining kasuha sa Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) batok sa mga Marcos

The June 2, 2026 resolution came after the PCGG informed the court nga dili na sila mopresent ug additional evidence on the remaining properties, leading to the termination of proceedings on those assets.

Sa simpleng pagkasulti, the dismissal effectively spared the Marcos heirs from further litigation over the remaining properties listed in the case—assets that originally included billions of dollars worth of alleged investments, real estate, bank deposits, and foreign accounts identified by the government after EDSA.

Ang pangutana karon sa mga Pilipino, unsaon na lang pagpaningil sa mga nabilin nga mga assets kung mismong gobyerno na ang miatras sa pagpresentar og ebidensya?

GITIWASAN GYUD NILA ANG MGA PILIPINO!

06/06/2026

PH Top health and wellness app, mWell, showcases mWell Watch and mWell Rings in Davao.

Healthcare innovation took center stage as mWell by Metro Pacific presented its media guide and product demonstration at SM Lanang, Davao City, on June 6, 2026, highlighting how digital technology is transforming healthcare access for Filipinos. Developed by home-grown Filipino developers, mWell showcased its integrated digital health ecosystem designed to connect individuals, healthcare providers, organizations, and communities through a single platform.

During the event, mWell Chief Marketing Officer, Gary G. Dujali emphasized its growing impact, now serving more than 4 million users nationwide through services such as telemedicine consultations, mental health support, fitness and nutrition programs, wellness monitoring, and wearable health devices. Demonstrations featured the mWell Watch, Ring, and ECG Ring, which help users track key health indicators and encourage preventive healthcare practices.

The presentation also underscored mWell’s commitment to making healthcare more accessible, particularly for people in remote and underserved areas where access to medical services remains limited. Recognized internationally with the Best Mobile Innovation Supporting Emergency or Humanitarian Situations award, mWell continues to leverage Filipino innovation and digital technology to bridge healthcare gaps and improve the well-being of communities across the country.

06/06/2026

Why the Senate Must Remain Independent (THE GUEST COLUMNIST by Harvey Malmis Niere)

With the House of Representatives already behaving as an extension of the Palace, Filipinos should want a Senate that is more independent of Malacañang, not less.

That is why the recent attempt to reorganize the Senate through a highly contested claim of
quorum should concern even those who have no affection for the existing Senate leadership. The issue is bigger than personalities. It is bigger than who occupies the Senate President's office. At stake is whether the country will still have an institution capable of checking executive power.

The Philippines does not need two Houses of Congress marching in lockstep with the administration. It does not need two chambers that merely ratify decisions already made elsewhere. The constitutional design is based on the idea that power should be fragmented, contested and scrutinized. The Senate exists not only to legislate but also to investigate, question and challenge.

When the House becomes overwhelmingly aligned with the Palace, the Senate's role as an independent institution becomes even more important.

This is precisely why the controversy over quorum cannot be dismissed as a technical dispute among politicians. The argument advanced by those seeking to reorganize the Senate would allow a minority of senators to seize control of the chamber by redefining the number required for a quorum.

The Senate has 24 members. Under the ordinary constitutional rule, a majority is 13.

Yet the proponents of the leadership change argue that certain senators should no longer be counted because they are absent or beyond the chamber's practical reach. The problem with this argument is that it contradicts the Senate's own historical practice.

The quorum was not reduced when Senator Panfilo Lacson went into hiding abroad. The quorum was not reduced when Senator Leila de Lima was detained. The quorum was not reduced when Senator Antonio Trillanes was detained. In each case, the Senate continued to treat the chamber as a 24-member institution. Sitting senators did not disappear from the constitutional count simply because their attendance became difficult or impossible.

The rule remained the same because constitutional rules are supposed to be stable. They are not supposed to change whenever political circumstances make them inconvenient.

The danger of the current argument is not limited to one leadership fight. If the denominator can be manipulated today, it can be manipulated tomorrow. If 13 can become 12 for political convenience, another faction may eventually argue that 12 can become 11. Constitutional safeguards become meaningless once they are transformed into instruments of political strategy.

The timing of the leadership struggle makes these concerns impossible to ignore.

The Senate has increasingly become one of the few institutions capable of conducting inquiries that may embarrass powerful figures within the administration. Public attention has focused on issues ranging from confidential funds to massive flood-control expenditures worth hundreds of billions of pesos. These are precisely the kinds of issues that require aggressive legislative oversight.

A Senate that is independent of Malacañang can ask uncomfortable questions.

A Senate controlled by forces aligned with Malacañang may have less incentive to ask them.

This does not mean that every senator supporting the leadership change is acting to protect the administration. Nor does it mean that every investigation produces evidence of wrongdoing. But institutions should be judged not only by intentions but by incentives.

When a controversial legal theory is used to facilitate a leadership takeover that could weaken the Senate's independence from the executive branch, citizens are justified in asking who benefits.

The answer is not difficult to identify.

The beneficiaries are those who prefer a Senate that investigates less aggressively, scrutinizes less intensely and challenges executive power less frequently.

That is why this debate is not ultimately about quorum.

It is about whether the Philippines will retain an independent Senate.

With the House already behaving as an extension of the Palace, the country does not need another institution moving in the same direction. It needs a Senate willing to stand apart from Malacañang, willing to exercise oversight without fear or favor and willing to defend its constitutional independence even when doing so is politically inconvenient.

The Senate was never intended to be an echo chamber of the executive branch.

It was intended to be a check on it.

📸 Senate.gov.ph

https://mindanaojournal.com/why-the-senate-must-remain-independent-the-guest-columnist-by-harvey-malmis-niere/

05/06/2026

B**g Go urges stronger El Nino measures as agriculture sector warns of possible 700,000-metric-ton drop in rice production

Sen. B**g Go warns DA on severe El Nino impact

Sen. Christopher "B**g" Go called for sustained support for farmers, fisherfolk, and rural communities as the Department of Agriculture (DA) warned that the country’s rice production could decline by 700,000 metric tons this year due to the looming strong El Nino.

The DA said the projected loss represents around 3.5 percent of the annual production target, raising concerns over food security, rural income, crop supply, and possible pressure on consumer prices.

Go said the warning should push concernedagencies to strengthen preparations and ensure that interventions reach communities that depend directly on agriculture for their livelihood.

"Kailangan nating alagaan ang ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda dahil sila ang nagbibigay ng pagkain sa ating mga hapag. Kapag sila ang naapektuhan, ramdam din ito ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino," Go said.

The DA earlier said it had reconvened the El Nino task force to prepare for a potentially severe episode later this year. The agency also warned that a prolonged dry spell could affect crop production, reduce farmers' earnings, and contribute to higher food prices.

According to the DA, measures being undertaken include cloud seeding to increase rainfall, deployment of solar-powered irrigation systems, adjustments to the planting calendar to align with the northeast monsoon or habagat, and crop diversification programs to help stabilize farmers' income.

Go said these measures must be complemented by accessible support mechanisms for affected agricultural workers, particularly those in rice-producing areas and rural municipalities that face greater exposure to drought, production losses, and rising input costs.

"Dapat maagapan natin ang epekto ng El Nino. Huwag nating hintayin na mahirapan ang ating mga kababayan bago kumilos. Ang importante, may tulong, may suporta, at may malinaw na aksyon para sa mga magsasaka," the senator emphasized.

The senator has consistently pushed for policies aimed at strengthening the agriculture sector and improving national food security. He is a co-author of Republic Act No. 11901, or the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Rural Development Financing Enhancement Act of 2022, which strengthens financing mechanisms and support systems to improve farmers' and fisherfolk's access to needed resources.

Go also co-authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11953, or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which condones loans, including interest, penalties, and surcharges, of agrarian reform beneficiaries to help ease their financial burdens.

Beyond enacted laws, Go filed Senate Bill No. 680, or the proposed Post-harvest Facilities in Every Agricultural Municipality Act, which seeks to mandate the construction of warehouses and rice mills in rice-producing areas through the collaboration of the Department of Public Works and Highways, the DA, and farmer cooperatives.

He also filed Senate Bill No. 681, or the proposed Fertilizer Subsidy for Farmers Act, which seeks to provide financial assistance to farmers to help reduce input costs.

Senate Bill No. 673, or the proposed Full Crop Insurance Coverage for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Act, also seeks to grant free insurance coverage to smallholder farmers cultivating five hectares of land or less.

Go said that as the country prepares for the possible impact of El Nino, support for agriculture must remain practical, timely, and focused on those who are most exposed to production losses.

"Kung may matinding tagtuyot, unang naaapektuhan ang kabuhayan ng ating mga magsasaka. Kaya dapat tulungan natin silang makabangon at maipagpatuloy ang kanilang trabaho para sa kanilang pamilya at para sa pagkain ng buong bansa," he said.

He also underscored the need to protect both producers and consumers, noting that lower rice output can affect not only farmers' income but also the price and availability of food for ordinary households.

The senator said the agriculture sector needs continued financial, infrastructure, and institutional support as climate-related threats place additional pressure on communities already dealing with high production costs and unstable weather conditions.

"Kabuhayan ng magsasaka, presyo ng pagkain, at seguridad sa pagkain ang nakataya rito. Dapat magtulungan ang mga ahensya at lokal na pamahalaan para masigurong may sapat na suporta sa mga komunidad na maaapektuhan," Go said.

https://mindanaojournal.com/bong-go-urges-stronger-el-nino-measures-as-agriculture-sector-warns-of-possible-700000-metric-ton-drop-in-rice-production/

05/06/2026

Brigada Eskwela: A Symptom of Government Failure? (EDITORIAL)

As schools across the country open their gates for the annual Brigada Eskwela, Filipinos once again witness the remarkable spirit of bayanihan. Teachers, parents, students, civic groups, and volunteers gather to clean classrooms, repair facilities, repaint walls, trim overgrown grounds, and prepare schools for the opening of classes.

On the surface, Brigada Eskwela is a celebration of community involvement. It showcases the willingness of ordinary citizens to contribute their time, effort, and resources for the welfare of the nation's children.

But beneath this inspiring display of volunteerism lies an uncomfortable question: Why has this become necessary year after year?

Stories abound of teachers soliciting donations for paint, carpentry materials, cleaning supplies, gardening tools, brooms, and even the simplest necessities needed to make schools functional.

Many educators spend their own money or seek assistance from private individuals just to ensure that classrooms are ready for learners.

Parents, meanwhile, are often expected to render labor during Brigada Eskwela. While many willingly participate out of concern for our children's education, the reality remains that they are filling a gap that government funding should have already addressed.

The Philippines allocates hundreds of billions of pesos annually to education, making it one of the largest recipients of the national budget. Yet countless public schools continue to struggle with inadequate maintenance funds, insufficient facilities, and shortages of basic resources.

This raises a troubling concern: Where are the taxpayers' hard-earned contributions going?

If public funds were managed efficiently, transparently, and honestly, Brigada Eskwela could focus solely on strengthening community partnerships rather than compensating for deficiencies in government support. Teachers would no longer need to beg for supplies. Parents would not feel compelled to shoulder responsibilities that should have been adequately funded by the state.

The annual dependence on donations and volunteer labor highlights a deeper issue—the persistent failure of public institutions to provide what schools need despite the enormous resources entrusted to them.

Meanwhile, allegations of corruption continue to plague various sectors of government. Reports of ghost projects, anomalous infrastructure programs, and questionable expenditures repeatedly make headlines. While public servants entrusted with public funds should be ensuring that every peso benefits the people, many Filipinos perceive that resources are instead being diverted away from essential services such as education.

The greatest irony is that the burden falls on those least responsible for the problem. Teachers sacrifice. Parents contribute. Communities volunteer. Children endure the consequences.

Brigada Eskwela remains a beautiful expression of Filipino solidarity and civic spirit. But it should never become an excuse for government neglect

Bayanihan should complement effective governance—not replace it.

The day Brigada Eskwela becomes a voluntary celebration rather than a necessity born from chronic shortages will be the day taxpayers can truly say that their hard-earned money is working for the people it was intended to serve.

This observation does not attack volunteerism itself. Filipinos are rightly proud of the spirit of bayanihan. The real question is whether that spirit is being relied upon to compensate for deficiencies that should have been addressed through proper budgeting, procurement, maintenance, and accountability.

📸DepEd

https://mindanaojournal.com/brigada-eskwela-a-symptom-of-government-failure-editorial/

05/06/2026

SDA Mission Hosts 1st Mindanao Adlai Production Forum (FOOD FOR THOUGHT by Manny Piñol)

The 1st Mindanao Adlai Production Forum which will be the first attempt to build and organize the Adlai Industry in the country is now officially set for June 28, Sunday, and will be held in the Central Mindanao Mission of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Valencia City, Bukidnon.

Expected to attend the first-ever organized forum for the production of Adlai are Tribal Farmers from the Upland of several Mindanao Provinces, especially Bukidnon and North Cotabato, Technologists, Equipment Fabricators, Financing Institutions, Processors and local and international buyers.

Pastor Porferio Lagunday, President Seventh Day Adventist Church, Central Mindanao Mission has offered the free use of the Mission's Multi-Purpose Hall as venue for the day-long event.

A registration fee of P150 will cover meals and snacks to be prepared by the SDA CMM which will include vegetarian recipes and water.

Tribal Farmers who could not afford the registration fee will be sponsored by the Braveheart Farms with the support of other sponsors.

Thank you to Pastor Porferio Lagunday, SDA CMM head, Venancio "Jun" M***a, Marie Cris Miñao Culanag and Dr. Toto Panes for working on this project and former Mindanao Development Authority Director Joey Recimilla for accepting the task of handling the Mindanao-wide campaign.
https://mindanaojournal.com/sda-mission-hosts-1st-mindanao-adlai-production-forum-food-for-thought-by-manny-pinol/

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