Silahis

07/06/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝘁𝘀 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀

On April 23, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed an armed encounter on April 19 at Toboso, Negros Occidental. Nineteen people were killed. The military called it a victory. The victims’ families called it a massacre. Among the dead were Alyssa Alano, a University of the Philippines (UP) student councilor, and RJ Nichole Ledesma, a community journalist and a cultural worker. They were there to document the farmers’ struggle, yet the military insists they were rebels. When journalists, researchers, activists, and innocent individuals become casualties of a dispute—the same script is pulled—the victims of the gunfire are not merely civilians but turncoats to the nation’s peace.

In a span of 12 hours, Sitio Sinugmawan, Barangay Salamanca, turned into a bloodbath spot—a conflict between the AFP and the New People’s Army (NPA). What could have been a data-gathering opportunity for Alano and Ledesma, who entered the scene as researchers, instead became their brutal end. They were unfortunate enough not to meet with answers but with gunshots.

“𝘐𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘺. 𝘌𝘩, 𝘣𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘺𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘢-𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘵… 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨.” AFP Chief Romeo Brawner Jr.’s words were a blatant contradiction, not because his statement holds the actuality of the tragedy, but because of the uncertain, distorted truth said by a person deemed a hero. In a split second, the victims were declared traitors, even as investigations paradoxically point out that six civilians were also among those killed.

To challenge the reports of the AFP, forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun noted that not only were the returned bodies poorly handled, but her initial findings also refute the words of the military, leaving questions unanswered. A contradiction between the given proofs and statements and the findings of the autopsy and investigation. This raises a question about why the authorities tried to hide an important fact, treating each death as a measure of success.

Evidence was presented. Photographs of alleged weapons were publicized. However, the National Fact-Finding and Solidarity Mission (NFSM) asserted a high probability of the military tampering with the crime scene, revealing that the Armed Forces kept full control of the site for two full days—from April 19 to April 21—giving them a 48-hour window stage before allowing anyone to enter the scene. In a country with a documented history of planted evidence, mere statements and documentary pictures are not enough—especially when it’s convenient to simply falsify evidence that can support their narratives and declare anyone who opposes them a terrorist of the land.

How can one not question the validity of their claims when the military can casually frame the innocent youth by associating them with the NPA, staging guns and combat vests for a documentary and presenting themselves as saviors of the people who eliminated threats to the tranquil living of the country?

Moreso, in the depths of the AFP’s declaration are worshippers that glorify their statement—online trolls and media users reducing the victims’ corpses to mere “corned beef” jokes, dehumanizing their deaths to food as a mockery of their merciless end. A joke, despite its immoral usage, only matches how the military handles the bodies it failed to care for—leaving the bodies submerged in fishpond water for two days, rotting until their retrieval.

Every photo revealed met with funny reactions—with netizens terrorizing victims of the encounter and praising the forces. It was not a secret to keep. It was powerful to hold. A cycle never ending as long as the citizens lived to justify and defend the acts of the militants. What should have been concealed violence becomes a righteous exploitation in the eyes of the masses who have already deemed its enemies righteous.

The same country that trains journalists in schools and at press conferences and emphasizes rigorous research in its curriculum, now calls journalists 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘴 for simply doing their job. When they channel their ideas toward the mountainside, they are boxed in as subversives and silenced as they continue holding the truth. In early years, young journalists are taught to be critical and to verify information, yet when applied to real-life scenarios, these same acts are demonized and abhorred by authorities.

While the military continues to assert the need to protect citizens, ironically, it is same force that labels these individuals as activists who turned into outright traitors when the odds are not in their favor. Accountability becomes a sacred passage that, once taken, means being guilty of the charge. And so, the easiest thing to do is to tag the victims with red.

On the other hand, the incident was only a showcase of a state failure that encompasses the humanity it aims to teach—it was not only about the lives taken, but the incident also tackles a larger dispute between the AFP and NPA, a deep-rooted dilemma that was responded to through retaliatory guns.

The existence of the rebel groups should have been a problem long solved. The said traitors were not made overnight; they were the product of marginalization and oppression by the power-tripping elites. The so-called “rebels” were once farmers whose land was taken away from them, laborers suffocated by heavy taxes, and civilians fighting for state policies to govern systematic problems. This was not a simple matter to solve, as it addresses the plundering of workers’ economic and civic freedoms, but it could have been deliberately addressed if only the government had chosen to listen and act, not by force.

Despite the piled-up proof that proves the innocence of the victims, arguments would still snap, questioning the existence of researchers residing on mountainsides—a bigoted belief that anyone who partakes in mountain research is a recruited member of the NPA. Their claim was not rooted in facts but in bold assumptions that only further spread propaganda about what researchers could only become—to be the dogs of the government.

When cries become a plea never heard, the people turn their words into violence. The forces, calling their operations a successful abolishment of the insurgent groups, have only further proven the point of their shallow-level solutions. Their accomplished reports are not worth the celebration—it was not a feast; it was a punishment. Glory to those who hailed as winners; blessed by the heavens are those who lost. Unfortunately, the poor will always be the defeated.

Red‑tagging is not a policy. It is a cancer. It is the state’s preferred method of silencing truth without a trial. When journalists, researchers, and students are reduced to 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘳𝘴 and then shot, the message is clear: Tell the truth, and you become the enemy.

In a country where lives are always at stake, the military has longed to cross the bridge as defenders of the people. And it must not stay this way. The story of success should have been ours to paint.

When life becomes a privilege to those who speak, power will always lie within the hands of the masses—even when they are to meet with guns, even when the bullet forms its own tale. Despite the risk, freedom will always be the core of resistance. They are not merely journalists, researchers, activists, traitors, terrorists, or 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘧𝘴; they, too, are Filipinos. To fight for freedom is to struggle against the red-tagging by the protectors of the Philippines. And to resist is to defend the rights of the history that was revised to fit the Armed Forces Patronage Story.

Written by Aziraphale
Proofread by Champignon
Cartoon by Lazi

07/06/2026

𝗧𝗪𝗢 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗦, 𝗧𝗪𝗢 𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗟𝗘𝗦
𝗠𝗦𝗨-𝗜𝗜𝗧 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗼, 𝗗𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘂𝗴𝗮 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸-𝘁𝗼-𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀

Fueled by a relentless drive to take over Iligan’s volleyball scene, the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) Cats men’s volleyball team clinched two straight championships in the Daro Festival Open League and the Dalipuga Palakasan Open Volleyball League 2026 on May 1 and 17, respectively.

The Cats opened their campaign on April 30 in Buru-un’s Daro Festival Open Volleyball Tournament, where they faced seasoned and high-caliber opponents.

Despite entering the tournament with a relatively young lineup and several players unavailable due to academic commitments, the team embraced the opportunity to gain exposure and test a newly assembled roster.

“During that time, we were really just trying to focus on having more exposure for the team,” team captain Charlvie Devero shared. “The mindset was to give everyone playing time and see if this new team could compete against stronger opponents.”

The challenge surfaced early when the Cats faced Iligan Medical Center College (IMCC), one of the city’s established volleyball programs, battling through a deciding third set to secure a victory that boosted the team’s confidence moving forward.

Their championship run peaked in a hard-fought finals matchup against AL Sec’s Immortals of Cabadbaran City. The Cats dropped the opening set before regrouping and sticking to a game plan centered on disciplined blocking and defensive coverage.

Setter Jhon Gilvert Calo said the team treated the matchup as an opportunity to prove that they belonged among the region’s top squads.

“𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 [𝘵𝘰] 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 [𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨] 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘱, 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘶𝘴, 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘢’𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘺𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘢 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘨𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘭𝘪 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘪 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢-𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘩𝘰𝘯 𝘯𝘨𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮,” Calo said. “Our strategy was to lock down their spikes using our blocking system.”

Shortly after, the adjustments paid off: MSU-IIT captured the next two sets and claimed the championship.

“𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨 𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘢 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘰𝘨 𝘯𝘨𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘚𝘜-𝘐𝘐𝘛 𝘊𝘈𝘛𝘚 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘨𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘭𝘪 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘩𝘰𝘯,” Calo added.

That victory, however, was only the beginning.

On May 17, the Cats carried their momentum into the Dalipuga Palakasan Open Volleyball League, where they once again found themselves facing AL Sec’s Immortals. This time, the Cabadbaran-based squad fielded an even stronger lineup composed of players from different cities and municipalities, making the road to another title even more challenging.

Instead of backing down from the pressure, the Cats leaned on the confidence built from their previous campaign.

“𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘶𝘨𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘦, 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘴𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮,” Devero said. “We had already endured a lot, and we had experience coming from the previous tournament.”

The team swept through the elimination round and advanced to the championship match against NEC Red Rockets. After narrowly winning the first set, the Cats responded with renewed focus during the huddle and sealed the series, 2-0, to secure their second consecutive title.

Beyond the trophies, the championships marked a significant milestone for the program, symbolizing its transformation. Devero credited the team’s growth to the influx of talented recruits, stronger chemistry, and the implementation of a new system developed alongside the coaching staff.

“𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘪𝘣𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘢,” Devero expressed. “We planned a new system, and we learned through experience and training until we were able to make it work.”

With two championships already under their belt, the Cats are setting their sights even higher. The team hopes to establish itself as a dominant force in the local volleyball scene while preparing for future tournaments, including Panagsangka, Lanao-Iligan City Tertiary Schools Athletic Association (LICTSAA), and MSU System Athletic Association (MSUSAA).

“It’s our time to shine,” Devero said. “It’s really time for the Cats to dominate the volleyball scene.”

Report by Xavier Christian Torion
Proofread by Euna Faith Abrantes and Atheena Jomaira Manabilang
Graphics by Muammar Mohammad Taib

06/06/2026

“𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝘂𝗽,” 𝗞𝗔𝗦𝗔𝗠𝗔 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗼𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀

Revitalizing student leadership and focusing on the holistic development of the community, Kataas-taasang Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral (KASAMA) lone presidential candidate 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗹 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗼𝘀 of BS Mathematics heeded the call to serve in this year’s elections, promoting student dialogue to build a more inclusive and empathetic environment within the institution.

Watch as Bordios addresses the most pressing issues affecting the student body and the broader community.

Now in its fourth year, Silahis provides an exclusive look at the 2026 KASAMA General Elections. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.

Video by Remo Leba, Gleengale Vincent Gorgonio, Ezra Lim, Justine Kyle Soco and Joshua Ceasar Peralta

04/06/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝘀

Who would have thought that the Philippines’ most gripping spectacle this May would unfold not beneath carnival lights or inside a traveling big top, but within the Senate itself?

For seventy-two surreal hours, the nation’s so-called august chamber abandoned legislative restraint and embraced full carnival chaos: heated rivalries, emotional confrontations, livestream panic, barricaded hallways, alleged escapology tactics, and gunshots echoing through government walls.

The clips spread across social media sites—Facebook, X, and Threads—faster than official statements. Memes outran facts. Somewhere in between the three-day fiasco, the Philippine Senate achieved what years of policy debates rarely could: global virality. Not for statesmanship, but for spectacle.

The arching contemporary green architecture of the 𝘉𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘰 building now seemed like a red-and-white tent. The menagerie of crocodiles and clowns sits comfortably in polished barongs, smiling with the patience of men who have survived every administration before this one. Puppets sway from invisible strings, twitching obediently whenever distant patrons pull. Near the gates bark loyal lapdogs, mistaking noise for patriotism and devotion for governance. And above them all hangs that ceremonial title still attached to every senator’s name: 𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. An increasingly ambitious word.

The Senate had become a literal sanctuary for Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief-turned-Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa following the unsealing of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant tied to alleged crimes against humanity connected to the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war. Outside, journalists gathered beneath the heat like audiences waiting for the tent to collapse. Inside, senators moved through hallways with the urgency of stagehands scrambling to hide a failing act.

The irony was sharp enough to wound. The institution tasked with investigating wrongdoing was suddenly being framed as a refuge from accountability.

Yet in the Philippines, tragedy and comedy are melodramatically and preposterously interchangeable. While international headlines dissected the ICC warrant, one of the loudest controversies inside the chamber involved former action star-turned-senator Robin Padilla filing an ethics complaint over a supposedly raised voice during the session. Not war. Not justice. Volume.

The irony did not escape younger Filipinos online. Earlier this year, the same senator had criticized the youth for being weak and overly emotional. Yet somewhere between the ICC panic and the heated exchanges, the self-styled honorable figure found himself reduced to the very emotionality he once derided.

And then came the night of May 13. If the previous days resembled disorder beneath the big top, the evening descended into full panic. Reports of chaos spread through fragmented livestreams as security scrambled through corridors when a sound transformed national anxiety into collective disbelief: rounds of gunfire echoing through Senate halls.

The images that followed felt almost fictional. Newly inducted Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano livestreamed portions of the panic from behind barricaded doors.

“𝘕𝘢𝘨𝘱𝘦-𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘢. 𝘕𝘢𝘬𝘰! 𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯?” Senator Imee Marcos asked worriedly in her own livestream, breaking the fourth wall between governance and digital theater as lawmakers themselves became both participants and narrators of the crisis.

Amid the chaos, Cayetano sought CCTV footage of the alleged gunfire, with Senator Jinggoy Estrada ordering it secured, raising questions about what might remain hidden behind the Senate’s curtain.

The sense of alarm reached its zenith when Cayetano declared, “𝘚𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘩𝘢, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬, 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬!”

Yet when the DILG and PNP later presented a timeline of events on May 19, complete with CCTV footage and supporting evidence, the supposed attack seemed to vanish like a disappearing act. The records showed no attack on the Senate at all.

Somewhere beneath the noise, the Senate itself continued disintegrating in public view. Not through tanks. Not through coups. But through humiliation. This is the uniquely modern collapse of political dignity—not an overthrow, but a slow 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

Even the footage itself became part of the spectacle—an 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 figure running up the Senate fire exit stairs on May 11, evading what some described as the looming prospect of a trip to The Hague. 𝘠𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦.

And even after the seventy-two-hour frenzy supposedly ended, the show politely refused to exit stage left. In one session, Senator Pia Cayetano broke down in tears after Senator Risa Hontiveros pointed out that the Senate seemed to be moving on as if the shooting incident had never happened.

“𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴… 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘺, ‘𝘒𝘶𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢 𝘯𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘺𝘢𝘯,’” she said. Senator Erwin Tulfo later clarified that messages of concern were actually sent in their group chat that night.

As if the audience had tuned in for 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘨 instead of legislation, Senator Lito Lapid then stood in plenary and delivered a line that sounded less like parliamentary discourse and more like an afternoon teleserye script: “𝘎𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘰 𝘱𝘰 𝘬𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘰 𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘭 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘢.” As if institutional fractures could be patched over with sentiment—and perhaps a plate of maja blanca and suman on the side.

But while senators search for emotional closure beneath chandeliers and cameras, millions outside the Senate gates remain trapped in far harsher realities no sweetness can soften: rising prices, overcrowded commutes, thinning wages, and survival stretched thin by inflation. Beyond the velvet curtains of this grand performance, the country itself still waits to be asked the same question: 𝘒𝘶𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢 𝘯𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘺𝘢𝘯?

Perhaps the most alarming truth was not what unfolded inside the Senate but how easily the nation absorbed it afterward.

Because once humiliation becomes entertainment and accountability becomes negotiable, institutions stop fearing public judgment. The danger is no longer that politics resembles a show. The danger is when the audience forgets it still has the power to walk out, demand better, and refuse to applaud the next performance.

At some point, Filipinos must decide whether “𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦” remains a standard to demand from public officials—or merely the punchline to a joke the nation has heard too many times before.

Because no matter how long the circus insists on calling itself a palace, it is still the audience that decides when the show no longer deserves applause, when the lights must finally go dark, and when the tent should come down at last.

Written by Jesse Victor Maisog and Ceyx Djaniel Pallorina
Art by Gucilla

02/06/2026

𝗜𝗜𝗧𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘆 ’𝟮𝟲 𝗖𝗣𝗔𝗟𝗘; 𝗠𝗦𝗨-𝗜𝗜𝗧 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝟲𝟬% 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲

With a rating of 89.83%, Carl Ace Dela Cerna of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) seized the seventh spot in the May 2026 Certified Public Accountants Licensure Examination (CPALE), held on May 24-26.

Meanwhile, MSU-IIT posted a 60.00% overall passing rate, with 27 out of 45 examinees passing the exam—24 first-time takers and three repeaters—and three conditional passers.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced the results today, June 2, with 3,004 of 9,737 examinees passing the exam, attaining a national passing rate of 30.83%.

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/May2026CPALE

02/06/2026

𝗠𝗦𝗨-𝗜𝗜𝗧 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝟭𝘀𝘁, 𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗮𝘁’𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Innovation anchored on sustainability led two graduate research teams from Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) to national recognition, securing both first and second place in the Manufacturing and Construction cluster of the Swiss Innovation Prize Competition 2026, held on May 19-21 at Somerset Valero, Makati City.

Spearheaded by the Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines, in partnership with the Swiss Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the prestigious competition recognizes high-impact and economically viable innovations nationwide. From over 140 applications, the top nine—including both MSU-IIT teams—advanced to the final round across three sectors: Information Technology - Business Process Management (IT-BPM), Life Sciences and Digital Health, and Manufacturing and Construction, with finalists receiving mentorship and collaboration opportunities.

At the forefront of the competition, SIBOLution: Sustainable Industrial Byproduct-Optimized Low-Carbon Functional Non-Fired Construction Solutions, developed by Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering (MSMSE) students, Engr. Harvey Melendrez, Engr. Rodric Luceño, and Engr. Edison Limbaga under the Department of Materials and Resources Engineering and Technology (DMRET), emerged as the first-place winner for its transformative approach to converting industrial wastes such as ash, mining byproducts, and construction debris into durable construction materials. By targeting abundant regional waste streams and minimizing the massive carbon dioxide emissions from cement production through a low-energy, non-fired process, it balances engineering marvel and environmental conservation.

Beyond recognition, the team viewed the experience as a reflection of something greater. Engr. Melendrez underscored the value of innovation that begins with understanding community needs and addressing everyday challenges with practical, meaningful solutions, describing the project as “something that creates tangible and lasting impact—not only as a research study on paper, but as a solution that communities can genuinely experience and benefit from.”

Claiming second place was RHA BioSilx: Agro-Industrial Waste-Based Porous Silicate Powders by Engr. Glenn Ruel Maujon, Engr. Maria Elisa Refugio, and Engr. Sean Kenneth Manlupig of the same program. Through an eco-friendly process, the project transforms rice husk ash into a high-quality silica powder with absorption properties for industrial and construction applications. It traces its roots to a local environmental concern after the Iligan City Agriculturist’s Office raised the growing issue of rice production waste, prompting the team to transform what is considered “waste” into a valuable resource that reduces pollution while supporting industrial growth.

“This achievement is the culmination of years of hard work, sleepless nights, and the stressful days we spent in the laboratory,” Engr. Maujon shared. True to its tagline, “Giving Waste a Second Life,” the team values sustainability and remains driven by their commitment to environmental stewardship and national industrial progress.

Building on this, both teams aim to advance their innovations beyond laboratory research by strengthening partnerships with industries, institutions, and communities for real-world applications. Melendrez emphasized that these plans are essential to assess the effectiveness and understand the practical impact of their projects in the communities and environments they intend to serve.

As both teams move towards future plans, their commitment and success further reinforce MSU-IIT’s standing as a premier institution in engineering and innovation, delivering solutions for environmental sustainability, infrastructure, and community development.

Report by Angel Chaves
Proofread by Tristan Cariaga and Atheena Jomaira Manabilang
Graphics by Verjezs Cejudo

01/06/2026

𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦: Following the warrant of arrest issued by the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division, Senator Jinggoy Estrada surrenders to the Crime Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at Camp Crame.

The surrender comes in connection with a ₱573-million non-bailable plunder and graft cases linked to alleged flood control kickbacks, with the senator currently undergoing booking procedures.

31/05/2026

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁: 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝟭𝟵
𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗵, 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗵, 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗵: 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗼

They say grief is like glitter. When it’s recent, it’s everywhere: on your arms, in those weird little corners of your nails, and on your hair, but you can’t even remember touching anything—seriously scattered into every nook and cranny of your life. Suddenly, your whole life is just… sparkling in the worst way possible. And your ridiculous attempt at cleaning is your ridiculous attempt at gaining control. For a while, you’re okay. You’re in control.

Stupid, by the way. Glitter doesn’t care about your need for control.

𝙆𝙖𝙡𝙖 𝙠𝙤’𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙥𝙖, 𝙗𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙤’𝙮 𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙜 𝙥𝙖

One day, at a time you least expect it, you find one when you’re washing the dishes, when you’re dusting the shelf, or when sifting through your old bodega. There it is again. The tiny glittering dust sparkles unannounced, reminding you of what you lost and how easily it finds its way back to you. Just like that, you’re not as okay as you thought you were.

When you’re walking on your way home, and memories just start flooding in, are you confused as to which is weaker: your knees or your heart? Yeah, grief renders you like that, I should know. That damned glitter floating in the dust motes makes itself seen, and it almost always gets in your eye.

𝙃𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞 𝙣𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙖

You’re either human or a wailing pig for nights on end. You finally understand Poe’s tirades about grief and longing and despair. How gut-wrenching it is; how cruel, you realize. You’re as human as you can get. Imprisoned by the very thing that you are supposed to set free, to express and not bottle up. Emotions, you numb POS. I mean, look at you, the ironic and moronic you, writing this in third person because you’re afraid of owning up to the pain.

𝘿𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙬 𝙢𝙤 ‘𝙠𝙤 𝙗𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙩 𝙜𝙖𝙗𝙞

You’ve had your moments questioning your sanity. Is she there? Is she watching you? You can’t get a wink of sleep because in every moment, your mind mistakes silence for presence. While others turn their lights off to sleep better, you fear your darkness becomes her home. The creaks of the fan become footsteps, the light bleeding under your door feels like shadows moving, and the stupid way your heart jumps when your phone vibrates—for one pathetic second, you still think it might be her—checking on you in the middle of the night.

And grief is embarrassing like that. You start finding meaning in the static, in coincidences, and in butterflies landing on your windowsill. All of a sudden, you’re replaying conversations like courtroom evidence, moments where you could’ve been wiser and softer and kinder.

𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙢𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙤 𝙣𝙖 ‘𝙠𝙤 𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣 𝙠𝙤

The worst part is that the world keeps moving with this disgusting normalcy. People still laugh too loudly in jeepneys; someone still has to buy eggs, and who forgot to turn the faucet off again? So, you’re grieving, and you’re aching, but time moves forward without pause or mercy. It doesn’t wait for you to recover. It spits on the forgotten, the buried, and the dead. I should know.

Oh, God! There’s the horrible glitter again!

I’m left with this horrible feeling of despair, of longing, and of numbness by the hole you left behind. They say grief is like glitter that stubbornly sticks, but maybe we’re the ones pressing it deeper, refusing to brush it away. Because grief is love with nowhere to go—a lingering love with no destination after the hand that once held it is gone.

Sometimes, I wonder how far away I am from you right now. Will we meet again? I don’t know—although I should. Sometimes, I wonder about your last moments. Was I good company? Were your last tears for me? Did you feel isolated, hurt, and scared?

Am I forgiven? I don’t know—although I should. Right, ma?

Written by Written By
Proofread by Sophia Patrizia Fernandez
Art by Azekel Imre Loberanes

27/05/2026

𝗔 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝗻𝘄𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵

For many, sacrifice is painful. But for Prophet Ibrahim, it was the truest form of faith.

Today, we honor 𝘌𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘭-𝘈𝘥𝘩𝘢 (Feast of Sacrifice), one of Islam’s major holidays commemorating the devotion and obedience of Prophet Ibrahim to Allah (SWT).

The sacrifice, which entailed giving up his own son, Ismail, was not an easy choice for him to make. But believing it to be a divine command from God, he willingly submitted, surrendering to His will no matter the cost. Yet just as he was about to bind Ismail and carry out the act, God intervened and provided a ram to sacrifice instead, showing that even in difficult times, resolute faith is never left unseen or unrewarded.

Regardless of our religion, may this sacred day remind us to look beyond our own worldly desires and recognize that they should never become our ultimate purpose. And in a world that teaches us to take more, may our faith instead guide us toward the beauty of giving more of ourselves—not for personal comfort, but for the common good.

𝙀𝙞𝙙 𝙈𝙪𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙠, 𝗜𝗜𝗧𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀!

26/05/2026

𝗔𝗗𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗨𝗠: Due to venue unavailability, the mock job interviews will be held at the University Gymnasium on July 17, the Career Center announced.

𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗬: Online workshops for graduating students on navigating life after college will be conducted on June 3, while mock interviews will be held on June 4.

Moreover, the employers’ forum and job fair are scheduled on July 21-22, while the Tribute to Graduates Night will be on July 23.

The Office of the Chancellor (OC) announced through Special Order (SO) No. 00809 s. 2026 on May 18, as per the recommendations of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Services (OVCSS) and Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA).

𝗔𝗗𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗨𝗠: Due to venue unavailability, the mock job interviews will be held at the University Gymnasium on July 17, the Career Center announced.