OpinYon

16/07/2025

On July 12, those who care to remember will celebrate the first decade of the much-ballyhooed ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague—the case filed by former president Benigno Noynoy Aquino against China over the ownership of certain islets, shoals and reefs in the South China Sea.

Read more
https://opinyon.net/opinion/nine-fuzzy-years-of-the-arbitral-ruling

16/07/2025

Television, movie and stage actress Madeleine Nicolas took timeout amid her hectic showbiz schedules to immerse into a productive two-day seminar-workshop on auditioning for film and TV.

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https://opinyon.net/national/madeleine-nicolas-undergoes-seminar-on-film-and-tv-auditioning

Television, movie and stage actress Madeleine Nicolas took timeout amid her hectic showbiz schedules to immerse into a productive two-day seminar-workshop on auditioning for film and TV.

16/07/2025

The leadership of the Catholic Church in Laguna province has joined the growing number of voices opposed to the construction of a hydropower project in Pakil, Laguna.

16/07/2025

15/07/2025

Which is the greater crime: Duterte’s brutal drug war that allegedly killed thousands without trial, or Marcos Jr.’s quiet bleeding of the nation through corruption and political patronage?

Duterte used bullets to silence a few in the name of order. Marcos drains billions through AKAP, TUPAD, AICS, and corruption-ridden projects—condemning millions to a slow death by hunger, floods, and ignorance.

Corruption doesn’t just steal money; it robs Filipinos of what could have been: quality education, universal healthcare, resilient infrastructure, and dignity in the community of nations. It drains the lifeblood of progress and condemns generations to poverty.

This is not to condone Duterte’s alleged extrajudicial killings—but to demand accountability for Marcos’s even deeper, enduring betrayal of the Filipino people.

Which truly kills the nation?

15/07/2025

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is gaining back public trust, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey for June 2025. His trust rating climbed to 48%, a 10-point jump from May’s 38%.

The nationwide survey, conducted from June 25 to 29 and commissioned by Stratbase Group, polled 1,200 adult Filipinos. It had a margin of error of (+-) 3%.

Stratbase President Prof. Dindo Manhit called the increase “significant,” saying it could mean the public is starting to feel more confident in Marcos Jr.’s leadership again. "But he needs to keep this momentum going because trust is key to political stability and good governance."

Other key leaders also saw changes:
🔹 VP Sara Duterte held steady with a strong 61% trust rating.
🔹 Senate President Chiz Escudero rose to 55%, up by 8 points.
🔹 House Speaker Martin Romualdez also saw an 8-point increase, now at 34%.

What do you think, OpinYonistas? Are these trust ratings a sign of better days ahead?

15/07/2025

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has sounded the alarm on a heartbreaking and illegal trend: babies being sold on social media — sometimes for just P90,000 (around $1,500).

According to CHR, at least 16 people have already been arrested, with only one convicted so far. The youngest baby involved in these online transactions? Just 6 days old. 😢

CHR said that social media platforms, especially private Facebook accounts, are being used to post, advertise, and negotiate the sale of these infants. Most of the time, relatives or even the babies' own parents are behind the sales — driven by extreme poverty.

CHR warned that these babies could end up in the hands of abusers or child traffickers, including those involved in online sexual exploitation.

Some sellers disguise the sale as a form of “informal adoption,” hoping the child will have a better life. But CHR reminded the public that real adoption must go through legal channels.

Just this month, a 1-month-old baby was rescued in Pasay City after being sold on Facebook for P90,000.

⚠️ Those caught buying or selling babies face charges under anti-child abuse and human trafficking laws.

What are your thoughts, OpinYonistas?

15/07/2025

You might start seeing free condoms in more public places in Metro Manila soon, as health officials respond to the growing number of HIV cases in the country.

According to the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC), the plan is to distribute free condoms in bars, motels, spas, bathhouses, and other high-risk or “red district” areas.

But there's more - expect to see them in gas stations, workplace bathrooms, health centers, and even tricycle terminals, too.

PNAC said they’re working closely with local government units (LGUs) to identify more locations. Initially, the Department of Health (DOH) will supply the condoms, but LGUs and even private companies may chip in soon.

📌 Important note: No condom distribution in schools, according to PNAC.

This move comes as the DOH reports a 500% rise in HIV cases among young people aged 15 to 25 between 2010 and 2023. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, there were 5,101 confirmed HIV cases, up 50% from the same period last year.

15/07/2025

Still using checks to pay bills, rent, or suppliers? Starting July 2025, banks will now strictly reject checks that don’t follow the new format set by the Philippine Clearing House Corporation (PCHC).

The new check design, launched back in May 2024, aims to reduce fraud and make processing easier through automated systems. Now, the grace period is over — no more old-style checks allowed.

Here’s a quick and simple guide so your checks don’t bounce (literally!):

🔸 Date Format Must Be Numeric
Use this format only: MM-DD-YYYY
✅ Correct: 05-01-2024
❌ Incorrect: 05/01/2024 or May 1, 2024

🔸 Amount in Numbers Should Be Standard
Write amounts using commas and a decimal point
✅ Correct: 172,000.00
❌ Incorrect: 172000

🔸 Only ONE Payee Allowed
Write just one name or “Cash.”
✅ Correct: Cash
❌ Incorrect: Juan Dela Cruz or Cash

🔸 Amount in Words is Required
Spell out the full amount in words
✅ “One hundred seventy-two thousand pesos only”
Leaving this blank? 🚫 That’s a no-go.

🔸 Signature Rules Are More Relaxed
The signature can go outside the box a little, as long as it matches what the bank has on file. If two people sign, they can share the box.

📌 Bottom line: If your check doesn’t follow these new rules, your payment might be rejected, delayed, or bounced.

OpinYonistas, do you still write checks or is everything digital for you now?

15/07/2025

15/07/2025

"Dormitory City.” That is an appellation that has been applied to San Pedro City, Laguna for years, as it had become a haven of sorts for workers from Metro Manila and other parts of the Calabarzon region.

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https://opinyon.net/national/sustainable-urbanization-towards-a-smart-city

15/07/2025

Before, when I heard someone was a cm laude, magna cm laude, or even summa cm laude, I felt amazed—almost awestruck. Those titles carried a certain weight, like medals forged through sleepless nights, blood, sweat, and relentless pursuit of excellence. But now, when I scroll through social media and see multiple Latin honorees in just one graduation post, it seems almost... normal. What changed?

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https://opinyon.net/opinion/the-changing-value-of-latin-honors-in-philippine-universities