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The Herald, Tacurong City, Tacurong (2026)

28/01/2026

FEATURE || ✍️ Rave Kozume

𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐲-𝐨𝐟𝐟

It was recess time. I had just bought a cup of fries, which I immediately started eating while making my way back to the classroom. Every crunch, flavor, was familiar. Then I felt it—like the stairs had grown legs and decided to perform an intricate dance. I stopped on the 14th step to make sense of what was actually happening.

A loud buzz took over the entire campus, confirming my suspicion. Students quickly filled the hallways, hands raised above their heads, worry painted on their faces. This time, the shaking intensified. Hanging lights swayed as if on the brink of falling to the ground.

I practically flew down the stairs, heart pounding from both surprise and fear. I made my way to the field, where students formed scattered lines, crouching, hands never leaving the tops of their heads.

I sat there, sunlight warming my skin, my mind wandering, asking questions I was too scared to answer. How long will this last? Is this the last one? Is our house still standing? Is my family okay? I bit down on a fry, trying to distract myself from the quaking ground beneath my feet.

Finally, it stopped. I let out a sigh, knowing that while the shaking had ended, the effects of the earthquake would not be easy to undo. The teachers announced that classes were suspended and told us to go home immediately.

Cool wind tangled through my hair as I rode a tricycle home. Scrolling through my phone, I came across the executive order confirming today’s class suspension. Out of habit, I started reading the comments—at first, they were normal, people wishing safety upon others and expressing fear for the concerning number of earthquakes hitting our area. Then the tone quickly shifted.

Numerous comments celebrated the suspension, some smiling in a way that made my stomach tighten. Their happiness wasn’t about safety—it was about not having to sit in class, listening to a lecture they found uninteresting.
My eyebrows furrowed.

I couldn’t believe it. While some were cheering for getting a day-off, others feared for their lives. As they celebrated in their beds, others were leaving homes they had worked so hard to build, evacuating to safety. It made me upset—an earthquake is never a celebration. It’s a reminder of how quickly everything can change.

__________________

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐝 ©

𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

09/01/2026

SPORTS || ✍️ Kazeo

𝐖𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. urged student-athletes in Cagayan to value sportsmanship, discipline, and respect as he graced the opening of the Cagayan Provincial Athletic Association (CPAA) Meet, reminding young competitors that true victory goes beyond medals and trophies.

Speaking before hundreds of student-athletes, coaches, and officials, Marcos emphasized that sports play a crucial role in shaping character and instilling life skills that extend far beyond the playing field. He encouraged the participants to compete with integrity, respect their opponents, and uphold fairness in every match.

The President highlighted that athletics serve as a powerful training ground for the youth, teaching discipline, teamwork, perseverance, and humility in both victory and defeat. According to Marcos, learning how to handle pressure, loss, and success through sports prepares students for greater responsibilities in school, work, and society.

Marcos also reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening sports development at the grassroots level, particularly in schools. He stressed the importance of ensuring that young Filipinos have access to quality sports programs that promote physical fitness, mental resilience, and unity among students from different communities.

The CPAA Meet brings together student-athletes from various municipalities across Cagayan, competing in multiple sporting events as part of their journey toward higher levels of competition. Winners of the provincial meet will advance to the regional athletic meet, with the opportunity to qualify for the prestigious Palarong Pambansa.

As the games officially opened, Marcos called on the athletes to enjoy the competition while honoring the spirit of fair play. He reminded them that while winning is important, the values learned through sports—respect, discipline, and camaraderie—are achievements that last a lifetime.

The President’s message resonated strongly with participants, reinforcing the idea that sports are not only about excellence in performance but also about building character, fostering unity, and shaping responsible future leaders of the nation.

______________

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐝 ©

𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

09/01/2026

NEWS || ✍️ Yanyan

𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬 — ‘𝘽𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙣𝙖 𝙞-𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙣𝙞𝙮𝙤 𝙮𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜’

Tacurong City Mayor Lina O. Montilla, PhD, called on young journalists to uphold truth and responsibility as she addressed campus scribes during the Division Schools Press Conference 2026 at Rockfort Educational Institute Incorporated, January 9.

Montilla said news now spreads in seconds, stressing that what student journalists write directly shapes how their peers think and respond to issues in society.

“So dapat responsible kayo na mga bata … na iyung i-news ninyo iyung totoo lang, iyung tama … huwag mag-gawa-gawa ng istorya kasi mababalikan din kayo.” she said, warning that false reporting carries legal and ethical consequences.

Addressing challenges such as plagiarism and misinformation, Montilla cautioned against overreliance on artificial intelligence, noting that credibility is built through original writing and careful verification.

“Because subong may AI na … so don’t rely on AI … be responsible na ibalita ninyo iyung totoo lang.” local chief executive said, emphasizing that ethical journalism remains essential in giving voice to those who are often unheard.

______________

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐝 ©

𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

08/01/2026

FEATURE || ✍️ Rave Kozume

𝐍𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐁𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐚

I used to scroll past those posts—memes, rants, news clips—laughing quietly to myself. People were furious about that “₱500 Noche Buena” statement, calling it insensitive, unrealistic, insulting. But to me? It sounded perfectly reasonable.

₱500 was already a lot for them, wasn’t it?
At least, that’s how I thought back then.

I remember sitting in our living room, marble floors cold under my feet, our Christmas tree glittering with ornaments we replaced every year just because last year’s theme “felt old.” Mom was finalizing our menu with the caterer—three mains, two desserts, grazing table on the side—while I read comments from people saying ₱500 couldn’t even buy spaghetti ingredients anymore.

I scoffed.
Out loud.

Be grateful, I thought.
If people tried harder, maybe they wouldn’t be complaining.
If they just budgeted better, maybe ₱500 would be enough.

It was easy to say all of that when our pantry looked like a mini supermarket and I had never stepped inside a wet market without security trailing behind me. It was easy to believe people were “overreacting” when I had never once worried about a price tag.

It was easy—until it wasn’t.

Because a year later, everything crashed.

Dad’s business folded like a cheap tent in a storm. Loans piled up. Properties were sold one by one. The things we used to replace so casually suddenly became precious. Even the Christmas ornaments stayed packed in the same dusty box as last year because this time, we didn’t have the budget to “refresh the theme.”

And for the first time in my life, we were the ones counting every peso with shaking hands.

When December came, Mom looked at me with a tight smile and said,
“We have ₱500 for Noche Buena. Let’s try to make it work.”

That sentence hit harder than any angry comment I used to mock.
₱500.
The number I once defended so confidently.
The number I once weaponized to judge those who had less.

We went to the market ourselves. No security. No car. Just the three of us and a small eco bag that somehow felt heavier than any luxury purse I’d ever owned.

And only then did I understand.

₱500 disappears fast.
A pack of pasta—almost half.
A small can of fruit cocktail—another chunk.
Meat? Laughable. Prices stared back at me like they were mocking my old self.

We ended up with a small loaf of bread, a pack of pasta, a sachet of sauce, and a tiny block of cheese. No ham. No dessert. No extras. Nothing that resembled the “feast” Noche Buena was supposed to be.

That night, we sat together at the table.
It was quiet—too quiet for Christmas Eve.
The pasta tasted different when you know it’s all you can afford.

And yet, even with the simplicity of our dinner, even with the weight of everything we’d lost, we held hands. My parents still smiled. We were still complete.
But I couldn’t shake the ache in my chest.

Because gratefulness doesn’t fill plates.
Love doesn’t change prices.
Family doesn’t magically turn ₱500 into a feast.

That night, I remembered the girl I was a year ago—the one who scoffed, the one who mocked, the one who thought gratitude alone could stretch a budget.
I hated her.
I mourned her innocence and despised her arrogance at the same time.

Now I know better.
Now I know how it feels.
Now I understand the anger, the exhaustion, the frustration behind every comment I once dismissed.

And if I could speak to that old version of myself, I’d tell her this:

You can’t judge hunger when you’ve never tasted it.
You can’t call people ungrateful for asking for dignity.
And you can’t say ₱500 is enough—
not until you’ve lived through a Christmas where it’s all you have.

______________

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐝 ©

𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

08/01/2026

NEWS || ✍️ Yanyan

𝐏𝐇 𝐧𝐚𝐭'𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥-𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐏17.65𝐓

The Philippines’ national government debt reached ₱17.65 trillion by end‑November 2025 amid spending on recovery, infrastructure, and social programs.

The rise was driven by new government securities and borrowings to fund deficits and development priorities.

The Bureau of Treasury (BTr) emphasized that borrowing decisions are guided by careful financial planning.

“The national government’s external financing operations remained prudent, measured, and anchored on long-term debt sustainability considerations,” the BTr said.

Officials note debt sustainability as key focus for the country moving into 2026.
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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐝 ©

𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

The Herald

28/01/2026

09/01/2026

09/01/2026

08/01/2026

08/01/2026

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