Tarlac Insider Weekly Newspaper

10/08/2025

2025 Palawan International Choral Festival: A Celebration of Music and Culture
The 2025 Palawan International Choral Festival is set to take place from August 13 to 16 in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines. This landmark event brings together top regional choirs and internationally acclaimed choral experts in a vibrant celebration of music, culture, and community.
A Gathering of Voices and Visions The festival is more than just a competition; it's a gathering of voices and visions that celebrates harmony, excellence, and collaboration across borders. The event is organized by the National Association of Filipino Choirs, Inc. and features a panel of esteemed international jury members and choral experts, including National Artist for Music Dr. Ramon P. Santos.
Choir Competition One of the highlights of the festival is the Choir Competition, where outstanding regional choirs from CARAGA, MIMAROPA, CALABARZON, BICOL, and the National Capital Region (NCR) will compete for top honors. These award-winning ensembles have undergone rigorous screening and are poised to showcase the finest in Filipino choral performance on an international stage.
Sponsors and Partners The festival is proudly supported by various sponsors and partners, including the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) as Platinum Sponsor, the City Government of Puerto Princesa, the Provincial Government of Palawan, and Robinsons Mall as an official partner venue. Diamond Sponsors include the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Airlines (PAL), and Go Hotels.
Promoting Choral Music The Palawan International Choral Festival aims to promote choral music and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines. The event is expected to attract music enthusiasts and choral experts from around the world, showcasing the country's vibrant music scene and affirming Palawan's place as a cultural and musical destination of global significance.
For Inquiries For more information about the 2025 Palawan International Choral Festival, please contact the National Association of Filipino Choirs, Inc. at [email protected].
Join the Celebration Don't miss out on this exciting celebration of music and culture! Join the 2025 Palawan International Choral Festival and experience the harmony and excellence of Filipino choral music. By Dina Diaz

06/08/2025

THE PHILIPPINES' LARGEST ROOFTOP SOLAR PANEL SYSTEM!

SM Supermalls sets a new benchmark in sustainability with the successful installation of a 3,785 kWp solar PV system at SM City Fairview.

Featuring 6,800 rooftop solar panels spanning 4.3 hectares, the project makes SM City Fairview the largest solar-powered SM mall in the Philippines to date—a powerful step forward in SM’s commitment to a greener, more energy-efficient future.

Read more here:
https://gosm.link/SMFairviewDebutsBiggestRooftopSolarPanelSystem

03/08/2025

01/08/2025

🎊 SM celebrates 40 SUPER YEARS with over 3,500 amazing deals! 🎊*

To mark its 40th anniversary, SM Supermalls is treating you to a massive celebration with 3,500+ deals from your favorite brands and stores nationwide! 💙

🛍 Shop, Swipe, and Redeem via the SM Malls Online app from August 1 to September 9, 2025.
Get ready for exclusive promos, epic finds, and surprises you won’t want to miss—happening across 88 SM malls! 🎁

Celebrate with us and discover why everything’s better at SM.
Check out the complete list of deals here: https://gosm.link/SMMallsOnlineSuperDeals

31/07/2025

Cayetano urges Cabinet to take hard stand vs online gambling amid education woes

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday called on education agencies to speak up against the continued expansion of online gambling in the country, saying the government should not trade children’s futures for gambling revenues.
“Shouldn’t CHED, TESDA, and DepEd weigh in?” Cayetano said during his manifestation on the Senate floor as Senator Bam Aquino, chair of Senate Committee on Basic Education, delivered a privilege speech on the country’s learning crisis on July 30, 2025.
Cayetano questioned the silence of key education institutions on the matter, noting the stark contrast between the government's P50 billion income from gambling and the more than P1 trillion needed to properly fund education.
“Papayag ka sa P50 billion na kikitain [sa online gambling] pero ang mga bata tuturuan mo na mag-hard work, mag-aral, at ‘wag magsugal?” he said.
Cayetano recalled his refusal to calendar the franchise of e-sabong during his term as House Speaker, which he said contributed to the move to oust him from the speakership in 2020.
In the 20th Congress, Cayetano — who has been advocating for a total ban on all forms of gambling since 2000 due to its harmful effects on youth, families, and society — co-authored the proposed Ban on Online Gambling Act and principally authored the Anti-Online Gambling Advertisement Act, which seeks to prohibit the promotion of online gambling across all platforms.
He warned that the same risks remain today with online gaming, even as Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) have been phased out.
“Ngayon, wala na ang POGO, thank God and thank you everyone here who worked on that. Having said that, pinag-iisipan pa ng Malacañang kung ano ang epekto at ano ang balance ng online gaming,” he said.
Cayetano stressed that those handling the nation’s education and values formation should take a principled stance on the issue.
“Do you feel, as one of the champions of education, that despite being in the same Cabinet, certain members of the Cabinet that deal with our children and our values, should have a hard stand?” he asked Aquino.
Aquino, a longtime advocate of education reform, agreed.
“I agree completely. Hindi dapat natin ipamigay ang kinabukasan ng anak natin para sa ilang bilyong buwis na makukuha natin,” Aquino said.
Cayetano called for radical solutions, saying the problems in the education system are already clear and so are the answers.
“I say all of these with passion because I saw it before my eyes kung ano y’ung successful at kung ano y’ung dumudurog sa sistema. The solution is there but we have to be radical,” he said.
“I think the task of this 20th Congress is not only for change or to do something but it is really the radical change that is needed — the hard decisions and putting our money where our mouth is," he added. # # #

31/07/2025

Try the Chinese comfort food of Mandarin 360 at SM Tarlac Foodcourt

Mandarin 360 officially opened at SM City Tarlac Foodcourt, located at Lower Ground Level, offering a variety of Chinese foods.

For as low as P150, you could try their flavorful Xiao Long Bao, perfect to kickstart your meal. Fulfill your soup cravings during this rainy season with their best seller, Braised Beef for only P209, or if you’re craving something flavorful and extra, try their best seller Mini Hotpot for P229 – with its big serving, it’s perfect for sharing.

They also offer variety of dishes, including stir-fried, dim sum, and rice bowls, starting at P149, and appetizers starting at P50.

Don’t miss out and visit Mandarin 360 for fresh and flavorful Chinese comfort food at SM City Tarlac Foodcourt. For more updates, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow on Facebook.

30/07/2025

Cayetano welcomes SONA focus on health, education, urges action

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday commended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for delivering a blunt and honest assessment of the country’s problems in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), especially in tackling urgent concerns such as healthcare, education, and government accountability.
“Unang-una, I like the tone. Y’ung blunt honesty. Noong araw, magyayabang ka sa SONA. Basically ang sinasabi ng mga dating presidente, babaha ng proyekto. [Pero] ngayon he was honest enough to say [na] y’ung mga proyekto na [ganyan] dahil palpak," the senator told reporters in an interview on July 28, 2025.
But the senator warned that the public should not settle for promises alone, especially when it comes to health reforms like the zero-balance billing program, which faces serious challenges on the ground.
“I'm basically happy with the tone and y’ung mga issues na naisama. Y’ung mga pinakaimportante [like] health, education, corruption, accountability, nabanggit. Now, the key is, even before the next SONA, by the end of the year, nasunod ba y’ung mga nabanggit today,” he said.
Cayetano welcomed Marcos’ plan to implement zero-balance billing in public hospitals. But he raised concerns that it might not work as expected because of ongoing disputes between hospitals and PhilHealth about which services are really covered.
“Y’ung zero billing, the reality is, away sa hospital y’an. Tignan natin kung mangyayari talaga. Pero kung mangyayari, maganda,” he said.
In his SONA, Marcos said patients in Department of Health (DOH) hospitals will no longer have to pay for basic services and accommodations, with the government aiming to implement zero-balance billing across the country.
Funding for the initiative will come from multiple government sources, including PhilHealth, the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
But Cayetano pointed out past problems with PhilHealth’s budget, saying that even when government officials claimed there was sufficient funding, healthcare services never significantly improved.
“As usual, maganda lahat ng premise, tingnan natin sa dulo, sa conclusion, kung ganoon pa rin,” he said.
“Iyang PhilHealth, may pera sila, may pondo riyan. Pero hindi naman gumaganda y’ung serbisyo. So now by emphasizing the zero billing, ang susi riyan, implementation,” he added.
The senator emphasized that the current midterm period is a critical time for the administration to act before the nation becomes distracted by election season.
Cayetano filed several key bills in the 20th Congress to support the push for long-term health and education improvements. These include the “Super Health Centers in All Cities and Municipalities Act” and the “Health Centers in All Barangays Act,” which aim to expand access to primary healthcare nationwide.
In the education sector, he is pushing for the creation of the Third Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM III) and the passage of the “Makakapagtapos Ako Act of 2025”, a measure designed to remove all financial barriers preventing Filipinos from completing their education. # # #

30/07/2025

*Cayetano to head four Senate committees, including justice and human rights*
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano will lead four Senate committees in the 20th Congress after the chamber finalized its committee chairmanships on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

Cayetano, one of the Senate’s lawyer-legislators, now also chairs the Committee on Justice and Human Rights — one of the most crucial legal committees in the chamber.

In a previous statement, he said he was open to taking on any committee where legal expertise was needed.

“Sabi ko lang kay Senate President Escudero, basta lahat ng pang-abogado, available ako,” he said.

Aside from the justice committee, Cayetano retained his positions as chair of three other committees: Accounts, Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, and Science and Technology.

As chair of the Committee on Accounts, he will continue to oversee the progress of the New Senate Building (NSB), which is expected to be completed by mid-2027. The committee is also responsible for auditing and adjusting Senate-related expenses and financial activities.

Cayetano also stays on as chair of the Committee on Science and Technology. In the previous Congress, he advocated for the modernization of PHIVOLCS to enhance the country’s disaster preparedness.

He also sponsored the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, which proposes the creation of an independent regulatory body to ensure the safe and secure use of nuclear energy and related technologies.

A long-time advocate of educational reform, Cayetano continues to lead the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education. He has consistently pushed for the improvement of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and other learning institutions.

This year, he filed several key education-related proposals, including the creation of the Third Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM III) and the “Makakapagtapos Ako Act of 2025,” which aims to remove financial obstacles that prevent Filipino students from finishing their education. # # #

29/07/2025

Tarlac Leaders Show Unity and Support at SONA 2025

Concepcion Mayor Noel Villanueva recently attended the highly anticipated State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2025 of President Ferdinand "B**gB**g" Marcos, alongside Tarlac's 2nd District Representative Cristy Angeles and 3rd District Representative Noel "B**g" Rivera. The gathering showcased a strong display of unity and support for the administration's initiatives and programs.

During the event, Mayor Villanueva, Rep. Angeles, and Rep. Rivera were captured in a photo opportunity, highlighting their collaborative efforts in advancing the interests of Tarlac Province. This moment symbolizes their commitment to working together towards the betterment of their constituents and the region as a whole.

The SONA serves as a platform for the President to outline the government's accomplishments, challenges, and future plans. With the presence of these key officials from Tarlac, it is evident that they are dedicated to staying informed and involved in national matters that impact their province.

This gathering also underscores the importance of strong local governance and representation in shaping the future of Tarlac and the Philippines. By working together, these leaders can drive progress and ensure that their constituents' needs are met.

The event demonstrates the value of collaboration and unity in achieving common goals and promoting the welfare of the people they serve.