Tarlac Insider Weekly Newspaper

15/07/2025

𝐒𝐌 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐍𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, SM Supermalls, through its flagship literacy program SM Book Nook, is calling on communities nationwide to help spark the joy of reading by donating pre-loved books as part of the SM Book Nook Book Donation Drive, starting July 7, 2025 in all SM malls across the country.

Anchored on the theme “𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐤𝐲: 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬,” this initiative encourages mallgoers, tenants, partners, and communities to donate quality books that will benefit children, families, and readers from all walks of life.

A portion of the books will be turned over to the National Library of the Philippines and its affiliate libraries, while others will support the expansion of SM Book Nook reading hubs to more SM malls and partner institutions nationwide.

“𝐒𝐌 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐍𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞—𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞, 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐖𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬,” said Ms. Shereen T. Sy, pioneer of the SM Book Nook program under SM Cares.

The campaign aims to collect 40,000 books in line with SM’s 40TH anniversary milestone. Each SM Mall will serve as an official drop-off point, where specially designed donation boxes will be placed in strategic in-mall locations. Starting July 7, 2025, mall communities are invited to drop off pre-loved books in good condition --- complete, clean, dry, and free from major damage.

𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
Accepted books include fiction and non-fiction titles, children’s books and young adult literature, academic and reference books, as well as magazines and comics in good condition.

Beyond donations, the campaign also highlights SM Cares’ long-term vision to make every SM mall a hub for inclusive learning, community engagement, and shared hope---especially for young readers and future leaders.

This initiative supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals.

𝐀𝐭 𝐒𝐌 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐜, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝟐 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥.

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟒𝟎 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮
SM Supermalls---one of the Southeast Asia’s largest mall developers and operators with 88 malls in the Philippines and 8 in China---marks four decades of growing with Filipinos and becoming a trusted space here diverse lifestyles and generations connect, while continuously redefining the malling experience through sustainability, innovation, and a deep commitment to shaping the future of retail and urban life with inclusive and meaningful experiences.

15/07/2025

*Cayetano sa house arrest resolusyon kay Duterte: Hindi lang sa kaalyado dapat mahabag*

Para kay Senador Alan Peter Cayetano, ang habag o compassion ay isa sa mga nangingibabaw na katangian ng mga Pilipino na dapat manatiling gabay sa katarungan – kahit para sa mga taong hindi natin sinasang-ayunan.

Ito aniya ang dahilan kung bakit niya inihain ang isang resolusyon na humihikayat sa pamahalaan ng Pilipinas na makipag-ugnayan sa International Criminal Court (ICC) upang payagan ang house arrest imbes na nakakulong sa selda para kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte habang naghihintay ng paglilitis.

“In other words, Malacañang will talk to the ICC hoping to give an interim release to former President Duterte while he's awaiting trial,” wika ng senador kay Boy Abunda sa isang video na inilabas nitong July 13, 2025.

Nilinaw ni Cayetano na hindi ito panawagan para palayain si Duterte kundi para bigyan ito ng mas makataong paraan ng pagkakakulong na sumusunod sa Saligang Batas at karapatang pantao.

Sa ilalim ng resolusyon, ang house arrest ay maaaring isagawa sa ilalim ng mahigpit na kondisyon – posibleng sa loob ng Philippine Embassy sa The Hague – upang matiyak ang legal na proseso habang iginagalang ang dignidad ng tao.

Giit ng senador, ang habag ay hindi lang dapat ibinibigay sa kaibigan o kakampi.

“One thing I deeply believe in is that Filipinos are deeply compassionate people. And when you say love and compassionate, the Bible repeatedly says, ‘If you're only kind, loving, and compassionate to your loved ones, then what's your difference to evil people?’” paliwanag ng senador.

“Meaning, dapat compassionate ka kahit hindi ka nag-a-agree sa tao, kahit sa enemy mo,” dagdag niya.

Nagbigay din siya ng mga halimbawa sa loob at labas ng bansa kung saan ginagamit na ang ganitong makataong paraan.

“His (Duterte’s) lawyer filed for interim release, which is allowed under the ICC rules as it has happened before. That was a rebel from Congo who was accused of crimes against humanity… We’ve also done this in the Philippines — former Senator Leila de Lima was held in a special facility, and Senator Sonny Trillanes was detained in Camp Aguinaldo,” aniya.

Ayon kay Cayetano, ang tunay na katarungan ay dapat may prinsipyo at hindi dapat maging malupit.

“If we do everything ‘an eye for an eye,’ then the whole world goes blind, right? It's a vicious cycle, so it has to stop somewhere. And that's where human rights activism and all of these conventions and international groups come into play,” sabi niya.

Habang mainit ang usapin, nananawagan ang senador na manindigan at manatiling mahinahon.

“He's still a former president, Kuya Boy. God forbid something happens to former President Duterte. If something happens inside, and our attitude as a nation is like that and the ICC's decision is like that, we can't do anything,” ani Cayetano kay Abunda.

“But if we say he’s guilty, ‘you’re going to rot there’ – that’s from very angry people. It’s not just about accountability, but doing it with dignity,” dagdag niya. # # #

15/07/2025

Restored power transmission services in parts of Pampanga at 10:56pm on 14 July 2025.

Affected: PELCO III

Reason: tripping incident along Mexico-Calumpit 69kV Line at 10:09pm due damaged current transformer located at Apalit Substation owned by PELCO III.

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this power interruption.

14/07/2025

*Panukala para palawakin ang benepisyo ng mga kasambahay, isusulong ni Cayetano*

Isinulong ni Senator Alan Peter Cayetano nitong Huwebes ang panukalang batas na magbibigay ng dagdag na benepisyo at proteksyon para sa mga kasambahay, kabilang ang libreng gamot, access sa edukasyon, at mas mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng kanilang karapatan sa ilalim ng batas.

Sa ilalim ng Senate Bill No. 418 o Enhanced Batas Kasambahay Act, palalawakin ang kasalukuyang Republic Act No. 10361 para matugunan ang patuloy na problema ng mababang sahod, kakulangan sa skills training, at limitadong suporta sa kalusugan ng mga kasambahay.

“Kasambahays play a vital role in Filipino households. Through their hard work and care, they ensure the comfort, stability, and well-being of the families they serve,” wika ni Cayetano.

“But if we are to truly transform the nation, we must begin by reducing social inequalities — starting at home,” dagdag niya.

Sakop ng panukala ang pagbibigay ng hindi bababa sa isang oras kada araw o anim na oras kada linggo para sa skills training o alternative education ng mga kasambahay. Babayaran ito bilang bahagi ng kanilang working hours.

Para suportahan ang online learning, inaatasan ang Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) na maglunsad ng programang magbibigay ng internet-enabled devices sa mga kasambahay.

Itatatag rin ang Kasambahay Education Inter-Agency Committee na binubuo ng DOLE, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Education (DepEd), at Commission on Higher Education (CHED) para bumuo ng practical modules, tiyaking may access kahit may teknikal na limitasyon, at balansehin ang karapatan ng amo at kasambahay.

May probisyon din para sa libreng maintenance medicines para sa mga kasambahay na may diabetes, high blood, hika, TB, at iba pang chronic illnesses. Sagot ito ng LGU at PhilHealth sa ilalim ng National Health Insurance Program.

Pinalalakas din ng panukala ang pagpapatupad ng obligasyon ng mga amo na irehistro ang kasambahay sa SSS, PhilHealth, at Pag-IBIG. May dagdag suporta rin sa mga kasambahay na biktima ng abuso o pagsasamantala.

“No one should remain a kasambahay for life simply because they were never given the chance to grow. By investing in their development, we invest in a more inclusive, just, and forward-moving society,” wika Cayetano. # # #

13/07/2025

13/07/2025