Abbey M.

Ang kasal sa ating bansa ay sagrada. Sa katunayan, walang diborsyo na tulad sa ibang bansa.

Subalit, naaayon din ba sa ating batas na maaaring piliting ng hukuman ang mag-asawa na huwag paghiwalayin?

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Bribery and embezzlement of public funds are the two leading types of corruption, according to a study conducted in the country.

In light of this, the Office of the Ombudsman will use the data as a basis for implementing reforms to further catch corrupt government officials.

Nanay Lourdes, an eatery owner, expressed her frustration over corrupt officials. 

"Those corrupt officials should be held accountable. The people are suffering. It's such a waste—instead of benefiting the people, it goes to the corrupt, into their pockets," she said.

["Yang mga kurap na yan, managot nang husto. Kawawa ang mga mamamayan e. JC: Talagang napakahirap imbis na mapakinabangan ng mga mamamayan, napunta sa mga kurakot.”]

News about corruption within government agencies has been widespread, particularly regarding flood control projects. The President himself has called out government officials who benefit from public funds.

President Marcos condemned those involved in corruption. 

"To those who conspire to take the people's funds and steal the future of our citizens—have some shame before your fellow Filipinos!" he said.

["Kaya sa mga nakikipagsabwatan, upang kunin ang pondo ng bayan at nakawin ang kinabukasan ng ating mga mamamayan. Mahiya naman kayo sa inyong kapwa Filipino!"]

According to a study conducted by OCTA Research among 1,200 Filipinos in December 2025, 73% believe bribery is the most prevalent form of corruption. This was followed by irregularities in the use of public funds at 66%, while vote buying ranked third at 62%.

Tatay Dante, a vendor in Quezon City, agreed with the survey results, saying he wasn't surprised as it matches what he often hears in the news alongside ongoing government investigations.

"It's all bribes and payoffs. Because if there were no bribes, no payments made, someone would speak up. But no one does. They must have been paid large amounts, so they stay silent," he said.

["Puro bayaran e, suhol. Kasi kung walang suhol yan, walang binayaran sa mga yan e, may magsasalita dyan e, kaso wala. Malalaki siguro ang binigay kaya tahimik."]

Nanay Lourdes called on authorities to strengthen their efforts against abuse of power. 

"Those officials involved in corruption should pay the price so our government can improve," she said.

["Dapat yang mga opisyal na yan na nasangkot sa mga korap pagbayaran nila para tumino ang ating pamahalaan."]

The Office of the Ombudsman itself commissioned the survey to serve as the basis for measures they will implement as an independent body focused on investigating and prosecuting government employees involved in corruption.

Assistant Ombudsman and Office of the Ombudsman Spokesperson Mico Clavano announced plans to revive the Resident Ombudsman program. 

"The immediate response of the office is to reactivate the Resident Ombudsman Program. This program essentially allows the Office of the Ombudsman to assign Resident Ombudsmen in vulnerable agencies where they will work on-site to serve as the repository of complaints as well as be the chief implementers of the programs instituted by the office," he said.

While the list of departments isn't final yet, Clavano said they will prioritize national agencies such as the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

To maintain professionalism and avoid familiarity, there will be rotation in the deployment of Resident Ombudsmen to each agency. Clavano added that they will strengthen coordination with the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for these measures.

They will also continue commissioning additional surveys to serve as the basis for future reforms in the office.

With reports from Evan Alvarez

The Chinese Embassy in Manila has insisted that China remains open to understanding and resolving disputes through dialogue and consultation with the Philippines.

According to Embassy Spokesperson Ji Lingpeng, Beijing strongly opposes any defamatory statements against China and remarks that allegedly incite anger. The embassy also urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to stop certain individuals in the country from making such comments.

This comes in response to the DFA's earlier statement expressing concern over the Chinese Embassy's warning that Filipino workers' jobs could be affected by the ongoing diplomatic tension. The department said the warning could appear coercive or threatening.

Despite this, both sides emphasized the importance of responsible and sustained diplomacy to maintain and advance bilateral relations amid existing differences.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. simply smiled when singer-actress Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan made a joke at an event attended by the President and First Lady Liza Marcos.

The veteran actress's quip was related to the President's running mate during the May 2022 elections.

According to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, Malacañang respects the opinion of Ate Shawie.

During the event, Cuneta told the President that she only has one vice president, her date for the night. She then joked about making the wrong choice before quickly moving on.

"Sir, I only have one vice president, my date tonight. Wrong your choice, no?! Sorry, okay, okay, let's move on,” Cuneta said. 

["Sir, I only have one vice president, my date tonight. Wrong your choice, right?! Sorry, okay, okay, let's move on."]

Undersecretary Castro addressed the comment, stating that if that is the opinion of Ms. Sharon Cuneta, and likely many fellow Filipinos feel the same way, then that is her opinion. She noted that the President simply smiled in response.

"Kung iyon po ang opinyon ni Ate Shawie, ni Ms. Sharon Cuneta at malamang karamihan sa ating mga kababayan ay iyan din po ang nararamdaman. So, opinyon po iyon ni Ms. Sharon Cuneta at nakita po natin na napangiti lamang ang ating Pangulo,” Usec. Castro noted.

["If that is the opinion of Ate Shawie, of Ms. Sharon Cuneta, and likely many of our fellow Filipinos feel the same way, that is Ms. Sharon Cuneta's opinion and we saw that our President simply smiled."]

The Philippines is facing a growing health crisis as chronic kidney disease (CKD) continues to affect an increasing number of Filipinos, with cases now alarmingly affecting younger people and even children.

A 2025 study published in the Journal of Medical Economics paints a worrying picture: approximately 12.94 million Filipinos are living with various stages of CKD, with one Filipino developing chronic renal failure every hour. To put this in perspective, the prevalence of CKD in the Philippines is 35.94%, more than three times higher than the global average.

Recent data from the National Kidney and Transplant Institute shows just how fast the problem is growing. The number of Filipinos undergoing dialysis jumped to 64,845 in 2024, a 22% increase in just one year. Kidney disease now ranks among the top ten causes of death in the country.

What's causing this? Health experts point to two major culprits: high blood pressure and diabetes. According to the Philippine Renal Disease Registry, these two conditions account for the majority of kidney disease cases in the country. 

But lifestyle factors also play a huge role. Recent cases have shown teenagers and children as young as nine years old diagnosed with advanced CKD. Many of them grew up eating mostly junk food and soft drinks while rarely drinking water.

The financial toll on Filipino families is crushing. A recent cost study found that managing CKD can cost over PHP 100,000 per year per patient, and that's not even including complications. For those who need dialysis, which most patients do, the sessions last four hours and must be done several times a week. Many families struggle to keep up with these expenses, and kidney transplants remain out of reach for most due to cost and the lack of available donors.

The tricky part about kidney disease is that in its early stages, you might not feel anything wrong at all. By the time symptoms appear like constant tiredness, swollen feet and ankles, changes in urination, or persistent nausea, the disease may have already progressed significantly.

The good news? CKD is largely preventable. Simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference: eat more fruits and vegetables, cut back on processed and salty foods, drink plenty of water instead of soft drinks, exercise regularly, and get regular checkups to monitor your blood pressure and blood sugar. 

For those with diabetes or hypertension, keeping these conditions under control is crucial to protecting your kidneys.

With cases rising so rapidly, especially among the young, health experts are urging Filipinos to take kidney health seriously before it's too late.