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Abbey M.

Weather & Environment

#WalaPasok September 1, 2025: Class and work suspension on Monday due to inclement weather

September 1, 2025 7:28 AM
PST

WALANG PASOK

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced the suspension of classes in all levels, public and private, and government work on Monday, September 1, 2025, in the following areas due to inclement weather:

(This is a running list, please refresh this post for updates.)

1. Metro Manila

2. Cavite

3. Bulacan

4. Laguna

5. Quezon

6. Camarines Norte

7. Camarines Sur

8. Albay

9. Catanduanes

10. Sorsogon

11. Masbate

12. Northern Samar

13. Occidental Mindoro

14. Antique

15. Negros Occidental

16. Pampanga

17. Rizal

Sports

Titans @ KDRAC Returns on August 31 in Orani, Bataan

August 31, 2025 7:09 PM
PST

Orani, Bataan – Adventure seekers and athletes will once again gather in Orani as Titans @ KDRAC returns on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at the KDR Adventure Camp (KDRAC). The event promises a day filled with grit, endurance, and camaraderie through obstacle course challenges designed for all ages.

This year’s edition features the Adult Obstacle Course Race (OCR), Titans Junior for kids aged 4 to 13, and Titans Ninja – 100 Meters for participants aged 14 to 50. Each category is designed to test strength, speed, and agility, with the Titans Ninja highlighting precision and quickness through a specialized obstacle track.

Adding to the excitement, the event also opens its Titans @ KDRAC Experience Day, allowing non-registered visitors to try the OCR and Ninja courses firsthand.

The competition will culminate in an awarding ceremony, where top performances across categories will be recognized, highlighting not just winners but also the spirit of sportsmanship and community.

Organizers say the event is made possible through the support of partners, sponsors, media allies, and the local government of Orani. With its combination of fitness, fun, and adventure, Titans @ KDRAC continues to position itself as one of Bataan’s most anticipated outdoor sporting events.

Lifestyle

One day before payday: How to escape ‘petsa de peligro?”

August 28, 2025 9:11 PM
PST

Quezon City, Philippines — August 28, 2025. With just one day left before payday, many Filipinos find themselves in ‘petsa de peligro’ also known as that tight stretch when wallets run dry and every peso counts. 

Financial experts remind Filipino workers that while payday brings relief, how we manage our ‘sahod’ or salary helps to budget wisely and use hard-earned money carefully.

According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), only 25.6 percent of Filipino families had money left to save from October to December 2024. 

This is lower than the 29 percent recorded in the months before, showing that fewer households are able to set aside savings.

This drop in household savings highlights the need for better money habits, especially during payday. 

Experts say that even small adjustments in how we spend and save can help families avoid financial stress and prepare for the future.

To help you stretch your income, here are five expert-backed tips for managing your sahod wisely:

  1. Put needs first

Every peso should first cover essentials such as food, rent, utilities, and transportation. Financial advisors advise that unmet basic needs quickly create stress and force risky money choices later. 

Establishing a clear plan to handle these priorities before spending on anything else provides peace of mind and sets a stable foundation.

  1. Follow the 50-30-20 rule

A widely recommended method by financial educators is the 50‑30‑20 rule whereas you will allocate 50 % of income to essentials, 30 % to personal or leisure expenses, and 20 % to savings or investments. 

If your salary barely covers your essentials, adapt the percentages that is  70 % for needs, 10 % for wants, and 20 % for savings. 

The goal is a balance that fits your reality while still building savings.

  1. Automate your savings

Many Filipinos struggle to save because they wait until the end of the month, only to find that nothing is left. 

One effective strategy is to save immediately as soon as the salary arrives. 

Banks and e-wallets now offer automatic savings transfers, making the process easier. 

Motivational speaker Chinkee Tan noted that saving first before spending is a key step to building financial resilience against inflation and emergencies.

  1. Avoid impulsive payday splurges

For many workers, payday means treating themselves to shopping or dining out. 

While there’s nothing wrong with a small reward, overspending right after payday can quickly lead back to petsa de peligro.

Financial counselors advise setting clear limits and curbing unnecessary splurges will help earners realize that financial relief lasts longer when expenses are spread wisely over the month.

  1. Start small with investments

Employees and earners are encouraged to start investing even in small amounts. 

Setting aside as little as 500 pesos a month in mutual funds, government bonds, or other low-entry financial products can build wealth over time. 

Studies show that consistent, small investments accumulate significantly and help protect against future financial uncertainty.

A friendly reminder this coming payday

Payday always comes with the urge to spend and treat ourselves, and that’s perfectly normal. But real peace of mind comes when we plan a little smarter. 

Cover the essentials first, set aside some savings right away, and put even a small amount toward the future. 

With a few mindful choices, your salary can go further, help you avoid the next petsa de peligro, and slowly build the security you’ve been working hard for.

Lifestyle

What is the ‘fake rich’ phenomenon and why it’s connected to the ‘deserve ko ’to’ mentality

August 28, 2025 10:42 PM
PST

A growing consumer culture in the Philippines reflects what observers now call the “fake rich phenomenon”- a lifestyle where people spend on visible goods and upgrades as self-reward, often justified by the mindset of “deserve ko ’to” (I deserve this).

A 2024 joint study conducted by the Filipino-focused sociocultural research firm, The Fourth Wall, and communications firm, Uniquecorn Strategies found that this mindset is driven by the desire for happiness, the fear of missing out on trends, and the urge to reward oneself after work or study-related stress.

“The younger generation is quickly becoming a big part of the consumer market and is already shaping trends, especially in online shopping,” said John Brylle L. Bae, Research Director at The Fourth Wall. 

He explained that this habit of buying as a reward comes from growing self-awareness and the desire to affirm self-worth. 

Bae also linked it to the Filipino “sayang” mindset, where people, after enduring daily struggles and sacrifices, grab chances to treat themselves out of fear of missing out.

This pattern is also described in the Journal of Social Research abstract, which explains that the fake rich trend is a form of “flexing” or showing off wealth that many fall into without realising it. 

The paper notes that while the desire to be rich is natural, pretending to be rich has become a trap. 

It highlights how so-called “Crazy Rich” personalities online once gained fame for flaunting or even giving away money, only to later be exposed for scams such as money games that left many people broke.

Finding balance in a “Deserve ko ‘to” mindset

The rise of the “fake rich phenomenon” shows how shopping in the country is no longer just about meeting needs, but also about chasing comfort, identity, and validation. 

While the “deserve ko ’to” mindset reflects a natural desire for relief and recognition, it can also blur the line between healthy self-reward and risky overspending.

Experts say the first step is being more aware of how and why we spend. Rewarding yourself is healthy, but it becomes a problem when it turns into constant flexing. 

Learning to enjoy small treats while still thinking about the future can help avoid unnecessary financial stress.

Politics

PBBM orders lifestyle checks on officials over flood control projects

August 28, 2025 9:55 AM
PST

On August 27, 2025, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered lifestyle checks on government officials, starting with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), as more people raise concerns about suspicious flood-control projects in the country.

PBBM gave the directive after citizen complaints poured in through the Sumbong Sa Pangulo platform. 

As of this morning, Philippine News Agency reported that over 9,000 reports have been logged, many pointing to substandard, incomplete, or even non-existent flood-control structures. 

The Chief Executive said the checks are meant to hold officials accountable and ensure public funds are not being misused. He also ordered a thorough review of DPWH records, on top of lifestyle assessments.

PBBM personally checked 11 flood-control projects in Marikina, Iloilo, Bulacan, and Benguet, showing that Malacañang is taking the issue seriously.

The order came after Rep. Eli San Fernando of the Kamanggagawa Party-list urged the President to conduct lifestyle checks, review SALNs, and look into bank records of DPWH officials. He said that honest officials should have nothing to worry about, while those hiding something should be exposed.

These flood-control projects are being closely watched because many areas still suffer from repeated flooding, leaving people frustrated as the Philippines has seen little improvement. 

The President’s move is seen as a response to public anger and a clear warning to officials that corruption will not be accepted.

What happens next?

Lifestyle checks are expected to look into whether government workers are living beyond their means, with findings compared against official asset declarations. How quickly and thoroughly these checks are carried out will likely determine whether the public views the effort as genuine reform or just lip service.

For now, the Palace has promised transparency, saying the results of the probe will help restore public trust and ensure every peso spent on infrastructure benefits the people.