Jasha Gamao

Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III rallied barangays across the country on Thursday to spearhead the frontline battle against illiteracy, framing education as the ultimate weapon to conquer poverty. 

Speaking via a video message to the Liga ng mga Barangay under this year's theme, “Zero Illiteracy — One Barangay at a Time,” Speaker Dy mobilized local leaders to ensure every Filipino secures access to learning, economic mobility, and a dignified life. 

He warned that illiteracy acts as a heavy anchor, dragging down communities by shutting out citizens from critical jobs and blocking them from participating in national economic growth.

“Napakalalim po ng mensaheng dala ng temang ito dahil ang laban kontra illiteracy ay hindi lamang kampanya para sa edukasyon. It is a campaign to provide opportunities, livelihood, and dignity. It is a fight for the future of our nation,” Speaker Dy said.

The House leader from Isabela hammered home that literacy equals empowerment, functioning as the key master key for personal and societal advancement. 

“Kaya mahalagang maintindihan natin: literacy is empowerment. Ito ang susi upang mabigyan ng kakayahan ang mamamayan na mas mapabuti ang kanilang buhay.” The House Speaker added.

Dy explained that the campaign transcends standard schooling, operating instead as a direct pipeline to better livelihoods and stronger community development. 

By boosting basic literacy skills nationwide, the country can simultaneously build a more robust, competitive workforce and unlock fresh business and employment opportunities for millions of struggling families.

Because local officials sit closest to the people, Dy stressed that the true battle begins at the grassroots level rather than inside national government offices. 

He called on barangay leaders to actively scout their neighborhoods to identify out-of-school children, guide at-risk youth, and lift up families needing educational interventions. 

“Kayo ang unang nakakakita kung sinong bata ang hindi nakakapasok sa paaralan, kung sinong kabataan ang kailangang gabayan, at kung aling pamilya ang nangangailangan ng tulong upang mabigyan ng pagkakataong matuto at umasenso.” Speaker Dy appealed.

By taking immediate ownership of their communities, local leaders can dismantle learning barriers directly at the source and pave the way for a more progressive nation.

The Senate must halt parallel congressional inquiries and focus entirely on its role as an impeachment court to avoid distracting the public from the upcoming trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte. 

Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre made this direct appeal on May 28, warning that reviving separate investigations such as the Senate hearings on the flood-control controversy only serves to blur critical issues and dilute legislative energy when a historic accountability process is already underway.

Acidre, who chairs the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, stressed that the flood-control issue is already being handled by the proper authorities. 

With formal cases officially filed and the Office of the Ombudsman actively moving forward, he argued that further legislative grandstanding is unnecessary and counterproductive.

“To be honest, I would rather that the Ombudsman be allowed to continue with this investigation. The proper forum for this point, after all the investigations have been made, now belongs to the courts,” Rep. Acidre argued.

The lawmaker's call to action comes at a critical juncture as the Senate navigates intense internal tensions ahead of the Vice President's high-stakes trial. 

Emphasizing that the legal machinery is already turning against specific individuals, Acidre urged senators to let the judicial process run its course without political interference. 

"Cases have been filed," Acidre noted. "So, let's allow the Ombudsman to do his job."

MANILA—The COMELEC Suffragettes officially punched their ticket to the UVL Season 4 semifinals, dismantling the NHA Home Masters in a high-stakes, do-or-die quarterfinals knockout match on May 27 at the Paco Arena. 

COMELEC showcased their veteran composure under pressure, sealing a hard-fought four-set victory, 25-18, 25-20, 21-25, and 25-23. 

The definitive win successfully propels the Suffragettes into the next round of the tournament, while effectively ending the season for the resilient Home Masters.

Danika Gendrauli proved her absolute dedication and unwavering will to win, spearheading the Suffragettes' offensive assault. 

Gendrauli put on a spectacular masterclass on the court, launching an explosive 16 points built on 10 furious attacks, 1 critical block, and 5 lethal service aces. 

Her brilliant performance single-handedly extinguished NHA’s hopes of a comeback in a nail-biting fourth set, securing her the well-deserved Best Player of the Game honors.

“Sobrang saya po ng nararamdaman namin ngayon, hopefully magtuloy-tuloy po siya,” Gendrauli shared in an interview after the match.

With this momentous win, the Suffragettes head into the semifinal round locked and loaded, ready to elevate their competitive game to the next round.

MANILA—The PhilHealth Health Insurers punched their ticket to the semifinals after dismantling the rookie squad Pag-IBIG Fund Lady Smashers in a commanding straight-sets sweep, 25-16, 25-12, 25-16, in the UVL Season 4 quarterfinals on May 27 at the Paco Arena. 

Flaunting their championship pedigree and clinical precision, the Health Insurers dominated the entire match to eliminate their opponents and move one step closer to the coveted crown. 

The loss officially brought a definitive end to the debut season of the gritty Lady Smashers.

Tin Miralles launched a powerful performance to carry the PhilHealth Health Insurers to the semifinals round, securing the Best Player of the Game honors. 

Miralles completely unraveled the Pag-IBIG defense by firing a stellar 10-point outing built on 3 ferocious attacks, 2 solid blocks, and 5 lethal service aces. 

Her relentless offensive pressure from the service line and presence at the net ensured PhilHealth maintained full control of the tempo from the opening serve to the final whistle.

Reflecting on the team's decisive victory, Miralles credited their cohesive play and lighthearted approach on the court for the dominant performance. 

“Siguro po yung teamwork sa loob ng court and nag-eenjoy kami lahat,” Miralles shared in an interview after the game. 

With momentum fully on their side, the battle-tested Health Insurers now shift their focus to the high-stakes semifinal round, while the Lady Smashers exit the tournament with valuable foundational experience for their future UVL campaigns.

Alas Pilipinas is tempering expectations and locking in on pure preparation just weeks before they battle the region's elite in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women’s Cup, scheduled for June 6 to 14 in Candon City, Ilocos Sur. 

Speaking at Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on May 26, interim head coach Shaq Delos Santos and veteran cornerstone Alyssa Valdez emphasized that the immediate mission is building roster chemistry rather than making bold predictions. 

“Ang goal muna is pano mapalakas ang team natin,” Coach Delos Santos said.

The Philippines finds itself in a challenging Pool A alongside powerhouse squads from South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Kyrgyzstan, Australia, and Uzbekistan, forcing the team to take a strict "one game at a time" mentality.

The current 20-player pool blends decorated international veterans with hungry collegiate standouts, though the final lineup remains a work in progress. 

“Right now, pool pa lang ang meron kami,” Coach Delos Santos added.

Headliner returnees like Alyssa Valdez, Jovelyn Gonzaga, and Ces Molina all stalwarts of the 2019 SEA Games squad are stepping up to anchor the national program during a tight transitional phase. 

Coach Delos Santos confirmed that while the final cuts have yet to be locked in from a pool that includes Premier Volleyball League (PVL) stars and UAAP standouts, the coaching staff will prioritize building the absolute strongest combination possible before the team heads to Candon City for intensive training next week.

Despite the steep hill ahead, the players expressed raw excitement and unwavering commitment to the flag. 

“We’re very, very humbled and excited to be part of the national team again and represent the country with pride,” Alyssa Valdez said.

“Ang sarap ng feeling na makabalik sa national team. Excited kami. Once the country calls for your service nandito kami. Ang hirap tanggihan ang national team,” Jovelyn Gonzaga said.

Gonzaga noted the undeniable pull of national duty, stating that it is impossible to say no when the country calls for service, even as they deliberately keep performance expectations to a minimum. 

Valdez echoed this grounded confidence, promising that fans can expect maximum effort on the court but noting that realistic preparation trumps premature guarantees. 

“But realistically, we cannot predict anything. All we can do now is to prepare well. Basta to represent the country with honor and pride,” added Valdez 

With reigning champion Vietnam anchoring a dangerous Pool B, the Filipina spikers are focusing entirely on controlling their own readiness to ensure they represent the nation with pride.