WHILE walking on the Avenues of the Americas (also known as Sixth Avenue) in Midtown Manhattan, New York City one morning sometime in July 2016, the “flash” report that rolled across the façade of Fox News’ giant news ticker caught my attention.

“Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Promises Israel Will Be Wiped Off the Map Within 25 Years,” screamed the headline in the building’s scrolling news display. It was scary.

Fox News building in New York frequently uses the “Fox News Flash” branding for rapid updates on breaking news, which would appear on their digital ticker and app.

I immediately stopped and waited for the headline news to roll back and took a “selfie” with the controversial headline news in my background.

I posted it on my old Meta (formerly Facebook) account.

Iran initiated al-Quds Day in 1979, the same year its Islamic Revolution began. The day’s activities were designed to counter Israel’s Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day), which began in 1968, one year after Israel liberated eastern Jerusalem and the Temple Mount from the occupation of Jordan.

When the United States and Israel launched a military strike against Iran called “Operation Epic Fury” on February 27, 2026, that Fox News’ 2016 headline story on digital ticker immediately entered my mind.

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It’s been only nine years and eight months since Khamenei made the promise and both the US and Israel claimed as of this writing that they have killed Khamenei, 86, in the attack.

Mr. Trump announced on social media that Khamenei had died, describing him as “one of the most evil people in History”.

Iranian state TV later confirmed the death of Khamenei, 86, who had ruled since 1989, and declared 40 days of mourning.

Around 40 Iranian officials were also reportedly killed in the strikes.

The military action came after President Donald Trump gave Iran 10 days to finalize the nuclear deal saying “bad things” would happen if the Islamic state did not comply with US demands.

The US insisted it attacked Iran after it refused to meet its demands on the nuclear program and missile threats. The strikes were carried out together with Israel forces after months of planning targeting Iranian missile facilities, naval units, and military infrastructure across Iran, according to White House.

The aim was to defend American people and allies by removing “imminent threats” posed by Iran’s missile capabilities and actions, said President Trump.

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Iran has denied it was pursuing nuclear weapons and threatened to retaliate to attacks against its territory. It immediately launched counterattacks throughout the Middle East in retaliation to what its foreign minister called an “unprovoked, illegal” attack by the US and Israel.

Shortly after explosions were reported in the Iranian capital on Saturday, BBC reported that Mr. Trump took to social media to accuse Tehran of waging an “unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder targeting the United States”.

Mr. Trump argued Iran had rejected every opportunity to renounce its nuclear program and claimed it was developing long-range missiles that could threaten Europe, US troops overseas, and even “soon reach the American homeland”.

BBC reported further that the US president further cited the violent takeover of the US embassy in Tehran in 1979, resulting in dozens of Americans being held hostage for 444 days, as well as Iran’s proxies bombing a US Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983 that killed 241.

Mr. Trump had also pledged in January to intervene when Iranian security forces crushed protests amid an economic crisis.

In June last year, the US bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran. Trump said the US Operation Midnight Hammer had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program.

Last summer’s US attacks paved the way for a ceasefire in a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel.

Israel had launched air strikes on Iranian nuclear, military and infrastructure sites. Tehran had retaliated by firing hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel.

Alex P. Vidal, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed

The post The grim headline first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

SOME of the incumbent politicians—especially senators and representatives—loyal to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. today are expected to start distancing themselves from Malacanang early this year if they feel he will become a sitting duck two years before the next presidential election.

Especially if the anti-Duterte forces in the lower and upper chambers of congress can’t eliminate Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio in the impeachment case filed in congress.

Politics is fluid. No politician in his right mind will marry any political party and stay there until the kingdom come.

To refresh our memory, when the late Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Sr. fell in 1986 during the EDSA Revolution, many Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) stalwarts jumped ship and were “rescued” by the late former Vice President Salvador “Doy” Laurel’s United Nationalist Democratic Organization (UNIDO).

Some opted to stay behind the “defrocked” party particularly the “Marcos loyalists” hoping for the strongman’s political resurrection which fizzled out with his death in 1989.

When Mrs. Corazon “Cory” Aquino took over and became estranged with Laurel, many of them abandoned UNIDO and embraced PDP-Laban, Tita Cory’s official party until 2009.

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When the late Fidel V. Ramos or FVR reigned supreme in 1992, these unprincipled minions hastily formed a beeline to the new ruling Lakas-NUCD party.

Then came Joseph “Erap” Estrada, the country’s 13th president in 1998.

From KBL, UNIDO, and PDP-Laban, these political grutnols and druggles “fled” like refugees to Erap’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

Everyone knew what happened next when Ate Gloria took over as the 14th president in 2001: the balimbings, bereft of principle, were again in mad scramble to take oath this time as KAMPI members.

When Benigno “P-Noy” Aquino III became the 15th president in 2010, the political pendulum abruptly tilted to the Liberal Party (LP)’s favor in a mass exodus that could dwarf the myth of Israel.

Under the Duterte administration, some LP members did not only forsake the party that helped enrich many of them through “pork barrel”, they also burned their bridges by swearing allegiance not only to then President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte’s PDP-Laban, but to many of the hard-hitting former mayor of Davao City’s programs that didn’t sit well with their previous political party.

The mass exodus from LP to PDP-Laban appeared to be “only the beginning.”

Duterte’s political party had been expected to make a major sweep of the remnants of LP and other coalition parties especially when his pet program, federalism, took the center stage.

What does the changing of political bandwagon from one disintegrating political party to another ruling party indicate?

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It’s neither a sign of renaissance nor headway. It’s pure and simple opportunism.

Philippine politicians fight for survival and can’t afford to stay away from the political party of those in power.

Many of these politicians have pending graft and corruption cases in courts. Some of them were engaged in protection racket.

Illegal loggers, smugglers, gambling and drug lords financed some of these politicians during the elections. If the sitting president, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., lowers the boom, they will find their way to the doldrums like tottering fools.

If they are “outside the kulambo,” so to speak, when the new administration beckons in 2028, there are strong chances their slumbering cases will be expedited; and they might end up snoring in the calaboose.

We will wait when President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. makes an exit from the Malacanang Palace and another president takes over in 2028.

We will surely see the same political merry-go-round similar to what we saw during the Duterte and Marcos Jr. administrations.

That’s the reality of politics–only in the Philippines.

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Let’s not forget these two substances: Resveratrol and rapamycin. Scientists have recently discovered that these two compounds are anti-aging drugs. Resveratrol is found in grapes, red wine and peanuts.

According to LabReport, many of the babies born in 2000 might live until 150! Danish scientist Kaare Christensen and his colleagues have circulated a projection that assumes longevity improvements will continue at their current pace. In that model, more than half the children in the developed world will be around for their 100th birthday.

According to LabReport, scientists are split over whether there’s any biological limit to how old a human can live. But cell biologist Steve Austad has bet public-health professor S. Jay Olshansky that the first person who will live to 150 was born by 2000.

Alex P. Vidal, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed

The post No Filipino politician will marry his political party first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

IT is now becoming obvious Senator Loren “Leron-Leron Sinta” Legarda aims to ride on the publicity generated by the late Jeffrey Epstein’s popularity even if the case has nothing to do whatsoever with the interests of the Filipinos.

Epstein’s case, particularly the “Jeffrey Epstein or Epstein files” is currently one of the hottest topics in the United States and is giving the Trump administration plenty of trouble.

During the Senate’s session February 10, Leron-Leron Sinta signified her intent to file a resolution “seeking to look into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s footprint in the Philippines.” Whoa.

When the issue wasn’t yet full-blown in the U.S., Leron-Leron Sinta never thought of even mentioning it in any platform in the Philippines.

Now, she is planning “to ask the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation, or the Senate Committee on Women to look into the reports.” Yudi ha.

Epstein has been dead a long time ago. His accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell is now serving a jail term in the U.S. The issue about Epstein files is a sex trafficking problem the Americans are trying to resolve.

What “footprint in the Philippines” is Leron-Leron Sinta talking about? Why can’t we tackle our own domestic problem on sex trafficking, madame?

Joseph Pulitzer once said, “Publicity, publicity, publicity is the greatest moral factor and force in our public life.”

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The controversy surrounding the issue stems from the massive, multi-year release of over three million documents, videos, and images (as of February 2026) detailing the sexual abuse and trafficking of minors by the late financier, and the subsequent exposure of Epstein’s connections to powerful global elites, politicians, and celebrities.

Leron-Leron Sinta emphasized the need “to examine the organizations, syndicates, and public relations companies that allegedly worked to help cleanse Epstein’s physical and digital image.”

Loren-Loren Sinta was quoted in the Philippines press saying, “This is very recent. It’s right here at our doorstep. I don’t know whether it was him personally or his associates, but this convicted pedophile—who was supposedly a financial wizard at the time and who died or was killed—had a network in the Philippines.”

She added: “I will file the resolution to look into Epstein’s footprint in the Philippines, the organizations and syndicates that worked with him, as well as the PR companies that helped cleanse his physical and digital image in the Philippines, based on the reports I have read.”

Three more million files have yet to be released, and the delays have sparked word war and heated debates among lawmakers pushing for files’ full release and the Department of Justice (DOJ) which the lawmakers accused of redacting the files and delaying its release.

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The files demonstrate that despite a 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor, Epstein maintained, and in some cases renewed, relationships with influential figures, including President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and Prince Andrew. This has fueled accusations that a “system” protected him for years.

The release, mandated by the “Epstein Files Transparency Act” signed in late 2025, has led to severe political repercussions in the U.S. and Europe, with several officials stepping down or facing investigations. Critics have attacked the Justice Department for heavy, “ham-fisted” redactions, accusing it of protecting perpetrators while exposing victims.

Recent, in-depth releases (such as the January 2026 dump of three million pages) have often contradicted public statements made by public figures regarding their relationship with Epstein, such as the extent of Howard Lutnick’s visits to Epstein’s island.

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The names of some perpetrators or associates were shielded while personal information of survivors was allegedly exposed.

The files have triggered investigations and political resignations in several countries, most notably in Norway, where former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland was charged with aggravated corruption, and in the UK, where politician Peter Mandelson resigned from the House of Lords.

The files, which include thousands of emails and testimonies, have provided a grim, detailed look into a vast, international sex trafficking operation that thrived for years while its perpetrator maintained high-level social and business ties.

Alex P. Vidal, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed

The post Leron-Leron Sinta’s Epstein files publicity acrobatics first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

FOUR years ago, we saw the possibility of now senator and former showbiz “bad boy” Robinhood “Robin” Padilla joining the ranks of other misfits in the Philippine Senate.

Alas, it did not only come true, the former inmate in the New Bilibid Prison also was ranked No. 1 in the 2022 elections with 26, 454,562 votes.

Filipino voters have been notorious in electing below par candidates to higher public offices like Erap Estrada, Lito Lapid, Manny Paquiao, Bong Go, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Revilla Jr., among other inept characters, thus it didn’t come as a surprise that they made the swaggering 56-year-old Padilla senator.

And because of this, given his immense popularity among the hoi polloi and unschooled, there is a possibility they will elect Padilla as the next vice president when he tandems with Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio in 2028.

Choosing mediocre leaders in a free election like the system in the Philippine has been part of sad but accepted realities in democratic countries in many parts of the world, not just in the Philippines.

This is something Filipinos anywhere in the world have learned to face and accept.

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Incompetent leadership often results from a complex interplay of biases, flawed promotion practices, and insufficient development opportunities.

With the right framework, however, organizations can make leadership competence a core value and avoid the costly mistakes that come with unfit leaders.

Plato had warned about the “aberrations” of democracy thousands of years ago, or about 500 years before Jesus was born (this has always been the timeline I suggested to refer to the period of the Greek philosopher’s existence) in “The Republic.”

Widely acknowledged as the cornerstone of Western philosophy and the first great examination of political life, Plato’s “Republic” was written around 375 B.C.

It still holds insights into ethics and political life that can teach the modern world, especially Filipinos who will elect their leaders on May 9, 2022, many a lesson.

A student of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle, Plato witnessed democracy begrudgingly in his city of Athens.

Ancient Athenian democracy differs from the democracy that we are familiar with in the present day.

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Athens was a city-state, while today we are familiar with the primary unit of governance operating nationwide.

Consequently, governance of a smaller population enabled more “direct” forms of democracy rather than the “representative” forms accorded by contemporary constitutions, according to Arc Ninian in Why Plato Hated Democracy.

 It “isn’t their fault” actually if the likes of Pacquiao, Padilla, Lito Lapid, Bong Revilla, etcetera, are elected to public office, especially those running for president as long the constitution allows it.

Under Article VII, Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution, a Filipino can be elected president if he or she is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, able to read and write, at least 40 years of age on the day of the election, and a resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years immediately preceding such election.

Unless the constitution is changed, every “qualified” Filipino will have the opportunity to win the presidency and occupy elected seats in the lower and upper chambers of congress.

Philippine democracy is also susceptible to suffer from voter ignorance, which is seen as one of the major reasons for the decline in quality of elected leaders.

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The cause of voter ignorance may not be due to a lack of intelligence.

Rather voters are simply rationally ignorant and rationally irrational. Rational ignorance means that voters are logical and/or reasonable for staying uninformed about politics, according to Criticism Against Democracy.

This is because to become an informed voter, according to Austrian philosopher Geoffrey Brennan’s standards, it would be extremely cost-prohibitive to the individual.

“It would take an enormous amount of time to become informed to such a level and stay informed about current political events. When doing a cost-benefit analysis, most people would find that becoming informed is not worth their time. Therefore, people are considered rational for choosing not to be informed,” it added.

Rational irrationality refers to the fact that it is logical for people to have cognitive biases resulting in irrational beliefs.

Similar to why it is rational for voters to be ignorant, the cost-benefit analysis to correct cognitive biases is not in favor of the informed voter. Brennan claims that “just as it is instrumentally rational for most people to remain ignorant about politics, it is instrumentally rational for most of them to indulge their biases”.

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According to this theory, as pointed out in Criticism Against Democracy, “the costs outweigh the benefits because it would take an excessive amount of work to find neutral/fair information and correct one’s own biases.”

It added: “In both cases, voters remain ignorant and irrational because the costs to become an impartial, informed voter do not outweigh the benefits. The impact of a competent vote is futile. In the grand scheme of things, a single vote amounts for very little. The chances that one’s vote would be the deciding factor in the election is minuscule; therefore, why would one take the time to inform themselves with very little reward? One could spend an abundance of time becoming informed and rational only to result in the same outcome.”

Politicians and special interests like poll surveys have also attempted to manipulate public opinion for as long as recorded history—this has put into question the feasibility of democratic government.

Critics claim that mass media actually shapes public opinion and can therefore be used to “control” democracy. Opinion polls before the election are under special criticism.

It has been said that misinformation—such as fake news—has become central to elections around the world.

Alex P. Vidal, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed

The post Why Robin Padilla could be the next vice president first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

That is why the proposal filed by Tito Sotto III deserves more than instant applause or reflexive mockery. On paper, the logic is simple. The 13th month pay, institutionalized under Presidential Decree No. 851 in 1976, was born in a very different Philippines—one where prices were lower, families were smaller, and expectations of state support were modest. Nearly five decades later, workers face a cost of living that rises faster than wages, while education, housing, healthcare, and transport quietly eat into every payslip. To say that the 13th month pay is no longer enough is not populist rhetoric. It is arithmetic.

From a worker’s point of view, an additional month’s pay for private institutions feels like oxygen. It means fewer loans before June enrollment. It means less panic by December. It means choosing groceries without mental math that ends in guilt. Public employees already receive midyear and year-end bonuses. For private-sector workers—especially teachers, service staff, rank-and-file employees—the proposal reads like overdue parity. In that sense, the idea of a 14th month pay feels less like a bonus and more like a question of dignity.

But dignity, in policy, must survive contact with reality. The public reaction tells us something important: Filipinos are not arguing about whether workers deserve more. They are arguing about who carries the cost. Large corporations, banks, multinational firms, and highly profitable institutions already provide various forms of extra compensation. For them, a mandated 14th month pay may simply formalize what exists. For micro, small, and medium enterprises—the sari-sari suppliers, small schools, family-run clinics, neighborhood factories—it is a different story. Many already stretch to comply with the 13th month pay. Another mandatory payout, without support, risks layoffs, reduced hiring, higher prices, or quiet closures. None of those outcomes help workers in the long run.

This tension is not theoretical. Labor economists have long noted that wage-side interventions, when isolated from productivity, price control, and tax reform, often rebound onto workers through inflation or job loss (Mata, 2025; Velasco, 2025). A 14^th month pay, if treated as a standalone fix, risks becoming exactly that kind of rebound. What workers gain in December may be taken back in January through higher prices or thinner payrolls. That does not make the proposal wrong. It makes it incomplete.

What made my Ateneo de Iloilo-SMCS experience work was context. The institution could afford it. The payment was planned, not improvised. The administration found it reasonable. It was strategized and integrated into budgeting, not treated as a political trophy. That distinction matters. When benefits emerge from sustained dialogue and financial honesty, they build trust. When they are announced in press releases without equally strong safeguards, they invite cynicism. This is why many Filipinos today worry that the proposal might become another election-season promise—loud in campaign months, forgotten in committee, or diluted into exemptions so broad that only a few feel its impact.

To be fair, the current bill does attempt nuance. It includes exemptions for distressed companies, nonprofits with major income declines, and employers already providing equivalent benefits. That is a good start. But exemptions alone do not solve the deeper problem: the state once again asking employers to absorb social protection without sharing the burden. A more durable approach would involve tax relief for compliant businesses, government co-sharing for MSMEs, and making the 13th and 14th month pays tax-free to maximize take-home value. International experience suggests that wage support works best when governments shoulder part of the cost, especially during inflationary periods (ILO, 2023).

There is also a real risk that this becomes a distraction. Some labor leaders have already warned: the 14th month pay should not become a substitute for a wage that actually matches the cost of living. A bonus is welcome, but it cannot carry a family for twelve months. A worker cannot stretch December money across January tuition, February rent, and March hospital bills. If lawmakers use this proposal to dodge tougher problems—provincial wage disparities, weak collective bargaining, or price hikes that cancel every gain—then the policy becomes a bright headline with little healing underneath.

At the same time, rejecting the idea outright is also too easy. Mockery does not refine policy; pressure does. Good proposals improve when people demand better mechanics and fairer guardrails. A 14th month pay is worth pursuing, but it must be built responsibly: clear employer categories, transparent exemptions, serious enforcement, and a role for government so smaller businesses are not crushed in the process. Most of all, it should be presented honestly—not as a magic fix, but as one piece of a longer effort to make work pay in real life, not just on paper.

So here is the question that matters. Do we keep treating extra pay like a gift that depends on goodwill, or do we shape it into a stable expression of how we value labor? A 14th month pay can relieve pressure, or it can trigger more pressure elsewhere. The difference will come from design, patience, and sincerity—those unglamorous things that determine whether policy actually holds.

Doc H fondly describes himself as a “student of and for life” who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and why-driven world grounded in social justice and the pursuit of happiness. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he is employed or connected with.

The post The 14th month pay debate first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

THE issue on sovereignty is sacrosanct.

It shouldn’t be subjected to “friendly” (there is no such animal when emotions are at fever-pitch) debate among those who are part of it—unless foreign interests threaten it.

The matter is crucial because it establishes a state’s supreme, independent authority to govern itself, create laws, and control its territory without external interference.

No Filipino—politician or ordinary man in the street—in his right mind should tamper with the sacredness of our national sovereignty

Our sovereignty in the Philippines is the foundation for international stability, protecting our national interests, fostering our self-determination, and providing a framework for diplomacy, trade, and peace.

Sovereignty becomes the supreme authority of a nation or state over its territory and inhabitants. It is understood that sovereignty is essential to the autonomy and self-determination of any state. It protects the ability of a people to create laws, control its national resources, and shape its future.

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Because sovereignty is the power that a people exert over their nation and for themselves, it may not be imposed upon them by any other nation or people.

The violation of national sovereignty by another power or state may have a series of catastrophic consequences, such as the destruction of an entire social ecosystem, international sanctions, or war.

Thus, if two prominent leaders of the country debate whether we own the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) which is part of the national sovereignty and maritime security, we are showing the world, especially our adversaries, that we are weaklings; that we have identity crisis and we are not sure who we are and what we are fighting for.

Sovereignty gives our state the authority to defend its territory, enforce laws, and maintain security over its population.

It allows us to control our own resources and economic policies for our economic stability. If we fight over our sovereignty, it’s tantamount to self destruction or national suicide.

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The number of people in New York City who died rose 19, not 8 as we initially reported during a recent snap of brutally cold weather that lasted more than three weeks, city hall officials have reported.

The region has exited its Code Blue emergency, but the city was still keeping the protocols in place out of an abundance of caution as of this writing. Officials said expanded outreach and increased warming center capacity will continue through the end of the week.

Officials said on February 11 that seven more New Yorkers were confirmed to have died primarily from hypothermia since Jan. 19. Those deaths were at private homes and are not being added to the tally of 19.

Ten to 20 people die from hypothermia in the city during an average year, so 19 deaths in less than a month was considered unusual.

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AVOID CHEMICALS IN OUR CANS. Canned food alert: Consumer Reports found bisphenol A-a chemical linked to reproductive problems, diabetes, and heart disease–in all 19 brandname canned foods it tested, including those labeled BPA free. Because levels vary so widely, even among cans of the same product, there’s no way to predict how much we’re getting.

SEX REVS UP IMMUNE SYSTEM. Researchers from Wilkes University showed that college students who engaged in sex once or twice a week had 30 percent higher levels of infection-fighting antibodies than did their abstinent classmates.

REENERGIZE WITH EXERCISE EARLY EVENING. Even though we’re tired, forcing ourselves to do aerobic exercise will energize us for a couple of hours and make it easier to fall asleep at night. Our body temperature naturally falls at night, shortly before bedtime, so the natural dip in temperature that happens about 2 hours after a workout can help us get to bed at a decent hour and wake up refreshed the next morning.

HOW SEX CAN DO A BODY GOOD. It protects prostate. Catholic priests have an elevated chance of dying of prostate cancer, and studies point to celibacy as a factor. In 2003, research on middle-aged Australian men found that those who averaged at least four ejaculations a week had a one-third lower chance of developing prostate cancer than those who had fewer, says Dr. Regina Nuzzo.

LET’S TIME OUR NAP AFTER LUNCH. Research shows that naps, especially “power naps” of 20 to 30 minutes, help ward off fatigue. To maximize the benefits, let’s try taking a siesta after lunch, when our energy levels are particularly low. Let us limit rest to less than 30 minutes or stretch it out to 60 to 90 minutes to avoid grogginess that results from waking up in the middle of deep sleep. (Source: Prevention)

Alex P. Vidal, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed

The post Debate for self destruction? first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

FILIPINOS with relatives and friends in the East Coast, particularly in New York City, are probably aware right now we have been experiencing here the coldest winter in two decades.

Alas, the “city that never sleeps” was again colder than parts of Antarctica on Sunday (February 8) after brutal, life-threatening winds swept across much of the Northeast and New England over the weekend.

For the first time since 2015, I stopped and ran fast to hide inside a laundry shop after being zapped by wind chills that hit 40-below while walking on my way to a bakeshop.

My reaction was instant; I actually didn’t know what hit me. I immediately felt excruciating pain and numbness as powerful wind chills blasted the exposed skin on my face.

The last time I experienced the apparent symptoms of hypothermia or frostbite while walking outdoor was in February 2010 in Chicago, known as the “windy city.”

Being exposed to severe winter cold outdoor isn’t a joke. We can’t underestimate it. We could die. That’s why authorities have been warning us to stay indoor as much as possible.

When exposed to the cold, the body can lose heat faster than it’s produced. Over time, the body uses up its stored energy and body temperature begins to drop. Long-term exposure to the cold —especially if the body’s core temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit—can lead to hypothermia, frostbite and other problems.

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Hypothermia occurs when the body’s core temperature drops below 95°F. Symptoms include uncontrollable shivering, fumbling hands, slurred speech, and mental confusion.

Frostbite can cause freezing of skin and tissues, most commonly on fingers, toes, nose, and ears. Symptoms include numbness, stinging sensations, and skin that feels waxy or looks yellowish gray. Severe cases can result in amputation.

People with asthma, chronic lung disease, or other respiratory conditions or illnesses are at higher risk when temperatures drop because cold, dry air irritates the airways, said Dr. Haitham Khraishah, a preventive cardiologist at University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute and an assistant professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

sThis leads to greater inflammation and causes muscles around the airways to constrict, which can lead to wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath or a burning feeling in the chest, especially during exertion.

Too much exposure to winter cold causes the body to lose heat faster than it can produce it, leading to life-threatening conditions like hypothermia (dangerously low body temperature) and frostbite (frozen skin/tissue).

It can cause confusion, exhaustion, slurred speech, skin numbness, and damage to extremities.

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Temperatures hit 3 degrees in the New York City on Sunday, with bitter wind chills dragging the real feel temperatures to 14 degrees below zero. Parts of the northeast also reported wind chills that hit 40-below.

Temperatures are expected to increase every day this week, forecasters said.

The high Monday (February 9) was expected to be 31 degrees, with a low of 19 — higher than Sunday’s (February 8) high temp.

The rest of the week will be a veritable heat wave, according to Accuweather — with a week of highs above freezing starting Tuesday (February 10).

By Wednesday (February 11), the high temp will hit a tropical 41 degrees in NYC.

Rare Extreme Cold Warnings have been issued for more than 43 million people, including major metro areas such as New York and Philadelphia, through Sunday evening by the National Weather Service.

“The last time (New York City) had a warning issued similar to what we have this morning was in 2004,” FOX Weather Meteorologist Stephen Morgan said Friday (February 6).

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Antarctica, by contrast, was a balmy 21 degrees at McMurdo Station—18 degrees warmer than the frozen Big Apple.

New Yorkers can thank a blast of Arctic air that is heading south from the frozen tundra north of Hudson Bay, Canada, for the latest round of winter misery.

“In many parts of the Northeast away from the coast, this prolonged stretch of cold is the most extreme in at least the last decade and, in some areas, the last two decades,” AccuWeather Senior Director of Forecasting Operations Dan DePodwin said.

Many locations will end up with a streak of days below freezing that falls into the top 10 longest such streaks on record,” he added.

This weekend is set to be the coldest day in what has already been a record cold snap, the worst in over two decades.

“The deep freeze is returning to the northeastern United States this weekend,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said.

Alex P. Vidal, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed

The post We could die outdoor first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

The flamboyant secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has been blatantly and openly “violating” The 48 Laws of Power’s Law 1 that says, “Never Outshine the Master.”

Remulla has been “outshining” every major dude in the country’s political cinerama—including the master himself, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Even in smallest items or unfussy subject matter, Remulla wanted to be always in the front seat; he has been excited to always run the show, so to speak, even if his presence and oration weren’t sought and needed.

He goes solo and is ahead of almost everything from announcing the number of people to be jailed in the Payatas jail made exclusively for flood control project criminals, to the whereabouts of suspected billionaire scammer Zaldy Co, the timetable for Harry Roque’s arrest, the possible hideouts of missing sabungero suspected mastermind Atong Ang and his protectors in the NBI, to the announcement of the motive in the twin murders of a lady cop and her son, etcetera.
 
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In all these publicity stunts, Remulla’s presence in the press conferences and media interview monologues weren’t really necessary. But he loved them. He enjoyed doing them. The guy’s so loquacious and already hackneyed.

When it comes to the game of “epal,” Remulla, 58, is neck and neck with Cristina Frasco, 44, the 18th secretary of the Department of Tourism, under the Marcos Jr. administration, who is also a publicity freak.

“Epal” is a Pinoy slang term derived from “mapapel” (one who wants a role), referring to a person or politician who is an attention-grabber, a scene-stealer, or someone who butts into situations where their presence is not needed or welcomed.

It is often used to describe someone meddling or craving attention, often in a negative or annoying way like what Remulla and Frasco have been doing.

Remulla should be told to read Robert Greene’s very popular book, which we serialized in our newspaper column in 1998, the year it was published, if he doesn’t want his presidential ambitions to vanish in thin air.
 
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He must learn from Alcibiades’ horrific experience.

The brilliant but incredibly vain Athenian statesman and general (c. 450-404), who thrived on publicity and popularity, was known for his extreme extravagance, immense vanity, and talent for self-promotion.

His ambitious, often erratic, and self-serving actions—including switching allegiances between Athens and Sparta—led to him being ostracized and eventually murdered in exile.

And who can forget Narcissus, known for his excessive self-love and for rejecting the advances of others?

The famous figure from Greek mythology renowned for his extreme beauty and intense arrogance, son of the river god Cephissus and nymph Liriope, was cursed by the gods to fall in love with his own reflection and eventually perished from his vanity?

And Bellerophon, a hero who, after slaying the Chimera, became arrogant and tried to fly Pegasus to Mount Olympus to join the gods? Zeus sent a gadfly to sting Pegasus, causing Bellerophon to fall to the earth, where he lived out his days as a blind, broken wanderer.

In Law 1 of Greene’s book, he—or anybody in Remulla’s position for that matter—must see to it to make his superiors feel superior, not threatened.
 
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By making them seem more brilliant and taking a backseat to their talents, you gain favor, while showing off your own skills can trigger their insecurities, leading to resentment and potential downfall, according to Nathan Glass and Shortform Books.

“You should attribute ideas to them, ask for their help, and generally deflect attention from your own brilliance to secure your position,” says Readingraphics and the official Robert Greene TikTok.

People in power need to feel smart and deserving; your brilliance can threaten that, notes Shortform Books.

Let them take credit for your good ideas; ask for their advice and act as if their guidance led to your success, say Nathan Glass and the official Robert Greene TikTok.

Don’t show off or point out others’ mistakes, as this makes them look bad and breeds resentment, writes Medium.

Make your boss seem more brilliant than they are; this secures their favor and helps you climb, according to Reddit users.

Alex P. Vidal, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed
 

The post Never outshine the master first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

TAXPAYERS money and time will surely be wasted again now that impeachment cases have been filed against two top leaders of the Philippines—President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., 68, and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, 47.

Although the twin impeachment cases are allowed under the constitution and part of our democratic options if we aren’t satisfied with the performance of our leaders, we all know they are only an exercise in futility in the case of the current Philippine leaders.

Most of us will probably agree it’s “impossible” for both elected officials to be removed even if the impeachment proceedings will go the full route.

Aside from the recent thought-provoking Supreme Court (SC) ruling that made impeachment cases in the Philippines almost impossible to succeed, both Mr. Marcos Jr. and Mrs. Duterte-Carpio are being backed by powerful political and economic groups capable of turning the country’s future upside down.

It is rare in history anywhere around the world where two top leaders of a country are yanked out one after another or altogether via impeachment.

It can only happen if the country has been toppled by superior foreign forces in an invasion, or if a coup d’tat has succeeded.

What has been happening is mere political zarzuela.

But it’s the taxpayers’ money that is involved—and wasted again.

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Elected leaders with opposing political and economic views, especially stand on geopolitical issues aren’t supposed to quarrel like kindergarten pupils.

Like whether one of them is pro-China and the other is anti-China.  

As a democracy we welcome individual sentiments and personal leanings on various issues that affect our society as well as our daily existence.   

We have the freedom of choice, an individual autonomy to make decisions—such as regarding education, health, or lifestyle—without external coercion, control, or undue interference.

It highlights and represents our ability to select from available options based on personal values. This concept has been recognized not only in the Philippines but universally as a fundamental right, often contrasted with coercion or legal restrictions.

If some of us love Red China, let them speak up and their willingness to embrace Red China’s doctrines and geopolitical principles should be allowed to reverberate without being curtailed.

In the same manner that if we reject Red China’s hooliganism and condemn the bullying our fishermen and navy vessels has been experiencing in the South China Sea, we shouldn’t be restrained, muzzled and intimidated.  

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PLANT A TREE. Let us give up 10 square feet of our land by planting a tree. Trees soak up carbon dioxide and help keep the atmosphere clean. If we don’t have the space, let’s use a pot on a balcony or near a window.

BRUSH IT UP. Let’s not throw away our old toothbrush; let’s use it to clean tricky-to-reach areas like the caulking between floor and wall tiles and the area around bathroom faucets. Often a little more elbow grease will do the trick without resorting to harsh cleaners.

PLAY BALL. When our running shoes are worn beyond use, let’s not throw them away. Because of their high rubber content and the fact that rubber is easily recyclable, old sneakers are now being used to make new sports surfaces. Nike is one brand that operates this function by producing its Nike Grind material.

HPV VACCINE. The HPV vaccine protects against human papillomavirus or HPV — the most common sexually transmitted infection in the nation. HPV causes almost all cervical cancers, and other cancers including vaginal, vulvar, penile, mouth, and throat cancers.

The good news is that HPV is preventable, according to to NYC Health+Hospitals.

The HPV vaccine reportedly helps prevent infection and protects against related cancers and warts. All young people should get vaccinated.

It’s recommended that young people receive the vaccine between the ages of 9 – 12. Vaccination is most effective before sexual activity begins.

Alex P. Vidal, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-ion-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed

The post Waste of time and money first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

We can’t blame some flight passengers to worry for their safety when they travel because of what happened.

The shooting occurred after Lañojan reportedly refused security inspection and airport authorities found he was carrying a bladed weapon, according to the initial investigation by the Office of Transportation Security (OTS).

The incident reportedly sent passengers scampering in different directions. It’s good no one was hit by a stray bullet or injured in the scuffle.

No city can afford to compromise the safety of passengers in the airports or any crowded public place where people depart and arrive from different destinations and origins.

Airports, in particular, must be safe places because they are critical infrastructure handling high-density crowds and serving as major, often targeted, transportation hubs.

Ensuring safety in the airports protects against terrorism, smuggling, and violent acts while preventing accidents, managing risks to passengers, and securing valuable, restricted areas.
 
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The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) made the right move to continue conducting an investigation and giving assurances that due process and accountability would be observed even if there was no casualty in the incident.

It has been a top priority when it comes to public safety and security for airports to prevent threats, such as terrorism and crime, in densely populated terminals including those located outside Metro Manila like Iloilo, Cebu, Davao, Silay.

They protect travelers from harm and secure restricted zones like runways and maintenance areas. Tight security also prevents the transport of illegal substances and smuggling.

Risk Management & Operational Efficiency:
Stringent security measures must be given emphasis in the risk management and operational efficincy, including AI-powered video surveillance and physical barriers, protect passengers, staff, and assets while ensuring smooth operations.

This explains why in the Aviation Safety Standards, Runway Safety Areas (RSAs) are critical for preventing accidents during takeoffs and landings.

As major travel hubs, airports rely on public trust; proper security, including trained personnel, ensures confidence for passengers.
 
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HEAL OURSELVES WITH TEA TREE. Tea tree oil is a great alternative to chemical healing ointments and balms. A natural antiseptic, it’s great in emergencies for cuts and grazes as well as for cleaning up after animals (for children) who have not been housetrained.

LET’S GET OUTSIDE. Instead of heading for the bright lights of the gym next time we work out, let’s take a step into the fresh air. Running, walking, and working out outdoors have little effect on the environment.

GET SOME FRESH AIR. Let us spend time in nature. Taking a walk, having a picnic, or simply sitting outside and watching the sky deepens our connection to the natural world, motivating us to be better stewards of the earth. I do this each time I visit Boracay Island in the Philippines and in my two other favorite places: Nagoya, Japan and Denver, Colorado.

CHEW IT UP. Let’s choose mastic-based gum for our chewing habit–normal gum takes years to biodegrade and can cause problems for wildlife because of its stickiness. Mastic gum is made from the resin of the Aegean mastic tree and is 100 percent natural. It is available in gum and capsule form from health food stores.

A WEIGHTY MATTER. Ten treadmills in the average gym use the same amount of electricity in a day that it would take to run our hairdryer non-stop for a year. Let’ stick to weights and non-electric machines like spinning bikes.

Alex P. Vidal, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed

The post Iloilo airport security and safety first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.