The problem is that retirement living is still lumped under “tourism.” But is it really tourism? Not at all. Tourists come to visit, retirees come to stay. A retiree is not a temporary guest but a potential resident, someone who will invest the rest of their life here. Shouldn’t that merit a category of its own?

Of course, the entry point might look like tourism. A prospect may come first as a tourist, attracted by beaches, golf courses, or even “medical tourism.” They might try out a wellness spa or a sports facility. But then, once they see the lifestyle, the affordability, and the community, they begin to think: “Why not live here permanently?”

That’s where we miss out. While countries like Thailand already have retirement villages and care resorts that feel more like boutique hotels than hospitals, we are still scrambling to classify retirement under the Department of Tourism, without the physical infrastructure to back it up.

What we need are purpose-driven retirement communities—not just places to “grow old,” but places to live fully. The global trend is moving away from passive care facilities toward vibrant, resort-style living. Imagine retirement villages with yoga studios, art workshops, community gardens, aquaponics for food, and even intergenerational learning hubs. Retirees are not necessarily sick when they move in. Many are still healthy, active, and looking for purpose. Only later, as the years pass, will they require more medical care.

Shouldn’t we prepare now for this?

Consider the opportunities:

* Returning overseas Filipinos who have savings and want to invest in micro-enterprises.
* Foreign retirees who are looking not just for affordable healthcare, but also for lifestyle, community, and meaning.
* Local barangays that could benefit from new jobs and circular economies if they host eco-villages or farm-based resorts.

I can imagine a barangay-scale retirement eco-village where waste is turned into modular housing, gardens provide both food and therapy, and retirees mentor the youth in farming, crafts, or even digital skills. Why not combine a retirement resort with a farm school? Why not make it both a livelihood hub and a wellness community?

We already have some legal basis. The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) was created by Executive Order No. 1037 way back in 1985 to promote the Philippines as a retirement haven. The Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) provides retirees with indefinite stay and privileges. The Expanded Senior Citizens Act supports the creation of senior-friendly environments. In theory, the framework is there. But where are the retirement resorts?

Without actual resorts, how do we expect to convince foreigners to relocate? Can we really compete with Chiang Mai, where retirement villages are flourishing, or with eco-villages in Spain and Turkey?

The PRA itself has admitted that despite our popularity as a tourist destination, there is a “noticeable lack of dedicated retirement facilities.” This shortage is not a weakness—it is an opportunity. Investors are already building large-scale projects, like a retirement township in Cebu. But why wait for mega-developments? Why not start small? Why not pilot barangay-level models that blend resort-style living, healthcare access, and sustainability?

Even existing condominiums could be converted into retirement resorts, provided they are retrofitted for accessibility and linked to medical services. Some SRRV-accredited condos already serve as retirement residences. With the right partnerships, this could be expanded nationwide.

The bigger point is this: we must stop treating retirement living as an afterthought of tourism. Retirees are not “visitors.” They are future residents, investors, and community members. They want to be part of something larger than themselves, not isolated in hospital-like wards.

So here is my challenge: when will we reinvent retirement resorts in the Philippines? Will we wait until Thailand, Vietnam, or Malaysia takes the lion’s share of the market? Or will we seize the chance now, while we still have time, to build not just retirement facilities, but real communities—where aging is not about decline, but about living with dignity, activity, and purpose?

The choice is ours.

The post Reinventing the retirement resorts first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

Unbranded and quiet, real luxuries live in the unnoticed. A hot cup of coffee sipped in peace, long walks in tsinelas after work, birdsong before the noise of the city takes over—these are not shared on feeds but deeply felt. In a culture hooked on hustle, slow moments are small acts of courage.

Public school teachers know this by heart. Between modules and endless tasks, a mid-afternoon nap becomes gold. A simple bowl of sinigang with family outshines any five-star buffet. These humble pleasures remind us that our souls have their own timelines—ones not ruled by output.

Even silence has become something you pay for. Journalist Odeza Gayl Urmatam wrote how real quiet has turned into a luxury, especially in crowded, urban neighborhoods (Rappler, 2021). From noise-canceling headphones to weekend escapes, quiet now comes with a price tag. For many, silence only arrives when the city sleeps.

But luxury can also be loud—the laughter shared over merienda, an honest conversation that stretches past midnight, or simply the relief of crying in front of someone who understands. These moments of emotional safety matter more than any status symbol. As Psychologist Barry Schwartz notes, happiness does not come from endless options but from making choices that truly matter (Schwartz, 2004).

To choose how you spend your time is its own form of wealth. In a country where many cannot afford to say no to extra shifts or lost weekends, having the power to rest without guilt is radical. And that, too, is luxury.

Leisure, long misunderstood as laziness, deserves better. Play is not just for kids. Whether it is painting, dancing, or simply letting go, unstructured joy reconnects us to our most human selves. Psychologist Peter Gray reminds us that play is essential to resilience and mental health at any age (Gray, 2013).

Reading a book in silence, amid TikTok sounds and television noise, becomes its own quiet protest. Choosing to focus in a distracted world is a reminder: attention is currency, and we choose where to invest it.

Simple things like sunsets or short naps often hold more peace than luxury vacations. A sunset in Iloilo after the rain, or a breeze during an afternoon nap, can outshine any resort. These moments are small but strong—anchors in our everyday lives.

Being able to express yourself freely—at school, at home, or at work—is also a luxury. Harvard studies show that environments where people feel safe to speak up lead to better well-being and results (Edmondson, 1999). A culture that values honesty and humor is not only healthy; it is rare.

Even design is catching up. Developers like Filigree and Brittany now build homes that breathe—with light, space, and silence. True luxury in architecture is not in excess, but in what it allows: rest, reflection, prayer, and freedom. A home becomes luxurious not when it impresses, but when it holds what you love.

We are often told to chase success, but success is worth defining. For most of us—parents, workers, students—real success is surviving the day with our dignity intact and something warm on our plates. No viral video can top that.

When asked to describe real luxury, we might not point to cars or condos. Instead, we might mention the smell of garlic rice, the sound of rain on a tin roof, or the quiet joy of being seen and understood. These are not lesser luxuries—they are the true riches of living well.

Because the richest moments are rarely bought. They are lived, slowly and fully, in the corners of our ordinary days.

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 real life’s luxuries first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

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IF Chiz Escudero, Joel Villanueva, Martin Romualdez, Zaldy Co, Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada and all other suspected flood control project anomaly thieves will be prosecuted, arrested and locked in the Quezon City jail provided by the Department of Interior of Local Government (DILG), this event will be the Marcos Jr. administration’s best Christmas gift for all Filipinos.

If the mass arrest, estimated to involve more or less 200 wrongdoers that would reportedly include senators, congressmen, DPWH employees and contractors, will be implemented in early 2026, it will be the government’s best New Year’s gift for the nation.

The people are itching to see the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) conclude its suspense-filled investigations on the multi-billion anomalies that romped off in September 2025.

They have become impatient as days go by with no single thief being manacled and placed behind bars; they want immediate results and they want it now.

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 The more the investigations drag on, the more that people are losing faith in the ICI’s capacity to dispense justice; their trust in the justice system continues to erode if what they see and hear are merely powderkegs in the form of press statements, not flood control project criminals spending actual time behind bars.

Especially that the ICI has chosen to conduct its investigations and hearings behind closed doors despite overwhelming uproar from public to hold them “live” so that the taxpayers can closely monitor and be given updates about the proceedings. 

People are tired and bored by episodes where ordinary individuals are arrested and photographed in the police stations like hardened criminals after stealing only a can of banana catsup and a bottle of peanut butter while the likes of Escudero and other accused of committing plunder continue receiving fat salaries and holding office in air-conditioned rooms paid by the taxpayers.  

People are fed up with the country’s double-standard of justice where the poor are always in the receiving end and the rich and famous always unabashedly running away with the pie’s largest slice and get away with it.
 
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THE easiest way to escape prosecution and jail if you’re a corrupt public official in the Philippines is to become a “son of God.”

It may sound sacrilegious for a thief to claim as “son of God” but what a heck. 

If it’s the only way to wiggle out from mess and circumvent the law, the likes of Joel Villanueva will not hesitate to even claim they belong to heaven and not on earth.

And many people believe in false prophets who ride on two horses—politics and religion—and enrich themselves while in public office.

A false prophet is a person who spreads false teachings or messages while claiming to speak the Word of God. 

False prophets also spoke on behalf of false gods in the Bible. False prophets functioned in their prophetic role illegitimately or for the purpose of deception. The Bible denounces false prophets for leading people astray.

Jesus went on to explain the grave consequences of being a false prophet: “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:19–23).

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 Best gift for all Filipinos first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

Modern Ilonggo success stories also rise quietly but steadily. The 9.3-kilometer Esplanade, stretching across nine phases, is the country’s first and longest linear park. The Iloilo City Hall is the first government green building in the country. And in education governance, Iloilo’s provincial government pioneered the elimination of matriculation fees in public elementary schools long before any national policy mandated it. These are not mere records. They are acts of will.
 
In a country often obsessed with Metro Manila narratives, the history of Iloilo serves as a gentle but firm counterpoint. We were first—not because we demanded attention, but because we paid attention. To detail. To craft. To people. To culture. To values. And while others made noise, we made progress. Our “firsts” were never about fanfare but function, not about conquest but contribution.
 
Perhaps the most heartening part of this long list is that it’s still being written. The Iloilo of old was a textile powerhouse. Today’s Iloilo exports IT talents, topnotch seafarers, and community leaders grounded in service. From the humble soil sample that led to Ilozone and Ilotycin—two globally recognized antibiotics named after Iloilo—to our growing reputation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, the Ilonggo community continues to innovate, albeit with less noise but more substance.
 
So, the next time someone asks what makes Iloilo special, skip the scripted tourist pitch. Just pause and remember: this is where the first school stood, where the first church rose, where books were printed, where flights began, where women marched, where medals were earned. Here, progress is not trend but tradition. And even if others forget, we remember—not for nostalgia’s sake but for responsibility. For it is not enough to inherit a legacy. We must live it, teach it, and, if we are brave enough, add our names to the next page.
 
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 ILOILO’S FIRSTS first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

AMONG my senior colleagues in community journalism, I ranked Limuel Sotto Celebria, 69, as among the best opinion writers in Iloilo of all time.

As a local columnist, he was in the category of Manuel “Boy” Mejorada, Herbert Vego, Atty. Teopisto “Pet” Melliza, Wenceslao Mateo, Jr., the late Sonny Rico, Bel Sobrevega, and Dean Art Jimenez.

They were the crème de la crème in the Iloilo print media after Martial Law was lifted in1981, and before the 1986 EDSA Revolution.

I mentioned only a few because they were really the most active columnists in the English periodicals then who became part of the household of regular newspaper readers in Western Visayas.

Limuel was already a prominent figure in Iloilo journalism when I was still member of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)—both the original and the “reform movement” in late 80s.

I first met Limuel in the press conference of the 1988 Paraw Regatta Festival at Hotel del Rio’s Igmaan Hall in Iloilo City. I was reporter of News Express and he was associate editor of Western Visayas Daily Times. Limuel attended the press conference with sportswriter and future wife, Gina Hablero-Celebria.

The meeting was casual with no earthshaking moment, but it was the first time we saw each other in real time.

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Not all newspaper columnists are gifted. Not all who write columns are good opinion makers and analysts.

Because of Peter Principle, any charlatan can call himself a “columnist” even without substance and empirical evidence or basis.

Limuel was not only intelligent but was also a remarkable critic, a political, cultural and social gadfly who could easily sway public opinion and educate the readers.

Aware that tabloid space is a premium, Limuel had clarity and conciseness. His writing style was easily understandable; he knew how to circumvent jargon when writing for a broad audience.

Limuel was best known for using descriptive language and imagery to paint a vivid picture for the reader in his “calumny” column.

When I briefly joined the Western Visayas Daily Times sometime in 1993, he was the paper’s “outgoing” associate editor; Mejorada was the “outgoing” editor-in-chief.

The late Ivan Suansing, future first editor-in-chief of Sun.Star Iloilo in1996 and managing editor of Cebu Daily News in 1998, was their senior reporter.

Limuel lived a simple life. I noticed he never wore fancy or branded clothes, shoes and jewelry. He loved his family first and foremost, cold beer in a cold bar, and to belt out his favorite videoke song, Bon Jovi’s “Bed of Roses.”

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Too bad Limuel had to suffer from several serious ailments after his health problems began in late 2021 after experiencing blood in his urine.

The issue recurred, leading to a CT scan in 2022 that revealed stage IV renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) that had spread to his lungs after initial treatment offered some relief. Limuel underwent a nephrectomy to remove the cancerous kidney, but sadly, the cancer had already metastasized.

Limuel was also treated for the following: Pneumonia in an immunocompromised state; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in acute exacerbation; Stage II hypertension; Gouty arthritis.

He underwent targeted drug therapy for the cancer, but the cost of treatment presented a significant challenge.

After saying his final goodbye on July 4, 2025, Limuel must now be resting in peace in the bed of roses prepared by his Creator.  Farewell Limuel, Iloilo journalism’s bravest soldier. So long, my dear friend and colleague!

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 journalism’s bravest soldier first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

Nowhere is the Peter Principle more visible than in schools, government offices, and corporate institutions—arenas where misplaced promotions inconvenience individuals and disrupt entire systems. A brilliant math teacher, adored for engaging lessons and outstanding results, is promoted to department head. Suddenly, their days are consumed with paperwork, budgeting, and managerial meetings—skills unrelated to their prior success. The result? A lackluster leader who neither excels in management nor has the time to teach well anymore. The classroom loses a great educator, and the department gains an unprepared administrator.

In government offices, the situation takes a graver turn. Consider the classic tale of the diligent municipal employee who efficiently processes permits and files reports on time. Seeing his consistent performance, higher-ups reward him with a directorial role requiring policy-making, crisis management, and leadership—capabilities he never developed. Soon, bureaucracy slows, decisions stagnate, and his previous efficiency is rendered useless. When this happens in public service, the cost is not just inefficiency but also widespread disenchantment and frustration from the citizens who depend on the system.

The Peter Principle takes an even more perplexing turn in political dynasties, where promotions are not just earned but inherited. A well-respected mayor, known for genuine leadership and people-centric policies, passes the baton to their son or daughter—not due to tested competence but due to familial ties. The result? A potential disaster in governance is where an unseasoned leader fumbles through the demands of public service, leading to mismanagement, corruption, or outright negligence. Unlike in corporations where poor managers can be replaced, political promotions are often cemented for years, leaving an entire locality at the mercy of an incompetent heir.

Corporate institutions are no less vulnerable to this phenomenon. The high-performing sales executive who singlehandedly secures million peso deals is elevated to a managerial position. However, his prowess in selling does not translate into leadership. The star salesperson drowns in paperwork and office politics, turning from a top performer into a struggling manager, hurting morale and the company’s success.

Studies corroborate the damaging impact of this flawed promotion system. In their research on American firms, Benson, Li, and Shue (2018) found that organizations tend to promote employees based on past performance rather than managerial potential, often resulting in reduced productivity post-promotion. Likewise, the “Dilbert Principle,” introduced by cartoonist Scott Adams, takes this notion further, humorously suggesting that companies deliberately push incompetent employees into management to get them out of the way. While satirical, both principles highlight the core issue: promotions are often based on merit in a past role rather than the skills required for a new one.

So, how do we counteract this cycle? Some firms have started rethinking their promotion policies in the private sector by ensuring that technical experts continue to thrive in their specialties without being forced into leadership roles. Google, for instance, introduced the “Individual Contributor” career track, allowing engineers to advance professionally and financially without being compelled to become managers. More companies should follow suit, designing alternative career paths where employees are rewarded without being shoehorned into roles they are not equipped for.

Public institutions, however, present a more challenging landscape. The promotion of government workers is often dictated by tenure rather than aptitude. One potential solution is integrating competency-based assessments for each level of promotion, ensuring that those who rise through the ranks possess the necessary leadership and managerial acumen. Meritocratic promotions, guided by a robust evaluation system, could curb the trend of promoting merely for the sake of seniority.

Education, too, must reconsider its approach. Teachers, researchers, and administrators should not be forced into paths misaligned with their strengths. Instead, structured mentorship programs and leadership training should be prerequisites before promotion, ensuring that future department heads and school administrators are equipped with subject mastery and the capacity to lead effectively.

At its core, this issue calls for deeper self-awareness in both organizations and individuals. Not every promotion is a step forward; sometimes, it is a step into quicksand. Employees must also reflect on their strengths, aspirations, and readiness before accepting a new role. Prestige is tempting, but misplaced ambition leads to a frustrating, unfulfilling professional life. Ignatian principles emphasize discernment—the ability to assess whether a path aligns with one’s values and capabilities. This form of self-examination can serve as a guide for individuals facing career crossroads.

Promotions should be about the right fit, not just a reward. When people land roles they are not ready for, schools, government offices, and companies pay the price with poor leadership and low morale. The Peter Principle is not fate—it is a warning. And the lesson is simple: climb when ready, not just because the ladder is there.

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 Beyond the Peter Plateau first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

As someone who has spent countless hours in local libraries, I speak with a mix of sadness and urgency when I say that many of these spaces are slowly fading into irrelevance. Too many of them have become static and outdated, functioning primarily as quiet storage rooms for books. They are no longer places where knowledge is lived, shared, and actively explored. Instead, they remain locked in time, both physically and conceptually—lagging behind not only in infrastructure but, more critically, in vision.

Many of our libraries are falling behind when it comes to acquiring new and relevant books, adapting to digital technologies, or offering programs that truly engage the public. What’s more troubling is that they often exist on the periphery of our cultural and educational landscape, unnoticed by a younger generation that sees little value in visiting them. For many young people, libraries no longer feel welcoming, inspiring, or even necessary.

But this is not a failure of the library as an idea. Rather, it reflects a failure of investment, imagination, and political will.

Around the world, libraries are experiencing a quiet revolution. In cities such as Helsinki, Medellín, and Singapore, libraries have been transformed into dynamic community spaces. These modern libraries offer much more than access to books, they provide digital literacy programs, art workshops, music labs, forums for public dialogue, and inclusive services for all ages and backgrounds. They serve as sanctuaries for the curious, the marginalized, and the hopeful. They are places where people come together to learn, connect, and grow. Why should Iloilo be any different? Why can’t we dream big for our own libraries?

The gap we face is not a lack of dreams or good intentions. It is a gap rooted in insufficient policy, limited funding, lack of training, and weak institutional support. Many local librarians, committed, hardworking individuals continue to serve under difficult circumstances. They are often under-equipped, underpaid, and overlooked. Opportunities for professional development are scarce. Initiatives such as community-led programs, creative reading campaigns, or interactive storytelling sessions are more the exception than the norm.

It is deeply unfair to expect our librarians to create transformative learning spaces when they are not provided with the tools, resources, or recognition they need to thrive.

We need a profound shift in perspective. Libraries should no longer be seen merely as book warehouses. They must be understood as living, breathing institutions that nurture critical thinking, empathy, and civic imagination. They should be spaces where young people can access information and also engage in thoughtful conversations, explore their identities, and participate in shaping their communities.

This is a challenge that demands collective effort from local government units, schools and universities, cultural institutions, and the national government. Strengthening our libraries should not be seen as an afterthought or a luxury. It is central to building an inclusive, resilient, and educated society. If we truly believe that education is the backbone of national development, then we must ask ourselves why libraries continue to be among the most neglected parts of our public infrastructure.

To our policymakers: I urge you to invest not just in constructing library buildings, but in building the capacity of the people who bring those spaces to life. Support our librarians. Provide training, access to technology, and funding for programs that promote creativity, community engagement, and lifelong learning.

To civil society and the private sector: I encourage you to view libraries as essential partners in nation-building. Collaborate with them. Sponsor programs. Donate books, equipment, or time. Treat these institutions as the public assets they are.

And to the librarians: Continue to advocate for your profession and your patrons. Seek out collaboration, push for innovation, and never lose sight of the transformative role you play in our society. Now more than ever, your work matters.

So, do we still need libraries in Iloilo? Absolutely. But the more important question is this: are we ready to fight for the kind of libraries our communities deserve?

If we are bold enough to embrace this challenge, the libraries of Iloilo can become more than they have ever been. They can be spaces of hope, memory, resistance, and transformation. But that future depends on the choices we make today—guided by purpose, fueled by passion, and grounded in our belief in the power of learning and imagination.

Noel Galon de Leon is a writer and educator at University of the Philippines Visayas, where he teaches in both the Division of Professional Education and U.P. High School in Iloilo. He serves as an Executive Council Member of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts-National Committee on Literary Arts.

The post Do We Still Need More Libraries in Iloilo? first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

EVEN if we make multiple bogus social media accounts or mount the loudest microphones and speakers in Calle Real to slam and vilify all those lousy politicians, there’s no way we can vanish them.

Running amuck in the social media is sometimes good for our mental and emotional health if we want to express disgust and wrath against political hooligans like Chiz, Bato, Robin, Loren, Cynthia, Joel, Alan Peter, to name only a few grutnols in the senate, but our social media rages are not darts that can drill holes in their backs.

In the first place, it’s our fault for electing them during the elections; we have the good opportunity to elect the best and most qualified leaders, but we always went for the sikat (famous) who will always make pasikat (show-off), entertainment macho men and nymphets, film stunt men, children of religious cult leaders, carpet baggers, land grabbers, cry babies, etcetera.

In other words, we are partly to blame for the gradual and sweeping ruins of our hollowed institutions and revered public offices like the Upper and Lower chambers of the national legislature.

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IT’S better and healthier politically if Iloilo City Mayor-elect Raisa Treñas-Chu, Iloilo City reelected Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda and sister, Vice Mayor-elect Love Baronda will meet, sit down, and smoke the proverbial peace pipe even without the presence of their senior citizen parents.

In the first place, the peace pipe here is a misnomer since there was no actual enmity and personal hatred that unraveled between the two camps before, during, and after the May 12, 2025 election.

While the adults were tearing each other apart, the kids hoofed together like Bini dancers.   

They must learn to form their own fraternal ties and cooperation in the name of public service without necessarily asking permission from the olds.

The Ilonggo electorate brought them to their offices, not their parents. They are beholden to the public, not to papa and mama.

Now that they have been given the opportunity to chart the future of Iloilo City, they can create their own destiny as Gen Z leaders and upgrade the quality of public service for future generations to enjoy and emulate.

Iloilo City will be in good hands if the trio—Treñas daughter, Baronda ladies—will learn to paddle their own canoes and cultivate their own gardens.

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REAL AND PRESENT SHORTAGES. Immigrants with opportunity to study or acquire a second profession while living in the United States, must go for the healthcare jobs: Home Health Aide (HHA), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), (Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Registered Nurse (RN), Physical Therapist (PT), Occupational Therapist (OT), Medical Assistant (the best of all is RN).

I personally witnessed and experienced how hospitals, medical centers, nursing centers and rehabilitations, urgent care clinics grapple with shortages of the aforementioned healthcare professionals.

This can explain why my evenings (I am a New York State-licensed CNA, phlebotomist and EKG Tech) are sometimes mornings vice versa (never mind my afternoons because it appears I have none of them now).

Overtime and evening shifts are in demand. If we’re robots or machines with no wear and tear, everyday would be harvest season financially.

Healthcare industry pays incredibly much higher and offers head-turning benefits more than what anyone can imagine.

But we’re humans and (in my case I) don’t have anymore illusion to get rich, thus it’s but logical to accept only shifts and other “responsibilities” in consonance with our endurance, mental, emotional and physical strengths and limitations.

Health and happiness are always more important than the sparkling US dollars.

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FOUR BASIC ANSWERS. Former Obama cabinet secretary Robert Reich said, “I heard four basic answers” as demonstrations against President Donald Trump’s emerging police state are growing, not just in Los Angeles but around the nation.

In New York June 10, demonstrators walked through the streets after assembling in Lower Manhattan near a large government building that houses federal immigration offices and the city’s main immigration court.

Thousands gathered in Chicago, chanting anti-ICE and anti-Trump slogans while marching through the city.

This coming June 14 (Saturday), in response to Mr. Trump’s display of military might in Washington (ostensibly to honor the 250th anniversary of the creation of the U.S. Army but also to honor himself and his own birthday), many pro-democrats will be protesting in “No Kings Day” events across the nation, Reich revealed.

Mr. Trump says anyone who protests during his military parade in Washington will be met with “very big force.”

Reich asked: “All of which raises some basic questions: What is the purpose of our protests, in concrete political terms? What should our strategy now be in the face of Trump’s emerging police state? How do we avoid playing into Trump’s hands? I’ve heard four basic answers: …”

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 can’t vanish lousy politicians by mere insult first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

IF I were a candidate in the May 12, 2025 Philippine elections and I accused my rival of being an “under the saya” or a henpecked, would the Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualify me for “violation” of Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaign rules?

I can’t imagine if the poll body would go to that extreme.   

During the election campaign—at least in the Philippines, we don’t expect the protagonists to heap praises toward each other; we don’t expect them to swap love letters and red roses.

There will always be heated debates, bitter exchange of diatribes in the middle of the campaign period, and mudslinging from pillar to post.

There will always be a Mickey Mouse, a Donald Duck, and a Snoopy. No one comes out a saint or end up like Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird and Cary Grant in the Arsenic and Old Lace.

Candidates will get eggs on their faces no matter who they are and what position or title they possess.

Politicians—the ambitious and adventurous—always have putrid mouths; they don’t give a hoot if they wound the feelings of their rivals.

All they care about is to sledgehammer their opponents with unpleasant accusations and wanting to emerge immaculate from the rat race and making sure their rivals’ reputations are in tatters. They don’t even give a damn about decency and respect.

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It is completely a different story if the rivals’ word war goes beyond name-calling.

If it is meant as a joke, it depends on the quality of that joke and who promotes or professes that “joke.”

If it offends the public morals and degrades a person, it’s blatantly south of the border and must be vigorously nipped in the bud by the proper authorities.

And because of the Comelec’s vigilance and full-court-press approach against dirty campaigning, candidates are now under mounting pressure to uphold ethical campaign practices.

Aside from the poll body, other government agencies have been cracking down on foul language, misuse of personal data, exploitation of emergency alert systems and political interference in government payout programs.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia recently announced that a supplemental resolution has been adopted to broaden the existing Anti-Discrimination and Fair Campaign rules, incorporating a “safe space” provision aimed at curbing inappropriate behavior during the campaign period.

“The use of foul language is now considered an election offense,” Garcia announced recently, noting that the move was prompted by recent incidents involving candidates resorting to offensive language in public appearances.

It seems that the new provision is also seeking to prevent discriminatory remarks against women, the elderly and other vulnerable groups – acts that may not be explicitly covered under previous regulations.

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KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. The skin of our faces has a certain amount of color of its own, but the main part of the color of the face–at any rate, among people with light-colored skins–is the color of the blood shining through the skin. It is the heart that drives the blood through the skin of the face.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. There is a certain amount of salt in all our food, and one of the properties of salt is to draw water from the tissues toward the kidneys where the waste liquids are filtered.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. How hot is the sun? The temperature of the surface of the sun is estimated at about 11,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The sun’s interior may be 40,000,000 degrees. At these temperatures, molecules of matter can not “hang together.”

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. There is a certain amount of salt in all our food, and one of the properties of salt is to draw water from the tissues toward the kidneys where the waste liquids are filtered.

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

The post It depends on the joke first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.