Remember when everyone just stood on escalators and it was such a hassle when you're in an emergency?

But now, I'd say, most of the time, escalator users stand on the right-hand side and not hog the space. Now there is a shared awareness to keep the left-hand side free. We were able, in spite of some resistance, to normalize this.

How did we achieve this? And how can we adapt the same methods towards normalizing using earphones in public spaces? How can we spread the awareness that we must be considerate towards other people we share public spaces with?

Do you think conscientious use of mobile phones in public spaces can be achieved?

The NPC(National Privacy Commission) asked Bir to explain the seal badge revealing the name of the content creator/online seller. Baka daw ang defense ng Bir is "to protect the consumer" by revealing the name of the content creator/online seller so the complainant/consumer knows who to file their complaint against.

Napa lol lang ako sa nabasa kong article I could not fathom the absurdity of this to be honest. Is there really no other way to know the personality behind the service or business if a consumer wants to file a complaint? Really? No other solution than to risk the safety of the content creator/online seller because we cannot think of any other way to solve this problem other than to publish their names for the world to see?

I mean come on. It's almost unbelievable that no one can think of a solution. I'm not even an expert but if consumer protection via the seal badge is now part of the Bir's mandate, then hear me out:

The seal badge being posted is already proof that the content creator/online seller has been captured. The bir has their details. If no one on earth knows where or how to find the name of the content creator/online seller then how about inform the public to reach out to Bir if they want to file a complaint against a content creator/online seller by sending a screenshot of the seal badge.

Once bir receives a formal complaint from a consumer, it is important to note that protecting the content creator or online seller's privacy and safety is a critical consideration hence the formal complaint must be verified first by the bir(hindi naman po basta basta nalang ilalapastangan natin ang privacy, safety, and human rights ng ating mga taxpayer tao rin po sila tulad ng complainant). Just imagine if the complaint is not verified, parang nagpapa uto ang bir kung kani kanino based on tsismis at based on an unverified or unvetted complaint eh i violate ang safety, privacy, and human rights ng isang tao by giving away their private information to a perfect stranger?

Proper due process generally dictates that the party being complained against(the content creator/online seller) should be notified of the allegations and given an opportunity to respond before any of their personal details or the identity are disclosed to the complainant.

Only after receiving the response from the content creator/online seller, shall the Bir decide if it will give the personal information of the content creator/online seller to the complainant. If the Bir decides to provide the name and address of the content creator/online seller to the complainant, then the Bir must also give the full name and address of the complainant to the content creator/online seller to ensure that both sides have access to details for legal purposes. The accused has a right to know their accuser.

Implementing this process upholds due process, protects privacy, and guarantees fairness for both parties involved in the complaint.

The Return of Joc-Joc Bolante

The fertilizer fund controversy broke out in 2004, when Sen. Panfilo Lacson accused then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of using fertilizer funds to buy votes. The money came from the Department of Agriculture's Ginintuang Masaganang Ani program, and was allegedly misused through collusion between legislators and private suppliers and foundations. Sources put the amount at either P728 million or P723 million. Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante, then an agriculture undersecretary, was named as the alleged architect of the anomalous distribution of the funds.

In 2005, Bolante disappeared in the middle of the Senate investigation. On July 7, 2006, he was arrested in the United States when he tried to enter on an expired trader's visa. He then spent about two years fighting to stay there. A federal court in Wisconsin rejected his bail petition and later dismissed his habeas corpus petition for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Sen. Mar Roxas had earlier asked the US to deport him to Manila rather than Hong Kong, the port of origin.

In October 2008, US authorities reportedly ordered his deportation. Upon arrival in the Philippines, he was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, then rushed to St. Luke's Medical Center after suffering chest pains. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon, issued a contempt order on December 3, 2008. It released him from Senate custody on December 11, after he assured Gordon he would attend the next hearing on December 17. He also appeared before the House agriculture committee, where he admitted distributing the funds without the permission of then-Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin.

The legal case moved slowly. In 2011, the Ombudsman pushed ahead with a plunder case before the Sandiganbayan against Bolante, former Agriculture Secretary Luis "Cito" Lorenzo and others, alleging that Bolante and supplier Jaime Paule had met and planned the scheme. In 2014, the Sandiganbayan found no probable cause to hold Lorenzo and Bolante for trial, but did not dismiss the case and asked the prosecution for more evidence. That same year, the Ombudsman dismissed the graft complaint against Arroyo for lack of evidence.

In 2016, the court allowed the Ombudsman to amend its charge sheet and to drop one accused, Jose Barredo Jr., so he could serve as a state witness. The amended case alleged that Bolante and seven co-accused accumulated P265.64 million in ill-gotten wealth. On November 28, 2016, the Sandiganbayan dismissed the plunder case. It described Bolante as the "central key player" in the scam, but said no material participation other than the release of the funds could be attributed to him. It also ruled that Barredo had not shown that Bolante pocketed P50 million or more, the threshold for plunder.

The Ombudsman asked the court to reconsider, and the Sandiganbayan affirmed its decision in 2017. On March 27, 2017, the Ombudsman filed a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court. Bolante was never issued a warrant of arrest in the case.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara has issued comprehensive guidelines for schools amid the threat of the super El Niño, ordering the suspension of all physical and home-based academic activities once ambient temperature hits 42 degrees Celsius, to ensure the safety of learners and teachers.

“We cannot afford to wait until extreme heat hits before we act. Our plan this year is proactive, deliberate and organized,” he said.

FULL STORY

From POGOs to scam hubs

EYES WIDE OPEN - Iris Gonzales

The Philippines may have banned offshore gaming, but it doesn’t mean that the people behind it, especially the Chinese, are no longer around.

Perhaps this is one negative result of the ban—an iteration, or rebirth, that was a lot worse.

Aside from scams, another concern that has emerged in the wake of the POGO ban is the so-called Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGOs), which offer online gaming targeting players in the Philippines.

It’s ironic, said property consultant David Leechiu, that while the Philippines banned POGOs—which target overseas players—it allows PIGOs, which have, unfortunately, hooked Filipinos on online gambling.

Seeing/hearing such statement straight from one of the leading opposition stalwarts/figureheads is not just reassuring, since it validates a potentially enormous political assembly they're pushing for in 2028 elections. Something big in the horizon is bound to unfold soon.

I totally agree with what Sen. Pangilinan has mentioned, as I have been somewhat preaching the same words to my peers over and over again since after 2022. Though I do recognize that back then, it's quite tough to believe that the political atmosphere will drastically change as years go by, as it seems like the Dutertes and the Marcoses in ad infinitum possess such good heavenly favor/invincibility in every single day we try to survive. But here (the entire country's present-day situation) we are now as the ex-Uniteam faction continues to unravel further 🤷🏻‍♂️

Edit: opinions from all sides, including ones from DDS edgelords, are fully welcome here