A woman’s high heels

“I don't know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot.”

—Marilyn Monroe

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IT’S unfortunate that the furor generated by Quezon City Rep. Jesus Manuel “Bong” Suntay’s inappropriate, sexually suggestive remarks about actress Anne Curtis during a House Committee on Justice hearing came five days before a scheduled rally with women and girls around the world to demand equal rights and equal justice to enforce, exercise, and enjoy those rights on March 8.

Suntay’s controversial comments were made while the House Committee was discussing the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio on March 3.

It came as the United Nations (UN) lamented that nowadays, no nation has closed the legal gaps between men and women.

“Right now, women have only 64 per cent of the legal rights that men hold worldwide,” declared the UN. “In fundamental areas of life, including work, money, safety, family, property, mobility, business, and retirement – the law systematically disadvantages women.”

International Women’s Day 2026 (IWD 2026), under the theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”, calls for action to dismantle all barriers to equal justice: discriminatory laws, weak legal protections, and harmful practices and social norms that erode the rights of women and girls.

 

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Suntay and other bigots must be reminded that women possess inherent human dignity, worth, and rights equal to men, regardless of gender and they, therefore, deserve respect.

In our culture as Filipinos, we believe respecting women is essential for fostering a just, equitable, and safe society, as they contribute equally to all aspects of life and deserve to be treated with dignity, not objectified or marginalized

Women, like our mothers, sisters, wives, girlfriends, are individuals with their own lives, thoughts, and rights like all human beings. They are not objects for pleasure, nor are they subordinate to men.

They make immeasurable contributions to society, families, and workplaces, often working long hours and balancing multiple, demanding roles.

But Suntay had the gall to argued that imagination is not a crime, claiming he once imagined a scenario with Curtis at a hotel.

Fellow lawmakers led by Rep. Leila de Lima condemned the remarks as misogynistic, especially during Women's Month.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and actress Jasmine Curtis-Smith also took turns in lambasting Suntay’s comments, with Curtis-Smith highlighting that it reduced women to objects in male-dominated spaces.

As of this writing, Suntay reportedly issued an apology following the intense backlash. But the damage to his reputation has been done.

 

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Important things to remember in IWD 2026:

-Women have only 64 percent of the legal rights that men hold worldwide;

-If progress continues at its current pace, it will take 286 years to close legal protection gaps;

-In many countries, the law allows for early and child marriage, which erodes the full potential of about 12 million girls annually. (Source: UN)

 

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TEMPLE OF FERTILITY. Around 100 B.C. in Babylon all women had to go to the temple of the Fertility Goddess Mylitta to have sex with a stranger. Only then were the women allowed to marry. The stranger, in return, had to donate money to the temple. (The History of Prostitution)

CANCER is the second‑leading cause of death in New York City, following heart disease. Whether we or someone we know have been diagnosed, cancer has touched all of us.

At NYC Health + Hospitals, their goal is to find cancer early so that it can be more easily treated. They provide the highest quality cancer care — even for the most challenging kinds of cancer.

“If you need screening, diagnosis, treatment, or support, our experts are here for you and your family at our hospitals and neighborhood health centers,” announced NYC Health + Hospitals.

(The author, 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 grim headline

“The pride of man will be bowed down, the arrogance of men will be humiliated, and when that day comes, the LORD alone will be exalted.”

—Isaiah 2:17

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WHILE walking on the Avenue 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.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)

 

 

 

 

 

Mga lolo kag tatay ta ara man bala sa Epstein files?

“Randus Andus: Definition – An older member of the elite that desires underage teenagers.”

―Steven Magee

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

EVERY now and then naga kakibot lang kita nga may mga bantog kag dalagku nga tawo sa Amerika kag sa bog os nga kalibutan nga ang ila ngalan ara nalakip sa gina suka kag gina kahuya subong nga Epstein files.

Kag, by the way, congratulations gali sa United Kingdom ukon UK sa ila madasig kag abtik nga “hustisya” sa pag padakop kay anay Prince Andrews sa ila balay sa Sandringham Estate sadtong Pebrero 19 sa suspetsa nga naka himu siya sang misconduct in public office.

Amo na ini ang gina kono-kono nga iya “involvement” kay Jeffrey Epstein, ang napatay na nga convicted sexual predator kag trafficker sang mga kabataan nga babaye nga iya gin bugawan kag ginpa himuslan sa nanari sari nga kalalakihan nga gina patihan mga pedopilya or pedophiles, kag posibli isa na ini si Andrews.

Maayo pa ang UK kay action agad. Daku gid nga kalipay ang gin batyag sang mga biktima ni Jeffrey Epstein nga naka “survive” kag buhi pa subong sang ila nabatian ang balita sa pagka dakop kay anay prinsipe Andrews.

“It’s only the beginning” lang kuno ini sunu sa mga survivors.

 

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Pero, shot-live man lang ang ila kalipay kay gin release man lang sang kapulisan ang torpe nga anay prinsipe sang UK.  

Malas gid ining si Andrews kay sang nag lupok una ang Epstein files controversy sia gid ang naporohan sa publicity. Ma deny pa pero buking gid siya.

Ano abi kay madamu kuno sia nga beses nag pabalik balik sa isla ni Epstein sa ginabantog nga “Epstein Island” sa Little St. James sakay sa private plane ni Epstein.

Nagpa picture pa kuno ang tonto nga ini upod sa mga biktima. Abi niya wala katapusan ang iya langitnon nga kalipay nga punu sang kademonyuhan. Ti kundi sia gid ang nasampolan.  

Dira sa isla nga ina nagkalatabu ang pambababoy kag pagpanglugos sang mga pedopilya nga mga manggaranon sa mga kabataan nga babaye nga gin pang intu kag tipon ni Epstein sadtong 1990s until 2002 para himuon nga pala utwasan sexual sang mga wala kalag nga pedopilya. 

May mga impormasyon pa nga ang iban nga biktima gin torture pa samtang gina lugos sang mga bolay og nga pedopilya.

 

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Basta rich or billionaire nga pedopilya may access kay Epstein kag hilway nila nga babuyon, hampangan, kag abosohon ang mga makalolooy nga mga bata nga babaye nga ginapatihan nag lab ot sa more than 1,000 victims.

Kag syempre may bayad ini. Amo ni siguro ang rason ngaa tuman ka manggaranon ining si Epstein kay aside from the payment nga nakuha nia sa mga manggaranon nga pedopilya, may mga secret camera pa nga na install kag ang mga videos gina dudahan nga gin himu nia armas para kilkilan or e extort pa gid ang mga “clients” nga nag kadto sa iya isla.

Now nga naga linupok na ini tanan, may ara pa three million pages sang Epstein files nga wala pa naabrihan ukon napakita sa publiko. Ang total tanan nga pages nga may mga videos, letters, emails, kag iban pa nga dokumento is six million.

So, three million pa lang ang na open kag may three million pa nga bilin.

Sin o pa gid ayhan ang ara sa listahan? Damu subong ang gina nerbyos kag gina hilanat especially ang mga bantog kag influential nga mga personalities sa business, media, entertainment, politics, (even church?) nga anytime from now maga tuhaw ang ila ngalan kon ma abrihan na ang nabilin nga three million pages.

 

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Sa una pa lang nga three million pages madamu na ang nabululyaso kag na expose sa kahuy anan kag iskandalo kag nag resign na sa ila posisyon kag trabaho.

Naka batyag man sila gali huya sa ila sapat sapaton nga gin pang himu. Ang ila sadtong “himaya sa langit” nangin instant impiyerno.

We expect more prominent and influential personalities to fall in disgrace in the coming weeks or months. So dapat e demand gid nga e release ang remaining six million pages.

Kabay pa nga ang mga lolo kag tatay naton wala didto sa listahan. Kabay pa nga wala rich Filipino pedophiles nga nalakip sa listahan. Kon matabu nga ara ila ngalan, kahulya.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)

 

 

No Filipino politician will marry his political party

 "Honor is not the exclusive property of any political party."

--Herbert Hoover

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

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.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)