Thank you, Iloilo City

“Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.”

—Anthony J. D'Angelo

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THIS is another feather in the cap of the Iloilo City Government that Ilonggos around the world should be proud of.

Soon after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake walloped the coast of Maasim, Sarangani and devastated many parts of Mindanao June 8, the Iloilo City Government was the first local government (LGU) in the Philippines to reach out and offer assistance to the affected communities.

Without much fanfare and delay, Mayor Raisa Maria Lourdes Sarabia Treñas-Chu immediately instructed the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) to coordinate with its counterparts in General Santos City to determine the extent of the damage and identify urgent needs on the ground.

“The Iloilo city government is prepared to extend assistance to General Santos City following the earthquake that struck this morning,” Treñas-Chu said in a statement released June 8 as reported by Dr. Hazel Villa.

The mayor directed the CDRRMO to communicate with the General Santos City disaster officials and “await an official assessment to ensure that any aid sent by Iloilo City would be responsive to the most pressing requirements of affected communities.”

 

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“We will await their official assessment and report to ensure that the assistance we provide is responsive to their most urgent needs,” she added.

Treñas-Chu’s statement reverberated around the world through the power of the social and mainstream media. It reached the attention of many Filipinos abroad in a split second.

The world was reminded of how caring and affectionate the Ilonggos are especially in times of calamities and other tragedies.

Death toll has risen to 47, 17 remained missing, and 487 have been injured, as of this writing.

The Philippines’ Office of Civil Defense reported that most of the additional fatalities were found in Davao Occidental province, largely as a result of a landslide and buildings collapsing.

More than 33,000 households, equivalent to around 150,000 people, have been affected by the disaster, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council,

Aftershocks continue to be recorded across Mindanao Island and several areas in the central Philippines, with more than 1,700 tremors.

The earthquake struck at 7:37 a.m. June 8 and was initially measured by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) at magnitude 7.0 event before being upgraded to magnitude 7.8.

Over 2,000 PNP personnel deployed as full-scale response continues after Mindanao Quake.

The quake’s epicenter was located about 32 kilometers southwest of Maasim, Sarangani.

 

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As this developed, residents continued to stay in evacuation centers as relief operations and damage assessments proceeded in affected provinces.

Government data showed widespread destruction to residential structures, with many homes sustaining either partial or total damage, prompting residents to stay and sleep outside their homes.

Rescue teams remained deployed in areas where collapsed buildings and landslides were reported, particularly in parts of General Santos City and Sarangani.

Phivolcs has warned residents to remain vigilant as aftershocks continued to be recorded following the powerful quake.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited General Santos City to personally assessed the damage caused by the massive quake, while Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio visited earthquake-stricken communities in Sarangani province and General Santos where she met with victims.

Classes in hard-hit areas remain suspended.

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

 

After violent Game 3, we’re now told to ‘wear blue and orange’ for Game 4

“I match up with the best guys in the world. I'm not being cocky; it's just always how I felt. But I got into trouble as soon as I got into the NBA, and it left a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths.”

—Michael Beasley

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

NO one can freely roam around New York City today rooting for San Antonio Spurs or wearing Spurs jersey and shorts without being brutally harassed by rowdy Knicks fans.

It happened June 8 or Monday night when the Madison Square Garden (MSG) hosted Game 3 of the NBA finals attended by President Donald Trump.

Several Spurs fans wearing the Texas team shirts were ambushed by hometown fans with flying kicks and blows as the Knicks fans became violent and uncontrollable.

Unruly Knicks fanatics also clashed with New York Police Department (NYPD) officers outside Bryant Park's Game 3 watch party prepared by the city government even as one fan was caught hurling a bottle at an officer that resulted in a melee.

 

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Just one hour after tip-off, the sea of fans was already teetering over the edge, as many didn't make it inside the official watch park of the Knicks-Spurs game in the Midtown park.

Huge brawls broke out and cops in riot gear rushed to control the unruly crowd, deploying pepper spray.

But another shocking video showed the sign being used as a weapon during a brawl on 42nd Street.

One lunatic was seen smashing the sign off the heads of others in the chaotic scenes.

Stray punches and kicks were hurled right in front of cops before they rushed to break apart the brawlers

As of this writing, the brusque message sent out by Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani to all New Yorkers June 9 seems to be “show your Knicks pride,” as Wear Blue and Orange Day will be recognized on June 10 across city government offices and New York City public schools in honor of the Knicks.

 

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Students, educators and city employees have been invited to wear blue and orange ahead of Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

The Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks have worn blue, white and orange throughout the team’s history. The colors pay tribute to the official colors of the City of New York.

“Nothing says ‘let’s go Knicks’ like blue and orange,” announced Mamdani.

“As our Knicks continue this historic run, we’re inviting New Yorkers to show their pride, wear the city’s colors and stand behind a team that has brought all of New York together. We’re so glad to have them back to Madison Square Garden in front of the best fans in the world.”

The Knicks will host the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday (June 10) night at Madison Square Garden. New York currently holds a 2-1 lead in the series. 

 

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Shaun Powell, who covered the NBA since 1985, said there’s a big difference between 3-1 and 2-2 in the NBA Finals.

The former is a show of dominance and an almost guarantee of a championship as far as history is concerned. The latter means this series will last a while and belongs to no one, Powell pointed out.

Such are the stakes Wednesday for Game 4 between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.

“Do the Knicks pull somewhat comfortably ahead and increase their margin for error and their championship odds? Or do the Spurs regain home court advantage—for whatever that’s worth—and change the conversation and momentum in this series?” Powell asked.

Chances are these questions will be answered by the composure of the young Spurs, their trapping defense on Jalen Brunson, whether Victor Wembanyama delivers like he did in Game 3, and a host of assorted adjustments by each team that will impact the outcome.

(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)

 

 

Blame the voters, not the senators

“I don't think that, you know, adherence to ignorance is really something that encourages voters to support you.”

—Elizabeth May

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IT’S about time we stopped blaming the bungling Filipino senators for the monumental mess they’ve created these past weeks.

In the first place, they did not place themselves in that August Hall all by themselves; it’s the voters who gave them the mandate to occupy their offices during the national elections.

Thus, the voters deserve the kind of senators they elected.

Sometimes it’s not right for the voters to ridicule “misfit” Robin Padilla and “palaging galit sa mundo” Rodante Marcoleta for being “annoying” and “eye sores” in the session hall.

It’s ironic that the voters who are quick to disown and disparage them were the ones who put these political villains there.

They were given the chance to choose the “right” candidates, but they opted to cast their votes for these ruffians over the other “more qualified” candidates.

The more the voters rebuke the lousy officials they’ve elected, the more they sound banal and hypocrites.

 

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The beauty of the Philippine constitution is that all Filipinos are given equal chances to serve in the Lower and Upper Houses (Congress) and even run for president and vice president if they posses baseline qualifications under the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

The Philippine charter says all candidates must be natural-born citizens of the Philippines, registered voters, able to read and write, and residents of the Philippines for a specific minimum period.

Specific qualifications and term limits vary depending on the exact position sought.

Even ordinary people who can read and right and in the right age stipulated in the constitution can file a certificate of candidacy during the elections. It’s another story though whether the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will declare them as nuisance candidates.

Those who oppose the charter change cite this “democratic” and “fair” provision where the opportunity to be elected to higher offices can’t be limited only to the educated and rich.

They also pointed out that systemic problems—like poverty, corruption, and inequality—are due to the underfunding and non-implementation of existing laws. They suggest that charter change is merely a diversion from enforcing already guaranteed social justice programs.

 

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TIGHT SECURITY. New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden (MSG) has announced that it’s ramping up security, enforcing what it called

“TSA-style screening procedures,” plus a strict no-bag policy, ahead of President Donald Trump’s attendance for Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 8.

In a joint post on social media under the Knicks logo, MSG and the U.S. Secret Service advised there will be “no storage available for prohibited items” and said fans should make every effort to “limit personal items to an absolute minimum.”

To allow extra time for screening and entry, the post strongly encourages fans to arrive at the Garden at least two hours before the game’s 8:30 p.m. tip-off.

The President, who is a Knicks fan, has said he was invited to attend a Knicks playoff game by team owner James Dolan, who has donated to Mr. Trump’s political campaigns.

Mayor Zoran Mamdani will also be taking in Monday’s game at MSG, but wouldn’t say if he’ll be meeting Mr. Trump during his visit to New York City.

“I will be in a very different section of the stadium,” Mamdani said on June 5, “and I think we look forward to welcoming any New Yorker who is excited for the Knicks to have that chance to win that championship.”

(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)

 

 

We aren’t gullible

“Just being a commentator is not as easy as people think with going out there and talking for three hours. So, I don't call myself a commentator: I call myself an analyst.”

—Booker T

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IF we are not careful, our minds will be poisoned by some self-proclaimed political commentators who have branched out in the social media, particularly in the political vlogs or video blogs, and swamped us with biased, misleading, and pathogenic commentaries and information.

It’s not bad to listen to them and watch their programs from time to time, but we must endeavor to also fact-check their statements and conduct our own independent research and critical analysis as much as possible.

To avoid being hoodwinked and misdirected, we must sharpen our minds and refrain from relying heavily on the words given by these voodoo political brainiacs hook, line, and sinker.

Many if not most of them are paid hacks, motivated by political vendetta and bigotry, false prophets masquerading as “political analysts,” or dark room operators tasked to sabotage the career and future candidacy of certain political personalities.

Some of them aren’t credible and are dangerous and toxic. As bogus media personalities, they are capable and will always underestimate and insult our intelligence.

Self-education and awareness must start with us. Let’s prove to ourselves we are not what they think: uto-uto or gullible.

 

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Pardon me but I didn’t know Lito Lapid is still serving in the Philippine Senate until today. If it was not reported that he recently told Senator Pia Cayetano “I love you” in jest, I wouldn’t know he’s still senator.

Despite his being reticent, this action star-turned-politician is really buenas in politics.

His being a “giant killer” began in 1992 when he became vice governor of Pampanga by ousting the incumbent Cielo Macapagal-Salgado. Lapid became full-fledged governor in 1995 when he trounced the incumbent Bren Guiao.

Like his fellow senators today who are facing cases for plunder and malversation of public funds, Lapid had his own share of shame in 2004 when he was charged by the Ombudsman in the fertilizer fund scam.

He was reelected in 2010. Lapid staged a comeback in 2019 and again in 2025. And that’s the reason why he is still senator until today.

 

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THE refusal of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to grace the Big Apple’s annual Israel Day parade on May 31 was really a big deal.

Why? Because Mamdani’s refusal to participate marked the first time a mayor had boycotted the parade since it was first held in 1965.

New York’s Democratic party leadership alongside tens of thousands of Jews and allies from the city and the surrounding region joined the parade, which maintained its festive atmosphere and went off without a hitch.

Despite the boycott from the mayor and security fears that had prompted heavy precautions from police, the annual parade, officially called Israel Day on Fifth, saw Jewish and pro-Israel groups march up Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue.

The event kicked off in Midtown Manhattan with New York leaders led by Governor Kathy Hochul, Sen. Chuck Schumer, other members of Congress, Attorney General Letitia James, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, City Council Speaker Julie Menin and City Comptroller Mark Levine all addressed the crowd, alongside Jewish communal leaders.

 

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The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, a communal group that organizes the parade, estimated that more than 50,000 participants marched, alongside thousands of spectators, in one of the event’s highest turnouts ever.

“Proud Americans, Proud Zionists” was the parade’s theme this year.

UJA-Federation of New York, a leading Jewish group in the city and one of the event’s sponsors headed by Eric Goldstein, acknowledged political complications surrounding the parade in recent years.

“This parade used to be a simpler time where we would march apolitically to acknowledge and celebrate the extraordinary achievements of this tiny, young nation,” Goldstein said. “We are increasingly isolated and targeted for being Jews. That said, today and every day, we must be proud, we must be public, we must come together.”

Mamdani’s absence, however, did not impact the event as marchers with the EndJewHatred activist group mocked the mayor by carrying life-size cardboard cutouts of Mamdani and his wife, both harsh critics of Israel, showing the pair posing with Israeli flags.

(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)