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IN THE HOT SEAT President Marcos’ appointment of Juan Miguel Cuna as DENR Acting Secretary has put environmental accountability back under the microscope, as the longtime agency insider carries a controversial past tied to the Canada hazardous waste shipment.

CHRONIC ILLNESS IS NO LONGER A DISEASE OF OLD AGE Once considered a concern for the elderly, chronic diseases are now striking Filipinos in their 20s and 30s fueled by fast food culture, BPO night shifts, and many more. READ: tinyurl.com/5c5vuahc

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For a growing number of urban Filipino Gen Z consumers, online shopping isn't just convenience but self-care. Three in four say they buy because they feel they "deserve it," driven by a pursuit of happiness, FOMO, and the need to decompress after stressful days.

CHAIR IN CROSSFIRE As the Philippines takes on a larger role in ASEAN, it steps into a region shaped by competing interests, rising tensions, and unresolved disputes. READ: tinyurl.com/3mpjv8d9

stacking Cartoon by Cartoonist ZACH

For Filipino Gen Z, financial stress isn't just background noise but a defining reality. The pressure to take on extra jobs just to get by has made small, affordable indulgences feel less like splurges and more like survival. READ: tinyurl.com/y76rp97n

SLIGHT PRICE INCREASE? Food supply may be stable for now, but rising global oil prices are quietly pushing up transport and logistics costs—making everyday goods more expensive at the market. READ: tinyurl.com/3pkt66t3

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AI IS NOW USED IN WAR TO END HUMAN LIVES As artificial intelligence reshapes modern warfare, state actors are deploying autonomous systems that blur the line between military targets and civilian lives with little accountability and no human conscience.

PRIVATE COMPANIES’ DRIVER AIDS CHALLENGE THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP UP As fuel prices rise, Filipino drivers are forced to cut trips and stretch earnings that barely cover daily costs. READ: tinyurl.com/y5exh9t3

drunk in power Cartoon by Cartoonist ZACH

FARE GONE WRONG A taxi overcharging incident in Cebu, where a ₱300 fare reportedly ballooned to ₱1,000, has reignited concerns over passenger exploitation. READ: tinyurl.com/csxwnkmf

NCR STUDENTS STILL LAG BEHIND LITERACY In Metro Manila, proximity to schools and resources has not translated into stronger literacy, with many students still struggling to read at expected levels. READ: tinyurl.com/jy62va59

CHILD PREGNANCIES RISE AS GAPS IN PROTECTION PERSIST The Philippines faces a worsening child pregnancy crisis. Many of these cases stem from sexual abuse, robbing young girls not only of their childhood but of their safety, dignity, and future. READ: tinyurl.com/4747nrcp

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Chinese car brands are rapidly reshaping the Philippine automotive market, growing from a 5% share in 2023 to serious challengers against long-dominant Japanese brands, driven by competitive pricing and an aggressive EV push, even amid Manila-Beijing tensions.

meowala Cartoon by Cartoonist ZACH

BAND-AID RELIEF? A ₱5,000 fuel subsidy is being rolled out to thousands of jeepney drivers, but with diesel prices rising by as much as ₱20 per liter, the support may only last a few days. READ: tinyurl.com/2rayct84