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Tai chi continues to inspire healthier lifestyles in modern China

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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Tai chi continues to inspire healthier lifestyles in modern China

BEIJING – As dawn breaks over Beijing’s historic Temple of Heaven, hundreds of people gather beneath towering cypress trees to perform the slow, flowing movements of tai chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art that continues to attract practitioners seeking better health, balance and mental well-being in today’s fast-paced world.

Every morning, retirees, office workers and fitness enthusiasts move in unison through graceful routines such as “White Crane Spreads Its Wings” and “Part the Wild Horse’s Mane,” demonstrating how an ancient tradition remains relevant in modern society. Many participants say the daily practice has improved not only their physical health but also their emotional resilience and quality of life.

“The environment is great and the air is good too,” said Ye Guirong, 64, who leads the Cypress Grove tai chi group at the Temple of Heaven. “You can see we’re surrounded by trees.”

Ye discovered tai chi in 2010 after retiring. While walking around Beijing, she came across a group practicing in the park and decided to join. She now teaches beginners, introducing them to the basic movements before gradually guiding them to more advanced routines.

Her group has around 30 members and recently welcomed 59-year-old newcomer Zu Hong, who learned a 24-movement routine in about a month.

“I thought tai chi looked very beautiful,” Zu said. “I wanted to exercise, so I came here to the Temple of Heaven.”

The Temple of Heaven, one of Beijing’s most iconic landmarks, was built in the early 15th century during the Ming Dynasty. For centuries, Chinese emperors held ceremonies there to pray for abundant harvests and symbolize harmony between heaven and earth. Today, the UNESCO World Heritage Site serves not only as a major tourist attraction but also as one of Beijing’s most popular public spaces for exercise, dance, music and tai chi.

Tai chi, also known as Taijiquan, traces its origins to the 17th century in Chenjiagou village in central China’s Henan Province. Historians widely recognize Chen Wangting, a retired military commander, as the founder of Chen-style tai chi, the oldest known form of the practice. Over time, additional styles such as Yang, Wu, Sun and Hao evolved, each emphasizing different techniques while maintaining the same core principles of controlled movement, relaxation, breathing and balance.

Today, Yang-style tai chi is among the most widely practiced forms worldwide because of its gentle, flowing movements that are suitable for beginners, older adults and people of varying fitness levels.

Beyond its martial arts heritage, tai chi is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese philosophy. It draws on the concept of Taiji, representing harmony between opposing yet complementary forces, and incorporates the traditional belief in qi, often described as the body’s vital energy. According to traditional Chinese medicine, maintaining a balanced flow of qi contributes to overall health and well-being.

James Miller, a professor of Humanities at Duke Kunshan University, said practices such as tai chi and qigong are intended to regulate and improve the flow of qi throughout the body, reflecting principles central to Daoist philosophy and broader Chinese views of health and nature.

Modern scientific research has also highlighted the physical and mental health benefits of tai chi. According to the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), regular practice can improve balance, flexibility and muscle strength while reducing the risk of falls among older adults. Studies have also found evidence that tai chi may help relieve stress and anxiety, improve sleep quality, ease chronic pain from conditions such as osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, and enhance overall quality of life. Health experts emphasize that tai chi is a low-impact exercise suitable for people of different ages and fitness levels, although individuals with existing medical conditions should consult healthcare professionals before beginning a new exercise program.

Ye’s group gathers every morning at 7:40 a.m. to practice for about 90 minutes, rotating through routines consisting of 24, 42 and 48 movements. Some sessions also incorporate traditional weapons such as swords and fans.

“Through exercising, everyone’s health has improved,” Ye said. “Our spirits are especially good.”

Tai chi master Chen Haitao said the practice combines physical movement with mindfulness and self-cultivation, making it accessible to nearly everyone.

“One of the great benefits of Taijiquan is that it is suitable for everyone,” Chen said. “As long as you learn the basic principles correctly and maintain proper alignment, whoever practices it will benefit from it.”

More than three centuries after its creation, tai chi continues to bridge ancient wisdom and modern wellness, offering millions of people in China and around the world a gentle yet effective way to stay physically active, reduce stress and cultivate a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.

Sources: Associated Press, UNESCO, U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).

More than 500 feared dead after refugee boats vanish off Myanmar coast, UN says

EDGARDO HERNAL
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More than 500 feared dead after refugee boats vanish off Myanmar coast, UN says

GENEVA, Switzerland – More than 500 people, most of them believed to be Rohingya refugees fleeing conflict in Myanmar, are feared dead after two overcrowded boats disappeared in rough seas off the country’s coast, according to a joint statement released Thursday by the United Nations’ refugee and migration agencies.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said one boat carrying about 250 people lost contact shortly after departing from Myanmar’s western Rakhine State in late June. A second vessel, carrying an estimated 280 passengers, is believed to have sunk off the coast of Ayeyarwady Region on July 8.

The UN agencies stressed that the incidents have yet to be officially confirmed but said they are “gravely concerned by the potentially devastating loss of life.”

If confirmed, the disappearances would rank among the deadliest maritime tragedies involving Rohingya refugees in recent years.

According to the IOM and UNHCR, some of those feared dead had traveled from the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, before attempting the dangerous sea crossing. The agencies said the voyages occurred outside the regular sailing season, when rough seas and severe weather significantly increase the risks of maritime travel.

Heavy rainfall and widespread flooding across the region have further worsened conditions. Last week, torrential rains triggered deadly landslides and flooding in Cox’s Bazar, destroying shelters and killing more than a dozen people, including children.

The Rohingya are a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority from Myanmar’s Rakhine State who have endured decades of discrimination, persecution and violence. Myanmar has long denied them citizenship, effectively rendering most of them stateless. In 2022, the United States formally determined that the Myanmar military had committed genocide and crimes against humanity against the Rohingya.

According to Human Rights Watch, more than one million Rohingya have fled to neighboring Bangladesh, where most live in overcrowded refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. Around 630,000 remain in Rakhine State despite ongoing insecurity and humanitarian challenges.

The humanitarian crisis has intensified since Myanmar’s military seized power in a coup in February 2021, triggering a nationwide civil war. The conflict between the ruling military junta and various resistance groups, including the Arakan Army, has displaced millions of people and severely restricted access to food, healthcare and humanitarian assistance across the country.

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), an independent conflict monitoring organization, estimates that at least 100,000 people have been killed since the conflict escalated following the coup.

Faced with deteriorating conditions and limited prospects for safety or resettlement, many Rohingya continue to risk dangerous sea journeys across the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal in search of protection and a better future in countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia.

The IOM and UNHCR reported that nearly 300 people have already died or gone missing along the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal this year, underscoring the dangers of what they described as one of the world’s deadliest maritime migration routes.

“These reports underscore the devastating impact of protracted conflict and displacement, as well as the continued lack of sustainable solutions for Rohingya communities,” the agencies said in their joint statement.

The UN agencies urged governments across the region and the international community to strengthen search and rescue operations, ensure access to asylum and international protection for refugees, and intensify efforts to combat human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in the region.

Iran reportedly tells Houthis to prepare Red Sea closure if U.S. attacks power grid

Venus L Peñaflor
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Iran reportedly tells Houthis to prepare Red Sea closure if U.S. attacks power grid

Iran has reportedly instructed Yemen’s Houthi movement to prepare to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the strategic southern gateway to the Red Sea, if the United States launches strikes on Iran’s power infrastructure, according to an exclusive Reuters report citing three sources familiar with the matter. If carried out, the move could threaten one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes and intensify concerns over global energy supplies.

Reuters reported that the directive has been discussed within Iran’s leadership and relayed to the Houthis as a contingency plan rather than an immediate order. Two senior Iranian sources and one regional source familiar with the discussions said the Houthis have been told to stand ready to block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait should U.S. forces target Iran’s electricity and power network.

The news agency said Houthi forces have already positioned missiles and drones near the waterway, while members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stationed in Yemen would oversee any decision to execute the plan. Reuters noted that neither the Iranian government nor the Houthi movement immediately responded to requests for comment, and the report has not been independently confirmed by U.S. officials.

The reported directive comes amid a rapidly escalating confrontation between the United States and Iran. Tehran has already threatened shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, another critical maritime chokepoint that carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas trade. Analysts warn that simultaneous threats to both Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb could severely disrupt global energy markets and commercial shipping.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serves as the southern entrance to the Suez Canal, making it a vital route for trade between Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Reuters reported that about 7 percent of global energy supplies pass through the waterway, and any prolonged disruption would likely force shipping companies to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, adding time and cost to international trade.

Financial markets reacted cautiously to the latest developments. Oil prices climbed for a fourth consecutive session on Thursday as investors assessed the growing risk to global energy supplies. The gains were driven by concerns that renewed attacks on key maritime routes could further tighten oil markets already affected by the conflict.

While Reuters remains the original source of the report, several international news organizations and wire partners, including The Times of Israel, Al Arabiya, Dawn and other Reuters subscribers, have since published reports citing the same Reuters exclusive. However, as of publication, no major international news organization has reported independent confirmation of the alleged Iranian directive from official sources.

The latest development underscores the growing risk that the conflict could expand beyond direct military exchanges and increasingly involve strategic maritime chokepoints that are essential to global commerce. Any closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait would likely draw an international response because of its importance to world trade and energy security.

Ipinatigil ng DENR ang operasyon ng illegal dumpsite sa Aeta ancestral domain sa Subic

Venus L Peñaflor
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Ipinatigil ng DENR ang operasyon ng illegal dumpsite sa Aeta ancestral domain sa Subic

MANILA – Nagpalabas ng cease and desist order (CDO) ang Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) laban sa isang iligal na dumpsite na matatagpuan sa loob ng ancestral domain ng komunidad ng mga Aeta sa Subic, Zambales, kasunod ng mga ulat na nagdulot ito ng matinding pinsala sa kapaligiran at panganib sa kalusugan ng mga residente.

Ayon kay DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna, ipinatigil na ang pagtatapon ng basura sa naturang lugar at, batay sa pinakahuling inspeksiyon ng DENR Regional Office dalawang araw bago ang kanyang pahayag, wala nang isinasagawang dumping operations sa lugar.

“So itong dumpsite na tinutukoy ninyo, mayroon kaming cease and desist order already. In fact, two days ago, huling inspection ng ating regional office, hindi na po tinatapunan ngayon. And I think they have an alternative site already in Floridablanca,” ani Cuna sa panayam sa Kapihan sa Manila Hotel.

Lumutang ang isyu matapos ilahad sa isang dokumentaryo ng GMA Network ang kalagayan ng Aeta community, kung saan makikitang natabunan ng tambak na basura ang dating luntiang bahagi ng kanilang ancestral land. Ayon sa ulat, naapektuhan din ang pinagkukunan ng tubig ng komunidad dahil sa kontaminasyong dulot ng mga tumatagas na likido mula sa basura o leachate.

Sinabi naman ng lokal na pamahalaan na hindi umano nito nalalaman na may naninirahang indigenous peoples o katutubong komunidad malapit sa lugar na ginawang tambakan ng basura.

Ang mga ancestral domain ng mga katutubo ay kinikilala at pinoprotektahan sa ilalim ng Republic Act No. 8371 o Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997, na nagbibigay sa mga Indigenous Cultural Communities at Indigenous Peoples ng karapatan sa kanilang lupang ninuno at sa pangangalaga ng kanilang likas na yaman.

Samantala, kinilala ni Cuna na nananatiling malaking hamon para sa maraming lokal na pamahalaan ang maayos na pamamahala ng solid waste sa kabila ng umiiral na Republic Act No. 9003 o Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, na nagbabawal sa operasyon ng mga open dumpsite at nag-aatas sa mga lokal na pamahalaan na gumamit ng mga sanitary landfill at iba pang wastong pamamaraan sa pagtatapon ng basura.

Ipinaliwanag ng kalihim na maraming fourth, fifth at sixth class municipalities ang nahihirapang magtayo at magpanatili ng sanitary landfill dahil sa kakulangan ng pondo, lupa at iba pang kinakailangang imprastraktura.

“Maraming LGU are experiencing difficulty kung saan po magtatapon. Una, lalo na yung mga fourth, fifth, sixth class municipalities, wala pong lugar para magtayo ng landfill sa kanilang mga jurisdiction or wala silang kakayahan in terms of resources para gastusan ang landfill,” ani Cuna.

Nanawagan din ang DENR sa publiko na maging responsable sa wastong pagtatapon ng basura, iginiit na mahalagang bahagi ng solusyon ang disiplina ng bawat mamamayan.

“Kailangan magsimula rin sa ating mga kababayan mismo. Masakit man aminin, nakikita natin ang dami ng basurang umaabot sa ating mga ilog at karagatan. Nanggagaling ito sa tao,” ani Cuna.

Idinagdag pa niya na anumang uri ng materyal ay hindi magiging suliranin kung maayos itong itinatapon at pinamamahalaan.

Patuloy namang mino-monitor ng DENR ang lugar upang matiyak na hindi na muling magpapatuloy ang operasyon ng iligal na dumpsite habang inaasahang magsasagawa rin ng mga kaukulang hakbang ang mga kinauukulang ahensiya upang mapangalagaan ang kalikasan at ang karapatan ng mga katutubong Aeta sa kanilang ancestral domain.

Pagpapasya sa subpoena ng tax, bank at AMLC records ni VP Sara, itinakda sa Lunes

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Pagpapasya sa subpoena ng tax, bank at AMLC records ni VP Sara, itinakda sa Lunes

MANILA – Sa Lunes, Hulyo 20, magpapasya ang Senate Impeachment Court kung papayagan ang kahilingan ng House prosecution panel na magpalabas ng subpoena para sa tax records, bank records at mga dokumento mula sa Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) ni Vice President Sara Duterte at ng kanyang asawa na si Atty. Manases “Mans” Carpio.

Ang desisyon ay kasunod ng caucus ng mga senator-judges noong Miyerkules, kung saan napagkasunduang bigyan muna ng sapat na panahon ang korte upang pag-aralan ang mga kumplikadong legal na isyung kaugnay ng hinihiling na subpoena.

Ayon kay Senate President at Presiding Officer Francis Escudero, magpapasya ang impeachment court sa usapin sa Lunes, at bibigyan din ng pagkakataon ang mga senator-judges na may mga katanungan na magsumite ng mga ito sa magkabilang panig sa panahon ng pagdinig.

“The senator-judges agreed in caucus to decide on the matter on Monday and that on Monday, senator judges who wish to ask the parties questions will be afforded the time to ask these questions again on both sides,” ayon kay Escudero.

Sa magkahiwalay na oral arguments, iginiit ng House prosecution panel na mahalaga ang pagkuha ng mga tax, bank at AMLC records bilang bahagi ng ebidensiya sa ilalim ng Article II ng Articles of Impeachment, na tumutukoy sa alegasyon ng diumano’y hindi maipaliwanag na yaman ng bise presidente.

Gayunman, mariing tinutulan ito ng defense team. Ayon kay Atty. Michael Wesley Poa, tagapagsalita ng depensa, walang sapat na legal na batayan ang kahilingan ng prosekusyon at lumalabag ito sa karapatan sa privacy ng bise presidente at ng kanyang asawa.

Kinuwestiyon din ni Poa kung bakit hinihiling ng prosekusyon ang mga financial records na umaabot pa noong 2007, na aniya ay hindi saklaw ng mga dokumentong iniharap sa House of Representatives nang ihain ang impeachment complaint.

“With all due respect, that is the very definition of a fishing expedition,” ani Poa, na tumutukoy sa umano’y pagtatangka ng prosekusyon na humanap ng ebidensiyang wala namang malinaw na batayan sa kasalukuyang mga alegasyon.

Iginiit din ng depensa na wala umanong mga dokumentaryong ebidensiya sa orihinal na reklamo na inihain ng mga complainant upang patunayan ang alegasyon ng hindi maipaliwanag na yaman, at nagsimula lamang umanong mangalap ng naturang mga rekord ang prosekusyon matapos maisumite ni Duterte ang kanyang sagot sa House Committee on Justice.

Samantala, inanunsiyo rin ng House prosecution panel na hindi na nito ihaharap ang lima sa natitira nitong mga testigo kaugnay ng Article IV ng impeachment complaint, na may kaugnayan sa umano’y pagbabanta ni Duterte kina Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos at dating House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Ang magiging pasya ng Senate Impeachment Court sa Hulyo 20 ay inaasahang magiging mahalagang batayan sa susunod na yugto ng impeachment trial, lalo na sa pagtukoy kung maaaring gamitin ng prosekusyon ang hinihiling na financial records bilang bahagi ng kanilang ebidensiya.

Batay sa Saligang Batas, ang Senado ay nagsisilbing impeachment court sa paglilitis ng mga kasong impeachment laban sa mga mataas na opisyal ng pamahalaan. Ang mga desisyon ng korte sa mga usaping procedural, kabilang ang pagpapalabas ng subpoena, ay maaaring makaapekto sa lawak ng mga ebidensiyang ihaharap ng magkabilang panig sa paglilitis.

Faint exoplanet discovered orbiting young star after 11 years in hiding

Venus L Peñaflor
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Faint exoplanet discovered orbiting young star after 11 years in hiding

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Astronomers have discovered a faint gas giant orbiting the young star Beta Pictoris after it remained hidden in astronomical data for more than a decade, marking the dimmest exoplanet ever directly imaged from Earth.

The discovery was made independently by two international research teams using different telescopes just days apart late last year, according to findings published Wednesday in the peer-reviewed journal Astrophysical Journal Letters.

One team, led by researchers from Scotland and Germany, detected the elusive planet using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile. After identifying the object, the scientists searched through more than a decade of archived observations and confirmed that the planet had been present in the data all along but had gone unnoticed because of the overwhelming brightness of its host star and two previously known companion planets.

“It was very much playing hide-and-seek for 11 years,” said Markus Bonse of the European Southern Observatory, who co-led the first research team.

A second team led by the University of California San Diego independently confirmed the planet using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Researchers said only two observations with Webb, the world’s largest and most powerful space telescope, were needed to identify the faint object.

The teams kept their analyses separate to avoid influencing one another’s conclusions before both studies were published.

Scientists described the discovery as largely unexpected. Both groups were studying one of Beta Pictoris’ already known giant planets when they noticed a much fainter object located farther from the star. The newly identified planet is estimated to be about 100 times dimmer than its neighboring planets.

The newfound world is slightly larger than Jupiter and completes one orbit around Beta Pictoris every 91 years, a period comparable to Uranus’ 84-year orbit around the Sun. Researchers believe it resembles a much younger version of Jupiter because it formed within a planetary system estimated to be only about 20 million years old, making it exceptionally young compared with Earth’s solar system, which is about 4.5 billion years old.

“The giant planets have formed, but smaller terrestrial planets could still be forming,” said Aidan Gibbs of the University of California San Diego, who led the Webb telescope team. He added that Beta Pictoris offers one of astronomers’ best opportunities to observe a planetary system shortly after its formation, while it is still settling following collisions involving asteroids and comets.

Beta Pictoris lies about 63 light-years from Earth in the southern constellation Pictor. A light-year is the distance light travels in one year, equivalent to about 9.46 trillion kilometers.

The discovery is significant because direct imaging of exoplanets remains extremely challenging. Unlike the transit method, which detects planets by measuring the slight dimming of a star as a planet passes in front of it, direct imaging requires astronomers to separate the faint glow of a planet from the intense brightness of its parent star.

According to NASA, astronomers have confirmed more than 6,000 exoplanets beyond the solar system, but fewer than 100 have been detected through direct imaging. Most known exoplanets have been discovered using indirect techniques such as the transit and radial velocity methods.

Researchers said the newly discovered planet will provide an important opportunity to study how giant planets evolve during the earliest stages of a planetary system’s development.

“We’ve now built a picture of this planet,” said Ben Sutlieff of the University of Edinburgh. “We are very excited to see what more can be learned about it.”

The findings are expected to help scientists better understand how planetary systems like our own formed and evolved, offering a rare glimpse into a stage of development that occurred billions of years ago in the early history of the solar system.

Trump threatens strikes on Iran’s power plants, bridges

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Trump threatens strikes on Iran’s power plants, bridges

WASHINGTON/DUBAI – U.S. President Donald Trump warned that the United States could expand its military campaign against Iran to include attacks on power plants and bridges if Tehran refuses to return to negotiations, as American forces launched a fresh wave of strikes against Iranian military targets on Tuesday.

According to Reuters, Trump said Iran faces increasingly severe military action unless it agrees to negotiate, signaling that critical infrastructure could become the next targets in the conflict. His remarks came as U.S. forces carried out new strikes on Iranian coastal defense systems, cruise missile sites and other military installations linked to attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest escalation follows the Trump administration’s decision to reimpose a naval blockade on Iranian ports, arguing that the measures are necessary to prevent further attacks on international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints. Roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies normally pass through the narrow waterway, making any disruption a major concern for world energy markets.

Iran responded by launching attacks against U.S. military positions in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan while warning it could further restrict regional energy exports in retaliation. Iranian officials have also threatened to expand efforts to disrupt shipping routes beyond the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.

The renewed hostilities have intensified concerns over global oil supplies and inflation. Oil prices climbed as traders reacted to the prospect of prolonged instability in the Gulf, while governments and shipping companies continued to monitor the security situation in one of the world’s busiest energy corridors.

The current fighting follows the collapse of a temporary ceasefire and stalled negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Since then, both sides have exchanged military strikes, with the United States saying its operations are intended to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten international shipping, while Iran has maintained that it is responding to U.S. and allied military actions.

Trump’s warning about possible strikes on power plants and bridges represents a significant escalation because such facilities are generally considered civilian infrastructure, although they may become lawful.

Leadership transition takes effect in San Pablo City after mayor’s preventive suspension

Venus L Peñaflor
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Leadership transition takes effect in San Pablo City after mayor’s preventive suspension

SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna – A leadership transition is now underway at San Pablo City Hall after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) moved to implement a six-month preventive suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman against Mayor Arcadio “Najie” Gapangada Jr.

Under the Local Government Code, Vice Mayor Justin Colago has assumed the duties and responsibilities of the mayor during the period of preventive suspension. First-ranking City Councilor Carmela Acebedo, in turn, has assumed the duties of vice mayor to ensure the continuity of legislative functions.

The DILG confirmed that it would serve the Ombudsman’s suspension order after receiving the directive from the anti-graft office. Preventive suspension is an interim administrative measure intended to prevent a public official from influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence while an investigation is pending. It is not a finding of guilt and does not determine the outcome of the administrative case.

The administrative case stems from allegations of the unauthorized modification of the salary grades of job order personnel at San Pablo City Hall. According to the Office of the Ombudsman, the alleged personnel action forms the basis of the administrative complaint that led to the issuance of the preventive suspension. The allegations remain subject to administrative proceedings, and the Ombudsman has yet to issue a final ruling on the case.

Prior to the implementation of the order, Gapangada questioned reports about the suspension and later acknowledged receiving the Ombudsman’s directive. Supporters of the mayor also held a rally expressing their backing amid the ongoing administrative proceedings.

The leadership change comes only months after tensions emerged between the mayor and the vice mayor following the filing of separate complaints involving alleged “ghost employees” in the Office of the Vice Mayor. Those complaints remain separate from the administrative case that resulted in the preventive suspension.

Despite the temporary change in leadership, City Hall operations are expected to continue without interruption under the succession mechanism provided by Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, which outlines the transfer of authority when a local chief executive is unable to perform official duties.

The Office of the Ombudsman has yet to issue a final ruling on the administrative case. The preventive suspension remains effective for up to six months or until the conclusion of the proceedings, whichever comes first, subject to applicable laws and regulations.

Gapangada has filed a petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) seeking to halt the implementation of the six-month preventive suspension. He also filed a motion for reconsideration with the Office of the Ombudsman, challenging the suspension order. As of publication, no court has issued a TRO, and the Ombudsman’s preventive suspension remains in effect.


Jose Pujalte Jr. takes oath as new DOH secretary, replacing Ted Herbosa

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Jose Pujalte Jr. takes oath as new DOH secretary, replacing Ted Herbosa

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administered the oath of office to veteran orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jose Pujalte Jr. as the new Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. Pujalte takes over the country’s primary healthcare agency following the resignation of former Health Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa.

According to Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, Herbosa stepped down due to health reasons to focus on his recovery from a recent knee replacement surgery. Castro noted that the administration expects Pujalte to lead the agency in continuing the President’s initiatives to strengthen the healthcare system and advance high-quality medical services for all Filipinos.

Pujalte brings more than three decades of medical and administrative expertise to the Cabinet. He joined the DOH in 1991, completed his orthopedic residency at the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) in 1994, and eventually served as the POC medical center chief for over a decade.

He holds a medical degree from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, a Master’s Degree in Hospital Administration from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, and is a certified Career Executive Service Eligible since 2008. Pujalte has also shared his expertise as a faculty member at UP Manila, San Beda College of Medicine, and the FEU Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation.

Astronomers detect complex sugar in interstellar space, offering new clues to life’s origins

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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Astronomers detect complex sugar in interstellar space, offering new clues to life’s origins

NEW YORK – Astronomers have discovered a complex type of sugar drifting through the vast space between stars, a finding that could provide new insights into how the chemical ingredients necessary for life formed long before the birth of our solar system.

The discovery, published Monday in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Astronomy, marks the first detection of erythrulose in the interstellar medium, the diffuse clouds of gas and dust that fill the space between stars. The research adds to growing evidence that some of the fundamental building blocks of life may have been widespread across the Milky Way before planets such as Earth were formed.

According to the study, an international team of astronomers identified the sugar using two radio telescopes in Spain to observe a massive molecular cloud near the center of the Milky Way. By comparing the radio signals collected by the telescopes with laboratory measurements, the researchers confirmed the presence of gaseous erythrulose in the cloud.

Erythrulose is a naturally occurring sugar found in foods such as raspberries and is also used in some self-tanning cosmetic products. Although it is not considered essential for life, scientists say it can readily transform into related sugars believed to have played an important role in the chemical processes that may have led to the emergence of life on Earth.

The newly detected molecule is among the most chemically complex sugars ever identified in interstellar space, highlighting the remarkable diversity of organic compounds that exist throughout the galaxy.

“This is a pristine example of the material that is simply floating throughout the galaxy,” said Erika Hamden, an astrophysicist at the University of Arizona who was not involved in the research. She noted that discoveries like this help scientists understand the chemical environment from which stars and planetary systems are born.

The finding builds on decades of research into organic chemistry in space. Scientists have previously detected molecules that serve as building blocks for genetic material, amino acids and other compounds associated with life. About 25 years ago, astronomers identified glycolaldehyde, a simple sugar related to table sugar, near the center of the Milky Way. More recently, samples returned from the asteroid Bennu by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission revealed several organic molecules, including sugars linked to DNA.

Researchers believe the latest discovery strengthens the idea that many of life’s essential chemical ingredients were already present in the giant molecular clouds that eventually gave rise to stars and planetary systems, including our own Solar System. This supports one scientific hypothesis that Earth’s earliest organic compounds may have originated from the primordial material that formed the Solar System, rather than being delivered solely by comets or asteroids.

Lead study author Izaskun Jiménez-Serra, an astrophysicist at the Center for Astrobiology in Spain, said the discovery suggests that complex organic molecules may be far more common throughout the galaxy than previously thought.

“The key ingredients for the origin of life could be present in other regions across the galaxy, opening the possibility for life to develop elsewhere in the universe,” Jiménez-Serra said.

Scientists plan to continue searching for additional sugars and other complex organic molecules in interstellar clouds to better understand how they form and evolve. Researchers hope the work will shed light on one of science’s most enduring questions: how the chemistry necessary for life first emerged and whether similar conditions exist elsewhere in the universe.

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