Monday, May 4, 2026


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Hong Kong high rise inferno leaves 44 dead, 279 missing, three arrested

Venus L Peñaflor
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Hong Kong high rise inferno leaves 44 dead, 279 missing, three arrested

HONG KONG — At least 44 people were confirmed dead and 279 remained missing after a massive fire tore through a high rise housing complex in Hong Kong, making it the city’s deadliest blaze in decades.

The fire began Wednesday afternoon in the Tai Po district in the New Territories and continued burning into Thursday morning. Rescuers worked through the night to pull residents from several burning buildings as flames and thick smoke engulfed the complex.

Police arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the incident, according to local media reports.

The blaze spread across seven of the complex’s eight residential towers, forcing hundreds of residents to flee. About 29 people remained hospitalized as of Thursday morning. Authorities said more than 900 residents were evacuated to temporary shelters.

Officials said the fire started on external scaffolding on a 32 story tower, then moved inside the building and leapt to nearby structures, likely driven by strong winds. Fire Services Director Andy Yeung said investigators found highly flammable foam sheets that may have contributed to the unusually rapid spread of the flames.

Firefighters battled extreme heat as bamboo scaffolding and construction netting fueled the blaze. Crews deployed more than 200 fire trucks and over 100 ambulances while water cannons on ladder trucks attempted to contain the fire. The alarm level was raised to level 5, the highest severity classification, as conditions worsened at nightfall.

A 37 year old firefighter was among those killed. Another firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion. The Fire Services Department said three of the buildings were coming under control shortly after midnight, but operations remained hazardous, with debris and scaffolding falling from upper floors.

The housing complex, built in the 1980s, contained nearly 2,000 apartments and about 4,800 residents, including many elderly people. It had been undergoing major renovation when the fire broke out.

City leader John Lee said the government would focus its resources on the disaster response and suspend public efforts for the Legislative Council elections scheduled for December 7. He did not say whether the elections would be postponed.

Chinese President Xi Jinping offered condolences for the firefighter who died and sent sympathies to the victims’ families, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Residents described the fear and devastation as the fire spread. One woman, surnamed Wu, told TVB she had stopped thinking about her belongings, saying it was painful to watch her home burn.

Bamboo scaffolding remains widely used in Hong Kong for construction, though authorities announced plans earlier this year to begin phasing it out in public projects due to safety risks.

The blaze is Hong Kong’s most lethal since 1996, when 41 people were killed in a commercial building fire in Kowloon.

Pistang San Pableño: Noon at ngayon

Venus L Peñaflor
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Pistang San Pableño: Noon at ngayon

Dinala ng mga Kastila sa Pilipinas ang fiesta at tinitingnan ito bilang bahagi ng mas malalim na layunin ng kolonisasyon. Totoo iyon. Ginamit ng mga pari at opisyal noon ang pistahan upang palaganapin ang Katolisismo at kontrolin ang mga tao. Pero may isa pa itong layunin: ginamit ito para hikayatin ang mga nakatira sa bundok at malalayong baryo na bumaba sa pueblo, upang mas madali silang mabinyagan, mabilang, at maisailalim sa bagong patakaran.

Sa madaling salita, ang fiesta ay naging pain, isang masayang dahilan para bumisita sa simbahan at sentrong bayan. At dahil likas sa tao ang kainan, kantahan, at pagdiriwang, ang buhay sa bario ay agad umikot sa paligid ng pista.

Ngunit sa San Pablo, ibang-iba ang naging takbo ng kwento. Ang fiesta, na noong una ay kasangkapan ng pananakop, ay unti-unting naging bahagi ng ating sariling kultura. Likas na sa atin ang magtipon at magsaya, kaya ang pistahan ay naging okasyon para sa pamilya, kapitbahay, at komunidad. Ang patron saint ay hindi lamang nakilala; unti-unti itong naging simbolo ng proteksiyon at pagkakaisa.

Noong una, ang entablado ng fiesta ay nasa loob mismo ng cathedral compound. Doon ginaganap ang mga gabing inaabangan ng lahat: Laguna College Night, SPC Night, Ateneo Night at iba pang gabi na punô ng talento, sigla, at tunay na community pride. Simple lang ang setup, pero malalim ang kahulugan. Ang bawat gabi ay parang get together ng magkakaibigan sa mga paaralan, pamilya, at samahan. Isang pistang hindi kailangan ng LED wall para maging bongga.

Paglipas ng panahon, inilipat ang entablado sa plaza, sa harap ng rebulto ni Riza at napalitan ito ang tradisyunal na selebrasyon ng Governor’s Night, Congressman’s Night, Mayor’s Night, at iba pang gabi na may bahid ng pulitika kaysa relihiyon at komunidad. Unti-unti, lumipat ang sentro ng pista mula sa tao patungo sa kapangyarihan. Sa pag-alis ng entablado mula sa bakuran ng simbahan ay tuluyang nawala ang mga alaala ng nakaraan.

Kasabay nito, naging mas makulay at mas maingay ang pista sa San Pablo noong simulan ang street dancing, beer plaza, at mga banda na may malalakas na bass at mga babaeng nakasuot ng maikling shorts habang nakaluwa ang mga dibdib. Bagaman pinasaya nito ang publiko, hindi labis na ikinasiya ng kura paroko. Sabi nya, si San Pablo ay isang ermitanyo na nanirahan ng 90 taon sa isang kweba ay baka hindi natutuwa sa masyadong maingay at may kalaswaang modernong pista.

Noong unang panahon, ang mga kalalakihan ay umiinom din ng tubâ o basi pag pista. Ngunit ngayong taon, ang beer plaza ay tila ilalagay sa night market upang marahil ang mga tagayan at harutan ay mailayo kay San Pablo Unang Ermitanyo.

Ang ilan pang bagong activities sa pista sa San Pablo ngayong 2025 ay gaganapin mula January 12 hanggang 15. Kabilang dito ang San Pablo Unang Ermitanyo Choral Competition at Hataw Sanpy Invitational Dance Competition 2026 sa January 12, The Voice of San Pablo Season 1 at Rotarock XXX.2 sa January 13, Mr. & Ms. San Pablo Star sa January 14, at ang Araw ni San Pablo Unang Ermitanyo sa January 15 na nakatuon lamang sa kabanalan. Inaasahang mas masigla at makulay ang mga bagong kaganapan, ayon kay Monsignor Jerry Bituon. Maaaring madismaya ang ilan sa mga pagbabagong gagawin pero papalag pa ba tayo, si Father, ang otoridad na mismo sa fiesta ang nagsabi.

Tila magle-level up ang mga gimik habang ang diwa ng fiesta, ang pananampalataya at kultura ay nananatiling sentro ng pagdiriwang.

Bagama’t ang fiesta ay orihinal na aktibidad ng simbahan, maaaring namang magdaos ng sariling programa ang mga lokal na pamahalaan nang hindi nilalabag ang prinsipyo ng separation of church and state. Maaaring magbigay sila ng dagdag na kasiyahan at partisipasyon para sa komunidad, basta’t iginagalang ang espiritu ng patron saint at relihiyosong tradisyon.

Sa huli, ang simbahan ang may huling pasya dahil sa kanila talaga ang okasyon, at ang mga LGU ay nakikisalo lang sa pagkakataon at kasiyahan ng pagdiriwang.

Hindi mawawala ang tunay na diwa ng fiesta kahit hindi ito nanatili sa orihinal na konseptong ibinigay ng mga frayleng Kastila. Binabago na natin ito. Dito sa San Pablo City, malinaw na kahit ano pa ang pinagmulan, ang fiesta ay atin. Ginagawa natin itong mas masigla, mas makatao, at mas puno ng kahulugan.

Sa kabila ng lahat, ang fiesta ay hindi na ritwal upang akitin ang mga tao papunta sa pueblo. Ito ay simbolo na ang ating kultura ay may kakayahang sumalo, maghulma, at magpabago ng anumang tradisyong dumaan sa ating kamay. Sa bawat pista, hindi nawawala ang kasaysayan, ang komunidad, at ang pagkatao ng San Pableño na hindi maaaring angkinin ng sinuman.

You can rewrite the traditions you inherit, just shape them into something so meaningful that everyone forgets how they used to be.

The economics of anti-corruption rallies

DC Alviar
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The economics of anti-corruption rallies

Protest movements in the Philippines these days, especially the “Trillion Peso March” and other anti-corruption rallies, have clear economic impacts, both positive and potentially harmful.

Let’s start with the source: The main motivation for the Trillion Peso March is the corruption scandal in flood-control projects. There were “ghost projects” and substandard construction. The flood-control anomaly caused massive economic losses: an estimated P118.5 billion was “lost” from 2023 to 2025 due to corruption. There is even more widespread fraud than official figures.

In addition to corruption, Filipinos seem to feel that public funds are being wasted, not going to the right projects, and more often in favor of big contractors (CLTG, the Discayas, etc.) than the real needs of the people. Corruption of this magnitude undermines investor confidence as they perceive government spending as non-transparent, affecting long-term investment.

Positive impact

A major rally like the Trillion Peso March sends a clear message to the Marcos-Duterte regime: there is a strong public demand for accountability. If this is heeded, it could lead to reforms in the procurement system, stricter regulations, and better monitoring of projects which could ultimately contribute to more just and effective spending of public funds.

Some in the business community have said that if the government responds properly (through genuine reform), the protests could be an opportunity to show that the country is serious about transparency, which could boost long-term investor confidence.

The broad participation of various sectors (students, churches, civil society organizations) shows that there is deep democratic engagement, not just protests for chaos but for real change. This is essential for long-term institutional growth.

Risks

If the government, in response to the public anger, implements populist policies (e.g., large benefits, large expenditures), it could stress the country’s fiscal space. According to economists, the Philippines’ debt is close to high levels; it may not be sustainable if measures and economic reforms are not taken carefully. Major allegations of corruption and subsequent investigations could delay the release of funds for projects (because they need to be validated first), which is a risk for the rapid implementation of flood control or other public works.

In the very short term of the President—even if he is still a Marcos—there is a possibility that investor sentiment will worsen due to political risk. Big protests indicate political instability or governance risk. While there is little news of widespread violence, rallies that are conducted on EDSA and Luneta are often accompanied by impacts on traffic, business operations in nearby areas, and other logistics. This could cause direct economic costs to local businesses or daily operations in Metro Manila, especially if the protests persist.

Opportunities and recommendations

The government’s proactive engagement is already there, but it should be intensified and made clearer, taking advantage of the momentum of the protests and making it the beginning of reforms, including the voluntary resignation of high-ranking officials so that they can no longer influence legitimate investigations and actions/decisions of the NBI, ICI, Ombudsman, and Sandiganbayan. They can reduce corruption in the future and show investors that the government is serious.

According to Michael Henry Yusingco, Marcos Jr.’s posturing and the responses from street protests and social media should not be merely symbolic but should include legal and structural reforms: better procurement systems, public transparency (open bidding and open hearings), stronger sanctions for offenders, and fund recovery.

Less riot, more substance

It’s not clear how many disruptive, fringe elements there are, especially in the anti-corruption rallies these days (Sen. Imee Marcos taking center stage to ask his brother-president to resign was “wala sa usapan”; some say it would have been good if she had asked VP Sara Duterte also to resign).

In the Trillion Peso March and many other big protests, most reports point to a broader and more organized movement for transparency and accountability, not a simple riot. But this is also a risk that is always examined in politics: In mass actions, there is the possibility, as with any movement, that there are elements who can abuse the momentum. Today, many professionals, business groups, and learning institutions consider the protests to be legitimate demands, not destabilization tactics.

The current protest movement in the Philippines is not just an emotional response. It has a deep economic basis; the rampant corruption in public projects, especially flood control, has direct costs to the economy and the public treasury. Authorities should not just fight rallies, but use them to promote transparency, accountability, and stronger institutions.

Let’s give a scenario of a 10-year gain: If the P100B fund is recovered, it will have P150B annually, and P1.5T by the year 2035. If P200B is recovered, its gain will be P300B annually, and P3T after ten years. Adding investor trust, our gain will be at P600B annually, and by 2035, it will be P6-7T pesos. Better also say that there is an impact per region (VisMin against Mega Manila), that we use elasticity of growth to poverty reduction and effect on the Philippines’ credit rating, and annual savings, but let’s not listen to Ralph Recto. All he knows are expenses and relocation funds, even health funds. Or let’s listen to public officials like him, but let’s make our fight for good governance heard.

Thinking about the 10-year gain, our Gen Z and the Millennials need to act like a pillar, watching over their mothers’ taxes (with Cielo Magno’s Tax ng Ina Mo as their music background) and having what it takes to dream big.

Sandro Marcos inakusahan ng P50.9 bilyong ‘singit budget’; Zaldy Co tinawag na bagong kampeon ng DDS

Venus L Peñaflor
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Sandro Marcos inakusahan ng P50.9 bilyong ‘singit budget’; Zaldy Co tinawag na bagong kampeon ng DDS

MAYNILA — Inakusahan ni dating Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co si Presidential Son at House Majority Floor Leader Sandro Marcos na nakinabang umano sa P50.938 bilyong ‘singit’ o insertion sa pambansang budget sa nakalipas na tatlong taon.

Sa isang video na inilabas nitong Martes, sinabi ni Co na “Hindi lang po ang Pangulo ang may insertion sa budget. Pati po si Congressman Sandro Marcos, meron din pong pinapasok taun-taon.”

Ayon sa alegasyon, noong 2023 ay nakasisingit si Sandro ng P9.636 bilyon, P20.174 bilyon noong 2024, at P21.127 bilyon ngayong 2025, na nagkakaltas sa kabuuang P50.938 bilyon sa General Appropriations Act o pambansang pondo.

Una nang inakusahan ni Co si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na may P100 bilyong insertions sa budget na inilaan sa flood control projects. Idinagdag ni Co na pinagbantaan siya ni Sandro na tatanggalin sa puwesto at sasampahan ng kaso kung hindi mapapasama ang P8 bilyong proyekto sa national budget. “Ang dahilan daw, may mga contractor na nakapag-advance na sa kanya at dahil hindi naipasok ang buong halaga, kailangan daw niyang magsauli sa mga ’yon,” ani Co, na itinanggi naman ni Sandro.

Kaugnay nito, binansagan ni Sandro Marcos si Co bilang “newly crowned champion ng mga DDS (Duterte Diehard Supporters) na nagtatago sa ibang bansa para magpakalat ng kasinungalingan.” Sinabi ni Sandro na si Co mismo ang arkitekto ng katiwalian ngunit patuloy na nang-iinsulto at nagpapalusot na walang napakinabangan o nakuhang pondo.

“Ang hangarin ni Co ay pabagsakin ang kasalukuyang administrasyon upang maabsuwelto ang sarili. Ang ginagawa niya ay hindi rebelasyon kundi destabilisasyon,” pahayag ni Sandro, na idinagdag na ang mga alegasyon ni Co ay walang kredibilidad at bahagi lamang ng agenda nito upang makaligtas sa kasong kriminal kaugnay ng anomalya sa flood control projects.

New Zealand mother jailed for life for ‘suitcase murders’ of her two children

Venus L Peñaflor
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New Zealand mother jailed for life for ‘suitcase murders’ of her two children

A South Korean-born New Zealand woman was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday for murdering her two young children, whose bodies were found in suitcases in an abandoned storage locker more than three years ago, New Zealand media reported.

Hakyung Lee, 45, was convicted in September after admitting to killing her children, Yuna Jo, eight, and Minu Jo, six, in 2018, a year after their father died of cancer.

The court heard that Lee concealed the children’s bodies inside suitcases and stored them in a locker before leaving the country. The remains were discovered nearly four years later when the locker’s contents were sold in an online auction.

At her sentencing in Auckland, Lee was handed life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years. She sat quietly in the dock with her head bowed, a posture she maintained throughout her trial. Lee had represented herself during the proceedings, watching from a separate courtroom with the help of an interpreter.

Her standby lawyers argued that the death of her husband in 2017 triggered a “deep descent” into mental illness, causing Lee to irrationally believe the only solution was to kill her children and herself. The Crown, however, maintained that Lee understood her actions and knew they were wrong. Prosecutor Natalie Walker described her conduct, including hiding the bodies and moving to South Korea, as calculated.

The court also heard moving statements from family members. Lee’s mother, Choon Ja Lee, described the anguish she experienced upon learning of her grandchildren’s deaths, saying the pain felt like “someone were gouging out my chest.” She detailed the isolation and ostracism she faced from her church community and revealed she had contemplated suicide. Despite this, she expressed hope that her daughter might eventually be released on parole.

The children’s uncle, Jimmy Sei Wook Jo, described the tragedy as unimaginable and said he struggles to be around children the same age as Yuna and Minu, burdened by guilt and grief.

Justice Venning, who presided over the case, reviewed Lee’s background and mental health. He acknowledged that Lee was likely suffering from atypical depression and prolonged grief at the time of the killings. The judge concluded that Lee killed her children because she could not cope with the responsibilities of parenting following her husband’s death.

“You relied heavily on him during your marriage, you could not cope when he became seriously unwell, and perhaps you could not bear to have the children around as a constant reminder of your former happy life,” Justice Venning said.

Lee will be treated as a special patient under the Criminal Procedure Mentally Impaired Persons Act while serving her sentence.

Lalong lumalakas si Verbena habang patungo sa west nothwest Philippine Sea

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Lalong lumalakas si Verbena habang patungo sa west nothwest Philippine Sea

MAYNILA – Ang Tropical Storm Verbena ay patuloy na lumalakas habang kumikilos pa west northwest sa Philippine Sea, ayon sa PAGASA sa kanilang Tropical Cyclone Bulletin No. 17 na inilabas 5:00 AM ngayong Miyerkoles.

Kaninang alas kwatro ng umaga, tinukoy ang sentro ng bagyo sa layong 130 kilometro kanluran ng Coron, Palawan. Taglay nito ang maximum sustained winds na 85 km/h malapit sa gitna, pagbugsong hanggang 105 km/h, at central pressure na 992 hPa. Kumikilos ito pa west northwest sa bilis na 25 km/h.

Lumalawak hanggang 300 kilometro mula sa sentro ang saklaw ng malalakas hanggang gale-force winds.

TCWS No. 2 at No. 1, Nakataas

Nasa ilalim ng TCWS No. 2 ang Calamian Islands at ang extreme northern portion ng mainland Palawan kabilang ang El Nido at Taytay. Inaasahan dito ang gale-force winds sa loob ng 24 oras na may minor hanggang moderate na banta sa buhay at ari-arian.

Nasa TCWS No. 1 naman ang Occidental Mindoro at ang northern at central portions ng Palawan kabilang ang Dumaran, Roxas, San Vicente, Puerto Princesa City pati Cuyo at Kalayaan Islands. Asahan ang strong winds sa loob ng 36 oras na may minimal hanggang minor na banta.

Nagpaalala ang PAGASA sa posibleng malalakas na pag ulan dulot ng Shear Line at Verbena. Nasa Weather Advisory No. 25 ang kompletong detalye.

Nagbabala rin ang ahensya na maaaring maging mas malakas ang lokal na hangin lalo na sa baybayin at kabundukan. Posibleng maranasan ang minimal hanggang moderate na epekto mula sa malalakas na hangin sa mga lugar na may Wind Signal.

Lalakas din ang hangin dahil sa pagsanib ng Northeast Monsoon at Verbena, na magdadala ng strong hanggang gale-force gusts sa karamihan ng Luzon, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, at Negros Occidental ngayong araw. Bukas, maapektuhan ang Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Occidental Mindoro, at Palawan.

Sa Laguna, bagama’t wala sa wind signal, posibleng maranasan ang mahangin at maaliwalas hanggang maulap na panahon na may mga pulo-pulong na pag-ulan dulot ng Northeast Monsoon at epekto ng bagyo. Pinapayuhan ang mga residente na maging alerto sa biglaang malalakas na pag-ulan at posibleng pagbaha sa mabababang lugar.

May umiiral na Gale Warning sa seaboards ng Northern Luzon at western seaboard ng Southern Luzon. Sa susunod na 24 oras, inaasahang magiging very rough seas ang mga baybayin ng Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Kalayaan Islands, at bahagi ng Cagayan at Palawan na may taas ng alon na 4.5 hanggang 6 metro. Lubhang mapanganib ang paglalayag para sa lahat ng uri ng sasakyang pandagat.

Rough seas naman ang inaasahan sa baybayin ng Isabela, Zambales, Aurora, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, Polillo Islands, at Camarines Norte na may taas ng alon 3 hanggang 4 metro. Pinapayuhan ang maliliit na sasakyang pandagat na huwag pumalaot.

Moderate to rough seas ang mararanasan sa baybayin ng Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Northern Samar, Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar at ilang bahagi ng Palawan, Mindoro at Davao Oriental na may taas ng alon hanggang 2.5 metro.

Ayon sa PAGASA, magpapatuloy ang paggalaw ng Verbena pa west northwest ngayong umaga bago ito lumihis pa kanluran at dadaan sa hilaga ng Kalayaan Islands ngayong hapon at gabi. Lalabas ito sa Philippine Area of Responsibility bukas ng umaga, bago kumilos pa west southwest hanggang Biyernes ng umaga. Pagkatapos nito, posibleng tumungo ang bagyo pa northwest at north northwest papuntang silangang bahagi ng Vietnam.

Posible ring umabot sa severe tropical storm category ang Verbena ngayong hapon at magpapatuloy ang pag-intensify hanggang bukas dahil sa kanais nais na kondisyon. Inaasahan ang paghina nito matapos ang paglabas ng PAR dahil sa Northeast Monsoon surge.

Hinimok ng PAGASA ang publiko at mga lokal na DRRM offices na magsagawa ng lahat ng kinakailangang pag iingat. Pinapayuhan ang mga nakatira sa high risk areas na sundin ang evacuation at iba pang tagubilin ng lokal na pamahalaan.

Ang susunod na tropical cyclone bulletin ay ilalabas 11:00 AM ngayong araw.

Rare Superman comic sells for $9.12M, setting new record

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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Rare Superman comic sells for $9.12M, setting new record

A rare copy of the first Superman comic, discovered by three brothers while cleaning out their late mother’s attic, sold for $9.12 million this month at a Texas auction house, making it the most expensive comic book ever sold.

The brothers found the comic in a cardboard box beneath layers of brittle newspapers, dust, and cobwebs in their deceased mother’s San Francisco home last year. The box also contained a handful of other rare comics collected by their mother and her sibling on the eve of World War II.

Their mother had once told them she owned a valuable comic book collection, but the brothers had never seen it until they decided to comb through the basement while preparing the house for sale, said Lon Allen, vice president of comics at Heritage Auctions. After uncovering the box, they contacted the auction house, prompting Allen to fly to San Francisco earlier this year to inspect the comic and seek expert appraisal.

“It was just in an attic, sitting in a box, could have easily been thrown away, could’ve easily been destroyed in a thousand different ways,” Allen said. “A lot of people got excited because it’s just every factor in collecting that you could possibly want all rolled into one.”

The comic, Superman No. 1, released in 1939 by Detective Comics Inc., is one of only a small number of known copies in existence and is in excellent condition. As the first superhero to enter pop culture, Superman helped drive the comic’s value among collectors, further enhanced by its improbable backstory, Allen said.

The previous record for the world’s most expensive comic book was set last year when Action Comics No. 1, which first introduced Superman, sold for $6 million. In 2022, another Superman No. 1 copy fetched $5.3 million.

Experts identified the newly discovered copy as originating from the first edition of 500,000 Superman No. 1 copies ever printed, with fewer than 500 believed to exist today. The comic’s excellent preservation is partly attributed to the cool Northern California climate, which maintained its firm spine, vibrant colors, and crisp corners. The copy received a 9.0 out of 10 rating from comics grading company CGC, indicating only minor signs of wear and aging.

The three brothers, aged in their 50s and 60s, chose to remain anonymous, as did the buyer, according to Heritage Auctions.

“This isn’t simply a story about old paper and ink,” one brother said in a statement. “This was never just about a collectible. This is a testament to memory, family, and the unexpected ways the past finds its way back to us.”

Total ban ng vape sa buong bansa, itinutulak ng DOH

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Total ban ng vape sa buong bansa, itinutulak ng DOH

MAYNILA — Isinusulong ng Department of Health (DOH) ang pagpapatupad ng nationwide total ban sa vape sa Pilipinas, kasabay ng malakas na pagkondena sa patuloy na mapanlinlang na marketing ng mga produktong vape.

Sa isang pahayag, sinabi ni Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa na mas mainam nang ipagbawal ang vape sa bansa. Ayon kay Herbosa, madalas na ipinapakita ang vape bilang walang nikotina at alternatibo sa sigarilyo, gayong puno ito ng kemikal at mapanganib ang usok pati ang mismong aparato.

Binatikos din ng DOH ang makukulay na pakete at iba’t ibang flavors ng vape na ginagamit umano upang mahikayat ang mga kabataan na gumamit nito. Batay sa 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey, isa sa pitong kabataang Pilipino na may edad 13 hanggang 15 ang gumagamit ng vape.

Matatandaang noong nakaraang taon ay naitala ang unang kaso ng kamatayan sa Pilipinas na may kaugnayan sa dalawang taong paggamit ng vape.

Pinaalalahanan ng DOH na ang paggamit ng vape at sigarilyo ay nakamamatay at nagdudulot ng cardiovascular disease, cancer, at lung disease, kaya’t mariin nilang isinusulong ang total ban sa bansa bilang hakbang para maprotektahan ang kalusugan ng publiko.

Pangulong Marcos: ‘That lady is not my sister’

Venus L Peñaflor
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Pangulong Marcos: ‘That lady is not my sister’

MAYNILA — Nagpahayag ng matinding pag-aalala si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa kalagayan ng kanyang kapatid na si Sen. Imee Marcos matapos ang mga pahayag nito tungkol sa umano’y paggamit ng ipinagbabawal na gamot ng Pangulo at ng kanilang pamilya.

Sa isang press briefing sa Malacañang, sinabi ni Marcos na bagama’t ayaw niyang ilantad sa publiko ang mga suliranin ng pamilya, nag-aalala sila sa kalagayan ng senadora. Aniya, ganoon din ang pananaw ng kanilang mga pinsan at kaibigan, kaya umaasa silang gumaling na si Imee.

“That view is shared by our cousins, our friends, hindi siya yan. So that’s why we worry. I hope she feels better soon,” ani Pangulong Marcos.

“For a while now, we’ve been very worried about my sister. When I say we, I’m talking about friends and family. The reason that is because the lady that you see talking on TV is not my sister,” dagdag niya.

Sa tanong kung nag-usap na sila ni Sen. Imee tungkol sa alegasyon, sagot ng Pangulo, hindi na sila pareho ng direksyon, pampulitika man o iba pa.

Agad namang tumugon si Imee sa pahayag ng Pangulo sa pamamagitan ng Facebook post: “Bongbong, ako ‘to, kung anu-ano na nakikita mo ading. Patunayan mong mali ako — gusto kong mali ako.”

Matatandaang sa kaniyang speech sa INC rally, inakusahan ni Imee ang Pangulo, FL Liza, at Rep. Sandro Marcos ng umano’y paggamit ng ilegal na droga.

Passport nina Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong at iba pa kinansela

Venus L Peñaflor
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Passport nina Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong at iba pa kinansela

MAYNILA — Kinansela na ng Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 157 ang mga pasaporte nina dating presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Cassandra Li Ong, at iba pang akusado sa kasong qualified human trafficking, ayon kay Department of Justice (DOJ) Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon.

Sina Roque at Ong ay parehong inisyuhan ng warrant of arrest, kasama ang 48 pang iba na kinasuhan kaugnay sa operasyon ng Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) na Lucky South 99 sa Porac, Pampanga.

Ayon sa DOJ, kasalukuyang nasa Netherlands si Roque, kung saan humihingi siya ng asylum. Samantala, si Ong ay huling namataan sa Japan matapos umano itong lumabas ng bansa gamit ang backdoor.

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