Filipino Scientist Receives Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Award Under Egypt’s Presidential Auspices

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Laureate’s Acceptance Speech Moves Audience in Egypt, Emphasizing Kindness, Compassion, and Service as True Measures of Greatness




L-R: Dr. Ahmed Zayed, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Bibliotheca Alexandrina Laureate Glenn Banaguas, Dr. Abdel Aziz Konsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research





The Bibliotheca Alexandrina has announced the winners of the prestigious Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Award 2025, conferred under the auspices of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El‑Sisi of Egypt. In its inaugural edition, the Award honors individuals whose work exemplifies the transformative power of science, culture, and diplomacy.

Among the first Laureates is Glenn Banaguas, a world‑renowned Filipino science diplomat and multi‑awarded scientist, recognized for his pioneering leadership in climate resilience and sustainability, disaster risk reduction, and science diplomacy. He joins Prof. Hassan Shafik Abdullah, a British national of Egyptian origin, in receiving this historic distinction.

The Award carries a monetary value of one million Egyptian pounds, along with a gold medal and an official certificate of excellence. It reflects the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s mission to rekindle the spirit of its ancient predecessor, a beacon of knowledge and dialogue, and to inspire global collaboration in addressing humanity’s greatest challenges.

In his acceptance speech, delivered at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina before distinguished leaders and colleagues, Banaguas moved the audience with words that transcended triumph and spoke to humanity’s higher calling. He began with humility:

“To be recognized as the first laureate of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Award is a moment of deep honor, one that I accept not for myself alone, but on behalf of all who believe in the power of science and diplomacy to transform lives.”

He offered heartfelt thanks to Egyptian leaders and organizers, including His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El‑Sisi, Dr. Abdel Aziz Konsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Minister Yousri El Gamal, Head of the Jury Committee, Dr. Ahmed Zayed, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, as well as Mr. Mohamed Salmawy and Dr. Mahmoud Hashem, distinguished members of the Supreme Committee of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Award. In his words, he recognized their tireless commitment to advancing science and education as pillars of progress, their dedication to ensuring that the award reflects excellence and service, their visionary leadership in sustaining the Bibliotheca Alexandrina as a global lighthouse of knowledge, and their wisdom in shaping this recognition. His gratitude set the tone for a speech that blended ceremonial dignity with profound moral reflection, elevating the moment into one of shared honor and collective purpose.

Banaguas shared lessons from his journey, reminding the audience that success and failure alike shape resilience. He spoke of the choice between striving to be the best and choosing to be kind:

“To be the best may win applause for a moment, but to be kind ensures that our impact endures across generations. Kindness is the true measure of greatness.”

He highlighted two initiatives that defined his path: Climate Smart Philippines: Science for Service, which evolved into the Climate Smart and Disaster Resilient ASEAN, and the Science Diplomacy Program, which expanded from the Philippines to ASEAN, Asia, and the world. These efforts, he emphasized, belong not to him alone but to communities and institutions united by the belief that knowledge must be transformed into service, and service into unity.

Banaguas concluded with a call to action, urging leaders and future generations to embrace compassion, humility, and forgiveness as enduring virtues:

“Greatness fades, but kindness endures. Achievements are remembered, but compassion is never forgotten. Titles may be lost, but humility and forgiveness live forever in the hearts of those we touch. May kindness be our legacy, compassion our language, and forgiveness our gift to the world.”

The ceremony, marked by orchestral music and seamless coordination, became more than an awarding event, it was a celebration of humanity, of knowledge, and of hope. For Banaguas, it was a defining moment that inscribed his name into the living history of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a sanctuary of wisdom and a beacon of humanity’s eternal quest for knowledge.

“With tears of gratitude, I embrace my place in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina family, a home of knowledge, culture, and humanity where I will belong forever.”



The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the modern “Library of Alexandria”, plays a vital role in the global scientific community. It serves as a cultural and intellectual hub, hosting the Arab Regional Office of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and collaborating with the International Science Council (ISC) to advance science, knowledge, and diplomacy worldwide. This positioning underscores the institution’s role not only as a guardian of heritage but also as a modern platform for scientific cooperation and dialogue.

DepEd champions TVET, stronger alignment of education, training, and industry at 16th ASEAN meet

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MANILA, 20 February 2026 — The Department of Education (DepEd) underscored the importance of stronger alignment among education institutions, training providers, industry partners, and government agencies as it represented the Philippines at the 16th ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework Committee (AQRFC) Meeting.


DepEd emphasized that building a future-ready workforce requires a common framework that connects basic education, technical-vocational training, higher education, and employment, ensuring learners can transition more smoothly from school to work.


Education Secretary Sonny Angara stressed that strengthening alignment across sectors remains central to preparing Filipino learners for evolving workforce demands.

 


"Our biggest asset is our people. Under President Marcos Jr.'s leadership, we are envisioning a more creative and innovative Filipino learner, which will be a significant boost to the industry," Angara said.


This shared direction is reflected in ongoing updates to the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF), which helps define clearer pathways for learners and ensures that skills gained in school and training are recognized and valued across sectors.


The updated PQF now features eight levels aligned with the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework, with clear vertical, horizontal, and diagonal pathways between technical-vocational and higher education. Senior High School is mapped to Level 3, while micro-credentials have been formally integrated to support lifelong learning and give learners more flexible opportunities to build skills over time.


DepEd also underscored the need for stronger coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to address persistent gaps between education and employment outcomes. The Department reiterated its support for a unified labor market information system and the expansion of enterprise-based training and industry-led upskilling programs.


These efforts aim to ensure that learners are better supported throughout their education and training, and are more prepared as they transition into technical-vocational programs and, ultimately, into the workforce.


The ASEAN meeting also followed the formal turnover of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) Final Report and the National Education and Workforce Development Plan (NatPlan) 2026–2035 to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., reinforcing the government’s whole-of-system approach to education and workforce development.


The revised PQF and ongoing legislative reforms, including the proposed Lifelong Learning Development Framework Act of 2025, expanded recognition of prior learning, and strengthened distance education policies, are expected to further support alignment across education, training, and employment sectors.


Angara emphasized that while the roadmap is now clearer, sustained coordination and shared accountability among institutions will be essential to ensure successful implementation.


"We already see alignment under President Marcos' leadership. The challenge now is execution—staying the course, aligning budgets and incentives, and holding ourselves jointly accountable for learning outcomes," he said.

PBBM salutes nearly 2,000 promoted teachers in Bulacan, Pampanga

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CITY OF SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, Bulacan, 19 February 2026 — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday lauded the almost 2,000 newly promoted public school teachers and school leaders in Central Luzon, as the government accelerated the rollout of a career progression program aimed at expanding promotion opportunities in the education sector.



“Today, as you take your oath, you reaffirm the belief that every Filipino child deserves a fair shot at a brighter tomorrow. Bawat lesson plan na ginawa ninyo, bawat karanasan sa silid-aralan na nililikha ninyo, bawat mabuting asal na itinuturo ninyo, doon unti-unting nabubuo ang kumpiyansa at pangarap ng ating mga estudyante,” President Marcos said.



Education Secretary Sonny Angara led the oath taking of 1,991 promoted and reclassified personnel from Bulacan and Pampanga at the City of San Jose del Monte Sports Complex. The group included teachers promoted to higher ranks from Teacher II to Teacher VII, Master Teachers I to III, and school principals from Principal I to Principal IV.



The ceremony forms part of the nationwide implementation of Republic Act No. 12288, or the Career Progression for Public School Teachers and School Leaders Act, signed by President Marcos in 2025. The law establishes a structured, competency-based system that allows educators to advance through either classroom teaching or school leadership tracks, with equivalent salaries and benefits.

“Sa pagpapabilis at pagpapalawak ng promosyon, mas napapalakas natin ang hanay ng mga guro na siyang susi sa mas dekalidad na edukasyon para sa bawat batang Pilipino,” Secretary Angara said. “Malinaw na pagsasabuhay ito ng prayoridad ng Pangulo na palakasin ang ating sistema ng edukasyon sa pamamagitan ng mas matibay na suporta sa ating mga guro.”



The Bulacan and Pampanga cluster accounted for one of the largest groups of newly promoted personnel in recent months. Bulacan recorded 408 promotees, followed by Pampanga with 368, Mabalacat City with 301, Angeles City with 238, and the City of San Fernando with 233. Other school divisions included Meycauayan City with 128, San Jose del Monte City with 145, Malolos City with 90, and Baliwag with 80.



More than 16,000 teachers nationwide had already been promoted under the expanded career progression system, with 40,000 more applications under review.



Implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd), the new system expands career ranks, including Teacher IV to VII and Master Teacher V, to address long-standing promotion bottlenecks and recognize teachers’ professional growth and years of service.



Angara noted the reform is designed to boost morale, retain experienced educators in classrooms, and strengthen instructional quality in public schools.



The oath-taking in Central Luzon follows similar ceremonies in other regions. In January, 789 teachers in the Ilocos Region were sworn into higher positions, while 2,915 personnel in the National Capital Region were promoted or reclassified under the same program and through regular promotion channels.

At the same time, DepEd continues to implement the YAKAP program, a comprehensive initiative focused on the welfare of teachers, personnel, and learners, which includes strengthened access to healthcare services in partnership with PhilHealth.



President Marcos and Sec. Angara visited YAKAP implementation in Minuya Elementary School in Bulacan, where they engaged with teachers and personnel and underscored the government’s commitment to supporting educators beyond career advancement.

Rene Pineda, Staunch Environmental Advocate, Completed His Journey at 69

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20 February 2026, Quezon City. Renato “Rene” D. Pineda, Jr., a fearless environmental warrior, passed away on February 16, 2026. He would have turned 70 on August 13.

Pineda is revered for his companionship, leadership, and commitment to Mother Earth and the Filipino people. He is particularly remembered for his principled stance on many issues that matter to the health and well-being of the people and the ecosystems, challenging duty-bearers, government and industry leaders in particular, to prioritize environmental sustainability and social justice.

In his decades of advocacy, Pineda served in various capacities in many environmental formations such as the Concerned Citizens Against Pollution (COCAP), Consumer Rights for Safe Food (CRSF), EcoWaste Coalition, Green Convergence for Safe Food, Healthy Environment and Sustainable Economy, National Task Force Against Aerial Spraying (NTFAAS), Partnership for Clean Air (PCA), and more.

As president of the PCA, Pineda fought for the basic right to clean air. “Aside from stopping waste burning in all its forms, action is needed to reduce air pollution from coal power plants and industrial facilities, as well as from vehicles, planes, and ships. Our children and their children will be better off if we invest more in zero waste resource management, energy efficiency, and renewable energy sources rather than in fossil fuel combustion and waste-to-energy incineration,” he stated.

Pineda supported the EcoWaste Coalition’s long-running campaign against firecrackers and fireworks called “Iwas Paputoxic.” Addressing a community event in Caloocan City, he pointed out: “The unseen health hazard of air pollution brought about by lighting firecrackers and fireworks far outweighs the momentary spectacle of revelry. Toxic fumes emitted by these explosives often contain complex chemical compounds that may lead to respiratory tract infections and even death in vulnerable sectors like the elderly, children, and pregnant women.”



As then vice-president of the EcoWaste Coalition, Pineda minced no words in rejecting landfill disposal for the controversial Canadian garbage shipment. “We stand in solidarity with the Tarlac government and people in their efforts to stop a precedent-setting disposal of illegal trash from Canada and ensure the protection of public health and the environment. Canada cannot simply bury the evidence of this case of gross environmental injustice in our soil and get away with it,” he said. To prevent pollution, Pineda called on the national government to undertake two urgent steps: “First, we should ratify the Basel Ban Amendment (to protect the country from becoming a foreign waste dumpsite) and second, we should stop tinkering with legalizing the burning of waste through waste-to-energy (WtE) proposals."

As early as 2010, Pineda had objected to WtE incineration. "It will instantly cut the cycle of resources that require lots of energy to produce. The alleged energy recovery by a WtE is nowhere near one-tenth of one percent of a resource’s energy requirement to be mined, transformed and manufactured, marketed and used as a consumer item, and disposed of as waste. Therefore, a WtE, no matter how it is green-washed today by its proponents, will hasten the depletion of the Earth’s non-renewable resources. It will quickly de-energize our planet and fuel nations in the race against an irreversible global warming.”

As head of the NTFAAS, he reminded banana plantation owners engaged in the aerial application of pesticides that “to be in business is not a matter of right but a privilege.” He said: “In the discourse about aerial spraying of pesticides, wherein a clear-cut policy is absent ever since, and severe public health and environment hazards are clearly established and verifiable, that privilege is mandatorily prevailed upon by the most supreme right – the right to life of affected citizens.”



Disturbed by moves to revive the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, Pineda urged proponents to rethink their “solution” to the energy crisis: “We urge our policy makers not to wake up the sleeping ‘monster of Morong’ from its 30-year slumber. It’s better to keep the plant idle rather than to create a highly toxic problem that our nation cannot handle.”

As president of the CRSF, he pushed for food safety vigilance to ensure quality and safe food for all. “We call upon the government to uphold the safety and welfare of the consuming public by the full implementation of laws (particularly RA 10611 or the Food Safety Act) that govern the safety of food.” More recently, Pineda pressed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to speed up the probe on the use of banned food coloring Rhodamine B in fermented shrimp paste (bagoong alaman), “so corrective measures can be immediately carried out.”

Pineda also backed legal challenges and remedies to uphold the right to health and the right to a healthy environment. In 2015, he joined environmental groups and advocates in intervening in a Canadian garbage dumping case at the Manila Regional Trial Court. In 2018, he led the filing of a petition for writ of mandamus at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, together with the late Laban Konsyumer president Vic Dimagiba, to press for the release of the long-delayed Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 10620.

Pineda is lying in repose at the Transfiguration of Christ Parish, Barangay San Roque, Antipolo City. Interment is set for February 24, 2026.

Consumers welcome Free Electricity bill, stress need for awareness campaigns

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Metro Manila (February 20) – Electricity consumer welfare group Kuryente.org welcomed the recent filing of a bill that aims to provide free electricity access to households with a low average monthly consumption. However, the group emphasized that there is still a need to increase the awareness of consumers of available benefits.

House Bill 2700 filed by Ilocos Norte First District Rep. Sandro Marcos seeks to use direct government subsidies to cover the cost of electricity for households and consumers whose average monthly consumption in three months does not exceed 135 kilowatt-hours (kWh), or whose monthly bill does not exceed P2,000, whichever is lower.

“The bill is good news,” says Kuryente.org National Coordinator Bas Umali. “We support any law or program that provides benefits, especially to our poor consumers.”

Umali also urged the House Majority Leader to review and study which charges from electricity bills may still be removed or reduced and paid by the government.

More education

Umali says the government currently has a lifeline rate program which gives assistance to low-income consumers as well as discounts for senior citizens. The cost of these subsidies and discounts is borne by fellow consumers through cross-subsidization.

However, only 334,000 consumers are registered under the lifeline rate out of 4.5 million potential qualified beneficiaries, according to the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

Through consultations with communities, Kuryente.org found that many consumers were not aware of the lifeline rate. Umali says the government should improve and expand their information education communication campaigns so that consumers may become informed of the benefits available to them.

“The community’s sentiments were consistent with our office’s observation that the consumer education campaign of the DOE and ERC regarding this program is insufficient,” says Umali. “We are asking the government to study existing programs to gain insights on how to improve the proposed bills to support consumers.”

The government should also evaluate the implementation of existing programs to identify the limitations and challenges that should become the basis of new policies, says Umali. He adds that the government should study if the discount for senior citizens is enough and how more consumers can benefit from the lifeline rate apart from the over four million who are qualified.

Robinsons Hotels and Resorts Achieves Third Consecutive Great Place To Work® Certification with 97% Employee Trust Rating

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February 2026…..Robinsons Hotels and Resorts (RHR), the hospitality arm of Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC), has officially earned the Great Place To Work® Certification™ for the third consecutive year. The recognition is a direct result of a comprehensive Trust Index© survey, where an overwhelming 97% of employees affirmed RHR’s status as a premier employer of choice. 

Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture and leadership behaviors proven to drive market-leading revenue, employee retention, and increased innovation. 

Barun Jolly, Robinsons Hotels and Resorts Senior Vice President and Business Unit General Manager shares, “Being recognized for three years running is an incredible honor that belongs to our entire team. We view our people as co-partners in our journey, and knowing they feel supported and inspired is a great motivation for me as a leader. There is a powerful synergy between a happy workplace and world-class service. By prioritizing our employees' well-being, we enable them to deliver the genuine, heartfelt hospitality that defines who we are.”   

The philosophy of "Hospitality by Heart" is deeply embedded in the RHR experience. The company’s unique culture balances visionary leadership with genuine empowerment, allowing team members to make a tangible impact in the community beyond their daily roles. This is evident in RHR’s CSR initiatives, where employees transcend material giving by developing specialized training modules for youth to equip them with essential life skills and a deep pride in their Filipino identity. 

This environment also fosters significant career growth through mentorship and leadership development. A clear example of this is the group’s ability to develop talent from within, seeing team members rise from entry-level positions to hotel leaders. By providing the right tools and genuine care, RHR transforms jobs into rewarding, long-term careers. 

Mybelle V. Aragon-GoBio, RLC President and CEO congratulates the Hotels and Resorts Business Unit for this milestone. “This recognition affirms the excellence of our hospitality team and showcases how our vision of thoughtful, people-centered development creates a gold standard for the industry. In an environment where our employees are empowered to grow and feel valued, we continue to lead through service excellence and heartfelt hospitality. This achievement inspires us as we remain at the forefront of the industry, supported by the talent and dedication of our people.”    

Robinsons Hotels and Resorts maintains 30 properties across 20 cities and municipalities--the widest geographical hotel presence in the Philippines. It is driven by a portfolio that combines distinctive homegrown concepts with strategic international partnerships. Spanning ultra-luxury to essential value, its home-grown brands include NUSTAR Hotel, Fili Hotel, Grand Summit Hotel, Summit Hotels and Resorts, Go Plus Hotels and Go Hotels. Robinsons Hotels and Resorts is currently undergoing a strategic expansion program, specifically targeting growth in the luxury and upscale lifestyle segments. 

The Robinsons Hotels and Resorts team celebrates with a Thanksgiving Dinner at Summit Ridge Tagaytay

Shaping the Next Generation of Filipino Culinary Professionals:18th Philippine Food Expo Presents the Culinary Challenges

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The Culinary Challenge returns as one of the flagship events of the 18th Philippine Food Expo 2026, bringing together the country’s most promising culinary students and educators for a three-day celebration of skill, creativity, and professional excellence. Happening on April 17–19, 2026 at the World Trade Center, Metro Manila,

The Culinary Challenge, organized under the Philippine Food Expo, serves as a vital platform that bridges classroom learning and real-world culinary practice by mirroring industry standards, encouraging innovation, and nurturing the next generation of Filipino culinary talent.

The competition is open to currently enrolled students and faculty members from culinary schools, colleges, universities, and hospitality and tourism management programs. Participating institutions can gain national visibility, recognition for culinary excellence, and a meaningful benchmark for aligning academic training with professional practice.

National Platform for Culinary Excellence

The Culinary Challenge strengthens collaboration between culinary schools, colleges, and universities across the Philippines, while fostering healthy competition and professional growth among students and faculty alike. Participants gain hands-on experience that reflects the realities of hotel, restaurant, and tourism operations. At its core, the Culinary Challenge emphasizes:

● Technical culinary mastery

● Creativity and artistry

● Nutrition and healthy cooking

● Professional discipline and teamwork

“Bounty of the South: Davao on a Plate”

This year highlights the richness of Southern Philippine flavors, with a particular focus on Davao's regional ingredients, heritage dishes, and culinary identity. Across most categories, participants are challenged to reinterpret local flavors using modern techniques while maintaining cultural authenticity.

The competition features a diverse set of categories that test a wide range of culinary and hospitality skills:

● Food Styling & Photography: An on-the-spot food styling competition which aims to showcase the combination of art and culinary skills of each student.

● Philippine Regional Table Setting: Participants shall set-up a 2-seater table judged by their hospitality, service, and thematic presentation.

● Creative Filipino Dessert Platter: An on-the-spot cooking competition where participants must create a creative Filipino dessert platter using local flavors.

● Healthy Pasta: An on-the-spot cooking competition where participants must create a nutritionally balanced Filipino-inspired pasta.

● Kitchen Masters (30-Minute Challenge): A time-pressured, on-the-spot cooking competition.

● Pinasarap Breakfast: An on-the spot cooking competition where participants must create a “Balanced Pinoy Breakfast Meal”

● Mystery Ingredient: An on-the-spot cooking competition focusing on Davao Regional Dishes using Mystery Ingredients.

● PFE Knowledge Challenge: Academic quiz bee to test the knowledge of student tandems on local food and beverage, geography and tourism.

A Culinary Stage That Shapes Careers

As part of the 18th Philippine Food Expo, the Culinary Challenge stands as a testament to the country’s commitment to culinary education, innovation, and cultural pride. By empowering students, mentoring them alongside faculty, and placing Filipino cuisine at the center of global conversations, the Culinary Challenge continues to shape the future of the Philippine culinary industry one plate at a time

For more information, kindly email pfeculinarychallenge@gmail.com. Stay updated on further announcements by following @philfoodexpo on Facebook and Instagram.

More airlines join NAIA’s self check-in and automated gates

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Self check-in kiosks at NAIA are now accessible to more passengers as more airlines join the new automated passenger processing program introduced by NNIC.

More passengers can now use NAIA’s Self Check-in kiosks, automated Pre-Security screening gates, and Self-Boarding gates at Terminals 1, 2, and 3, as additional airlines complete system integration and join the airport’s automated passenger processing program.

 

The system, which has been progressively implemented across the airport, allows eligible passengers to check in, print boarding passes, tag their bags, clear initial security, and board flights through automated lanes, helping reduce queuing times and ease congestion at traditional counters. A phased activation of automated Bag Drop features is also ongoing.

 

The services are currently enabled for the following airlines and passenger categories:

 

TERMINAL 1

-Philippine Airlines: International destinations, excluding Middle East and Japan routes

-Asiana Airlines: Korean nationals and foreign passengers with no visa requirements

 

TERMINAL 2

-Philippine Airlines: All domestic destinations

-Cebu Pacific: All domestic destinations

-AirAsia: All domestic destinations

 

TERMINAL 3

-Cebu Pacific: All domestic and international destinations

-AirAsia: All international destinations

-United Airlines: Foreign passengers with no visa requirements

-Qatar Airways: All passengers

-Air Canada: All passengers

 

“These systems are already operational, and we are seeing more airlines come on board as integration is completed,” New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the airport’s private operator, said. “As participation expands, more passengers will be able to move through check-in, security, and boarding more efficiently.”

 

The automated processing systems form part of NAIA’s broader efforts to improve passenger flow and align airport operations with biometric-enabled standards used at major international hubs across Asia, the Middle East, and North America.

 

Passengers on eligible flights are encouraged to use the Self Check-in kiosks located near the check-in areas of each terminal. After printing boarding passes and bag tags, they may proceed to Bag Drop counters or automated lanes before continuing through the Pre-Security and Self-Boarding gates. Additional airlines and routes will be enabled in the coming months as integration work continues.

The Bitter Aftertaste: How Climate Change is Scorching Your Daily Brew

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For billions, the day doesn't truly begin until the first sip of coffee. But that cherished morning ritual is under a growing, invisible threat. New research reveals that carbon pollution is fundamentally altering the "Bean Belt," turning up the heat to levels that coffee plants simply weren't built to survive.

A Global Crisis in a Cup

Coffee is a global powerhouse, with 2.2 billion cups consumed daily—two-thirds of adults in the U.S. alone are daily drinkers. Yet, the very supply of this beloved beverage is tightening. A comprehensive new analysis from Climate Central reveals a startling reality: between 2021 and 2025, climate change added an average of 47 extra days of "coffee-harming heat" annually across the 25 primary coffee-producing nations. These countries represent a staggering 97% of the world's total coffee production.

Scorching the Top Five

The impact is most severe in the nations we rely on most. The top five producers—Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Indonesia—supply 75% of the world’s coffee. On average, these five nations now face 57 additional days of harmful heat every year specifically due to climate change.

Brazil: The world’s leading producer faced an extra 70 coffee-harming days annually. In its premier growing state, Minas Gerais, heat stress was present for an additional 67 days per year.

Vietnam: The second-largest producer saw 59 extra days of damaging heat.

Indonesia: Experienced 73 additional harmful days due to a warming climate.

Colombia: Faced 48 extra days of heat stress.

Ethiopia: The birthplace of Arabica coffee saw 34 additional days of harmful temperatures.

The Science of Stress

Coffee plants are notoriously finicky, thriving only within narrow temperature and rainfall windows. The "danger zone" begins at 30°C (86°F). Once temperatures cross this threshold, the plants suffer from heat stress that reduces yields, degrades bean quality, and leaves them wide open to devastating diseases and pests like coffee leaf rust and the coffee berry borer.

Arabica beans—which make up 60-70% of the global supply—are particularly vulnerable. Suboptimal growth for Arabica actually begins at even lower temperatures (25-30°C), meaning these findings likely represent a conservative estimate of the true damage.

The Human Cost: From Farm to Counter

While the data is cold and clinical, the human reality is anything but. Smallholder farmers, who manage about 80% of global coffee production, are on the front lines.

"Coffee farmers in Ethiopia are already seeing the impact of extreme heat," says Dejene Dadi, General Manager of the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperatives Union. "Without sufficient shade, coffee trees produce fewer beans and become more vulnerable to disease."

These farmers are being squeezed from both sides: rising production costs and shrinking yields. Despite providing 60% of the global supply, smallholders received a mere 0.36% of the climate adaptation financing needed in 2021. Ironically, the cost to help a 1-hectare farm adapt is roughly $2.19 a day—often less than the price of a single cup of coffee in a high-income country.

Why Your Latte Costs More

This environmental pressure isn't just a distant problem for farmers; it’s hitting consumers directly at the cash register. Volatile weather and extreme events in the "Bean Belt" have already contributed to price spikes, with record highs reached in December 2024 and February 2025. Combined with shifting rainfall patterns and severe droughts, such as the one seen in Brazil in 2023, the cost of your daily brew is likely to continue its upward climb as the planet warms.

As Dr. Kristina Dahl of Climate Central warns, "Climate change is coming for our coffee... these impacts may ripple outward from farms to consumers, right into the quality and cost of your daily brew".

DepEd grants all teachers, staff 5-day wellness leave to boost employee well-being

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MAKATI CITY, 13 February 2026 — The Department of Education (DepEd) has granted up to five days of wellness leave annually to its teaching and non-teaching personnel, in a move aimed at supporting their mental health and overall well-being amid growing demands in the education sector.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the policy is a concrete expression of the department’s commitment to care for its workforce across all levels of the organization, and in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen employee welfare and promote mental health across the public sector.

“Ito ay handog natin sa bawat kawani ng DepEd—mula sa central office hanggang sa mga rehiyon, division offices, paaralan, at community learning centers, at anuman ang kanilang employment status. Kinikilala natin na ang kanilang kalusugan, lalo na ang mental health, ay mahalaga sa patuloy nilang paglilingkod sa ating mga mag-aaral,” Angara said.

Under the guidelines aligned with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 01, s. 2026, the wellness leave applies to all eligible DepEd officials and employees, including those in permanent, temporary, casual, contractual, coterminous, substitute, and provisional positions, as well as Contract of Service and Job Order personnel directly engaged by the department.

The wellness leave is separate from existing vacation and sick leave benefits and may be used for mental health care, physical wellness activities, or simply to take a restorative break from work.

Personnel may avail themselves of the leave for up to three consecutive days at a time or on non-consecutive days throughout the year, depending on their needs and subject to approval procedures.

To protect employees’ privacy, any mental health-related information disclosed in the application process will be treated as confidential and handled in accordance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

Applications for wellness leave must generally be filed at least five days in advance, except in emergency situations, and the benefit cannot be accumulated or converted into cash if unused within the year.

Angara said the initiative aligns with national policies promoting workplace mental health and aims to strengthen employee resilience while ensuring uninterrupted delivery of education services, adding supporting the well-being of DepEd personnel ultimately benefits learners and the education system as a whole.



“Kapag inaalagaan natin ang ating mga guro at kawani, mas nagiging matibay ang ating mga paaralan,” he said. “Ito ay pamumuhunan hindi lamang sa ating workforce, kundi sa kinabukasan ng ating mga mag-aaral.”

Duolingo’s launches Player-vs-Player mode on Android, amplifying with the first Indonesia chess activation

 

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King Duo arrives in Jakarta to challenge learners to real chess matches

Jakarta, 13 February 2026 — Duolingo, the world’s leading learning app, announced the launch of its Chess’s Player-vs-Player mode (PvP) on Android. Following the successful IOS debut in late 2025, the Android rollout of Duolingo chess course has given millions of learners access to beginner-friendly chess lessons designed to build critical thinking and strategic skills. The player-vs-player (PvP) mode allows learners to test their skills against real opponents in real time.

In a study involving Indonesian students, 75% of respondents said they felt more motivated and engaged when learning through gamified experiences, highlighting growing demand for playful, interactive education formats. 

Built on the Duolingo Method, which emphasizes learning by doing rather than memorization, the Chess course brings this gamified approach to one of the world’s most iconic strategy games, making it more accessible, especially for beginners. 

“We’ve seen strong early engagement from learners exploring Chess PvP mode on iOS, and bringing the experience to Android allows us to reach even more people, especially in mobile-first markets like Indonesia,” said Irene Tong, Regional Marketing Manager, Southeast Asia. “One product insight we’ve observed is that playing against another person can feel intimidating. Looking ahead, we’re working on a range of updates to make PvP feel more welcoming and enjoyable - especially for players who are just starting out. At its core, chess is about connecting with others and strengthening your critical thinking skills. We want to help make that experience more accessible and empowering for our learners.”

With the Duolingo Chess course, learners start with the basics, like how each piece moves, and build their skills by solving puzzles and playing mini matches guided by Oscar, Duolingo’s in-game chess coach. 

About 75% of the course is puzzle-based, giving learners hands-on practice with core tactics. The rest features mini and full games that help them apply what they’ve learned. With personalized practice and lessons that gradually become more challenging, learners progress from guided moves to solving checkmates on their own, all in fun, bite-sized lessons. 

To access PvP mode, learners can visit the Matches tab and tap “Play a Person” to be paired with an opponent of a similar skill level, applying what they’ve learned in a more social and competitive setting. “One thing we’re especially excited about is that bringing PvP mode to Android adds significant “liquidity” to PvP matches. In practice, that means shorter wait times globally—especially for higher ELO players.” - Tong said.

Duolingo is currently working on a number of meaningful updates to Chess designed to strengthen the overall learning experience. These include enabling play with friends, introducing game review features, expanding Chess to the web platform, and developing more advanced content. Together, these efforts aim to make Chess more accessible, engaging, and supportive for learners at different stages of their journey.

Bringing the experience beyond the screen to Indonesian learners, Duolingo has been hosting the first ever Chess pop up activation at Taman Literasi Blok M in Jakarta from 6 to 13 February. The area has been transformed into an interactive learning zone featuring a giant chessboard, where visitors can meet Duolingo’s mascot, King Duo, and take part in chess challenges inspired by the in-app course. Visitors can also enjoy live puzzles, mini lessons, and rewards. 

Duolingo’s Chess course is free to access on Android and is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese. 

Consumers call for protection from high power rates in Energy Transition Bill

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

Metro Manila (February 13) – Electricity consumers on Thursday urged the House Committee on Energy to ensure that their rights will be protected in the country’s transition to clean energy sources. 

During the Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting on House Bill 4299 or the Energy Transition Bill, electricity consumer welfare group Kuryente.org strongly proposed that the bill's Declaration of Policy explicitly include the protection of consumers from any adverse effects of the transition, such as increases in electricity prices. 

“As we recall, ordinary consumers have no protection from market events that cause price hikes, such as foreign exchange fluctuations, wars, and other external factors,” says Kuryente.org National Coordinator Bas Umali. “Even before the just energy transition became  national discourse, consumers in our country had been suffering for decades from high electricity prices and the constant fear of supply shortages.”

The objective of the proposed law is to lay down policies for implementing the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources as well as to ensure that the process is just, meaning small sectors will have their interests protected. 

Umali says the protection of consumers from fluctuating prices is a must, since, despite the country already having one of the highest power rates in Southeast Asia, it continues to experience consistent increases in power bills. 

The latest price increase was announced for the month of February due to the cost of transmission and the Universal Charge for Missionary Electrification. The Energy Regulatory Commission also allowed additional charges such as the Green Energy Auction allowance (GEA-ALL).

Kuryente.org requested the Committee and TWG members to craft specific provisions detailing exactly how consumers will be protected in relation to these issues.

The group also proposed that Republic Act 7394, or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, be included as a reference in the bill, particularly in institutionalizing consumer participation in the development of plans and consultations.

“The government should begin with this data in crafting whatever legislation it intends to pass,” says Umali. “Although the measure is still at the TWG level, we hope that the consumers’ strategic interests will be accommodated.”

EcoWaste Coalition to Good Luck Seekers: Be Cautious of Toxic Charms

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

(Watchdog group finds cadmium in some lucky charm bracelets)

13 February 2026, Quezon City.  As many citizens go to Binondo, Manila, and other Chinatowns across the country to buy tikoy (glutinous rice cake) and other Chinese New Year favorites, the EcoWaste Coalition reminded consumers to watch out for lucky charm bracelets with toxic metallic components.

The watchdog group on waste and pollution issued the timely reminder as luck seekers look for items to activate good luck, health, and fortune to usher in the Year of the Fire Horse, which is associated with immense energy, passion, and burning drive for success.

To show the health risks of some luck activators, the group purchased 22 bracelets sold for P35 to P150 each from sellers in Binondo, Quiapo, and Santa Cruz districts, and screened them for heavy metals, cadmium in particular, using an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer. 

While no chemicals of concern were detected on the beads, the Pi Yao (aka Pi Xiu) and other metallic components,  including a unicorn (a mythical animal resembling a horse), of the bracelets were found laden with high levels of cadmium.

Of the 22 lucky charm bracelets purchased and analyzed, nine were found to contain Pi Yao and other auspicious symbols with cadmium levels exceeding 100 ppm, the European Union’s limit for cadmium in jewelry.

Of these nine bracelets, seven had metallic components with cadmium above 100,000 ppm.  The other two had cadmium levels of 2,170 ppm and 4,257 ppm.  

The presence of cadmium in the nine bracelets indicates that some jewelry manufacturers use this highly toxic metal to add mass and weight to the product and make a lustrous finish.  On the other hand, the absence of cadmium in the 13 bracelets shows that it can be replaced with non-toxic materials.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed cadmium among the 10 chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern.  It has recommended the “elimination of use of cadmium in products such as toys, jewelry, and plastics” as one of the interventions to reduce cadmium releases and occupational and environmental exposure.

According to the WHO, “cadmium exerts toxic effects on the kidneys as well as the skeletal and respiratory systems (and) is classified as a human carcinogen.”

While swallowing jewelry poses the highest risk of cadmium exposure, chronic exposure may occur through habitual oral contact. Children can absorb the metal by chewing, sucking, or mouthing these items. Because children under six frequently put objects (and their hands) in their mouths, they are at a higher risk.

To address this threat to public health, the EcoWaste Coalition called for a comprehensive review of existing regulations to fix the loopholes that allow high-cadmium jewelry to enter the local market.

Since ordinary consumers cannot visually distinguish safe metallic components from those containing cadmium, the group pushed for mandatory labeling that details chemical ingredients and potential health or ecological risks.

These actions, the EcoWaste Coalition said, will help advance the Filipino people's right to health, as guaranteed by the Constitution, as well as promote the Global Framework on Chemicals - For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste," which aims "to prevent or, where prevention is not feasible, minimize harm from chemicals and waste to protect the environment and human health, including that of vulnerable groups and workers."

DepEd proposes trimester system under holistic school calendar reform

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 






MAKATI CITY, 13 February 2025 — The Department of Education (DepEd) is advancing reforms to the school calendar, including the proposed transition to a trimester system, as part of a holistic approach that ensures strategic curriculum implementation through the appropriate distribution of learning blocks covering academic, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara noted that the proposal aimed at allowing longer and more flexible instructional periods, reducing teacher workload, and promoting higher-quality instruction through improved organization of the academic year.

“Itinutulak natin ito upang magkaroon ng mas mahahabang, tuloy-tuloy na panahon ng pagkatuto, mas maayos na pacing ng mga aralin, at mas mababang administrative burden para sa ating mga guro. Sa ganitong paraan, napapangalagaan natin ang kalidad ng edukasyon,” Angara said, citing findings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2).



The trimester system will divide the school year into three academic terms with longer instructional and enrichment blocks, enabling teachers to sustain lesson delivery without frequent interruptions.



Under the proposed trimester calendar for School Year 2026-2027, the 201 school days will be distributed across three terms, each providing longer uninterrupted teaching periods and allowing better pacing of lessons. Scheduled breaks between terms will also provide teachers with time for planning, assessment, and professional tasks, helping improve overall instructional delivery.



Based on the proposed calendar framework, classes will open in early June. The first trimester will run from June to September. The second trimester will cover September to December while the third trimester will run from January until late March, completing the 201 school days for the academic year.





Per term, there will be an instructional block (54-61 days), dedicated to quality teaching and learning time, with minimal disruption of non-academic activities, and an enrichment block, alloted for remediation and enrichment, grade computation, preparation and checking of school forms, and wellness break, among others. An opening block will also be implemented for Term 1 only for opening of school year activities.




Integration of observances in lessons



The reform will also promote “low-disruption alternatives,” where mandated celebrations and observances are integrated into classroom instruction rather than requiring separate programs that interrupt lessons.



DepEd data show that the current calendar structure has contributed to compressed instructional time, as schools must accommodate numerous mandated observances, reporting requirements, and administrative tasks. These disruptions often break lesson continuity and increase workload demands on teachers, forcing them to prioritize compliance over sustained instruction.




Examples include incorporating national and cultural observances into reading materials, writing exercises, science discussions, and project-based learning, allowing students to engage with civic themes while continuing their regular lessons. Schools may also conduct shorter in-class reflection activities, thematic discussions, or curriculum-linked projects instead of holding whole-day events that suspend academic instruction.



Formal policy guidelines on the trimester calendar are expected to be issued following consultations with teachers, school leaders, and other education stakeholders.

Pinoy Pride Roars! Pinoy Teams Make Waves with Two Top 4 Finishes at CFLC Manila Finals

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

Three-month SEA esports spectacle culminates with Vietnamese victory, showcasing mobile FPS growth across five markets

 

Manila, Philippines, February 8, 2026 – The inaugural CrossFire: Legends Championship (CFLC), an international esports tournament for Tencent’s CrossFire: Legends (CFL), concluded on 8 February in Manila after three months of intense competition. While Vietnam’s Evolution Team (EVO) emerged as the tournament’s first-ever champions, Filipino teams delivered a strong showing on home ground. KDM secured second place, while Vanguard Familia (VF) finished fourth, highlighting the Philippines’ growing strength in the mobile first-person shooter (FPS) scene. Vietnam’s HF (HeartFire) claimed third place.

The semifinals and Grand Final, held from February 7–8 in Manila, drew thousands of on-site spectators, while live broadcasts across TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube generated over 500,000 cumulative views, with peak concurrent viewership exceeding 40,000 on a single platform. The hybrid format reflected strong fan interest both in-arena and online.

 

The inaugural CFLC showcased a compelling Philippines-versus-Vietnam rivalry, with both nations placing two teams each in the Top 4. Filipino teams KDM and VF demonstrated resilience and strategic depth throughout the tournament, proving they can compete at the highest regional level.

Adding to the excitement, EVO demonstrated consistent performance, discipline, and composure throughout the competition. The Vietnamese squad delivered strong results from the early stages through to the final matches, outperforming their opponents to secure the championship title. 

The CFLC 2025–2026 Grand Final was contested for both regional recognition and a total prize pool of USD 45,000, adding further stakes to the tournament’s final stage as teams competed for the championship title and a share of the overall winnings.

 

During the Grand Final, EVO maintained control in critical moments, capitalizing on key opportunities and executing decisive plays under pressure. As part of the championship recognition, EVO Luji was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his standout performance and consistent contributions throughout the tournament.

The tournament also featured prominent Southeast Asian clubs such as EVOS, ONIC, and FullSense, signaling a more competitive regional landscape. Strong performances from Vietnamese and Philippine teams further demonstrated Southeast Asia’s growing presence in mobile esports.

CFLC’s success marks a significant milestone in CFM’s globalization journey. “We remain committed to building a professional, comprehensive FPS mobile esports system,” stated a representative from Tencent’s K1 Team. 

“CFLC is just the beginning—we will continue to invest in international competitive structures, bringing high-quality matches to players worldwide.”

 

The conclusion of CFLC 2025–2026 marks an important step in the continued development of CrossFire: Legends esports in Southeast Asia, reflecting the region’s rise as a competitive hub for mobile FPS titles.

For the latest updates and match information, fans can follow CrossFire: Legends Esports on Facebook (cflesportsglobal), TikTok (@cflesports), Instagram (@cflesportsglb), and YouTube (cflesports).

5 Must-Know Bigo Live Features That Every User Should Try

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

Live streaming has evolved far beyond simply broadcasting in real time. Platforms like Bigo Live are shaping a more interactive, engaging digital space where connection happens in many forms. Whether it's joining a conversation, sending a digital gift, or competing in a live showdown, each feature brings something different to the table.

While some may already be familiar with options like Chamet recharge or Bigo diamonds recharge, there's more to the ecosystem, especially with platforms like Joytify making it easier to support streamers and access premium features. Here are five essential features on Bigo Live that are worth exploring in full.

1. Live Streaming

The core of Bigo Live is its live streaming feature. This is where creators can share daily moments, perform talents, or just connect through real-time conversation with people. Streaming can be done through mobile devices with minimal setup, making it accessible and spontaneous.

Many use this space to build an audience, receive gifts, or simply express themselves through talk or entertainment. Viewers can drop in anytime and leave comments or reactions, creating a loop of instant engagement. The casual yet immersive format is what makes live streaming on Bigo so widely used.

2. Virtual Gifts

Bigo Live introduces a system of virtual gifts, turning appreciation into a tangible exchange. Viewers can send items like roses, cars, or animated effects using diamonds, which can be purchased through platforms that support Bigo diamonds recharge. These gifts are not just decorative, they hold real value and can support streamers financially.

The act of giving also opens up recognition within the stream, often placing the sender on leaderboards or featured lists. This gamifies the experience subtly, while still feeling organic and voluntary. For many, gifting is a way to be seen and appreciated during a stream.

3. PK (Player Kill)

PK battles bring a competitive twist to streaming. Two streamers go live together, with their audiences voting, gifting, or commenting to support their favorite. The format usually includes a timer, and the one with the higher interaction score wins the match. It’s not always about rivalry, but PK can also be playful, creative, or even used as a collaboration between friends.

Audience participation becomes crucial, turning a simple stream into an event. These sessions often attract more views and engagement, especially when the chemistry between both hosts is strong. PK gives a structured reason to join a live and stay until the end.

4. Multi-Guest Rooms

Multi-guest rooms allow up to nine streamers to go live together in a single screen layout. It’s commonly used for talk shows, open mic nights, or casual group chats where themes shift with the crowd. The format encourages longer watch times, as conversations feel dynamic and unpredictable.

Hosts can control who joins and moderate the tone of the room, ensuring balance between fun and order. For viewers, it’s a chance to discover new faces through interaction with familiar ones. Multi-guest rooms highlight the social core of Bigo Live beyond solo content.

5. Game Streaming

Game streaming on Bigo Live is where gameplay meets community interaction. It allows streamers to share mobile games or connect from PC, broadcasting gameplay alongside live commentary. Unlike traditional platforms that focus heavily on professional setups, Bigo keeps it casual and mobile-friendly.

Audiences can chat during the stream, ask questions, or support with gifts just like in any other live. Many game streamers use this format to build tight-knit circles of fans around specific titles. It blends entertainment and conversation, especially for those who follow game content in real time.

All these features show how Bigo Live has become more than a place to stream, it’s an ecosystem where interaction and creativity are encouraged through tools built right into the app. For those who wish to join in more actively, either by sending support or unlocking features, Bigo diamonds recharge options are widely used. Platforms like Joytify make this process straightforward, offering safe and reliable top-up services that connect directly to in-app currency systems.

Whether it’s to gift a favorite streamer or simply explore what Bigo has to offer, having access to diamonds makes the experience more complete. Joytify offers an easy way to recharge without hassle, so the focus stays on enjoying the stream, not managing the transaction.

Baring the ‘silent violence’ of Philippine jails

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

Conversations about Philippine jail congestion often begin and end with statistics: thousands of case backlogs, cells built for 50 crammed with 200 bodies, and facilities straining at 300 to 400 percent beyond capacity. Yet these numbers barely capture the everyday human cost of overcrowding. 

What does punishment feel like when confinement overwhelms the senses?

 

A makeshift dining area inside a Philippine jail, where PDLs share meals–capturing how ordinary routines like mealtimes occur within sensory confinement, overcrowding, and silent resilience. SOURCE: Antojado, 2025.

New research at the Ateneo de Manila University shifts attention from numbers to lived experience, examining how carceral punishment in Philippine jails extends far beyond legal sentences by permeating every bodily sense. 

Dwayne Antojado is no stranger to these conditions, having served time himself in Australia for insurance fraud. His lived understanding of imprisonment shapes his engagement with persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in Davao and Zamboanga City Jails.

He found that confinement inflicts overlapping sensory overload—sight, sound, touch, and smell—creating a persistent, invisible form of shackles that Antojado calls “silent violence.”

Oppressive prison air

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the prison air itself. Poor ventilation and tropical humidity trap the stench of bodily fluids, ineffective cleaning chemicals, sweat-soaked clothes, sourness of leftover foods, and the pervasive reek of shared toilets. Odors cling to everything, lingering even in visitors’ memories. Physical sensation also offers no relief. Overcrowded cells radiate heat, with wall-mounted fans merely circulating warm and foul air. 

The sounds and visuals of confinement compound this sensory burden. Punctuated by constant hums: sporadic shouts, clanging gates, whirring fans, blaring televisions, and synchronized greetings to officials, make quiet nearly impossible. Meanwhile, the eyes encounter compression everywhere. Often repurposed from schools or offices, jails reflect an architecturally crushing fullness of makeshift adaptations: plywood and cardboard wedged between bunks, forming fragile sleeping tiers, clotheslines hang from bars, shelves jam the walls, and belongings fill every gap. Yet amid this press for survival, murals, religious icons, family photos, and slogans accent the spaces, asserting dignity, resistance, and ownership within confinement.

Frustration with elite impunity

Antojado acknowledges that, within public discourse, harsh jail conditions are perceived to be a legitimate part of the Philippine penal system. However, public reactions to high-profile detentions—such as calls that former Senator Bong Revilla should receive “no special treatment”—reflect frustration with elite impunity and unequal justice, not just a desire for suffering. Antojado shows that calls for harshness usually stem from resentment and distrust in institutions, rather than a true belief in degrading punishment.

“The insistence that he should ‘feel it’ functions as a moral argument about anti-impunity and equality before the law, not simply as retributive sentiment,” he said. 

Rather than moralizing or relativizing harm, the research anchors its ethics in Philippine constitutional commitments against cruel, degrading, or inhuman punishment, alongside international standards. The central question is not who deserves to suffer, but on the effects of overcrowding and sensory deprivation on people and justice. 

Addressing the full spectrum of harm

Recognizing this dynamic, Antojado calls for sensorially attuned penal reform to acknowledge the full spectrum of carceral harm. He asks what forms of justice genuinely reduce harm, uphold equality, and address the structural roots of crime.

“By foregrounding smell, heat, sound, touch, and the micropolitics of space, this work offers an evidentiary bridge between rights-based obligations and daily experience. It invites policymakers, practitioners, and the public to attend to the sensory infrastructures of confinement where human flourishing is either quietly sustained or steadily eroded, and to craft reforms that answer to those embodied realities now,” he adds.

Dwayne Antojado published “Embodied Overcrowding and Sensory Tensions: A Carceral Autoethnography of Philippine Jails” in International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice in December 2025. 

SOURCE: https://archium.ateneo.edu/asog-pubs/318/ 

For interview requests and other inquiries, please email media.research@ateneo.edu. Visit archium.ateneo.edu for more information about our latest research and innovations.

Converge Earns Prestigious MEF 3.0 Certification, Reinforcing Commitment to Global Standards and Innovation

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

Manila, Philippines - February 12, 2025 – Converge ICT Solutions Inc. (Converge), a leader in fiber optic technology, today announced it has earned the prestigious MEF 3.0 certification—a remarkable leap forward for connectivity and digital excellence in the Philippines. This milestone underscores Converge's unwavering dedication to meeting the industry's highest global standards for performance, assurance, and agility.

The MEF 3.0 certification stands as a globally recognized mark of excellence in network services, validating that Converge’s Carrier Ethernet solutions meet the most stringent benchmarks for quality, interoperability, and security. This achievement not only cements Converge status as a world-class provider prepared to address the dynamic challenges of today’s digital economy, but also marks Converge entry into the newly evolved Mplify Alliance. This evolution, accelerating the AI-powered digital economy with standardized and trusted automated services, enables Converge to become part of a global federation of automated networks—unlocking new opportunities and demonstrating commitment to innovation on a global scale.

"Securing the MEF 3.0 Certification is a game-changer that underscores our strict adherence to international standards," said Paulo Martin Santos, Converge Chief Technology Officer. "By aligning with the world's highest benchmarks for performance and agility, we are providing our clients with a third-party seal of approval on the quality of our network. This validation gives Filipino businesses the confidence to compete on the international stage with faster, more agile, and more secure connections."

This definitive achievement signals that Converge has moved beyond being a local player to becoming a world-class technology powerhouse. As the company transitions into a full-scale techco, its infrastructure is being optimized to exceed the rigorous demands of the global digital economy. This evolution proves that the Philippines is no longer just catching up—it is setting the pace for world-class connectivity.

For enterprise and wholesale clients, this framework ensures seamless connection with international carriers and guaranteed performance backed by strict reliability standards. The infrastructure is purpose-built to support next-generation connectivity solutions allowing Filipino enterprises to adopt secure remote work setups and high-capacity data transfers with absolute confidence.

While this foundational certification is now secured, the company is nearing the completion of several other variant certifications. This ongoing roadmap ensures that every layer of the network operates at peak global efficiency, reinforcing the status of Converge as a world-class technology provider dedicated to powering the Philippines' digital future.

DepEd engages ASEAN partners to advance AI-driven digital infrastructure in basic education

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

PASIG CITY, 10 February 2026  — The Department of Education (DepEd) is pushing forward a regional effort with its Southeast Asian counterparts to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence–driven digital infrastructure in basic education, positioning technology as a practical tool to raise learning outcomes and ease teachers’ day-to-day workload.

As part of this push, DepEd actively engaged education leaders, digital policymakers, and development partners during the 3rd Regional Policy Convening of the AI Ready ASEAN Programme on Monday in Pasig City.

The Philippines’ participation in the regional effort is anchored on Project AGAP.AI, DepEd’s flagship program on artificial intelligence in education. Through the AI Ready ASEAN Program, nearly 796,000 Filipinos, including educators and learners, have already completed training on the fundamentals of AI literacy.

“The Philippines does not see the digital race as a solitary journey. We stand ready to walk alongside our ASEAN neighbors—sharing our insights, our resources, and our steadfast commitment,” Angara said in a message. “Together, we can build a digitally empowered region where growth is shared and progress is collective.”

“A future-ready ASEAN cannot be built on guesswork or lofty rhetoric alone. It must be grounded in the lived realities of our people,” he added.

The convening was held under the AI Ready ASEAN initiative of the ASEAN Foundation, supported by a grant from Google.org. The regional program seeks to expand AI literacy and promote the responsible use of emerging technologies across all ASEAN member states.

For Filipino learners, the regional collaboration is intended to deliver more accessible digital learning tools, better-designed online and blended learning platforms, and data-driven interventions that help schools identify and address learning gaps early. These efforts are aimed at making learning more responsive to individual needs while ensuring that the use of technology remains ethical, inclusive, and age-appropriate.

Teachers, meanwhile, are set to gain from shared ASEAN policy frameworks that prioritize practical classroom support. DepEd officials said AI-enabled systems are being positioned to streamline administrative work, strengthen lesson planning through smarter digital resources, and provide timely insights on student progress—allowing teachers to spend more time on teaching and direct learner engagement.

The ASEAN Foundation also expressed its intent to align the AI Ready ASEAN activities with the Philippines’ chairship of ASEAN in 2026, particularly in advancing digitalization in education and ensuring that the benefits of AI reach learners and teachers across diverse communities.

DepEd said it will continue to engage regional partners to ensure that the adoption of AI in basic education strengthens—not replaces—the role of teachers, while giving learners the digital skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.