Chains of the Soul: Gerard Pizarras Breaks Barriers in CBN Asia’s Holy Week Special Tanikala Presents “Preso”

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

As the sun sets on Good Friday, a powerful story of pain, prison, and ultimate redemption rises to challenge the hearts of every viewer. CBN Asia’s Holy Week Special Tanikala returns with its latest offering, “Preso”, a riveting true-to-life telecine that goes beyond the cold steel bars of a jail cell—and deep into the soul of a man bound by more than chains.

Premiering this Good Friday, April 18, at 5:30 p.m. on GMA, Preso features the transformative performance of veteran actor Gerard Pizarras, who embodies the harrowing yet hope-filled journey of Wendell Tolibas, a man who once walked the path of rebellion and destruction—only to find salvation in the most unlikely place.

From Darkness to Deliverance

Wendell’s story is not fictional—it is heartbreakingly real.

After witnessing a traumatic event that shook his world, Wendell descended into darkness. Resentment and pain fueled his choices, leading him into a life of drug addiction and crime in the underbelly of Davao. His arrest in 2017, marked by public humiliation, wasn’t just a fall from grace—it was a complete shattering of a life.

But this isn’t just a story of despair. It’s a story of awakening.

“When I first read the script, I said, ‘This person’s story is inspiring. Lord, thank You for this story because it encouraged me,’” Gerard shared, his voice thick with emotion.

Having portrayed prisoners before, Gerard knew this role would be different. “This isn’t just about being behind bars. Preso is about breaking the inner chains—those invisible prisons we all struggle with.”

A Family Affair—On and Off Screen

Adding depth and authenticity to the film is the inclusion of Gerard’s real-life wife, veteran actress Jan Marini, and rising actor-influencer Jericho Arceo. Their synergy on-screen mirrors their passion behind the scenes, bringing Wendell’s story to life in a way that’s visceral and deeply human.

“Many people can relate—even if they’ve never seen the inside of a prison,” Gerard emphasized. “We all make mistakes. We all feel stuck sometimes—by guilt, addiction, anger, trauma. But there’s a way out.”

And that way, he says, is through God.

A Message for Holy Week and Beyond

Preso is more than a film. It is a mirror—a reflection of the broken parts within us, and an invitation to surrender them.

“This film is perfect for Holy Week,” Gerard affirmed. “It’s a time to look back, acknowledge what went wrong, and ask, ‘What can I make right with God today?’”

Director Timmy Yee, who co-wrote the film with Gilbeys Sardea, echoes this sentiment. For him, Preso is meant to serve as a catalyst—a trigger that prompts viewers to break free from their own personal chains.

“During this Holy Week, reflect on the areas of your life that need freedom,” Yee shared. “This story is not just Wendell’s—it can be yours too.”

A Wake-Up Call, A Turning Point

In an age where entertainment often focuses on the sensational, Preso stands out as sacred storytelling—raw, redemptive, and real. It invites the viewer into a sacred space of reckoning, reminding us that no one is too far gone, and no prison too fortified for God’s grace.

As the country slows down for Holy Week, Gerard Pizarras and the entire Preso cast extend an invitation:

Break free. Heal. Start over.

Because sometimes, the most powerful resurrection doesn’t happen in a tomb—but in a jail cell, a broken home, or a tormented heart.

This Good Friday, watch Tanikala presents “Preso” at 5:30 p.m. on GMA—and let yourself be set free.

Science at the Frontlines: UP Scientists Revolutionize Flood Forecasting with Groundbreaking System

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a country where the skies often darken with impending storms and the ground trembles beneath torrential rains, one question continues to haunt the nation with every typhoon season: Can we ever truly be prepared?

Now, thanks to a groundbreaking initiative led by brilliant minds from the University of the Philippines, there is new hope—born not just of science, but of purpose.

The Impact-Based Flood Forecasting System, developed by UP scientists, marks a monumental leap forward in how the Philippines confronts its deadliest and most frequent natural hazard: flooding.

A Nation at Risk

Each year, around 20 tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), leaving behind flooded communities, destroyed livelihoods, and often, lost lives. The 2023 World Risk Index ranked the Philippines #1 among countries most vulnerable to extreme weather events—a chilling testament to the urgent need for better preparedness.

“Floods are not just seasonal inconveniences,” warns Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay, professor at the UP Diliman College of Science and Executive Director of the UP Resilience Institute (UPRI). “They are catastrophic threats that affect everything—homes, schools, infrastructure, and human lives.”

Science Meets Urgency

With a visionary blend of cutting-edge meteorology, hazard mapping, and citizen engagement, Dr. Lagmay and his team from the UPRI Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) Center, alongside Dr. Gerry Bagtasa and Dr. Bernard Alan Racoma of the UP Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM), set out to solve one of the country’s most persistent nightmares.

Backed by funding from the United States Agency for International Development – Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID-BHA), the team unveiled an advanced system capable of forecasting flood impacts across the entire archipelago—with pinpoint accuracy up to 24 hours in advance.

“This system can determine whether a neighborhood is likely to be affected by a major flood event,” explains Dr. Lagmay. “It’s not just about rainfall. It’s about real-world impact—how many people will be affected, where, and how bad it will be.”

Science You Can See—and Trust

Accessible via the NOAH website, the tool provides visual maps and tables down to the barangay level, identifying which areas are at risk based on accumulated rainfall forecasts and 100-year return period flood hazard maps—meticulously designed using historical data and cutting-edge climate models.

Unlike generic weather updates, this system has already proven its mettle, accurately forecasting floods in Davao, Palawan, and Borongan this year alone.

But it doesn’t stop at top-down predictions. In a remarkable innovation in citizen science, Filipinos themselves can validate and contribute to the data via the LyfSaver app, reporting flood incidents in real time.

A Model of Collaboration

The system isn’t just a scientific breakthrough—it’s a collaborative triumph. The UP team has linked arms with FYT PH Media, YesPinoy Foundation, and Quezon City’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, among others, to integrate the system into existing disaster response frameworks.

Their work has not gone unnoticed. The project recently won Best Innovation Pitch among 64 national entries at the Preparedness and Response Excellence in the Philippines (PREP) Innovation Challenge, organized by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and USAID.

Just the Beginning

In a research paper published in the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD), the team emphasized that while the system is a massive step forward, it’s only the beginning.

“There is still much work to do,” Dr. Lagmay noted. “We aim to integrate additional hazards like rain-triggered landslides and storm surge risks. But this will only be possible through stronger collaboration among citizens, scientists, policymakers, and the government.”

A Blueprint for Hope

The Impact-Based Flood Forecasting System represents more than a technological achievement—it is a blueprint for a resilient future. In a nation where nature's fury is an ever-present threat, this system redefines what it means to be prepared.

By combining rigorous science, local knowledge, and community empowerment, the UP-led initiative stands as a powerful reminder: The best defense against disaster is knowledge—and the will to act on it.

At last, Filipinos may have something more than umbrellas and sandbags to rely on when the floodwaters rise. They now have a system—born of science, powered by people, and built to save lives.

For more updates on this breakthrough and other stories of innovation and resilience, follow Wazzup Pilipinas—the Philippines’ most credible source of community news and inspiring narratives.

A Sacred Journey, A Shared Responsibility: San Jose del Monte LGU and EcoWaste Coalition Urge Lenten Pilgrims to Leave No Litter Behind

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As tens of thousands of the faithful prepare for their spiritual journey to the revered Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto Shrine in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan this Holy Week, a solemn call rises above the hymns and prayers: “Leave no litter behind.”

In a compelling appeal blending faith and environmental responsibility, the local government of San Jose del Monte City (CSJDM) and the vigilant EcoWaste Coalition have joined forces to urge pilgrims to tread lightly—both on sacred ground and on Mother Earth.

For decades, the Lourdes Grotto in Barangay Graceville has drawn pilgrims in droves, especially during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. These spiritual seekers walk the path of the 14 Stations of the Cross, pausing in silent reverence before life-sized statues that depict Christ’s final journey. But too often, another trail is left behind: discarded water bottles, food wrappers, and plastic bags—a stark contrast to the prayerful silence and reflection these sacred days demand.

"Cleanliness is next to godliness"

This year, CSJDM’s City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), led by Engr. Thelma Bautista, is making a heartfelt plea: “We appeal to all visitors to keep the pilgrimage site and the streets leading to it litter-free at all times. As cleanliness is next to godliness, we ask the faithful to dispose of their trash in the designated bins.”

But even this simple act of decency needs reinforcement. With the influx of devotees overwhelming available facilities, the call grows louder: “Bitbit ninyo, uwi ninyo, please.” Bring your waste home.

A Covenant with Creation

Aileen Lucero, the ever-committed National Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition, echoes this moral imperative: “We have the shared responsibility of keeping the pilgrimage site, especially the prayer and picnic areas, litter-free. As stewards of His Creations, we must honor both the sacred space and the environment that sustains us.”

For Lucero and the Coalition, this is more than an environmental issue—it is a spiritual act of stewardship, a covenant with God’s creation that extends far beyond the Lenten season.

From Pilgrimage to Purpose

Aside from the Lourdes Grotto, the city is also home to other spiritual havens like the Our Lady of La Salette Quasi-Parish and the Padre Pio Mountain of Healing. These sites too, will host thousands of pilgrims, many of whom bring not just prayers but also plastic waste that too often remains behind after the last candle burns out.

To help pilgrims embrace a cleaner, greener journey of faith, the CSJDM and EcoWaste Coalition released practical, planet-friendly guidelines:

Bring water in reusable tumblers – Avoid single-use bottles and refill at water stations set up by civic groups.

Ditch single-use packaging – Bring baon in reusable containers or consume food that doesn’t come in disposable wrapping.

Pack your trash – If bins are full or unavailable, carry your waste home for proper disposal.

Use eco-bags – Especially when buying pasalubong or religious souvenirs. Say no to plastic.

Leave no trace – Keep the sacred grounds as pristine as when you arrived.

These are not just tips—they are expressions of love for community, country, and creation.

A Deeper Mission

Underpinning this initiative is Republic Act No. 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which mandates waste segregation and volume reduction at source. It is a law too often ignored in public gatherings, but one that CSJDM takes seriously through partnerships with the DENR-EMB, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), EcoWaste Coalition, and other stakeholders—not just for Lenten activities, but also in tackling modern challenges like electronic waste.

As we observe Holy Week—a time of penance, reflection, and renewal—let us also renew our commitment to environmental justice.

Because a pilgrimage, no matter how sacred, loses its sanctity when marred by neglect. And true devotion is measured not only by how far we walk in prayer, but also by how gently we walk upon the Earth.

Let this Holy Week be remembered not only for the prayers whispered and candles lit, but for the shared promise kept: to leave nothing behind but faith, reverence, and respect.