Healing While Learning: Marcos Admin Brings Free Health Services to Public Schools with CLASS+ Launch

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In the heart of Quezon City, classrooms at Esteban Abada Elementary School buzzed with more than just the excitement of a new academic year. Alongside books and blackboards, students were greeted by doctors and nurses, stethoscopes in hand—not to teach, but to heal.

This wasn’t just another school day. It marked the powerful launch of CLASS+ (Clinics for Learners’ Access to School-health Services Plus)—a nationwide initiative driven by the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to transform every public school into a gateway for accessible healthcare.

A Classroom Revolution in Health

Gone are the days when health services were a distant luxury for many Filipino students and educators. With CLASS+, the government is rewriting the narrative—turning ordinary school clinics into lifelines of free, quality healthcare for learners and teachers alike. The program is a joint effort between the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), grounded in the President’s clear directive: put the health and well-being of Filipino youth front and center.

During the pilot rollout at Esteban Abada ES alone, over 400 students and teachers received free medical consultations, basic laboratory tests, and preventive care through PhilHealth’s Konsulta Package. Mobile PhilHealth registration booths were also on-site, ensuring that no learner would be left behind for lack of enrollment.

“Binibigyang-prioridad talaga ni Pangulong Marcos ang edukasyon at kalusugan ng mga mag-aaral,” emphasized Education Secretary Sonny Angara. “Ngayon, magkatuwang ang DepEd, DOH, PhilHealth, at mga LGU sa pagbibigay ng serbisyong pangkalusugan ngayong school opening week. Sama-sama tayong kumikilos para sa kabutihan ng ating mga anak at mga guro.”

CLASS+ in Action: Care That Comes to the Classroom

At the heart of CLASS+ lies a simple but game-changing idea: healthcare should go where the learners are. Under this new framework, school clinics now serve as access points for PhilHealth’s Konsulta Package. Students and school staff can now benefit from:

General health consultations

Diagnostic and basic laboratory tests

Free essential medicines

Health counseling

Referral to partner hospitals or Konsulta providers when needed

And this is only the beginning.

Building a Healthier Learning Environment

CLASS+ also expands on DepEd’s Learners’ Health Assessment and Screening (LHAS) program under the Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd (OK sa DepEd) banner. Rolling out in all public schools this academic year, LHAS ensures that every Kindergarten to Grade 12 student receives:

General physical examinations

Nutritional assessments (tracking height, weight, and nutritional status)

Oral health check-ups

Mental health screenings

These assessments are not only about identifying health concerns early—they are strategic tools to guide vital support programs, like school-based feeding and mental health interventions. The initiative began with Brigada Eskwela, where schools started building master lists of students and checking their PhilHealth registration status.

Starting July, physical exams and oral health screenings will begin, in alignment with One Health Week. Meanwhile, mental health screening—a growing priority for DepEd—will run from August to December, using globally recognized tools like the CARS (Children and Adolescents Risk Screener) and Rapid HEEADSSS assessments tailored for adolescents aged 10–19.

A Data-Driven, Compassion-Fueled Future

Looking beyond the rollout, DepEd and PhilHealth are developing a School Health Package informed by the national health data gathered through CLASS+ and LHAS. This will shape a customized benefit package for school clinics, enabling them to deliver sustainable, long-term primary care that evolves with the needs of learners and teachers.

The vision is clear: an education system where no child’s learning is hindered by untreated illness, and no teacher’s dedication is compromised by a lack of medical support.

More Than Medicine—It’s a Movement

While CLASS+ may be framed in policies and partnerships, its true power lies in the quiet, human victories it sparks every day. A mother sleeping better, knowing her child’s cough was finally checked. A student seeing clearly after a free eye exam. A teacher comforted by timely mental health support.

These are the stories behind the statistics—proof that the government’s promise of a whole-of-government approach to education and health is more than rhetoric. It’s real, it’s working, and it’s changing lives.

Through CLASS+, the Marcos administration isn’t just teaching the next generation—it’s making sure they’re strong, healthy, and ready to learn.

Because every Filipino child deserves not just a classroom, but a future—with good health as their foundation.

Echoes of Empire: 7 Astonishing Roman Architectural Marvels Outside Italy

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Long before skyscrapers and steel, the Roman Empire engineered a legacy so enduring that it still casts a shadow over continents. At its zenith in 117 CE, Rome’s influence spanned more than 2 million square miles — from the misty moors of northern Britain to the scorched sands of Egypt. Roads, aqueducts, amphitheaters, and palaces rose in its wake, monuments of power and precision. While Rome itself is a living museum of imperial grandeur, remarkable relics lie scattered far beyond Italy’s borders — silent sentinels of Rome’s architectural prowess.

Here are seven extraordinary examples of Roman architecture that still stand tall, defiant against time and memory — each one a chapter in a global epic that continues to awe and inspire.

1. Hadrian’s Wall – England

Where empire met the edge of the world

Winding like a serpent across the rugged hills of northern England, Hadrian’s Wall remains the longest surviving fortification of the Roman Empire. Ordered into existence by Emperor Hadrian in 122 CE, this 73-mile-long stone frontier was more than just a barricade — it was a bold statement. “Beyond here, Rome ends.”

Stretching from Bowness-on-Solway in the west to Wallsend in the east, the wall bristled with milecastles and forts designed to hold back the “barbarians” of ancient Scotland. Though pillaged for centuries for its stone, what remains has been lovingly preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site — a colossal reminder of how far Rome was willing to go to defend its borders.

2. Pont du Gard – France

The aqueduct that defied gravity — and time

Rising gracefully over the Gardon River in southern France, the Pont du Gard is an architectural miracle in limestone. Soaring nearly 160 feet, this three-tiered aqueduct bridge was built in the first century CE to deliver an astonishing 11 million gallons of water daily to the Roman colony of Nemausus (modern-day Nîmes).

Its elegance masks its complexity. Crafted by more than a thousand builders over five years, Pont du Gard is the tallest Roman aqueduct to survive antiquity. Today, it stands not just as an engineering marvel, but as a cultural pilgrimage — complete with an immersive museum and guided tours that take you into the heart of its ancient bones.

3. Amphitheater at El Djem – Tunisia

Africa’s answer to the Colosseum

In the arid plains of Tunisia stands El Djem, a breathtaking amphitheater that once echoed with the roar of 35,000 spectators. Erected around 238 CE in the Roman city of Thysdrus, this arena was Rome’s bold stamp on Africa, showcasing not just sport — but supremacy.

Freestanding and lacking traditional foundations, the amphitheater is a feat of Roman innovation. Beneath its imposing arcades lies a maze of tunnels and chambers once used to stage gladiatorial games and public spectacles. As the third-largest surviving amphitheater in the Roman world, El Djem is a hauntingly beautiful echo of empire amid the sands of time.

4. Porta Nigra – Germany

The black gate that never bowed

In Trier, Germany’s oldest city, the Porta Nigra still looms with solemn grandeur. Built around 170 CE, this towering city gate — now darkened by centuries of soot and time — is a rare relic of Rome’s northern frontier. Its original purpose? To dazzle, defend, and dominate.

Though one of four gates that once guarded the ancient city, only Porta Nigra survived. Transformed into a church in the Middle Ages, it was later restored to its Roman glory by Napoleon himself. Iron clamps, weathered stone, and enduring symmetry make it a masterpiece of resilience — a gateway not just into the city, but into history.

5. Cardo Maximus – Jordan

Where Roman order met desert soul

The Cardo Maximus in Jerash — once the prosperous Roman city of Gerasa — is the living artery of an ancient metropolis. Stretching half a mile from the North Gate to the Oval Plaza, this colonnaded street was the beating heart of commerce, culture, and daily life.

Built in the first century CE, the street still bears the ruts of Roman carts and features sophisticated manholes for underground drainage. Once lined with over 500 columns, some of which still stand proud, the Cardo Maximus is a pristine example of Roman city planning in the heart of the Middle East — orderly, enduring, and awe-inspiring.

6. Diocletian’s Palace – Croatia

An emperor’s fortress of solitude

When Emperor Diocletian voluntarily stepped down from power in 305 CE — a rare move in Roman history — he didn’t fade into obscurity. Instead, he commissioned one of the most opulent retirement homes the world has ever seen: a sprawling seaside palace in Split, Croatia.

Part fortress, part imperial villa, Diocletian’s Palace fused luxury with security. Its marble columns, fortified towers, and Adriatic-facing walls made it both impenetrable and magnificent. Today, the palace forms the core of modern Split — a living city pulsing within ancient walls. Walking its halls is like time-traveling with every step.

7. Temple of Diana – Spain

An ancient soul among modern life

In the heart of Mérida, Spain, the Temple of Diana rises unexpectedly from a 21st-century cityscape — a granite specter of divinity surrounded by shops and homes. Built in the first century CE, when the city was known as Emerita Augusta, this temple stands on a high podium flanked by six majestic Corinthian columns.

Though only a shell remains, it still commands reverence. Behind it lies the Renaissance-era palace of the Duke of Corbos, while nearby, an entire constellation of Roman marvels awaits — a theater, amphitheater, arch, aqueduct, and more. In Mérida, ancient Rome never left — it simply adapted.

A Timeless Empire Carved in Stone

These monumental achievements are more than tourist attractions — they are living chronicles of ambition, ingenuity, and endurance. From the misty highlands of Britain to the sun-soaked plazas of Spain, the architectural fingerprints of the Roman Empire remain — bold, breathtaking, and still very much alive. In stone and structure, the empire speaks across centuries, whispering tales of conquest, creativity, and the enduring power of human imagination.

The Night the Moths Took Over: What the Swarm Across Metro Manila Really Means

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They came like ghosts on gossamer wings, riding the dusk winds over Metro Manila — thousands upon thousands of moths invading streets, homes, buildings, and lamp-lit corners of the night. For many, it was a fascinating if eerie sight — a rare spectacle that lit up social media feeds with videos and stunned reactions. But for some experts, what unfolded wasn’t a harmless marvel of nature. It was a warning.

A City Under a Fluttering Siege

From Quezon City to Pasig, from Cavite to Rizal, netizens shared footage of moths swarming light posts and windows, clinging to walls in clusters that made buildings look alive. For one fleeting night, the metropolis transformed into a surreal scene, like something lifted from a gothic dream — or a dystopian prophecy.

“What is happening?” asked countless X (formerly Twitter) users. “Is this a sign of something bad?”

Others joked, likening the scene to a biblical plague, a supernatural omen, or the start of an alien invasion. The humor masked an unsettling undercurrent: people were uneasy. And rightfully so.

Nature Out of Balance

To the untrained eye, the swarm may have seemed like an odd fluke — maybe even beautiful. But for entomologists and environmental scientists, it’s a red flag waving in the night.

“This is not just a coincidence or some random increase in moth numbers,” said Dr. Marissa del Mundo, a biologist and climate observer. “Mass emergences like these usually signal disruptions — either in seasonal climate patterns, environmental stress, or habitat loss.”

Insect behavior is tightly tied to temperature, moisture, and light cycles. With El Niño-induced heat, erratic rainfall, and unchecked urban sprawl shrinking their natural habitats, moths may be emerging in unusual volumes — and seeking refuge where they normally wouldn’t.

“Insects are the canaries in the coal mine,” she warned. “If they’re behaving strangely, it means the environment is changing — and not for the better.”

Lights That Lure, Cities That Trap

Another factor at play is Metro Manila’s overwhelming use of artificial lighting. Moths, which use moonlight to navigate, are famously drawn to electric lights — not because they enjoy the glow, but because their sense of direction gets hijacked.

“Imagine a whole generation of moths hatching at once, disoriented, fleeing shrinking forests, and flying toward the bright lights of the city,” explained Prof. Luis Aragon, an entomologist. “What we’re seeing isn’t enchantment. It’s desperation.”

Beyond the Wings: What the Swarm Says About Us

While the spectacle sparked intrigue, it also forced uncomfortable questions. What does this say about Metro Manila’s environment? About our ecosystems?

Environmental groups were quick to point out that this is likely just the latest sign of a growing ecological imbalance. The moths may be harmless in themselves, but their behavior is symptomatic of something deeper — climate disruption, collapsing food webs, deforestation, pollution.

“The natural world is screaming,” said eco-activist Maya Reyes. “And we’re not listening — until the screams fly into our faces.”

From Swarm to Signal: What Can Be Done?

Experts say the moth invasion should serve as a wake-up call. It’s time for stronger environmental monitoring, urgent reforestation efforts, and more sustainable urban planning. More importantly, it’s time to treat climate anomalies not as isolated curiosities, but as part of a growing, global pattern.

“We’ve seen flying termites and even fire ants making strange appearances,” Reyes added. “This isn’t just about insects. This is about survival — theirs and ours.”

In the End, a Choice

In the silence after the moths departed, questions still hang in the air — as heavy as the wings that blanketed the capital.

Was this a one-night spectacle? Or is it the first of many signs that nature is fraying at the edges?

As we scroll through the videos, marveling and laughing, we might pause and remember: sometimes, the smallest creatures carry the biggest warnings.

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