Akbayan Youth to PBBM: Your education plans are all talk, no action

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Akbayan Youth slammed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2025 State of the Nation Address, calling it “empty rhetoric” and “all talk, no walk,” after the President once again failed to present a concrete and comprehensive plan to address the country’s deepening education crisis.

“Despite declaring education a priority, the President’s pronouncements were vague at best and misleading at worst,” said Khylla Meneses, National Secretary-General of Akbayan Youth.

“Kung titingnan natin ang realidad, maraming kabataan ang napipilitang tumigil sa pag-aaral dahil sa mataas na tuition, kakulangan ng suporta, at mahal na bilihin. Hindi sapat ang bragging rights kung walang tunay na reporma sa edukasyon,” dagdag ni Meneses.

In response to the President’s empty promises, the youth group laid out real solutions and reforms that would meaningfully support students.

“Kung talagang seryoso ang Pangulo sa kanyang pangako na number one priority ng kanyang administrasyon ang edukasyon, kami sa Akbayan Youth, kasama ang Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, hinahamon namin siyang suportahan ang education bills ng Akbayan Partylist—mga panukalang matagal na naming ipinaglalaban kagaya ng Allowance is Essential Bill (₱5K Student Support Program), Intern Rights and Welfare Bill, at ang pagtigil sa walang humpay na pagtaas ng tuition at miscellaneous fees o TOFI,” pahayag ni Meneses.

“Hangga’t hindi ito naisasabatas, ang aming grado sa education plans ng administrasyong ito ay malinaw na INCOMPLETE,” dagdag niya.

“Marami pang dapat tugunan at ayusin para masabing may tunay na pagbabago. Hangga’t walang kongkretong aksyon, mananatiling pangako lang at walang laman ang kanyang mga salita,” pagtatapos ni Meneses.

From Ocean to Plate: The Untold Stories of Tuna and Salmon – A Journey Through the Art and Science of Grading, Trimming, and Understanding Two Culinary Giants

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In the glittering world of seafood where flavor reigns supreme and freshness is king, two giants dominate the culinary seas: Tuna and Salmon. Though they differ in species, texture, origin, and lore, both have earned an iconic status not just for their taste but for the meticulous craft and science behind their processing. A glimpse at the educational panels displayed by Urner Barry—an authority in seafood market intelligence—reveals an intricate world where every cut, color, and curve matters.

TUNA: The Powerhouse of Precision

Tuna is not just a fish; it is an industry driven by excellence and exactitude. The poster begins with four of the most commercially prized species:

Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)

Albacore Tuna (Thunnus alalunga)

Bigeye Tuna (Thunnus obesus)

Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus)

Each species is a marvel in itself, offering unique attributes in flavor, fat content, and texture. But the story doesn’t stop at identifying species—it dives deeper into grading, core sampling, and tail cutting techniques that define the quality and market value of each fish.

The Grading Scale: More Than Meets the Eye

Tuna is graded based on five key criteria:

Freshness/Initial Appearance – Inspectors analyze clarity, luster, and structural integrity.

Internal Color – Richness in hue often dictates flavor depth and fat quality.

Blood Line Coloration – A bright red line signifies freshness and good handling.

Texture – This determines usability for sashimi or steak cuts.

Fat Content – The prized factor for high-end markets, especially in sushi culture.

A spectrum shows how tuna samples are scored from #1 (premium) to #3 (standard), and further sub-classifications like #2+, denoting better than average grade #2 fish, provide even more refined distinctions.

Dissecting the Anatomy of Quality

A core sample extracted from the loin and a tail cut provide invaluable data. The steak’s texture, shown via horizontal striations, reveals muscle integrity, while the meat’s color determines desirability for sushi chefs and fine-dining establishments.

Every part of the tuna is mapped—dorsal, caudal, pectoral, and belly—all yielding unique types of cuts: akami (lean), chutoro (medium-fat), and otoro (high-fat belly), prized like marbled beef in elite circles.

SALMON: The Artistry of Trim and Cycle

On the adjacent poster lies the salmon—just as revered, equally complex.

Distinguished into Farmed and Wild Salmon, the guide delineates the two with scientific precision and culinary clarity. The Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), typically farmed, dominates the global market due to its consistent fat content and year-round availability. Meanwhile, Wild Pacific Salmon showcases five magnificent species:

Chinook (King) Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

Chum (Keta) Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)

Coho (Silver) Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

Sockeye (Red) Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)

Pink (Humpback) Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)

Each species presents distinct colors, textures, and seasonal availability, visually charted on a calendar matrix. This chart isn’t mere decoration—it’s the lifeblood of planning for chefs, importers, and retailers across the globe.

Trimming the Truth: Salmon Fillets Decoded

Salmon isn’t just filleted; it’s sculpted.

The poster outlines five degrees of trim:

Trim A – Backbones off, belly fin left on.

Trim B – Backbones off, belly fin partly off.

Trim C – Backbones off, collarbone off, belly fin partly off, pin bones out.

Trim D – Back fin off, collarbone off, pin bones out, tail trim, peritoneum removed.

Trim E – Full removal including skin off.

These variations aren’t just for show—they dictate price, shelf life, culinary application, and presentation on the finest dining tables.

The Life Behind the Filet

Both panels prominently feature cycle diagrams—one showing the farming stages of Atlantic Salmon (from hatchery to harvest), and the other detailing the life stages of Wild Salmon from egg to adult. These aren’t trivial graphics—they represent the sustainability challenges, ecosystem interdependencies, and the human intervention necessary to maintain global demand without collapsing natural stocks.

Why This Matters

To the untrained eye, a fillet is just a fillet. But to the experts, these cuts are history, biology, economics, and culture converging in a singular bite. The texture of tuna isn’t just muscle—it’s a story of migratory patterns, sea temperatures, and preservation science. The blush of salmon isn’t mere color—it reflects species, age, diet, and ecological health.

For culinary enthusiasts, restaurateurs, and consumers alike, understanding these posters is an awakening. It allows us to appreciate not just the flavors of our food, but the meticulous art and rigorous science behind every portion.

So next time you savor a seared tuna loin or a buttery slice of salmon sashimi, remember: it’s not just seafood—it’s the culmination of generations of craftsmanship, biological wonders, and the relentless pursuit of quality from ocean to plate.

Wazzup Pilipinas celebrates this visual education not only as a resource but as a tribute to the industries, fishermen, scientists, and chefs who elevate the standards of seafood excellence. Let’s consume with appreciation and awareness—for the story behind every fish is as deep and rich as the seas they came from.

Ahead of 2025 SONA, Consumer Group Demands Real Action and Accountability from President Marcos on Energy Crisis

 

                                             Photo from DOE FB page

Partners for Affordable and Reliable Energy (PARE) urges concrete solutions, decisive leadership beyond promises

July 28. 2025, Manila, Philippines – With another State of the Nation Address (SONA) on the horizon, consumer advocacy group Partners for Affordable and Reliable Energy (PARE) calls on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to move past recycled assurances and deliver concrete solutions to the country’s deepening energy crisis.

“Another year, another SONA—Filipinos have grown weary of hearing repeated promises of affordable electricity, stable power supply, and improved infrastructure without experiencing tangible results,” said PARE Chief Advocate Officer Nic Satur Jr. “President Marcos must now demonstrate genuine accountability and decisive leadership to solve the longstanding problems plaguing our energy sector.”

PARE highlighted the persistent gap between President Marcos’ ambitious energy commitments—such as improved power transmission infrastructure, universal electrification by 2028, and increased renewable energy targets—and the realities on the ground. Consumers continue to suffer escalating electricity prices, grid instability, and widespread power outages largely due to delayed projects by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and inefficiencies in the energy sector.

“It’s high time President Marcos holds NGCP accountable for long project delays,” Satur stressed. “Critical transmission infrastructure must no longer be held hostage by delays that burden consumers nationwide.”

PARE also called attention to the National Electrification Administration’s (NEA) quarterly Compliance Reports, which classify Electric Cooperatives (ECs) based on seven key performance indicators. While NEA reports suggest compliance and efficiency, grassroots experiences often tell a different story.

“For instance, Batangas Electric Cooperative (BATELEC II), Surigao del Sur II Cooperative, Inc. (SURSECO II), Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative ORMECO, Province of Siquijor Electric Cooperative (PROSIELCO) to name a few,  consistently meets NEA’s compliance criteria, yet consumers suffer frequent brownouts and higher electricity rates compared to neighboring municipalities,” Satur pointed out. “We urge President Marcos to critically review NEA’s evaluation standards and ensure they accurately reflect consumer realities—not just bureaucratic metrics.”

The advocacy group further highlighted the ongoing chaos at the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), emphasizing the urgency of stable, effective leadership at the regulatory level.

“President Marcos must swiftly resolve the leadership gaps at ERC, provide clear policy direction, and lower electricity prices by reducing our dangerous dependence on imported fossil fuels like diesel and coal,” said Satur. “Our vulnerability to global price shocks can only be mitigated by aggressive diversification into renewables and indigenous energy.”

PARE also stressed the urgency of restructuring excessive taxation on electricity and addressing unfair pass-on charges such as systems losses, emphasizing that these costs must be treated as business risks rather than consumer burdens.

“Consumers already face heavy inflationary pressures. It’s unjust that utilities pass business risks onto the public. It’s time to prioritize consumer welfare, not corporate profit margins,” Satur added.

PARE believes a progressive and consumer-centered energy sector is achievable through genuine leadership, effective policy implementation, and strict regulatory oversight.

“President Marcos, Filipinos expect more than words this SONA—we expect results. The Filipino people deserve affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy, and we demand accountability from those entrusted to deliver it,” Satur concluded.

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