Unlocking Immortality: The Philippines at the Forefront of Longevity and Wellness

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a world increasingly obsessed with not just living longer, but living better, a groundbreaking movement is taking root in the Philippines. This August, the inaugural Live Forever Summit 2025 promises to be a pivotal moment, gathering over 15 international and local experts in the cutting-edge fields of biohacking, preventive medicine, fitness, and regenerative health. Hosted by The Raya Longevity Institute, this event isn't just another conference; it's a clarion call to empower Filipinos to take control of their well-being and unlock a future of unparalleled vitality.

The summit's core mission is to shift our collective mindset from simply extending lifespan to enhancing healthspan. As Dr. Quincy Raya, CEO and Medical Director of The Raya Clinic and The Raya Longevity Institute, puts it, "Longevity isn't just about living longer—it's about quality of life." The two-day main event, held at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), is designed to be a comprehensive journey into personalized, science-backed wellness solutions.

A Program of Unprecedented Scope

The Live Forever Summit's all-day program is a testament to its comprehensive approach. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to participate in diagnostics and health screenings, gaining a deep understanding of their own biological landscape. This is followed by a series of dynamic movement sessions, including strength training with renowned physiotherapist Josh Manoharan and breathwork and yoga with wellness influencer Loree Sicat. These sessions are not mere workouts; they are practical tools designed to integrate wellness into everyday life.

The Minds Behind the Movement

The event's true power lies in its stellar lineup of thought leaders. These are the pioneers and innovators who are reshaping our understanding of health and aging. Featured speakers include:

Dr. Sahil Chopra, a pulmonologist and co-founder of EmpowerSleep, specializing in personalized therapies.

Kurt Wee of Cellgenics, and Dr. Janakan Krishnarajah of V BioPharma, who will be discussing advanced therapies such as hyperbaric oxygen, photobiomodulation, and genetic testing.

The summit will also feature a highlight discussion on the emerging health movement of ice bath therapy, with former captain of the Philippine Azkals, Aly Borromeo, joining a panel to spark a dialogue between patients, practitioners, and pioneers. This convergence of medical experts, athletes, and wellness influencers ensures a rich and multi-faceted conversation that addresses longevity from every possible angle.

Why Now? The Philippines as a Hub for Wellness

The timing of the Live Forever Summit couldn't be more critical. The global longevity science field is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, and The Raya Longevity Institute is deliberately placing the Philippines at the forefront of this health revolution. This is more than just a conference; it’s an invitation to join a worldwide movement where living longer means living stronger, healthier, and happier.

The Live Forever Summit 2025 is the Philippines' first large-scale conference dedicated to longevity, biohacking, and preventive health. Through education, community, and access to breakthrough technologies, the summit aims to empower Filipinos to take control of their wellness journey and truly thrive at any age. This August, BGC will not just be a venue; it will be the epicenter of a new dawn for health and longevity in the Philippines.

A Midnight Heist in Manila: The P142-Billion Budget Insertion That Never Was

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

It was no ordinary day at the Batasan Complex. Manila's streets were still drowned from flooding. It was a non-working holiday—quiet, even eerie. But inside the bicameral committee office, the hum of fluorescent lights masked a shockwave that would soon shake the nation.

Senate President Chiz Escudero had allegedly slid a P142-billion insertion into the 2026 national budget—not during official deliberations, not on the Senate floor—but under cover of quiet secrecy. According to whistle-blowers, he braved both mighty floods and the silence of an office closed to the public, leaning over staff shoulders to ensure the change made it into the enrolled bill. 

CCTV footage, released recently, showed a familiar silhouette: Escudero calmly walking through the North Wing of the Batasan, making his way to the bicameral staff. The footage raised more questions than answers—but it confirmed what many had whispered in outrage: he snuck in. 

The Outrage: Democracy Disrupted

“Just two percent of the budget,” he defended himself. “What’s the big deal?” A budget as vast as P6.793-trillion, he said—if it’s just 2%, is anyone really harmed?

The answer, resounding across social media and opinion columns, is yes.

Because legislation isn’t a stealth mission. Every word, every punctuation, every digit is scrutinized, debated, interpellated, revised, and voted on. To bypass that is to stand next to the goalkeeper in football while the rest of the team is on defense—it’s offside. It’s camping under the basket in basketball; a three-second violation. It’s a one-man Congress without a mandate. 

The Defense: A Demolition Job, He Claims

Escudero dismissed the allegations as a "demolition job." He claimed the total Senate amendments to the 2025 budget—earlier news reports' focus of scrutiny—totaled about P600 billion, shifting numbers all over the headlines: at one point P9 billion for Sorsogon, then P12 billion for Bulacan, then P142 billion, then P150 billion. “Which is it?” he demanded, turning the hunt for clarity into a disorienting chase. 

He insisted his so-called visit to the bicameral office was routine oversight—making sure staff were doing their jobs. As Senate President and bicam member, he said, he had the right to be there. 

The Counterpunch from the House

But the House wasn’t buying it. A spokesperson, Princess Abante, fired back: “Why does he always throw shade at us when faced with criticism? Maybe it’s better if he just answers the questions.” 

But Wait—The Flood Control Connection

Adding fuel to the fire, President Bongbong Marcos held a press briefing exposing a far larger scheme: over P500 billion in flood-control funds that went to private contractors. Top firms laughed all the way to the bank.

Shockingly, one of these contractors had recently donated P30 million to Chiz’s campaign—and later secured a P5.1 billion flood-control project contract. Now that’s a storyline with a sinister echo—“riding on a boat” while Manila’s streets flooded. 

The Chiz Paradigm: The Illusion of Innocence

When caught, Chiz’s default defense is: “My sin is small—compared to theirs, it’s nothing.” He insists that a 1% misstep is negligible. It’s a classic ploy—distract with scale, shift blame to others, and evoke sympathy for being unfairly targeted. Then he tacks on unrelated issues—like his support for Sara Duterte—to muddy the waters even further.

In his mind, uproar over process is just “mean,” an affront to his saintly intentions.

The Constitutional Crisis Unfolds

Remember the impeachment trial? In that fraught moment, Chiz refused to assert Senate jurisdiction, plunging the nation into a constitutional crisis. On his watch, the Senate became less a body of deliberation and more a one-man show. And now this bold insertion, done under cover and without transparency—it’s the final straw for critics who say: Enough. Abolish the Senate.

Final Thoughts

This is not just politics—it’s theater, with floodwaters as the backdrop, CCTV as the spotlight, and millions of pesos at stake. It’s legislative process bypassed, norms shattered, accountability obscured. And Escudero, center stage, asks: “Are we so harsh? Aren’t you bigger than the scandal?”

It’s a grand performance, but the audience is not buying the act. Because process is non-negotiable. Democracy doesn’t bend for convenience—even when the floods make the roads impassable.

Balikbayan Boxes: The Worn Boxes That Carry Hearts Across Oceans

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In an age of instant messaging and one-click deliveries, one ritual endures with steadfast resilience: the balikbayan box. Overloaded, tightly wrapped, and often dented by the time it arrives—those dents are the scars of an emotional voyage. They’re proof that love made the journey.

From Government Program to Heartfelt Ritual

It all traces back to the 1970s, when the Marcos administration launched the "Balikbayan Program." Aimed at reconnecting overseas Filipinos with home, the initiative offered subsidized airfares, duty-free shopping, and generous baggage allowances—making the legendary pasalubong tradition even more accessible 

In the 1980s, enterprising Filipino-Americans in cities like Los Angeles and New York—first with REN International in 1981, then Port Jersey Shipping in 1982—invented the door-to-door balikbayan box service, turning what was once carried into a permanent staple of diasporic life 

And as of today, around 400,000 balikbayan boxes arrive in the Philippines every month, a tangible testament to enduring ties across the seas 

Laws, Loopholes, and Love

In 1987, Corazon Aquino’s Executive Order No. 206 amended the Tariff and Customs Code to grant tax- and duty-free privileges to balikbayan boxes sent by overseas Filipinos to their families 

Fast-forward to 2016: Customs Administrative Order 05-2016 (CAO-05-2016) and its implementing rules allowed qualified Overseas Filipinos up to three tax-free shipments a year—each not exceeding ₱150,000-worth of personal goods—if they submitted an itemized packing list (the “Information Sheet”), proof of purchase, and passport copy 

However, backlash over the cumbersome paperwork led Bureau of Customs to suspend CAO-05-2016 and its counterpart CMO 04-2017 in late 2017, reverting to the more relaxed older regulations 

Why the Balikbayan Box Still Matters

In a world where you can remit money in seconds, why endure weeks at sea?

Because unwrapping a balikbayan box is unlike any digital transfer. It’s a multisensory family affair—kids scramble for chocolates, titas fight over lotion, and neighbors drift in to feel connected. Each item, labeled with a name, is a physical love note.

One Forex Cargo executive mused, “Money is good…but a thoughtfully packaged physical item? That lasts.” Their company ships roughly 30,000 boxes monthly—and that number more than triples during the “-ber months” leading to Christmas 

Evolving Tradition, Personal Stories

The contents of these boxes tell stories: Spam, imported sneakers, USB drives, toiletries—objects picked for both necessity and prestige. In a telling anecdote, a grandmother in the U.S. traced her grandkids’ feet on paper to ensure the shoes she bought fit perfectly back home. A consumer culture born from colonial influence makes imported goods symbols of status and trust.

Many OFWs plan their boxes for months. Some younger diaspora members once viewed the tradition as outdated—but later, as recipients, they came to cherish it. For them, becoming senders felt like inheriting a legacy—sealed in packing tape.

Yet not everyone is nostalgic. A voice from Reddit put it bluntly:

“You can get most of the stuff in BB [balikbayan] boxes in the PH… I never really bothered sending Balikbayan Boxes… a lot of younger immigrants... feel the same way.” 

Still, for countless families, a balikbayan box is more than cargo—it’s the weight of memory, sacrifice, and love, arriving at their door.

The balikbayan box persists—not as a relic of tradition, but as a vibrant symbol of kinship that endures, like the overseas Filipino workers themselves, bridging distance with heart, one dented box at a time.