Mercury-Laced Skin Whitening Creams Still Thrive in Baclaran — Health at Stake Amid Lax Enforcement

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Pasay City — Beneath the bustling stalls and crowded alleys of Baclaran, a silent poison is being peddled in small jars and shiny boxes — cosmetics laced with dangerous amounts of mercury. Despite a nationwide ban more than a decade old, these skin-lightening products (SLPs) remain openly available in beauty shops, their pastel packaging hiding a toxic reality that could scar lives forever.

Toxics watchdog BAN Toxics sounded the alarm once again, issuing a public health warning after a recent market sweep revealed that mercury-tainted SLPs — long prohibited by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — are still being sold freely in Pasay City. The group is urging the local government to act swiftly, crack down on violators, and protect unsuspecting consumers from irreversible harm.

A Toxic Find in the Heart of the Marketplace

During its latest market monitoring activity, BAN Toxics purchased six brands of banned beauty creams, priced between ₱150 and ₱250:

C Collagen Plus Vit E Day and Night Cream

Golden Pearl Beauty Cream

Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene

Goree Day & Night Beauty Cream

Goree Gold 24K Beauty Cream

Jiao Li Miraculous Cream

Tests using a Vanta C Series Handheld XRF Analyzer revealed mercury concentrations skyrocketing between 1,480 ppm and a staggering 26,000 ppm — thousands of times higher than the 1 ppm safety limit set by the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive.

These brands have been banned since 2010 due to their dangerous chemical content, yet they continue to circulate — a sign, according to BAN Toxics, of glaring gaps in enforcement and border control.

“A Ticking Time Bomb for Public Health”

“The unwarranted sale of banned, mercury-tainted SLPs will persist unless the government prioritizes health and safety measures, strengthens border controls, and cracks down on importers and sellers, both online and offline,” stressed Thony Dizon, Advocacy and Campaign Officer of BAN Toxics.

The organization has been monitoring mercury-added cosmetics since 2017, in collaboration with the Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG). Their mission stems from the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which prohibits the manufacture, import, and export of cosmetics with mercury concentrations above 1 ppm — a global rule that took effect in 2020.

But regulation alone, Dizon warns, is not enough.

“The FDA is the sole government agency responsible for regulating cosmetics in the country, but there must be interagency collaboration with local governments to keep these toxic products out of the market and away from consumers.”

The Deadly Allure of Lighter Skin

According to the ZMWG, mercury compounds are deliberately added to SLPs to suppress melanin production, promising lighter skin — a beauty ideal deeply rooted in cultural perceptions. But the price for this pale complexion is steep: rashes, skin blotching, and discoloration in the short term; irreversible damage to the kidneys, lungs, nervous system, and immune system with prolonged use.

The risks don’t end with the user. Mercury can be transferred through touch, contaminating household surfaces and putting family members — including children — at risk. In extreme cases, home decontamination may be necessary.

The World Health Organization has identified mercury in cosmetics as a major public health concern, making its continued presence in Philippine marketplaces all the more alarming.

A Call for Stronger Laws and Tougher Penalties

BAN Toxics is renewing its call for the refiling of the Safe Cosmetics Act (Senate Bill 1574), originally filed in 2013 by the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. The bill aims to prohibit ingredients linked to cancer and reproductive toxicity from entering cosmetic products.

Until such laws are passed and enforced with teeth, the group is urging local governments to immediately shut down shops violating regulations and ensure that all cosmetics sold in their jurisdictions have valid Cosmetic Product Notifications from the FDA.

BAN Toxics Won’t Back Down

The group vows to continue its market sweeps, expose violators, and pressure both national and local authorities to close loopholes. For them, every illegal jar of cream pulled from the shelves is a step toward saving lives.

“This is not just about beauty,” Dizon concluded. “This is about protecting the health, safety, and dignity of every Filipino.”

In Baclaran, where the air is filled with the chatter of vendors and the scent of street food, the danger lies quietly in glass jars and plastic tubs. And until decisive action is taken, the price of beauty will remain tragically high — measured not in pesos, but in human health.

Stamps of Friendship: Philippines and India Mark 75 Years of Enduring Ties with Symbolic Commemorative Release

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a moment steeped in history and symbolism, the Philippines and India have sealed their 75 years of diplomatic relations not merely with words or ceremonies, but with something that will travel the world—stamps carrying the story of friendship, culture, and shared aspirations.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood side by side as the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) unveiled the joint commemorative stamps in New Delhi, during the President’s five-day state visit to India from August 4 to 8, 2025. The images they revealed were more than just colorful designs—they were miniature ambassadors of heritage, values, and enduring goodwill.

The commemorative stamps bear the official logo of the 75th anniversary of Philippines–India diplomatic relations. Interwoven into the design are the vibrant colors of both national flags and the delicate yet powerful emblems of each country’s national flower—the sampaguita of the Philippines and the lotus of India.

PHLPost Postmaster General Maximo C. Sta. Maria III described the release as a “lasting legacy” to the shared history between the two nations. “This milestone is a testament to both countries’ commitment to fostering mutual understanding, cultural exchange, and meaningful cooperation,” he said. “It inspires continued partnership and goodwill for generations to come.”

The symbolism runs deep. The sampaguita, with its pristine white petals, is more than an ornamental bloom—it is a reflection of the Filipino soul: pure, humble, and unyielding in strength despite delicate form. Its fragrance is woven into the nation’s traditions, from religious rites to community celebrations, a quiet reminder of grace under pressure.

The lotus of India, the Nelumbo nucifera, blooms from the mud yet remains unstained, an image deeply ingrained in Indian spirituality and art. Revered in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, it embodies enlightenment, purity, beauty, prosperity, and eternal renewal—values that mirror the shared hopes of the two nations for peace and progress.

While the flowers tell a story of culture and identity, the stamps themselves stand as storytellers of history. Diplomatic ties between the Philippines and India were formally established in 1949, only a few years after both nations emerged from the shadows of colonial rule. A Treaty of Friendship followed in 1952, laying the foundation for decades of cooperation in trade, education, defense, and cultural exchange.

Now, 75 years later, these stamps will journey far beyond post offices, carrying with them the essence of two countries that may be geographically distant but are connected by shared democratic values, resilience in adversity, and a vision for a better future.

As collectors and citizens place these stamps in albums, envelopes, and postcards, they will hold in their hands not just a piece of paper, but a fragment of history—a celebration of a friendship that continues to bloom, like the sampaguita and the lotus, for generations yet to come.

Fortress of Learning: Angara Brings Hope, Relief, and Flood-Resilient Education to Pampanga

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

MACABEBE, PAMPANGA — In a province still reeling from the muddy scars of recent floods, a new symbol of hope now stands tall above the waters. Education Secretary Sonny Angara, heeding President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s call for swift and decisive disaster recovery, arrived in Pampanga on Wednesday not just with relief goods in tow, but with a promise — that education, like the Filipino spirit, will not be washed away.

In the flood-prone town of Masantol, Angara joined Pampanga 4th District Representative Anna York Bondoc, DepEd Region III Assistant Regional Director Jessie L. Amin, and Schools Division Superintendent Romeo S. Alip to inaugurate a state-of-the-art flood-resilient school building at Masantol High School. Built to rise above calamities, the structure is part of a sweeping DepEd initiative to make classrooms stronger, safer, and ready for the growing wrath of climate change.

“Yung nakita nating classroom sa Masantol, I think 'yun yung magiging modelo para sa flood-prone areas. Sa Bicol, dito, sa Bulacan. 'Yan ang gusto ng Pangulo — permanent solutions, hindi lang pansamantala. We must adapt our policies,” Angara declared, his words echoing the urgency of the times.

Following the ribbon-cutting, the Secretary sat down with teachers, students, and parents in a candid dialogue about the devastation they had endured. The discussions laid bare not just physical damages, but emotional tolls — the kind that no relief pack can instantly fix. That is why DepEd, under Angara’s leadership, is integrating psychosocial support, rapid damage assessments, and continuity of learning plans into its post-disaster response.

From Masantol, the relief mission moved to Macabebe, where Angara and his team distributed food packs and essential supplies at Macabebe Elementary School. In total, over 2,000 relief packages reached teachers, non-teaching staff, and their families, serving as both sustenance and reassurance that they have not been forgotten.

In every stop, Angara underscored the same principle: that a school’s safety is just as important as the lessons taught within its walls.

“Kapag may kalamidad, una nating tanong: ligtas ba ang mga paaralan? Kumusta ang ating mga guro at kawani? Kaya’t sinigurado ng DepEd, alinsunod sa utos ng Pangulo, na may agarang tugon at aktwal na pagdalaw sa inyo ngayon,” he said, visiting not only Masantol High School but also San Isidro Elementary School and San Nicolas Elementary School.

The day ended with a rallying call to unite — government agencies, local leaders, lawmakers, and the education sector — in fortifying the country’s learning spaces against the next inevitable storm.

“Hindi natin kayang pigilan ang bagyo, pero kaya nating ihanda ang bansa. Basta’t magkakasama tayo — DepEd, LGU, Kongreso, at mga guro — walang hindi kakayanin,” Angara affirmed.

As the sun set over Pampanga, the new flood-resilient classrooms stood as more than just concrete and steel. They became a beacon — a fortress of learning that declares to every child in the floodplains of the Philippines: your dreams are safe here, and no storm will wash them away.