sabi ng mga matatanda,  hindi nakakatakot ang mga multo; dahil mas nakakatakot ang buhay na tao lalo na 'yung mga nakamasid sa malayo.  bumubulong at nagmamatyag—binibilang na ang pintong padadalhan ng kaso. una, “tao po, dito po ba nakatira si juan?” ayan na naman sila .  may bigat ang mga yabag, lalo na 'yung mga naka-tsapang asul — bitbit ang de-kalibre na baril—sila'y nangangatok. pangalawa,  “pakisabi ho ay siputin niya kami sa opisina” kumasa na sa bulsa ng masikip na s

In an attempt to attract investors,  the government passed yet another neoliberal policy favoring foreign interests over Filipino welfare. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the Republic Act No. 12252, “ AN ACT LIBERALIZING THE LEASE OF PRIVATE LANDS BY FOREIGN INVESTORS, ESTABLISHING THE STABILITY OF LONG-TERM LEASE CONTRACTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7652, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "INVESTORS' LEASE ACT”  last August 29, 2025. The signing sparked criticism

The rain begins as a soft rhythm against the rooftops, which some people find comforting. But for some residents in the Philippines, they don’t just reach for umbrellas—they brace for another flood. For many of them, the sound of heavy rain is not a comfort but a warning. The water rises quietly at first, seeping into the streets, then into homes, until life once again floats on uncertainty. Everyday Life Beneath the Floodline In flood-prone communities, rain is rarely someth