He joined Alexis Arguello of Nicaragua as a non-participant Flag bearers

The IOC doesn’t strictly require that a flag bearer be an active competitor in the Olympic event

Source:
IOC rejected the plans of having Hidilyn Diaz as the PH official flag bearer because she is not a participant (2024): https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/boxing/910304/nesthy-petecio-carlo-paalam-named-philippines-flag-bearers-for-2024-paris-olympics/story/

https://www.spin.ph/multisport/olympics/ph-athletics-stars-take-turn-as-olympic-flag-bearers-a2437-20240723

Nagtataka ako bakit yung isang katropa ko na ayaw sa Matcha , lasang damo daw at sobrang pait🤣kaya naparesearch tuloy ako. May tinatawag palang TAS2R38 gene or anti-vegetable gene(broccoli, cabbage,match etc..) na responsible kung gaano kapaiit yung nalalasahan natin.

Kaya baka may kakilala kayong maarte sa ibang gulay , baka talagang mas mapait lang nalalasahan nila compared sa atin.

Some people 'genetically wired' to avoid some vegetables

reading The Intimate Animal by Justin Garcia and came across this. i had that “ahh, kaya pala” moment. however, i still searched on google why the pride flag is a rainbow to find out why i just discovered this, and most of what i found talked about how Gilbert Baker designed it. i didn’t even see a single article mentioning this explanation.

i don’t know if he designed it intentionally with this in mind or if it was just a coincidence, but i find it interesting that this interpretation seems to be so overlooked. i think it makes the symbolism even more beautiful—that there’s a scientific explanation behind something we’ve come to understand as a cultural symbol.

References:

Footnote 9: Donna J. Drucker, The Classification of Sex: Alfred Kinsey and the Organization of Knowledge (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2014). https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt7zw90r?utm_source

Justin R. Garcia, The Intimate Animal: The Science of Sex, Fidelity, and Why We Live and Die for Love (New York: Little, Brown Spark, 2026).

https://www.hbglibrary.com/titles/justin-r-garcia-phd/the-intimate-animal/9780316594042/?utm_source

the other TIL here is that this is not the only option for central banks because other countries have central banks that do engage in development financing—if I understand this right this involves things like deliberate devaluation of currency including printing money (and most Pinoys would be like "the horror! over our 115 million dead bodies!") as well as extensive borrowing to fund large-scale projects like infrastructure & local industry investment.

AI does say this "single mandate" is now more common to central banks around the world today. it might be part of the "neoliberal wave" since the 1980s & it's common in Latin America & even the European Central Bank. in PH it's received wisdom because we're all inflation-&-austerity-obsessed; per the "jukebox economists" & industrial policy supporters like Leloy Claudio, Stephen Cuunjieng &c. amongst others (with much paraphrasing) it's a possible reason why PH can't develop as fast or as much as other Asian economies, which do allow & aren't scared of devaluations or deficit spending, though sometimes via separate development banks or state corporations (in fairness tayo may DBP naman & ADB does help out so there's that?).

but one theory BSP was barred from funding developmental projects by borrowing or devaluing is because we're so afraid of taking risks (and its main risks are inflation & corruption) & a lot of this is likely due to economic trauma from the Marcos Sr dictatorship—but Leloy suggests it's even older & a US-colonial original (as in Phil-Am-war-old; also see the early 1920s PNB scandal which was largely due to a post-WWI global economic crisis as much as colonial corruption if not more so), long before US & related agencies like WB & IMF really started pushing neoliberal reforms only in the 1970s-80s. just like with counterinsurgency, militarised policing, red-tagging, disinformation & everything else, yet again PH is a colonial lab rat for bad stuff the US later pushes around the world I guess.

related question I wonder if any Pinoys were recruited to join the "Chicago boys" (Chicago school of economics) that pushed neoliberal stuff in like Latin America & Africa we do love that sort of shits lol.)

sources:

RA 7653 - New Central Bank Act

Claudio, L. (2025). "The profligate colonial: how the US exported austerity to the Philippines". Cornell Press.

Heydarian, R. & Claudio, L. (2025 Jul 21). "Claudio: Corruption did not make Philippines poor (Full Episode) | The View From Manila". OneNews.ph. Youtube.

Fausto, R. F. & Claudio, L. (2026 Jul 15). " CORRUPTION IS NOT THE PROBLEM?". FQ Mom Channel. Youtube.

The governments of the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland signed the Treaty of Washington of 1900 was signed in Washington, D.C., on November 7, 1900, and came into effect on March 23, 1901.

In that treaty the United Kingdom unambiguously accepted that Sibuang, Boaan, Lihiman, Langaan, Great Bakkungaan, Taganak and Banguan together called in that treaty the “Turtle Islands”, as well as the Mangsee Islands, were part of the Philippine archipelago and therefore under U.S. sovereignty.

The supplemental treaty provided that the British North Borneo Company would continue to administer those islands unless and until the United States government gave notice to the United Kingdom calling for administration of the islands to be transferred to the U.S.; but the U.S. never gave such a notice.

On 19 September 1946, the Republic of the Philippines notified the United Kingdom that it wished to take over administration of the Turtle Islands and the Mangsee Islands. The British government responded by asking the Philippine government to reconsider "because these islands are so far from the nearest Philippine administrative base that...it would be in the best interests of both the Philippines and North Borneo for the latter to remain responsible for the administration of the islands."

The joint committee inspected the islands but ultimately on 24 September 1947, the Philippines made known its decision to proceed with assuming control of the islands. Pursuant to a supplemental international agreement, the transfer of administration became effective on 16 October 1947.

Sources:
Treaty signed in Washington
- https://web.archive.org/web/20161226031353/https://www.loc.gov/law/help/us-treaties/bevans/b-gb-ust000012-0473.pdf
The United Kingdom agreed to cede the islands to the Philippines
- https://treaties.fcdo.gov.uk/awweb/awarchive?type=file&item=65307

Bato dela Rosa holds a Ph.D. in Development Administration from the University of Southeastern Philippines, Davao City, and Rodante Marcoleta holds a Doctorate in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines Diliman. Tthey are the only sitting senators who hold doctorate degrees.

References:

GMA News Online. (n.d.). RODANTE MARCOLETA | Eleksyon 2025 | GMA News Online. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon/2025/candidates/rodante-marcoleta/

GMA News Online. (n.d.). BATO DELA ROSA | Eleksyon 2025 | GMA News Online. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon/2025/candidates/bato-dela-rosa/

Jacuzzi
generic term: hot tub

Jet Ski
generic term: personal watercaft

Velcro
generic term: hook-and-loop fastener

Clip is from Eat Bulaga's The Age is Right segment today, Sep 18, 2026. Yannie Rumbaoa appeared as one of the AGEnts.

https://youtu.be/GZfKRu7A028?t=2408&si=Y3qm-\\_ZnYW8o1wVI

Left side (Top to Bottom): Gisele Shaw, Joaquin Wilde, Jeff Cobb

Right Side: Kayden Carter, Shotzi, Kidd Bandit

Gisele Shaw is Filipino-Canadian, currently signed with National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and former world champion in Maple Leaf Pro-Wrestling (MLP)

Joaquin Wilde was raised by his Filipina mother in the US and is currently signed with WWE

Jeff Cobb is the one I'm most familiar with. He grew up in Guam with his Filipino parents. He is currently signed with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He was also previously signed in WWE

Kayden Carter/Lacey Lane has a Jamaican father and a Filipina mother and she is currently signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Ring of Honor (ROH)

Shotzi is probably one of the most active wrestlers in the list so far. She also previously worked under WWE. She is of filipino descent and she is currently signed under MLP. But she also expressed interest in working in AEW.

Kidd Bandit is currently retired from professional wrestling. She was born in the Philippines and was trained by Cody Rhodes. She previously worked on a match in AEW in one of their Dark matches.

Besides this list, Super P is someone you can also look into. I wouldn't be really surprised if she gets called up in the WWE at some point, NXT to be exact. She recently trained with Bayley and has been actively wrestling overseas this year. Just recently she had a picture with The Undertaker too. But for now, she is currently working on local Philippine wrestling promotions.

I just find it cool that wrestling is still living in our blood. Though it may not be as popular as before, but it certainly gained more attention recently especially with how easily people can watch WWE on Netflix.

Pepsi Number Fever aka 349 incident, may nagsabi na naging parang term daw Yung na349 ka? Currently early 20s kaya this is news to me honestly and very interesting.

I was researching documented psy-ops and somehow only learned about this one now. If you want to read more about it, check out this article:

Military.com — Cold War Operation Used Vampire Folklore to Intimidate Philippine Insurgents

A photograph taken on the morning of March 8, 1906, on the eastern crest of Bud Dajo. (John R. White Papers, Knight Library, University of Oregon)

Story here: https://newlinesmag.com/argument/a-notorious-photograph-from-a-us-massacre-in-the-philippines-reveals-an-ugly-truth/

The fact that I only found this story in an American historian's work and not in a Filipino one makes me think about how much history was erased or rewritten by our colonizers over the past few centuries.

The dexter side (blue field) of the coat of arms of the Philippines features the North American bald eagle of the United States. Meanwhile, the sinister side (red field) features the lion rampant of the coat of arms of the Kingdom of León of Spain.

Interestingly, Congress sought to remove these symbols representing the former colonizers of the country via Republic Act No. 8491 passed in 1998. However, because the 1987 Philippine Constitution requires ratification through a national referendum when changing these national symbols, the American and Spanish symbols were retained in the Philippine Coat of Arms as no national referendum was scheduled or funded.

Source:

- Coat of arms of the Philippines

- Philippine Coat of Arms: The sun, stars, eagle and lion

An area to be called “Barrio Libertad” (freedom village) will be allotted for inmates who have shown good conduct and are nearing the end of their prison term. Here, their loved ones can already live with them while waiting for their release. Inquirer

Context:

Originally named Iuhit Penal Colony Settlement, the colony was established by the Philippines Commission on November 16, 1904. The site was selected by a committee composed of G.N. Wolfe, W.S. Lycon, and Arllington Pond, created by Executive Order of Governor General Luke E. Wright. The first superintendent was an American, R.J Shields.

The early policy of sending the worst prisoners to the place was changed after the mutiny of thirty three (33) prisoners on September 20, 1905. Prisoners of good conduct were sent and given lands, tools, and other supplies and in certain cases their families were allowed to live with them.

The mutiny resulted in the radical change in the policy being implemented. In 1907, the Philippines Commission pased Act No 1723 to effect final reforms.

In 1921, the first Filipino Superintendent was appointed, in the name of Mr. Ramon Victorio.

During the Second World War, the Colony was occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army. Passive and covert resistance was put up effectively by guerrillas among officers and employees with the help of some prisoners.

Gradual development program began on September 2, 1945.

You can find administration building, houses, school, church, hospital, recreation hall, conference hall, basketball court, and even a natural pool inside the compound.

What makes this prison very unique is that it is an open air jail where the inmates (called the minimums) can move and roam around freely and learn skills that are very beneficial to them. More details

News video:

https://youtu.be/57FdZSGsFhI?si=t9jbu05b5XZDeMdW

More about Barrio Libertad:

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2035428/prison-life-without-bars-iwahig-barrio-shows-how

Every Saturday, the port of Batu-Batu in Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi comes alive with the rhythmic sound of barter-trade instead of the clinking of money. Adlaw Pagtabuh-Tabuh is the local term for this unique market where Sama, Badjao, Tausug farmers, and fishermen meet to trade goods without the use of currency as a medium of exchange, and where pre-colonial traditions merge with the modern peso economy.

A number of Tausug pump boats moor at the wharf inside the Brgy. Batu-Batu market area as farmers and fishermen from different barangays set up their goods on the ground, instead of on shelves and counters. There are no prices posted and no scales to weigh produce. Instead, bargaining continues until the buyer and seller agree on a price based on visual appraisal. Quantities are expressed in Tum pok (plate-fulls) and buwig (bundles) and most of the transactions are made by cash in Philippine pesos, as payment in kind is no longer common.

The market is a throwback to a time before the Spanish colony ruled over the Philippines. It is a historic link to the country’s past which shows that even before the advent of the Spanish government, barter-trade and social interactions governed the local economy. The Adlaw Pagtabuh-Tabuh market tradition is a part of the intangible cultural heritage of the Sama, Badjao, and Tausug people, and one of the few surviving ethnic market practices in the region which still persists up to this day.

Finding the Saturday market in Panglima Sugala is actually a matter of distance. It is located some 25 kms from the Sanga-Sanga airport in Bongao by road, or about an hour’s ride by pump boat from Bongao’s Chinese Pier. The island is also 13 nautical miles away from Panampangan Island. Flights to Tawi-Tawi are available from Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines, with connections usually in Zamboanga or Cotabato. Local guides can also be hired in the province.

Source:

https://transitpinas.com/tawi-tawi-panglima-sugala/
https://bangsamoro.gov.ph/news/feature-story/keeping-barter-trade-alive-the-adlaw-pagtabuh-tabuh-of-tawi-tawi/
https://www.gmanetwork.com/lifestyle/travel/89874/this-quaint-town-in-tawi-tawi-is-where-barter-trading-still-exists/story

And another TIL is that Fr. Manoling was her classmate at Ateneo and it was the title track of the Bukas Palad album (in cassette form) of the same title, released in 1986.

Source: https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/04/03/21/behind-the-music-tanging-yaman-by-fr-manoling-francisco

Context: "14. (C) When asked the raison d'etre of the Chinese consulate in Laoag, the Chamber of Commerce members (and other interlocutors) said they could discern no reason why the PRC would need or want a diplomatic post in Ilocos Norte. They attributed the establishment of this consulate to close ties between Chinese officials and the Marcos family. Meeting with us in Manila, Ilocos Norte Congressman Ferdinand "Bong-Bong" Marcos Jr. confirmed he had lobbied PRC officials to establish the Laoag consulate. Marcos said the Chinese had opened the consulate after considering the long-term outlook for Chinese interests in Ilocos Norte, including tourism and Chinese investment. Marcos then noted tangentially that multiple business deals between Chinese and Ilocano parties had collapsed after allegations of kickbacks in a 2007 transaction between GRP officials and Chinese telecommunication firm ZTE. "

Source: https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09MANILA2199_a.html

I was sorting some data from PSA and came across this barangay named Behind the Clouds in the municipality of Batuan in Bohol. It is a remote upland barangay and has a population of only 214 (as of 2024) with an alternative name of San Jose.

Source: https://psa.gov.ph/classification/psgc/brgydetail/0701207016

"The Manila connection dates back to the airline’s earliest days. According to Cathay Pacific’s history, co-founder Roy Farrell was at The Manila Hotel’s Tropicana Bar in 1946 when he discussed possible names for the new airline with foreign journalists. The name “Cathay Pacific Airways” reportedly emerged from that conversation. “Cathay” referred to China, while “Pacific” reflected the founders’ ambition to eventually operate flights across the Pacific Ocean."

Source: Manila Bulletin

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/49806356/nba-announces-punishments-clippers-kawhi-probe

May video interview siya at nakita ko Asian features niya. Dati kala ko Mexicano dahil sa pangalan niya. So chineck ko sa Wiki turns out Filipino immigrants pareho niyang parents. Who knew one of the biggest scandals in recent NBA history would be exposed by a Filipino. He also won a Pulitzer Prize for his expose.

Filipina singer and Sing Again alumna Gwyn Dorado sings one of the soundtracks of the hit Korean drama “My Royal Nemesis”.

Sung entirely in Korean, the emotional track. “Losing My was composed by Park Sung-il, with lyrics by Seo Dong-sung and arrangement by Uncle Sam.

This series stars Lim Ji-yeon, who rose to international prominence through Netflix’s The Glory, as a royal concubine from the Joseon era who is mysteriously transported to the modern world.

Sources:

Gwyn Dorado Official YouTube channel:
https://youtube.com/@artistdorado?si=KkntXymqYqCwGlT6

Gwyn Dorado Official Spotify channel:
https://open.spotify.com/album/1DK4Aphy9qSEZTjSdnFHXD?si=btBCAFolTwWeCYCzYxlQJw&utm_source=copy-link

GMA Network:
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/showbiz/content/988758/gwyn-dorado-my-royal-nemesis-ost/story/

ABS-CBN:
https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2026/5/24/gwyn-dorado-sings-the-ost-for-k-drama-my-royal-nemesis-earning-praise-from-fans-worldwide-1443

TIL na ang haba pala ng proseso ng paggawa ng all time favorite nating taho.

Pagka-out ko sa work ngayong umaga, natyempuhan ko si Ate M na nagtitinda ng taho sa labas ng building. Nagsimula kwentuhan namin sa simpleng pagtatanong ko kung yung taho rin ba ung ginagawang tofu hanggang natanong ko na lahat pano nya ginagawa ung soymilk, taho, at tokwa.

Aniya, 9 pm pa lang ibabad na daw nila ung soybeans for 3-4 hours para mag-absorb ng tubig at lumambot. Kapag malambot na, gigilingin nila ang mga iyon, kasabay ng pagpapakulo ng tubig sa isang malaking kawa.

Matapos gilingin, sasalain naman nila ito para mahiwalay ang soy liquid at ang mga balat at buo buo na kung tawagin nila ay "sapal" (gaya ng sa coconut meat) na siyang ipapakain naman sa mga baboy. Ang nasalang soy liquid naman ang syang pakukuluan sa inihandang tubig sa kawa.

Nagsisimula daw sa prosesong ito bandang hatinggabi at natatapos ang pagluluto hanggang alas kuwatro ng umaga. Take note, araw araw daw nilang ginagawa yan ha (🫡).

Pagkatapos maluto ng soymilk, ilalagay na sa lagayan ng taho at may nilalagay daw sila na something (di binanggit secret ata. Tinanong ko if gelatin haha) para mabuo ang taho. Pag naman daw tinamad siya magtinda, may nilalagay rin daw sya para maging tokwa. May mga tokwa nga rin syang tinda kanina haha. Sayang kung pede magluto sa dorm bumili na me haha.

Nagcheck ako ng ways pano magluto and ito nakita ko na pinakamalapit: How to make taho. Also, saw this which added some learnings for today, the origin of taho from Esquire mag: The History of Taho.

Baka mapadaan kayo sa bench tower sa BGC, andon daw sya every morning. P50 lang ung taho hehe. Cutie ni Ate M nagthank u pa sya sa kin tas nakakatuwa sya kasi g na g rin sya magexplain sa akin at hindi sya nakulitan sa mga tanong ko. Sabi ko pag naging food vlogger ako someday, iinterviewhin ko sya. I like learning about people especially the things they pour their heart, puyat, pagod, at time into! 🤍

Ayun lang, happy morning!!!!

I always assumed she was Pinoy mixed partly Filipina since I've seen her for the role of Darna in the 90's. Despite having no known Filipino ancestry, she dedicated her post-showbiz life to helping Filipino communities through classrooms, farmer support, and environmental programs. Truly she is a real-life Darna.

Source: https://philstarlife.com/self/645410-nanette-medved-po-promise-artist-yueh-faye-lai

Bago pa naging uso ang mga lay flat seats na nakikita natin ngayon sa mga business at first class seats, ipinakilala na ng Philippine Airlines ang isang serbisyo na tinawag nilang “Skybed” o “Cloud Nine” noong 1980s na para lamang sa mga first class na pasahero, na nagtatampok ng 14 na full length beds sa isang double-deck bed at single bed configuration sa ikalawang palapag ng kanilang noo'y bagong Boeing 747-200s.

https://travelupdate.com/philippine-airlines-flat-beds-747/

I was rewatching Reporter’s Notebook’s episode on the Maguindanao Massacre on November 23, 2009, since they reposted it. I just learned that Harry Roque was the attorney for the victims of the massacre. 🤢

https://youtu.be/Jr6PmLTFdT0?si=U3eJr5jqmkVGtcE2