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Why is HIV infection an issue now?

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Just when we thought it had faded into the background of public health concerns, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is once again making headlines in the Philippines. After years of declining or manageable numbers, why is HIV now being treated as a potential public health emergency? It wasn’t too long ago that the Department of Health (DOH) assured us that HIV cases in the country had dropped to levels they could handle. In fact, it seemed the disease had taken a back seat to more pressing issues like COVID-19 and mental health. But recent data paints a very different picture—one that is alarming enough for Health Secretary Ted Herbosa to recommend that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declare a national public health emergency. The numbers are staggering. DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Francis E. Domingo reports that the country is now seeing an average of 57 new HIV cases every single day. The total number of HIV-positive individuals has reached nearly 100,000. And projections...
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When life’s tempests assault us

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THAT gospel episode about Christ’s disciples experiencing a terrible tempest at sea while Christ was simply sleeping in one corner of the boat (cfr. Mt 8,23-27) should remind us that while we cannot help but be filled with fear and worries when all kinds of life’s troubles would assail us, we should never lose the hope that Christ will always come to our aid one way or another. We should try to recover our hope and serenity so that we can be in a better condition to tackle the many challenges of our life. We have to train ourselves to have this kind of reaction, knowing that trials and all kinds of difficulties are unavoidable in our life. Let’s never forget what Christ once said: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16,33) In all our affairs and situations in life, we should always go to God to ask for his help and guidance, and to trust his ways and his providence, even if the outcome of our prayers and petitions appears unanswere...
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New mayor takes reins of Laoag government

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NEW Laoag Mayor. New Laoag Mayor Bryan Alcid takes his oath along with other elected and reelected officials before former Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc at the Centennial arena.  By Dominic Dela Cruz,  Staff Reporter Laoag City —New Laoag City Mayor James Bryan Alcid formally took his oath of office administered by outgoing Ilocos Norte Governor Mathew Joseph M. Manotoc during the Inauguration Ceremony of all the newly elected officials in the entire Province of Ilocos Norte held at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena on June 14, 2025. Highlighting the ceremony was the official turnover of leadership of Manotoc passing the Provincial Mace to incoming Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos as a symbol for the formal transfer of position followed by the administering of oath with the provincial higher officials down to the municipal/city officials. The former governor administered the oath of office of all the 23 newly elected mayors including Alcid, pledg...
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The HOW of Science and the WHY of Faith

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By Noralyn Dudt FAITH and science collide, often the saying goes. But developments in biochemistry and cell biology are proving otherwise. A biochemist peers into a tiny cell and   he stands in awe by the intricacies of the molecular machines that reside there which science has been uncovering over the last decade. There are elegant machines that translate RNA into protein, others that help move the cell around and others that transmit signals from the cell surface to the nucleus, traveling along a cascading pathway of multiple components. And   It is not only   the cell that provokes a sense of astonishment -- entire organs that are made up of billions or trillions of cells are constructed in a way that can only inspire awe. Consider, for instance, the human eye, a complex camera-like organ whose anatomy and physiology continue to impress even the most sophisticated student of optics. Dr. Francis Collins, a renowned geneticist and former director of the National Ins...
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Harvest of wisdom: Retired professor champions sustainable, inclusive farming

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Retired  educator Dra. Celeste N. Querijero now devotes her time to cultivating mushrooms and managing her farm in Misamis Oriental, which has become a model of sustainable and inclusive farming. OPOL, Misamis Oriental—After dedicating 44 years to shaping minds as an agriculture professor at the Mindanao State University (MSU), Dra. Celeste N. Querijero was offered a prestigious international consultancy post—a tempting opportunity that recognized her expertise and decades of experience. But she chose to stay closer to home to empower small farmers in the community by sharing her knowledge of sustainable farming that defined her teaching career. "Even before I retired, I already had a deep passion for agriculture,” she shared. “As MSU’s coordinator for extension services, I saw firsthand the pressing needs of our farmers. They wanted knowledge, access, and a stable livelihood. So after retirement, I volunteered myself to serve. It’s my way of giving back after all the blessi...
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Free movie access privilege for SCs, PWDs in Laoag

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Laoag City —The SM Supermalls will give free access to movie screenings at their cinemas for senior citizens (SC) and persons with disabilities (PWD) exclusively for the city of Laoag City as an initiative not only to promote inclusivity and accessibility but also to enhance the overall well-being of these individuals for entertainment and social engagement. Laoag Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas, the brainchild of the said program announced this after the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Laoag government represented by outgoing Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon and Fariñas, and the SM Supemalls officials,   represented by SM Cinema SAVP. Karen C. Zabaljaurequi and North 1-SM Supermalls Regional Operations Manager Rona B. Correa held June 23, 2025 at SM City Laoag.   After the MOA signing, several SC’s and PWDs who also attended the MOA signing, had the chance to watch a movie right after the program. Fariñas said that SM Cinema will allow SCs and PWDs to ...
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Calajate takes oath as Badoc mayor

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Top Row (L–R): Badoc Mayor-elect Virgilio Calajate and Provincial Treasurer Josephine Prieto-Calajate with Ilocos Norte Governor-elect Cecilia Araneta-Marcos; Mayor Calajate delivering his inaugural address; the JVC Family joining virtually from Hawaii. Middle Row: Mayor Calajate with his family. Bottom Row: Newly elected Badoc officials with Governor-elect Araneta-Marcos and Mrs. Calajate. (Photos by Ronald Macatulad/Coverlook) BADOC, ILOCOS NORTE—Surrounded by family, supporters, sectoral representatives, and fellow public servants, Virgilio M. Calajate was formally sworn in as the new mayor of Badoc in a solemn ceremony held on June 30, 2025 at the President Ferdinand E. Marcos Auditorium. The event marked a significant political transition for the historic town of Badoc, which prides itself on its cultural heritage, coastal resources, and a citizenry deeply rooted in faith. Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos administered the oath of office. At his side during the oa...
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