Jasha Gamao

PASAY CITY—The Senate of the Philippines took immediate action on August 24, targeting the disturbing surge in school violence and expanding safeguards for children both on campus and online. 

Lawmakers actively tackled crucial measures, including the upcoming sponsorship of the proposed School Safety Act to combat campus bullying, debates on stricter anti-child online sexual abuse legislation, and the expansion of the national child nutrition program.  

Addressing recent violent campus incidents in Tacloban City and Zamboanga City, Senate President Win Gatchalian cautioned against the potential mental health risks of holding active-shooter simulations in academic institutions. 

Following these concerns, the Department of Education (DepEd) deferred its planned nationwide live-shooter drills. 

Expressing support for a careful review of the safety exercises, Gatchalian emphasized, "Dapat pong mapag-aralang mabuti."  

Basic Education Committee Chairperson Sen. Bam Aquino urged his colleagues to accelerate the passage of the School Safety Act, advocating for a whole-of-nation framework that unites government agencies, educators, and families. 

Highlighting the complexity of campus violence, Aquino urged, "It takes a community to raise a child. It also takes multiple bills and reforms to address this issue."  

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano raised critical psychological concerns, urging the government to get to the root cause of student violence rather than relying on poorly planned responses that could inflict further trauma. 

He proposed running community town halls with teachers, parents, mental health experts, and spiritual leaders while DepEd reviews active attack protocols, pointing out, “Let’s find the cancer, what is moving the students to this.”

Turning to student welfare, Sen. Raffy Tulfo pushed to expand the national school feeding program to cover every learner from Kindergarten to Grade 6, arguing that universal coverage eliminates social stigma and guarantees nutrition for all. 

Pushing for an inclusive approach during plenary debates on Senate Bill No. 2272, Tulfo stated, “Hindi ba mas maganda na across the board, basta estudyante ka sa school na ‘yan, from Kindergarten hanggang sa Grade 6, libreng pagkain na lang.”

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MANILA—The AFP Cavaliers completed a flawless quarterfinal sweep in UNTV Cup Season 12, overpowering OP Bagong Pilipinas, 97-87, at the Paco Arena on August 19, 2026.

AFP dominated the high-stakes clash from start to finish, maintaining their composure and executing tight offensive plays to secure their third straight win in the quarterfinals round.

Paulino Rebollos took charge as the Best Player of the Game, putting on an offensive clinic with 21 points and 5 assists. 

Rebollos effectively directed the Cavaliers' tempo, orchestrating clutch possessions and delivering key baskets whenever OP Bagong Pilipinas attempted to rally back.

Reflecting on their stellar run, Rebollos pointed to their continuous game rhythm as the core engine behind their momentum.

 "As of now Ma’am, mataas yung kumpyansa namin na maipapanalo namin yung games namin gawa ng mas marami kaming nilalarong games ngayon kesa sa ibang mga team," Rebollos shared in a post-game interview, highlighting the team's supreme confidence heading into the knockout stages.

With their quarterfinal record unblemished, the AFP Cavaliers charge into the semifinal round riding high morale. They now prepare for a heavyweight battle against the PNP Responders in their first semifinal game scheduled for August 26, 2026.

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The "King of Romance" is showing no signs of slowing down. Music icon Engelbert Humperdinck is launching a major new chapter in his legendary six-decade career with the release of his latest studio album, Faithfully, dropping globally on August 28, 2026, through Cleopatra Records. 

Fresh off a lightning-fast tour of Australia and New Zealand, the international star is charging straight into an ambitious worldwide schedule filled with new tracks, television appearances, and big-stage performances.  

The 15-track album blends classic sophistication with modern rock energy, reimagining famous pop and rock hits alongside a fresh original track titled "Always My Love". 

Led by the single "Drive," the project features sweeping orchestral arrangements and a powerhouse roster of guest stars, including Journey’s Jonathan Cain, rock keyboardist Rick Wakeman, and guitar virtuoso Al Di Meola. 

Humperdinck credits his creative team and fellow artists for making the ambitious record come alive.  

"I am so grateful to my good friends Brian Perera and Tim Yasui at Cleopatra Records for coming up with the fantastic idea for this album and the music videos we created for it," Humperdinck said. 

"I am also truly honored by all of the incredible, renowned musicians who joined me on these tracks. I’ve always loved coming to Asia—the energy and warmth of the audiences are truly special, and I’m thrilled to bring these songs and classics to my fans this September."  the legendary singer added.

Fans around the globe can catch the legendary crooner as "The Celebration Tour 2026" sweeps across North America, Europe, and Asia. Filipino fans are in for a special treat when Humperdinck takes the stage for a one-night-only show at the New Frontier Theater on Sunday, September 25, 2026. 

Audiences can expect an unforgettable night packed with his brand-new releases alongside timeless hits like "Release Me," "Quando Quando Quando," and "A Man Without Love."

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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed profound grief and issued an urgent directive to national law enforcement following a deadly incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University campus. 

The Chief Executive ordered a full-scale investigation to uncover the root causes of the tragedy and identify decisive actions to prevent similar incidents in academic institutions nationwide.

In an official statement, President Marcos conveyed his sympathies to the affected families and the broader academic community. 

"We grieve with the families and the entire Ateneo de Zamboanga community over a tragedy that should never have happened," the President stated. 

Emphasizing the fundamental role of educational environments, he added, "Our schools are where we entrust our children to learn, to grow and to dream about the lives ahead of them. They must also be among the safest places in our country."

To address security vulnerabilities, the Chief Executive mandated law enforcement agencies to conduct an exhaustive inquiry. 

"I have directed our law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident and to determine what more must be done to prevent another family, another school and another community from suffering the same grief," President Marcos declared.

The President pledged that the administration will collaborate directly with educators, local authorities, and communities to reinforce safety protocols across the country. 

"We will work with our schools and communities to strengthen the safeguards that protect our students and ensure that they can pursue their education without fear," PBBM emphasized, firmly concluding that "every Filipino family deserves that assurance."

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Two people were killed in a shooting at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High School campus on August 18. 

School administrators quickly responded to the tragedy, securing students remaining on campus while arranging for parents and guardians to safely retrieve their children. 

Local police and school officials are currently coordinating on-site to investigate the incident and gather full details regarding the cause of the violence.

The university expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy while prioritizing the safety and well-being of the academic community. 

Meanwhile, school authorities assured families that campus security measures were immediately heightened to protect all remaining individuals on site.

In the wake of the incident, university officials strongly urged the public to refrain from circulating unverified reports, photos, or videos online to avoid further trauma to affected families and prevent interference with the ongoing police investigation. 

The administration called for privacy for those impacted and requested prayers for a swift resolution to the crisis.

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