Countdown to CNY: New Year prospects for people born in the Year of the Snake
February 09, 2026 17:07 UTC
Life, death and the quiet math of meaningThis piece comes from a realization I never wanted to earn. Just the natural drift that happens when people grow, build their own worlds and assume there will always be more time. We focus on what they didn’t do, didn’t say, didn’t give. The science of long life, especially from the world’s Blue Zones, has been quietly telling us something radical for decades. After a certain level of financial comfort, additional money contributes little to sustained life satisfaction.
Kiko “Meow Meow” Barzaga of Cavite, Lean Leviste of Batangas and Eli San Fernando of Kamanggagawa Party-list first seemed like a trio on fire. Kamanggagawa Rep. Eli San Fernando throws the least splash of the three. In initiating his attack on Recto, San Juan ignored the opinion of the Court and most of the legal community that the former’s action was in good faith. San Fernando, before launching his excessive call for prosecution/incarceration of Recto, ought to have read the Supreme Court ruling more carefully. Like his two other neophyte colleagues, San Juan gained no traction for his effort.
Typhoon victims get P82 million humanitarian aidRescuers evacuate a woman after Tropical Storm Penha hit the area in Iligan, Lanao del Norte province on February 6, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — Families severely affected by Tropical Storm Basyang, which pummeled many areas in the Visayas and Mindanao, have received P82 million in humanitarian assistance, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said yesterday. Dumlao said the DSWD is also providing “psychosocial first aid” for internally displaced persons and play therapy-based psychosocial activity for children. The assistance was distributed to families in Western, Central and Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Negros Island Region, Caraga and Bicol. Department of Public Works and Highways personnel continue clearing operations along major roads in Mindanao, according to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon.
PNP: Cases of baby-selling online risingMANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday expressed alarm over the rising cases of baby-selling following a series of anti-trafficking operations that led to the rescue of six children and arrest of seven suspects from Feb. 2 to 4. Gen. Maria Sheila Portento, director of the police Women and Children Protection Center, said some cases involved middlemen rather than biological mothers, raising fears that infants may be resold. Portento said traffickers use social media platforms resembling online marketplaces to advertise infants and to look for buyers, prompting police to coordinate with platforms for content takedown. The PNP continues to investigate online transactions, including those hosted overseas, while legal officers study ways to hold digital platforms accountable. Some infants were allegedly sold for as low as P10,000, cheaper than the price of puppies, according to Portento.
Four important daysWe’re coming up on four days that will be important to different people for different reasons. Th next day, Feb. 18, is Ash Wednesday, the start of the Christian season of Lent, representing the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert, fasting and praying, three times resisting temptation by Satan. For millions – over a billion, actually – of Chinese all over the world, this is THE most important day of the year. Kids of course thoroughly enjoy making a mess, thus Yee Sang has become a requisite activity in many family celebrations here. Chef Khor’s version took Yee Sang to another level, with not just salmon but also lobster balls and crab claws and a passion fruit dressing.
There’s no stopping Eala’s ascentMANILA, Philippines — The star continues to rise for the Filipina tennis rock star. 99 in doubles – thanks to a pair of deep runs in the stacked WTA 500 Abu Dhabi Open. Her latest feat was a quarterfinal finish in the Abu Dhabi singles coupled by a doubles Final Four stint with “SEA-ster” Janice Tjen of Indonesia. That run included a win against the super tandem of Cristina Bucsa (WTA doubles No. 7), who just came off an Australian Open title run, to reach the semifinals.
Senate adopts resolution vs China diplomatsenate President Tito Sotto chats with Majority Leader Migz Zubiri during the chamber’s session on a resolution condemning statements made by Chinese diplomats who criticized Philippine officials over the WPS issue. The Senate – without any objection – adopted yesterday Senate Resolution 256 condemning China’s diplomats for their insults against Philippine officials who voiced defense of the country’s sovereignty and maritime rights. The resolution was filed by the majority bloc composed of Sen. Francis Pangilinan (sponsor), Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senators Erwin Tulfo, Risa Hontiveros, Raffy Tulfo, Sherwin Gatchalian, Loren Legarda, JV Ejercito, Bam Aquino, Camille Villar, Mark Villar, Lito Lapid and the minority’s Jinggoy Estrada. Cayetano argued that Tarriela’s actions were diplomatically risky and that the Senate minority could not back him as far as the resolution was concerned. Sen. Rodante Marcoleta had been staunchly against the resolution for the past two weeks, during which its adoption was deferred twice.
3rd impeach complaint filed vs VP SaraVice President Sara Duterte joins the families of the survivors and missing victims from the sunken MV Trisha Kerstin 3 in Zamboanga City yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — A third impeachment complaint has been filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, this time by religious groups and lawyers demanding accountability mainly for her still unliquidated P612.5-million confidential funds. Joselito Sarabia in filing the latest impeachment complaint yesterday before the office of House secretary-general Cheloy Garafil. Because the Vice President, her two offices, submitted fictitious names as alleged recipients of these millions of pesos entrusted to her,” he explained. VP expected complaintHer spokesman Michael Poa said they had anticipated the filing of the latest impeachment complaint.
Stricter screening of school project contractors urgedThe PSIP allows private firms to build, furnish and maintain public school classrooms, with the government paying them over 10 years or more before ownership is transferred to the state. Tulfo criticized what he described as the department’s inadequate assessment of private firms that participated in and were awarded contracts under the program. He said the shortcomings may explain the continued complaints his office receives from parents and teachers about substandard public school facilities, including deteriorating ceilings, poor ventilation and insulation and unsanitary restrooms. The PSIP allows private firms to build, furnish and maintain public school classrooms, with the government paying them over 10 years or more before ownership is transferred to the state. The pilot involves leasing a private school that closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and repurposing its facilities for public school use.
How a Philippines-based ops tried to bury Jeffrey Epstein's bad pressMANILA, Philippines — Long before his 2019 arrest, disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein was already working to erase his criminal past from the internet. By 2010, Jeffrey Epstein was already a convicted sex offender and on probation after a year in jail. US DOJ Epstein Library Screenshot of a email from Al Seckel to Jeffrey Epstein from the "Epstein Files" released in February 2026. "Our group in the Philippines is building links and links to our sites, pseudo sites, and the other Jeffrey Epsteins of the world," Seckel wrote. He argued that once automated web crawlers revisited search results, Epstein’s critics would instead see favorable or unrelated content created by his team.
Palace to review ICI accomplishment reportIn this photo taken in September 2025, former Independent Commission for Infrastructure adviser and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte inspect a pumping station in Sto. MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is set to review the accomplishment report of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), whose operations have been affected due to a lack of quorum following the resignation of two of its members. Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the report of the ICI has been transmitted to the Office of the Executive Secretary and will be studied. Castro added that she has not received any information on whether President Marcos has spoken to ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr., the commission’s sole remaining member. Earlier this month, Castro said the ICI may communicate directly with President Marcos to discuss what it needs to carry out its functions.
