Take Clint Eastwood’s adviceFor about two years now, my wife and I have been reminding each other to follow Clint Eastwood’s advice every time we feel old, tired or simply unmotivated to face the day’s routine. The advice, it turns out, has been the philosophy of the legendary actor/director Clint Eastwood since the late 50s, every time he is confronted by fatigue, signs of aging or an inclination to be cranky due to aches and pains from aging. Eastwood’s advice has even been written into a song by the popular country music artist Toby Keith for a movie (The Mule) that Clint Eastwood starred in and directed. Sadly, this is a common default of family members once their parent hits 70 or 80 years old. Yes, the family means well, but Philippine society is such that we love old folks to death by infantilizing them.

The path to prosperity is inclusivityAs chair of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), my commitment to making our regional body more inclusive has never been more vital. We have adopted the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together: Advancing Prosperity For All” to underscore this commitment to ensuring that the fruits of economic growth touch every citizen, particularly those in the marginalized sectors. One of my plans is to broadcast discussions during this year’s ASEAN meetings through LED screens in major malls across the country. By showcasing our islands and local cultures to ASEAN delegates, we strengthen tourism while empowering local communities economically. ASEAN can be that region that will tread the steady, stable path to economic growth through collaboration and cooperation, all without leaving anyone behind.

VP Sara: I have recruited my 2028 running mateVice President Sara Duterte announces her intention to run for president in the 2028 general elections, at a press conference in Mandaluyong yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — Days after declaring her intention to run for president in 2028, Vice President Sara Duterte said she has chosen her potential running mate whose main task, if elected, would be to exact accountability from corrupt officials in government. The one that I’m recruiting to be vice president will take charge of making wrongdoers in government accountable, so I can focus on my job as president,” she said in Filipino. But the bottom line here is track record – what’s the track record of Leni? “By making her plans clear, VP Duterte has provided the public a sense of certainty and direction – something our people value in these uncertain times,” Herrera added.

The doctor is outThere’s another reason why we must urgently address the crisis in education: we need more people to join the health care professions. At 11 a.m., the doctor still wasn’t in, although the assistant had arrived, and began writing down the information about new patients like my mom. He gave us a referral, and his secretary said this doctor was on duty at the hospital until 12 noon. I told my companions to wait for me while I rushed to catch the doctor and request him to work beyond his clinic hours. Patients in that hospital aren’t charity cases; basic consultation with that first doctor costs an average of P1,500.

Maroons in gutsy winMANILA, Philippines — Souped-up University of the Philippines rose from the ashes to stay immaculate, ending an eight-year drought against Ateneo with a 17-25, 19-25, 25-22, 25-23, 16-14 reverse sweep in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Fighting Maroons, who last won against the Blue Eagles back in 2018, finally scored one over their Katipunan rivals thanks to a great resolve to fight from 0-2 down and in the extended decider. It’s the first back-to-back wins for the Diliman-based spikers since 2022, ending an 11-game losing skid against Ateneo. “Finally, we found a way to play our own game,” said Menta, a former mentor of the defunct pro volleyball team Foton. Two consecutive errors by the Blue Eagles then paved the way for a fifth set, where the Fighting Maroons proved to be the steadier team.

Navy to commission 2 new ships in ZambalesPhoto from the Philippine Navy and Israel Shipyards show Rajah Sulayman and Audrey Bañares. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy will be commissioning its newest offshore patrol vessel (OPV) and a fast attack interdiction craft (FAIC) at the Naval Operating Base-Subic in Zambales tomorrow. Patrol vessel BRP Rajah Sulayman, built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries for the Navy’s patrol fleet, arrived in the country last Jan. 17 from South Korea. The vessel was met off Zambales by BRP Jose Rizal, the Navy’s first missile-capable frigate, as part of standard naval protocols for new naval ships entering Philippine waters. The Navy said the ships’ formal entry into active service underscores its commitment to strengthening its maritime defense and law enforcement capabilities through a modern, multi-domain and self-reliant force.

Agricultural traders’ registry soughtIBMI executive director Apple Meneses said that LGUs should put their agricultural offices to work to curb widespread abuse of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk by unscrupulous traders and middlemen. MANILA, Philippines — Local government units (LGUs) should require mandatory registration for agricultural traders who buy the produce of farmers and fisherfolk in their localities to prevent the spread of predator traders who buy below production cost, farm advocacy group Ipabitag Mo said. IBMI executive director Apple Meneses said that LGUs should put their agricultural offices to work to curb widespread abuse of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk by unscrupulous traders and middlemen. Meneses said that requiring agricultural traders who enter municipalities and cities to register first with the LGUs’ Agricultural Office will allow the local government to effectively monitor the trading activities of these crop buyers, and screen their legitimacy and their trading practices. Anti-crime and corruption advocate Ben Tulfo said that setting up a monitoring system for agricultural traders will allow the government to screen the “legitimate from the counterfeit and abusive agri-traders.”The IBMI said that a recent case monitored was that of non-payment to some farmers in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija by an agricultural trader coming from a neighboring municipality in the same province.

Forty years of hoopsThis writer had a blast, reminiscing and talking about little-discussed topics on “An Eternity of Basketball” Saturday morning. To this day, primetime news cast do not have sports on a daily basis, despite the explosion of hoops content online. So it was that PBA and eventually the PABL were my staples, along with monthly bowling, billiards and darts events. I’ve been lucky that when history turned, I was there at the crossroads. Thirty years ago, this writer organized the countries first nationwide three-on-three basketball tournament.

United Nations, Philippines to launch ‘Laya Calculator’The CHR’s new “Laya Calculator” computes PDL release dates more accurately by standardizing GCTA and other time credits. MANILA, Philippines — A new web-based tool that accurately computes prisoner release dates will soon be launched nationwide, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) announced. That uncertainty began to give way to clarity with the launch of the Laya Calculator,” UNODC said. It then generates precise release dates based on the minimum and maximum penalties imposed, adjusted for earned sentence-reducing credits. The Laya Calculator began as a programmed spreadsheet co-designed with local stakeholders and was later validated by UNODC’s Korea Statistics Center of Excellence.

Gilas to fight with pride vs Kiwis, AussiesMANILA, Philippines — Up against formidable opponents New Zealand and Australia, Gilas Pilipinas is banking on that powerful instinct as it makes its stand. “I think that is really, really important to them. “And there’s always a certain pride about playing at home and so that makes this particular window extremely important to these guys. The Tall Blacks dropped their first two matches in the Qualifiers against the Aussies, making them motivated to get their bid on track. Moreso, there’s the revenge factor considering Gilas dealt the Kiwis an 89-93 stunner the last time they played at the Pasay venue in 2024 at the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

Gillana vies in Asian fencingMANILA, Philippines — The Philippines sends its delegates to the Asian Cadet and Junior Fencing Championships 2026 of the FIE International Fencing Federation in Jakarta, Indonesia set Feb. 20 to 27. Estelliah Gillana, UST saber fencer from Pasig City and currently ranked No. 1 in Philippine junior division and No. 2 in cadet, is bannering the Philippine cast competing in saber, foil and epee.

NFA earns P936.5 million from rice tenderWorkers weigh sacks of rice at a National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in Valenzuela City on February 19, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — The state-run National Food Authority (NFA) has announced earnings of P936.5 million from the auction of its aging rice stocks, exceeding its target of P912.4 million. The NFA successfully auctioned nearly 90 percent of its aging rice stocks on Feb. 20 as it sought to free up warehouse space for fresh palay procurement during the dry season harvest. The agency sold 32.5 million kilos of rice at an average price of P28 per kilo, according to NFA administrator Larry Lacson. In December last year, the NFA auctioned 315,000 bags of aging rice, with prices landing within the expected P22.52 to P25.16 per kilo range.

House plenary set to tackle impeach raps vs VPIn this photo, uploaded on Facebook on Feb. 5, 2026, Sara Duterte attends AI Frontiers in Davao City. MANILA, Philippines — The four impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte are expected to be referred to the House of Representatives’ committee on justice anytime this week, following their transmittal to the office of Speaker Faustino Dy III. House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V said the “serious and disturbing” allegations of unexplained wealth and omissions in Duterte’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth compelled him to endorse the fourth impeachment complaint. “This is about constitutional accountability – the SALN is mandatory and must be complete and truthful, and any undeclared asset or unexplained wealth is a grave issue,” the La Union first district congressman emphasized. The 58-page impeachment complaint accuses Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, bribery and other high crimes.

ICC begins confirmation hearing on Duterte case todayA supporter of former president Rodrigo Duterte writes a message on a bus as part of a signature campaign in Manila yesterday. The crimes against humanity proceedings against Duterte enter a critical stage with the opening of the week-long confirmation of charges hearing at the ICC today. The confirmation hearings will open with the reading of the charges today at 10 a.m. in The Hague (5 p.m. in Manila). The ICC Office of the Prosecutor, which is in charge of prosecuting the case, will be led by Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang. “We don’t even know what the ICC ruling will be, if they are co-conspirators or principals or accomplices or accessories?

Philippines watching United States tariff hikeMANILA, Philippines — Following the United States’ move to raise the global tariff on imports to 15 percent, the government said it is keeping a close watch on developments and will continue engaging with its counterparts to maintain strong trade relations. “We will continue to engage with the US to ensure that our trade and investment relations remain robust,” Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said in a Viber message yesterday. United States President Donald Trump announced on Feb. 21 that he was raising the temporary tariff on US imports from all trade partners to 15 percent from 10 percent. Before that, Trump announced the imposition of a 10 percent levy on US imports hours after the US Supreme Court ruled that the reciprocal tariffs were unconstitutional. The US Supreme Court ruled that Trump exceeded his authority and needed congressional approval for the tariffs imposed last year under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.