𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘: “La La Lovemarks: Valentine’s Date Ideas Worth a Happily Ever After” by Kyla Joy Pontiga

Layout by: Reynald Tan

Published by: Keshia Gwyneth Esposa

Date Published: February 14, 2025

Time Published: 4:22 PM

Have you ever caught yourself spending hours deciding who to invite this Valentine’s Day—or wondering where to go if you choose to spend it alone? Maybe you’ve felt the quiet pressure of making February 14 feel special, even when you’re not quite sure what that means for you.

Don’t fret. You’re not alone.

This February 14 is, at its core, just another day—only this time, the air feels heavier with romance, and ceilings everywhere seem to bloom with cupids, roses, and hearts. Love wanders freely during this season, especially in the most ordinary places: in simple cups of coffee, in worn pajamas, in old streets and hidden gardens. Sometimes, love even lives between the pages of books, waiting patiently in libraries for someone to stumble upon it.

Love is everywhere. But choosing to see it—in the simple, quiet moments, whether alone or with people you cherish—makes it all the more meaningful.

Here are six Love Marks you can visit this Valentine’s Day: places where fantasy gently meets reality, where solitude feels comforting, and where everyone—partnered or not—can feel a little like the main character in their own one-of-a-kind happily ever after.

OLD TOWNS

Love can be found in places that have learned how to endure.

Old towns carry stories already lived, yet they continue to breathe alongside the present. Walking through them feels like holding hands with history—slow, intentional, and full of meaning.

Play Parokya ni Edgar’s “Pangarap Lang Kita” as you wander Binondo’s bustling streets. Taste unfamiliar delicacies, admire aging facades, and trace the cracks time has left behind. In every corner lives sonder—the quiet realization that everyone around you is living a life just as full as yours. Perhaps this is love, too: witnessing the devotion that keeps people returning to this timeless meeting of Chinese and Filipino culture.

Switch the soundtrack to Sugarcane’s “Leonora” and step into Intramuros or Calle Crisologo. Suddenly, you are part of a story—echoing with love that was forbidden, love that demanded sacrifice. These streets remind us that some loves are powerful enough to shape a nation.

Old towns symbolize love passed down through generations—beautiful, weathered, and enduring. Walk slowly. Let these moments become keepsakes in your own museum of memories.

MUSEUMS

Love takes many forms—and sometimes, it hangs quietly on a wall.

If old towns preserve lived history, museums protect emotion. They hold nationalism, longing, pride, and identity—fragments of who we were and who we are becoming.

At the National Museum of Fine Arts, every brushstroke speaks. Paintings whisper stories of struggle, resilience, and beauty—inviting you to reflect on your own connection to Filipino life.

The National Museum of Anthropology offers love in another form: artifacts that tell of survival, conflict, and devotion across generations. Meanwhile, the National Museum of Natural History celebrates a quieter romance—one found in forests, fossils, oceans, and time itself.

With free admission, these museums gently remind us that understanding our past should never come at a cost—only curiosity, presence, and love for where we come from.

GARDENS

Flowers are Valentine’s Day essentials—but beyond bouquets are gardens where love grows freely and without urgency.

The Baguio Botanical Garden rewards those willing to travel. Winding paths, vibrant blooms, and cool mountain air slow time itself. Whether with loved ones or a camera in hand, love here feels unhurried—carried softly by every breeze.

Closer to the city, Ayala Triangle Gardens offers a quieter kind of romance. Surrounded by towering buildings, its open lawns and trees create calm amid motion, proving that even in busy spaces, love can still breathe.

Greeneries and flowers remind us that love doesn’t always arrive loudly. Sometimes, it settles in silence—found in the shade of trees, a gentle breeze, or the warmth of a nearby café, where moments linger just a little longer.

CAFÉS

Maybe love comes in simple brews and acoustic plays—where effort is shown in small gestures, and feelings are felt without needing to be said.

Coffee and music have always been inseparable, like soulmates. Warm cups and live melodies invite people to linger, to listen closely, to feel more deeply. In these spaces, love doesn’t rush—it hums softly and waits for the next song.

At Jess & Pat’s, an indie café tucked in the city, this kind of connection comes alive. OPM artists fill the room with raw, heartfelt performances. The lights are dim, the coffee strong, and the air vibrates with emotion. Strangers sway to the same rhythm, lyrics land a little closer to the heart, and love feels shared—between artist, listener, and moment itself.

For those who crave it louder, Hard Rock Cafe offers a different romance. Gritty guitars, pounding drums, and familiar anthems turn every night into a release. It’s love that’s bold, unapologetic, and performed at full volume, where passion takes center stage.

And when the last note fades and cups sit empty, love quietly shifts. It moves toward spaces where stories are read instead of sung, where hearts connect softly between the pages of a book, and imagination takes the lead—sometimes even flickering into the glow of the silver screen.

LIBRARIES

Love transcends the ordinary and the world itself—so why not let it travel, not just across countries, but across dimensions of memory, ink, and imagination?

In the heart of Manila, the National Library of the Philippines opens like a quiet universe. With over two million books and records, its shelves hold stories of longing, resistance, hope, and devotion. Here, love lives in poetry, in history, and in the soft silence of readers who treat every page as something sacred.

Reading Club 2000 in Makati offers love in a freer form. No IDs, no memberships—just books under open skies. Pages flutter in the wind, strangers become companions, and stories are shared with ease. It’s raw, communal, and alive, reminding us that love, like reading, thrives on presence.

These spaces show that love doesn’t rush. It lingers, listens, and unfolds slowly—one sentence, one shared moment at a time.

And when words begin to seek motion, when stories yearn for sound and faces, love gently shifts—turning the page toward the glow of a screen, where stories begin to move.

MOVIES

There’s nothing quite like sinking into the cozy corners of your room, wearing your favorite pajamas, nibbling on comfort food, and letting love unfold on the screen. It’s the kind of self-love that tastes like popcorn, feels like a warm blanket, and smells faintly of cinematic magic.

For a dose of playful romance, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days delivers chaos, charm, and clever pranks. Andie Anderson and Benjamin Barry’s whirlwind of competing schemes—her to drive him away, him to make her fall—turns into something unexpected: a story of connection, laughter, and love that sneaks up when you least expect it.

10 Things I Hate About You offers love with a sharper edge. In this modern teen rom-com, a new student must win over a clever, guarded older sister to date her younger sibling, only to find romance hiding beneath sarcasm, schemes, and witty exchanges. It’s a reminder that love often thrives where walls exist, patiently waiting to be discovered.

And then there’s La La Land, a story of love in motion. An aspiring actress and a jazz pianist chase their dreams across the sunlit streets of Los Angeles, falling for each other while learning that passion can be both uniting and demanding. Their romance is a bittersweet waltz of ambition, creativity, and the delicate balance between following your heart and chasing your dreams.

Together, these films show that love is never one thing—it is playful, messy, fleeting, enduring, and transformative. It sneaks into your laughter, your heart, your dreams, and even your quietest moments, reminding us why it is always, undeniably worth experiencing.

Have you decided how to spend this Saturday? Don't rush-there's still time to let the day unfold like a story waiting to be discovered.

Perhaps you’ll step into the world of Maria Clara, draped in tradition and quiet devotion—a reminder that love can be gentle, patient, and deeply rooted in grace. Or maybe you’ll choose a peaceful corner with a book or film, letting that same soft romance linger around you.

Make every day your Valentine's Day. Give love freely to others, but save the deepest part for yourself. Love is not a holiday; it is the heartbeat in ordinary moments, the warmth in your chest, the spark that turns a simple Saturday into something unforgettable.

REFERENCES:

[1] The 10 best philippines gardens (updated 2026) - tripadvisor. (n.d.). 

[[https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/Attractions-g294245-Activities-c57-t58-Philippines.html](https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/Attractions-g294245-Activities-c57-t58-Philippines.html)](https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/Attractions-g294245-Activities-c57-t58-Philippines.html)

 

[2] 10 libraries in the Philippines for avid readers and knowledge-seekers. TripZilla Philippines. (2026, February 6). 

[[https://www.tripzilla.ph/best-libraries-in-the-philippines/9061](https://www.tripzilla.ph/best-libraries-in-the-philippines/9061)](https://www.tripzilla.ph/best-libraries-in-the-philippines/9061)

 

[3] Best romantic comedy movies ever made. (n.d.-a). 

[[https://www.imdb.com/list/ls058479560/](https://www.imdb.com/list/ls058479560/)](https://www.imdb.com/list/ls058479560/)

𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗬: “Jack of All Trades” By Angela Garilao

 

Published by: Shaina Pajarillo 

Date Published: February 9, 2026

Time Published: 7:55 AM

Category: Prose

Subject: The inner struggle of chasing many passions yet mastering none. 

There are so many things I know how to do, and sometimes I wonder if that’s even a good thing. I’ve spent years learning how to do everything—writing, singing, painting, crafting little pieces of myself into a hundred different things—and yet here I am, still feeling like I’ve mastered 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Being a jack of all trades but a master of none feels less like a gift and more like a curse—like holding so many doors open, only to realize I can’t step fully into any of them. It’s like standing at the edge of a finish line I never seem to cross. I begin with excitement burning in my chest, only to feel the fire fade before I reach the end. I try again, and again, and again, yet each time I’m left falling short, chasing a version of myself that always slips away.

And it’s hard not to compare myself to others—the ones who seem so certain of their place, who cradle their passions like trophies and polish them until they gleam. I look at them and wonder, why can’t I be like that? Why do I keep chasing everything and mastering nothing? It’s maddening, knowing I can do so much and yet never be the best at any of it. I feel like a puzzle with too many missing pieces, no matter how many times I try to put myself together, I always end up incomplete.

But maybe there is nothing admirable about being this way. Maybe reaching for so many things only shows how easily I let them slip through my hands. Perhaps I was never meant to be defined—not by one passion, not even by all of them—but only by the fragments I’ve left scattered in my wake, pieces of unfinished attempts that never found their place.

On quiet nights, the weight of it keeps me awake. I lie there wondering if I will spend the rest of my life like this—scattered, unfinished, a collection of almosts. The saddest part is that I am beginning to believe this is who I am meant to be: a 𝘫𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴, a 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘦, a person 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩. 

And yet, even in the midst of it all, a small part of me refuses to let go. It clings to the thought that maybe there is a reason for every misstep, every fragment. Perhaps, one day, these scattered pieces will find their place, and I will finally see the shape they were quietly trying to form all along.

𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗡: "Galaw ng Dekada 2000: Sexbomb Girls, nagbalik-hataw sa entablado" ni Yannah Descalso at Jhaebilyn Pallorina

Disenyo ni: Reynald Tan

Inilathala ni: Jeliana Atabay

Petsang Inilathala: Enero 6, 2026

Oras na Inilathala: 4:07 PM

"𝘓𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘰 𝘣𝘢𝘸𝘪 𝘣𝘢𝘸𝘪." Hindi lang bawi, kundi panalo. 

Lubos ang pasasalamat ng Iconic Filipino Girl Group na Sexbomb Girls sa natanggap na suporta sa kanilang dalawang araw na Reunion Concert na "Get, Get, Aw! The Sexbomb Concert" mula sa kanilang mga taga-suporta nitong nakaraang Disyembre.

Labis ang galak ng SexBomb Girls sa pag sabay ng fans sa galaw at enerhiya ng kanilang old at iconic na mga sayaw noong rAWnd 1 at 2 ng concert na naging dahilan upang bumalik ang Girl Group at mag plano ng susunod na concert.

Kaya sa muling pagbabalik nila sa entablado, na tampok ang 20 miyembrong nagtanghal, muling ibinalik ng Sexbomb Girls ang musika at sayaw ng dekada 2000.

𝗿𝗔𝗪𝗻𝗱 𝟭

Sa unang araw ng concert noong December 4, 2025 sa Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City ay ipinakita na ng grupo ang kanilang naturingang iconic at nostalgic performances na pinantayan ng mataas at walang tigil na enerhiya galing sa mga manonood.

Lalong kinasiyahan ng mga fans ang pagtatanghal ng ilan sa pinakamalalaking hit ng Sexbomb Girls tulad ng "Bakit Papa," "Pretty Little Baby," "Halukay Ube," at "The Spaghetti Song," na sinabayan ng malakas na hiyawan at sabayang sayaw ng mga tagasuporta sa loob ng coliseum.

"Walang gustong mag-produce. Walang kasiguraduhan. Pero tinuloy namin kasi hindi naman pera ang hangad namin," saad ni Rochelle, na nagbigay-diin sa dedikasyon ng grupo at sa tunay na dahilan ng kanilang pagbabalik sa entablado.

Bunsod ng napakaraming tagasuporta, agad na naubos ang mga ticket para sa unang araw ng concert, na sinundan pa ng Day 2 sa MOA Arena na dinagsa rin ng mga "pinalaki ng Sexbomb."

𝗿𝗔𝗪𝗻𝗱 𝟮

Sa kanilang Day 2 concert noong December 9, 2025 ay dinaluhan naman sila ng iba't ibang Filipino Artists katulad ng Rock Band na "Mayonnaise" sa song performance na "Jopay" kasama si Jopay Paguia-Zamor, na dedikado mismo ang kanta sakaniya.

Kasama rin nila ang special guests na EB Babes at Sexballs na nakasama nila sa parehong industriya at nagsagawa rin ng performance bilang sorpresa.

Hindi naman nagpahuli sa performance ang ibang artists na sina Dingdong Dantes at Arthur Solinap kasama ang Abztract Dancers, isang iconic dance group noong 90s. 

Isang ‘throwback’ ang naturang dalawang araw ng concert para sa mga pinalaki ng Sexbomb, kung saan dagsa ang mga millennials na buong magdamag nakisayaw, nakihataw at naki-"Get get Aw!"

𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗿𝗔𝗪𝗻𝗱𝘀

Nakilala ang Sexbomb Girls dahil sa kanilang mga iconic hit songs katulad ng "The Spageti Song," "Choopeta," "Halukay Ube" at "Bakit Papa?" simula sa unang bahagi ng 2000's sa TV at sa Variety Show na Eat Bulaga na itinanghal din nila sa kanilang concert.

Dahil sa kasikatan, ang kanilang mga kanta ay maituturing patok at uso noong kanilang panahon, kinakanta sa videoke, tugtugan sa mga okasyon, at patuloy na nagbibigay aliw kahit sa bagong henerasyon. 

Bilang pagpapatuloy ng alaala at kasikatang tumawid sa iba’t ibang henerasyon, kinumpirma ng Sexbomb Girls ang “rAWnd 3: The Finale,” na gaganapin sa Pebrero 6, 2026 sa SM Mall of Asia Arena. Tampok sa concert ang isang 360-degree stage upang mas maramdaman ng fans ang kanilang presensiya.

Matapos ang ilang araw, inanunsiyo rin ng grupo ang karagdagang rAWnd 4 at 5 ng kanilang concert, na gaganapin sa magkasunod na araw sa Pebrero 7 at 8, 2026.

Higit pa ito sa isang reunion concert dahil muling pinatunayan ng Sexbomb Girls na ang galaw ng dekada 2000 ay buhay na buhay pa rin sa puso ng maraming Pilipino. Ang bawat performance at bawat kantang kanilang inawit ay nagpapaalala sa mga henerasyong lumaki sa kanilang musika kung bakit sila naging iconic.

Hindi lamang aliw ang hatid ng kanilang musika, kundi isang kolektibong alaala na nagbuklod sa mga henerasyong minsang sabay-sabay nakihataw sa telebisyon, mga okasyon, at ngayon ay sa mga kilalang arena. 

Sa bawat sabayang indak at hiyawan, muling naibalik ang saya at sigla ng isang panahon na hindi madaling makalimutan. Isang malinaw na patunay na ang kulturang popular ay patuloy na umuusbong, ngunit ang pinagmulan nito ay nananatiling buhay at hindi kailanman malilimutan, kahit pa dumaan ang bagong henerasyon.

MGA SANGGUNIAN:

[1] Llemit, K. (2025, December 10). Mayonnaise performs song “Inspo” for “Jopay” at SexBomb reunion concert. Philstar.com.

https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2025/12/10/2493288/mayonnaise-performs-song-inspo-jopay-sexbomb-reunion-concert

[2] GMA Integrated News. (2025, December 5). SexBomb Girls deliver night of nostalgia at reunion concert. GMA News.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/showbiz/chikaminute/968557/sexbomb-girls-deliver-night-of-nostalgia-at-reunion-concert/story/

[3] Visayan Daily Star. (2025, December 16) SexBomb Girls reunite at sold-out concert. https://visayandailystar.com/sexbomb-girls-reunite-at-sold-out-concert/

[4] Trapane, K. (2025, December 11) Mayonnaise surprises fans with “Jopay” at SexBomb concert’s rAWnd 2. DZRH. https://dzrh.com.ph/post/mayonnaise-surprises-fans-with-jopay-at-sexbomb-concerts-rawnd-2

[5] De Guzman, A. (2025, January 3) SexBomb Girls to hold ‘rAWnd 3’ finale concert with a 360-degree stage in February. ABSCBN. https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/events/2026/1/3/sexbomb-girls-to-hold-rawnd-3-finale-concert-with-a-360-degree-stage-in-february-0926

[6] Almazan, F. (2025, January 10) SexBomb Girls announces 'rAWnd 5' of 'Get, Get Aw' Concert. GMA Entertainment News.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/sexbomb-girls-announces-rawnd-5-of-get-get-aw-concert/129413/

𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗞𝗔𝗡: “Lapit o Layo” ni Gee Anne Robles

Dibuho ni: Erika Yohanne Coronel

Inilathala ni: Jadelynn Arnigo

Petsang Inilathala: Pebrero 5, 2026

Oras na Inilathala: 4:10 PM

Kategorya: Tula

Tema: Tungkol sa pagpili ng sarili sa gitna ng kalituhan ng damdamin, paglapit at paglayo ng puso.

Minsan, ang ngalan mo’y

dumadampi sa dibdib ko—

banayad, tulad ng gabing

nagbubukas muli ng alaala

na matagal ko nang isinasara.

Maamo ka,

mahinhin kung magsalita,

at may lambing na madaling paniwalaan.

Pero natutunan ko na

hindi lahat ng mabait

ay tahanan para sa pusong pagod.

Naalala ko pa ang isa—

‘yung nagsabing ako ang kanyang tahanan

ngunit ako’y iniwan sa gitna ng katahimikan.

Binigay ko ang lahat noon,

hanggang wala nang natira

kundi mga pangakong hindi tinupad.

Kaya nang dumating ka,

dala ang salita at pag-aalagang

tila handang maghintay,

naging madali ang matakot;

baka sa dulo,

ako na naman ang maiiwan.

Gusto kitang lapitan—

may init kang nakakaengganyong umuwi.

Pero sa bawat hakbang,

paalala ng sarili kong paghilom:

Hindi sapat ang lambing

para punuin ang aking halaga.

Minsan gusto kita,

minsan hindi.

At ngayon, doon ako nakatayo

sa pagitan ng paglapit at paglayo,

ng pag-ibig at paghilom—

sa espasyong hindi sigurado

pero totoo.

Dito ko natutunan:

may mga damdaming hindi kailangang ipilit,

may mga taong dadaan lang

para ipaalala

kung paano unahin ang sarili.

Sapat ka, marahil.

Ngunit ako—

ako muna.

Hanggang matutunan kong magmahal muli

nang hindi ko kailangang iligtas ang sarili ko.

𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗔: "RTC Laguna, naglabas ng Warrant of Arrest laban kay Atong Ang” ni Bridget Berin

Inilathala ni: Shaina Pajarillo 

Petsang Inilathala: Pebrero 5, 2026

Oras na Inilathala: 7:22 AM

 Naglabas ang Regional Trial Court Branch 26 sa Sta. Cruz, Laguna noong Miyerkules, ika-14 ng Enero ng warrant of arrest laban kay Charlie “Atong” Ang at 17 iba pa dahil sa kidnapping with homicide at serious illegal detention kaugnay ng kaso ng missing sabungeros, na walang posibilidad ng bail.

Ayon sa opisyal na pahayag mula kay Philippine National Police (PNP) acting chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., sinisimulan na ang implementasyon ng warrant of arrest at paghahanda ng mga tauhan at koordinasyon sa iba pang lokal na yunit ng mga polisya, habang sinusubaybayan ang posibleng lokasyon ni Ang at iba pang akusado. 

“Ang pagpapatupad ng warrant of arrest ay sumusunod sa itinatakdang proseso, at lahat ng kasali sa operasyon mula sa PNP ay obligadong sumunod. Titiyakin nila na maayos itong maisasakatuparan,” dagdag ni Nartatez. 

Samantala, ang Department of Justice (DOJ) ay matagal nang naghain ng mga reklamo laban kay Ang at ang iba pang akusado noon Disyembre 2025 matapos makumpirma na may sapat na ebidensya upang ituloy ang kaso. 

Nananatiling at-large o hindi pa nahuhuli si Atong Ang, habang ang 15 sa 18 na iba pang akusadong kaugnay ng kaso ay nasa kustodiya na ng Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) ng PNP.

MGA SANGGUNIAN:

Untalan, S. (2026, January 14). Arrest warrant issued vs. Atong Ang, 17 others for kidnapping homicide. GMA NEWS https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/972765/arrest-warrant-issued-vs-atong-ang-17-others-for-kidnapping-with-homicide-no-bail-set/story/

Rita, J. (2026, January 14). PNP starts implementing arrest warrant vs. Atong Ang, others. GMA NEWS https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/972794/atong-ang-missing-sabungeros-pnp-arrest-warrant/story/

Laqui, I. (2026, January 14). Atong Ang's 17 co-accused now in police custody. Philstar https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/01/14/2500964/atong-angs-17-co-accused-now-police-custody

𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗔: "Discaya, umapela ng 'not guilty' plea sa graft at malversation case" ni Jhaebilyn B. Pallorina

 Disenyo ni: Erelah Janika Geniza

Inilathala ni: Shaina Pajarillo 

Petsang Inilathala: Pebrero 4, 2026

Oras na Inilathala: 10:20 AM

Nagpasok ng ‘not guilty’ plea ang kontratistang si Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya, kasama ang siyam na iba pang akusado, sa kasong graft at malversation na may kaugnayan sa umano’y ₱96.5-milyong “ghost” flood control project sa Davao Occidental ngayong Martes, Enero 13, 2026.

Sa arraignment sa Regional Trial Court Branch 27 ng Lapu-Lapu City sa Cebu, naghain ng not guilty plea sina Discaya, ang St. Timothy Construction Corp. executive Maria Roma Angeline Rimando, at walong opisyal ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) sa harap ni Presiding Judge Nelson Leyco.

Si Discaya at ang kanyang mga kasama ay inakusahan ng pakikipagsabwatan para sa pagpapalabas ng ₱96.5 milyon para sa pagtatayo ng isang proyektong revetment sa Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, na diumano’y “hindi kailanman naisagawa.”

Matapos ang kusang pagsuko ni Discaya sa National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) noong Disyembre 9, 2025, at ang kanyang paglilipat sa Mactan, Cebu upang harapin ang pormal na pagdinig sa kaso matapos mapasailalim sa kustodiya ng NBI, nagpatuloy ang legal na proseso sa korte.

Bago tuluyang umusad ang paglilitis, sinikap ng grupo ng mga akusado na muling ihain ang kanilang mga mosyon, iginiit na huli nilang natanggap ang resolusyon ng korte na nagbabasura sa kanilang mosyon na ipawalang-bisa ang kaso.

Humiling naman si Atty. Paul Sato, abogado ng mga opisyal ng DPWH, ng karagdagang panahon upang pag-aralan ang iba pang legal na opsyon na maaaring isagawa ng depensa. 

Gayunman, muling iginiit ng korte na maaari pa ring makinabang ang depensa sa mga umiiral na legal na remedyo sa kabila ng patuloy na pagdinig ng kaso.

Kasalukuyang pinag-aaralan ng defense team ang paghahain ng petisyon para sa certiorari o pag-akyat ng kaso sa mas mataas na hukuman, gayundin ang paghahain ng motion for reconsideration.

Samantala, umapela si Atty. Cornelio Samaniego III, abogado ni Rimando, para sa isang ocular inspection sa proyekto sa Davao Occidental upang mapatunayan na totoong naipatupad ang flood control project.

“The project was there, it was erected, it was built. So there’s no ghost project as alleged in the criminal information. Might as well have the ocular inspection para makita, kasi nagsasayang tayo ng oras dito kung nandoon naman talaga ang proyekto,” ani Samaniego.

Sa kabilang banda, iniutos ni Judge Leyco ang 90-araw na suspensyon ng mga opisyal ng DPWH na sangkot sa kaso, maliban sa isa na napaulat na nagretiro na sa serbisyo.

Nakatakda ang pre-trial hearing ng kaso sa Pebrero 3, 2026, alas-10 ng umaga.

MGA SANGGUNIAN:

[1] Gabinete, J. (2025, December 9). Sarah Discaya surrenders to NBI amid looming arrest warrant. PEP.ph. https://www.pep.ph/news/local/190035/sarah-discaya-surrenders-to-nbi-a734-20251209

[2] Peralta-Malonzo, T. ( 2025, December 19). Sarah Discaya now a detainee. sunstar.com.ph. https://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/sarah-discaya-now-a-detainee

[3] Perez, A. & Andales, V. (2026, January 13). Sarah Discaya pleads 'not guilty' to graft, malversation in 'ghost project' case. ABS-CBN.https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/13/sarah-discaya-arraignment-0953?fbclid=IwdGRjcAPS0RtjbGNrA9LQomV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHkRCr1Yn5j7POq6wiU3zpIUirQBRVhcFljoNYY6tJU2fb7bQ-INtmETgmrWi_aem_Ijdum9FbRVmOE0VImM4nJg

[4] Cordova, C. (2026, January 13). Sarah Discaya pleads not guilty to graft, malversation raps. Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2026/01/13/sarah-discaya-pleads-not-guilty-to-graft-malversation-raps

𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗦 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦: “Aurora Philippines Sweeps Alter Ego Esports, Seizes M7 Crown” By Dennise Ubalde

 

Layout by: Monique Baban

Published by: Shaina Pajarillo 

Date Published: February 2, 2026

Time Published: 2:10 PM

Aurora Philippines (RORA PH) delivered a historic performance on the world stage, sweeping hometown favorite Alter Ego Esports (AE), 4–0, to capture the M7 World Championship in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) at Jakarta, Indonesia on Sunday, January 25.

The dominant victory sealed the Philippines’ sixth consecutive M-series world title, further extending the country’s reign in international MLBB competition since Bren Esports’ breakthrough championship run at M2 in 2021.

Backed by disciplined execution and sharp in-game reads, Rora PH controlled the grand finals from the opening minute, silencing the Indonesian crowd and denying AE any momentum throughout the series.

Game 1 set the tone early as Rora PH absorbed AE’s aggressive openings and punished overextensions through crisp target control. With timely turtle takes and coordinated rotations, the Filipinos slowly choked the map, winning decisive mid-game team fights to claim the opener.

Momentum carried into Game 2, where Rora PH showcased superior draft preparation. Their lane matchups neutralized Alter Ego’s comfort picks, allowing Aurora’s core to scale freely. Every major engagement favored the Filipinos, who executed intact zoning and peel to double their series lead.

Rora’s championship composure shone brightest in Game 3. Rather than forcing early clashes, RORA PH opted for patience strategy, maintaining vision and continuously applying pressure across all lanes. Each attempted comeback by AE was pull apart by disciplined positioning and calculated counter engages.

The sweep was sealed in Game 4, where Rora PH fully unleashed its offensive rhythm. After winning a pivotal lord fight, the Filipinos marched down the midlane, to take apart Alter Ego’s remaining defenses and shattered the crystal to clinch the M7 crown in emphatic fashion.

Head coach Aniel “Master the Basics” Jiandani credited the victory to months of preparation and detailed opponent analysis, particularly Aurora’s study of Alter Ego’s lower bracket run.

“We were able to predict what Alter Ego was going to do because of what we saw from their matches in the lower bracket especially in draft and execution,” Jiandani said.

Beyond the championship itself, the triumph marked major milestones for several RORA PH players. Edward “Edward” Dapadap etched his name deeper into MLBB history, becoming only the fourth player to secure two M-series titles, a testament to his term and peak-performance.

Meanwhile, Jonard “Demonkite” Caranto and Dylan “Light” Catipon completed their championship collections. Both had previously tasted international success after winning MPL Philippines and the MSC 2022 title with Selangor Red Giants (SRG) Philippines, making the M7 crown the final piece in their decorated careers.

Aurora PH’s victory further reinforced the Philippines’ reputation as the world’s premier MLBB region not only in mechanical skill, but in strategy planning, drafting discipline and late game composure.

From Bren Esports’ M2 breakthrough to Fnatic ONIC Philippines’ flawless M6 campaign, Filipino teams have consistently defined the global meta, setting standards that other regions continue to chase.

As the M7 season concludes, Rora PH now turns its attention to the next competitive cycle with the goal of refining its strategies, sustaining excellence, and defending the country’s long-standing rule over the MLBB world stage.

REFERENCES :

[1] ABS-CBN Sports. (2026, January 25). Aurora Gaming extends PH dominance in MLBB, blanks Alter Ego to claim M7 crown. https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2026/1/25/aurora-gaming-extends-ph-dominance-in-mlbb-blanks-alter-ego-to-claim-m7-crown-2211

[2] Philstar.com. (2026, January 26). Aurora Gaming PH stuns home bet to rule M7 World Championship in Indonesia. https://www.philstar.com/sports/2026/01/26/2503607/aurora-gaming-ph-stuns-home-bet-rule-m7-world-championship-indonesia