10012026 thu

Php12 pandesal

Takot magnakaw.

"BAKIT SA IBANG BANSA TAKOT MAGNAKAW ANG OPISYAL, DITO SA PINAS TAKOT LANG MAHULI SA CAMERA."

ITO ANG PAGKAKAIBA NG SISTEMA NATIN SA SISTEMA NILA

Real talk kapatid, kumpara natin.

Sa Singapore.

Nagnakaw ka ng pera ng bayan? Kulong ka agad. Walang areglo. Walang padrino. Ang yaman ng bansa kasi takot silang galawin ang kaban.

Sa China.

Nagnakaw ka ng bilyon? Death penalty. Hindi uso ang sorry at balik ka na ulit sa pwesto. Kaya takot sila.

Sa Japan.

Nahuli kang corrupt? Hindi mo na hihintayin kasuhan ka, ikaw na mismo magre-resign. Hiya ang puhunan nila.

Sa Dubai.

Nandaya ka sa gobyerno? Deport, kulong, ubos pangalan mo. Walang palakasan.

Eh sa Pinas?

Nagnakaw ka?

May hearing.

May committee.

May drama sa Senado.

May iyak sa media.

Tapos after 5 years, balik ka ulit, tatakbo ka ulit, mananalo ka pa ulit.

Kasi anong sistema natin?

Sistema na mas mabilis makalusot pag may pera.

Sistema na mas malakas ang batas pag mahirap ka.

Sistema na pag mayaman ka, may sakit ka pag kukulong ka na.

Pero pag mahirap ka, diretso ka sa kulungan kahit pambili lang ng bigas ang ninakaw mo.

Kaya hindi nakakagulat kung bakit walang natatakot magnakaw dito.

Kasi alam nilang ang parusa, hindi kamatayan.

Ang parusa, MABANG Posisyon lang saglit, tapos balik ulit sa TAAS.

Kaya kapatid, habang ganyan ang sistema...

Wag ka umasa na aayusin nila ang buhay mo.

Ayusin mo ang sarili mong sistema.

Mag-hustle ka para hindi mo na kailangang mamalimos sa sistema nilang bulok.

Dahil ang tunay na pagbabago, hindi manggagaling sa itaas.

Manggagaling yan sa baba, sa taong sawang-sawa nang maging biktima at piniling maging halimbawa.

#hustleoverslavery

Ayaw ko na mag business sa pinas.

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT

I’m writing this not as a politician or an economist, but as a Filipino business owner.

Honestly, it is becoming harder and harder to keep a business alive in the Philippines.

We are told to be resilient—and yes, Filipinos are resilient. But resilience should not mean that businesses have to endlessly absorb rising costs just to survive.

Electricity keeps getting more expensive, including charges related to system losses. Fuel prices affect transportation, deliveries, supplies, and practically everything. Employee wages need to increase—and I fully support Filipino workers earning better—but businesses also need an environment where we can afford those increases sustainably.

Then there are taxes, permits, government contributions, compliance costs, and countless requirements.

We want to pay our taxes. We want to follow the law.

But sometimes, especially for small businesses, it feels like we're spending more time figuring out how to comply than figuring out how to grow.

And while legitimate businesses are struggling with increasing costs, we continue to see concerns surrounding illegal online gambling and other activities that can easily take money away from productive economic activities.

My question is simple:

How can we encourage Filipinos to become entrepreneurs if the cost of doing business keeps increasing?

We need businesses to survive because businesses create jobs.

When a business grows, employees grow.

When businesses hire, families earn.

When businesses earn, taxes are paid.

And when businesses succeed, communities benefit.

We are not asking for special treatment.

We are asking for a fair and sustainable environment where we can:

• Pay our employees better

• Pay our taxes

• Keep our businesses open

• Hire more Filipinos

• Invest and expand

• Compete fairly

• And contribute to our country's economy

Please don't just tell Filipino entrepreneurs to “be resilient.”

Help create an environment where we don't need extraordinary resilience just to survive.

We don't want to leave the Philippines.

We want to build here.

We want to create jobs here.

We want to grow here.

And we want the Philippines to grow with us.

— Oshwald Carbonell

Filipino Entrepreneur & Business Owner from scratch.

PAMASAHE 09302026

Php12 tricycle

Php30 to 35 special tricycle

Php30 to 35 bus kanto to PITX

Php14 jeep

Php40 PITX to Tayuman/blumentritt.

Php35 aseana to Tayuman/blumentrit

Bakit makakalaya.

BAKIT MAKAKALAYA NG MAAGA SA KULUNGAN SILA CEDRIC LEE

AT DENIECE CORNEJO?

By Atty. Florante A. Zagada.

According to the records of the RTC Taguig, Cedric Lee and Deniece Cornejo, were all convicted of the crime of Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention for Ransom and the penalty imposed by the trial court for the said crime is Reclusion Perpetua, a single indivisible penalty, with a range of 20 years and 1 day to 40 years. 

This penalty is not covered by indeterminate sentence law where the convicts can apply for a PAROLE in order apply for an early release after serving the Minimum penalty or Term of the Indeterminate sentence which is usually one degree lower if the penalty is divisible and the accused is not disqualified.

But why should they be released this early although they have just served about four years in prison? Are they not supposed to be in jail up to the maximum penalty of 40 years unless pardoned by the President?

The reason for their early release is because they appealed the decision of conviction of the RTC Taguig to the Court of Appeals. The appellate court in its decision revised or amended the findings of RTC Taguig from Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention to GRAVE COERCION under Art. 286 of the Revised Penal Code.

What is a GRAVE COERCION punished under Art 286 of the RPC? the said crime punishes the following: 

1. By preventing another, by means of violence, threats or intimidation, from doing something not prohibited by law;

2. By compelling another, by means of violence, threats or intimidation, to do something against his will, whether it be right or wrong.

MODES OF COMMISSION OF THE CRIME: 

1. By preventing another, by means of violence, threats or intimidation, from doing something not prohibited by law;

EXAMPLES:

Pedro threatened to kill Maria if she would watch the concert of Taylor Swift in Singapore. He prevented Maria to watch the concert by means of threat. Peter prevented Maria by means of intimidation from doing something not contrary to law. 

2. By compelling another, by means of violence, threats or intimidation, to do something against his will, whether it be right or wrong.

Pedro compels Maria to dance by threatening or intimidating to slap her. Pedro is liable for Grave Coercion because he compels Maria to do something against her will by means of threat or intimidation.

EXAMPLE 2: Mario warns Berto with injury if would attend bible study in the church. Here Mario prevents Pedro to do an act by means of threat.

Example 3: Mario said to Maria “pag hindi mo binalik ang inutang mo, kukunin ko ang cellphone mo?” “Pag hindi mo ko pinakasalan, ibubunyag ko mga sekreto mo sa social media”, “Pag hindi mo ko pinahiram ng pera, isusumbong kita sa asawa mo sa pambabae mo”, they are coercions because you compel another to do an act against his will by means of threats or intimidation, whether it be right or wrong.

How about if someone would tell you “pag hindi mo ko pinautang, hindi na rin kita pauutangin or e unfriend na kita sa FB? That is not grave coercion. There is no threat or intimidation or it is not sufficient or enough to create fear upon the person. But if the someone tells you, “pag hindi mo ko pinautang, may masamang magyayari saiyo.” That is already GRAVE COERCION. You are compelled by that person to lend him money by means of intimidation. 

AMENDMENT OF DECISION FROM KIDNAPPING AND SERIOUS ILLEGAL DETENTION FOR RANSOM to GRAVE COERCION.

I cannot comment why Court of Appeals downgraded or modified the crime to Grave Coercion because the decision of the Court of Appeals is not yet published. It is not available in the internet and we cannot speculate. But the Court of Appeals where there three justices in every division deemed it proper to modify the findings of the trial judge which decided alone the case based on the evidence presented by both parties. 

They have different opinions about the case as we have different opinions about the threshold votes required to remove VP. Sara. We have to respect that decision because we are not familiar with the facts and evidence of the case. Let us not attribute corruption, bribery, or bias. I believe of the integrity and competence of our courts. 

BUT WHY ARE LEE AND CORNEJO SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASED AT ANYTIME NOW?

The reason is this. Penalty for the crime of GRAVE COERCION is much lower that penalty of KIDNAPPING AND SERIOUS ILLEGAL DETENTION. The former is Reclusion Perpetua and the latter is merely PRISION CORRECTIONAL AND A FINE OF NOT EXCEEDING P100,000.00. 

The range of penalty for PRISION CORRECTIONAL is 6 MONTHS AND ONE (1) DAY TO 6 YEARS ONLY.  

APPLY THE INDERTERMINATE SENTENCE LAW, 

WHERE TO FIX THE PENALTY IN THAT DURATION OF PRISION CORRECTIONAL? In that case, both Lee and Cornejo are now entitled to INDETERMINATE SENTENCE LAW. In applying the INTERTERMINATE SENTENCE, the judge fixes the MAXIMUM TERM and the MINIMUM TERM. 

To determinate MAXIMUM TERM, consider the penalty imposable by law. In that penalty prescribed by law, look for Privileged Mitigating Circumstances under Art. 64., par. 5 for divisible penalty, Art 68, par. 2 for minority and Art. 69 for Incompelete Justifying and Exempting Circumstances. 

Also consider the stages of execution and the persons criminally liable in accordance with Arts. 50-57, to lower the penalty by a DEGREE. 

If there is no privileged mitigating, look for the available ordinary mitigating and generic aggravating by applying Art. 64 for divisible penalty and Art. 63 for Indivisible Penalties. 

If there is no presence of ordinary mitigating circumstance and generic aggravating, fix the proper period to the MEDIUM PERIOD OF PRISION CORRECTIONAL. (Observe the Rule under Art. 64, RPC for Divisible Penalty)

And then, FIX THE MINIMUM TERM, which according to the Indeterminate Sentence Law is ONE DEGREE LOWER of the MAXIMUM TERM - which is this case is ARRESTO MAYOR with a duration of penalty from 1 Month and 1 day to 6 MONTHS imprisonment. 

SUMMARY:  

MAXIMUM TERM: PRISION CORRECTIONAL MEDIUM PERIOD: (2 years and 4 months and 1 day to 4 years and 2 months.)

MINIMUM TERM - ARRESTO MAYOR in any of its period subject to the discretion of the court. here the judge may fix the penalty from 1 months and 1 day to 6 months.(Bahala na si Judge) 

Note: Once the convict has served the MINIMUM TERM, he/she may not apply for a PAROLE so that he/she can be released without serving the maximum term of the penalty.

APPLY GOOD CONDUCT TIME ALLOWANCE LAW. (GCTA)

With the aforesaid penalties, can LEE AND CORNEJO avail of GCTA? Yes, they are qualified and entitled.

ALLOWABLE DEDUCTIONS UNDER THE GCTA LAW:   

Under Section 3 of GCTA LAW, the good conduct of any offender qualified for credit for PREVENTIVE IMPRISONMENT pursuant to Article 29 of this Code, or of any CONVICTED PRISONER in any penal institution, rehabilitation or detention center or any other local jail shall entitle him to the following deductions from the period of his sentence:

1. During the first two years of imprisonment, he shall be allowed a deduction of twenty (20 DAYS) days for each month of good behavior during detention;

2. During the third to the fifth year, inclusive, of his imprisonment, he shall be allowed a reduction of twenty-three days for each month of good behavior during detention;

3. During the following years until the tenth year, inclusive, of his imprisonment, he shall be allowed a deduction of twenty-five days for each month of good behavior during detention;

4. During the eleventh and successive years of his imprisonment, he shall be allowed a deduction of thirty days for each month of good behavior during detention; and

5. At any time during the period of imprisonment, he shall be allowed another deduction of fifteen days, in addition to numbers one to four hereof, for each month of study, teaching or mentoring service time rendered.

An appeal by the accused shall not deprive him of entitlement to the above allowances for good conduct."

WHO MAY GRANT THE TIME ALLOWANCES: 

Under Sec. 5 of the GCTA law, whenever lawfully justified, the Director of the Bureau of Corrections, the Chief of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and/or the Warden of a provincial, district, municipal or city jail shall grant allowances for good conduct. Such allowances once granted shall not be revoked.

Therefore, the law allows the DEDUCTION from their prison terms the TIME SPENT AT THE BJMP during their preventive imprisonment and the TIME SPENT at the national penitentiary as CONVICTED CRIMINALS while serving their sentences.

CONCLUSION:

If you will consider the length of time they have been in jail since they were arrested and incarcerated and add the period of their preventive imprisonment at BJMP and the GOOD CONDUCT TIME ALLOWANCE of additional 20 days per month in their service of sentence, perhaps they have already served more than 4 YEARS in jail. 

Since the maximum penalty for GRAVE COERCION is only 4 YEARS AND 2 MONTHS, both CEDRIC LEE AND DENIECE CORNEJO are now deemed to have served their maximum term in prison sentence. Hence, they are not eligible to be release at anytime under the INDETERMINATE SENTENCE for completed service of sentence. No need to apply for parole if the maximum term is already served. 

PURPOSE OF THE LAW TO CONVICTED CRIMINALS IS NOT ONLY PUNISHMENT BUT REFORMATION. 

The purpose of the law is not only punishment under the classical theory but REFORMATION under the Positivist theory. There is a mandatory application for qualified convicted criminals under Indeterminate Sentence Law in order to avoid prolonged imprisonment because it is proven to be more destructive than constructive to the offender, to shorten possible detention of the convict in jail is to save valuable human resources, to preserve economic usefulness for these people for having committed a crime, to reform them rather than to deteriorate them, and, at the same time, to save the government expenses of maintaining the convicts on a prolonged confinement in jail.

End-

09302026 wed

3rd day gamutan sa ubo.

Php12 pandesal

Wfh ganda

Sick leave pogi. SOr ethroat.

Paid the ff. bills

Php8056.67 meco namin paid

Php1419.58 meco ni cris paid

Php599 globe cp bill paid

Php120 gupit buhok

Php215 13*16.5 solmux plus with zinc.

Php30 pamasahe pogi

Dswd bacoor

Para sa mga hindi pa alam kung paano ang process sa DSWD Bacoor, ito yung step-by-step na ginawa ko. 😊

STEP 1 — Kumuha ng Number

Pagdating sa DSWD, kumuha muna ng number. Usually, may staff na nag-aassist kung paano kumuha ng number gamit ang kiosk.

STEP 2 — Submission of Requirements

Kapag tinawag na ang number ninyo, pumunta sa unang table sa harap mismo ng DSWD office.

Usually, ihanda ang mga sumusunod:

📌 Medical Abstract

📌 Quotation

📌 Valid ID (Photocopy)

Other requirements, kung hahanapin:

📌 Barangay Clearance

📌 Barangay Indigency

Sa case ko, ang kinuha lang ay:

✅ Medical Abstract

✅ Quotation

✅ Valid ID (Photocopy)

STEP 3 — Interview/Assessment

Pagkatapos, pupunta kayo sa Interview/Assessment. Nasa gilid lang din ito at magkakalapit lang ang mga proseso.

Tatanungin kayo ng ilang personal information at bibigyan kayo ng form na kailangan ninyong i-fill out.

STEP 4 — Ibalik ang Form

Kapag tapos na ang form, ibalik ito sa staff. Sasabihin naman sa inyo kung ano ang susunod na gagawin.

Sa akin, sinabi na magte-text na lang sila kapag schedule na ng payout.

📌 Reminder: Ito ang process na ginawa ko sa DSWD Bacoor. Posibleng magbago ang requirements o proseso depende sa assessment at sa assistance na ina-applyan ninyo.

Sana makatulong ito sa mga nangangailangan. ❤️

09292026 tue san miguel fiesta.

Php10 pandesal

Php12+30 pamasahe

Wfh ganda

Site pogi.

Bus php35 kanto pitx

Carousel php18

Php350 pork mayo 1 tub

Php650 beef mechado 1 tub

Sumali sa karakol.

2 macdo chicken

Go Ahead. Audit me.

Mag-ingat tayo sa mga desisyon na ginagawa natin.

 “𝐃𝐀𝐋𝐀 𝐊𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐒𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐎.”

From reclusion perpetua to sentence being served.

Behind that famous line was a story that went far beyond a meeting, a condominium, and a single night.

Noong January 22, 2014, nagkita sina #DenieceCornejo at #VhongNavarro sa condominium unit ni Cornejo sa Taguig.

Ayon sa mga naging salaysay at court records, nauwi ang gabing iyon sa isang insidente kung saan si Navarro ay binugbog at pinigil ng grupo nina Cornejo.

Mula roon, nagsanga-sanga ang mga kaso.

May mga alegasyon laban kay Navarro. May mga reklamo rin laban kina Cornejo at sa kanyang mga kasama.

Noong 2014, matapos ang preliminary investigation, nagkaroon ng probable cause para kasuhan sina Cornejo at ilang kasama niya ng serious illegal detention, habang ang r*pe complaint laban kay Navarro ay ibinasura ng DOJ dahil sa kawalan ng probable cause.

Lumipas ang maraming taon.

May bail. May appeals. May mga desisyon ng appellate courts. May kaso na umabot sa Supreme Court.

Noong 2023, ibinasura ng Supreme Court ang mga impormasyon laban kay Navarro para sa r*pe at acts of lasciviousness dahil sa kawalan ng probable cause.

Samantala, noong May 2, 2024, ibang hatol naman ang dumating para kay Deniece at sa kanyang mga kasama.

Nahatulan sila ng Taguig Regional Trial Court na guilty beyond reasonable doubt sa serious illegal detention for ransom at ipinataw ang penalty na reclusion perpetua.

At ngayon, September 2026…

Iniulat na diumano binabaan ng Court of Appeals ang sentensya at iniutos ang pagpapalaya kay Deniece Cornejo. Ayon sa kanyang kampo, ang halos dalawang taon niyang pagkakakulong ay kinilala bilang time served.

Kaya inaasahang makakalaya na siya matapos makumpleto ang kinakailangang release documents.

Pero bilang abogado, dito ko gustong mag-iwan ng isang mahalagang paalala:

Ang “time served” ay hindi nangangahulugang walang nangyaring conviction.

Ang ibig sabihin nito, sa konteksto ng kasalukuyang report, ay ang panahong ginugol na niya sa detention ay na-credit na laban sa sentence na itinakda matapos itong mabawasan.

At ang release order mismo ay may mahalagang qualification:

“unless there is any other cause for which he/she may be lawfully detained.”

LIFE LESSON

Minsan, isang gabi lang ang simula.

Isang pagkikita.

Isang mensahe.

Isang desisyon.

At hindi natin alam na ang isang sandali ay maaaring magbago ng direksyon ng buhay ng maraming tao sa loob ng mahigit isang dekada.

Kaya sa buhay, mag-ingat tayo sa mga desisyon na ginagawa natin sa isang sandali ng emosyon.

Dahil may mga bagay na puwedeng bawiin.

May mga salitang puwedeng ipaliwanag.

Pero may mga desisyong kapag nangyari na, maaaring umabot sa korte, sa kulungan, sa pamilya, at sa buong buhay natin.

Kaya sa isang kuwentong nagsimula sa “dala kang food sa condo,” ang pinakamahalagang takeaway ay hindi ang punchline.

Ang bawat desisyon ay may consequence. At ang bawat tao, kahit gaano kakontrobersyal ang kuwento niya, ay dadaan pa rin sa proseso ng batas. | #abogadangbayan

LEGAL DISCLAIMER:

Ang mga kasalukuyang ulat tungkol sa pagpapalaya kay Deniece Cornejo ay bahagyang nakabatay sa release order na ibinahagi ng kanyang kampo at sa mga ulat ng media.

Para sa mas eksaktong legal analysis, kinakailangan pa ring makita at masuri ang buong Court of Appeals Decision, partikular ang dispositive portion, ang eksaktong penalty na ipinataw matapos ang modification, at ang computation ng detention credits na naging basehan ng “time served.”

This is for general legal information only and does not constitute legal advice or a definitive interpretation of the Court of Appeals’ full ruling.

09282026 mon hatid

2nd day ng ubo ni  mama.

Dollar to Peso rate:

$1 to Php 62.51

Php14 pandesal

Wfh ganda

Site pogi

Php39 toll fee

Php39 toll fee

Php365 jolibee

Php500 palengke mama.

Php250 30x 8.333 itlog

ot pogi

09272026 sun

Php10 pandesal

Php40 goto w/ laman

Php40 malabon

Php60 5 pcs. Lacatan saging 90/k

Php12 tricycle

Php10 saging

Php150 gulay

Php70 ubas

Php70 lanzones

Php165 10x16.50 solmux advance w zinc tab.

Php1550 60ml solmux advance with zinc syrup.

Forever young by Alphaville Marian Gold.

Let's dance in style, let's dance for a while

Heaven can wait, we're only watching the skies

Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst

Are you gonna drop the bomb or not?

Let us die young or let us live forever

We don't have the power, but we never say never

Sitting in a sandpit, life is a short trip

The music's for the sad men

Can you imagine when this race is won?

Turn our golden faces into the sun

Praising our leaders, we're getting in tune

The music's played by the, the madmen

Forever young

I want to be forever young

Do you really want to live forever?

Forever and ever

Forever young

I want to be forever young

Do you really want to live forever?

Forever young

Some are like water, some are like the heat

Some are a melody and some are the beat

Sooner or later, they all will be gone

Why don't they stay young?

It's so hard to get old without a cause

I don't want to perish like a fading horse

Youth's like diamonds in the sun

And diamonds are forever

So many adventures couldn't happen today

So many songs we forgot to play

So many dreams swinging out of the blue

We'll let them come true

Forever young

I want to be forever young

Do you really want to live forever?

Forever and ever

Forever young

I want to be forever young

Do you really want to live forever?

Forever, and ever

Forever young

I wanna be forever young

Do you really want to live forever? (Forever young)

Halo

 

Stop guessing your concrete mix! Wet, crumbling, or cracking slabs usually come down to one major mistake: getting your mix ratio wrong or drowning your cement in too much water.

Here is the golden standard 1:2:3 Concrete Mix Ratio every DIYer, handyman, and home improver needs to bookmark for strong, long-lasting slabs, footings, and walkways.

THE PERFECT CONCRETE FORMULA (1 Bag Mix)

1 Bag of Portland Cement (94 lbs): The binding agent that holds everything together.

2 Buckets of Sand: Fills the micro-voids for maximum density and cohesion.

3 Buckets of Gravel: Crushed stone or pea gravel for structural strength and load bearing.

1 Bucket of Clean Water: Activates the cement paste without weakening compressive strength.

3 PRO TIPS TO PREVENT CRACKS & SLAB FAILURE:

1. Watch Your Water-to-Cement Ratio (w/c):

Adding extra water makes concrete easier to pour, but every extra cup drastically lowers your PSI strength. Keep your mix firm and workable—like thick peanut butter—never soupy!

2. Elevate Your Rebar / Wire Mesh:

Reinforcement sitting directly on the dirt is useless. Always use 2-inch rebar chairs or pull the wire mesh up into the middle third of the slab while pouring so it actually supports tension load.

3. Accurate Coverage Calculation (Yield):

One 94 lb bag mixed with this exact 1:2:3 ratio produces roughly 4.5 cubic feet of wet concrete. That gives you exactly 13.5 sq ft of coverage at a standard 4-inch depth.

Planning a slab, patio, or sidewalk pour soon?

SAVE this post for quick reference on the job site!

TAG a DIY buddy who needs to see this before setting up forms!

COMMENT BELOW: What's your top tip for getting a smooth finish on a fresh pour?

Transportasyon.

In lieu of the continuous increase in fuel prices, Victory Liner Inc. has stopped its “Express” trips utilizing SCTEX–NLEX, which previously made my trip from Olongapo to Balintawak possible in around 2 hours and 40 minutes. Now, the alternative “Inner Cities” route, traversing San Fernando and provincial areas such as Lubao, Guagua, and Dinalupihan, can take around 4 hours.

For someone like me who values time and who doesn't mind paying a little more if it means getting home earlier I'm considering another option: taking a bus from Olongapo that passes through Dau, then transferring there to another bus going to my final destination, such as Cubao or Pasay. The same strategy can be used when traveling back: take a bus bound for Dau and transfer from there.

But I think this situation raises a bigger issue. It's no longer simply about whether bus fares should or should not increase. Commuters are already starting to feel the effects of the current situation.

We often hear that keeping fares low protects commuters. But we also have to ask:

What happens if keeping fares low makes it increasingly difficult for operators to sustain their operations?

If fewer buses are deployed, commuters could face longer waiting times, less frequent trips, and more crowded buses. The cost may not appear directly on our fare. Instead, we may pay for it through the hours we spend waiting and sitting in traffic, the additional fuel consumed, and the work, income, or opportunities we miss.

And traffic already carries an enormous economic cost. JICA studies have estimated congestion-related economic losses in Metro Manila at billions of pesos every day, including the value of travel time and vehicle operating costs.

So perhaps the question shouldn't simply be:

“Should we increase bus fares or not?”

The bigger question should be:

“How do we keep public transportation affordable for commuters while ensuring that operators can continue providing sufficient, reliable, and efficient service?”

Perhaps the government should consider a combination of solutions like targeted fuel assistance, temporary subsidies where appropriate, more efficient bus routes, better utilization of expressways, and a fare structure that reflects actual operating costs without placing the entire burden on commuters.

Because when public transportation becomes unsustainable, commuters don't necessarily escape the cost.

Sometimes, we pay for it with our time.

And in public transportation, time is also money.

09262026 sat

Php10 pandesal

Nandito na si pogi.

Php40 malabon

Php140 2x70 dinuguan

Php35 1pc apple

Php25 canton

punta moa ganda at mama.

Php380 grab

pogi gym.

Php12 +13+13+30 pamasahe

Php200 beef bacon

09252026 fri

Php12 pandesal.

Php50 2x25 pancit bihon

Galing one crown pogi 8:30am na naka uwi

Binigay kay sis thelma yung tarp

Php30 tricycle pogi

Php 12+13+13+30 gym ganda.

Php500 103 sayote tinola manok

Php25 lotto ganda.

Ganda punta after hour bar q c.

Php304 39+265 grab pogi

75.20

I barely passed the June 2017 PNLE with a 75.20, when 75 was all I needed.

Way back in 2017, that number felt like it meant everything. I remember seeing my colleagues’ higher scores and wondering if barely making it somehow made my achievement less worthy.

Years later, when I started practicing as a nurse, I realized how little that number actually mattered.

Life never asked me whether I passed with a 75 or a 90+. 

The patients I cared for never asked. 

The opportunities that came my way never asked. 

That score didn’t decide how good of a nurse I would become, how far I could go, or the places this profession would eventually take me.

It was simply a door I needed to get through and 75.20 opened it just the same.

So if you didn’t make it this time, I hope you don’t let one result convince you that you’re not meant for this. 

Some people get there on the first try. 

Some take a little longer. 

Years from now, nobody will care how many attempts it took or what number was printed on that paper.

What will matter is that you kept going.

Sometimes, the difference between almost and made it is simply having the courage to try one more time. 💪🏻

Your story is bigger than one exam. Keep going.🫡