President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assures that no Filipino will be left behind as he leads the distribution of cash aid to about 1,197 tourism workers in Aurora. The assistance, given under the Bayanihan sa Bukas na may Pag-asa para sa Turismo program, aims to restore livelihood and help revive the province’s disaster-hit tourism industry. (PCO)
By Michael A. Taroma
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assures that no Filipino will be left behind as he leads the distribution of cash aid to about 1,197 tourism workers in Aurora. The assistance, given under the Bayanihan sa Bukas na may Pag-asa para sa Turismo program, aims to restore livelihood and help revive the province’s disaster-hit tourism industry. (PCO)
BALER, Aurora (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assured that no Filipino will be left behind as the government continues to support disaster-stricken families, including workers in the tourism sector.
The Chief Executive personally led the distribution of Emergency Cash Transfer to about 1,197 tourism workers in Aurora under the Bayanihan sa Bukas na may Pag-asa para sa Turismo (BBMT) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Tourism (DOT).
In his speech, the President said the BBMT program aims to provide immediate relief and sustainable livelihood assistance to tourism workers whose jobs and income were disrupted by disasters and emergencies.
“Sa Aurora, matutulungan natin ang halos dalawang libong manggagawa sa sektor ng turismo na lubos na naapektuhan ng mga kalamidad. Bawat isa ay makatatanggap ng ECT at mga pagsasanay na nagkakahalaga ng tig-iisang libong piso,” he said.
Aurora’s tourism industry was among the hardest hit by Typhoon Nika and Super Typhoons Ofel and Pepito in November 2024, leaving many workers without income.
To help them recover, each beneficiary is provided ₱11,250 in unconditional cash aid to restore their livelihood and revive local tourism activities.
“Asahan po ninyo kahit saang sektor kayo sa ating lipunan, kahit anong uri ng trabaho ninyo, kahit ano po ang hanapbuhay ninyo. Kapag po kayo ay naging biktima ng sakuna, aasahan nyo po na nandito ang inyong pamahalaan upang alalayan kayo at matulungan kayong maipagpatuloy ang inyong kabuhayan,” the President emphasized.
Among the beneficiaries, Margie Ramil from the town of Dilasag expressed her gratitude, sharing that the assistance will help her family recover from the storm’s impact, particularly in repairing their assets and regaining stability in their livelihood.
“We’re very happy because the last typhoon destroyed our roof. We are thankful to the President for helping us recover, and we hope he continues to support and encourage the growth of our tourism industry,” she said.
After the kick-off in Baler, the DSWD and DOT will hold simultaneous payouts in other municipalities of Aurora in coordination with local government units to ensure the swift and orderly distribution of aid.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen Aurora’s tourism sector, stressing that these interventions form part of a broader national strategy to rebuild local economies, protect jobs, and advance the Philippines’ overall tourism recovery. (CLJD/MAT, PIA Region 3-Aurora)
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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the launch of the Yaman ng Kalusugan Caravan in Aurora, offering medical and preventive health services to learners, teachers, and school personnel. The program, implemented through the Clinics for Learners’ Access to School-health Services Plus of the Department of Education and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, aims to strengthen school communities by integrating accessible health care into the learning environment. (DepEd Region 3)
By Michael A. Taroma
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the launch of the Yaman ng Kalusugan Caravan in Aurora, offering medical and preventive health services to learners, teachers, and school personnel. The program, implemented through the Clinics for Learners’ Access to School-health Services Plus of the Department of Education and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, aims to strengthen school communities by integrating accessible health care into the learning environment. (DepEd Region 3)
BALER, Aurora (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the launch of the Yaman ng Kalusugan (YAKAP) Caravan in Aurora to promote physical and mental health in schools.
It is part of the Clinics for Learners’ Access to School-health Services Plus (CLASS+), a program of the Department of Education (DepEd) and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) that connects school clinics with the local health system.
Marcos said programs like CLASS+ and YAKAP embody his administration’s whole-of-nation approach ensuring support for Filipino families, especially teachers and the youth.
During the caravan, more than 200 elementary students received free eye check-ups.
About 350 teachers, non-teaching personnel, and high school students also availed of medical services such as X-rays, ECG, urinalysis, and ultrasound.
DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara stressed the importance of expanding health interventions in schools by sustaining collaborations with partner agencies and stakeholders.
“The health of our school communities is the foundation of quality education. Through CLASS+ and YAKAP, we are ensuring that the DepEd family has the strength and vitality to achieve our collective goals,” he said.
Meanwhile, PhilHealth President and CEO Edwin Mercado expressed support for the program, citing its role in promoting preventive health care and making medical services more accessible to students and teachers.
He said the state firm will continue working with national agencies, local government, and health partners to broaden access to primary health services.
YAKAP, an enhanced primary care benefit, covers consultations, laboratory tests, cancer screenings, and essential medicines to strengthen early detection and preventive health care for all Filipinos.
The caravan will expand to more schools nationwide, ensuring that health support becomes a sustained pillar of every learning environment and contributes to building a healthier, more resilient generation. (CLJD/MAT, PIA Region 3-Aurora)
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LUNGSOD NG MALOLOS – Uumpisahan na ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Bulacan ang selebrasyon ng taunang Singkaban Festival sa pamamagitan ng pag-anyaya sa mga Bulakenyo na tangkilikin ang mga lokal na produkto sa Tatak Singkaban Trade Fair 2025 na inorganisa ng Provincial Cooperative and Enterprise Development Office (PCEDO).
Bida sa trade fair ang 50 local Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) kung saan maaaring makapamili ng mga produktong natatangi sa mga bayan ng Bulacan. Tatakbo ang trade fair mula Agosto 31 hanggang Setyembre 4, 2025 mula ika-10:00 ng umaga hanggang 9:00 ng gabi.
Nagparating naman ng kaniyang personal na imbitasyon sa mga Bulakenyo si Gobernador Daniel R. Fernando at hinikayat na suportahan ang trade fair dahil hindi lang makikita rito ang husay ng ekonomiya ng lalawigan kundi pati na rin ang gandang pamanang kultural.
“Inaanyayahan ko po kayong lahat na suportahan ang mgaproduktong gawa ng mga Bulakenyo at nang maranasan din ninyo ang sarap ng pamanang bigay ng kultura ng aminglalawigan,” dagdag pa niya.
Magpapatuloy naman ang pagdiriwang na ito sa ikalawang bahagi ng trade fair Setyembre 8-14 sa harapan ng gusali ng Regional Trial Court sa loob ng Capitol Compound dito sa Lungsod ng Malolos.
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CITY OF MALOLOS — As part of the highly anticipated Singkaban Festival 2025, the Provincial Government of Bulacan, through the Provincial History, Arts, Culture, and Tourism Office (PHACTO), is rolling out the red carpet for a cinematic celebration of local culture and unveiled the official list of documentaries and their screening schedules for the premier SINElik6 Bulacan DocuFest.
The festival will bring stories from across the province to the big screen at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, Hiyas ng Bulacan Cultural Center, from September 2 to 3.
Mark your calendars for September 2, when ten documentaries by talented Bulakenyo filmmakers will take center stage. These films are a vibrant tapestry, showcasing the diverse traditions and unique character of the province beginning with Singkaban: Ang Indak ng Makulay at Makasaysayang Kulturang Bulakenyo (8 AM), Indak sa Patronang Dalisay: Sayaw Panalangin, Indayog ng Paghiling (8:45 AM), Ang Paglalayag: Alon ng Debosyon (9:30 AM), Suguran: Indayog ng Kapayapaan (10:30 AM), Biyaheng Bulak: Pistang Bulak ng San Ildefonso (11:15 AM), Guinto’t Punso: Ang Halamanan Festival ng Guiguinto (1:00 PM), Agos: Pagpapanhik ng Poong Pinipintuho (1:45 PM), Kapistahan ni San Miguel de Mayumo: Ang Kalasag ng Pananampalataya (2:30 PM), Maghapong Nagpuputukan, Di Naman Nagkakamatayan: Historikong Yugto sa Pista ng Chicharon ng Santa Maria, Bulacan (3:30 PM), and Nilalang Sumbalilo ng Kasaysayan: Buntal Hat Festival ng Baliwag (4:15 PM).
The festival continues on September 3 with seven more captivating, Bulacan-made films including Mina Masa Asa sa Minasa Festival (8 AM), Pagoda: Gunita at Panata sa Muling Paglalayag ng Pagoda ng Krus ng Wawa (8:45 AM), Mga Anghel sa Lupa (9:30 AM), Tagpo: Salubong Festival (10:30 AM), Lakambakod: Pista ng Lumuluhod na Kalabaw ng Pulilan (11:15 AM), Pagdi Ba Malaya: Ang Pista ng Bawat Pilipino (1:00 PM), and Bawal Humipo Ang Mga Lalaki (1:45 PM).
Due to limited seating, interested attendees are required to register through the provided Google Forms link posted on the Sineliksik Bulacan Facebook page.
“Para sa mga nagnanais manood, kailangan lamang mag-register sa Google Forms ng mga ipalalabas na Docufilm. Ipinapaalala na limitado lamang ang slots. Matapos mai-submit ang form, awtomatiko nang maaaring dumalo sa Premiere Showing ng naturang Docufilm. Kung hindi na tumatanggap ng response ang Google Form, nangangahulugang puno na ang slots sa nasabing palabas”.
Meanwhile, the exhibit and awarding ceremony is set to happen on September 9 at 5:00 PM at The Pavillion Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center in the City of Malolos, Bulacan.
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MANILA, Philippines – Marine conservation and animal welfare advocates handed folded paper dolphins to staff and bypassers at the Japanese Embassy on September 1. Each origami dolphin symbolized hope for an end to the annual dolphin hunts in Taiji, Japan.
The peaceful protest, part of the global Japan Dolphin Day campaign, was organized by Earth Island Institute Asia Pacific (EII-AP), with the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), and allied groups. Drawing from the Japanese tradition of origami as a symbol of hope and peace, the paper dolphins represented a vision of oceans where marine mammals live free from slaughter and captivity.
Taiji’s hunts, exposed in the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove, involve driving dolphins into a cove. The most “marketable” are sold alive to marine parks worldwide, while the rest are killed for meat. Once in captivity, advocates claim that dolphins are often starved into compliance and forced to perform tricks, which strips them of freedom and natural instincts.
In past decades, Taiji hunters killed more than a thousand dolphins annually, with about a hundred captured alive. By 2023–24, around 833 were reported slaughtered. In the most recent 2024–25 season, only 286 dolphins were killed, while 94 were captured alive. Advocates explain that the decline in slaughter is due to two harsh realities: the depletion of local dolphin populations and the sharp decline in Japanese demand for dolphin meat, which is often contaminated with high levels of mercury. In contrast, the live dolphin trade has remained lucrative, with a single dolphin fetching tens of thousands of dollars from marine parks abroad.
In the Philippines, Ocean Adventure in Subic is the only marine park holding dolphins. The facility has sourced animals from the international live dolphin trade linked to the Taiji hunts. Records show six false killer whales, including one named Tonka, were brought to the park; none survived beyond 13 years, though in the wild they can live for more than 60 years. Other recorded losses include Maia and at least five bottlenose dolphins, with stress and illness likely contributing causes.
“These parks market their shows as ‘education,’ yet the tricks on display — leaping through hoops, carrying trainers on their backs, balancing balls — bear no resemblance to natural dolphin behavior,” said EII-AP Regional Director Trixie Concepcion. “In the wild, dolphins travel vast distances, hunt live prey, and maintain complex social bonds. Captivity offers neither conservation nor genuine education. If we want the next generation to value and protect our seas, they must experience dolphins as they truly are — wild and free.”
PAWS Executive Director Atty. Anna Cabrera added: “No tank can replicate a dolphin’s natural habitat. Confinement strips them of their freedom, family bonds, and well-being. It’s a lifetime sentence for an animal that has committed no crime.”
The groups urged the public to avoid marine parks that keep wild dolphins, support ethical community-based marine ecotourism, and back stronger marine mammal protections in the Philippines.
“Every ticket to a dolphin show fuels a global cycle of capture and captivity,” Concepcion said. “It’s time to turn away from shows and toward true conservation.”
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Senate majority leader Joel Villanueva reiterated the value of lifelong learning through skills development, assessment, and certification as tech-voc education has become widely accessible and available not only in the Philippines but in the rest of Southeast Asia.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 14th WorldSkills ASEAN Manila 2025, Villanueva expressed gratitude to Malaysia, current ASEAN chair, for giving prominence to skills development through the event which he described as the “Olympics of Skills.”
“We thank Malaysia, current ASEAN Chair, for paying attention to skills as a key driver of regional growth through the ASEAN Year of Skills 2025. Your intense participation here demonstrates your commitment to show that skills are truly the currency of the ASEAN labor market,” said Villanueva, popularly called TESDAMAN for making tech-voc education widespread during his term as director general of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) up to the halls of the Senate and as EDCOM2 Commissioner.
“Here in the Philippines, success stories of our TVET graduates prove that skilled workers have greater labor mobility, contribute to economic resilience, and propel the growth of our micro, small, and medium enterprises,” he continued.
Villanueva pointed out the importance of skills certification to gain meaningful employment and improve an individual’s economic and social standing across the region, citing the Vientiane Declaration on Skills Mobility, Recognition and Development that ASEAN leaders passed last year.
“Skills certificates have been recognized as passports for employment and upward mobility in the ASEAN workplaces. What more of the certification of having participated in a WorldSkills Competition? What better recognition than being awarded a medal?” he said.
With ASEAN’s youth population projected to exceed 220 million by 2038, the senator expressed hope that this rising demographic will drive “transformative growth” through innovation, resilience, and continuous learning.
The senator congratulated all the 259 competitors that went head-to-head across 32 skill areas under six (6) sectors: Manufacturing and Engineering Technology, Information and Communication Technology, Construction and Building Technology, Social and Personal Service, Creative Arts and Fashion, and Transportation and Logistics, emphasizing that skilled work has become the foundation of a thriving future.
Team Philippines won a total of 30 medals with 10 gold, 7 silver, 8 bronze and 5 medallions of excellence. The Filipino gold medalists are Hayden Christian Gravador and Gian Benedict Cariño for the Internet of Things, John Patrick Torres and Steven Retirado for CNC Maintenance, Alexis Joseph Anuta for Plumbing and Heating, James Cavin Sayago for Electrical Installation, James Bryan Estrada for Industrial Control, Honorato Amad II for Carpentry, Agee Docayso for Cooking, Denmark Dadia for Refrigeration and Airconditioning, Hannah Krystelle Caintic for Graphic Design Technology and Carlos Antonio Delos Reyes for Hotel Reception.
This 14th edition of the WorldSkills ASEAN Competition in the Philippines with the theme “ASEAN: Skilled for the Future” marked the Region’s largest display of technical excellence and vocational innovation since its inception. It also reflected the shared vision of the 11 ASEAN Member States (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and Timor Leste, which participated for the first time, to invest in human capital as the foundation for inclusive growth, resilience and sustainable development.
“You can only rest on the laurels of the WorldSkills Competition by upskilling. Break out of the shell of your current level. Seek more challenges and opportunities that abound in our ASEAN communities,” Villanueva said.
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Pinangunahan ni Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro ang pag-alaala sa Ika-175 Taong Anibersaryo ng Kapanganakan ng bayaning si Marcelo H. Del Pilar sa kanyang pambansa dambana sa Bulakan, Bulacan. Sentro ng kanyang mensahe ang pagkilala kay Del Pilar bilang naglatag ng mga pundasyon para sa isang matatag na republika. (Clarence May F. De Guzman/PIA 3 GIP)
Ni Shane F. Velasco
Pinangunahan ni Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro ang pag-alaala sa Ika-175 Taong Anibersaryo ng Kapanganakan ng bayaning si Marcelo H. Del Pilar sa kanyang pambansa dambana sa Bulakan, Bulacan. Sentro ng kanyang mensahe ang pagkilala kay Del Pilar bilang naglatag ng mga pundasyon para sa isang matatag na republika. (Clarence May F. De Guzman/PIA 3 GIP)
BULAKAN, Bulacan (PIA) — Inilatag ni Marcelo H. Del Pilar ang mga pundasyon para sa isang Pilipinas na may matatag na republika.
Iyan ang sentro ng talumpati ni Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro nang pangunahan niya ang pag-alaala sa ika-175 taong anibersaryo ng kapanganakan ng bayani sa kanyang pambansa dambana sa Bulakan, Bulacan.
Ayon sa kalihim, sadyang ang kaisipan ni Del Pilar ay higit pa sa kanyang panahon kung saan natatanaw niya ang hinaharap na dapat tamasahin ng mga Pilipino sa kasalukuyan bilang isang republika.
Sa maagang kamalayan niya sa konsepto at prinsiyo ng ugnayang panlabas, itinaguyod ni Del Pilar ang mga kilusang propaganda upang isulong ang mga reporma na dapat magkaroon ng kinatawan ang Pilipinas sa Cortez na parliamento ng Espanya.
Bagama’t hindi ito natupad sa panahon ni Del Pilar, naisakatuparan ito mismo ng mga Pilipino nang itatag at buksan ang sesyon ng Kongreso ng Malolos noong Setyembre 15, 1898 sa simbahan ng Barasoain sa Malolos.
Ang parliamento ay isang uri ng demokrasya kung saan bumuboto ang mga tao upang katawanin sila sa pagbalangkas ng mga patakaran at pangangasiwa sa pamahalaan.
May mga tala rin sa Dyaryong Tagalog na isinulat ni Del Pilar noong Nobyembre 1882, na humihikayat sa Pamahalaang Kolonyal ng Espanya sa Pilipinas, na magtatag ng hukbong dagat para mapangalagaan ang karagatan at mga isla nito.
Sa isyu ng La Solidaridad noong Nobyembre 15, 1895, inilahad naman ni Del Pilar na dapat magkaroon ng sariling hukbong dagat ang Pilipinas.
Bagama’t itinuturing siya na kalaban ng kolonya at ng simbahan, tumugon ang Espanya sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalabas ng Royal Decree kung saan idineklara ang Subic Bay bilang isang base ng hukbong dagat o naval base noong 1884.
Sinabi rin ni Lazaro na isang malakas na tagapagtanggol ng karapatang pantao ang abogadong si Del Pilar dahil sa mariing pagtuligsa nito laban sa katiwalian sa kolonyal na pamahalaan at sa simbahan.
Katunayan aniya, kitang kita ito sa mga dupluhan at dalitan na kanyang itinanghal sa mga pista sa barrio na nagsiwalat ng mga katiwalian at pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan.
Kakambal ng pagtataguyod sa karapatang pantao at paglaban sa katiwalian, ang matinding paninindigan ni Del Pilar para sa katotohanan.
Binigyang diin ni Lazaro na nagsilbing malakas na tinig ng mga Pilipino ang bayani laban sa paggamit ng mga prayle sa simbahan upang makapang-abuso.
Mababasa iyon sa kanyang mga isinulat sa Diariong Tagalog na itinatag noong 1882. I
ba pa rito ang maraming mga babasahin na kanya ring isinulat na nagsiwalat sa nasabing masasamang gawa tulad ng Cai-igat Cayo, Dasalan at Tocsohan, Kadakilaan ng Dios, La Soberania Monacal at La Frailocracia Filipinas.
Kaugnay nito, kinatigan ni Gobernador Daniel Fernando ang tinuran ng kalihim at sinabing lalong napapanahon na dapat mas igiit ng mga Bulakenyo ang katotohanan.
Hindi aniya magtatagumpay ang isang bayan kung walang katotohanan at hindi tuluyang masusugpo ang katiwalian.
Binigyang diin pa ng gobernador na ang kasalukuyang usapin sa mga proyektong kontra baha na naiuugnay sa mga alegasyon ng katiwalian, ay panibagong hamon sa mga Bulakenyo upang sikaping manahin ang katatagan ng loob ni Del Pilar para panindigan ang katotohanan. (CLJD/SFV, PIA Region 3-Bulacan)
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Rosario Godoy Paguia, 80, picking pieces of Calabash or miracle fruit from a tree in her backyard in Barangay San Nicolas, Bulakan town. Photo by Anton Luis Catindig
Rosario Godoy Paguia, 80, picking pieces of Calabash or miracle fruit from a tree in her backyard in Barangay San Nicolas, Bulakan town. Photo by Anton Luis Catindig
BULAKAN, Bulacan—Eighty-year-old Rosario Godoy Paguia is herself a work in wonder not only to her family and friends but also to the many communities she supplies with “Calabash,” or miracle fruit, as supplemental medicine for many ailments for five years now.
Paguia, a twice widow starting when she was 19 years old and who reared all her four children as a nearly five-decade laundrywoman in her place in Barangay San Nicolas and other nearby areas has been benefitting from the juice extract of miracle fruit.
She said since she started to drink miracle fruit in 2020 after she suffered from a stroke in 2018, her health has greatly improved and even her arthritis, gout and osteoarthritis had been cured. In 2019, while lingering from pain as a result of the stroke, a teacher friend of their friend gave her a twig of miracle fruit claiming it is good for the health and can cure different ailments including cancer. The plant grows fast and already produced fruits in just a couple of months.
Paguia recalls that she raised her children and took care of her seriously sick husband while making laundry for five families every week of her life for almost five decades, which had manifested in her body during her senior years. “Lahat ng sakit nasa akin, may rayuma, gout, osteoarthritis, na-stroke ako, pero eto nakakalakad ako, kahit saan nakakapunta ako. Isang taon ako umiinom at parang balewala na ang mga sakit ko. Ang mga anak ko nagagalit sa akin na lumalabas ako, baka daw mapaano ako dahil nga matanda na ako at may mga sakit pa,” (All ailments are in me, I have an arthritis, gout, osteoarthritis, and I also suffered a stroke, but here I am. I can walk and can go anywhere. I took it for one year and it seems all my ailments were gone. My children are getting mad because I go to different paces, they are concern something bad may happen because of my age and my ailments), she told NEWSCORE Bulacan in an interview at her backyard few weeks ago.
Calabash which is a huge round colored light green fruit that is much bigger than a coconut fruit has a hard peel and is opened by cutting it into two pieces in the middle, getting its white fabrics inside, and slicing or breaking them into smaller pieces and boiling them for 20-40 minutes under a low-minimum heat. To extract the juices, it is being drained using a strainer cloth or a net. It must be refrigerated and drank 1-2 glasses a day, morning and or night.
“Coupled with prayers from God, I continue to believe that it cures me,” she said.
Today, people looking for cure to their various ailments including fear of cancer, osteoarthritis, arthritis, high cholesterol, high blood, with high sugar or diabetes from Barangay Bambang, Maysantol and other villages in this town and even from City of Malolos, come to her and ask pieces from her small backyard. Some, she said, bought a number of pieces to resell them through bottles of the already extracted fruit. But today, to help her and older sister meet the ends, she now sells them at P50-P100 each, but for others, she just gives them for free to help them get cured.
“Kahit walang cancer, umiinom din sila, dahil iyan daw, lahat ng sakit nareremedyuhan niyang miracle fruit,” she ended.
But for Jayson Gloria Magpayo, Bulakan municipal agriculture officer, calabash remains to be unpopular in the town and that he only encounters one or two backyard which grows the plant.
However, he told NEWSCORE Bulacan, calabash being supplemental and herbal medicine can be helpful to a number of people and can also be extensively planted in many backyards. He said his office will conduct further studies about the fruit for possible future vegetation.
Result of studies and findings
Basically, miracle fruit has potential therapeutic uses as an antioxidant, for improving blood sugar regulation in diabetics, and for alleviating taste disturbances, like metallic tastes, in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Its main benefit is acting as a natural, low-calorie sweetener that can help reduce sugar intake and manage weight by temporarily making sour foods taste sweet.
Miracle fruit is also primarily used as a taste modification and for sugar reduction being a natural sweetener through the active compound, miraculin, binds to taste receptors, making sour and bitter foods taste sweet for a period.
Also, miracle fruit reduced he sugar intake of a person by enhancing the sweetness of other foods, it can help people satisfy their sweet cravings without adding extra calories or refined sugars, which is beneficial for weight management and reducing sugar consumption. It also has antioxidant properties because it contains antioxidants like polyphenols, which combat oxidative stress in the body.
Miracle fruit also improves blood sugar regulation or has a potential antidiabetic properties, possibly by improving insulin sensitivity and helping to prevent sugar spikes after meals. It is also a chemotherapy supplement as it temporarily mask the metallic taste that often accompanies chemotherapy, making food more palatable and helping patients maintain proper nutrition. The fruit also has immune support capabilities because it is rich in Vitamin C, it can help strengthen the immune system by promoting white blood cell production. It is also good for th yes because its Vitamin A content is beneficial for eye health, potentially reducing risks for age-related vision issues.
However, there are important considerations as there is still a limited scientific evidence in the fruit. While laboratory studies and traditional use suggest benefits for conditions like diabetes and cancer, more robust scientific evidence is needed to support these uses.
DOH views
In a statement reply to NEWSCORE Bulacan, the Department of Health (DOH) said that through the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) acknowledges the traditional use of Calabash, or “miracle fruit,” in Filipino folk medicine for various ailments like cancer and diabetes, with preclinical studies suggesting potential health benefits.
However, PITAHC stresses that there is no conclusive clinical evidence to prove Calabash can cure serious medical conditions, and further human-based research is needed to confirm its efficacy and safety.
“The public is advised to exercise informed caution with traditional remedies, as improper use may pose health risks, and these should never replace evidence-based medical care. PITAHC remains dedicated to scientifically evaluating traditional practices and encourages consultation with licensed health professionals for guidance,” the statement reads.
Low blood sugar and cholesterol
Alfredo Alejandro, 78, a retired engineer who worked for 30 years as Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Saudi Arabia and his wife Elisa 75, both experienced good results upon drinking miracle fruit.
In an interview in their house in Sibul, San Miguel town last week, the couple attested that results of their blood laboratory really showed good results—their cholesterol and sugar level both have low levels.
“There were good effects, our sugar and cholesterol are now in low levels and even our urines and our daily bowel movement became regular. Laboratory tests for our sugar and cholesterol would not even reach the border line. Miracle fruit really has good effects on us,’ he said.
The couple started drinking miracle fruit during the pandemic. Arnulfo, one of their farm workers from Barangay Tigpalas who was on his pass 60 but who just looked and moves like a 40 year old, according to Mang Alfredo gave them both fruits. Since then, the couple had their regular supply.
Their neighbor Yolanda Libunao is also a major source of the miracle fruit in their community. Her husband planted a twig of the miracle fruit a year before he passed away in 2017 and since then, their miracle fruit trees have been visited by many residents who requested for a couple of pieces.
Wilfredo Santos, San Miguel environment officer said Calabash has been among the most recent new type of plant residents in many villages are planting because of its medicinal functions.
Santos said residents find beneficial results of Calabash in YouTube, Facebook and in other internet platforms. “They are experiencing wonders and cures. In the next few years, maybe, even more families will grow miracle fruit trees in their backyards,” he told NEWSCORE Bulacan.
Graphical abstract of the AI-based accumulated tropical cyclone (TC) rainfall model.
(Photo credit: Mesias & Bagtasa, 2025)
By: Eunice Jean C. Patron
Graphical abstract of the AI-based accumulated tropical cyclone (TC) rainfall model. (Photo credit: Mesias & Bagtasa, 2025)
The Philippines is often hit by tropical cyclones (TCs), which bring heavy rainfall that can cause floods and landslides. More often than not, the patterns of TCs repeat. For instance, if a typhoon with a certain amount of rainfall passes through Central Luzon, a similar typhoon that will pass through Central Luzon again in the future is likely to have the same amount and distribution of rainfall.
This piqued the interest of Cris Gino Mesias and Dr. Gerry Bagtasa of the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Science’s Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (UPD-CS IESM), who developed an AI model that links past TC tracks to recorded rainfall. The AI model still uses the same information about Philippine typhoons, but can spot patterns more quickly and efficiently.
“Most predictions of TC rainfall rely on dynamic models, which are very difficult to run as they take a lot of computational resources and require high-performance computing,” Dr. Bagtasa shared.
Compared to previous models, the AI model developed by the UP scientists can run within minutes on a laptop. “When we assessed the AI model, its predictive skill was comparable to a dynamic model that we regularly use. The AI model had better skills for extreme rainfall from tropical cyclones,” he added.
Dr. Bagtasa explained that the distance of the TC and its duration are the parameters that most influenced the AI model’s rainfall predictions, and these mainly determine who will be affected by heavy rains and how much rain the country will experience. For instance, a typhoon near Batanes would not be expected to cause heavy rains in Mindanao. Slow-moving TCs that spend more time over land also tend to bring more rainfall overall.
“This AI model, admittedly, is not perfect. But it can add to the suite of rainfall forecast models available to equip our disaster managers with more information on impending hazards,” he said. The model can also be updated with fresh data, allowing it to relearn and improve its accuracy.
The AI model developed by Mesias and Dr. Bagtasa is different from AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini, which are known as large language models (LLMs). Dr. Bagtasa emphasized that not all AI systems are the same, making AI literacy an absolute necessity. “Some AI models, such as those for weather forecasting, can be useful and more efficient than conventional methods. But there are also some, like LLMs, that consume so much energy, leading to environmental impacts that are harmful to the planet,” he cautioned.
The study, titled “AI-Based Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Forecasting in the Philippines Using Machine Learning,” is published in Meteorological Applications. The research was also supported by the Department of Science and Technology–Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (DOST-ASTHRDP) and the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).
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PROMOTING PEACE AND ORDER. Governor Daniel R. Fernando and Vice Gov. Alexis C. Castro pledge their commitment and support in maintaining peace and order in Bulacan together with (L-R) Major Rolly G. Legario, Executive Officer of the 70th Infantry (Matapat at Matatag) Battalion of the Philippine Army, Provincial Director PCol. Angel Garcillano, DILG Bulacan Provincial Director Myrvi Apostol-Fabia, Board Member Fortunato SJ. Angeles, Provincial Administrator Antonette V. Constantino, the member agencies of PPOC, PADAC, and PTF-ELCAC and PGB department heads during the 3rd Quarter Joint Meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC), and Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) held yesterday at The Pavilion, Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center, City of Malolos, Bulacan.
PROMOTING PEACE AND ORDER. Governor Daniel R. Fernando and Vice Gov. Alexis C. Castro pledge their commitment and support in maintaining peace and order in Bulacan together with (L-R) Major Rolly G. Legario, Executive Officer of the 70th Infantry (Matapat at Matatag) Battalion of the Philippine Army, Provincial Director PCol. Angel Garcillano, DILG Bulacan Provincial Director Myrvi Apostol-Fabia, Board Member Fortunato SJ. Angeles, Provincial Administrator Antonette V. Constantino, the member agencies of PPOC, PADAC, and PTF-ELCAC and PGB department heads during the 3rd Quarter Joint Meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC), and Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) held yesterday at The Pavilion, Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center, City of Malolos, Bulacan.
CITY OF MALOLOS – Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando led the 3rd Quarter Joint Meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC), and Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC), where a resolution was approved to intensify security measures in schools and universities across the province.
This move comes in response to reports of increasing criminality involving students.
The council passed Resolution No. 3, series of 2025, which urges all local government units, in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), to strengthen security in public and private schools.
Proposed by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Bulacan Provincial Director Myrvi Apostol-Fabia, the resolution has since been revised to include the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and Department of Health (DOH).
Fernando emphasized the importance of student and teacher safety, stating that education can only flourish in an environment free from threats. He called on council members to help maintain peace throughout the province, not just in schools.
“Patuloy po nating susuportahan ang ating mga kapulisan sa inyong mga layunin, huwag nating bigyan ng dungis ang ating uniporme sapagkat tayo po ay nasa serbisyo, tayo po ay pinagkakatiwalaan ng mga tao,” the governor said.
Fernando also reported that under the anti-illegal drugs program, 150 of the 572 barangays in the province or 26.22% have yet to be cleared, as efforts continue to make Bulacan a drug-free province.
Additionally, the PNP pledged a 5-minute response time for all incidents and will intensify crime prevention through increased police visibility, CCTV installations, and community policing programs that promote cooperation between the community and law enforcement.
The joint meeting also included presentations on various topics from different agencies including Peace and Order Programs (DILG Bulacan), Anti-Illegal Drugs Program (PDEA Bulacan), Criminality Situation (PNP Bulacan), Anti-Insurgency Program (70th Infantry Battalion), Jail Situation (BJMP Bulacan), Fake News and Disinformation (PIA Bulacan), and Student Security Plan of Action (DepEd Bulacan).
Also in attendance were Vice Governor Alexis C. Castro, Provincial Administrator Antonette V. Constantino, Board Member Fortunato SJ. Angeles, and other key officials from various agencies.
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