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Coast Guard rescues 11, including toddler, after motor banca capsizes off Samar

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TACLOBAN CITY — Eleven passengers and crew, including a two-year-old girl, were safely rescued after their motor banca capsized in rough waters off Daram, Samar, on the evening of December 20, 2025, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) authorities reported.

The incident was reported to Coast Guard Station Western Samar (CGSWSR) at around 6:14 p.m. Promptly responding, two search-and-rescue (SAR) teams from the Coast Guard Clearing Out Post in Catbalogan boarded rented motor bancas and proceeded to the area by 6:20 p.m.

At approximately 7:33 p.m., the teams located the capsized vessel between Darahuway Island and Barangay Tinaogan, Daram. All passengers and crew were safely transferred to the rescue boats and transported to Catbalogan City, arriving at the city wharf around 8:20 p.m. There were no reported injuries, and none of the rescued individuals required medical attention.

Preliminary investigation indicated that the motor banca, captained by 37-year-old Elmar Abasula of Barangay Bayog, Daram, had departed the town around 6:00 p.m. en route to Catbalogan City. Strong winds, high waves, and heavy rains caused the vessel to capsize shortly after departure.

The rescued passengers included residents of both Catbalogan City and Daram, with the youngest being a two-year-old child. The SAR teams returned safely to their station by 9:00 p.m. without incident.

The Coast Guard reminded sea travelers and boat operators to closely monitor weather advisories and prioritize safety, particularly during periods of inclement weather, to prevent similar maritime accidents.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

MUPH Leyte partners with Youth Plus Medical Group for 2025 pageant bid

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MUPH-YOUTH PLUS AGREEMENT. The Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) Leyte Organization entered an agreement with the Youth Plus Medical Group Inc. with the latter to provide MUPH candidates professional medical and aesthetic support. Dr. Yohann Kae Luzano, medical director of Youth Plus Medical Group Inc. and Rochelle Alfonso, local director of Miss Universe Philippines Leyte, signed the agreement on Dec. 21. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
MUPH-YOUTH PLUS AGREEMENT. The Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) Leyte Organization entered an agreement with the Youth Plus Medical Group Inc. with the latter to provide MUPH candidates professional medical and aesthetic support. Dr. Yohann Kae Luzano, medical director of Youth Plus Medical Group Inc. and Rochelle Alfonso, local director of Miss Universe Philippines Leyte, signed the agreement on Dec. 21. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) Leyte Organization has secured a new partnership aimed at strengthening the preparation and overall support system for its 2025 candidate as she competes on the national stage.

The partnership was formalized through the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Sunday, Dec.21, between MUPH Leyte and Youth Plus Medical Group Inc. during a ceremony held at XYZ Hotel in Tacloban City. The agreement was signed by Dr. Yohann Kae P. Luzano, medical director of Youth Plus Medical Group Inc., and Ma. Rochelle Alfonso, local director of Miss Universe Philippines Leyte.

Alyssa Ruiz Taala, Miss Dulag 2025, and Kareyl May Cabahul, the reigning Miss Universe Philippines Leyte titleholder, witnessed the agreement between the MUPH-Leyte and the Youth Plus Medical Group Inc.(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

Also present at the signing were Alyssa Ruiz Taala, Miss Dulag 2025, and Kareyl May Cabahul, the reigning Miss Universe Philippines Leyte titleholder.

Alfonso said the collaboration underscores the organization’s commitment to holistic candidate development, emphasizing confidence, advocacy, and purpose alongside physical preparation.

“Miss Universe Philippines Leyte is not just about beauty. It is about purpose, voice, and representation. With the support of Youth Plus, our candidate will be empowered with greater confidence as she competes at the national level,” Alfonso said.

Under the agreement, Youth Plus Medical Group Inc. will provide professional medical and aesthetic support, including skincare and beauty enhancement services, to help prepare the MUPH Leyte candidate. Luzano said the clinic is committed to extending its best practices and services for at least a year and even beyond as part of the partnership.

In return, MUPH Leyte, through its candidate, will help promote Youth Plus Medical Group Inc. on various social media platforms during national pageant activities. The partnership also includes collaboration on advocacy initiatives and joint promotional efforts during official appearances and events.

Kareyl May Cabahul, the Miss Universe Philippines Leyte 2025 titleholder, is set to represent the province in the national Miss Universe Philippines competition scheduled in May 2026, bringing Leyte’s advocacies and identity to the national spotlight.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

Catarman LGU distributes Christmas allowances to 89 CAFGU members

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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. Members of Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) in Catarman received their allowances from the local government for the months of June through November. Rachel Arnaiz, municipal information officer and focal person of ELCAC, represented the municipal government in the release of the assistance.(PHOTO COURTESY)
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. Members of Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) in Catarman received their allowances from the local government for the months of June through November. Rachel Arnaiz, municipal information officer and focal person of ELCAC, represented the municipal government in the release of the assistance.(PHOTO COURTESY)

CATARMAN, Northern Samar — The holiday season brought cheer to 89 members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) in Catarman as they received their allowances from the local government for the months of June through November.
Each CAFGU member received a total of P5,000, distributed by the Municipal Treasurer’s Office and the Mayor’s Office at the 43IB function hall in Barangay Magsaysay, Lope De Vega.

Municipal Information Officer and Municipal Task Force–End Local Communist Armed Conflict Focal Person Rachel Arnaiz, representing Mayor Dianne E. Rosales, thanked the CAFGU personnel for their discipline and dedicated service in maintaining peace and security in local communities.

“This allowance is not just financial support but a recognition of the sacrifices you make for the safety of Catarman residents,” she said.

On behalf of the CAFGU members, Post Commander Edwin M. Ochenta expressed gratitude to the LGU, hoping that such support continues in the future.

The monthly allowance of P1,000 per member, funded by the Mayor’s Office, underscores the importance of the auxiliary force in safeguarding the security of Catarman and the broader province of Northern Samar.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Borongan City LGU turns over four new patrol cars to boost police response

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NEW PATROL CARS. The police station in Borongan City receives four new patrol cars from the city government expected to improve further police operations.(PHOTO COURTESY)
NEW PATROL CARS. The police station in Borongan City receives four new patrol cars from the city government expected to improve further police operations.(PHOTO COURTESY)

BORONGAN CITY — In a bid to strengthen local law enforcement and enhance emergency response, the Borongan City local government turned over four new patrol cars to the Borongan City Police Station during a ceremony held at the BSPC Grounds in Barangay Campesao on December 18.

Acting Mayor Emmanuel Tiu Sonco, representing Mayor Dayan Agda, led the turnover and highlighted the LGU’s commitment to providing the police with the logistics needed to perform their duties efficiently. “These vehicles will help our police frontliners serve the community better and respond faster to emergencies,” he said.

Acting Chief of Police PLtCol Silver Cabanillas described the patrol cars as a “Christmas gift” for the city’s residents, noting that the new assets are crucial for strengthening community service and maintaining peace and order. Councilor Frich Uy, chairman of the Peace and Order Committee, added that the patrol vehicles are essential tools for a thriving city, as public safety remains the backbone of local progress.

The ceremony also included a blessing of the vehicles by Rev. Fr. Arthur Afable. In a statement read by PLtCol Cabanillas, Eastern Samar Provincial Police Director PCol Ernesto Macasil expressed gratitude to the LGU for its consistent support of public service initiatives.

The turnover forms part of Borongan City’s broader efforts to bolster security and ensure rapid emergency response throughout the city and neighboring areas.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Lavish spending

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Web Master
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The reckless spending of Christmas bonuses and year-end incentives has become a predictable ritual that benefits businesses far more than the people who earn them. What should be a rare chance to build security is instead wasted in a short-lived rush of consumption that leaves households no better off come January.

Every December, malls, online platforms, and travel companies record record-breaking sales, fueled mainly by bonuses that disappear as quickly as they are released. Appliances are upgraded even when old ones still work, gadgets are bought for status rather than need, and celebrations are inflated beyond reason. This pattern turns workers into temporary cash couriers for the business sector, transferring hard-earned income upward without creating lasting value for themselves or their families.

The deeper problem is not enjoyment or generosity, but the absence of discipline and foresight in spending decisions. Bonuses are treated as “extra money,” free from the rules that generally govern household budgets. Because they are not planned for, they are not protected. No portion is set aside for emergency funds, small enterprises, skill development, or modest investments that could generate returns. Once the money runs out, the cycle of financial vulnerability resumes, often accompanied by new holiday debts.
This behavior helps explain why poverty remains stubborn even among employed people. Income alone does not lift people out of hardship; how income is used matters just as much. When short-term pleasure consistently defeats long-term gain, financial progress becomes impossible. The economy thrives on constant consumption, but households weaken when consumption replaces saving, investing, and productive spending.

The remedy lies in changing how bonuses are treated before they are received. A clear plan should already assign portions for savings, income-generating uses, and necessary expenses, leaving only a limited amount for celebration. Financial literacy must move beyond slogans and be practiced in real moments of temptation. When bonuses are handled as tools for stability rather than excuses for excess, they can serve their true purpose: improving lives beyond the holidays.

A sneaky climb

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Picture this in an office during Christmas: an eager mid-level manager slips a lavish hamper of imported ham and wine into his boss’s awaiting arms, all smiles as he eyes the corner office upstairs. Isn’t this raw, unfiltered politics invading the workplace, like termites in the walls? This is a common, sneaky climb disguised as goodwill.

I’ve watched it unfold in humid cubicles, where the air thickens with ambition around December and other special occasions. Employees who once shared adobo recipes now calculate gift values like stock trades, wrapping lechon baskets or gold bracelets to “grease the wheels.” It’s not generosity; it’s a transaction, a festive bribe that mocks the season’s spirit of giving without strings. This gift-showering leads to false bonds, turning holiday cheer into a rung on a ladder.

Shift to the shadows, and it gets uglier—the backstabbing brigade. That same manager, gift delivered, starts whispering to superiors about a rival’s “laziness,” planting seeds of doubt like weeds in a rice paddy. No facts, just innuendo: “Heard he skips meetings for side hustles.” It’s reputation demolition, pure and simple, where lies spread faster than jeepney gossip on market day.

This isn’t random chaos; it’s politics’ playbook, imported from the barangay hall to the boardroom. Ambitious souls leverage every angle, from flattery in the pantry to anonymous memos that “expose” flaws. They grab positions not by merit but by maneuvering, turning colleagues into collateral. I’ve seen solid workers sidelined, their years of quiet hustle trashed overnight.

The culprits are like roosters in a cockpit, strutting and pecking for the top perch, feathers flying in a blur of red. Except these “roosters” wear polos and pretend it’s teamwork. The degradation hits when they spread propaganda—fabricated tales of incompetence or theft—discrediting incumbents to clear their path. Trust crumbles, leaving a workplace scarred like a monsoon-flooded street.

Philosophically, it mirrors reality’s ugliness: power vacuums give rise to these games wherever humans gather. We can’t escape politics; it’s woven into promotions, just as it fuels elections. Yet pretending it’s absent invites the worst players to thrive; their tricks are echoes of unchecked hunger. This isn’t ambition; it’s a predation dressed in office casual.

What disheartens most is the human cost, the avalanche of trust that lingers like stale humid air. Victims, once confident, second-guess every email; teams fracture into whispers. I’ve felt that chill myself, going through alliances that shift like tides. It’s not just positions lost—it’s morale, that fragile glue holding us together.

Why not rise above by shining through work that speaks louder than gifts or gossip? Build real alliances on results, call out the snakes with calm, evidence-based proof, and watch integrity outlast the schemers. In this game, we can’t dodge. Choosing honor isn’t naive—it’s the sharpest blade.

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