OpinYon

14/02/2025

It’s been almost five years since the national government, taking advantage of the lockdowns and the restrictions brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, engineered a massive “restructuring” of Metro Manila’s entire land transportation network.

Read more
https://opinyon.net/opinion/the-edsa-busway-dilemma

It’s been almost five years since the national government, taking advantage of the lockdowns and the restrictions brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, engineered a massive “restructuring” of Metro Manila’s entire land transportation network.

14/02/2025

THE MYSTERY OF LOVE AND CONFLICT. People fall in love because they have things in common. Same interests. Same values. Same energy. It feels easy and natural. Even differences seem fun - at first.

Read more
https://opinyon.net/opinion/love-s-biggest-paradox

THE MYSTERY OF LOVE AND CONFLICT. People fall in love because they have things in common. Same interests. Same values. Same energy. It feels easy and natural. Even differences seem fun - at first.

14/02/2025

Just in time for Love Month, Ben&Ben fans will surely be excited for this one.

Read more
https://opinyon.net/national/ben-and-ben-releases-new-single-tomorrow-with-you

&Ben

Just in time for Love Month, Ben&Ben fans will surely be excited for this one.

14/02/2025

Heart Evangelista just turned 40, and she marked the occasion with grandeur and style, much like a wedding reception.

Instead of the usual Valentine’s Day red, she opted for a classy black-and-white formal party.

Dressed in a stunning Dior Couture champagne-colored gown, Heart also rocked a bold new look with burgundy red hair.

Karen Davila, Tim Yap, and Bea Alonzo were spotted at the celebration, along with Heart's trusted glam team of designers, makeup artists, and stylists.

The sweetest moment? Her husband, Chiz Escudero, surprised her with Gary Valenciano's serenade, which left Heart in tears.

This milestone also marks 10 years of marriage for Heart and Chiz—-double the reason to celebrate.

Happy birthday, Heart! 🎉💖

14/02/2025

Today is the most romantic day of the year, and at the same time, pay day Friday, which means date night is on.

Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner, a fun night out with your sisters or friends, or just a cozy self-love session at home, it’s the perfect excuse to celebrate love in all forms.

How are you spending Valentine's Day, OpinYonistas? Drop your plans below. ⬇️

14/02/2025

P-pop sensation BINI is on a roll.

Their latest music video "Blink Twice" has reached 1.13-M views, barely 12 hours after it was uploaded on YouTube.

‘Blink Twice’ is a fun, pop song about trying to figure out if your crush likes you back. With a catchy beat and relatable lyrics, it captures the excitement and confusion of waiting for a sign- like a simple blink- to know if they feel the same. In the video, the girls are clad in playful, colorful clothes.

This milestone comes just in time for BINI's 'BiniVerse World Tour' kicking off this Valentine's weekend at the Philippine Arena.
(Blooms, expect some traffic so plan ahead.)

And speaking of hits, "Pantropiko" just hit 100-M views recently. 👏

14/02/2025

The Commission on Elections has released a primer reminding everyone
that buying and selling votes during elections is strictly prohibited.

🎯What is Vote-Buying?
It happens when someone gives, offers, or promises any of the following in exchange for a vote:
🔹Money or anything valuable
🔹Job or government position
🔹Franchise or grant (public or private)
🔹Any form of financial assistance, directly or indirectly
(Basically, it's bribing people to vote for or against a candidate.)

🎯What is Vote-Selling?
It’s the other side of the coin—when someone asks for or accepts any of the above in exchange for their vote.

🎯What are possible signs of vote-buying & selling?
🔹 Giving out cash, groceries, or envelopes along with campaign materials
🔹 Offering rewards or gifts in exchange for votes
🔹 Long lines of voters waiting to receive "assistance" like health cards or goods
🔹 House-to-house campaigns with money or freebies being handed out
🔹 Bingo games, talent shows, or events where prizes come from a candidate or supporter
🔹 "Hakot system" – gathering voters in one place to distribute money
🔹 Transporting more than P500,000 in cash close to election day, along with campaign materials
🔹 Converting large amounts of cash into small bills before election day
🔹 Medical missions, feeding programs, or legal aid where candidates' names are mentioned
🔹 Giving out "ayuda" (financial aid) during the campaign period when it's not part of regular government programs
🔹 Hiring too many election watchers for a candidate
🔹 Having blank ballots or chemicals to erase election ink on voting day

🎯You can report incidents of vote-buying and selling to Comelec, and the AFP, PNP, and NBI will conduct surveillance and investigations. If they find strong evidence, arrests can be made.

🎯What are the penalties for violators?
🔹Jail time: 1 to 6 years (no probation)
🔹Disqualification from holding public office and voting
🔹Fines: At least P10,000 for political parties

OpinYonistas, save this for reference and possible use.

14/02/2025

Digital nomadism, what does it mean to local economy? Digital nomadism is a lifestyle that allows people to work remotely while traveling to different places around the world. Thanks to advancements in technology, many jobs no longer require a fixed office space.

Read more
https://opinyon.net/opinion/d

14/02/2025

For years, fans had missed the handsome faces and sweet voices of Rene Puno and Chad Borja who were both members of the multigenerational Minstrels.

Read more
https://opinyon.net/national/rene-puno-chad-borja-join-arnell-ignacio-in-post-valentine-show

For years, fans had missed the handsome faces and sweet voices of Rene Puno and Chad Borja who were both members of the multigenerational Minstrels.

13/02/2025

Out of the 156 party-list groups set to join the 2025 elections, a whopping 86 groups (55.13%) don’t necessarily represent marginalized sectors. 🤔

According to poll watchdog Kontra Daya, some of these groups have ties to political dynasties, big businesses, and even the police or military. Others face corruption cases, have unclear advocacies, or simply fail to disclose enough information about themselves.

One more thing: some nominees are husbands, wives, in-laws, and siblings of political families—or relatives of current and former government officials and wealthy businessmen.

The Party-List System Act was meant to give under-represented sectors a voice, but over the years, it’s been criticized for being used by "trapos".

What do you think, OpinYonistas? Is the system still serving its purpose? 💬👇

Source: Kontra Daya FB

13/02/2025

Billionaire Elon Musk joined President Donald Trump at the Oval Office,
where they publicly defended their bold plans to cut government spending
and downsize federal agencies.

Musk, wearing an all-black "Make America Great Again" cap, stood beside Trump during the briefing with one of his kids running around.

This was Musk's first time answering questions from reporters since being appointed to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Trump signed an executive order that gives Musk’s DOGE initiative more power. Federal agencies must now "coordinate and consult" with DOGE to cut jobs, limit hiring, and reduce government spending. 📜

Trump claimed that DOGE has already uncovered “billions and billions” in waste and fraud, hinting that the final amount could reach almost a trillion dollars.🤑 But they didn’t share specific details on what they actually found.

What do you think, OpinYonistas? Is Elon Musk leading the changes?

13/02/2025

Just when we thought the Andi Eigenmann-Philmar Alipayo issue had finally cooled down, Derek Ramsay—a friend of Pernilla Sjöö—jumped in to share his thoughts.

In a phone interview that was posted online, Derek made it clear that he has nothing personal against Andi. However, he called out her "betrayal post," saying it was irresponsible.

According to Derek, Pernilla admits that getting a matching tattoo with Philmar was a mistake—mainly due to cultural differences—but insists she never meant to betray Andi.

"Ang mali dito irresponsible posting. Acting on emotions without thinking. I’m sorry, Andi. For me, you should not have done that. Kung galit ka, naiintindihan ko ‘yon. Nasa kultura ng Filipino ‘yon. Mali na nagpatattoo sila together. She’s a foreigner. She didn’t do it with the intent to hurt Andi. She didn’t do it with the intent to steal (Philmar)."

He also had strong words for Andi regarding her viral posts:
"Ang unang ayusin mo ‘yung partner mo. Si Philmar. Ayusin mo yon. Huwag mo ilagay sa publiko. You didn’t even consult a human being. You consulted ChatGPT. And you posted it with your influence, with your followers. That was very irresponsible of you. You don’t know how a post like that can destroy somebody."

Derek then turned to Philmar, saying he should have handled things better.

"Excuse me for using this term; you should have the balls to be a man, magpakalalaki ka. Ayusin mo ang problema mo sa asawa mo. Unahin mo ‘yan, pero wag mong bastusin yung tao na tumutulong sa iyo sa lahat ng problema mo," Derek said.

He also clarified that Pernilla is in a happy relationship with her Siargao-based boyfriend—who knows about her friendship with Philmar and is totally fine with it.

Adding to the mystery, Derek claimed that the viral IG statement from Pernilla wasn’t even hers—her account had been deactivated.

As for Philmar? No comment yet—except that he changed his Instagram profile picture to a dog’s face. 🐶

What do you think? Should Derek have spoken up?

13/02/2025

Are you actively looking for love online this Valentine's Day? Be careful because scammers are everywhere. Here are some red flags to keep you safe:

🚩Someone messages you out of nowhere on social media or dating apps, showering you with compliments. They claim to have a lot in common with you, but in reality, they might be using stolen photos and a fake profile.

🚩They take their time building trust, sharing personal stories, and making you feel special.

🚩They convince you to move the conversation to WhatsApp or another app, isolating you from friends and family. (This makes it harder to track their identity. They can even call you using a voice clone and not a real human voice.)🤯😨

🚩Suddenly, they need money. It could be for an "emergency," or a "business investment," that promises huge returns. They might even swear they'll pay you back.

So how can we be safe?
✅ Block & report any suspicious contact
✅ NEVER send money to someone you haven’t met in person
✅ Do a quick background check through web search
✅ Trust your gut—if it feels off, it probably is
✅ Talk to friends & family before making any big decisions

Have you or someone you know encountered an online scammer?

13/02/2025

Doc Willie Ong has decided to withdraw from the 2025 senatorial race, saying he wants to prioritize his health. ❤️‍🩹

In a Facebook post, he expressed gratitude to his supporters and promised to back candidates who share his vision for the country. Also, he assured everyone that he will continue helping poor Filipinos in his own way.

In October 2024, Ong was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer.

Pagaling kayo, Doc.

13/02/2025

Looks like love is a little less sweet for many Filipinos these days. 💔

A recent SWS survey found that only 46% of Filipinos consider themselves "very happy" in their love life—-the lowest in two decades.

Meanwhile, 36% feel their relationships could be better.
The remaining 18% admit they have no love life at all.

Interestingly, the decline in love life happiness was seen across different relationship statuses, but it was most noticeable among men with live-in partners.

So how do Pinoys express love? The survey revealed that the most common love language is acts of service like cooking, running errands, or helping out at home.

The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 2,160 adults.

OpinYonistas, can you relate to these survey results?

12/02/2025

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and other government agencies have taken measures to enhance drone regulations in order to encourage responsible drone use, as unmanned vehicles continue to pose a threat to aviation in the Philippines.

Read more
https://opinyon.net/national/stronger-regulations-for-drones

12/02/2025

Congress has increased the combined budget for the Cancer Control Program (CCP) and the Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF) to P3.01 billion as the national government intensifies its battle against the disease that kills 96 Filipinos every day.

Read more
https://opinyon.net/national/p3-billion-earmarked-to-fight-cancer-campos

Congress has increased the combined budget for the Cancer Control Program (CCP) and the Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF) to P3.01 billion as the national government intensifies its battle against the disease that kills 96 Filipinos every day.

12/02/2025

YOUNG INNOVATOR. Aldrin Sojourner Gamayon receives a commendation from the San Nicolas town council in Ilocos Norte province in this undated photo. He is the first Filipino to win the Red Bull Basement World Finals held in Tokyo, Japan last December 2024 for his innovative technology app that can help farmers reduce productivity loss.

Read more
https://opinyon.net/national/student-innovator-wants-to-give-back-to-farmers