BY ALEX ALAGON
ONCE at a restaurant, a group of loud young people sat at the next table across us, also having their breakfast.
Not much of an oddity these days. For one, their overwhelming presence and large numbers in practically all of the gathering places in the city nowadays stabs at the heart; a glaring reminder to us, their older versions, that we are a thinning herd.
It’s no wonder, society has patronizingly bestowed upon us its ceremonious pat-in-the-back merit card: the senior ID.
As a second thought, one could easily tell these rowdy crew were call center agents, just fresh from their graveyard shift.
Why, I even spot one or two girls wearing pajama tops under their coats even as one actually hugs a pillow in her seat.
A late-comer joins their group, briefly acknowledging me with a curt nod, as if to say sorry for the boisterous laughter occasionally coming from their direction.
I merely smile, nod back, and mouth no worries, as all is good. All the while, the ruckus of conversation wafts and continues to mix with the rich smell of Chinese fried chicken, specialty of the place.
I have nieces and nephews who work the trade, so I understand the rigors and unique challenges it poses. Often, while we regular folks sleep, they’re the ones who keep the wheels of industry turning, even at the oddest of hours.
Then unlike many of us, they’re routinely-doomed to deal with difficult customers who shout their mouths off, a thousand miles away from the opposite side of the world.
They are at it day-to-day and they’ve to smile through it all. Even with an attractive paycheck, theirs is not an envious job, only fit for the hardy among their generations, whose bodies could still undergo such ordeal.
At the same time, they have to develop a thick skin and patience pronto, to maneuver past the business minefield.
Not easy to do, young minds tend to be impatient creatures, rushing as they go. Partly because of all that, I’m more than willing to excuse their release of pent-up emotions at the table.
Before call centers came to be, all-night cafes and restaurants weren’t really much of a thing in the city, save for a few 24-hour doughnut shops. That’s where law students stay till the wee hours, while gobbling coffee as part of their study routine.
Unlike in Manila where 711’s thrive, Davao was, in a sense, pretty much provincial at the strike of the Cinderella hour. “No nests for kwaknits (undead),” a drinking buddy/friend liked to say.
Many years back, when I got to visit my brother at his quaint coffee shop below two towers along QC Avenue, I was pleasantly surprised that at regular intervals, a swarm of perhaps a hundred strong, would flow from out of the elevators, with some heading our way for coffee and a quick snack, while others crammed the park outside to smoke.
Amazing, I thought, this mostly-silent mass would go about their business for about ten minutes then rush back to the lifts from where they came and in a few, all was silent again.
An apt depiction of the slave economy. And through the years, it has crept unnoticed into our city.
A few minutes later, same as the silent multitude under the towers in my daydream, the gang before me started to leave two at a time.
With that, a still-sleepy waiter took his cue at cleaning the tables. All was silent again, except for a radio somewhere in the kitchen reporting on Last Two and the latest news.
I’m imagining scenes like this play at the same moment, while Davao stretches and awakens.
A TOP drug target and his lady accomplice were arrested on Wednesday afternoon, July 1, during a sting operation that also yielded more than ₱7.7 million worth of suspected shabu, according to the Davao City Police Office (DCPO).
The joint operation, executed at 3:04 p.m. in Ward 10-B, New Town, Barangay Bago Gallera on July 1, targeted a designated “Top Priority Illegal Drug Personality,” police identified as alias Brad.
Police Station 17 (Baliok) personnel, under the command of PMAJ Major Harold S. Untalan, spearheaded the buy-bust. The 2nd City Mobile Force Company (CMFC) and the City Intelligence Unit (CIU) served as reinforcements.
According to police inventory, the shabu seized during the encounter had an estimated street value of ₱7,723,440.
DCPO director PCOL Peter B. Madria commended the inter-agency team, saying the arrest was a major victory in the city’s aggressive, intelligence-driven anti-drugs campaign.
“The DCPO remains unyielding at the absolute forefront of the war on drugs through aggressive, intelligence-driven operations and strong community cooperation,” Madria said in a statement.
Both suspects are currently detained and face heavy criminal charges under Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
TAGUM CITY – The Davao Consumer Movement (DCM) expresses serious concern over Davao Light’s announcement that electricity rates are expected to remain elevated in the coming months, warning that consumers can no longer be expected to shoulder repeated increases in their monthly power bills.
The nearly P2.00 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) increase in June, which pushed residential rates to P12.30/kWh from P10.35/kWh in May, has already placed significant financial pressure on households. The prospect of sustained high electricity rates is even more alarming as families continue to struggle with the rising cost of basic necessities.
While Davao Light attributes the increase to higher generation costs in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), consumers should not become the default shock absorbers whenever market prices spike or power plants experience outages. Managing supply risks and minimizing their impact on consumers is part of the responsibility that comes with operating an electric distribution utility.
The recent increase also places greater importance on the commitments Davao Light made during the deliberations on Republic Act 12144. The company assured Congress and the public that expanding its franchise would ultimately result in better service and more affordable electricity. Consumers now expect those commitments to be translated into concrete action.
At the same time, Davao Light must continue accelerating the modernization of its distribution system and the stabilization of service across its expanded franchise area. Consumers paying higher electricity bills deserve reliable, efficient, and responsive service. They also deserve greater transparency on the concrete measures being undertaken to moderate future rate increases and improve long-term price stability.
Davao consumers have shown patience throughout the transition to Davao Light’s expanded franchise. That patience should not be mistaken for an unlimited willingness to accept higher electricity costs.
The Davao Consumer Movement expects Davao Light to honor the commitments it made before Congress and the Filipino people.
If the company fails to deliver meaningful progress toward more affordable electricity and dependable service, DCM will not hesitate to publicly call out those shortcomings and hold Davao Light accountable. Consumers deserve more than promises; they deserve measurable results.
Ryan Amper
Convenor, Davao Consumer Movement
0905-5634083
For PLDT Global, the overseas Filipino market is no longer just a segment to reach. It is a system to be built.
As millions of Filipinos abroad continue to support families back home through digital transactions, PLDT Global – the international unit of PLDT — is positioning itself as the go-to partner of local and international brands as they move from passive overseas exposure to sustained, measurable engagement with global Filipino consumers.
With more than two decades of experience serving overseas Filipino communities, the company has evolved beyond connectivity into an integrated digital ecosystem that combines distribution, commerce, and advertising, designed around how Filipinos abroad live, spend, and stay emotionally connected across borders.
“The overseas Filipinos are no longer a niche market—they are a highly engaged and economically significant community,” said Albert V. Villa Real, president and CEO of PLDT Global. “When they transact and spend, they do so with clear purpose and emotional connection.”
From reach to relevance
PLDT Global believes that overseas reach alone is no longer enough. Brands need relevance, timing, and continuity, delivered through platforms that understand overseas Filipino behavior.
To that end, PLDT Global has built an ecosystem anchored on three platforms: Vortex, TinBo (Tindahan ni Bossing), and RAMDAM (Real Audience Moments & Digital Ads Management), each addressing a different but interconnected layer of overseas Filipino engagement.
Vortex, its aggregation and distribution platform, enables merchants to dispense digital products across multiple partner dealers in key overseas markets, reducing operational friction and accelerating go-to-market execution. The platform is designed to help brands scale efficiently without navigating fragmented regional setups.
TinBo, PLDT Global’s digital marketplace that serves over half a million Filipinos in the Middle East, North America, Europe, and Asia, focuses on the transaction layer — connecting Philippine brands directly to overseas Filipinos who actively make purchase decisions for their families back home. By addressing everyday needs such as gifting and essential services, TinBo turns emotional intent into transaction-ready demand, supporting repeat engagement rather than one-off purchases.
Beyond commerce, TinBo enables digital identity through the Smart Virtual Number (SVN)—a cloud-based Philippine mobile number that enables Filipinos abroad to access communications, authentication, and financial services. Amid heightened regional uncertainty in parts of the Middle East, this capability continues to serve as a critical lifeline for Overseas Filipino Workers, enabling access to essential PH government hotlines, the DMW OWWA 1348 hotline and the 1343 Actionline Against Human Trafficking via TinBo’s SVN. This ensures timely connection to official assistance and essential support when traditional communication channels may be disrupted.
Completing the loop is RAMDAM, PLDT Global’s digital advertising solution that allows brands to reach overseas Filipino audiences through high-relevance placements and data-driven targeting, helping influence purchase decisions at key moments across the customer journey. Also, ramdam, in Filipino, means felt.
“A key part of PLDT Global’s overall mission to empower Filipinos worldwide is to serve as the trusted bridge that connects them to experiences and services that matter most to them—that includes Philippine brands and merchants,” Villa Real said.
PLDT Global’s platforms are deliberately shaped around the emotional and behavioral realities of Filipinos abroad—consumers who transact not only for convenience, but to remain present in their families’ lives despite physical distance.
By integrating commerce, distribution, and advertising within a single ecosystem, the company enables brands to maintain continuity across touchpoints—moving from discovery to transaction to repeat engagement—while building long term relevance in a highly competitive digital environment.
Strategy, validated through collaboration
This platform-led direction was underscored during Sync City ’26, PLDT Global’s recently held partner gathering that brought together business leaders, merchants, and brands exploring growth opportunities in the overseas Filipino market. The event served as a venue to align priorities and reinforce collaboration as a driver of scale.
“Tonight gives us the opportunity to collaborate,” Villa Real said. “We can work together to create a better and more relevant digital experience for Filipinos abroad and their families back home.”
As overseas Filipinos continue to shape cross-border consumption tied to the Philippines, PLDT Global is betting that platforms will define the next phase of growth for brands looking beyond local borders.
SENATE Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday said the looming non-bailable plunder case against Senator Rodante Marcoleta is “nonsense” and only meant to create a “chilling effect” on those actively fighting to expose the truth behind the billion-peso flood control scam.
Cayetano made the remark in an ambush interview on June 30, 2026, when he joined the protest of over 10,000 Filipinos along EDSA to push back against law-bending, selective justice, and large-scale corruption in the government.
“Malinaw po sa akin na yung ginagawang ito ay panggigipit at injustice. Lutang na lutang na ito’y may kasamang chilling effect sa lahat ng tutuligsa sa gobyerno,” he said.
Marcoleta, who is part of the Senate Minority Bloc, is facing possible non-bailable plunder and indirect bribery charges that the Office of the Ombudsman said it is set to file before the Sandiganbayan over alleged campaign donations worth P75 million.
Marcoleta had led the Senate’s investigation into the flood control scam when he was chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee under then-Senate President Francis Escudero. He was later replaced by Senator Panfilo Lacson, who claimed last May that the committee found “no mastermind” behind the billion-peso corruption.
Cayetano said the case against Marcoleta is “nonsense,” adding that the ongoing debate over whether the case fits the parameters of the plunder law is exactly what the administration wants the public to do so that attention is diverted away from the “bigger picture.”
He said the same pattern was seen in the May 13, 2026 incident involving armed National Bureau of Investigation personnel in the Senate, when the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government focused on smaller details instead of addressing the real issue of Senate independence.
“There’s a bigger picture, which is the numbers in the Senate,” he said. “Whether ang pag-uusapan natin ay majority ng Senate, two-thirds sa impeachment, or Charter Change, may implikasyon po ito (case versus Marcoleta).”
The Senate is set to begin the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on July 6, with the attendance and votes of senators directly affecting the proceedings.
Cayetano said the Minority Bloc had already expected more legal pressure from the administration after Senator Jinggoy Estrada was detained, noting that attempts to use cases against them started even before he became Senate President.
“Hindi lang naman si Senator Marcoleta, napakarami nang pinopormahan na ganito,” he said, intimating that he and the Minority Bloc had first received word on February 4 that if they became the Majority, the administration would use cases against them as leverage.
“Nung ako na umupo [bilang Senate President] at willing silang ipadala ang NBI na armado, not just once but twice sa Senado, tapos n’ung kitang-kita paano kinulong si Jinggoy, naging reality na sa amin ’to,” he added.
Cayetano said despite all this, the Minority will continue its fight against corruption and against the abuse of the country’s justice system.
“Lahat kami, we’re on borrowed time pero ipinasa-Diyos namin,” he said. “We continue to fight in various ways. Sabi ko nga, sa (pamamagitan ng) pinaka-simple pero pinaka-effective na prayer, pag-aaral, paghahanda, pag-e-expose, pagre-research.”
“Lahat ng Pilipino ay dapat lumaban para sa hustisya at dapat labanan ang injustice,” he added.
THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) is tightening its grip on internal discipline, launching a rigid monthly audit of its workforce and weaponry to eliminate ghost personnel and illicit side hustles within the ranks.
The directive, spearheaded by DCPO chief PCOL Peter B. Madria, culminated in a mandatory accounting of PNP personnel and issued firearms at the Sandigan Hall on Thursday morning.
The aggressive internal audit aligns with the nationwide Integrity Monitoring agenda set by PNP Chief, Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr.
According to DCPO leadership, the monthly inspections are designed to explicitly target and eliminate several deep-seated administrative infractions, including:
- “Lubug na Pulis” (Moonlighting): Officers abandoning their official duties to pursue unauthorized private employment.
- “15/30” Schemes: “Ghost” employees who only show up on the 15th and 30th of the month to collect a paycheck.
- Absence Without Official Leave & Unauthorized Travel: Personnel taking unapproved absences or traveling abroad without official clearance.
“Integrity is the foundation of disciplined service,” Madria emphasized during the inspection. “Through regular accounting, we safeguard accountability, strengthen professionalism, and uphold the trust of the community we serve.”
By matching each service firearm to its designated officer and verifying physical attendance, the DCPO aims to ensure that tax-funded resources are actively protecting the streets of Davao rather than being misused.
Moving forward, the DCPO warns that personnel found violating these policies will face swift administrative sanctions as part of the PNP’s broader effort to restore absolute public trust.
THE 10TH INFANTRY Division formally opened a rigorous training program for 550 Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) Active Auxiliaries at the 10th Division Training School (10DTS) in Mawab town, Davao de Oro, on June 30.
The 45-day course aims to sharpen the recruits’ military skills, discipline, and operational readiness.
The program prepares them to take on critical territorial security and sustainment roles that complement the division’s ongoing field operations.
Upon graduation, the qualified auxiliaries will be deployed to strategic patrol bases and coastal areas.
Their deployment supports the Philippine Army’s Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Operations (CADO) and broader territorial defense strategies, ensuring long-term stability across the division’s insurgency-free areas.
Major General Alvin Luzon, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, said maintaining a sharp, mission-ready auxiliary force is needed to meet the military’s evolving security challenges.
“Well-trained and disciplined CAFGU Active Auxiliaries remain vital partners in sustaining the peace and security gains we have achieved,” Luzon said. “Through this training, we continue to build a capable and mission-ready force committed to serving our communities and protecting our people.”
The training marks a continuous effort by the “Agila” Division to develop effective force multipliers.
Once deployed, these auxiliaries will secure vital installations, man patrol bases, and assist in defensive maneuvers aimed at preserving hard-earned peace throughout Southeastern Mindanao.
FIVE PEOPLE were rushed to the hospital following a four-vehicle pileup triggered by a runaway cargo truck along the Davao-Bukidnon National Highway on Wednesday morning, July 1, 2026.
The incident, which occurred at around 9:50 a.m. in Sitio Pamuhatan in Barangay Marilog, left multiple vehicles heavily damaged, including a wing van that fell into an open creek.
According to a spot report from Marilog Police Station (PS12), a Chenglong cargo truck with a trailer, driven by 45-year-old alias Giovanni, was traveling from Bukidnon toward Davao City when it suddenly slammed into the rear end of a Kinglong passenger bus.
A roadside bystander told police that after rear-ending the bus, the truck careened forward, striking an Isuzu Elf dropside truck driven by alias Ramel, who was then attempting a left turn.
The force of the second impact shoved the Elf truck directly into the path of an oncoming Isuzu jitney (jeepney) driven by Aian D. Mulo, which was heading in the opposite direction toward Bukidnon. A parked Rusi motorcycle without license plates was also damaged in the chaos.
After wreaking havoc across the highway, the Chenglong cargo truck continued forward before plunging off the roadway into a nearby open creek.
Central 911 emergency personnel arrived at the scene to extract and transport five injured victims to the nearest hospital.
Police identified the injured individuals as Ramel, driver of the Isuzu Elf truck; Lazel, 20, a resident of Valencia City, Bukidnon (Bus passenger); Elmo, 51, a resident of Brgy. Lanang, Davao City (Bus passenger); Lioceto, of legal age, a resident of Valencia City, Bukidnon (Bus passenger); and Carlito, 34, a resident of Malita, Davao Occidental (Jeepney passenger).
The truck driver, Giovanne, escaped the wreck completely uninjured. He surrendered to responding officers following the incident.
He is currently being held at the Marilog Police Station as investigators prepare to file criminal charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple physical injuries and damages to property.
In today’s digital world, staying connected has never been easier. Families communicate via mobile phones, messaging apps, and video calls, but when everyday routines shift or unexpected situations arise, many families realize that peace of mind comes from having more than one way to stay connected.
Whether it is a child arriving home before their parents, a grandparent who prefers a traditional phone, or an urgent situation that requires immediate assistance, a dedicated home landline remains one of the simplest and most dependable ways for everyone in the household to reach out.
A shared number everyone can use
Unlike mobile phones, which belong to individuals, a landline belongs to the home. It gives every member of the household access to a single reliable home number, which makes it easier for children, parents, grandparents, and other family members to make or receive important calls whenever needed.
For families with young children who do not yet have smartphones, a landline offers a simple way to reach parents or guardians. For senior family members who may find mobile apps unfamiliar, it provides a familiar, accessible way to stay connected with relatives, neighbors, healthcare providers, and essential services.
A home landline can also serve as a convenient point of contact for schools, delivery services, utility providers, and home-based businesses.
Prepared for the unexpected
Preparedness begins long before an emergency occurs. During emergencies, having multiple ways to communicate gives families an added layer of reassurance. A home landline offers another way to reach loved ones, contact service providers, or call the national emergency hotline, 911, when immediate assistance is needed.
For many families, that additional communication channel provides comfort. It means someone at home has a way to call for help, check in, or stay reachable when every second counts.
Connectivity that supports everyday life
Today’s Filipino homes are more than places to live. They are workplaces, classrooms, small businesses, and spaces where families gather, care for one another, and build their daily routines.
As households become increasingly connected, families need multiple ways to stay in touch, whether through internet access, mobile phones, messaging apps, or a home landline.
PLDT Home continues to support these evolving needs with its Fiber plans, which bundle a landline with high-speed internet. More than a traditional phone service, the landline complements digital connectivity by providing a dedicated voice line for personal, family, business, and emergency communication.
Because the landline is included with every PLDT Home Fiber plan, families can enjoy the convenience of a home landline without paying for a separate subscription.
A Small Feature That Brings Lasting Peace of Mind
Technology will continue to evolve, and smartphones will remain central to everyday life.
But one thing has not changed: every family benefits from a reliable way to reach home and call for help when it matters most.
Sometimes, peace of mind comes from knowing there is always a phone within reach that everyone in the household can use.
For Filipino families seeking a more complete home connectivity experience, PLDT Home Fiber combines fast, reliable internet with a bundled landline, offering digital convenience and the reassurance of one dependable number the whole family can count on.
Apply now for a PLDT Home Fiber plan to enjoy fast, reliable internet with a dedicated landline for your home.
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