Michael Apacible Bulletin

  Shaking Facts: The Philippines and its Daily Dose of Earthquakes The ground beneath our feet in the Philippines is far more active than many realize. While the archipelago is no stranger to the destructive power of major seismic events, a lesser-known fact is that the country experiences an average of 30 earthquakes every single day. Yes, you read that right. Thirty times a day, on average, the earth shifts and rumbles somewhere within the Philippine archipelago. This constant seismic activity is a direct consequence of the Philippines' unique geological setting. Nestled within the infamous Pacific Ring of Fire , a horseshoe-shaped belt encircling the Pacific Ocean, the country sits at the volatile intersection of several major tectonic plates. These colossal slabs of the Earth's lithosphere are in constant motion, grinding against, colliding with, and sliding beneath each other. This interaction generates immense stress, which is periodically released in the form of earthqua...

  PNoy's Universal Healthcare: Seeds of Compassion Planted Long Before Even before the rise of the "Malasakit Center" concept, the administration of former President Benigno Simeon Aquino III was quietly but profoundly laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and affordable healthcare system. Amidst the various priorities of his government, the need for every Filipino to have adequate health protection remained a key focus. Looking back at history, the expansion of the healthcare system was a core agenda of President Aquino. Believing that health should not be a privilege of the few, he strived to establish a solid foundation for Universal Health Care (UHC) that gradually became a reality for millions of Filipinos. One of the concrete instruments of his vision was the enactment of Republic Act No. 10606 , or the National Health Insurance Act of 2013 . Through this law, the government was mandated to subsidize the health premiums for the poor, provided they were recogniz...

  The Unearned Sympathy: Why Rodrigo Duterte's Plea for Pity Falls Flat In recent times, a narrative has emerged, attempting to garner sympathy for former President Rodrigo Duterte. This narrative paints him as a victim, a man deserving of compassion. However, to entertain such a notion is to disregard the very fabric of his presidency, a period marked by relentless verbal assaults and a blatant disregard for human dignity, especially towards his political adversaries. Let us recall the vitriol directed at Senator Leila de Lima. Duterte’s words, as documented, were not merely political criticisms; they were deeply personal and demeaning. He publicly humiliated her, even while she was detained, demonstrating a level of cruelty that should not be forgotten. His own words, "It takes two to tango. If you insult me, you will be insulted," and "Endure it. You insulted the Philippines with drugs right inside the National Penitentiary," reveal a man unwilling to engage ...