Archive - Editor's Pick

The gamut of memories on the National Artist for Literature who passed away January 6.

Having served a term each for various elective positions does not absolve presidential aspirant and former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos from the penalty of perpetual disqualification from running for public office with the finality of his 1997 tax evasion conviction, according to retired Supreme Court (SC) senior associate justice Antonio Carpio. The former magistrate made the declaration in a 1Sambayan online forum on Jan. 6.

​ Latest election surveys showed that if elections were held today, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. would be the 17th president of the Republic of the Philippines.

We face 2022 strengthened by the two-year crisis that tested our faith, confident that we can overcome challenges as long as we are on the side of Truth.

Publishers of disinformation were at full throttle this year in their production of inaccurate election-related posts — most of which circulated to either prop up or attack certain political aspirants even before the official start of the campaign period for next year’s national polls.

Humor is ingrained in the psyche of many Filipinos. It helps diffuse tension when discussing controversial topics such as politics or social issues. But others see it as an opportunity to sublimely ridicule a person or a group for a matter involving them; taking offense is unwise because “talo ang pikon (sore loser),” so they say.

This year, a worrisome trend in local disinformation from YouTube channels became more prominent. It takes only one YouTube video uploaded across social media channels to be a super-spreader of misinformation.

With only six months left before he steps down as the country’s 16th president, Rodrigo Duterte and his key officials continue to leave a trail of inconsistencies blurring major policy issues.

President Rodrigo Duterte himself said in a speech in August that public officials are “mandated [by their oath of office] to tell the truth … even if the truth leaves [them] in ruins.” But what happens when the president says one thing today and then another, and then another the next time?

The types of Marcos propaganda circulating on social media mostly exaggerated myths on Marcos Sr. and his regime, featured denials of graft and corruption charges against the family, and vilified the administrations that came after 1986.

As the Philippines ramped up coverage of COVID-19 vaccination in 2021, VERA Files fact-checked more than double of online disinformation about the vaccines, targeting safety and side effects.

Medical experts have warned against the harmful effects of vape products especially among the youth.