Former senior health and education officials issue an urgent appeal to the Philippine delegation to a conference on tobacco control to fight against vapes for the sake of the youth.

Now sold online and in shops and stalls in shopping malls, in 24-hour convenience stores, on sidewalks and even in sari-sari stores, the so-called novel tobacco products are prominently displayed, and use brands and packaging attractive to the youth.

Ilocanos are stereotyped as being kuripot (stingy with money). President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., an Ilocano, showed this side of him when he vetoed four bills approved by the previous Congress.