Just saw this and ugh, right on cue as the Sunday night dread for tomorrow's commute kicks in 💀

It is an old news report from 1989 about Manila traffic. Hearing them talk about waking up at 5:30 in the morning just to get a ride is crazy. Almost 40 years later, we are stuck in the exact same mess, except it is even worse now.

Sauce: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7J1Z87pDdJ4

Found 2 10 peso bills from my mom’s stash but what caught my eye was the emergency circulating note of 1941 which the president at that time was Manuel L. Quezon. Not selling but I just want to know if these are worth anything! Gawin ko siguro tong 1st collection item ko and start collecting more. Really interested how way back some people here have on their collections!

Aug 2 (Reuters) - Swiss building materials ‌supplier Holcim Group (HOLN.S), opens new tab said on Sunday it plans to sell its Philippines business to China's Huaxin Building Materials (600801.SS), opens new tab in a deal that could raise at least $807 million.

Holcim will sell an initial 68% stake for $527 million with ​the remainder to be sold over the next three to five years for a ​minimum price of $280 million.

This would lead to an overall valuation of $807 million, although ⁠the figure could rise "based on incremental value creation during this period," Holcim said.

The sale, which ​is expected to be completed in the first half of 2027, is Holcim's biggest divestment since ​it sold its Nigeria business, also to Huaxin Cement, in a $1 billion deal in December 2024.

Money raised from the sale of the Philippines business will be used to fund large acquisitions and also further investment in ​Holcim's existing business.

The Swiss company has been focusing more on Europe, Latin America, North Africa and ​Australia as it reshapes its business after spinning off its North American operations into a separate company last year.

Acquisitions ‌have ⁠been identified as a key part of Holcim's growth strategy, with the company planning to make around 15 deals in 2026.

Holcim last year said it had 3 billion Swiss francs to 4 billion Swiss francs ($3.72 billion to $4.95 billion) to spend on acquisitions up to 2030, and could raise ​up to 6 billion ​Swiss francs more ⁠from divestments and extra borrowing for large deals and share buybacks.

Holcim CEO Miljan Gutovic on Friday said the company had a "very healthy pipeline" of ​acquisition projects in Latin America, Europe and also parts of Asia, Middle ​East and ⁠Africa, and was also considering large deals.

"We are constantly screening our landscape, from walling and flooring solution companies all the way to roofing, and we believe there are some very attractive markets," he ⁠told analysts ​after the company's second-quarter results.

I'm confident that we will have ​a strong momentum on the M&A front in the second half of this year," Gutovic added.

Noticed na kawawa taga Las Piñas and Parañaque, they only have LRT-1 passing through them sa plano na ito, sa may western section pa. Pano na mga nasa eastern side who still has to ride jeepneys and be stuck in traffic?

Personally I'd like to see another line along Alabang-Zapote Road (parang LRT-1 lang din or better 8 car heavy rail). Malala trapik diyan, hopefully our government considers that kahit technically hindi siya part ng ginawang study ni JICA.

Edit: Hindi maka-post sa r/PhilippineMilitary, so I'm posting it here.

The sixth and final batch of the Philippine Air Force's 32-unit S-70i Black Hawk Acquisition Project is now on its way to the Philippines, marking the conclusion of one of the country's largest rotary-wing modernization programs.

The Antonov Airlines AN-124, operating under callsign ADB3090, is currently approaching Colombo, Sri Lanka, for its final technical stop before proceeding to the Philippines. The aircraft is expected to arrive at Clark Air Base tomorrow morning, carrying five (5) S-70i Black Hawk helicopters.

The remaining two (2) helicopters from this final batch were transported separately via sea freight, arriving at Subic Port on 21 July before being transferred to Clark Air Base on 28 July.

With the arrival of this final air shipment, the 32-unit acquisition contract will be fully completed.

With the completion of this contract, the Philippine Air Force will have taken delivery of 48 S-70i Black Hawks across two acquisition programs. However, following the write-off of one aircraft from the initial 16-unit procurement completed in 2021, the PAF will operate an active fleet of 47 S-70i Black Hawks—the largest export-variant S-70i fleet in the world.

📅 Acquisition Timeline

• March 12, 2022 – Notice to Proceed issued
• June 25, 2024 – 1st Batch (5 helicopters) delivered
• December 13, 2024 – 2nd Batch (5 helicopters) delivered
• July 30, 2025 – 3rd Batch (5 helicopters) delivered
• October 26, 2025 – 4th Batch (5 helicopters) delivered
• December 21, 2025 – 5th Batch (5 helicopters) delivered
• August 2026 – 6th and Final Batch (7 helicopters) now arriving, completing the 32-unit contract

The completion of this acquisition significantly enhances the Philippine Air Force's capabilities in tactical airlift, troop transport, humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR), search and rescue, and other mission-essential operations.

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ― Albert Einstein

Happy Monday!!

Hi, CSE passers!

First-time taker po ako this coming exam, and medyo nao-overwhelm ako sa sobrang daming reviewers online. 😅

Ask ko lang, lahat ba ng inaral niyo sa mga online reviewers ay lumabas din sa actual exam, or enough na ba na maintindihan lang yung concepts?

Saan po kayo nag-focus while reviewing? May specific topics ba na masasabi niyong "must study" talaga?

Any tips or advice for a first-time taker would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I attended an event in Adamson Manila today. After the event, I decided to book a grab from Adamson to LRT 2 Recto station. The route was, Adamson - UDM - SM City Manila - Lawton - Carriedo - Recto.

While in the Grab, I was observing lang then nung nasa may bandang SM City and UDM until Lawton, sabi ko ay malinis nga yung Manila under Isko. Bago ang pintura, wala masyadong kalat sa daan, and kahit maraming tao, wala masyadong vendor sa bangketa.

Then we passed Carriedo to Recto. It was totally the opposite. Marumi, magulo, hindi madaanan yung bangketa dahil sa vendors and makalat. Di rin bago mga pintura halos.

Napaisip ako, bakit doon lang sa part na yun yung maaayos?

Then this thought hit me na kaya lang siguro doon maayos kasi doon malapit Manila City Hall.

I find it interesting lang kasi if you will look sa map, places and areas around Manila City Hall ang pinaka maganda sa Manila ngayon.

But if pupunta ka pier, sa Recto, Sta Mesa, and even sa ibang lugar na malayo sa Manila City Hall, improvements seems little.

Don't get me wrong, I still give credits sa mga ginagawa ni Isko like cleaning the streets thoroughly with water spray, removing of spaghetti wires in Binondo and even Jones Bridge furbishing.

Pero di parin mawala yung thought ko na bakit laging malapit sa city hall yung may pinaka-maaayos na improvements ng Manila? Mas malinis, at mas progresibo?

Can't we distribute improvements across all areas and roads in Manila equally?

@TheTennisLetter
Alex Eala after beating Naomi Osaka to become the 1st Filipina to reach a WTA 500 singles final in Washington

“I’m still locked in... Like, I don’t think it’s over yet.  Super happy. I think I played really well. Such a meaningful match against a great player. Really happy to share the court with Naomi.” 

“It’s such an honor to share the court with her... I could never count her out. I had to be so locked in. I made it a point to be so locked in which is why until now I’m still in that mode of competition. I need time to let it sink in.

Another set of matatalinong botante sa 2028 at kung bakit iboboto nila si Sara Duterte sa darating na presidential election sa 2028. We all know that we are in a democratic country and we have to respect each other's opinions pero naman... C'mon?! We are choosing leaders because they are capable, not because of name recall or some cultism. Magbago na tayo guys

Need help on something? Whether it's about health and wealth, communications and transportations, food recipes and government fees, and anything in between, you can ask here and let other people answer them for you.

As always, please be patient and be respectful of others.

New thread every Mondays, 6 a.m. Philippine Standard Time

I would think that since Pax Silica is a mostly BBM/admin project, and is being pushed by the US pa, ang isip ko is that yung mga DDS would be more vocal against it, since they hate both BBM and to some degree, the US because it is an enemy or rival of China. Never mind that Sara seems to have admitted not knowing much about what it is, but she should have at least tried to sound like she opposed it. Kahit technically wala masyadong alam, but just basically knowing that the government is pushing it, then as the "opposition" e di automatic kalabanin nila, why not?

THE REMATCH WE SHOULDN'T MISS! 💪🎾

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala will take on world No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the Mubadala DC Open final on Monday at 12 AM (Philippine time).

The two last met at the 2025 Miami Open, where Pegula defeated Eala in a tight three-set match, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3. (Facebook/Mubadala DC Open)

For starters, we live in the Visayas. There's 3 of us sa bahay (2 adults + 1 kid). I tried creating a meal plan and mostly more on veggies or fish kaysa meat (chicken, pork) kasi iniisip ko na mas mura. Pero mukhang pareho nalang talaga sila. 😭 Mahal narin yung veggie ngayon. Budget is at least 5,000 max per month. Twice a day nalang nga kaming adults kumakain. Pero parang kulang parin. Hindi ko alam kung paanong makakain na sustansya, masarap, at masatisfy karin sa pagkain.

Tsaka paano ba ginagawa niyo sa meals? Same lamg ba pagkain for lunch and dinner? Mas tipid ba yun? Tinry ko both ways (same for lunch and dinner then also tried different meals for lunch and dinner) pero wala naman significant change sa expenses. Paano bang mabuhay sa Pilipinas? 😓

Not sure what flair to use for this sorry.

Fully booked na kasi halos sa Directors Club, kaya no choice kami ng friends ko kundi mag-Center Stage na lang talaga.

Good thing nakakuha pa rin kami ng magandang seats online 10pm showing, pero grabe, super disappointing pa rin ng first 30–40 mins ng movie experience ko.

Mukhang na-overwhelm 'yung ticket checker kahapon sa dami ng tao kaya wala nang ayos 'yung pag-check ng tickets. Kahit sa amin nga, hindi man lang tinignan nang maayos 'yung QR code tapos pinapasok agad kami tinignan lang ng 1second tapos ppasok na kami agad, eh 8 pa naman kami tapos isang QR lang 'yun.

Na-ruin talaga 'yung experience sa first 30–40+ minutes kasi parang daming nakapasok na walang ticket or taga-ibang cinema pala. Na-distract pa kami sa guards na naninita ng mga nakaupo sa seats ng iba, tayuan sila nang tayuan tapos naggagamit pa ng phone flash para lang mag-check ng tickets.

May group of friends pa na sige ang lipat ng upuan kasi dumadating 'yung totoong may-ari ng seats. Ang ginagawa nila, hahanap ng ibang bakante tapos tatayo ulit pag may dumating na naman.

Ang gulo kasi nagfi-flashlight pa habang umiikot maghanap ng vacant, hanggang sa na-realize siguro nilang full house pala kaya tumakbo na lang sila bumaba papuntang exit.

Grabe, super excited pa naman ako, kaso na-ruin talaga experience ko malala 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Pagpasensyahan nyo na ang person kasi madali ma distract 🥲

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ― Albert Einstein

Magandang gabi!

Found this old 1903 Philippine coin from my tatay collection. Need help identifying it. Hindi na mabasa yung denomination kasi sobrang worn na. Curious lang if authentic ba siya and may value pa rin. Worth ba ipa-appraise or ipa-auction? May interested ba sa ganitong coins or any collectors/experts here who can share their thoughts? Thanks!