BLOOM: NAMI Art Gallery’s exhibit of world class masterpieces

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

NAMI Art Gallery officially presented an exhibit called BLOOM with an Artist Reception program, yesterday, May 15 at the Opus Mall, Quezon City. 

Filipino Artist Abe Orobia welcomed the artists, guests and people from the media by immediately giving what art means to them—a narrative and form of expression.

He added that as we celebrate the month of flowers, their continued rise as a community of creativeness is a force to be reckoned with. Orobia said that his goal is to give hope through their lenses and convey meaning through their paintings and work of art.

Filipino artist Raul Isidro was at forefront of the art exhibit’s ribbon cutting ceremony as he also invited Tin Yap, the mastermind behind NAMI Art Gallery to come forward—as they officially open BLOOM. 

Yap stated that the exhibition is a celebration of growth, color, courage, and the living energy of Philippine contemporary art. She added, “Tonight, we are honored to share space with the works of Raul Lebajo, Raul Isidro, and Prudencio Lamarroza— artists whose names have helped shape the landscape of Philippine art. Alongside them are more than 40 gifted artists, each bringing a voice, a story, and a way of seeing the world.”

Renowned Filipino Artists, Mari Zhar, Juno Galang, Abe Orobia, Angelo Roxas, Clef Raymond Laxa, Christian Gonzales, Christian Regis, Dante Enage, Darwin Guevarra, Gerlie Urbano, John Perry, Kutz De Jesus, Marko Bello, Mary Joy Buenaventura-Go, Raisa Que, and Salvador Ching lined up at centerstage to make the ceremonial ribbon cutting official.

A highlight of the event was the special interview with, renowned Filipino Author, Journalist and Advocate of Women Empowerment, Mari Zhar, the woman behind purpose driven book, “Dear Husband, Who the Hell Is She?—aimed at saving families and relationships in the hopes of not seeing a children be deprived of a home and family.

Mari Zhar gave us a tour of her gallery presentation starting on a crippled artwork which she explains is depiction of a Woman empowering all women. She explains the reason why she crumpled it is because it went through a lot of resilience—turning pain into power

She also walked us through her other masterpiece which is a woman who chose to bloom throughout the different seasons in her life—further advocating women empowerment in her artwork. Zhar added she wants people to remember her as someone who used art to heal other people.

Furthermore, she explained that the art is a self-portrait and believes that there maybe a lot of things that we won’t understand for now as we thread through the challenges of life. But as time grows, the pain will heal which will eventually turn into power.

Mari Zhar’s stunning masterpieces will remain in exhibit together with other 40 artists featured in the event from May 13-24, at the Opus Mall, Quezon City. 

Written by: Renz Delim and Jenylyn Dangel

The Invisibility Cloak is Shredded: Why the Law is Coming for the "Untouchables"

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

For too long, the Filipino people have been fed a steady diet of legal myths, wrapped in the flag and served with a side of political theater. The narrative is always the same: a "foreign" entity is trying to bully a sovereign nation. But as the shadows lengthen over the halls of power, it is time to strip away the rhetoric and face the cold, hard facts.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is coming, and no amount of semantic gymnastics can hide the truth: Justice is not optional, even for the powerful.

The "Foreign Court" Myth: A Geographic Fallacy

The most common lie peddled to the masses is that the ICC is a "foreign court"—a Dutch interloper or a tool of Western states. This is a fundamental misreading of international law.

The ICC is an independent international criminal court. While its seat is in The Hague, it is no more a "Dutch court" than the United Nations is a "New York court." It was established under the Rome Statute, a treaty the Philippines voluntarily signed and ratified. It represents the collective will of the global community to ensure that the gravest crimes—genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity—do not go unpunished.

When we talk about the ICC, we aren't talking about a foreign state’s interference. We are talking about a system of accountability that we helped build.

Surrender vs. Extradition: Debunking the Legal Smoke Screen

Critics often argue that the ICC must go through "extradition" processes, treating the Court as if it were another country like the US or Japan. This isn't just a minor mistake; it’s a total collapse of legal logic.

Under Article 102 of the Rome Statute, the law makes a surgical distinction:

Extradition: The delivery of a person from one State to another State.

Surrender: The delivering of a person by a State to the Court (ICC).

The ICC is not a State. Therefore, demanding an extradition process is like trying to use a passport to board a submarine—it is the wrong instrument for the journey. By framing the ICC as a "foreign state," enablers of impunity are trying to force a square peg into a round hole to delay the inevitable.

The Senate is Not a Safehouse

As the walls close in, some officials have retreated into the hallowed halls of the Senate, treating the building as if it were a medieval sanctuary where the law cannot reach. Let us be exceptionally clear:

No Legal Sanctuary: There is no law in the Republic of the Philippines that designates the Senate building as a "legal hideout" or a zone of immunity.

Limited Immunity: Article VI, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution provides senators with a very narrow privilege from arrest—only for offenses punishable by not more than six years' imprisonment while Congress is in session. For grave international crimes, that "privilege" is non-existent.

Tradition vs. Law: "Parliamentary tradition" is a courtesy, not a constitutional shield. It does not, and cannot, supersede the rule of law.

The Persistence of Accountability

The argument that our withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019 acts as an "Invisibility Cloak" is a legal fantasy. Under Article 127 of the Statute and reinforced by the Philippine Supreme Court in Pangilinan v. Cayetano, withdrawal does not discharge a state from the obligations it had while it was a member.

Criminal liability for acts committed during our membership remains. The clock does not reset; the evidence does not evaporate; and the victims do not disappear.

The Real Debate: The Path to Surrender

The question is no longer if a warrant is valid. The real technical debate—the only legitimate one remaining—is the implementation route.

Will the government utilize RA 9851 (The Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law)?

Will it follow a court-supervised surrender?

This is a discussion for lawyers. But while the "how" is debated, the "who" and the "why" are settled.

The Final Reckoning

Stop framing this as "Foreigners vs. Filipinos." That is a populist trap designed to protect the few at the expense of the many. This is a battle between Law and Impunity.

Whether you hold a title, sit in a plush leather chair in the Senate, or wrap yourself in the robes of office, the law is blind to your status. Being a senator is not a license to evade justice, and the halls of government are not bunkers for the accused.

The era of lies is ending. The era of pananagot—accountability—is here.

Mananagot kayo.

The Pantheon of Public Scorn: Ranking the Most Polarizing Figures in Philippine Politics

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

The Philippine political landscape has always been a high-stakes theater of the absurd, but lately, the atmosphere has shifted from mere drama to a full-blown gladiatorial arena of public resentment. Across social media feeds and coffee shop chatter, a "Most Hated" list has begun to crystallize—a rogue’s gallery of officials who have managed to capture the collective ire of a nation.

In this race to the bottom, the competition is fierce, and the stakes are nothing less than a legacy of infamy.

The Battle for the Crown: Boy Kaldero vs. Pebbles

At the very peak of this mountain of grievance, two titans are locked in a dead heat for the top spot. On one side, we have Boy Kaldero, whose moniker serves as a permanent reminder of perceived excess and misplaced priorities. His every move is scrutinized through the lens of that infamous "cauldron," a symbol that has boiled over into a general disdain for his brand of governance.

Clashing with him for the title is Pebbles. Whether it is the hard-line stances or the abrasive rhetoric, Pebbles has managed to grate against the public consciousness like sand in a wound. For many, this figure represents the most frustrating elements of the current establishment, making the fight for the number one spot a genuine "clash of the unpopular."

The Mid-Tier Malice: From Butterflies to "Inday Lustay"

Holding a solid, unshakable grip on 3rd place is Madame Butterfly. With a reputation for political metamorphosis and social soaring, she remains a constant target for those who view her presence as more decorative—or opportunistic—than transformative.

The 4th and 5th spots see a dramatic tie between the highest offices and the deepest pockets. Baby M and Inday Lustay find themselves inextricably linked in the public's frustration. One carries the heavy, often contested mantle of a family legacy, while the other is dogged by accusations of "lustay" (extravagance)—a term that cuts deep in a country grappling with economic hardship. Together, they represent a unified front of executive-level disappointment.

The Mid-List Contenders: 6th to 8th Place

6th Place: A senator whose legislative record is overshadowed by a more superficial grievance—mocked relentlessly as the official who "couldn't find a solution for his own face." It is a testament to the pettiness of political warfare that aesthetics can rank alongside policy failures.

7th-8th Place: This slot is shared by Boy Sili, whose spicy rhetoric often leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of the electorate, and the "closet DDS" from the land of heroes. The latter’s perceived double-dealing and hidden loyalties have earned them a reputation for betrayal among those who value transparency.

The Final Count: Receipts and Solar Dreams

Securing the 9th spot is the man the "DDS Universe" loves to loathe: Trililing. Known as the man with the receipts, his penchant for dossiers and whistleblowing has made him a permanent fixture in the hall of political villains for a specific, vocal segment of the population.

Finally, rounding out the Top 11 are the Solar Kid and Cong. Meow-Meow. One is seen as a bright-eyed peddler of half-baked "bright ideas," while the other’s legislative presence is viewed as little more than a whisper—or perhaps a soft purr—in a room that requires a lion’s roar.

The Verdict

This isn't just a list; it is a barometer of a nation’s rising temperature. Whether through perceived corruption, sheer incompetence, or an abrasive lack of charisma, these eleven figures have achieved something rare in the fractured world of Philippine politics: they have unified a disgruntled public in a chorus of disapproval.

As the political cycle continues to churn, the only question remains: who will be the next to join this pantheon of the unpopular?