PARADOXICAL
The faith chroniclesWednesday, September 30, 2026
October 2026's Verbatim Quotes
October is supposed to a chilly month for us, to the point that our skin turns dry and scratchy. But it was noticeably not this time around. A rarity.
It is also supposed to be the time of the year for the most destructive of typhoons. Nothing like that happened--just winds. Not complaining at all about missing typhoons though.
Nonetheless, this month, there was a super-typhoon of so many significant things good and bad. Here's my copy-pasted catch--mostly, that is, unless provoked to intrude with my noisy, neurotic annotations.
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"Indonesia's cash-for-photos scheme turns villagers into wildlife protectors."
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HERO! >>> "Indian national Cpt. Smit Machchhar has been identified as the FlyDubai pilot who was stabbed by his co-pilot on the way to Israel and fought back. He reportedly managed to open the cockpit door after he was stabbed, allowing passengers to enter, subdue the co-pilot, and provide medical attention to Machchhar." ... "Machchhar was taken to a hospital after the plane carried out an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia."
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"The oceans are warming at an alarming pace, bringing far-reaching consequences for which the world is unprepared, according to a report by more than 100 international scientists. 450,000 plus deaths are reportedly expected."
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"EJ Obiena delivered the Philippines' third gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games after dominating the men's pole vault final . The Pinoy pole vault ace also set a new Asian Games record after clearing 5.91 meters."
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"Former Philippine Prime Minister Cesar E.A. Virata died."
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"A 28-year-old laboratory researcher named Daria Shipilova died in Russia from a suspected pneumonic plague infection following a reported lab accident."
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Flying car soon?! >>> "Tesla unveiled a prototype of its next-generation Roadster featuring SpaceX-derived cold-gas thrusters."
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The increasing incidence of robots dancing like humans is unsettling to say the least. Don't you just hate robots dancing as much as you hate AI-generated videos, songs, graphics?
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The pope released something about AI creating art.
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Random find: "Study: Your body treats your tattoo as permanent immune system threat."
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Random claim: "Melon seeds contain squalene and loads of Vit. E."
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New terms encountered lately: "glocalization" (global+local), "hyperlocal"... "locavorism." ... Reminds me of "rurban" to refer to mixed rural-urban land use.
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"The Vatican has issued new theological guidance saying that seriously harming nature can be considered a 'sin against Creation and against the Creator.'"
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"Final resting place of Noah’s Ark found to hide man-made object, new study claims."
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Whatever it was, the Patrick Garcia-Jennylyn Mercado issue was all over the news.
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Hypertensive Vice! >>> "Reina Mercedes, Isabela Vice Mayor Harold Respicio was involved in a highly publicized confrontation during a Sangguniang Bayan (SB) session." ... "The incident escalated into a shouting match when Vice Mayor Respicio heavily questioned local barangay officials over the utilization of projects funded by the municipality's tobacco excise tax share. Tensions broke during the open forum as Respicio pounded on the table, explicitly called a barangay official a "magnanakaw" (thief), and engaged in a series of heated exchanges, which ultimately required police intervention to diffuse."
>>> DILG Sec Jonvic Remulla expressed displeasure, and the whole thing ended in heckling, drug test, and a GCash transfer as reimbursement. Next to Cong. "Meow-Meow," Respicio is a new interesting character to watch, to say the least.
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Our very own mayor trended after explaining her new look: "I just want to be skinny." Body-shaming quickly ensued, and she related how she endured insulting words, from being an "aparador" to now being a "tarsier."
Her so-called "glass skin" was also not spared from scrutiny.
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The world's most arid desert -- Atacama in Chile -- bloomed. "The Desierto Florido (Flowering Desert) is a rare, spectacular natural phenomenon in Chile’s Atacama Desert—the driest non-polar desert on Earth. Every few years, when unusually heavy winter rains (often linked to El Niño) trigger the germination of millions of dormant seeds, the barren landscape transforms into a vibrant carpet of over 200 species of wildflowers. The bloom typically occurs between September and November, blanketing thousands of square kilometres in shades of purple, yellow, pink, and white."
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Canadian poet and essayist Anne Carson won the coveted 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature “for her bold and inventive ouevre that, in playful dialogue with a classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature.” >>> One critic says this win proves contemporary literature is dying.
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"Galit na galit kayo dahil nagpa-picture si Leni Robredo kasama ang Ambassador ng Israel."
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"Muling nagkaroon ng minor eruption ang Taal Volcano!"
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"Torrential rain hit Chile’s capital, triggering mudslides that swept away cars through the streets and flooded homes, hospitals, and schools."
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"Nagkaroon ng malakas na pagsabog o moderately explosive eruption sa Bulkang Kanlaon sa Negros Island."
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"The Philippines ranks first among 193 countries in the World Risk Index 2026 due to its high exposure to natural hazards and vulnerability."
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A new 'Himalayan tsunami' hit Nepal. >>> "Imagine the agony of going through the same horror all over again. Scenic riverside settlements abutting steep mountains carrying loads of glaciers are suddenly no-build zones now."
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"A 7.7 magnitude quake hit Panama." >>> Just when we thought the subduction zones are easing up a bit.
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"If you sing regularly, researchers say your brain is releasing a unique mix of 3 chemicals that almost no other activity can replicate at the same time." >>> To my neighbors, sorry in advance but I just have to sing my heart out on a daily basis for my mental health.
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"Metacognition--the ability to observe one's own thinking--is the highest form of intelligence, not high IQ."
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"A fire tore through Paris’ oldest covered food market in the early hours of Monday, authorities said, destroying the historic site popular with tourists."
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"Cardinal Luis 'Chito' Tagle was elected as Dean by the College of Cardinals and approved by the Pope." >>> He is suddenly elevated as "the face of the pope," reports say.
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"The pope was operated on for lung cancer."
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"Pod Network pulls 'Machong Chismisan' episode for strong backlash over Josh Aquino remarks." >>> Macho kuno pero tsismoso naman? Why poke fun on children with autism and call them names like "walang kuwenta"? Even if it's meant as a joke, that doesn't lessen the sting of something too hurtful for unfortunate sufferers of ADHD (and other mental impairments) and their families. Contempt is better directed at the corrupt, the oppressor, the tyrant, the violent, the violator of human rights, and the barbaric instead.
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“Make no mistake: Super El Niño may come with strong rain and massive flooding.” >>> A bitchy retort online said, “So it should be called El Ñaño.”
By the way, as I have long suspected, El Niño was named after the Sto. Niño or Christ child in Peru because the extreme weather phenomenon was first observed to occur during Christmastime. I suggest we stop calling it that. But El Diablo doesn't sound nice either.
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"A cancer treatment invented at the University of Michigan is being hailed as one of the most significant non-invasive breakthroughs in oncology in decades. Histotripsy uses focused ultrasound waves to mechanically destroy tumor tissue without a single incision, drug or beam of radiation. The technique was invented at U-M in 2002 by researchers including Zhen Xu, a professor of biomedical engineering."
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"The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal from service of Urdaneta City Mayor Julio Fernandez Parayno III, Vice Mayor Jimmy Dereje Parayno and six city councilors for defying a presidential suspension order. The ruling stemmed from consolidated administrative complaints involving the officials' alleged refusal to comply with a 12-month suspension imposed by the Office of the President for grave misconduct and grave abuse of authority."
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"Edrieza Rimbang, ex-solon, was allegedly linked to P3.5-B shabu from Laos."
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"Protests across France have reportedly intensified, with clashes involving police, fires, and alleged looting targeting major retail stores including Louis Vuitton, Apple, Celine, and Hermès. The demonstrations were initially driven by concerns over poor school conditions, education funding, and the rising cost of living, drawing thousands of people into the streets. The escalating unrest is putting additional pressure on the French government as protesters demand action on education and broader economic concerns." >>> Mainstream media noticeably avoided mention of intifada and the appearance of Palestinian flags. Very telling omission!
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Meanwhile, Australians are rallying, saying we don't want to be like France, Italy, Belgium...
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"Senator Risa Hontiveros urged the Philippine government to demand a formal apology from Beijing over Chinese Ambassador to Manila Jing Quan’s remarks on the possible use of military force, calling for the envoy to be declared persona non grata if China refuses to retract them."
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Trending: "American actress Gwyneth Paltrow shared a clip of her cooking tortang talong for breakfast on Saturday. 'Tortang Talong with garlicky turkey crumbles and banana ketchup. A Filipino breakfast classic,' she wrote."
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"Dalawang katutubong magsasaka na may away tungkol sa lupa ang namatay matapos sumailalim sa sulif, isang tradisyunal na paraan ng pag-settle ng dispute sa kanilang community. Lulubog sa tubig ang magkalaban. Ang unang umahon, talo. Ang mas matagal sa ilalim ng tubig, sa kanya ang lupa. Ang problema, walang gustong umahon. Almost 12 minutes silang nasa ilalim ng tubig. Pareho silang namatay."
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"According to nutritionists, this four-ingredient bowl of rice, black beans, scrambled eggs, and avocado comes about as close to a nutritionally complete meal as you can get for under $5."
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"Scientists are working to bring back the dodo." >>> Exciting times ahead!
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"A priest in Ecuador died during mass after a crucifix at the altar fell down on him. Ironically, he was preaching about the fact that we do not know the exact time death comes knocking at the door." >>> The incident reportedly was laughable to a lot of Protestants who, of course, instinctively saw it as some kind of punishment for 'idolatry.'
>>> Sigh. But my worst unvoiced fear about these crucifixes hanging right above the priest's head like the sword of Damocles happened. From a DRRM perspective, it's always been a serious hazard risk that church authorities never pay attention to, it seems.
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"Commercial districts in China are swapping out traditional advertisements for giant posters of scientists. These massive displays have started appearing on screens in cities like Zhengzhou, turning researchers into the kind of faces you’d usually see selling perfume or handbags."
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"Japanese doctor turned Afghan desert into farmland--then was assassinated."
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"Japan bred Shine Muscat--China now grows 30 times as much, pays zero royalties."
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Learned a new word: esmiringhoy. Source: Tulfo show. It's a Visayan word for s*x. Naughty netizen says, "b*mb@ng is out". >>> Says a new FB contact: "Originally 'esmiringhoy' was a term used for call girls. Recently lang naging word for 'sex' like how 'bembang' evolved from 'napagalitan' to 'sex' na."
Of course, I just had to make a separate reaction article, no?
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"Cultural Marxism has been on the rise among the woke youth."
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"Saudi Arabia beheaded a Bangladeshi couple for kissing in Mecca. Bangladesh is demanding answers to their questions."
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"Norway could've made everyone rich overnight (with its vast oil reserves), but chose to make everyone rich forever instead. In 1990, the Norwegian Parliament created the Government Pension Fund Global. For the sake of future Norwegians." >>> These Norwegians are... different.
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Trending verbatim quote: "Usap-usapan ang pahayag ni Miss Earth Philippines 2016 Imelda Schweighart na, “Pills don't make you a woman, n*gga,” na ibinahagi niya sa social media. Nagbukas ito ng usapan tungkol sa gender identity, paggamit ng hormones, at kung paano tinutukoy ng mga tao ang pagiging babae."
Media's expected reaction: "Binabatikos ngayon si Imelda Schweighart. Bukod sa pagtawag na 'entitled,' binansagan din niyang “parody ng mga babae” ang Filipino gay community."
One 'trans-woman' got back at Schweighart by at saying something about her recent miscarriage.
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"Korean researchers restored hearing by waking dormant stem cells deep inside the ear. A human ear has around 16,000 hair cells that convert sound into nerve signals, and once they die, they never return. That is the standard sentence given to 400 million people with hearing loss. Korean researchers found a way to prompt supporting cells in the inner ear to behave like stem cells and regenerate new hair cells in animal models."
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"The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Wednesday that employees cannot be compelled to perform at company Christmas parties as it is a form of bullying."
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The phrase "misplaced empathy" trended. >>> Indeed, if you don't protect everything you hold dear with your whole life--and the principles underpinning them, you could lose them overnight. Let's not be like the French or most of the Europeans who have rejected their Christian foundation and identity.
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"China mulls sanctions, oil and fertilizer cuts vs Philippines."
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"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially awarded $34.1 million to support the growth and development of the ube (purple yam) value chain in the Philippines through its Food for Progress Program. ... The 5-year project, implemented by American NGO TechnoServe, is projected to directly assist approximately 12,500 local ube farmers."
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"Scientists discover what can trigger cancer cells to self-destruct : being mechanically compressed or confined for prolonged periods of time."
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"A sculpture called Io Sono was sold for $18,300 at an auction in Milan. The sculpture is completely invisible. It does not exist physically in any form. The buyer received a certificate of authenticity and instructions on how to display it: in a private home, in a roughly 5x5 foot space, free of obstruction. ... Garau described it as a "vacuum" full of energy, saying the work exists as long as the buyer thinks about it. The art world mostly laughed. A handful of critics called it a legitimate conceptual piece in the tradition of Yves Klein. Most people called it the most expensive nothing ever sold. >>> Had a good laugh here, and yes, I remember that artist named Yves Klein who got away with a similar conception or conceit.
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"A 12-storey building under construction in Nairobi collapsed."
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A young boy actor was stabbed five times by another boy in an altercation over a stupid video game.
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Horror: Two local planes collided into each other in a training field. Four pilots died.
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"In Serbia, a student-led movement that began as a protest against corruption has just won a historic parliamentary election, ending the 14-year political dominance of Aleksandar Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party." >>> Wow!
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Soc-dem Lula defeats fascist Bolsonaro in Brazil's presidential election.
Viral post: "For the naysayers who keep insisting voting is pointless: in just six months, Hungary ousted Orbán, Serbia ousted Vučić, and Brazil said no to another Bolsonaro. Show up."
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The "food park" concept has become a thing. >>> To cater to hungry food-trippers, I guess.
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Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, a witty tita, has come to be called "Ante Kler" by her DDS detractors. And she seems to have embraced the originally derisive tag.
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"Inutos umano ng isang guro sa Pangasinan na pagpasa-pasahan at duraan ng mga estudyante ang softdrinks bago ito ipainom sa dalawang kaklase." >>> Kadiri! Nakakasira ng araw.
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Hit song: “Na Para Bang” by Maria Deborah. >>> Why kaya?
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A deadly train accident in Spain.
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"Amihan season begins.- PAGASA" >>> I hope it confuses super El Niño.
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"Patrick Stewart, the legendary British actor best known for his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the long-running "Star Trek" TV series, has died. He was 86."
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“Stock up—world war has begun!” The United Kingdom and Japan have urged households to prepare food and water as an expanding international conflict disrupts trade routes and raises fears of shortages."
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Manhunt for missing Sen. Bato intensified, with the noose reportedly tightening shut.
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Mayon Volcano erupted again.
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The Michelin Guide Philippines 2027 was released. It included Kapampangan restaurants this time.
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Much-anticipated annual stunt: This Halloween, Heidi Klum struts on the floor as a dismembered hand.
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