Michael Villamor, a long-time fan of the late National Artist Nora Aunor, couldn’t hide his disappointment, taking a swipe at some individuals who took advantage of the Superstar.
In his vlog, Michael stated that some individuals had received help from Nora, but when the late actress was already facing financial difficulties, no one offered their assistance.
“Mga walang utang na loob, matapos nilang perahan dati si Nora in the end si Nora naman ang walang pera at nanghihingi ng tulong ayaw nilang sagutin ang tawag ni Nora,” said Michael.
He also criticized Nora’s family, saying that they didn’t prioritize the ordinary fans who visited the actress’s wake.
According to Michael, the family prioritized the VIPs and public officials over the Noranians who had brought Nora to fame and expressed their loyalty to their idol for many decades.
“Eto pa ang isa, alam ninyong ang fanbase ni Nora, pinaka bata diyan siguro 50 or 55, mostly sernios na ‘yan tapos ang visiting hour na ilalagay niyo 10 am to 4pm?” said Michael.
“Alam niyong summer to! Ang init! Kahit ako di lumalabas dahil sa init, tapos ang fans papapuntahin niyo ng ganung oras porket mga VIP di pumupunta ng ganoong kainit? Eh kung himatayin ang mga fans? Nilagay niyo mga VIP sa gabi ano, para maming mag-donate?” he added.
The teacher who went viral and gained praise on social media after he confronted his principal, who ordered his students to take off their togas, appeared in an interview with educator Carl Balita.
In an interview, Lu Nietes, one of the teachers of Col. Ruperto Abellion National School (CRANS), said that he took the initiative to de-escalate the situation and approach their principal, Venus Nietes, to remind his superior that the moving-up ceremony was about the students and their parents.
“At that very moment, I wasn’t thinking about it, na, I was a hero. At that very moment, I was only thinking na moment to ng mga learners at parents so dapat i-celebrate nila yun,” said Teacher Lu.
According to him, he was aware of the consequences of showing dissent to his superior, but he believed his actions were for the sake of the students.
However, Teacher Lu also emphasized that students should still remain respectful to their teachers, after one of the graduates heckled the principal during the ceremony.
“Sa mga learners natin, be respectful pa rin sa mga people in authority. Very important yan. You have to continuously develop self-discipline. Continue to make mistakes and learn from your mistakes,” he stated.
Elena Zdorovetskaia, the mother of the controversial Russian-American vlogger, Vitaly Zdorovetsky, made a plea to the Filipino people to forgive her son after the Philippine government decided not to deport him.
In a statement, Elena said that she had already taken full responsibility for his actions, despite his unapologetic gestures during his arrest and when he was presented to the public by government officials.
Elena also insisted that Vitaly has no intention to harm those Filipinos who became the subject of his pranks – one was even threatened with robbery by the vlogger.
“I want to be very clear: my son made a mistake, and he takes full responsibility. However, he meant no harm and deeply regrets his actions,” she said.
Vitaly’s mother, who also became controversial due to her publicity stunts abroad, explained that the vlogger was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a mental disorder.
She reminded the public that Vitaly visited the Philippines, not to do pranks entirely, but also to help unfortunate Filipinos.
“The man behind the headlines is also a man of faith, generosity, and remorse. He has already lost his online platform, his only source of income, and his ability to continue supporting our small family, including his 87-year-old grandmother and me,” said Elena.
Vitaly was expected to stay in the Philippines for years, as he was facing trial.
If found guilty, the government said that Vitaly would spend his sentence in the Philippines, which could last for decades.
Laua-An, Antique Mayor Aser Baladjay has already requested the Department of Education (DepEd) to investigate the controversial principal of Col. Ruperto Abellon National High School (CRANS), Venus Nietes, who has been receiving complaints since 2023 due to alleged mismanagement.
In an interview, Baladjay said that he was aware of the complaints by the students and parents against Nietes, but according to him, the principal was only being reassigned to different parts of Antique.
Baladjay revealed that Nietes was only transferred to Culasi, Tobias Fornier, and Laua-An, despite the complaints she received.
He also expressed his support for the students who were already fed up with Nietes.
In 2023, Nietes received a complaint from a group of students, alleging that she was attempting to prevent student organizations from conducting activities.
She also failed to address the problems of the school she was tasked to lead.
Due to the alleged lack of action from DepEd, more than 500 students transferred to another school to avoid Nietes.
Some critics expressed concern that Nietes would only be transferred to another school. Still, others were optimistic that the publicity gained by her actions during the moving-up ceremony would end her career as a principal.
The people who personally knew the controversial principal of Col. Ruperto Abellon National School (CRANS), Venus Divinia Nietes, were surprised after the “sweet and loving” teacher they knew was now in hot water, having demanded that graduating students remove their togas.
It can be recalled that Nietes was facing an investigation after she caused a scene during the moving-up ceremony on April 15, 2025, after she insisted that togas were not part of the prescribed attire at the event.
Nietes was even heckled by one of the disappointed students and publicly debated with another teacher on stage.
“Lovely and Sweet”
A teacher who claimed to know Nietes personally was surprised by the ‘mutation’ of the principal.
“The viral principal…a close friend..sweet and so loving ( that’s how I know her before)…Ms.Venus Divinia Nietes….WHY ???(Why did you let yourself be overwhelmed by the position you have?) This is not all about Obedience …it’s all about Compassion and LOVE for the students…RESPECT BEGETS RESPECT !!!” said Irene Belarmino.
“Once a relatable mentor”
Herald Bebis, a former student of Nietes, said that he was also surprised by the incident, noting that he knew the principal as a “mentor” who knew how to make her students feel safe and supported.
“I didn’t just see the incident. I saw you. And it was difficult to reconcile the person in that video with the Ma’am Venus I once knew, we once knew; — the teacher who carried herself with grace and empathy, who knew how to listen, who was loved not only for being competent, but for being kind,” said Bebis.
“You were once that relatable mentor — the one who, despite the weight of authority, never made us feel small. You understood that teaching was more than just standing at the front of a classroom. You made us feel safe, supported, seen. You were one of those rare few who could make students believe in themselves. That’s why this moment is so heartbreaking. Because it doesn’t feel like you. And maybe that’s why I chose to write instead of rant. Because I still believe that the teacher we once knew is there — just hidden perhaps beneath the weight of administrative burdens, policy pressures, or other things we may never fully understand from the outside.
“Ma’am Neneng, this Holy Week offers us all a sacred opportunity. A pause. A moment to look inward. To reflect not only on what has happened, but on who we are and who we’ve always hoped to be — not just as educators or alumni, but as Christians, as Filipinos, as human beings. Perhaps this is the time to revisit those earlier years when your guidance was steeped in compassion, when your presence inspired, and when your voice comforted more than it corrected. Those years weren’t just memories — they were seeds you planted in many of us. They shaped the way we carried ourselves long after graduation.”
As of the time of writing, Nietes has yet to comment on the incident.
The principal who went viral on social media after she publicly ordered the students of Ruperto Abellon National School (CRANS) in Laua-an, Antique, to remove the toga they were wearing was facing investigation from the Department of Education (DepEd).
In a statement, the DepEd clarified that there was no order to forbid any students from wearing toga during graduation ceremonies, as it was included in the “optional supplementary garment” under DepEd Order No. 009.
“DepEd policy does not prohibit the wearing of togas. There is no prohibition under DepEd Memorandum No. 27, s. 2025 and under DepEd Order No. 009, s. 2023, the prescribed attire for graduation and moving-up ceremonies includes casual or formal wear or the school uniform,” DepEd said in a statement.
DepEd vowed to investigate the principal identified as Venus Nietes.
They also assured all the students who attended the graduation that they would receive their graduation credentials.
“We assure the public that this Office shall exhaust all means to ensure that affected learners will not be deprived of their rights and privileges as graduates, such as receiving their diplomas, certificates, and other credentials.” they said.
It can be recalled that the principal was even publicly heckled by one of the graduating students due to his disappointment over the last-minute order.
Nietes has yet to give any statement following the controversy she was facing.
In 2023, students of the same school held a rally against Nietes for alleged mismanagement.
A grade 7 student was currently undergoing counseling after his teacher discovered obscene letters in his notebook.
The letter was addressed to his teacher, Cheska Reyes, who also uploaded some of the photos of the notebook contents.
In the said letters, it showed that even the cover of the notebook had obscene messages towards his teacher.
The teacher couldn’t hide her frustration, saying that the incident was only one of the challenges she was facing in her profession.
“As the 2024–2025 school year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on a year that was as challenging as it was eye-opening. This has been a year of firsts—some of which I never expected to encounter so early, or perhaps ever, in my teaching career.”
“Teaching is often romanticized as a noble, fulfilling profession—and in many ways, it is. But behind the scenes, there are moments that test not only our patience, but our safety, resilience, and EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL strength.
“One of the hardest realities I faced this year was being subjected to sexual harassment. It’s something no one prepares you for when you walk into a classroom hoping to inspire and educate. No training or seminar could have cushioned the blow of that experience. What followed was a series of difficult conversations, internal struggles, and the effort to continue showing up for my students each day while carrying an invisible weight.
“I also found myself in the guidance office far more often than I anticipated—not for personal reflection or mentorship meetings, but because of students involved in physical fights. Breaking up altercations and dealing with the aftermath, whether emotional or procedural, became an unexpected part of my job description. It was exhausting and disheartening, and yet I learned the importance of advocating for mental health support and strong behavioral structures in our schools.
“As if those weren’t enough, this year marked my first time completing a mountain of school forms—documentation, reports, requests, and evaluations. Learning the ropes while managing a classroom taught me a new level of organization and time management, but it also revealed the overwhelming burden teachers often carry behind the scenes.
“Then there were the physical reminders of chaos: broken classroom materials. Desks scratched, chairs dismantled, resources treated with carelessness. It felt like every broken item was a reflection of the deeper challenges our students are facing—frustration, lack of accountability, maybe even cries for help.
“And yet, amid all this, I kept going.
“I kept teaching, smiling when I could, checking in on students even when I felt drained, and reminding myself why I chose this path. Not because it’s easy, but because I believe in the power of education to change lives—even when the system itself feels broken.
“This year has been more than a professional experience—it has been a test of my identity, values, and passion. And despite everything, I still believe in the potential of this profession and the change we can create when we’re truly heard, protected, and supported.
“To fellow educators: I see you.
“And to my students: I hope you one day realize that even on my hardest days, I never stopped believing in you.”
The post received thousands of shares online and also captured the attention of several officials of the Department of Education (DepEd).
They were already investigating the action of the said student.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) made a clarification on the confusion being experienced by some Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who cast their votes via online voting.
It can be recalled that some OFWs claimed that different candidates appeared in the results of their vote lookup.
Others even recorded their actual voting despite the possible election violations they might face to prove that different names were appearing in the vote lookup results.
Photo from Landrex Orozco Rebuera/FB
However, COMELEC said that the code appearing on the “Ballot Content” is not the result of the online voting result, but a coded version of the whole ballot, which shows all the candidates’ names.
“It’s the plaintext version of the ballot itself. So ‘yung makikita nila doon if they actually scroll from the start to finish, what they will see is all the list of candidates that are in the ballot itself,” said Ian Geonanga, Overseas Voting Director of COMELEC.
According to Geonanga, the system does not allow OFWs to see the candidates they voted for until after the official vote-casting to avoid possible vote-buying incidents.
He assured that the ballot results would be released to the public after all the votes had been cast.
The commission also said that the Ballot ID shown in the Vote Lookup proves that the system has already recognized their votes.
Vice Mayoral candidate Bernie Al-Ag claimed that Davao City might lose its budget from the National Government if the Duterte family won the local elections again.
During a campaign rally held in Davao City, Al-Ag cited the importance of a flood control project to prevent more flooding in their place in the future.
However, a flood control project would cost around P10-B, which would be a challenge to fund, especially without help from the national government.
He claimed that if the Dutertes win the election, they will receive zero budget for their infrastructure projects.
“Kung sila ang manalo [Duterte] wala silang makukuhang budget sa national government,” said Al-Ag.
Al-Ag was confident that if his party, which consisted of Davao City Congressional candidate Migs Nograles and Davao City Mayoral candidate Karlo Nograles, won, the national government would grant them a sufficient budget for the project.
Critics called out Al-Ag, saying that his strategy to make people vote based on the budget that Davao City would receive was unethical.
“The VM Candidate seems to have forgotten—or perhaps deliberately ignores—that Davao City has long proven its ability to stand on its own. As of December 2024, our city proudly remained DEBT-FREE, a testament to disciplined governance and fiscal responsibility. So why, then, is the NATIONAL BUDGET being shamelessly politicized? Instead of offering concrete platforms, actionable programs, or a clear vision for progress, the campaign discussions have been reduced to petty debates over budget allocations—as if Davaoenos are mere beggars waiting for scraps from the national table,” netizen Giever Delyang said.
