Follow Christ, popular Boholano priest urges
Popular Boholano priest, Fr. Darwin Gitgano, emphasized on October 10, 2025, the need to follow Christ as Jesus is the only way that matters.
In an episode of Kabataan For Change (KFC) over Newsmakers ug Uban Pa, Gitgano said following Christ is never easy and filled with challenges.
Gitgano shared his journey as he became a priest to the Kabataan for Change hosts, stating that forgiveness is at the core, forgiving those who transgress against him.
He said his day is incomplete if he can’t forgive those who come to him to confess, as Catholic teaching holds only priests can forgive sins based on Christ’s authority given to apostles and their successors, the priests.
Gitgano admits priests are sinners, yet they absolve people of sins.
He’s also busy exorcising and delivering those in the demon’s clutches.
As a priest, he feels happiness serving others, especially those seeking spiritual reprieve, as God loves everyone without favor. Gitgano mentioned his involvement in the Catholic Faith Defender, exposed to other faiths before priesthood, and thanked non-Catholics for making him a strong Catholic defender.
Searching for truth, he stressed focusing on gaining knowledge and insights into the right religion.
He warned it’s easy to be deceived by false teachers, prophets, and evangelizers, and it’s our duty to spread the Lord’s truth.
DELIVERANCE AND EXORCISM
Gitgano said an exorcist’s main task is ensuring one’s worthiness by purifying thoughts, as contamination can make one less productive, and the devil targets individuals’ minds.
Ramasola extends olive branch to Atty. Art while Aumentado refuses ceasefire in libel cases
Political critic and vlogger Willy Ramasola finds himself navigating sharply divergent fronts: extending an unexpected peace offering to former adversary Atty. Art Yap while facing an intensifying legal offensives from the Aumentado political dynasty.
A supposed confrontation failed to materialize Monday as Rep. Vanessa Aumentado declined to engage in settlement talks with Ramasola, marking an escalation in their bitter feud.
The congresswoman dispatched a written communique to prosecutors making clear her position: no compromise.
Ramasola arrived at the Quezon City Prosecutors’ Office at 4:05 p.m. for the mandatory mediation hearing on cyber libel charges, only to find his adversary had not deployed to the battlefield.
“Ni attend ko sa mandatory mediation hearing sa libel complaint na gi file ni Congresswoman Vanvan Aumentado. 4PM ang schedule. Niabot ko 4:05PM ug ni sorry ko sa piskal nga na late ko gamay. Apan wala man diay ni tungha si Congresswoman Vanvan. Nagpadala lang ug suwat nag ingon nga dili siya makig areglo,” Ramasola said in a statement.
“Hala laina pod. Murug nasuko na gyud or gadumot naman siguro si Cong nako? Maka sad oy. Na hala. Next chapter na ta. Mangape nalang ko kay aron dili pod sayang ang byahe gikan Makati.”
The offensive against Ramasola now spans multiple fronts.
Rep. Aumentado has launched three separate cyber libel strikes in Quezon City, while her husband, Gov. Aris Aumentado, has opened his own legal campaign at the Tagbilaran City Prosecutors’ Office.
The collapse of the alliance came after Ramasola’s failed tactical maneuver in seeking a first district board member seat, transforming the longtime Aumentado operative into their most vocal combatant.
Peace Overture to Yap
In a striking contrast, Ramasola congratulated Yap on his swearing-in as House representative for the Murang Koryente party-list, expressing regret over their bitter past confrontations.
“I congratulate former Agriculture Secretary and former Bohol Governor Atty. Art Yap for being sworn in as the newest member of the House of Representatives being the first nominee and representative of the Murang Kuryente Partylist,” Ramasola wrote in a Facebook post Friday.
“I wish him success so that hopefully using his connections and knowledge and dedication to help our fellow Filipinos, he can contribute in significantly bringing down the cost of electricity in the country.”
Ramasola and Yap previously exchanged hostile fire, with Ramasola mounting sustained criticism of Yap’s gubernatorial administration and filing graft charges. Yap responded with multiple legal countermeasures.
But Ramasola now acknowledges tactical errors in his past campaign.
“We have locked horns in the past. I criticized his administration as Bohol Governor and even filed graft cases. He also filed numerous cases against me. But as I mentioned in past social media posts, I regret attacking him using my Facebook platform because as a result he was replaced by a much worse, incompetent and very corrupt Provincial leadership. If only I could turn back the time I would not have done it,” Ramasola said.
The influencer offered to bury the hatchet and join forces with the new congressman.
“But we cannot undo the past. Rather we can only extend a sincere gesture of peace and an offer to work together with Congressman Art Yap to unite for a better Bohol. Rest assured I will just be here in case there is anything I can do to help him. Because Art Yap’s success as Murang Koryente representative in Congress will benefit Boholanos and Filipinos. Daghang salamat,” he said.
Engineer Denies Confrontation
In a separate theater, Department of Public Works and Highways second district engineer Fernando Talagsa has denied coming under fire from Rep. Aumentado, countering Ramasola’s claims of a confrontation over solar light project issues in Inabanga.
Talagsa dismissed the allegations as disinformation, saying he cannot recall any such engagement with the congresswoman.
The engineer said the Inabanga issue is an old one and characterized Ramasola’s post as fake news.
The rapprochement with Yap comes as Ramasola remains engaged in legal warfare with the Aumentados, both of whom have filed cyber libel charges against him in separate jurisdictions.
Bohol Water reports no damage from northern Cebu earthquake
Bohol Water Utilities Inc. (BWUI) reported that its water sources escaped damage from a major earthquake that struck northern Cebu on Sept. 30, 2025, BWUI spokesperson Victor Tambis said Wednesday.
The magnitude 6.9 earthquake, which struck at a depth of 10 kilometers near the city of Bogo in northern Cebu, caused huge damage in Cebu province and left at least 72 people dead.
The temblor was felt across the Visayas region, including neighboring Bohol province.
Despite the widespread impact, inspections found all BWUI systems functioning normally, with water sources and pumping stations operating without issues, Tambis said in an interview on DYTR’s “Newsmakers ug Uban Pa.”
“The water sources were not affected by the massive earthquake,” Tambis said.
The utility’s quick recovery contrasts with the aftermath of a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck Bohol in October 2013, killing more than 200 people and damaging infrastructure across the province.
That disaster affected several BWUI pumping stations, causing low water pressure.
BWUI is monitoring all pumping stations to ensure continued service, Tambis said.
The company is also advancing infrastructure projects, including new pipe installations on Darunday Street in Barangay Dao, Tagbilaran City, which is 40% complete.
Projects on Zamora Street and Toledo Street in the same barangay are planned.
Bohol Light franchise advances as utility urges prompt bill payment
The House of Representatives has passed a bill renewing Bohol Light’s franchise in second reading Tuesday, a critical step toward ensuring the utility can continue serving customers beyond its year-end expiration.
The measure now advances to third reading before heading to the Senate for consideration.
The franchise renewal is necessary for Bohol Light to maintain power distribution to Tagbilaran residents.
Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer of Negros Occidental, who chairs the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, defended the application during floor debate.
Primelectric Holdings Inc. owns 70% of Bohol Light, with the Provincial Government of Bohol holding the remaining 30%.
Meanwhile, Bohol Light spokesperson Sheryl Paga urged consumers to promptly pay their monthly electricity bills, speaking on the program “Newsmakers ug Uban Pa” on Tuesday.
The utility has expanded payment options through third-party partners including banks, e-wallets, M Lhuillier, Palawan Pawnshop and 7-Eleven to accommodate customers facing disconnection for overdue accounts.
Consumers have a 10-day grace period from bill receipt to pay without incurring surcharge penalties, Paga said.
The company issues disconnection notices to customers with unpaid bills.
Paga also advised customers to practice safe electricity use and monitor appliances to prevent fires.
She warned against “octopus connections” — multiple devices plugged into single outlets — and “flying connections” between structures, calling them fire and wiring hazards.
Bohol Light encourages residents to report irregular connections by calling 038-4272372 or 0920-9602372, or messaging the company’s official Facebook Messenger account.
The utility maintains a quick response team for emergencies including earthquakes, Paga added.
DTI-Bohol kicks off Consumer’s Month celebration with various activities
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Bohol has lined up activities in celebration of Consumers Month, as revealed by DTI-Bohol Provincial Director Vierna Chiu-Ligan during an October 9, 2025 episode of Newsmakers ug Uban Pa with Ardy Araneta-Batoy.
Ligan shared that this year’s celebration theme is “Bida ang Consumer sa Bagong Pilipinas.”
She emphasized that the nationwide celebration pays tribute not just to sellers but also to consumers, noting that DTI considers everyone a consumer, especially those buying prime commodities.
Ligan highlighted that consumer education and advocacy are central to the celebration, aiming to familiarize consumers with laws protecting their rights, as they are most affected by price or product changes.
Scheduled activities include seminars and a consumer business forum on October 16, 2025, in Tagbilaran, followed by similar events in Talibon on October 17, 2025, and Jagna on October 23, 2025.
Consumer rights and responsibility seminars will be held in Loay and Clarin, although specific dates were not provided, in connection with the Micro Business Sustainability and Adaptability program.
A business forum for the Consumers Month celebration is set for October 24, 2025, in Tagbilaran City.
Additionally, the Seal of Excellence will be awarded to deserving establishments compliant with consumer and fair trade laws on October 23, 2025, in Tagbilaran City, recognizing local Bohol business establishments.
Ligan stated that the goal is to ensure compliance with consumer and fair trade laws, acknowledging establishments meeting DTI standards and criteria.