NEW FROM MCT · CONTINUING RECORDThe Sara Duterte Impeachment TrialFollow the hearing day by day, read the documents in plain language and see what each side says, what remains disputed and what the courts have actually decided.I’m still working through parts of the record. Published material is based on documents already reviewed, and anything awaiting confirmation is clearly marked.Open the tracker →

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FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

6:44 PM5-minute read

ABOUT THE COINS.PH CASH-IN RESTRICTION AND WHAT USERS SHOULD CHECK

If you use Coins.ph to receive money or pay bills, a failed cash-in can disrupt plans for the day. Coins.ph has announced that some incoming peso services are temporarily unavailable following a BSP directive to improve its internal controls. Its advisory also identifies services that existing customers can still use.

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12:00 PM5-minute read

ABOUT THE PROPOSED RULES ON SECONDHAND PHONES

A secondhand phone can put a useful device within reach of someone who cannot afford a new one. The problem comes when the buyer has no clear information about where it came from, what condition it is in, or who will fix it if it fails.

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8:35 PM6-minute read

ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION ON THE IMPEACHMENT VOTE THRESHOLD

The Supreme Court dismissed three petitions on September 30 challenging how the Senate impeachment court would count the votes needed to convict Vice President Sara Duterte. The dismissal leaves the Senate’s September 23 ruling in place, but it needs to be read carefully. A case can be dismissed because it does not meet the requirements for the Court to hear it, without settling whether the challenged action is constitutional.

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6:12 AM6-minute read

ABOUT WHAT BASTE DUTERTE SHOULD HAVE CHECKED AS MAYOR

Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte told the Senate impeachment court on September 29 that he had been unfamiliar with GenCorp Industries Inc. before it came up in the proceedings. He also said he did not know about Vice President Sara Duterte’s declared business interest in the company.

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10:45 PM7-minute read

ABOUT THE OCTOBER WATER-RATE INCREASES

Metro Manila households served by Maynilad and Manila Water will see slightly higher water charges beginning October 1. The announced increases are small for many residential customers, but the figures vary by concessionaire and consumption level. That makes it easy to misunderstand a notice expressed only in centavos per cubic meter.

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7:21 AM6-minute read

ABOUT THE NOTE HANDED TO GIBO TEODORO IN SEOUL

Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. was answering questions at the Seoul Defense Dialogue on September 8 when a man handed him a note. He read it aloud, challenged its rejection of the 2016 South China Sea ruling and objected to being interrupted that way.

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9:55 AM8-minute read

ABOUT EL NIÑO AND PREPARING FOR LESS RAIN

It can be raining outside while PAGASA warns about El Niño. That can sound confusing when the immediate problem is a wet road or a flooded field. The two warnings describe different periods: the weather happening now and the rainfall conditions that may develop over the coming months.

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5:30 AM8-minute read

ABOUT THE NEW ARREST WARRANTS AGAINST ZALDY CO, MARTIN ROMUALDEZ AND TWO OTHERS

The Sandiganbayan has ordered the arrest of Zaldy Co, Martin Romualdez and two other accused in the plunder case filed on September 7. By Monday evening, authorities had served Romualdez's warrant and carried out booking procedures at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan. His arrest is a confirmed development; it does not establish that his three co-accused are also in custody.

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3:15 PM8-minute read

ABOUT THE PLUNDER CASE AGAINST MARTIN ROMUALDEZ

The Office of the Ombudsman filed a plunder case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez at the Sandiganbayan on September 7 over his alleged involvement in flood-control kickbacks. The accusations have now reached the court that will handle the criminal case. Romualdez denies wrongdoing and remains presumed innocent.

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1:18 PM7-minute read

ABOUT THE NEW SWS POVERTY NUMBERS

Self-rated poverty and food poverty declined in June, but the figures also show how many Filipino families remain under pressure and why lower household budgets do not necessarily mean life became cheaper.

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2:02 PM11-minute read

ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY ACT

House Bill No. 9965 would bar children below 13 from having social media accounts, require parental consent for users aged 13 to 17, regulate platform algorithms, and impose fines reaching P50 million. It is still being deliberated in the House.

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12:02 PM7-minute read

ABOUT THE SEALED BIR BOX

Marcos authorized the BIR to comply with the Senate subpoena. That did not open the records to the public or prove the unexplained-wealth allegation.

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MCT READER PULSE · MCT-PULSE-2026-010

MCT READER SURVEY

If the Philippine presidential election were held today, who would you vote for as President and Vice President?

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This is an informal survey of people who choose to participate. It is not a scientific or nationally representative sample.

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October 5, 2026 · 9:27 AM5-minute read

ABOUT TEACHERS’ DAY, CLASS SUSPENSIONS AND THE FAKE “WALANG PASOK” ANNOUNCEMENT

A screenshot saying “walang pasok” can change a family’s plans before anyone checks where it came from. This Teachers’ Day, parents are dealing with a false nationwide announcement alongside local notices that may apply only to particular schools or have already been revised.

A phone and school supplies in an empty Philippine classroom.

A screenshot saying “walang pasok” can change a family’s plans before anyone checks where it came from. This Teachers’ Day, parents are dealing with a false nationwide announcement alongside local notices that may apply only to particular schools or have already been revised.

The safest guide is the latest official notice for your child’s school. Here are five things to check before deciding whether your child needs to attend classes.

1

DOES TEACHERS’ DAY AUTOMATICALLY MEAN NO CLASSES?

October 5 is National Teachers’ Day under Republic Act No. 10743. The law calls it a special working holiday. It does not declare an automatic nationwide class suspension.

The law encourages activities that recognize teachers and gives DepEd the lead in preparing the annual program. A school celebration can affect a local schedule, but the occasion itself does not tell every family that classes are cancelled.

Parents need a notice that actually applies to their child’s school. A greeting for Teachers’ Day or a poster about the celebration is not a class suspension announcement.

WHAT TO WATCH

Look for a clear instruction from the school or the relevant education office. Confirm whether it concerns regular classes, a school activity or a change in the day’s schedule.

2

WHAT DID THE FALSE ANNOUNCEMENT CLAIM?

DepEd warned on October 4 about a false announcement claiming a nationwide suspension of classes on October 5 and 6 for Teachers’ Day.

The claim covers two dates, which makes it especially easy for families to plan around information that is wrong. A department logo, an official-looking layout or repeated shares cannot establish that a notice came from DepEd.

Before forwarding a screenshot, find the original announcement on the agency’s verified page or website. If the official agency has identified the circulating claim as false, sharing another copy only spreads the confusion.

WHAT TO WATCH

Check the exact dates and the original source. Do not treat the false October 5–6 nationwide announcement as a reason to keep a child home.

3

WHY CAN LOCAL SCHOOL SCHEDULES LOOK DIFFERENT?

A false nationwide notice can circulate at the same time as genuine local announcements. Some local governments issued Teachers’ Day notices, while reports also described withdrawals and revisions. An earlier screenshot may therefore no longer show the instruction families should follow.

Read the scope of a genuine notice carefully. It may refer to particular schools, teaching personnel, an afternoon activity or a specific area. A notice affecting one locality does not establish that every school in the country has the same schedule.

When announcements appear to conflict, ask the school to confirm the instruction it is following. Parents should not have to settle a dispute about an order’s legal basis before knowing where their child is expected to be.

WHAT TO WATCH

Check the time of the notice and whether a later correction, cancellation or clarification has been issued. Confirm whether your child’s school and grade level are covered.

4

WHICH ANNOUNCEMENTS SHOULD PARENTS FOLLOW?

Start with the school’s official communication channel, then check the relevant DepEd or local government announcement it refers to. A forwarded message is useful only when it can be traced to a current official instruction.

Read beyond the words “walang pasok.” Check the date, location and whether the notice covers public schools, private schools or both. Also confirm whether it covers the whole day or only part of it.

If the school has not confirmed a change, contact its office or the teacher through the usual channel. That is more reliable than guessing from a post about a different town or a different school.

WHAT TO WATCH

Look for the school’s specific instructions on attendance and activities. Keep the original notice available so you can check its coverage rather than relying on a cropped image.

5

WHAT SHOULD YOU CHECK BEFORE LEAVING HOME?

Check once more for a revised announcement before your child leaves. If an earlier suspension was withdrawn, the school may have issued a new instruction about classes or Teachers’ Day activities.

This is especially useful when a post was shared the night before. A correct notice at the time it was issued can become outdated after a revision, and the older version can continue circulating in group chats.

If you still cannot establish the schedule, ask the school directly and explain which notice caused the confusion. Pass on the confirmed instruction with its source so other parents can check it too.

WHAT TO WATCH

Check for words such as “cancelled,” “revoked,” “corrected” or “updated,” along with the date and time. Make sure the final instruction comes from the school or office responsible for the announcement.

BOTTOM LINE

Teachers’ Day is a special working holiday. The false claim of a nationwide class suspension on October 5 and 6 should not guide a family’s plans.

Use the latest official instruction that applies to your child’s school. Check its scope and any revisions before deciding that “walang pasok.”

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