The Pillar

𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 || 𝐂𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐧. 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬. 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐕𝐏 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥; 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲

Pasay City — Sen. Vicente "Tito" Sotto III was removed as Senate President ahead of the second impeachment trial against Vice-President Sara Duterte, Sen. Alan Cayetano secured the chamber’s top post during the 62nd session of the 20th Congress, Monday, May 11.

Following a motion by Sen. Joel Villanueva to declare all Senate positions vacant, Sen. Imee Marcos nominated Sen. Cayetano for Senate President, while Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan nominated Sen. Sotto.

Cayetano secured 13 votes, replacing Sen. Tito Sotto, who garnered nine votes.

Senators who voted to seat Cayetano as the new Senate President:
Loren Legarda
Camille Villar
Mark Villar
Joel Villanueva
Imee Marcos
Chiz Escudero
Robin Padilla
B**g Go
Rodante Marcoleta
Bato dela Rosa
Pia Cayetano
Vicente "Tito" Sotto

Senators who backed Sotto:
Bam Aquino
Ping Lacson
Risa Hontiveros
Alan Cayetano
Erwin Tulfo
Raffy Tulfo
Lito Lapid
Win Gatchalian
Kiko Pangilinan

Senators who abstained:
JV Estrada
Miguel Zubiri

By tradition, the contenders for the Senate’s top post vote for each other.

Following months of absence, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa appeared at the Senate session to support Cayetano. Dela Rosa’s backing completed the 13 votes needed to elect a new Senate President.

He also alleged that the Senate sergeant-at-arms allowed National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) personnel to prevent him from entering the Senate premises to cast his vote.

Dela Rosa further claimed that former senator Antonio Trillanes IV was with the NBI personnel. A CCTV footage circulating online showed Dela Rosa running inside the Senate premises away from the agents.

“Anong klaseng gobyerno, a sitting president, hinaharang hindi papasukin sa session. Kung ako’y absent ako’y hinahanap niyo, sumusweldo, hindi nagpapakita. Ngayon magpakita ako, hinarang ako, sugat-sugat ako,” he said.

Cayetano later took his oath as Senate President before Sen. Camille Villar, joined by his wife, Lani Cayetano, and his sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano.

Sen. Loren Legarda was elected and took her oath of office as Senate President Pro Tempore.

Sen. Sotto held the Senate presidency for eight months, having assumed the post in September after succeeding Francis Escudero. ¶

Words by Jenchor Tenedero

𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐀 || 𝐕𝐏 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐞, 𝐧𝐚-𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐧𝐚 𝐬𝐚 𝐊𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚; 𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐚𝐚𝐤𝐲𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐚 𝐬𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐨

MAYNILA, Pilipinas - Pormal nang inaprubahan ng Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso ngayong araw, Mayo 11, 2026, ang impeachment laban kay Bise Presidente Sara Duterte matapos makakuha ng 255 na pabor na boto, na higit pa sa kinakailangang 106 na boto upang opisyal na maiakyat ang kaso sa Senado.

Nag-ugat ang nasabing hakbang sa mga Articles of Impeachment na nagdedetalye ng mga alegasyon gaya ng paglabag sa Saligang Batas, pagtataksil sa tiwala ng bayan, at mga isyu kaugnay ng paggamit ng pampublikong pondo.

Matapos ang ilang linggong pagdinig sa House Committee on Justice, nakuha ng mosyon ang kinakailangang suporta ng mahigit 1/3 ng lahat ng miyembro ng Kamara upang direktang iakyat ang kaso sa Senado.

Dahil sa desisyong ito, magsisilbing mga “prosecutors” ang ilang itatalagang miyembro ng Kamara sa gaganaping paglilitis sa Senado, na siyang tatayo bilang isang Impeachment Court sa pamumuno ng Punong Mahistrado ng Korte Suprema.

Inaasahang magsisimula ang paglilitis sa Senado sa loob ng mga susunod na linggo. Kung makakakuha ng 2/3 na boto, tuluyan nang matatanggal sa pwesto si Duterte at posibleng habambuhay na mapagbawalang humawak ng anumang posisyon sa gobyerno. ¶

𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐈 || 𝐊𝐚𝐝𝐚-𝐒𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐨

Sabado na liwat.
Hinunumduman na naman ako niyo.

Mangunguli na naman kamo.
Tatapuon ko kamo san mapaso
nga mga hangkop tikang sa akon mga braso
upod an mga bura san sabon nga panlaba.

Sugad san paghinglo,
huhubaon niyo an iyo mga panapton
ngan ipapanablay bisan la diin:
sa lingkuran san mga bunakan
,sa daan nga katre nga ginhimo sa rattan,
sa kubeta nga imod an kalangitan,
ngan sa duyan takin san altar.

Madiretso dayon kamo sa kusina,
mangbubungkal san mga kaldero,
ngan mangungutana,
“…nano an igsura?”

Kahuman kumaon,
dadagkutan ko an katol
sa ilarom san iyo mga katre
pero an amyon kanan kandila,
basi mahimyang an iyo katurog
samtang ginsasayo-sayo ko an mga tipasi
san rosaryohan pangaro sin misteryo
san mga baraydan buwas nga aga.

Magsisiriway na naman
an aton mga kalibutan buwas.

Paggikan niyo, waray ako iba nga hihimuon
kundi sususugon an iyo mga ginbayaan nga panapton.
Tikang sa lingkuran, sa katre, sa kubeta
ngan sa duyan, kun diin mangangamyon
an Katinko ngan kandila tikang sa takin san altar.
An altar kun diin nakasandig
an akon ladawan nga ginhahangkupan
san mga tapu-tapo ngan san rosaryohan.

“Dominggo na liwat buwas.
Hingangalimot na naman kamo sa akon.’’ ¶

Siday: Mike Laurence Borbon
Ladawan: Sofia Arianne Morales

𝐊𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐊𝐒 || 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐫𝐚𝐰, 𝐌𝐚
ni Xukiyo

𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐈 || 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐠

Sa kaniyang galaw, mala-palabas na kahanga-hanga,
Animo'y kabalyerong nakikipagpatintero sa harap ng tumatalsik na mantika,
Sa maliksing paghiwa ng sibuyas, waring artistang nagpupunas ng sariling luha,
Hindi niya alintana ang init at amoy nitong dala,
Kahit ayaw niya sa sisig, gumagawa pa rin para may maihaing munti,
Dahil alam niyang ang linamnam nito’y nakapagpapagaan kapag kinain nang tuluyan.

Kapag nagtitirintas, animo'y hinahabi sa higpit ang bawat hibla,
Sabay "Aray ko Nay!" tapos ay hahaplusin nang humupa ang nadarama,
Sinasablay ang bag sa likuran niya't sasamahan hanggang sa eskwela,
Hihintayin hanggang uwian, masigurong ligtas sa kalsada,
Tapos ay bibili ng paboritong empanada't palamig na mangga,
Sabay hihingi ng halik sa pisngi na laging iniiwasang ibigay dahil nahihiya

Gayunpaman, minsan na siyang nahuli ng paslit na may kakaibang ginagawa,
Kapag mag-isa sa bakuran, bigla siyang tumitigil sa paglalaba,
Dahan-dahang umiindak sa munting espasyo,
Marahang umiikot ang paa na tila nasa entablado,
Kamay ay nakataas at kinukumpas, sinusundan ang musikang siya lamang ang may nakakaalam,
Ngunit nang lumingon sa nagtitiktik, agad niyang ibinabalik ang sarili sa labada,
Animo'y pinigilang diwa sa isang tanghalan.

Hanggang sa pagsapit ng isang linggo, sa usling pintuan,
Nasilayan ang pagtangis ng mga mata, may bahid ng panghihinayang,
Subalit pilit na ngumingiti sa likod ng pagod na mukha,
Parang panahong dagliang huminto ang indayog sa gitna ng musika.
Sabay usal, “Ikaw pa rin ang pipiliin ko kahit anong mangyari, anak.”
Bumalong ang mga luha sa mata ng minsang paslit, kasabay ng munting bulong— “Salamat, Nay.” ¶

Verbo: Niño Balawang
Dibuho ni EJ Duhaylungsod

𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐎𝐎𝐍 || 𝐔𝐄𝐏 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞
by Julliene Espiña

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 || 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐬, 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩

"Don't sleep the moment," said Aldrin Haduca, an alumnus broadcaster of The Pillar for its 60th Volume, as he urged student broadcast journalists to be prepared in every coverage during The Pillar's Broadcasting Workshop at the UEP Graduate Studies building on May 7, 2026.

In an effort to harness journalism skills in delivering news, Haduca discussed the fundamentals of broadcasting, ethical considerations, and critical scriptwriting, which are vital for the job they carry.

During his discussion, he underscored that the usage of Artificial Intelligence must be taken into consideration, as journalism is holy and utilizes the truth for storytelling.

"Kaya bigyang kabanalan ang article na ginagawa natin—ganyan nagiging noble ang pagiging mamamahayag, sapagkat ang mga mamahayag ay kumakalinga sa katotohanan at kapag pinagkatiwalaan tayo ng narratives bigyan natin ng justice," he stressed.

Moreover, Haduca cited that the media of broadcasting and video journalism are beautiful as both visual and audio are being observed; however, he underscored that the focus of every video is not the journalist, but the individual whose story is being told.

"Every human story is a story waiting to be told," he exalted.

Organized by The Pillar, this workshop is part of a five-part journalistic series open to student journalists across the university system. Slated sessions will also tackle other journalistic fields, including critical writing, photojournalism, editorial cartooning, and layout and design.

As the discussion concluded, participants shared their reflections and gained knowledge before leaving the venue. ¶

Words by Niño Balawang
Photos by Althea Chin

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 || 𝐔𝐄𝐏 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬

Special honoraria are supposed to be released today, May 7, 2026, based on an advisory issued yesterday, May 6, by the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) in response to an anonymous complaint from one of the university’s Special Lecturers that circulated through a Facebook post on the same day.

“Upon verification of official records, the university confirms that claims for honoraria for the Second Semester of Academic Year 2025–2026 with complete documentary requirements have been duly processed, released, and paid,” the advisory stated.

The notice informed both the complainant and the public that the administration had already completed the processing of honoraria claims for lecturers who had fully complied with the required documents.

The university also advised Special Lecturers to rely only on official channels and concerned administrative offices for accurate information regarding their concerns and queries. ¶

Words by Mark Ruel Pagal

𝐊𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐊 || 𝐔𝐄𝐏-𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐒𝐂-𝐂𝐒𝐂 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 '𝟐𝟔

Following days of campaign undertakings, outreach efforts, and forums, all roads led to the 2026 University Student Council and College Student Council (USC-CSC) Elections on May 6.

As dawn broke over the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) - Main Campus, the studentry--the university's foremost stakeholders--once more stood its ground to elect a new set of USC and CSC leaders, amid the rising heat index and an asynchronous learning setup.

As early as 7 a.m., ballot boxes were distributed across 80 precincts, signaling the start of suffrage to materialize up to the final canvassing of votes.

With the results officially out, UEPians are once again placing their trust in the hands of the newly elected student leaders in representing the voices of every UEPian student.

As they step into their respective posts, may they serve without self-interest and translate every campaign promise into concrete, measurable action. ¶