Ivan 🇵🇭🇻🇦

M.D | Conservative, Catholic, free market enjoyer | BizDev & Policy @cirrolytix | Editor-in-Chief @ChristNewsline | Host @SITREPph

[Ivan 🇵🇭🇻🇦 @IvanAtHome]

It's amazing how so much of this play is still relevant. The idea of honor, dignity, culture and tradition being sold for profit by schemers in grey suits. Men who would squander the family's priceless heirlooms to satisfy their base desires.

Many of our politicians would rather sell this country's dignity for profit, folks. They would sell Don Lorenzo's house for self-serving interests as the Virgin Queen of these Islands watches in horror. You've seen such things just this week. They sell out our country to cheap warlords.

So much has been lost. So much has changed - for the worse. The nobility and virtues of Old Manila are long past us, mga kababayan.

Que horror!

🎶"Hindi pera ang problema
Bagaman iyon ang sabi nila
Nagtatapon sila ng pera
Sa mahjong, sa karera
Ikinakaila nila ang totoo kahit sa kanilang sarili
(Candida! Paula!)
Sinusumbatan sila ng bahay na ito
Nasisira ang kanilang pagsasaya
Habang nakikipagtsismisan
Habang nakikipagsugal
Habang nasa karerahan o jai-alai
O habang hindi sila makatulog." 🎶

[Ivan 🇵🇭🇻🇦 @IvanAtHome]

If anyone wants to know my views on Philippine politics and culture, read Nick Joaquin's "A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino" and its adaptation on stage and on film, "Ang Larawan."

It's one of the most moving works of art I've ever encountered. I recall reading it out of curiosity when I was in high-school abroad, a way to connect with my Filipino identity, and it totally captivated me, Its haunting story still sticks with me to this day and I often find myself rereading or rewatching it.

The play touches on so many themes; loss, regret, change, idealism. It always gets me emotional reflecting on it, especially seen recent events in our country's history. So much has been lost.

For me, nothing encapsulates what it means to be "Filipino" more than the fate of Candida and Paula, the tragedy that befell their family and the loss of the dignity of their old city. My entire view of this country was shaped by it, my politics' guided by a desire to return of what was taken from the sisters by uncaring fate and wicked men.

I hope everyone can give it a read or at least watch since the full movie is on YouTube at the moment, with English subtitles. I hope it touches you the way it continues to touch me.

https://t.co/AjISQYWJ7Y

[Christian Heiens 🏛 @ChristianHeiens]

The percentage of Republicans who believe that gay and lesbian relationships are morally acceptable has plummeted from over 50% in 2022 to 35% just four years later. GOP support is now at its lowest level since 2011.

I think we all know why this is happening.

The “I personally disagree, but adults can do what they want” mindset we all adopted over the last 10 years ended up blowing up in our faces. There is no such thing as a stable equilibrium that emerges if we just chant the Progressive incantations that “love is love” alongside our fellow libtards.

We thought that after Obergefell that this messy “social issue” would be put behind us. It was too much of a distraction. Don’t you know that we need to be talking about debt and taxes?

But the exact opposite ended up happening. Accepting gay marriage didn’t temper the Left’s appetite for eternal revolution, it emboldened these people. They immediately started trying to normalize transgenderism and turn “Pride Month” into the new Progressive Ramadan from which there was no opting out.

The Biden administration marked essentially the culmination of this cultural revolution. At that point, it became obvious to the Right that the “culture wars” weren’t a distraction. They were THE issue that would only continue to ratchet up and agitate for yet more power and wealth to be redistributed to the Left’s various client groups in the name of diversity, equity, inclusion, tolerance, and progress.

[Ivan 🇵🇭🇻🇦 @IvanAtHome]

With the Senate now under the control of adults again, many of the bills passed by the House can finally be finalized by the Senate, bypassing their own versions and by having senators to reconcile the bills during the Bicam Conferences.

The House of Representatives is on track to pass half of the 52 Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority measures ahead of this week's adjournment.

The ones that are especially exciting for me are the bills against disinformation (very much needed for the 2028 elections coming up), bills reforming the EPIRA law and promoting waste-to-Energy (which sure bring down power costs), and a bill promoting online child safety.

We at @cirrolytix Research Services, led by @docligot and @FCTayco, are very proud to have been part of technical working groups on the child safety bill and disinformation bill. Hopefully we played a small part in helping make the lives of Filipinos a little easier.

https://t.co/LxI2YsvKax

[Ivan 🇵🇭🇻🇦 @IvanAtHome]

CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS AVERTED | CAYETANO OUSTED AS SENATE PRESIDENT | GATCHALIAN NOW ACTING SENATE PRESIDENT

The Marcos/Liberal-led bloc has retaken control of the Philippine Senate after Senator Escudero defects to the then minority side, providing a sufficient working "constitutional majority" to convene a Plenary Session. They are now the new Senate Majority.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has been elected as Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President , Sen Miguel Zubiri as Majority Leader through a motion of Sen. Sotto.

Sen. Cayetano has been been removed as Senate President and Sen. Gatchalian will serve as acting Senate President in accordance with Philippine Supreme Court jurisprudence, specifically GR No. L-2821 or Avelino vs. Cuenco of 1949 in which the senators not within the reach of Senate Jurisdiction cannot be counted when calculating a threshold needing a governing majority. Thus, Senators Estrada (in prison) and dela Rosa (on the run from the authorities) cannot technically be considered as part of the Senate for purposes of counting the majority. The new majority led by Gatchalian therefore has a working majority of 12 out of 22 senators and can conduct senate bussiness.

God bless the Republic! 🫡🇵🇭☀️

[Ivan 🇵🇭🇻🇦 @IvanAtHome]

@DeusXMachina14 RIP Jingoy and Bato 😢🙏🤡

[Ivan 🇵🇭🇻🇦 @IvanAtHome]

He's not gonna leave peacefully, is he? 😂

Expect a standoff at the Senate tomorrow as this bozo LARPs as the Senate President. 🙃

[DeusXMachina @DeusXMachina14]

"Tuloy ang Blue Ribbon Committee hearing bukas"- Alan Peter Cayetano. This is war 🙂
📷Batas PH

[Ivan 🇵🇭🇻🇦 @IvanAtHome]

@rbosorio The new Senate majority and the Palace says otherwise. Expect a standoff tomorrow.

[Ivan 🇵🇭🇻🇦 @IvanAtHome]

CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS AVERTED | CAYETANO OUSTED AS SENATE PRESIDENT | GATCHALIAN NOW ACTING SENATE PRESIDENT

The Marcos/Liberal-led bloc has retaken control of the Philippine Senate after Senator Escudero defects to the then minority side, providing a sufficient working "constitutional majority" to convene a Plenary Session. They are now the new Senate Majority.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has been elected as Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President , Sen Miguel Zubiri as Majority Leader through a motion of Sen. Sotto.

Sen. Cayetano has been been removed as Senate President and Sen. Gatchalian will serve as acting Senate President in accordance with Philippine Supreme Court jurisprudence, specifically GR No. L-2821 or Avelino vs. Cuenco of 1949 in which the senators not within the reach of Senate Jurisdiction cannot be counted when calculating a threshold needing a governing majority. Thus, Senators Estrada (in prison) and dela Rosa (on the run from the authorities) cannot technically be considered as part of the Senate for purposes of counting the majority. The new majority led by Gatchalian therefore has a working majority of 12 out of 22 senators and can conduct senate bussiness.

God bless the Republic! 🫡🇵🇭☀️

[NewsWatch Plus PH @newswatchplusph]

UPDATE: The House of Representatives has adopted the recommendation of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, directing Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay to undergo voluntary community service and a gender sensitivity seminar following his controversial remarks regarding actress Anne Curtis.

A total of 263 lawmakers voted in favor of the measure, eight voted against, and seven abstained. | @bylancemejico

[Ivan 🇵🇭🇻🇦 @IvanAtHome]

This means the Palace is prepared to use force to remove Cayetano from the Senate President's office if he does something stupid like barricade himself in there and declares that he is the Senate.

Do it Cayetano, do it! Go in an ego trip and make a scene. I want to see you get dragged out of the GSIS Building! 😂

[Philippine News Agency @pnagovph]

JUST IN: Malacañang on Wednesday (June 3, 2026) recognizes the leadership of acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, saying the developments in the Senate were in accordance with the law and the rule of law.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Palace respects the decision of the new majority and Gatchalian's leadership.

Gatchalian was elected acting Senate President after senators from the minority bloc, joined by Sen. Francis Escudero, established a quorum and convened a session. | Darryl John Esguerra

#IntegratedStateMedia
#ISM
#PhilippineNewsAgency

[Philippine News Agency @pnagovph]

JUST IN: Malacañang on Wednesday (June 3, 2026) recognizes the leadership of acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, saying the developments in the Senate were in accordance with the law and the rule of law.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Palace respects the decision of the new majority and Gatchalian's leadership.

Gatchalian was elected acting Senate President after senators from the minority bloc, joined by Sen. Francis Escudero, established a quorum and convened a session. | Darryl John Esguerra

#IntegratedStateMedia
#ISM
#PhilippineNewsAgency

[robert mano @robertmano47]

Nagpalakpakan ang mga nasa session hall matapos ideklara ang sine die adjournment ng Senado.

[Ivan 🇵🇭🇻🇦 @IvanAtHome]

Baghdad Bob moment.

Everything is fine, he said as enemy tanks roll through his capital.

[ABS-CBN News @ABSCBNNews]

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano maintains that he is still the "legitimate legal, moral Senate president" despite the Senate shakeup in which new officials were elected during a quorum.

[Vivienne Gulla @VivienneGulla]

House Impeachment Prosecutor Rep. Terry Ridon: The House prosecution panel is ready to proceed to trial in July under any Senate leadership and under any Presiding Officer of the Senate Impeachment Court.

[Lieutenant Yokota (横田中尉) 🇯🇵🇵🇭 @LTYokota]

🇯🇵🇵🇭 Japan has also sent intel to the Philippines about the movements of the Chinese carrier strike group on Philippine waters.

🇨🇳🙄 Meanwhile, CCP China still keeps on complaining about “resurgent Japanese militarism” ad nauseam.

[Karen Davila @iamkarendavila]

What a stealth move.

A quorum made possible with Sen Chiz Escudero’s surprise appearance.

What happens now to SP Alan Cayetano’s leadership with these new committee chairmanships?

At least today, the senate can have some work done before ‘sine die’.

[Victoria Tulad ✨ @victoriatulad]

JUST IN: Newly-elected Senate President Pro Tempore Win Gatchalian says they now have a functioning Senate, says their action has a precedent. @ABSCBNNews

[Vincenzo Anastagi @VincenzAnastagi]

“Implicitly conservative” is a good way of putting it. Hopefully Vatican communications will now place a greater emphasis on reaching and reassuring normal Catholics instead of…whatever the Vatican communications group has been doing for the last several years.