Deputy Minister Eddie Mapag Alih, MILG

My lodi Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani! Ang galing mo talaga! Sanaol!

Zohran Mamdani just erased a $12 BILLION deficit with zero service cuts and zero new taxes on regular New Yorkers. Republicans said it was impossible. They lied.

Remember six months ago when every Republican pundit, every Fox News host, and every billionaire-funded think tank was screaming that Zohran Mamdani would destroy New York City? That his "democratic socialist" agenda was economic su***de? That the math didn't work?

The math worked.

Mamdani just announced he completely wiped out the $12 billion budget deficit that the wildly corrupt Eric Adams left behind. No public service cuts. No new taxes on working New Yorkers. None of the austerity nightmare Republicans promised was the only option.

Here's how he actually did it. He secured $8 billion in new state assistance. He passed a pied-à-terre tax on second homes valued over $5 million, which means billionaires who use Manhattan apartments as glorified parking spots for their money are finally paying their fair share. The ultra-wealthy are losing their minds about it. Everyone else is cheering.

Then he found nearly $2 billion in savings by doing the most boring thing imaginable: actually running the government competently. Reducing overtime. Renegotiating contracts. Updating ancient software. Consolidating leases. Phasing out programs nobody was using. Collecting revenue the city was already owed.

The kind of basic management that every Republican claims to support and never actually does.

And after all that, he still had enough left over to put $2 billion back into the rainy day fund and $5.2 billion into the Retiree Health Benefit Trust.

So let's review. The "fiscally responsible" Republicans gave Eric Adams a fawning thumbs-up while he ballooned the deficit to its highest level since the Great Recession. The "socialist who would destroy the economy" walked in, taxed the right people, ran the government like an adult, and turned the whole thing around in months.

Every single talking point about democratic socialism being unworkable just got demolished by reality. Every single claim that Republicans are the party of fiscal discipline just got buried under their own record. And every billionaire who threatened to flee the city if Mamdani won is now stuck watching the city thrive while they pay a tax they can easily afford.

Tax the rich. Run the government competently. Watch the deficit disappear.
It really was that simple the whole time. They just didn't want you to know.

Mabrouk! Congratulations on your Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership and Supervision- Gawad Sulo ng Pamumuno! I’m proud of you, Sweetheart Cherry Budlong Alih! Keep shining in your field of education.👏👏👏

Honoring a distinguished educator who exemplifies outstanding leadership, upholds integrity, and continuously drives transformative change in education—we proudly present our highly esteemed 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐄𝐗𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 | 𝐆𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐃 𝐒𝐔𝐋𝐎 𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐌𝐔𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐎.

𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐡, 𝐌.𝐀., 𝐋𝐏𝐓
Associate Professor V
Mindanao State University – Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO)

𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐡 is a distinguished educator and language advocate who serves as Associate Professor V at Mindanao State University – Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography, where she teaches Filipino subjects at the College of Education. She holds a Master of Arts in Education major in Language Teaching (Filipino) from Western Mindanao State University and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Education major in Language Education–Filipino at Isabela State University. Her leadership is evident in her role as Director of the Sentro ng Wika at Kultura (2023–2025), where 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐡 successfully secured approval for six proposals from the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, as well as her service as Adviser of the Kapisanan ng mga Mag-aaral sa Filipino (2021–2025).

A multi-awarded educator and accomplished writer, 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐡 has been recognized with prestigious honors including the **International Star Educator Award (Gold)** and **International Star Researcher Award (Gold)** from the Star Literacy Association of Educators and Researchers, Inc., the **Gawad Pamana ng Pluma International – Pluma Platinum Award (Katangi-tanging Manunulat 2025)**, and the **Gawad Gurong Lider 2025** from KAFAMPI. Her literary and scholarly contributions include serving as translator for **Panumtuman (Anthology of 21st Century Bangsamoro Literature)**, contributing editor for **When Words Become Verses** and **Padayon (International Edition)**, and co-author of major Filipino textbooks. She has also co-authored research published in six Scopus-indexed journals (2024–2025) and currently serves as Regional Director for BARMM of SAGIP-WIKA, Inc.

From the islands of Tawi-Tawi to the international stage of research and literature, 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐡 stands as a proud guardian of the Filipino language and a bridge between cultures. Whether shaping Bangsamoro literature, leading language initiatives, or mentoring future educators, she continues to embody a powerful truth—that language is not merely a subject, but the very soul of a nation.

Deputy Minister Eddie Mapag Alih, Fatima Dianne Alih, and Reema Divya Alih of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government, Bangsamoro Government paid a courtesy call at the Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne. Consul Ralph Vincent C. Abarquez, Consul Jan Sherwin P. Wenceslao and other staff welcome them. They discussed on the development in BARMM and socio-economic opportunities for the region. Dr. Sarifa Alonto Younes facilitated their visit to the Consulate.