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Philippine schools open even as flooded areas pick up the pieces | Bonz Magsambol | 29/07/2024 7:00 | BACK TO SCHOOL. Students of Carmona National High School in Carmona City, Cavite, attend the opening of academic year 2024-2025 on July 29, 2024.
Bonz Magsambol/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – When floodwaters started to rise on Wednesday, July 24, Clarissa Brillantes of Barangay Tumana in Marikina City immediately evacuated her three children to the nearest school, which provided temporary shelter for families affected by the flooding.
“Lagpas tao siya. Hindi ko na makapa ‘yung lupa e. Hindi na namin naasikaso ‘yung gamit namin (It was above head level. I couldn’t reach the ground. We weren’t able to save our things),” Brillantes said on Thursday, July 25, as she recalled their harrowing experience during the onslaught of the southwest monsoon or habagat, which was enhanced by Typhoon Carina (Gaemi).
Brillantes said it was already knee-deep when they woke up on Wednesday morning. By noon, floodwaters had already reached their roof.
Aside from their devastated home, Brillantes was worried about the possibly ruined school supplies she bought for her three children. Her kids were supposed to start classes at H. Bautista Elementary School in Marikina City, where they also found temporary shelter.
Although she had not yet been able to check the condition of the school supplies at the time she spoke with Rappler, Brillantes said she was certain that the new notebooks, bags, pencils, and crayons were already soaked.
“Kakabili ko lang noon eh. P4,000 rin nagastos ko roon sa school supplies para sa pasukan (I recently bought those. I spent P4,000 for the school supplies for the start of classes),” she said.
Due to the impact of severe flooding, the Department of Education (DepEd) postponed the opening of academic year 2024-2025 in at least 979 schools.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara earlier thumbed down proposals for a blanket suspension that would cover all 45,000 public schools in the country.
“Last year, students missed up to 53 class days out of the 180-day school year…. We should take advantage of every day to learn because we don’t want a repeat of the learning loss which has already occurred,” Angara said in a post on X on Thursday.
The school opening on Monday, July 29, is Angara’s first since he assumed the DepEd leadership from Vice President Sara Duterte, who resigned from the position effective July 19.
The newly installed education chief, a former senator who used to sponsor the DepEd’s budget in Congress, will have a firsthand look at problems confronting the education sector when he visits select schools on Monday.
Angara will visit Carmona National High School and Carmona Elementary School in Carmona City, Cavite; Muntinlupa National High School in Muntinlupa City; and Casimiro A. Ynares Sr. Memorial National High School in Taytay, Rizal.
The DepEd secretary was supposed to go first to Biñan Central Elementary School in Biñan City, Laguna, but all classes in the city were suspended early Monday.
In the past years, students were greeted with classroom shortages, lack of tables and chairs, and flooded classrooms.
Classroom shortages have been a perennial problem in the country, with some schools packing 50 to 60 students into one classroom supposedly meant for only 40. To accommodate all enrollees, class shifting is typically implemented.
In August 2023, the DepEd said the country lacked 159,000 classrooms. The education department’s standard classroom-to-student ratios are one classroom for every 35 students for primary school and one classroom for every 40 students for junior and senior high school.
Under Duterte’s leadership, only around 3,600 new classrooms out of the planned 6,300 were built.
The Matatag curriculum, or the revised basic education curriculum crafted during Duterte’s time at the DepEd, will also be rolled out for kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 4, and Grade 7 this school year — only the first phase of implementation. Foundational subjects will focus on language, reading and literacy, mathematics, makabansa or nationalism, and good manners and right conduct.
In terms of enrollment, DepEd records show that 19,268,747 students have enlisted so far. This figure is expected to go up in the coming days, as students can still enroll even after classes have already started.
Monday’s school opening also marks the start of the gradual transition to the old academic calendar, where classes start in June and end in March. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the transition because of the extreme heat during April and May. But for this current school year, classes will end on April 15, 2025. Succeeding academic years will be adjusted until the transition to the old calendar is complete.
Angara inherits gargantuan problems in the education sector, including the poor performance of Filipino students in global assessments. A World Bank report showed that 9 in 10 Filipino students aged 10 are struggling to read simple text.
The new DepEd chief has also vowed to improve the welfare of teachers. He promised to review their compensation package and provide additional training to enhance teaching quality. – Rappler.com
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Aira Villegas topples Moroccan foe to ace first test in Paris Olympics | delfin.dioquino editor | 29/07/2024 4:28 | WINNER. Boxer Aira Villegas of Philippines celebrates winning her fight against Yasmine Mouttaki of Morocco in the round of 32 of the women's 50kg division in 2024 Paris Olympics.
Peter Cziborra/REUTERS
MANILA, Philippines – For a boxer debuting in the Olympics, Aira Villegas entered the ring with an unusual swag.
And she backed it up with her prowess as Villegas toppled Morocco’s Yasmine Mouttaki via unanimous decision in their women’s 50kg round of 32 bout in the Paris Olympics on Sunday, July 28 (Monday, July 29, Manila time).
The five judges scored it 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 in favor of Villegas, who kicked off the campaign of the Philippine boxing team.
With the result still in the balance after the first two rounds, Villegas sealed the deal with cleaner shots in the final salvo, including a well-timed left straight to the head inside the last 10 seconds.
Mouttaki, a bronze medalist in the last IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, won just the second round as she got the boot.
Villegas arranged a round of 16 clash with second seed Roumaysa Boualam of Algeria on Thursday, August 1 (Friday, August 2, Manila time), as she hopes to inch closer to a prized medal.
The pride of Tacloban City needs just two more wins to clinch a medal, with the semifinalists guaranteed of at least a bronze.
Competing for the Philippines in the coming days are Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, and Hergie Bacyadan. – Rappler.com
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PH gymnasts Finnegan, Malabuyo, Jung-Ruivivar exit Olympics early | delfin.dioquino editor | 29/07/2024 2:58 | RADIANT. Aleah Finnegan of Philippines performs on the floor exercise in womenu2019s qualification during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Bercy Arena.
Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
MANILA, Philippines – For the first time in six decades, the Philippines sent a female gymnast – three in exact – to the Olympics.
But their campaigns proved short-lived as Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo, and Levi Jung-Ruivivar all exited the Paris Games early following the conclusion of the women’s artistic gymnastics all-around qualification at the Bercy Arena on Sunday, July 28 (Monday, July 29, Manila time).
Jung-Ruivivar and Malabuyo both totaled 51.099 points to finish 40th and 41st, respectively, in the all-around, while Finnegan placed 47th with 50.498 points as they missed the cutoff for the event finals.
Only the top 24 in the all-around and top eight in each apparatus – with a maximum of two gymnasts per country – advanced to the medal round.
Battling back from an anaphylactic shock caused by her allergies just days before the competition, Jung-Ruivivar still showed out.
Jung-Ruivivar, the youngest member of Team Philippines at 18 years old, posted 13.600 in vault, 13.200 in uneven bars (40th), 12.433 in floor exercise (54th), and 11.866 in balance beam (64th).
Malabuyo netted 13.266 points in vault, 13.100 in floor exercise (25th), 12.500 in uneven bars (60th), and 12.233 in balance beam (57th), while Finnegan averaged 13.387 in vault (17th) and scored 12.733 in floor exercise (37th), 12.566 in uneven bars (58th), and 11.466 in balance beam (71st).
Despite their elimination, the gymnastics trio made history for the Philippines.
The country waited 60 years for a female gymnast to see action in the Olympics since Maria-Luisa Floro and Evelyn Magluyan represented the Philippines in the 1964 Tokyo Games.
Finnegan earned her Olympic berth through the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships last year, while Jung-Ruivivar and Malabuyo caught the last bus to Paris through the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup Series and Asian Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships this year.
With the three getting the boot, the task of winning the Philippines’ first Olympic gymnastics medal falls on the shoulders of Carlos Yulo, who advanced to the men’s all-around, floor exercise, and vault finals.
Yulo vies for a podium finish in the all-around on Wednesday, July 31, and in floor exercise and vault on August 3 and 4, respectively. – Rappler.com
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PH gymnasts Finnegan, Malabuyo, Jung-Ruivivar exit Olympics early | delfin.dioquino editor | 29/07/2024 2:58 | RADIANT. Aleah Finnegan of Philippines performs on the floor exercise in womenu2019s qualification during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Bercy Arena.
Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
MANILA, Philippines – For the first time in six decades, the Philippines sent a female gymnast – three in exact – to the Olympics.
But their campaigns proved short-lived as Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo, and Levi Jung-Ruivivar all exited the Paris Games early following the conclusion of the women’s artistic gymnastics all-around qualification at the Bercy Arena on Sunday, July 28 (Monday, July 29, Manila time).
Jung-Ruivivar and Malabuyo both totaled 51.099 points to finish 40th and 41st, respectively, in the all-around, while Finnegan placed 47th with 50.498 points as they missed the cutoff for the event finals.
Only the top 24 in the all-around and top eight in each apparatus – with a maximum of two gymnasts per country – advanced to the medal round.
Battling back from an anaphylactic shock caused by her allergies just days before the competition, Jung-Ruivivar still showed out.
Jung-Ruivivar, the youngest member of Team Philippines at 18 years old, posted 13.600 in vault, 13.200 in uneven bars (40th), 12.433 in floor exercise (54th), and 11.866 in balance beam (64th).
Malabuyo netted 13.266 points in vault, 13.100 in floor exercise (25th), 12.500 in uneven bars (60th), and 12.233 in balance beam (57th), while Finnegan averaged 13.387 in vault (17th) and scored 12.733 in floor exercise (37th), 12.566 in uneven bars (58th), and 11.466 in balance beam (71st).
Despite their elimination, the gymnastics trio made history for the Philippines.
The country waited 60 years for a female gymnast to see action in the Olympics since Maria-Luisa Floro and Evelyn Magluyan represented the Philippines in the 1964 Tokyo Games.
Finnegan earned her Olympic berth through the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships last year, while Jung-Ruivivar and Malabuyo caught the last bus to Paris through the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup Series and Asian Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships this year.
With the three getting the boot, the task of winning the Philippines’ first Olympic gymnastics medal falls on the shoulders of Carlos Yulo, who advanced to the men’s all-around, floor exercise, and vault finals.
Yulo vies for a podium finish in the all-around on Wednesday, July 31, and in floor exercise and vault on August 3 and 4, respectively. – Rappler.com
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HIGHLIGHTS, RESULTS: Team Philippines, 2024 Paris Olympics – July 29 | delfin.dioquino editor | 29/07/2024 0:02 | MANILA, Philippines – All eyes are on boxer Aira Villegas as Team Philippines resumes its Paris Games campaign on Monday, July 29.
Aira Villegas advances to the round of 16 of the women’s 50kg class after a unanimous decision win over Morocco’s Yasmine Mouttaki.
The five judges all scored in Villegas’ favor, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28.
Villegas faces second seed Roumaysa Boualam of Algeria next on Thursday, August 1 (Friday, August 2, Manila time).
Read the full story here.
Here is Team Philippines’ schedule (Manila time):
Villegas debuts in the Olympics against Morocco’s Yasmine Mouttaki in the round of 32 of the women’s 50kg, hoping to move two wins closer to a guaranteed medal.
Mouttaki poses a considerable challenge to Villegas, being a bronze medalist in the 2023 Women’s World Boxing Championships.
Villegas is the first Filipino boxer to see action, with Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, and Hergie Bacyadan competing in the coming days. – Rappler.com
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Here’s a fancam of BINI’s ‘Cherry On Top’ performance at KCON LA 2024 | Angelo Gonzales | 28/07/2024 23:13 | Metrophoto Brands
MANILA, Philippines – P-pop group BINI on Sunday, July 28, Philippine time, took to the KCON LA 2024 stage as part of the M Countdown Pre Show.
KCON is considered as the world’s largest K-pop music festival, with last year’s KCON LA seeing 140,000 attendees.
BINI is the first P-pop act to have graced the KCON stage, with their appearance being seen as an opportunity to not only grow the group’s profile on the international stage, but to further promote the P-pop scene as well.
Here’s a fancam of the girls’ performance from the TEAM BLOOM USA fan group:
[240727] BINI’s Stage Performance at KCON LA 2024! Seated, standed, and left stranded at the tropical island 🏝️ because BINI ate and left no crumbs! 🌸#BINIatKCONLA2024#BINI @BINI_ph pic.twitter.com/0DYQZ80U5G
Only 7 girls performed on stage as one member, Jhoanna Robles, had health issues.
Before the concert, the TEAM BLOOM USA group also greeted the girls upon arrival at the airport.
Here ye, here ye our girls are finally here! Oh shucks andito na sila! 🥹Totoo ba ang nadarama cause BINI Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Stacey, and Gwen are here! 💕#WelcometoUSEYYY#BINI @BINI_ph pic.twitter.com/NXWU81dthS
Showing support, the fans also distributed printed materials to help promote the group to event-goers at the Crypto.com Arena on the day of the concert.
Here’s a peek of our KCON LA 2024 D-1 experience! 👀💕#BloomInReelLIfe#BINIatKCONLA2024#BINI @BINI_ph pic.twitter.com/jwSCqoNCeY
– Rappler.com
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Where to watch Paris Olympics in the Philippines? | delfin.dioquino editor | 23/07/2024 17:13 | ELITE. Paris Olympians (from left) boxers Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio, fencer Samantha Catantan, rower Joanie Delgaco, gymnast Carlos Yulo, and weightlifters Vanessa Sarno and John Ceniza.
adidas
MANILA, Philippines – All eyes will be on the 22 athletes representing the Philippines in the Paris Games as the country marks its 100th year of participating in the Olympics.
The hope is for Team Philippines to exceed its historic campaign in the previous Tokyo Olympiad, where it won a breakthrough gold thanks to weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and boxing medals courtesy of Nesthy Petecio (silver), Carlo Paalam (silver), and Eumir Marcial (bronze).
While Diaz missed this year’s Olympic cut, the boxing trio returns alongside pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnast Carlos Yulo, golfer Bianca Pagdanganan, and judoka Kiyomi Watanabe as they lead the biggest Philippine delegation to the Summer Games in over three decades.
Here is how to watch the Paris Olympics, which comes off the wraps on July 26, in the Philippines:
Filipinos have two options to catch Olympic action on free television as One Sports and RPTV broadcast Team Philippines’ competitions and select games in various sports.
As one of the official broadcast partners of the Olympics in the Philippines, Cignal TV offers three 24/7 channels dedicated to the Paris Games to its subscribers.
Cignal subscribers can also watch the Olympics on One Sports+.
For those without television access, online streaming is the way to go.
Pilipinas Live, which is available through its app and website for a monthly fee, is set to stream all of the Filipino athletes’ events.
Another option is the Smart Livestream App, which offers free 24/7 streaming of the Olympics to subscribers of all networks.
Select competitions will be streamed on the social media pages of Smart Sports and Puso Pilipinas.
Follow Rappler Sports’ running coverage by bookmarking this page: Paris Olympics 2024: Games, results, latest updates
The Olympics will run until August 11. – Rappler.com
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MEDAL TALLY: Paris Olympics 2024 | delfin.dioquino editor | 27/07/2024 19:35 | MANILA, Philippines – The biggest names in all of sports vie for Olympic glory as they seek to bring their countries honor in the 33rd edition of the Summer Games in Paris, France.
Gold, silver, and bronze medals in 329 events across 32 sports are up for grabs, with breaking – or breakdancing – making its Olympic debut.
With 22 athletes in tow, Team Philippines aims to surpass its historic haul of one gold, two silvers, and one bronze in the previous Tokyo Olympics.
The United States, which boasts of the biggest delegation with 594 athletes, looks to maintain its dominance after claiming the overall championship in the last three editions.
Perennial contenders China, Great Britain, Japan, and host France also aim to make a splash.
Here is the medal tally:
– Rappler.com
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EMBO residents no longer eligible for yellow card benefits | The wRap | Jaira Roxas | 1/1/2024 22:55 | Today on Rappler – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
Residents of the Enlisted Men’s Barrios or EMBO are no longer eligible for the yellow card benefits or the city-subsidized healthcare program of the Makati City government starting Monday, January 1.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake strikes central Japan and its western coast on New Year’s day. The Japan Meteorological Agency issues tsunami warnings for the coastal prefectures of Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama.
Angelica Panganiban announces wedding with partner Gregg Homan. In an Instagram post Monday, January 1, she shares they tied the knot on New Year’s Eve.
Boxing legends Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are set to meet once again inside the boxing ring, but this time, in an exhibition match. It has been more than eight years since their historic face-off in Las Vegas. – Rappler.com
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EMBO residents no longer eligible for yellow card benefits | The wRap | Jaira Roxas | 1/1/2024 22:55 | Today on Rappler – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
Residents of the Enlisted Men’s Barrios or EMBO are no longer eligible for the yellow card benefits or the city-subsidized healthcare program of the Makati City government starting Monday, January 1.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake strikes central Japan and its western coast on New Year’s day. The Japan Meteorological Agency issues tsunami warnings for the coastal prefectures of Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama.
Angelica Panganiban announces wedding with partner Gregg Homan. In an Instagram post Monday, January 1, she shares they tied the knot on New Year’s Eve.
Boxing legends Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are set to meet once again inside the boxing ring, but this time, in an exhibition match. It has been more than eight years since their historic face-off in Las Vegas. – Rappler.com
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Philippines activates hotline for Filipinos affected by Japan earthquake | Ralf Rivas | 1/1/2024 20:01 | EVACUATION. People gather outside the Kanazawa station after an earthquake hit Ishikawa, Japan, on January 1, 2024, in this screenshot obtained from a social media video.
Instagram @hsu.tw via Reuters
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) activated a helpline for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by a powerful earthquake that struck Japan on Monday, January 1.
Filipinos and their family members seeking assistance or information may call the following numbers of the DMW-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Japan help desk:
The following numbers of the DMW-Migrant Workers Office-Osaka hotline can also be contacted through the following numbers:
There are 290,000 Filipinos living in Japan, latest figures from the Philippine Embassy in Japan showed. The Philippines ranks as the fourth largest group of foreign residents in Japan.
Monday’s magnitude 7.6 earthquake triggered waves of around one meter along parts of the Sea of Japan coast, with a larger wave expected, public broadcaster NHK reported.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said this was the first time major tsunami warnings were issued since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan.
In the aftermath of the powerful earthquake, a first tsunami has reached South Korea’s east coast, while Russian cities near Japan anticipated similar waves. North Korea also issued tsunami warnings for its east coast.
In the Philippines, meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said there was no tsunami threat to the Philippines. – Ralf Rivas, with reports from Reuters/Rappler.com
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Holiday grief: How to welcome the new year while dealing with loss, according to a psychologist | Ysa Abad | 1/1/2024 16:05 | For many, the holidays are generally a joyous and festive season. The new year, in particular, puts everyone on a high, eager to start on a clean slate.
But while many are eager to set new promises for themselves and are still fueled with renewed hope, the same can’t be said for people who’ve experienced losing a loved one. In fact, the holidays can be an even more difficult time, as their feelings of loss are heightened.
Whether their loss is recent or not, they’re more vulnerable to feelings of dread, sadness, and isolation as they get reminded of what has been lost. Moreover, they might also not be keen on turning a new leaf and finding reasons to embrace the coming year.
Rappler interviewed Registered Psychologist Eizaleen Fusingan–Lappay from mental health organization MindNation on the subject of holiday grief, and how to deal with loss during this season.
“There is no one size fits all approach to grieving,” Fusingan-Lappay emphasized, adding that each individual has a unique approach to grieving as it is deeply personal.
As the holiday season is also a period of reflection, Fusingan-Lappay advised that people explore the ways that they can cope — both as an individual and as a community. For those who are grieving during the holiday season, she gave these questions to ponder on:
After mulling it over, she said that it would be helpful if they could discuss their thoughts about these with their chosen support system.
Some members of a family who has experienced loss might opt out of celebrating the holidays, as they prefer grieving in silence, while others might feel the need to continue doing their family traditions. Just because the latter chooses a more active approach to celebrating the holidays doesn’t mean that they are not feeling the loss of a loved one. It’s important to note that every individual not only grieves differently, but they also need different things to cope.
Fusingan–Lappay said that these differences will be handled better if relatives, friends, and community members can be more open about their healing process.
“This requires communication within the unit as to what will be the best way to gather and celebrate,” she said. As celebrating the holidays without a significant person can already be painful and tough to begin with, she noted that having direct conversations about the departed person should be handled tactfully, as it might be a sensitive matter for other individuals.
“An important consideration is that, more than just the festive mood, family members will take the time to talk about ways of coping,” she added. “It could be more on checking in with each other as to how they are dealing with the present situation.”
She also suggested establishing other ways of celebrating the holidays that could work best for the unit: “[This] is to explore means of connecting with the family members that are different from their usual celebration. This is not to forget the traditions and rituals from the past events, but to create something different.”
“It may be a way to see life [through] a new lens and to see that we can grow while holding the significant person’s legacy in our hearts,” she added.
Since holidays are also a time for multiple gatherings and events, she recommends contemplating over whether to attend them or not.
“In terms of attending celebrations, we have to align this with our needs. This requires self-awareness. Do I need to be with someone right now or do I need some time alone? There should be a balance between isolation and connection in the grieving process,” she said.
While it’s understandable that they might feel sad and not in the mood to celebrate, Fusingan-Lappay noted that it could also be unhealthy to decline all invites.
“Showing up at events can be a way to get connected and feel supported,” she explained.
However, she also recognized that attending too many gatherings can get overwhelming — especially for someone who’s been going through a lot: “It matters that we set our intentions with connections. Is it to escape from intense emotions or to feel the support from people around us? Another consideration before deciding to attend is the kind of people whom we will get connected with. Ask yourself, ‘What kind of person do I need at this time?’”
Healing isn’t a linear process. You might feel fine on some days, and feel hopeless the next. And you shouldn’t feel guilty for having good days, or thinking that you’ve started moving on.
“Remind oneself that it is okay to feel positive while grieving,” Fusingan-Lappay said. “It’s a healthy way to cope when we take the time to find joy. These emotions are necessary to feel. What matters is that we are aware of these emotions as it happens, so we can manage its impact.”
The most important note to remember, she said, is: “We should be the one in control of our emotions, not the emotions controlling us.”
While she highlighted that there’s no right or wrong way of grieving, she pointed out that some circumstances could be unhealthy if too many emotions aren’t handled properly.
“Acknowledge the impact of grieving in the present relationship so that people involved can collaborate on ways that can alleviate the issues,” she advised.
Although it’s important to give each individual the time and space to process their emotions, she also added that it’s imperative to set boundaries on when is the best time to reach out for discussion, especially when a person is isolating themselves for a long period of time. Additionally, these boundaries can also be helpful when sensitive topics are being brought up during gatherings and celebrations.
Fusingan-Lappay shared that dealing with these conversations depends on the people that they are with. Some communities and spaces can make an individual feel comfortable in directly expressing their limits, while other individuals would divert to a different topic instead.
In any case, it would be best for the people they are with to be conscious of this behavior to avoid providing unsolicited advice and disrespectful messages. She shared “3Ls” to take note of — Look, Listen, and Link.
“Take the time to look and observe how the situation affects them. Look at the changes in their behavior patterns and possible distress reactions. In terms of listening, focus on them,” she explained.
For these cases, some might need advice, while others will need comfort. Some might express themselves through crying, while others prefer just resting and being silent. Those who aren’t in the grieving person’s position should just follow the lead in the topics they’re comfortable talking about. Check how they are dealing with the situation, and help them explore ways that they can cope in a more healthy manner. For example, link them to other sources of support, such as encouraging them to consider professional help.
Navigating these tricky situations can get exhausting, and even triggering for others. For those who anticipate feeling overwhelmed by these circumstances, here’s what Fusingan-Lappay advises:
After all, she noted, grieving processes should help individuals cope better in tough situations.
“Instead of asking yourself why it happened, it’s also important to ask yourself how you are learning in this experience, and how you can move forward in this situation,” Fusingan-Lappay said. – Rappler.com
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How does this make you feel? | Rappler | https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/health-and-wellness/holiday-grief-welcome-new-year-dealing-loss-psychologist-advice/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3_Qyd7CUx6TEHI7bOSsEnFXmO1p_SooCShOGPPDyiIzOGHD99cnfW0y50_aem_FaJsMgLbdDXDtlMZohLGSw |
LOOK: Angelica Panganiban and Gregg Homan are married | Ysa Abad | 1/1/2024 14:31 | MARRIED. Angelica Panganiban and Gregg Homan tie the knot on December 31, 2023.
Angelica Panganiban's Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Angelica Panganiban welcomed 2024 as a married woman!
In an Instagram post on Monday, January 1, the actress shared that she tied the knot with non-showbiz partner Gregg Homan on New Year’s Eve.
“Patuloy na mananalig at maniniwala sa pag-ibig. Sa kabila ng lahat. Ang pagmamahal pa rin ang kakapitan,” she wrote, alongside photos from their intimate wedding ceremony.
(Will continue to have faith and believe in love. In spite of everything. Love will make us hold on.)
Fellow celebrities such as Vhong Navarro, Maris Racal, Marian Rivera, Luis Manzano, Zanjoe Marudo, and Yam Concepcion sent their best wishes to the couple in the comments section.
Panganiban and Homan first confirmed their relationship in January 2021. They announced their engagement in October 2022.
Panganiban gave birth to their daughter Amila in September 2022. – Rappler.com
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Holiday grief: How to welcome the new year while dealing with loss, according to a psychologist | Ysa Abad | 1/1/2024 16:05 | For many, the holidays are generally a joyous and festive season. The new year, in particular, puts everyone on a high, eager to start on a clean slate.
But while many are eager to set new promises for themselves and are still fueled with renewed hope, the same can’t be said for people who’ve experienced losing a loved one. In fact, the holidays can be an even more difficult time, as their feelings of loss are heightened.
Whether their loss is recent or not, they’re more vulnerable to feelings of dread, sadness, and isolation as they get reminded of what has been lost. Moreover, they might also not be keen on turning a new leaf and finding reasons to embrace the coming year.
Rappler interviewed Registered Psychologist Eizaleen Fusingan–Lappay from mental health organization MindNation on the subject of holiday grief, and how to deal with loss during this season.
“There is no one size fits all approach to grieving,” Fusingan-Lappay emphasized, adding that each individual has a unique approach to grieving as it is deeply personal.
As the holiday season is also a period of reflection, Fusingan-Lappay advised that people explore the ways that they can cope — both as an individual and as a community. For those who are grieving during the holiday season, she gave these questions to ponder on:
After mulling it over, she said that it would be helpful if they could discuss their thoughts about these with their chosen support system.
Some members of a family who has experienced loss might opt out of celebrating the holidays, as they prefer grieving in silence, while others might feel the need to continue doing their family traditions. Just because the latter chooses a more active approach to celebrating the holidays doesn’t mean that they are not feeling the loss of a loved one. It’s important to note that every individual not only grieves differently, but they also need different things to cope.
Fusingan–Lappay said that these differences will be handled better if relatives, friends, and community members can be more open about their healing process.
“This requires communication within the unit as to what will be the best way to gather and celebrate,” she said. As celebrating the holidays without a significant person can already be painful and tough to begin with, she noted that having direct conversations about the departed person should be handled tactfully, as it might be a sensitive matter for other individuals.
“An important consideration is that, more than just the festive mood, family members will take the time to talk about ways of coping,” she added. “It could be more on checking in with each other as to how they are dealing with the present situation.”
She also suggested establishing other ways of celebrating the holidays that could work best for the unit: “[This] is to explore means of connecting with the family members that are different from their usual celebration. This is not to forget the traditions and rituals from the past events, but to create something different.”
“It may be a way to see life [through] a new lens and to see that we can grow while holding the significant person’s legacy in our hearts,” she added.
Since holidays are also a time for multiple gatherings and events, she recommends contemplating over whether to attend them or not.
“In terms of attending celebrations, we have to align this with our needs. This requires self-awareness. Do I need to be with someone right now or do I need some time alone? There should be a balance between isolation and connection in the grieving process,” she said.
While it’s understandable that they might feel sad and not in the mood to celebrate, Fusingan-Lappay noted that it could also be unhealthy to decline all invites.
“Showing up at events can be a way to get connected and feel supported,” she explained.
However, she also recognized that attending too many gatherings can get overwhelming — especially for someone who’s been going through a lot: “It matters that we set our intentions with connections. Is it to escape from intense emotions or to feel the support from people around us? Another consideration before deciding to attend is the kind of people whom we will get connected with. Ask yourself, ‘What kind of person do I need at this time?’”
Healing isn’t a linear process. You might feel fine on some days, and feel hopeless the next. And you shouldn’t feel guilty for having good days, or thinking that you’ve started moving on.
“Remind oneself that it is okay to feel positive while grieving,” Fusingan-Lappay said. “It’s a healthy way to cope when we take the time to find joy. These emotions are necessary to feel. What matters is that we are aware of these emotions as it happens, so we can manage its impact.”
The most important note to remember, she said, is: “We should be the one in control of our emotions, not the emotions controlling us.”
While she highlighted that there’s no right or wrong way of grieving, she pointed out that some circumstances could be unhealthy if too many emotions aren’t handled properly.
“Acknowledge the impact of grieving in the present relationship so that people involved can collaborate on ways that can alleviate the issues,” she advised.
Although it’s important to give each individual the time and space to process their emotions, she also added that it’s imperative to set boundaries on when is the best time to reach out for discussion, especially when a person is isolating themselves for a long period of time. Additionally, these boundaries can also be helpful when sensitive topics are being brought up during gatherings and celebrations.
Fusingan-Lappay shared that dealing with these conversations depends on the people that they are with. Some communities and spaces can make an individual feel comfortable in directly expressing their limits, while other individuals would divert to a different topic instead.
In any case, it would be best for the people they are with to be conscious of this behavior to avoid providing unsolicited advice and disrespectful messages. She shared “3Ls” to take note of — Look, Listen, and Link.
“Take the time to look and observe how the situation affects them. Look at the changes in their behavior patterns and possible distress reactions. In terms of listening, focus on them,” she explained.
For these cases, some might need advice, while others will need comfort. Some might express themselves through crying, while others prefer just resting and being silent. Those who aren’t in the grieving person’s position should just follow the lead in the topics they’re comfortable talking about. Check how they are dealing with the situation, and help them explore ways that they can cope in a more healthy manner. For example, link them to other sources of support, such as encouraging them to consider professional help.
Navigating these tricky situations can get exhausting, and even triggering for others. For those who anticipate feeling overwhelmed by these circumstances, here’s what Fusingan-Lappay advises:
After all, she noted, grieving processes should help individuals cope better in tough situations.
“Instead of asking yourself why it happened, it’s also important to ask yourself how you are learning in this experience, and how you can move forward in this situation,” Fusingan-Lappay said. – Rappler.com
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How does this make you feel? | Rappler | https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/health-and-wellness/holiday-grief-welcome-new-year-dealing-loss-psychologist-advice/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0Q6Ecz4ma24HLhva_30N8sa6LHHQRmxEfNcYqW91OXu7Iiaji8wOKhQfQ_aem_ccYyOLFQCr8r0dPZqm2KpQ |
Holiday grief: How to welcome the new year while dealing with loss, according to a psychologist | Ysa Abad | 1/1/2024 16:05 | For many, the holidays are generally a joyous and festive season. The new year, in particular, puts everyone on a high, eager to start on a clean slate.
But while many are eager to set new promises for themselves and are still fueled with renewed hope, the same can’t be said for people who’ve experienced losing a loved one. In fact, the holidays can be an even more difficult time, as their feelings of loss are heightened.
Whether their loss is recent or not, they’re more vulnerable to feelings of dread, sadness, and isolation as they get reminded of what has been lost. Moreover, they might also not be keen on turning a new leaf and finding reasons to embrace the coming year.
Rappler interviewed Registered Psychologist Eizaleen Fusingan–Lappay from mental health organization MindNation on the subject of holiday grief, and how to deal with loss during this season.
“There is no one size fits all approach to grieving,” Fusingan-Lappay emphasized, adding that each individual has a unique approach to grieving as it is deeply personal.
As the holiday season is also a period of reflection, Fusingan-Lappay advised that people explore the ways that they can cope — both as an individual and as a community. For those who are grieving during the holiday season, she gave these questions to ponder on:
After mulling it over, she said that it would be helpful if they could discuss their thoughts about these with their chosen support system.
Some members of a family who has experienced loss might opt out of celebrating the holidays, as they prefer grieving in silence, while others might feel the need to continue doing their family traditions. Just because the latter chooses a more active approach to celebrating the holidays doesn’t mean that they are not feeling the loss of a loved one. It’s important to note that every individual not only grieves differently, but they also need different things to cope.
Fusingan–Lappay said that these differences will be handled better if relatives, friends, and community members can be more open about their healing process.
“This requires communication within the unit as to what will be the best way to gather and celebrate,” she said. As celebrating the holidays without a significant person can already be painful and tough to begin with, she noted that having direct conversations about the departed person should be handled tactfully, as it might be a sensitive matter for other individuals.
“An important consideration is that, more than just the festive mood, family members will take the time to talk about ways of coping,” she added. “It could be more on checking in with each other as to how they are dealing with the present situation.”
She also suggested establishing other ways of celebrating the holidays that could work best for the unit: “[This] is to explore means of connecting with the family members that are different from their usual celebration. This is not to forget the traditions and rituals from the past events, but to create something different.”
“It may be a way to see life [through] a new lens and to see that we can grow while holding the significant person’s legacy in our hearts,” she added.
Since holidays are also a time for multiple gatherings and events, she recommends contemplating over whether to attend them or not.
“In terms of attending celebrations, we have to align this with our needs. This requires self-awareness. Do I need to be with someone right now or do I need some time alone? There should be a balance between isolation and connection in the grieving process,” she said.
While it’s understandable that they might feel sad and not in the mood to celebrate, Fusingan-Lappay noted that it could also be unhealthy to decline all invites.
“Showing up at events can be a way to get connected and feel supported,” she explained.
However, she also recognized that attending too many gatherings can get overwhelming — especially for someone who’s been going through a lot: “It matters that we set our intentions with connections. Is it to escape from intense emotions or to feel the support from people around us? Another consideration before deciding to attend is the kind of people whom we will get connected with. Ask yourself, ‘What kind of person do I need at this time?’”
Healing isn’t a linear process. You might feel fine on some days, and feel hopeless the next. And you shouldn’t feel guilty for having good days, or thinking that you’ve started moving on.
“Remind oneself that it is okay to feel positive while grieving,” Fusingan-Lappay said. “It’s a healthy way to cope when we take the time to find joy. These emotions are necessary to feel. What matters is that we are aware of these emotions as it happens, so we can manage its impact.”
The most important note to remember, she said, is: “We should be the one in control of our emotions, not the emotions controlling us.”
While she highlighted that there’s no right or wrong way of grieving, she pointed out that some circumstances could be unhealthy if too many emotions aren’t handled properly.
“Acknowledge the impact of grieving in the present relationship so that people involved can collaborate on ways that can alleviate the issues,” she advised.
Although it’s important to give each individual the time and space to process their emotions, she also added that it’s imperative to set boundaries on when is the best time to reach out for discussion, especially when a person is isolating themselves for a long period of time. Additionally, these boundaries can also be helpful when sensitive topics are being brought up during gatherings and celebrations.
Fusingan-Lappay shared that dealing with these conversations depends on the people that they are with. Some communities and spaces can make an individual feel comfortable in directly expressing their limits, while other individuals would divert to a different topic instead.
In any case, it would be best for the people they are with to be conscious of this behavior to avoid providing unsolicited advice and disrespectful messages. She shared “3Ls” to take note of — Look, Listen, and Link.
“Take the time to look and observe how the situation affects them. Look at the changes in their behavior patterns and possible distress reactions. In terms of listening, focus on them,” she explained.
For these cases, some might need advice, while others will need comfort. Some might express themselves through crying, while others prefer just resting and being silent. Those who aren’t in the grieving person’s position should just follow the lead in the topics they’re comfortable talking about. Check how they are dealing with the situation, and help them explore ways that they can cope in a more healthy manner. For example, link them to other sources of support, such as encouraging them to consider professional help.
Navigating these tricky situations can get exhausting, and even triggering for others. For those who anticipate feeling overwhelmed by these circumstances, here’s what Fusingan-Lappay advises:
After all, she noted, grieving processes should help individuals cope better in tough situations.
“Instead of asking yourself why it happened, it’s also important to ask yourself how you are learning in this experience, and how you can move forward in this situation,” Fusingan-Lappay said. – Rappler.com
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How does this make you feel? | Rappler | https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/health-and-wellness/holiday-grief-welcome-new-year-dealing-loss-psychologist-advice/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0Q6Ecz4ma24HLhva_30N8sa6LHHQRmxEfNcYqW91OXu7Iiaji8wOKhQfQ_aem_ccYyOLFQCr8r0dPZqm2KpQhttps://www.rappler.com/philippines/weather/list-tropical-cyclone-names-philippines-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR27fUgZkP4qfXvu22mqxZTsh57_Xn1RhgwihZAkYcKgw3vUhOATn4Ffw5A_aem_sAp0O6wjZRTMaP_D7nc46w |
LIST: Philippine tropical cyclone names in 2024 | Acor Arceo | 1/1/2024 17:00 | MANILA, Philippines – The country’s weather bureau assigns local names to all tropical cyclones that form within or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has four sets of names that are used alternately.
For instance, the set for 2024 will also be used in 2028, 2032, 2036, and so on.
Each set contains 25 names that are arranged alphabetically.
Here are this year’s names:
PAGASA also prepared four auxiliary sets, in case there are more than 25 tropical cyclones in a particular year. Each auxiliary set has 10 names.
Below is the auxiliary set for 2024.
Meanwhile, international names for tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea are assigned by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center Tokyo-Typhoon Center, operated by the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The international names come from a list contributed to by several countries, including the Philippines.
When a tropical cyclone causes at least 300 deaths and/or P1 billion worth of damage to agriculture and infrastructure in the Philippines, its name gets decommissioned or removed.
The decommissioned name is replaced by another name starting with the same letter.
For the 2024 set, the new names are Aghon, Querubin, Romina, and Upang.
They replaced 2020’s Typhoon Ambo (Vongfong), Typhoon Quinta (Molave), Super Typhoon Rolly (Goni), and Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco), respectively. – Acor Arceo/Rappler.com
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LOOK: Angelica Panganiban and Gregg Homan are married | Ysa Abad | 1/1/2024 14:31 | MARRIED. Angelica Panganiban and Gregg Homan tie the knot on December 31, 2023.
Angelica Panganiban's Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Angelica Panganiban welcomed 2024 as a married woman!
In an Instagram post on Monday, January 1, the actress shared that she tied the knot with non-showbiz partner Gregg Homan on New Year’s Eve.
“Patuloy na mananalig at maniniwala sa pag-ibig. Sa kabila ng lahat. Ang pagmamahal pa rin ang kakapitan,” she wrote, alongside photos from their intimate wedding ceremony.
(Will continue to have faith and believe in love. In spite of everything. Love will make us hold on.)
Fellow celebrities such as Vhong Navarro, Maris Racal, Marian Rivera, Luis Manzano, Zanjoe Marudo, and Yam Concepcion sent their best wishes to the couple in the comments section.
Panganiban and Homan first confirmed their relationship in January 2021. They announced their engagement in October 2022.
Panganiban gave birth to their daughter Amila in September 2022. – Rappler.com
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Hello 2024! New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world | Leanne Jazul | 1/1/2024 13:27 | STREET REVELRY. Children play during New Year's Eve celebrations at a street in Mandaluyong on December 31, 2023.
Eloisa Lopez/Reuters
MANILA, Philippines – Fireworks illuminated the night skies across the globe as millions of revelers gather near their city’s popular landmarks to bid 2023 goodbye.
From Sydney to Rio de Janeiro, here are some of the images welcoming 2024:
– Rappler.com
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Manny Pacquiao announces exhibition boxing match with rival Floyd Mayweather | jisaga0269 | 1/1/2024 13:41 | PACMAN. Manny Pacquiao in action during an exhibition fight.
Wendell Alinea/MP Promotions
MANILA, Philippines – Boxing legends Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will meet once again inside the squared circle, although this time, in an exhibition match.
More than eight years since their highly anticipated match in Las Vegas, Pacquiao alluded to the new event during an in-ring announcement as a guest of the Rizin Fighting Federation’s New Year’s Eve event in Saitama, Japan.
“I’m sorry for the last time that we promised that I was going to fight this year, like Sakakibara-san (Rizin chief executive officer Nobuyuki Sakakibara) explained,” said Pacquiao.
“[In 2024], I hope to see you in Japan again with a big fight against Floyd Mayweather,” he added.
Mayweather prevailed over Pacquiao via unanimous decision during the so-called “Fight of the Century” in May 2015, with the American pugilist being able to unify the WBC, WBA, and WBO welterweight titles.
That bout broke pay-per-view records with about 4.6 million subscribers, nearly doubling the previous record of 2.48 million buys generated by the Oscar de la Hoya-Mayweather bout in 2007.
Since Pacquiao and Mayweather stepped away from professional boxing in 2021 and 2017, respectively, the two have been involved in exhibition bouts.
Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division world champion, last fought against South Korean YouTuber DK Yoo, winning the bout via unanimous decision in the six-rounder in December 2022.
He is set to face muay thai legend Buakaw Banchamek in another exhibition bout in April.
Mayweather, who finished his career spotless at 50-0, last fought John Gotti III in Sunrise, Florida, last June 11, where referee Kenny Bayless called for the bell.
It led to a ring invasion by both sides’ entourages, with melees breaking out after. – Rappler.com
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LIST: Philippine holidays in 2024 | clescudero0258 | 6/6/2024 13:05 | Editor’s Note: This page was first published on October 13, 2023, and subsequently republished with updates.
MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang has released the list of regular holidays and special non-working days in the Philippines in 2024.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Proclamation No. 368 on Wednesday, October 11. The proclamation was made public on Friday, October 13.
Here are the 2024 holidays in the country:
– Rappler.com
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Ready for 2024! Here’s how PH celebs welcomed the New Year | Ysa Abad | 1/1/2024 12:01 | MANILA, Philippines – And with that, 2023 came to an end. By now, you’ve pretty much seen year-ender posts on social media, including ones from your favorite celebrities. After all, it won’t be a New Year celebration without the stream of these essays and family portraits.
From posting their favorite memories of 2023, sharing snaps from their holiday trips, to writing their reflections and resolutions for the coming year, celebrities found creative ways to ring in 2024.
Take a look at their holiday celebrations from all over the world here:
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach is spending the holidays in Maldives with husband Jeremy Jauncey. To mark their first New Year celebration as a married couple, the beauty queen shared that they opted to do a wellness retreat.
“Ending the year with a focus on being, resetting, and spending time to reflect and make new plans for next year. So excited for 2024,” she wrote.
Iza Calzado opened up about how her outlook in life changed after becoming a mother. The actress welcomed her first child Deia Amihan on January 26, 2023.
“Most grateful for my child, Deia Amihan, for making me realize that my body was made not merely for aesthetic reasons but to fulfill a purpose so big, no weighing scale or tape measure can begin to comprehend. This is my body’s true beauty and power,” she wrote.
Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee shared behind-the-scenes videos from her acting and modeling activities for the year, including her preparations for the Miss Universe pageant.
The beauty queen said that 2023 will be “one of the hardest years to move on from.”
“This one will be hard to top and it brings me to tears with how far this journey has taken me,” she said.
Sharing a video compilation of snaps from 2023, actress-socialite Heart Evangelista expressed her excitement for the coming year. “A new beginning for all of us. Let’s do this, 2024,” she wrote.
Celebrity couple Jessy Mendiola and Luis Manzano marked their second New Year celebration as a family of three. They welcomed their first child, Isabella Rose, in late December 2022, but shared this with the public only in early January 2023.
“The highlight of our year is this little one right here,” the actress wrote, alongside videos of their daughter throughout 2023.
P-pop powerhouse SB19 shared that while “2023 has its ups and downs,” it made their bond with their fans, A’TIN, “even stronger.” In 2023, the quintet released their second EP PAGTATAG, embarked on their second international tour, celebrated their fifth debut anniversary, and secured the ownership of their group name and logo.
2023 has its ups and downs, *cue Wild Tonight*, but one thing’s for sure: it made our bond even stronger. 🫂Simula pa lang ito, A’TIN! Marami pa tayong tatahakin hanggang sa wakas! 💙#2023withSB19 #SB19 pic.twitter.com/oD7FIWkCDG
Keeping it simple, Ryan Agoncillo shared a series of family portraits to express his gratitude for the past year. “Thank you 2023,” he captioned the post.
Actresses Kim Chiu, Angelica Panganiban, and Bela Padilla are spending the holidays together in the United States. “Ending the year with these beautiful people,” Chiu wrote. “Thankful for the gift of friendship.”
It’s a sunny celebration for model-actress Sarah Lahbati as she shared snaps from her beach vacation in Bohol with her family. “[A] good year to have a good year,” she wrote.
– Rappler.com
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At least 116 injured due to firecracker-related injuries – DOH | Kaycee | 1/1/2024 12:24 | STREET REVELRY. Children play during New Year's Eve celebrations at a street in Mandaluyong on December 31, 2023.
Eloisa Lopez/Reuters
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has so far logged 116 new fireworks-related injuries (FWRI) after New Year’s Eve festivities, but the total number of those injured can go higher as hospitals update reports.
The youngest recorded victim is an 11-month old who suffered burns on the face and right eye due to piccolo that was from the street, while a 76-year-old injured his right eye because of kwitis (sky rocket).
“Karamihan nangyari sa bahay (A lot of the cases happened at home),” Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said in a press conference on Monday, January 1.
“A lot of them are [caused by] legal fireworks so remember, even if they’re legal, they are still dangerous,” he added in mixed Filipino and English.
Herbosa said this brings the total, since December 21, to 231 fireworks-related cases, of which 102 were wounded because of illegal fireworks. (READ: Here’s what you need to know about prohibited firecrackers)
The health chief noted an increase from the injuries reported in previous years when the country was in lockdown due to the pandemic, saying there might have been a “revenge drive” among the public to celebrate the new year with fireworks.
Nearly half or 113 of the cases this year were from Metro Manila, Central Luzon followed with 27 cases, and the Ilocos Region so far has 24 fireworks-related injuries.
According to a DOH report, kwitis is the top cause of injuries, followed by illegal fireworks 5-Star, boga, piccolo, whistle bomb, and pla-pla; and luces, fountain, and triangle.
There were also five case of injuries caused by stray bullets. (READ: DOH raises alarm on firecracker-linked psychological stress)
“Paalala natin doon sa mga na-injure, kahit maliit, pumunta kayo sa emergency department para malinis ang sugat at bigyan kayo ng booster shot ng tetanus vaccine,” Herbosa said.
(We would like to remind those who sustained injuries, even if they are small, to go to the emergency department so your wound can be cleaned and you are given a tetanus vaccine booster shot.) – Rappler.com
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LIST: Long weekends in 2024 | clescudero0258 | 6/6/2024 13:10 | Editor’s Note: This page was first published on October 13, 2023, and subsequently republished with updates.
MANILA, Philippines – Planning your vacation leaves and rest days in 2024?
Malacañang on Friday, October 13, released the regular holidays and special non-working days in 2024, and at least six of them fall near weekends.
Here’s a list of the long weekends in 2024.
– Rappler.com
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LIST: Long weekends in 2024 | clescudero0258 | 6/6/2024 13:10 | Editor’s Note: This page was first published on October 13, 2023, and subsequently republished with updates.
MANILA, Philippines – Planning your vacation leaves and rest days in 2024?
Malacañang on Friday, October 13, released the regular holidays and special non-working days in 2024, and at least six of them fall near weekends.
Here’s a list of the long weekends in 2024.
– Rappler.com
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Manny Pacquiao announces exhibition boxing match with rival Floyd Mayweather | jisaga0269 | 1/1/2024 13:41 | PACMAN. Manny Pacquiao in action during an exhibition fight.
Wendell Alinea/MP Promotions
MANILA, Philippines – Boxing legends Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will meet once again inside the squared circle, although this time, in an exhibition match.
More than eight years since their highly anticipated match in Las Vegas, Pacquiao alluded to the new event during an in-ring announcement as a guest of the Rizin Fighting Federation’s New Year’s Eve event in Saitama, Japan.
“I’m sorry for the last time that we promised that I was going to fight this year, like Sakakibara-san (Rizin chief executive officer Nobuyuki Sakakibara) explained,” said Pacquiao.
“[In 2024], I hope to see you in Japan again with a big fight against Floyd Mayweather,” he added.
Mayweather prevailed over Pacquiao via unanimous decision during the so-called “Fight of the Century” in May 2015, with the American pugilist being able to unify the WBC, WBA, and WBO welterweight titles.
That bout broke pay-per-view records with about 4.6 million subscribers, nearly doubling the previous record of 2.48 million buys generated by the Oscar de la Hoya-Mayweather bout in 2007.
Since Pacquiao and Mayweather stepped away from professional boxing in 2021 and 2017, respectively, the two have been involved in exhibition bouts.
Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division world champion, last fought against South Korean YouTuber DK Yoo, winning the bout via unanimous decision in the six-rounder in December 2022.
He is set to face muay thai legend Buakaw Banchamek in another exhibition bout in April.
Mayweather, who finished his career spotless at 50-0, last fought John Gotti III in Sunrise, Florida, last June 11, where referee Kenny Bayless called for the bell.
It led to a ring invasion by both sides’ entourages, with melees breaking out after. – Rappler.com
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EMBO residents lose healthcare subsidy from Makati City gov’t | jpcruz0306 | 1/1/2024 10:19 | FREE MEDICINE. Makati residents, mostly senior citizens, avail the city's free medicine.
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MANILA, Philippines – Residents of the Enlisted Men’s Barrios (EMBO) are no longer eligible for the yellow card benefits, the city-subsidized healthcare program of the Makati City government starting Monday, January 1.
This follows a 2022 Supreme Court decision placing Bonifacio Global City and the EMBO barangays under Taguig’s jurisdiction.
The Makati City government said its employees who are residents of the concerned barangays will retain their yellow card benefits.
In an earlier statement, the city government of Makati said they would temporarily offer EMBO residents access to free consultations at Makati-owned health centers as Taguig City had yet to establish its facilities in the area.
However, in its latest Facebook post, the Makati City government said that health centers and birthing facilities in the EMBO would have to be closed down due to their expired licenses.
In September, Makati proposed a credit line for Taguig to ensure uninterrupted healthcare access of EMBO residents to health centers and the city-run Ospital ng Makati (OsMak).
Taguig, however, said that Makati’s proposal was banking on “the false premise that they own the land and the health centers built thereon.” It also argued that this went against the directive of Health Secretary Ted Herbosa to exclude ownership issues in the transition process.
The yellow card gave Makati residents access to free medicines, vitamins, antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical products.
Yellow card holders are also entitled to free hospitalization in OsMak for bills amounting to P5,000 or less. For bills exceeding P5,000, yellow card holders are only required to pay P500.
Patients can also be referred to partner facilities like the Makati Medical Center and Makati Life Medical Center, allowing them to access specialized medical and diagnostic services that might not be offered at OsMak.
Yellow cardholders and registered dependents, city government workers, and other qualified beneficiaries can also enjoy health services from 26 health centers located in the Makati barangays, satellite laboratories, and three birthing facilities.
To be a yellow card holder, one has to be a registered Makati voter.
In August 2023, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared that the EMBO barangays are under Taguig. Comelec Taguig facilitated the 2023 barangay elections in the area. – Rappler.com
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At least 116 injured due to firecracker-related injuries – DOH | Kaycee | 1/1/2024 12:24 | STREET REVELRY. Children play during New Year's Eve celebrations at a street in Mandaluyong on December 31, 2023.
Eloisa Lopez/Reuters
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has so far logged 116 new fireworks-related injuries (FWRI) after New Year’s Eve festivities, but the total number of those injured can go higher as hospitals update reports.
The youngest recorded victim is an 11-month old who suffered burns on the face and right eye due to piccolo that was from the street, while a 76-year-old injured his right eye because of kwitis (sky rocket).
“Karamihan nangyari sa bahay (A lot of the cases happened at home),” Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said in a press conference on Monday, January 1.
“A lot of them are [caused by] legal fireworks so remember, even if they’re legal, they are still dangerous,” he added in mixed Filipino and English.
Herbosa said this brings the total, since December 21, to 231 fireworks-related cases, of which 102 were wounded because of illegal fireworks. (READ: Here’s what you need to know about prohibited firecrackers)
The health chief noted an increase from the injuries reported in previous years when the country was in lockdown due to the pandemic, saying there might have been a “revenge drive” among the public to celebrate the new year with fireworks.
Nearly half or 113 of the cases this year were from Metro Manila, Central Luzon followed with 27 cases, and the Ilocos Region so far has 24 fireworks-related injuries.
According to a DOH report, kwitis is the top cause of injuries, followed by illegal fireworks 5-Star, boga, piccolo, whistle bomb, and pla-pla; and luces, fountain, and triangle.
There were also five case of injuries caused by stray bullets. (READ: DOH raises alarm on firecracker-linked psychological stress)
“Paalala natin doon sa mga na-injure, kahit maliit, pumunta kayo sa emergency department para malinis ang sugat at bigyan kayo ng booster shot ng tetanus vaccine,” Herbosa said.
(We would like to remind those who sustained injuries, even if they are small, to go to the emergency department so your wound can be cleaned and you are given a tetanus vaccine booster shot.) – Rappler.com
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Arrivederci, Motorino – NYC pizza shop leaves PH | Marguerite de Leon | 2/1/2024 19:23 | Motorino Pizza Philippines' Facebook
MANILA, Philippines – Brooklyn-born pizzeria Motorino has closed shop in the Philippines after almost 10 years, a Facebook post by Motorino Pizza Philippines announced on Monday, January 1.
“Grateful for nearly a decade of serving ‘New York’s Best Pizza’ Neopolitan-style in Manila, we’ve reached the end of our journey, having served our last pizza on December 31, 2023,” the post read.
“As of today, January 1, 2024, we close our doors with deep gratitude for your patronage. Grazie for being an integral part of our journey. Ciao!” it added.
According to an interview on Spot.ph, Motorino Pizza Philippines owner Eugene Lorenzana said, “We just decided to close Motorino simply due to the different taste and preference of the market in the Philippines.”
Motorino’s first set up shop in the Philippines in 2014 at Greenbelt 3. It then opened several more branches over the years: The Podium, Estancia, Alabang Town Center, and Ayala Malls Manila Bay. Its original store opened in Brooklyn, New York City in 2008. – Rappler.com
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Dwight Howard signs with Strong Group Philippines for 2024 Dubai tournament | jisaga0269 | 2/1/2024 23:18 | Dwight Howard.
Photo from Twitter/@NBA
MANILA, Philippines – Eight-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard is set to play for Strong Group in the 2024 Dubai International Basketball Championship, head coach Charles Tiu confirmed to Rappler on Tuesday, January 2.
Howard, most notable for his time with the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers, is set to arrive next week.
The three-time Defensive Player of the Year and one-time NBA champion is set to make the Philippines his first stop in his “World Smile Tour” – a concerted effort to crack a roster spot in the NBA, according to the Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Howard is set to join former Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Andray Blatche and ex-Oklahoma City Thunder guard Andre Roberson as the team’s reinforcements.
“We are excited for him to come and play for our team. It would be a great honor to have him. He can still play and wants to win,” Tiu said in a message.
“But of course until he actually gets here, I’m holding my breath,” he added.
Local talent such as UAAP Season 86 Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao and Francis Escandor from La Salle, and UP’s JD Cagulangan will also beef up the team as it prepares for the Dubai tournament slated this January 19 to 28.
Howard, who most recently played for Taoyuan Leopards of the T1 League in Taiwan, was able to sign with the team through Blatche, who played in the NBA for almost a decade.
“I had Andray Blatche help me recruit him, and I gave him a call, we spoke for some time had a good talk and figured he’d be a good fit for us,” said Tiu, who also calls the shots for the College of St. Benilde Blazers in the NCAA.
Last year, the Renaldo Balkman-led team was booted out of the quarterfinals with a 106-97 loss to Al Riyadi.
Other notable Strong Group signings throughout its run in Dubai are other former NBA players like Balkman, Nick Young, and Shabazz Muhammad. – Rappler.com
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Major power outage hits Western Visayas | The wRap | Jaira Roxas | 2/1/2024 22:38 | Today on Rappler – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
A power outage hit major cities and provinces in Western Visayas Tuesday, January 2. The NGCP says all the power plants in Panay Island shut down at around 2:27 pm.
Starting January 1, senior residents in the EMBO barangays no longer have access to benefits from the Makati City government’s programs. This means their Blu Cards are now voided – except for use as a valid ID and debit card.
South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is stabbed in the neck during a visit to Busan Tuesday, January 2. He was airlifted to Seoul, after a man attacked him while touring the site of a proposed airport.
Residents say Israeli aircraft and tanks stepped up strikes in southern Gaza since the new year, after it announced plans to pull back some troops. – Rappler.com
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Ticket prices, seat plan: Jonas Brothers Live in Manila 2024 | Marguerite de Leon | 2/1/2024 19:33 | Jonas Brothers' Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Heads up, Jo Bros fans! The ticket prices and seat plan for the Jonas Brothers’ upcoming Manila concert have been released by concert promoter Ovation Productions on Tuesday, January 2.
Tickets for the February 22 concert at the Mall of Asia Arena will be on sale beginning January 6, 12 pm, at smtickets.com. Prices range from P2,500 for Gen Ad to P18,500 for SVIP, plus ticketing charges. Both SVIP and VIP are standing room only.
Seat plan and ticket prices for Jonas Brothers live in Manila on February 22 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Tickets on sale January 6, 12nn at https://t.co/acTZcWszLf pic.twitter.com/UO6SJw0EQr
The three-member pop-rock band will be “celebrating five albums” during their concert. The band was last in Manila for an October 2012 concert also at the SM Mall of Asia.
The Jonas Brothers – made up of Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas – formed in 2005 and reached peak fame with their roles in Disney’s Camp Rock, and hit singles like “Year 3000.” The band then came out with four studio albums, releasing hit songs, such as “Lovebug,” “Burnin’ Up,” “S.O.S.,” “Paranoid,” “Pom Poms,” and “When You Look Me in the Eyes,” among others.
Due to “complications within the group,” the band split in 2013, with Nick and Joe pursuing solo music careers soon after.
In 2019, the brothers reunited, releasing their comeback single “Sucker” under their fifth album V. In May, they released The Album. – Rappler.com
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Ticket prices, seat plan: Jonas Brothers Live in Manila 2024 | Marguerite de Leon | 2/1/2024 19:33 | Jonas Brothers' Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Heads up, Jo Bros fans! The ticket prices and seat plan for the Jonas Brothers’ upcoming Manila concert have been released by concert promoter Ovation Productions on Tuesday, January 2.
Tickets for the February 22 concert at the Mall of Asia Arena will be on sale beginning January 6, 12 pm, at smtickets.com. Prices range from P2,500 for Gen Ad to P18,500 for SVIP, plus ticketing charges. Both SVIP and VIP are standing room only.
Seat plan and ticket prices for Jonas Brothers live in Manila on February 22 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Tickets on sale January 6, 12nn at https://t.co/acTZcWszLf pic.twitter.com/UO6SJw0EQr
The three-member pop-rock band will be “celebrating five albums” during their concert. The band was last in Manila for an October 2012 concert also at the SM Mall of Asia.
The Jonas Brothers – made up of Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas – formed in 2005 and reached peak fame with their roles in Disney’s Camp Rock, and hit singles like “Year 3000.” The band then came out with four studio albums, releasing hit songs, such as “Lovebug,” “Burnin’ Up,” “S.O.S.,” “Paranoid,” “Pom Poms,” and “When You Look Me in the Eyes,” among others.
Due to “complications within the group,” the band split in 2013, with Nick and Joe pursuing solo music careers soon after.
In 2019, the brothers reunited, releasing their comeback single “Sucker” under their fifth album V. In May, they released The Album. – Rappler.com
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Ready for 2024! Here’s how PH celebs welcomed the New Year | Ysa Abad | 1/1/2024 12:01 | MANILA, Philippines – And with that, 2023 came to an end. By now, you’ve pretty much seen year-ender posts on social media, including ones from your favorite celebrities. After all, it won’t be a New Year celebration without the stream of these essays and family portraits.
From posting their favorite memories of 2023, sharing snaps from their holiday trips, to writing their reflections and resolutions for the coming year, celebrities found creative ways to ring in 2024.
Take a look at their holiday celebrations from all over the world here:
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach is spending the holidays in Maldives with husband Jeremy Jauncey. To mark their first New Year celebration as a married couple, the beauty queen shared that they opted to do a wellness retreat.
“Ending the year with a focus on being, resetting, and spending time to reflect and make new plans for next year. So excited for 2024,” she wrote.
Iza Calzado opened up about how her outlook in life changed after becoming a mother. The actress welcomed her first child Deia Amihan on January 26, 2023.
“Most grateful for my child, Deia Amihan, for making me realize that my body was made not merely for aesthetic reasons but to fulfill a purpose so big, no weighing scale or tape measure can begin to comprehend. This is my body’s true beauty and power,” she wrote.
Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee shared behind-the-scenes videos from her acting and modeling activities for the year, including her preparations for the Miss Universe pageant.
The beauty queen said that 2023 will be “one of the hardest years to move on from.”
“This one will be hard to top and it brings me to tears with how far this journey has taken me,” she said.
Sharing a video compilation of snaps from 2023, actress-socialite Heart Evangelista expressed her excitement for the coming year. “A new beginning for all of us. Let’s do this, 2024,” she wrote.
Celebrity couple Jessy Mendiola and Luis Manzano marked their second New Year celebration as a family of three. They welcomed their first child, Isabella Rose, in late December 2022, but shared this with the public only in early January 2023.
“The highlight of our year is this little one right here,” the actress wrote, alongside videos of their daughter throughout 2023.
P-pop powerhouse SB19 shared that while “2023 has its ups and downs,” it made their bond with their fans, A’TIN, “even stronger.” In 2023, the quintet released their second EP PAGTATAG, embarked on their second international tour, celebrated their fifth debut anniversary, and secured the ownership of their group name and logo.
2023 has its ups and downs, *cue Wild Tonight*, but one thing’s for sure: it made our bond even stronger. 🫂Simula pa lang ito, A’TIN! Marami pa tayong tatahakin hanggang sa wakas! 💙#2023withSB19 #SB19 pic.twitter.com/oD7FIWkCDG
Keeping it simple, Ryan Agoncillo shared a series of family portraits to express his gratitude for the past year. “Thank you 2023,” he captioned the post.
Actresses Kim Chiu, Angelica Panganiban, and Bela Padilla are spending the holidays together in the United States. “Ending the year with these beautiful people,” Chiu wrote. “Thankful for the gift of friendship.”
It’s a sunny celebration for model-actress Sarah Lahbati as she shared snaps from her beach vacation in Bohol with her family. “[A] good year to have a good year,” she wrote.
– Rappler.com
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Hello 2024! New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world | Leanne Jazul | 1/1/2024 13:27 | STREET REVELRY. Children play during New Year's Eve celebrations at a street in Mandaluyong on December 31, 2023.
Eloisa Lopez/Reuters
MANILA, Philippines – Fireworks illuminated the night skies across the globe as millions of revelers gather near their city’s popular landmarks to bid 2023 goodbye.
From Sydney to Rio de Janeiro, here are some of the images welcoming 2024:
– Rappler.com
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Power outage hits Western Visayas islands | jsitchon0312 | 2/1/2024 18:12 | LeAnne Jazul/Rappler
CEBU, Philippines – A region-wide power outage hit major cities and provinces in Western Visayas on Tuesday, January 2.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said in an advisory posted on energy company More Power Iloilo’s social media page that all the power plants in Panay Island had shut down at around 2:27 pm, and soon after, the Negros-Panay grid had gone out.
Other energy companies like the Guimaras Electric Cooperative (GUIMELCO), Iloilo Electric Cooperative (ILECO), Capiz Electric Cooperative (CAPELCO), Antique Electric Cooperative (ANTECO), and Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO) posted separate advisories on the system disturbance.
“This emergency power interruption is affecting not only Capiz but the entire Panay, Negros, and Guimaras Islands,” CAPELCO wrote in their statement.
In a statement, the NGCP said that it was working on stabilizing voltage and extending feedback power to Iloilo and Panay. According to them, the Negros-Panay interconnection was restored after it tripped at 3:07 pm.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas expressed his dismay over the power interruptions in Panay Island in a message posted on the Iloilo City government’s Facebook page.
“I am utterly dismayed that due to an unstable supply, the whole Panay Island can be totally isolated,” Treñas said.
The mayor called on the Department of Energy (DOE) and the NGCP to resolve the problem at the earliest possible time, insisting that the latter find a more sustainable solution to the problem.
In 2023, business groups, officials, and electric power cooperatives made calls for sustainable power supply in Western Visayas. They reasoned that long power interruptions put businesses and even the health of consumers at risk.
Treñas added that the Western Visayas Regional Development Council Infrastructure Development Committee will look into the issue immediately.
The DOE announced that it was closely coordinating with the NGCP and all the affected generation plants and distribution utilities, while the Energy Regulatory Commission was investigating the incident.
As of 4:30 pm, the NGCP has re-energized the Santa Barbara-Baldoza lines. – Rappler.com
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Arrivederci, Motorino – NYC pizza shop leaves PH | Marguerite de Leon | 2/1/2024 19:23 | Motorino Pizza Philippines' Facebook
MANILA, Philippines – Brooklyn-born pizzeria Motorino has closed shop in the Philippines after almost 10 years, a Facebook post by Motorino Pizza Philippines announced on Monday, January 1.
“Grateful for nearly a decade of serving ‘New York’s Best Pizza’ Neopolitan-style in Manila, we’ve reached the end of our journey, having served our last pizza on December 31, 2023,” the post read.
“As of today, January 1, 2024, we close our doors with deep gratitude for your patronage. Grazie for being an integral part of our journey. Ciao!” it added.
According to an interview on Spot.ph, Motorino Pizza Philippines owner Eugene Lorenzana said, “We just decided to close Motorino simply due to the different taste and preference of the market in the Philippines.”
Motorino’s first set up shop in the Philippines in 2014 at Greenbelt 3. It then opened several more branches over the years: The Podium, Estancia, Alabang Town Center, and Ayala Malls Manila Bay. Its original store opened in Brooklyn, New York City in 2008. – Rappler.com
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Pagadian Bishop Ronald Lunas, pride of Davao del Sur, dies at 57 | Paterno Esmaquel II | 2/1/2024 16:25 | REST IN PEACE. Bishop Ronald Lunas of the Diocese of Pagadian dies at the age of 57 on January 2, 2023.
Diocese of Pagadian's Facebook page via CBCP News
MANILA, Philippines – Pagadian Bishop Ronald Lunas, the first prelate produced by the Catholic Church in Davao del Sur, died at the age of 57 on Tuesday, January 2.
Lunas was pronounced dead at 8:28 am on Tuesday, Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles told the secretariat of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
This comes days after Lunas underwent a heart bypass surgery on December 28, 2023, said CBCP News, citing information from the Pagadian Cathedral. The bishop had been in the hospital since November 2023 after suffering a heart attack and a stroke.
Born on November 27, 1966, Lunas was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Digos on April 7, 1992, at the age of 25.
The Diocese of Digos is a 44-year-old Catholic territory that covers Davao del Sur and portions of Sarangani in the southern Philippines. It has a population of more than 761,500 Catholics.
On November 22, 2018, Pope Francis named Lunas the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Pagadian, a 50-year-old territory that is also found in Mindanao. The Diocese of Pagadian has a population of more than 828,400 Catholics in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, as well as 25 municipalities in northern and eastern Zamboanga province.
When the Pope made him a prelate, Catholic publications such as CBCP News and Davao Catholic Herald celebrated the fact that Lunas was the first “homegrown” bishop from the Diocese of Digos. CBCP News called him “Digos’ first bishop-son.”
Since 2021, Lunas has also led the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Basic Ecclesial Communities, the small communities that aim to strengthen the faith of Catholics at the grassroots level.
Lunas was born in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, and studied philosophy and theology in Davao City – the former at Saint Francis Xavier College Seminary and the latter at Saint Francis Regional Major Seminary.
In 1996, four years after he was ordained a priest, Lunas obtained his licentiate in sacred theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
In a Mass on February 10, 2019, a day before he was ordained a bishop, Lunas said the episcopacy, which means being a Catholic bishop, should be selfless in nature.
“This episcopacy is not about me, in the first place. It is about the mercy of God on me, his unworthy servant,” Lunas said.
“The Lord expects me not to be successful but to be faithful in keeping pure and teaching in word and in deed the faith contained in the Sacred Word of God, written or handed on, and the teachings and discipline of the Church as well,” he added.
Lunas, a devotee of the Virgin Mary, also extolled the Blessed Mother. “Mary is the designer of my ministry and life,” the bishop from Digos said. – Rappler.com
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Jollibee ups investment in Tim Ho Wan for dim sum restaurant’s growth | lkyu0285 | 2/1/2024 13:25 | Marian Hukom/Rappler
MANILA, Philippine – Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), one of the largest food service companies in Asia, is increasing its ownership stake in the private equity fund that owns Tim Ho Wan by an additional S$7.7 million to fuel expansion plans.
JFC’s wholly owned subsidiary, Jollibee Worldwide, upped its investment in Titan Dining – the private equity fund which owns the dim sum restaurant chain – to a total commitment of S$414 million.
This came after Jollibee Worldwide bought out a limited partner’s 2% participating interest in the fund. Jollibee’s stake in Titan has now risen from 90% to 92%.
“These amendments are necessary to support the growth expansion of Tim Ho Wan, other brands, and other future food and beverages concepts that will be part of Titan’s portfolio,” JFC said in a stock market disclosure on Tuesday, January 2.
JFC stated that it “plans to aggressively expand” the Michelin-starred dim sum restaurant chain in mainland China, hoping to grow from 19 branches to 100 in the middle term.
JFC also has a joint venture with Titan to operate Tiong Bahru Bakery and Common Man Coffee Roasters in the Philippines. Tiong Bahru Bakery is known for its “handmade croissants,” while Common Man Coffee Roasters operates all-day dining stores in Singapore and Malaysia. (READ: Jollibee Foods bringing Tiong Bahru Bakery, Common Man Coffee Roasters to Philippines)
The Philippine-based restaurant giant’s investment in Titan began in 2018 when it invested S$45 million with the intention of owning Tim Ho Wan’s master franchise in the Asia Pacific. By August 2021, JFC bought out all other investors in Titan to become the sole owner of Tim Ho Wan.
However, in November 2021, Jollibee entered into an amended limited partnership agreement to increase Titan’s fund size to S$250 million, allowing additional investors to join the fund with a 10% participating interest. This cut Jollibee’s stake in Titan to 90% before its recent additional investment.
As a whole, the fund size of Titan has now reached S$450 million, with Jollibee’s commitment amounting to S$414 million.
Meanwhile, JFC’s store network has reached 6,805 stores around the world as of November 2023. It currently operates 1,645 Jollibee stores globally, along with 1,146 Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf stores, 757 Highlands Coffee stores, 614 Chowking stores, and 571 Mang Inasal stores. – Rappler.com
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1 dead due to fireworks-related injuries in Ilocos Region – DOH | Kaycee | 2/1/2024 11:35 | DEADLY. Confiscated illegal fireworks set to be disposed in Camp Karingal in Quezon City on December 30, 2023.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – A man died in Ilocos Region due to fireworks-related injuries, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday, January 2.
The DOH said the fatality is among the additional 212 additional fireworks-related injuries recorded on Tuesday, bringing to 443 the total number recorded since it began monitoring cases on December 21.
The DOH said the fatality, a 38-year-old man from Ilocos Region, was in a drinking session when the incident that led to his death occurred. He lit a cigarette when he was near firecrackers that had been stowed away.
“The death reported today was an incident waiting to happen because liquor impairs judgment,” the DOH said in a statement.
A majority or 206 of the incidents happened at home and 102 cases were caused by legal fireworks.
The DOH also said that a 23-year-old from Davao Region got hit by a stray bullet during the New Year’s Eve revelry. He got shot in the upper back.
The health department said that kwitis or sky rocket, a legal firework, remains to be the top firecracker that caused injuries.
Four out of every 10 cases were due to illegal fireworks, the DOH said.
Over half of the incidents or 254 happened in Metro Manila, followed by 36 cases from the Ilocos region, 35 from Central Luzon, and 28 cases from Calabarzon. – Kaycee Valmonte/Rappler.com
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With no Makati Blu Card access, what benefits will EMBO elderly lose in 2024? | jpcruz0306 | 2/1/2024 13:00 | TOWN HALL. The city hall of Taguig.
James Patrick Cruz/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Senior citizens residing in the Enlisted Men’s Barrios (EMBO) have lost access to Makati City government programs starting January 1, 2024.
The Makati City government announced on Tuesday, January 2, that EMBO elderly can no longer use their Blu Card for access to the city’s benefits and services after the Supreme Court ruled that the EMBO barangays are under Taguig’s jurisdiction.
The Makati City government, however, said that this card can still be used as a valid ID and debit card.
Under the elderly program of Makati, Blu Card holders are entitled to the following cash incentives based on their age bracket:
Blu Card holders can also enjoy watching movies for free in some malls in the city such as in Glorietta, Greenbelt, and Circuit Makati. They can avail of this benefit three times a day for the first and second screenings.
Aside from these incentives, the Makati elderly also receive birthday cakes, grocery items, and maintenance medicine from the city government.
In 2023, at least 67,097 senior citizens benefitted from Makati’s free medicine program.
To qualify as a Blu Card holder, an individual should be 60 years old and above, a registered voter in the city, and a bonafide Makati resident.
Prior to the 2023 barangay elections, the voting records of EMBO residents were transferred to Taguig.
The Makati City government earlier announced that EMBO residents are also no longer eligible for the city’s subsidized healthcare.
With their Makati Blu Cards voided, what benefits can EMBO senior citizens expect from the Taguig city government?
In August 2023, Taguig initiated the distribution of birthday cash gifts to senior citizens in EMBO barangays. The amount is the same as the cash gifts given by Makati.
In a media interview, Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano said that she cannot give birthday cakes to senior citizens in EMBO, who have been accustomed to this gesture from Makati. The Taguig mayor said that she wants the elderly to decide on what they would do with their money.
During the observance of Elderly Filipino Week in October, Taguig welcomed EMBO senior citizens in its Center for the Elderly. The center features a therapy pool, a clinic, a sauna and massage room, a mini theater, a multi-purpose hall, a recreational area, and a rooftop garden.
– Rappler.com
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Another coup for Chery Tiggo as it gets F2 captain Aby Maraño to join Ara Galang | jisaga0269 | 2/1/2024 14:06 | CRUISE CONTROL. Former F2 captain Aby Marano poses with new Chery Tiggo teammate Ara Galang.
PVL Images
MANILA, Philippines – Veteran middle blocker Aby Maraño said she is excited at the prospect of cruising along with Chery Tiggo, joining longtime teammate Ara Galang in signing with the Crossovers on Tuesday, January 2.
Galang, who was named co-Most Valuable Player along with Maraño during their De La Salle Lady Spikers stint in UAAP Season 75, was announced as Chery Tiggo’s first signing on Tuesday morning.
Maraño, who formerly captained the Philippine women’s volleyball team and the disbanded F2 Cargo Movers, will be playing anew with familiar faces as the PVL starts its season in February.
“Actually, I’m excited to be part of Chery Tiggo. It’s just like driving and it’s just like you’re having fun with them,” Maraño said in Filipino.
“I’m excited to be working with these players,” Maraño added, referring to the Crossovers’ core players of Eya Laure, Jen Nierva, Mylene Paat, Jasmine Nabor, and Shaya Adorador, whom she played with in the national team.
Affectionately known in the volleyball community as Tyang Aby, Maraño will bring a firm voice to a locker room that is raring to do more after a run to the semifinals in the recent 2023 PVL Second All-Filipino Conference.
In the final professional conference of the Cargo Movers, the team was nowhere near playoff contention, crashing out early in their swan song.
“[The fans have] known me as a player with a very big heart. Very passionate, vocal, and a leader, so I want them to expect that from me,” Maraño said.
“I will bring all of that to Chery Tiggo.”
Still up for grabs in the F2 free agent rush are the likes of Kianna Dy, Kim Fajardo, Jolina dela Cruz, Mars Alba, and former two-time PVL MVP Myla Pablo. – Rappler.com
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Enchanted River in Surigao del Sur reopens to visitors | Ysa Abad | 2/1/2024 10:57 | ENCHANTED RIVER. Tourists take photos from the observation deck at Enchanted River, Hinatuan town in Surigao del Sur.
Ivy Marie Mangadlao/RAPPLER
BUTUAN, Philippines – The popular Enchanted River of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur has finally reopened.
The local tourist attraction was temporarily closed to the public for nearly two weeks, following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the province in early December, and the impacts of Tropical Storm Kabayan.
It reopened on December 30.
The Enchanted River closed twice in December, accounting for 20 days in total.
The first closure was for over a week, from December 4 to 11. It reopened on December 12, but had to be closed to the public again from December 18 to 29 to give way to clearing operations due to Tropical Storm Kabayan.
The Hinatuan municipal government said the closure also allowed authorities to conduct a safety assessment of the area prior to reopening the site.
Hinatuan tourism officer Gemma Millan said the temporary closure of the tourist site cost about P1.5 million to P2 million in lost revenues for the local economy.
“This is a significant blow to the local economy, especially since we consider December as one of our peak seasons,” said Millan.
Entrance fees at Enchanted River are P100 for non-residents and P30 pesos for locals.
The Enchanted River, one of the most popular destinations in Caraga, is a key inclusion in Surigao del Sur tour packages. It is often featured alongside other renowned attractions such as Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig City and the Britania Group of Islands in San Agustin.
In December 2022, the local tourism office recorded a total of 19,018 tourist arrivals. – Rappler.com
Ivy Marie Mangadlao is an Aries Rufo Journalism fellow.
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1 dead due to fireworks-related injuries in Ilocos Region – DOH | Kaycee | 2/1/2024 11:35 | DEADLY. Confiscated illegal fireworks set to be disposed in Camp Karingal in Quezon City on December 30, 2023.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – A man died in Ilocos Region due to fireworks-related injuries, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday, January 2.
The DOH said the fatality is among the additional 212 additional fireworks-related injuries recorded on Tuesday, bringing to 443 the total number recorded since it began monitoring cases on December 21.
The DOH said the fatality, a 38-year-old man from Ilocos Region, was in a drinking session when the incident that led to his death occurred. He lit a cigarette when he was near firecrackers that had been stowed away.
“The death reported today was an incident waiting to happen because liquor impairs judgment,” the DOH said in a statement.
A majority or 206 of the incidents happened at home and 102 cases were caused by legal fireworks.
The DOH also said that a 23-year-old from Davao Region got hit by a stray bullet during the New Year’s Eve revelry. He got shot in the upper back.
The health department said that kwitis or sky rocket, a legal firework, remains to be the top firecracker that caused injuries.
Four out of every 10 cases were due to illegal fireworks, the DOH said.
Over half of the incidents or 254 happened in Metro Manila, followed by 36 cases from the Ilocos region, 35 from Central Luzon, and 28 cases from Calabarzon. – Kaycee Valmonte/Rappler.com
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Chery Tiggo signs F2’s Ara Galang | jisaga0269 | 2/1/2024 10:16 | Ara Galang
PVL Images
MANILA, Philippines – The Chery Tiggo Crossovers picked up wing spiker Ara Galang on Tuesday, January 2, the latest signing from the talent pool created by the disbandment of the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.
Galang, who had played her entire career with F2 Logistics since graduating from De La Salle University, will be joining a young squad led by Eya Laure, Princess Robles, and Jen Nierva.
Galang is the third former F2 player to find a new home after Cignal’s Dawn Macandili-Catindig and NxLed’s Ivy Lacsina.
“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to play for Chery, and super excited since this is the first time I’ll be joining another team, and I went to a team where I barely know the players,” Galang said in Filipino.
“I am always all out and give my best in training, in the game, every day…. I will do everything to be able to contribute and help the team,” she added.
Galang, who will turn 29 on Thursday, January 4, copped the UAAP Season 75 Most Valuable Player along with Aby Maraño, en route to another women’s volleyball crown under the tutelage of legendary mentor Ramil de Jesus.
Aside from Galang, the team is expected to sign another big name from F2 Logistics later in the day, sources close to the team bared to Rappler.
Chery Tiggo just concluded the 2023 PVL Second All-Filipino Conference short of a podium finish, yielding to the Cignal HD Spikers in a sweep of the bronze medal affair. – Rappler.com
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Chery Tiggo signs F2’s Ara Galang | jisaga0269 | 2/1/2024 10:16 | Ara Galang
PVL Images
MANILA, Philippines – The Chery Tiggo Crossovers picked up wing spiker Ara Galang on Tuesday, January 2, the latest signing from the talent pool created by the disbandment of the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.
Galang, who had played her entire career with F2 Logistics since graduating from De La Salle University, will be joining a young squad led by Eya Laure, Princess Robles, and Jen Nierva.
Galang is the third former F2 player to find a new home after Cignal’s Dawn Macandili-Catindig and NxLed’s Ivy Lacsina.
“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to play for Chery, and super excited since this is the first time I’ll be joining another team, and I went to a team where I barely know the players,” Galang said in Filipino.
“I am always all out and give my best in training, in the game, every day…. I will do everything to be able to contribute and help the team,” she added.
Galang, who will turn 29 on Thursday, January 4, copped the UAAP Season 75 Most Valuable Player along with Aby Maraño, en route to another women’s volleyball crown under the tutelage of legendary mentor Ramil de Jesus.
Aside from Galang, the team is expected to sign another big name from F2 Logistics later in the day, sources close to the team bared to Rappler.
Chery Tiggo just concluded the 2023 PVL Second All-Filipino Conference short of a podium finish, yielding to the Cignal HD Spikers in a sweep of the bronze medal affair. – Rappler.com
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Ready for 2024! Here’s how PH celebs welcomed the New Year | Ysa Abad | 1/1/2024 12:01 | MANILA, Philippines – And with that, 2023 came to an end. By now, you’ve pretty much seen year-ender posts on social media, including ones from your favorite celebrities. After all, it won’t be a New Year celebration without the stream of these essays and family portraits.
From posting their favorite memories of 2023, sharing snaps from their holiday trips, to writing their reflections and resolutions for the coming year, celebrities found creative ways to ring in 2024.
Take a look at their holiday celebrations from all over the world here:
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach is spending the holidays in Maldives with husband Jeremy Jauncey. To mark their first New Year celebration as a married couple, the beauty queen shared that they opted to do a wellness retreat.
“Ending the year with a focus on being, resetting, and spending time to reflect and make new plans for next year. So excited for 2024,” she wrote.
Iza Calzado opened up about how her outlook in life changed after becoming a mother. The actress welcomed her first child Deia Amihan on January 26, 2023.
“Most grateful for my child, Deia Amihan, for making me realize that my body was made not merely for aesthetic reasons but to fulfill a purpose so big, no weighing scale or tape measure can begin to comprehend. This is my body’s true beauty and power,” she wrote.
Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee shared behind-the-scenes videos from her acting and modeling activities for the year, including her preparations for the Miss Universe pageant.
The beauty queen said that 2023 will be “one of the hardest years to move on from.”
“This one will be hard to top and it brings me to tears with how far this journey has taken me,” she said.
Sharing a video compilation of snaps from 2023, actress-socialite Heart Evangelista expressed her excitement for the coming year. “A new beginning for all of us. Let’s do this, 2024,” she wrote.
Celebrity couple Jessy Mendiola and Luis Manzano marked their second New Year celebration as a family of three. They welcomed their first child, Isabella Rose, in late December 2022, but shared this with the public only in early January 2023.
“The highlight of our year is this little one right here,” the actress wrote, alongside videos of their daughter throughout 2023.
P-pop powerhouse SB19 shared that while “2023 has its ups and downs,” it made their bond with their fans, A’TIN, “even stronger.” In 2023, the quintet released their second EP PAGTATAG, embarked on their second international tour, celebrated their fifth debut anniversary, and secured the ownership of their group name and logo.
2023 has its ups and downs, *cue Wild Tonight*, but one thing’s for sure: it made our bond even stronger. 🫂Simula pa lang ito, A’TIN! Marami pa tayong tatahakin hanggang sa wakas! 💙#2023withSB19 #SB19 pic.twitter.com/oD7FIWkCDG
Keeping it simple, Ryan Agoncillo shared a series of family portraits to express his gratitude for the past year. “Thank you 2023,” he captioned the post.
Actresses Kim Chiu, Angelica Panganiban, and Bela Padilla are spending the holidays together in the United States. “Ending the year with these beautiful people,” Chiu wrote. “Thankful for the gift of friendship.”
It’s a sunny celebration for model-actress Sarah Lahbati as she shared snaps from her beach vacation in Bohol with her family. “[A] good year to have a good year,” she wrote.
– Rappler.com
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LOOK: Angelica Panganiban and Gregg Homan are married | Ysa Abad | 1/1/2024 14:31 | MARRIED. Angelica Panganiban and Gregg Homan tie the knot on December 31, 2023.
Angelica Panganiban's Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Angelica Panganiban welcomed 2024 as a married woman!
In an Instagram post on Monday, January 1, the actress shared that she tied the knot with non-showbiz partner Gregg Homan on New Year’s Eve.
“Patuloy na mananalig at maniniwala sa pag-ibig. Sa kabila ng lahat. Ang pagmamahal pa rin ang kakapitan,” she wrote, alongside photos from their intimate wedding ceremony.
(Will continue to have faith and believe in love. In spite of everything. Love will make us hold on.)
Fellow celebrities such as Vhong Navarro, Maris Racal, Marian Rivera, Luis Manzano, Zanjoe Marudo, and Yam Concepcion sent their best wishes to the couple in the comments section.
Panganiban and Homan first confirmed their relationship in January 2021. They announced their engagement in October 2022.
Panganiban gave birth to their daughter Amila in September 2022. – Rappler.com
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Holiday grief: How to welcome the new year while dealing with loss, according to a psychologist | Ysa Abad | 1/1/2024 16:05 | For many, the holidays are generally a joyous and festive season. The new year, in particular, puts everyone on a high, eager to start on a clean slate.
But while many are eager to set new promises for themselves and are still fueled with renewed hope, the same can’t be said for people who’ve experienced losing a loved one. In fact, the holidays can be an even more difficult time, as their feelings of loss are heightened.
Whether their loss is recent or not, they’re more vulnerable to feelings of dread, sadness, and isolation as they get reminded of what has been lost. Moreover, they might also not be keen on turning a new leaf and finding reasons to embrace the coming year.
Rappler interviewed Registered Psychologist Eizaleen Fusingan–Lappay from mental health organization MindNation on the subject of holiday grief, and how to deal with loss during this season.
“There is no one size fits all approach to grieving,” Fusingan-Lappay emphasized, adding that each individual has a unique approach to grieving as it is deeply personal.
As the holiday season is also a period of reflection, Fusingan-Lappay advised that people explore the ways that they can cope — both as an individual and as a community. For those who are grieving during the holiday season, she gave these questions to ponder on:
After mulling it over, she said that it would be helpful if they could discuss their thoughts about these with their chosen support system.
Some members of a family who has experienced loss might opt out of celebrating the holidays, as they prefer grieving in silence, while others might feel the need to continue doing their family traditions. Just because the latter chooses a more active approach to celebrating the holidays doesn’t mean that they are not feeling the loss of a loved one. It’s important to note that every individual not only grieves differently, but they also need different things to cope.
Fusingan–Lappay said that these differences will be handled better if relatives, friends, and community members can be more open about their healing process.
“This requires communication within the unit as to what will be the best way to gather and celebrate,” she said. As celebrating the holidays without a significant person can already be painful and tough to begin with, she noted that having direct conversations about the departed person should be handled tactfully, as it might be a sensitive matter for other individuals.
“An important consideration is that, more than just the festive mood, family members will take the time to talk about ways of coping,” she added. “It could be more on checking in with each other as to how they are dealing with the present situation.”
She also suggested establishing other ways of celebrating the holidays that could work best for the unit: “[This] is to explore means of connecting with the family members that are different from their usual celebration. This is not to forget the traditions and rituals from the past events, but to create something different.”
“It may be a way to see life [through] a new lens and to see that we can grow while holding the significant person’s legacy in our hearts,” she added.
Since holidays are also a time for multiple gatherings and events, she recommends contemplating over whether to attend them or not.
“In terms of attending celebrations, we have to align this with our needs. This requires self-awareness. Do I need to be with someone right now or do I need some time alone? There should be a balance between isolation and connection in the grieving process,” she said.
While it’s understandable that they might feel sad and not in the mood to celebrate, Fusingan-Lappay noted that it could also be unhealthy to decline all invites.
“Showing up at events can be a way to get connected and feel supported,” she explained.
However, she also recognized that attending too many gatherings can get overwhelming — especially for someone who’s been going through a lot: “It matters that we set our intentions with connections. Is it to escape from intense emotions or to feel the support from people around us? Another consideration before deciding to attend is the kind of people whom we will get connected with. Ask yourself, ‘What kind of person do I need at this time?’”
Healing isn’t a linear process. You might feel fine on some days, and feel hopeless the next. And you shouldn’t feel guilty for having good days, or thinking that you’ve started moving on.
“Remind oneself that it is okay to feel positive while grieving,” Fusingan-Lappay said. “It’s a healthy way to cope when we take the time to find joy. These emotions are necessary to feel. What matters is that we are aware of these emotions as it happens, so we can manage its impact.”
The most important note to remember, she said, is: “We should be the one in control of our emotions, not the emotions controlling us.”
While she highlighted that there’s no right or wrong way of grieving, she pointed out that some circumstances could be unhealthy if too many emotions aren’t handled properly.
“Acknowledge the impact of grieving in the present relationship so that people involved can collaborate on ways that can alleviate the issues,” she advised.
Although it’s important to give each individual the time and space to process their emotions, she also added that it’s imperative to set boundaries on when is the best time to reach out for discussion, especially when a person is isolating themselves for a long period of time. Additionally, these boundaries can also be helpful when sensitive topics are being brought up during gatherings and celebrations.
Fusingan-Lappay shared that dealing with these conversations depends on the people that they are with. Some communities and spaces can make an individual feel comfortable in directly expressing their limits, while other individuals would divert to a different topic instead.
In any case, it would be best for the people they are with to be conscious of this behavior to avoid providing unsolicited advice and disrespectful messages. She shared “3Ls” to take note of — Look, Listen, and Link.
“Take the time to look and observe how the situation affects them. Look at the changes in their behavior patterns and possible distress reactions. In terms of listening, focus on them,” she explained.
For these cases, some might need advice, while others will need comfort. Some might express themselves through crying, while others prefer just resting and being silent. Those who aren’t in the grieving person’s position should just follow the lead in the topics they’re comfortable talking about. Check how they are dealing with the situation, and help them explore ways that they can cope in a more healthy manner. For example, link them to other sources of support, such as encouraging them to consider professional help.
Navigating these tricky situations can get exhausting, and even triggering for others. For those who anticipate feeling overwhelmed by these circumstances, here’s what Fusingan-Lappay advises:
After all, she noted, grieving processes should help individuals cope better in tough situations.
“Instead of asking yourself why it happened, it’s also important to ask yourself how you are learning in this experience, and how you can move forward in this situation,” Fusingan-Lappay said. – Rappler.com
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Holiday grief: How to welcome the new year while dealing with loss, according to a psychologist | Ysa Abad | 1/1/2024 16:05 | For many, the holidays are generally a joyous and festive season. The new year, in particular, puts everyone on a high, eager to start on a clean slate.
But while many are eager to set new promises for themselves and are still fueled with renewed hope, the same can’t be said for people who’ve experienced losing a loved one. In fact, the holidays can be an even more difficult time, as their feelings of loss are heightened.
Whether their loss is recent or not, they’re more vulnerable to feelings of dread, sadness, and isolation as they get reminded of what has been lost. Moreover, they might also not be keen on turning a new leaf and finding reasons to embrace the coming year.
Rappler interviewed Registered Psychologist Eizaleen Fusingan–Lappay from mental health organization MindNation on the subject of holiday grief, and how to deal with loss during this season.
“There is no one size fits all approach to grieving,” Fusingan-Lappay emphasized, adding that each individual has a unique approach to grieving as it is deeply personal.
As the holiday season is also a period of reflection, Fusingan-Lappay advised that people explore the ways that they can cope — both as an individual and as a community. For those who are grieving during the holiday season, she gave these questions to ponder on:
After mulling it over, she said that it would be helpful if they could discuss their thoughts about these with their chosen support system.
Some members of a family who has experienced loss might opt out of celebrating the holidays, as they prefer grieving in silence, while others might feel the need to continue doing their family traditions. Just because the latter chooses a more active approach to celebrating the holidays doesn’t mean that they are not feeling the loss of a loved one. It’s important to note that every individual not only grieves differently, but they also need different things to cope.
Fusingan–Lappay said that these differences will be handled better if relatives, friends, and community members can be more open about their healing process.
“This requires communication within the unit as to what will be the best way to gather and celebrate,” she said. As celebrating the holidays without a significant person can already be painful and tough to begin with, she noted that having direct conversations about the departed person should be handled tactfully, as it might be a sensitive matter for other individuals.
“An important consideration is that, more than just the festive mood, family members will take the time to talk about ways of coping,” she added. “It could be more on checking in with each other as to how they are dealing with the present situation.”
She also suggested establishing other ways of celebrating the holidays that could work best for the unit: “[This] is to explore means of connecting with the family members that are different from their usual celebration. This is not to forget the traditions and rituals from the past events, but to create something different.”
“It may be a way to see life [through] a new lens and to see that we can grow while holding the significant person’s legacy in our hearts,” she added.
Since holidays are also a time for multiple gatherings and events, she recommends contemplating over whether to attend them or not.
“In terms of attending celebrations, we have to align this with our needs. This requires self-awareness. Do I need to be with someone right now or do I need some time alone? There should be a balance between isolation and connection in the grieving process,” she said.
While it’s understandable that they might feel sad and not in the mood to celebrate, Fusingan-Lappay noted that it could also be unhealthy to decline all invites.
“Showing up at events can be a way to get connected and feel supported,” she explained.
However, she also recognized that attending too many gatherings can get overwhelming — especially for someone who’s been going through a lot: “It matters that we set our intentions with connections. Is it to escape from intense emotions or to feel the support from people around us? Another consideration before deciding to attend is the kind of people whom we will get connected with. Ask yourself, ‘What kind of person do I need at this time?’”
Healing isn’t a linear process. You might feel fine on some days, and feel hopeless the next. And you shouldn’t feel guilty for having good days, or thinking that you’ve started moving on.
“Remind oneself that it is okay to feel positive while grieving,” Fusingan-Lappay said. “It’s a healthy way to cope when we take the time to find joy. These emotions are necessary to feel. What matters is that we are aware of these emotions as it happens, so we can manage its impact.”
The most important note to remember, she said, is: “We should be the one in control of our emotions, not the emotions controlling us.”
While she highlighted that there’s no right or wrong way of grieving, she pointed out that some circumstances could be unhealthy if too many emotions aren’t handled properly.
“Acknowledge the impact of grieving in the present relationship so that people involved can collaborate on ways that can alleviate the issues,” she advised.
Although it’s important to give each individual the time and space to process their emotions, she also added that it’s imperative to set boundaries on when is the best time to reach out for discussion, especially when a person is isolating themselves for a long period of time. Additionally, these boundaries can also be helpful when sensitive topics are being brought up during gatherings and celebrations.
Fusingan-Lappay shared that dealing with these conversations depends on the people that they are with. Some communities and spaces can make an individual feel comfortable in directly expressing their limits, while other individuals would divert to a different topic instead.
In any case, it would be best for the people they are with to be conscious of this behavior to avoid providing unsolicited advice and disrespectful messages. She shared “3Ls” to take note of — Look, Listen, and Link.
“Take the time to look and observe how the situation affects them. Look at the changes in their behavior patterns and possible distress reactions. In terms of listening, focus on them,” she explained.
For these cases, some might need advice, while others will need comfort. Some might express themselves through crying, while others prefer just resting and being silent. Those who aren’t in the grieving person’s position should just follow the lead in the topics they’re comfortable talking about. Check how they are dealing with the situation, and help them explore ways that they can cope in a more healthy manner. For example, link them to other sources of support, such as encouraging them to consider professional help.
Navigating these tricky situations can get exhausting, and even triggering for others. For those who anticipate feeling overwhelmed by these circumstances, here’s what Fusingan-Lappay advises:
After all, she noted, grieving processes should help individuals cope better in tough situations.
“Instead of asking yourself why it happened, it’s also important to ask yourself how you are learning in this experience, and how you can move forward in this situation,” Fusingan-Lappay said. – Rappler.com
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How does this make you feel? | Rappler | https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/health-and-wellness/holiday-grief-welcome-new-year-dealing-loss-psychologist-advice/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3xxERWFWb7G1CrkYyozBovB1C_t0g5nqPu11Y7qJ0WKDWd8QGody2Zx6Q_aem_BI9X2n5aTz0CHHhTQfA0WA |
LOOK: Angelica Panganiban and Gregg Homan are married | Ysa Abad | 1/1/2024 14:31 | MARRIED. Angelica Panganiban and Gregg Homan tie the knot on December 31, 2023.
Angelica Panganiban's Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Angelica Panganiban welcomed 2024 as a married woman!
In an Instagram post on Monday, January 1, the actress shared that she tied the knot with non-showbiz partner Gregg Homan on New Year’s Eve.
“Patuloy na mananalig at maniniwala sa pag-ibig. Sa kabila ng lahat. Ang pagmamahal pa rin ang kakapitan,” she wrote, alongside photos from their intimate wedding ceremony.
(Will continue to have faith and believe in love. In spite of everything. Love will make us hold on.)
Fellow celebrities such as Vhong Navarro, Maris Racal, Marian Rivera, Luis Manzano, Zanjoe Marudo, and Yam Concepcion sent their best wishes to the couple in the comments section.
Panganiban and Homan first confirmed their relationship in January 2021. They announced their engagement in October 2022.
Panganiban gave birth to their daughter Amila in September 2022. – Rappler.com
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Ready for 2024! Here’s how PH celebs welcomed the New Year | Ysa Abad | 1/1/2024 12:01 | MANILA, Philippines – And with that, 2023 came to an end. By now, you’ve pretty much seen year-ender posts on social media, including ones from your favorite celebrities. After all, it won’t be a New Year celebration without the stream of these essays and family portraits.
From posting their favorite memories of 2023, sharing snaps from their holiday trips, to writing their reflections and resolutions for the coming year, celebrities found creative ways to ring in 2024.
Take a look at their holiday celebrations from all over the world here:
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach is spending the holidays in Maldives with husband Jeremy Jauncey. To mark their first New Year celebration as a married couple, the beauty queen shared that they opted to do a wellness retreat.
“Ending the year with a focus on being, resetting, and spending time to reflect and make new plans for next year. So excited for 2024,” she wrote.
Iza Calzado opened up about how her outlook in life changed after becoming a mother. The actress welcomed her first child Deia Amihan on January 26, 2023.
“Most grateful for my child, Deia Amihan, for making me realize that my body was made not merely for aesthetic reasons but to fulfill a purpose so big, no weighing scale or tape measure can begin to comprehend. This is my body’s true beauty and power,” she wrote.
Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee shared behind-the-scenes videos from her acting and modeling activities for the year, including her preparations for the Miss Universe pageant.
The beauty queen said that 2023 will be “one of the hardest years to move on from.”
“This one will be hard to top and it brings me to tears with how far this journey has taken me,” she said.
Sharing a video compilation of snaps from 2023, actress-socialite Heart Evangelista expressed her excitement for the coming year. “A new beginning for all of us. Let’s do this, 2024,” she wrote.
Celebrity couple Jessy Mendiola and Luis Manzano marked their second New Year celebration as a family of three. They welcomed their first child, Isabella Rose, in late December 2022, but shared this with the public only in early January 2023.
“The highlight of our year is this little one right here,” the actress wrote, alongside videos of their daughter throughout 2023.
P-pop powerhouse SB19 shared that while “2023 has its ups and downs,” it made their bond with their fans, A’TIN, “even stronger.” In 2023, the quintet released their second EP PAGTATAG, embarked on their second international tour, celebrated their fifth debut anniversary, and secured the ownership of their group name and logo.
2023 has its ups and downs, *cue Wild Tonight*, but one thing’s for sure: it made our bond even stronger. 🫂Simula pa lang ito, A’TIN! Marami pa tayong tatahakin hanggang sa wakas! 💙#2023withSB19 #SB19 pic.twitter.com/oD7FIWkCDG
Keeping it simple, Ryan Agoncillo shared a series of family portraits to express his gratitude for the past year. “Thank you 2023,” he captioned the post.
Actresses Kim Chiu, Angelica Panganiban, and Bela Padilla are spending the holidays together in the United States. “Ending the year with these beautiful people,” Chiu wrote. “Thankful for the gift of friendship.”
It’s a sunny celebration for model-actress Sarah Lahbati as she shared snaps from her beach vacation in Bohol with her family. “[A] good year to have a good year,” she wrote.
– Rappler.com
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Philippines, US hold 2nd joint maritime patrol in West Philippine Sea | Michelle Abad | 3/1/2024 18:27 | JOINT EXERCISES. Philippine vessels participate in a joint maritime exercise with the United States in the vicinity of North West of Cabra, Lubang, Occidental Mindoro, on January 3, 2024.
AFP-WESCOM
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and United States have commenced the second iteration of a joint maritime cooperative activity in the West Philippine Sea, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced on Wednesday, January 3.
From January 3 to 4, the AFP and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) will conduct passing exercises, communication checks, cross-deck exercises, joint patrols, Officer of the Watch maneuvers, and fixed-wing flight operations.
For the bilateral event, the Philippines sent four Philippine Navy vessels, a multi-role helicopter, and an anti-submarine warfare-capable helicopter.
Meanwhile, the USINDOPACOM’s participating vehicles included four US Navy vessels from the Carrier Strike Group 1, an aircraft carrier, a cruiser, two destroyers, and a multiple-combat aircraft.
The AFP in its Wednesday statement said the assets of both countries performed “advanced” maritime communication exercises on the first day. The vessels performed division tactics, which are exercises that “develop their confidence in maneuvering near other vessels.”
It added that the conduct of the exercises required “complete coordination” between Philippine and US assets for both sides’ enhanced operational capabilities and interoperability.
“The [second] maritime cooperative activity marks a significant leap in our alliance and interoperability with the United States. It also demonstrates our progress in defense capabilities and development as a world-class armed force, as we carry out our mandate to protect the people and the state,” said AFP Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr.
Brawner added that the Philippines’ alliance with the United States was “stronger than ever.”
“We are advancing a rules-based international order and a free and open Indo-Pacific region in the face of regional challenges,” he said.
The AFP and USINDOPACOM first performed joint patrols in November 2023, during a time of heightened tensions between Manila and Beijing over China’s harassment in the West Philippine Sea.
The latest patrols would likely irk China amid rising tensions in the South China Sea. In end-2023, Beijing said it would not turn a blind eye to repeated “provocations and harassment” by the Philippines. The AFP, meanwhile, said it was not provoking conflict.
Chinese state media has also accused Manila of relying on US support to continually antagonize China.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers have expressed concern over continued tensions in the South China Sea, citing a possible threat to regional peace. – Michelle Abad, with reports from Reuters/Rappler.com
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[OPINION] Marcos’ disengagement from Duterte sets stage for 2025 showdown | Glenda Gloria | 3/1/2024 19:00 | The previous year could be summed up, from the perspective of a political junkie, as the year President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. disengaged from the controversial policies of his predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte. Whether by accident or design, the disengagement led to the unravelling of the UniTeam alliance. It also sets the stage for a dramatic clash between Marcos and Duterte forces in the 2025 mid-year elections.
President Marcos Jr. anchored his election on a nostalgic yearning for a make-believe land of peace and shared prosperity, and the perception of being Duterte’s anointed one. His critics painted him as a dictator’s spoiled son bent on rehabilitating his father’s disgraced image while continuing Duterte’s controversial policies. A year and six months after his election, President Marcos Jr. has shown that he is, other than his father’s son, not a polished Duterte clone.
The policy reversals shifted to high gear in 2023.
President Marcos Jr. talked tough on China’s incursions and rekindled strained relations with the United States. He has refused to pursue the drug war using the Duterte template. His shift from “no” to “maybe” on the issue of cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC), currently investigating Duterte for crimes against humanity, confounded and enraged supporters of the former president. And to rub more salt on the wounded political ties, Marcos Jr. announced the likely resumption of the stalled peace talks with remnants of the communist movement.
Disengagement may be too polite a term to describe the methodical knee-capping by attrition of the former president, carried out by the most unlikely coalition allies in the House.
Administration allies moved to weaken Duterte’s political strength by gradually raiding the ranks of the once dominant party, PDP-Laban, an effortless undertaking in reality. A key supporter of Vice President Sara Duterte, former president and Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was a major casualty of the ensuing pogrom.
But last year’s highlight reel was the dramatic and well-orchestrated series of revelations, timed with deliberations on the national budget, that painted the Vice President as a secret fund-obsessed brat with little noteworthy credentials other than a quick temper and a solid punch.
Duterte the father, as expected, responded by ranting on air but on a smaller megaphone, the Sonshine Media Network International. The network, however, was yanked off the air for 30 days by the National Telecommunications Commission, on the prodding of the House, a few days before Christmas. It could very well lose its franchise. To spread the word among his true believers, by now a diminished force in the eyes of administration allies, the former president now relies on a downsized network of equally cantankerous online supporters and a few media personalities.
Strategically, the political disembowelment is aimed at consolidating the administration’s grip on Congress in 2025 and diffusing support for the Vice President in the 2028 presidential elections.
The emasculation of Duterte, father and daughter, can be summed up simply: after the restoration, the disruption. The knee-capping was methodical and ruthless, trademark Marcos.
It would be interesting to see the political realignments this year, as parties and candidates gear up for the 2025 mid-term elections. Senatorial candidates, in particular, would have to make a potentially career-altering choice: Team BBM or Team DDS?
The smart money, for now, is with Team BBM. There are advantages to being a candidate of the siting president, namely resources, access to funders, and a formidable machinery. With the exception of the Arroyo regime, the mid-term elections have always been dominated by administration candidates.
The administration, however, is not without some weak spots. The economy is foremost. It is easier to stage a charm offensive overseas or berate China than deal with a public disaffected by rising prices, or the perception of declining quality of life. The biggest concern for any incumbent is for disaffection to translate to protest votes, resulting in a Senate dominated by the opposition.
Still, it would be foolhardy for Duterte’s allies to prematurely call the mid-terms in their favor. For one, the economy might weather the anticipated effects of El Niño through government intervention. For the administration, the bare minimum is to keep inflation within manageable levels and, if needed, dispense financial aid to vulnerable sectors. The people need to feel their economic situation unchanged, if not improving.
For now, there is sufficient residual goodwill to assure Duterte of victory should he make good his threat to run for senator. But his intention to lead an “opposition” ticket could be problematic. When Duterte said he was toying with the idea of running for a national position, it was in response to the then-recent House decision to deny his daughter confidential funds, and rumors of impeachment. Essentially he would be running to settle a score. And that may not swing voters his way.
Besides, voters have been historically lukewarm to opposition candidates during mid-term elections. The lessons of the “Otso Deretso” senatorial ticket should be instructive, even for Duterte.
This will be an exciting year for politics and political operators. Can we expect knife fights turning into all-out war or will there be a truce for the sake of, you know, unity? And can the holdouts from former vice president Leni Robredo’s failed presidential bid summon the intestinal fortitude, and the resources, to regroup and field their own slate?
Hold on to your hats. It’s going to be wild. – Rappler.com
Joey Salgado is a former journalist, and a government and political communications practitioner. He served as spokesperson for former Vice President Jejomar Binay. This was first published on ourbrew.ph.
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Agree with writer Joey Salgado: 2024 will be an exciting year in Philippine politics. It will be the preparatory year immediately preceding the mid-term election year of 2025. More likely, the political war will increase in intensity and heat while a truce is less likely as disunity has reached its point of no return.
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DA provides over P11 million for ASF-affected hog growers in Aklan | Acor Arceo | 3/1/2024 17:30 | FINANCIAL AID. Hog growers in Aklan receive cash assistance from the Department of Agriculture on December 28, 2023.
Jed Nykolle Harme/Rappler
AKLAN, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) recently disbursed P11.18 million in financial assistance from quick response funds to 411 Aklanon backyard raisers whose hogs were culled due to African swine fever (ASF).
Authorities have distributed P5,000 for each ASF-culled pig, with provisions to compensate up to 20 heads or up to P100,000 per household.
The financial assistance was for a total of 2,236 pigs from 10 municipalities: Tangalan, New Washington, Numancia, Malinao, Nabas, Malay, Lezo, Kalibo, Ibajay, and Balete.
In an interview with Rappler, Mark Reuben Trance, a hog farmer from Tangalan, said his entire herd of 47 swine succumbed to ASF.
When asked about his plans upon receiving the subsidy, he said he would focus on other business ventures and has no immediate plans of reinvesting in hog raising.
“Mahirap po kasi mag-risk talaga, lalo na’t hindi pa tapos ang ASF dito. ‘Yung kasama kong nag-aalaga rin, nagsimula ulit ng tatlong biik pero namatay din dahil sa virus. Focus po muna ako sa ibang business para makabawi,” he said.
(It’s really difficult to take risks again, especially since the ASF outbreak is not yet over in Aklan. My fellow hog raiser, who began raising three piglets, experienced losses again because of the virus. I will focus on other businesses first to recover.)
Dr. Maria Cyrosa Leen Mabel Siñel, head of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian, said in an interview with Rappler that out of their inventory of around 105,000 heads of swine in the first quarter of 2023, only 20% or 21,000 heads remain in Aklan. The province has lost 80%, or 84,000 heads, due to ASF.
“Fifteen out of 17 municipalities in Aklan are still under red zones. The only areas that are not affected are the end-to-end municipalities, Buruanga and Libacao,” she said.
Siñel also said the culling of pigs is implemented in each infected municipality to eliminate the virus and prevent further transmission. Aklan culled a total of 4,530 pigs in 2023.
“We explained to the growers the importance of culling. Because the more you keep it, the more it spreads,” she pointed out.
Meanwhile, to meet consumer demand for pork, Aklan sought assistance from Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, and Romblon to help supply the needs of the province.
To prevent ASF from spreading further, authorities are teaching the remaining hog raisers in unaffected areas to tighten biosecurity measures.
“Scientifically, it will take us two to three years before we recover from ASF. That’s the time frame. The virus still remains in every corner of pigpens, even after culling the swine,” Siñel said.
Aklan is also pushing for artificial insemination (AI) to promote semen upgraded to F1 boar, preferably from Negros, to avoid inbreeding.
Christopher Inson, who is in charge of Aklan State University’s Swine Multiplier Project, said they are implementing stringent measures against ASF to continuously provide semen for AI reserves in Aklan and Capiz.
“Against ASF, we ensure strict biosecurity protocols by practicing daily disinfection. At every gate, we have installed a foot bath. When entering the farm, we implement showers in or out. Vehicles are not allowed in the production areas. Even bringing pork or pork products is strictly prohibited,” Inson explained.
They also comply with submission of blood samples to the Bureau of Animal Industry for disease surveillance and monitoring.
A state of calamity was declared in Aklan on May 19, 2023, a month after it recorded its first two ASF cases in Barangay Arcangel in Balete.
Tthe province currently maintains strict border controls for pork in Altavas, Buruanga, Nabas, Caticlan Airport, and Kalibo International Airport. – Rappler.com
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What to expect from Sinulog sa Dakbayan and Sinulog sa Lalawigan 2024 | Michelle Abad | 3/1/2024 17:46 | SINULOG SA KABATAAN. Dancers from various contingents perform during the Sinulog sa Kabataan 2023 at the Cebu City Sports Center on January 8, 2023.
Jacqueline Hernandez/Rappler
CEBU, Philippines – Thousands of spectators are expected to gather at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC), formerly known as Abellana Sports Complex, to witness the Sinulog sa Dakbayan (formerly Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan) and Sinulog sa Lalawigan (formerly Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan) performances on January 13 and 14, respectively.
In Cebuano, lalawigan means province, while dakbayan translates to city.
The two separate events, scheduled one day after another, serve as preview of what to expect during the country’s grandest festival, the Sinulog, in honor of the Holy Child Señor Santo Niño.
Dubbed this year as “Sinulog sa Sugbo Philippines 2024,” the Sinulog Grand Parade and Ritual Showdown will be held at the South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu City on January 21.
In previous years, the winners and participants of the Sinulog sa Dakbayan and Sinulog sa Lalawigan also competed in the Sinulog Ritual Showdown and Grand Parade.
However, because of the new venue for the Sinulog Grand Parade and Ritual Showdown – to be held at the SRP for the second time – Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said she was leaving the decision to each mayors if they would participate or not.
The Sinulog sa Lalawigan features Sinulog performances by youth from Cebu province’s municipalities and cities, as well as the highly urbanized cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.
Carcar City, which emerged victorious in the 2023 One Cebu Island Sinulog sa Kabataan, is also expected to defend its title. Garcia is set to join Minglanilla for a closing act.
The Sinulog sa Dakbayan, on the other hand, showcases performances from barangays and elementary schools in Cebu City, the organizer of the Sinulog.
The Sinulog sa Dakbayan and Sinulog sa Lalawigan will remain at the CCSC despite the Sinulog Grand Parade and Ritual Showdown taking place at the SRP, just like in 2023.
Unlike last year, however, there are ongoing civil works at the CCSC and Osmeña Boulevard, where the parade for the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan and Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan will pass.
Despite concerns about the readiness of the CCSC – currently undergoing renovation for the Cebu City government’s hosting of the Palarong Pambansa in July 2024 – and the suitability of Osmeña Boulevard to host the Sinulog sa Kabataan parades, both the city government and the province have agreed to hold the events at the CCSC.
The Cebu province also promised help in the repair of the grandstand at the CCSC.
Civil works for Package 1 of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit are underway along Osmeña Boulevard, but local officials have assured that measures are in place to ensure the safety of participants and the public during the Sinulog sa Kabataan parade.
In a press conference on Tuesday, January 2, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama reiterated the CCSC as the final venue of the Sinulog sa Kabataan events and designated Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia to spearhead the events on behalf of the city government.
However, the Sinulog Grand Parade and Ritual Showdown will remain at the SRP.
Garcia earlier said the provincial government would donate the usual P20 million to the Sinulog Foundation Inc. if the Sinulog Grand Festival would be held again at the CCSC.
But Rama is bent on holding the country’s grandest festival at the SRP.
Before finalizing the January 13-14 schedule, there were calls to postpone the Sinulog sa Lalawigan to a later date, January 19, to give the contingents ample time to prepare.
However, Rama said conflicts in schedule would not make it possible, adding that the proposed date is too close to the Sinulog Grand Parade and Ritual Showdown happening on January 21.
As of Tuesday, at least 18 local government units have expressed interest in joining the Sinulog sa Lalawigan
Tribu Lumad Basakanon and Minglanilla will be joining as guest performers and would be the opening and closing acts, respectively.
The other 16 confirmed contingents for the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan are Argao, Tudela, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Poro, Barili, Naga City, Tuburan, Talisay City, Samboan, Madridejos, Carcar City, Moalboal, Toledo City, Consolacion, and Carmen.
Intense competition is expected as the first prize for the Sinulog sa Lalawigan winner is set at P3 million, a big jump from last year’s prize of P500,000.
The second placer will receive P2 million, the third placer will get P1.5 million, and the fourth and fifth placers will receive P1 million and P750,000, respectively.
The consolation prize is P500,000.
The Cebu City Government has not yet released the list of confirmed contingents for both the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan and the Sinulog Grand Parade and Ritual Showdown.
Meanwhile, the Sinulog Foundation Inc. released on Tuesday, January 9, the list of contingents for the Sinulog sa Dakbayan.
Starting 2 pm on January 13, a total of 12 contingents will offer their dances for the Señor Sto. Niño:
– Rappler.com
Wenilyn Sabalo is an Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow for 2023-2024.
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[Uncle Bob] Visiting Manila? How to spend your Lunar New Year 2024 in the PH capital | Marguerite de Leon | 3/1/2024 17:10 | RED. Scenes of the celebration of the Chinese New Year at Binondo Manila.
Alecs Ongcal/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia are my three favorite countries after my own.
Two weeks ago, I was in a busy, festive mall in Manila and I thought, why not create a guide to an easy lunar new year holiday in Manila for friends in these countries, with a heavy emphasis on food, shopping, and culture? Food is a priority of course lah.
I brought some Singaporeans to Cebu years ago and we had a blast.
The Manila agenda below should be good for a four-night stay including a weekend.
I saw that the Conrad Hotel near Manila Bay is plugged directly into the Mall of Asia (MOA) and the world’s largest IKEA store. So I recommend the Conrad.
Arrange for the hotel to have their car pick you up at the airport upon arrival.
At IKEA, the restaurant is crazy huge. You can have the usual Swedish meatballs as well as Filipino dishes like sisig.
It’s nice to walk around the world’s largest IKEA store because of its wide corridors and friendly staff. Compare prices with those in your country.
It has a direct link to MOA, one of the largest malls in Asia, where you have all the major international brands like Nike, Uniqlo, Under Armour, Crocs, Muji, etc. but also a lot of local Filipino clothing, leather goods, and other shops.
Bench is the local fast-fashion brand. It’s like Uniqlo. I like their socks, handkerchiefs, underwear, and casual clothing. There’s something for everyone at Bench – short for the founder’s name Ben Chan.
Philippine souvenirs are sold in MOA at a shop called Kultura. You don’t have to go anywhere else.
Manila has one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. Walk from the Conrad or MOA at 4 pm to the seaside. The sun sets early in Manila, around 5:30 pm, so you have to be at the seaside promenade during the magic hour before sunset.
Very Instagrammable. You will be surrounded by happy Filipino families. There are a lot of food and beverage options along the shore. Very child-friendly ambience.
Yes, the favorite topic of Singaporeans, Malaysians, and Indonesians. MOA has a staggering array of food options. They have a large food hall as well as individual restaurants.
Filipino cuisine is a blend of Spanish, Chinese, American, Malay/Indo, and regional Filipino cooking.
Korean food is huge in Manila because of the large Korean community (students, businessmen etc).
My food suggestions in the MOA area:
AbeCafe RemediosDin Tai Fung (we call it DTF) Mary Grace – Great breads and desserts, try ensaymada and cheese rolls with coffee Locavore in Conrad Halal – Of course I won’t forget my Muslim friends
There’s one point I should point out for Malaysians, the weird Filipino habit of bringing dogs to the mall. Tiny ones are pushed in prams like babies but there are big ones too, fully leashed but still annoying to me.
Dampa (take a hotel car) – Dampa is a fresh seafood market near Conrad where you pick what you want to eat and tell the staff how you want it cooked. They will give you options and suggestions. You will dine in a clean aircon restaurant next to the market. But make sure they tell you what the cooking charges are up front before closing the deal. Like Newton Hawker Centre lah, you might get overcharged.
For pork eaters, go to Rico’s lechon in MOA. Whole roast pig with crispy skin and tender meat sliced for you. It’s the national dish.
Wet wipesTissue paper in packetsPhilippine pesos in 50, 100, and 200 bills
Men should experience a haircut with a mustache-beard trim at Bruno’s Barbers in MOA. Costs P700 (SGD 17), and it’s of course cheaper for a haircut alone. Show the barber a picture of yourself with the haircut you want him to create. Leave a P100 (SGD 2.40, $1.80) tip. This tip is okay for most occasions except luxury dining.
Manila has a 12% Value Added Tax, like GST, and service charges at restaurants. Be kind and tip well if service is good, as it usually is.
The Manila Hotel – Book the buffet lunch on a weekday. I did a lot of feasting here under the guise of business meetings. Filipino, Italian, Japanese, and Arabic options are what I recall. After lunch, sit in the massive lobby and just watch people. It is 111 years old and dwarfs the Raffles Hotel.
Binondo – Ask your hotel to book you a car and guided tour of Binondo, the world’s oldest Chinatown. You will have a blast.
Sofitel buffet dinner – The Spiral dinner buffet is regarded by many as the best in Manila. Close to Conrad. A cool breeze from Manila Bay will keep you comfortable as you dine.
Grab works well in Manila. If you are adventurous, try motorcycle taxis like Joyride or Angkas (founded by a Singaporean woman married to a Pinoy). They supply helmets.
Finally, leave for the airport four hours before your flight just in case there’s heavy traffic, rain, or long queues in immigration, etc. You will probably arrive early but T3 is great, T2 is not good due to few F&B options, and T1 is the oldest and underwent a makeover in recent years.
Buy the local Don Papa rum at Duty Free. It’s great with Coke on the rocks (Cuba Libre)
I hope you enjoy my wonderful hometown. – Rappler.com
Roberto Coloma, better known as Bobby, retired in 2022 after 40 years as a foreign correspondent. He started his career as editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian, the student newspaper of the University of the Philippines.
#ShareAsia highlights the best and most sought-after experiences in the Asia-Pacific region. It’s a content and resource hub for tourists and locals alike seeking new, exciting experiences in the region.
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[Vantage Point] Economic czar | Mia Gonzalez | 3/1/2024 13:00 | Alyssa Arizabal
Once in a while – and it’s literally far and few between – a few good men willingly join the government to make a positive difference.
I can only name two – Jaime Bautista and lately Frederick Go. Both men come from the private sector which guarantee them comfortable lives even after retirement.
What drives Bautista and Go to sacrifice their otherwise peaceful and comfortable lives to endure scorn and contempt from envious career-clinging government people? Both know that they are entering a snake pit, but the motivation to change what they see as fundamentally flawed system overrides any risks and hardship they will face.
We all know the story of Bautista ever since he took the helm of the Department of Transportation (DOTr). On how some people harboring a corrupt system try as they might to ease him out of office. His clean record has been his armor and to this day, has been impenetrable! Go is built of the same mold and we can expect the same brand of service.
In a December 15 executive order, President Ferdinand (Bongbong) Marcos Jr. announced the creation of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA), headed by its first-ever secretary, 54-year-old Frederick Go, president and chief executive officer of Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC).
By accepting the position, Go divested all of his substantial business shareholdings to eliminate potential conflicts of interest that would compromise his official decision making. For him, the sacrifice was huge, but necessary, if he were to truly serve the public with utmost responsibility, integrity, efficiency, and loyalty.
While Go’s appointment was well-received by foreign and local business groups, the title certainly looks intimidating enough to cause apprehension among some the country’s economic managers. Despite their public pronouncements welcoming Go’s appointment, not all seem sincere.
One of PBBM’s economic managers sees Go as lacking in the fundamentals of economic management and therefore not qualified for the position. Unfortunately for said secretary, news travels fast. Before he knew it, his antipathy reached the ears of many people. This is why I find it utterly hypocritical of him to be effusive in his praise for PBBM’s appointment of Go in various media pronouncements.
The chief mandate of OSAPIEA includes supervising and monitoring the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Finance, Department of Budget and Management, and Department of Trade and Industry, among other agencies.
The heads of these four agencies, the chief of the Presidential Management Staff, and the secretaries of nine other departments make up the Economic Development Group, which is in charge of the major economic policies of the government. This cluster used to be headed by the finance secretary.
One of the concerns raise by some sectors against Go’s appointment is duplicity. The functions of the newly created office, they believe, are already being handled by the country’s economic managers and that there is no need to create an office to do the job.
This was however shot down by Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president George Barcelon, who sees Go’s office more as an additional channel to relay the issues that the business sector wants to be addressed.
“I have heard some concerns that it might be an added redundancy. But from what I see, there are really times when the schedule of the president is full because of his many responsibilities. So, it’s an added channel of communication for us,” Barcelon was quoted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer as saying.
Having someone who has the ears of the president is not unique to the Philippines. The economic success of Indonesia can be largely credited to its Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs (Kementerian Koordinator Bidang Kemaritiman dan Investasi), headed by Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. The office, created by Indonesian President Joko Widodo on October 23, 2019, is tasked to lead the planning, coordinating, as well as synchronizing of policies in maritime affairs and investments.
In four years since its inception, the office has been credited with the rapid economic rise of Indonesia. Recently, Pandjaitan has cemented Indonesia’s cooperation with Korea in the field of electronic vehicles and a project to build a new capital of the Southeast Asian country, leveraging Korea’s technological expertise and Indonesia’s abundant resources.
Pandjaitan also met with US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen in August 2023 to discuss Indonesia’s Just Energy Transition Partnership work on the Comprehensive Investment and Policy Plan. The CIPP will coordinate with partners in allocating the $20 billion in JETP financing towards specific projects and priorities that will support Indonesia’s achievement of the ambitious climate targets that its government has set in the November 2022 JETP Joint Statement.
This is the kind of swift action the Philippines needs to spur much-needed economic activities which government planners, tasked with reading economic data, will be hard put at achieving. Robert Young of the export-oriented Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines also said in the Inquirer interview that they support Go’s appointment, primarily due to his private sector credentials. “My take is that all these departments that have been placed under his supervision, nothing is happening to the issues that are being raised to them. So, there is clamor to put a person who will be in charge of them all.”
Ebb Hinchliffe, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines also in a message to the Inquirer said: “In our interactions with Secretary Go, we were encouraged by his desire to remove roadblocks to investment and doing business. We’re hopeful that this will translate into his new role and in the policies that the government’s economic cluster will pursue.”
I first met Go as a 19-year-old newly minted BS Management Engineering graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University. He was endorsed to me by his uncle, the late Robinson’s patriarch, John Gokongwei Jr. (Mr. John), for training in the business section of the Manila Times which I then headed as editor.
A year prior, Mr. John and I were conceptualizing how he would run Manila Times which he had just bought from the Roces family. At the time, I was the assistant business editor of the Philippine Star. Mr. John was a good friend and my business mentor, but I turned down his offer for me to be the publisher and editorial board chair of the Manila Times. I felt that I was too young and inexperienced to handle such a critical position. I gave him some names: the late Johnny Perez and the late Frederick “Ricky” Agcaoili, who became the Times publisher and editor-in-chief, respectively. The two then proceeded to fill in the editorial staff, with Mr. John’s daughter Robina Pe overseeing the Times’ editorial makeup. I settled for the position of business editor, and Mr. John allotted some company shares to me.
The thing I admire most about the Gokongwei Family is how each member had to learn the ropes, starting at the lowest possible job, before being considered for key positions in one of the companies they own.
Deck proved more than up to the task. I assigned him to cover the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the stock market beat where he honed his business writing and news gathering skills to near perfection. In the beat, he befriended government functionaries and business leaders, all the while concealing his family background. Diligent in his assigned task, he worked his butt off, never complaining and always keeping his two feet on the ground.
I left the Times for a more lucrative offer from a foreign business publication, but never lost touch with Mr. John whom I communicated with on a weekly basis. Deck was transferred to a new department where he also excelled.
I wasn’t surprised when Mr. John finally assigned Deck to take care of RLC as its president and CEO. In the past three decades, Deck has parlayed RLC into a P223-billion property conglomerate with 53 malls, 28 office buildings and 24 hotels. He was also instrumental in the group’s expansion move to the casino business, infrastructure (Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corporation), and banking.
The Gokongweis have never used their prominence or businesses to acquire political influence in furthering their own interests. When Mr. John built the Gokongwei family business in Cebu, he toiled hard and succeeded on his own entrepreneurial and leadership savvy, not on family relations or political influence. He guided each member of his family who now works for a family corporation to use the same work ethic.
Deck Go’s position as the President’s special adviser is not meant to substitute for the expertise of department heads, all of whom were appointed for their competence. President Marcos Jr. only sought to create the position so that he can have more help in coordinating his key policies and economic priorities.
Joining the government is definitely a huge sacrifice for Go. I could only surmise that the decision is spurred by the business sector’s lament that nothing is getting done to fast-track economic progress in the country. Having led a multibillion-peso company, Go is certainly a plus for the Marcos government. He will bring his vast experience in business to spur economic development. The realms of business and economics after all are intricately connected, with both playing vital roles in shaping the global landscape. While economists analyze and interpret economic phenomena, businessmen actively engage in the practical application of economic principles. Compared to economists who often operate at a more theoretical level, businessmen – with their hands-on approach to economic activities – are better-positioned to drive innovation, create value, and spur economic growth.
Businessmen are at the forefront of innovation and agility, constantly seeking new ways to meet market demands, and stay ahead of the competition. Unlike economists who may rely or focus more on analyzing historical data and formulating theories, businessmen operate in the dynamic and ever-changing business environment. Their ability to identify opportunities, take risks, and innovate in response to market needs allows them to contribute directly to economic progress.
Entrepreneurs possess a unique vision that goes beyond theoretical economic models. While economists may study and predict economic trends, businessmen have a tangible impact on the economy by bringing their visions to life. Successful businessmen often possess a deep understanding of consumer behavior, market dynamics, and emerging trends, enabling them to create products and services that resonate with the public.
Businessmen are instrumental in job creation and wealth generation, which are essential components of a thriving economy. Through the establishment and expansion of businesses, entrepreneurs contribute to employment opportunities, thereby reducing unemployment rates and fostering economic stability. Additionally, successful businesses generate wealth, not only for the entrepreneurs themselves, but also for their employees and stakeholders, thus creating a positive ripple effect throughout society. – Rappler.com
Val A. Villanueva is a veteran business journalist. He was a former business editor of the Philippine Star and the Gokongwei-owned Manila Times. For comments, suggestions email him at [email protected].
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This a very good article that is greatly in favor of the new economic czar Frederick Go. Let us hope that this statement is true and will continue to be true: “The Gokongweis have never used their prominence or businesses to acquire political influence in furthering their own interests.” Concerned, open-minded, and critical-minded Filipinos should be watchful for the possible resurgence of “Marcos Kleptocracy” but this time under version 2.0. Yet, this type of Filipino will always need the help of investigative journalists and proven independent and resilient media channels like Rappler.
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FACT CHECK: PH, US navy did not ‘destroy’ 350 illegal Chinese vessels | jsitchon0312 | 3/1/2024 16:44 | Claim: A video claims that joint maritime military forces from the United States and the Philippines destroyed 350 illegal Chinese vessels attempting a voyage to Scarborough Shoal.
Why we fact-checked this: This claim was made in a Youtube video posted on December 19 with the title, “Brutal attack! 350 illegal China vessels destroy by US-Philippines navy near Scarborough shoal.”
The video is owned by YouTube-verified channel RE FILES and has 199,062 views, 2,800 likes, and 190 comments as of writing.
The narrator in the video says that tensions in the South China Sea had escalated in recent months as “the United States Navy intercepted a Chinese warship engaged in provocative actions within free economic shipping lanes.”
No Chinese ships destroyed: Contrary to the video’s claim, there have been no reports from the US and Philippine navies on joint operations to intercept Chinese vessels attempting to enter the disputed territory near Scarborough Shoal.
The latest incident involving China happened on December 10 when Chinese vessels deployed water cannons and rammed Philippine supply vessels.
Water cannons were also used against civilian vessels of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) during a humanitarian and support mission on December 9.
Unsafe interaction: Neither the US nor China has destroyed each other’s ships but there have been multiple instances of vessels nearly coming into contact with one another.
On June 4, the USS Chung-Hoon and Canada’s HSMC Montreal were conducting a “routine” transit in a joint exercise of the Taiwan Strait when a Chinese warship cut in front of the US vessel.
Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson at the Chinese foreign ministry, said in a report by Reuters that the US had caused “trouble and provocation first.” This was after the US Navy released a video of the encounter, which they called an “unsafe interaction.”
Previous related fact-checks: Rappler has fact-checked multiple false claims on the maritime conflict between China and the Philippines:
– Rappler.com
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EXPLAINER: How new Supreme Court rules can remedy abuses of anti-terror law | Jairo Bolledo | 3/1/2024 14:42 | PROTEST. In this file photo, militant students joined various militant groups in denouncing the House of Representatives amendments to the House 6875, the so-called Terror Bill following the passage of the bill in a rally at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City on June 4, 2020.
Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) has released procedural rules on handling petitions and applications on the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020 and related laws. The rules take effect on January 15.
The rules, released years after the law was implemented, cover petitions and applications concerning detentions without judicial warrants of arrest, surveillance orders, freeze orders, restrictions on travel, designations, proscriptions, and other court issuances connected to the implementation of the anti-terror law.
But aside from clarifying how the law will be implemented by the authorities, the new rules also provided some remedies for the people who will be affected by the law.
Lawyer Kristina Conti, secretary general of the National Union of Peoples Lawyers – National Capital Region (NUPL-NCR), distinguished remedies from safeguards. She explained that remedies are options one can invoke after something has already been done, while safeguards prevent abuses from happening in the first place.
Section 25 of the contested law defines the designation of individuals, groups of persons, organizations, or associations.
The anti-terror council (ATC), based on the law, holds the arbitrary power to designate who will be considered terrorists. This was considered dangerous by many activists, who challenged the law, because the ATC can designate anyone without going to trial.
The council can order the designation even just basing it on their own determination, and even without asking the side of the designee. Another mode of designation is the automatic designation of individuals and groups, which are already part of the UN Security Council’s list. In 2021, the High Court already voided the option where the ATC can designate upon the request by other nations.
Now, under the new rules, the SC allows a remedy after designation. Rule 2, Section 1 of the SC rules allows a person to file a petition for certiorari – used to review grave abuse of discretion – to challenge the designation. Conti said that the petition for certiorari will be based on gross misapprehension of facts and misinterpretation of the law.
The NUPL lawyer explained that the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the law issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) “only elaborated on delisting, based on mistaken identity, change of circumstances, and the like.” The DOJ’s IRR allows designated terrorists to delist themselves or remove themselves from the terror list by following a process set by the rules.
Aside from designation, the authorities can also tag a person or group a terrorist through proscription. In this method, a trial would be needed to include an individual or group in the list of terrorists. Unlike designation, proscription is not arbitrary because a person can only be declared a terrorist through proscription after a full trial conducted by the judiciary.
When the contention of the anti-terror law reached the High Court, former chief justice Reynato Puno said proscription “may not be the favored method by the executive authorities considering they have to hurdle the checking power of the judiciary.” Puno served as one of the amici curiae (friends of the court) or individuals selected by the court to share their expertise that helped in the decision.
Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, during the oral arguments, also questioned anti-terror council’s broad powers, noting that “designation already achieves the purpose of proscription.”
Conti said the new SC rules required “quantum of proof, clear, and convincing evidence” for the proscription. Section 12 of the new High Court rules states that on the matter of issuing a preliminary and permanent order of proscription, the burden to establish that there is enough evidence against a respondent lies on the petitioner.
The new SC rules also provide options to review the proscription order – either to modify or lift it. Conti explained the DOJ’s IRR is limited. It only “specified only itself as a party, supported by ATC and NICA (National Intelligence Coordinating Agency), which may file for a re-issuance of a proscription order.”
Under the new guidelines, the SC also provided a safeguard on surveillance. Rule 4 states that no law enforcement agent “may secretly wiretap, overhear and listen to, intercept, screen, read, surveil, record, or collect, with the use of any mode, form, kind, or type of electronic, mechanical or other equipment or device or technology,” without a written order from the judiciary, particularly the Court of Appeals.
The surveillance order only applies to the following, based on the SC rules:
The rules also require that there should be probable cause or strong evidence before the surveillance order will be released.
In addition, the SC also clarified what due regard should be given to vulnerable persons. Section 51 of the anti-terror law states that there should be due regard “for welfare of the elderly, pregnant, persons with disability, women, and children.”
The High Court rules stated that if an arrestee belongs to this sector, he/ she should be “detained in a facility that is separate and more appropriate to his/her condition,” among others.
Conti said the special rules “fill in a lot of gaps in the implementation of laws,” such as the recognition of the vulnerable persons and on the required process for surveillance. However, the new rules do “not cure the fundamental flaws of the laws” they have continually raised, the NUPL lawyer added.
“But while the rules try to address errors, overreach, and abuses in the implementation continuously observed in dismissed terror cases we have handled, it cannot assure that these will not happen in the first place,” Conti added.
She also reminded that the law enforcement should comply with the rules once they take effect on January 15, or they could be held in contempt. – with reports from Lance Spencer Yu/ Rappler.com
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Alex Eala, Brazilian partner down former world doubles No. 1 in WTA Canberra | jisaga0269 | 3/1/2024 17:00 | SPUNKY. Alex Eala celebrates after a grueling match.
Alex Eala's Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – Alex Eala scored arguably her biggest doubles victory in the pro circuit when she and Laura Pigossi of Brazil prevailed on Wednesday, January 3, over former world No. 1 doubles player Sara Errani of Italy and Renata Zarazua of Mexico, 5-7, 6-0, 10-6, in the opening round of the $164,000 WTA Workday Canberra International in Australia.
Playing in just her 2nd WTA doubles competition, the 18-year-old Eala was also playing for the first time with the 29-year-old Pigossi, the Tokyo Olympics women’s doubles bronze medalist.
Unfamiliarity did not seem to be a cause for concern between the two as they jumped to an early 3-1 lead in the opening set. But Errani, who has won all four Grand Slam women’s titles including the Australian Open twice, and Zarazua steadied the ship and regained the lead at 5-4.
Although Eala and Pigossi tied the count at 5-5, Errani and Zarazua went up again at 6-5 then broke serve in the 12th game to bag the first set.
Despite dropping the opener, Eala and Pigossi came out in the second set with confidence that they could beat the fancied Errani who is also the former world No. 5 in singles and a former French Open women’s singles finalist.
The Filipina and Brazilian duo broke serve three times in the second set, and in all three instances came back from 30-40 deficits. They also did not drop serve to breeze through the second set, 6-0, and extend the match to a deciding super tiebreak.
Errani and Zarazua appeared to have recovered in the third set as they raced to a 4-2 lead.
Eala, 406th in the world in doubles, and Pigossi, who is 305th in the world, finally drew even at 6-6. That was all the momentum they needed as they swept the next four points to finish the match held at the hard court of the Canberra Tennis Centre after 1 hour and 32 minutes.
In the quarterfinals, the unseeded Eala and Pigossi will be facing fourth seeds Anna Bondar of Hungary, currently 56th in the world who made the French Open women’s doubles quarters twice, and 18-year-old Celine Naef of Switzerland. Bondar and Naef won their opening round match via walkover.
This will afford Eala a chance for some payback as it was her fellow teen star Naef who eliminated her in the opening round of the women’s singles event qualifiers last Sunday, December 31. – Rappler.com
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Grethcel Soltones leaves Petro Gazz, adds veteran firepower to young Akari squad | jisaga0269 | 3/1/2024 14:48 | CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND. Grethcel Soltones and Petro Gazz reach another PVL finals.
PVL
MANILA, Philippines – The Akari Chargers have signed former Petro Gazz star Grethcel Soltones, the team announced on Wednesday, January 3, in a bid to boost firepower and veteran leadership ahead of their second PVL season.
The latest in a high-profile flurry of off-season signings, Akari’s acquisition of the former V-League MVP and PVL Finals MVP is expected to move the needle for the Chargers and possibly propel the upstart franchise to the higher tier of league contenders.
Nicknamed the “Lady Beast” since her MVP-winning days with the NCAA’s San Sebastian College, Soltones was a major part of Petro Gazz’s title-contending stretch from 2021 to 2023, which netted one PVL championship, two silver medal finishes, and one bronze.
The 28-year-old now joins an increasingly formidable Chargers core, with the likes of Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Faith Nisperos, Erika Raagas, and Trisha Genesis leading the way.
Akari, still missing a head coach following the resignation of Philippine women’s volleyball team mentor Jorge Souza de Brito, is set to complete its off-season puzzle sometime before the 2024 First All-Filipino Conference starts in February. – Rappler.com
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Cignal continues roster shuffle, signs prospect Jov Fernandez after key player releases | jisaga0269 | 3/1/2024 16:03 | PROSPECT. F2 spiker Jovelyn Fernandez attempts an attack over the Galeries Tower defense in the 2023 PVL Second All-Filipino Conference.
PVL Images
MANILA, Philippines – The F2 Logistics disbandment fallout continues in the PVL as the Cignal HD Spikers snagged young opposite spiker Jovelyn Fernandez on Wednesday, January 3.
This development came just hours after the perennial contenders unloaded three players from their growing roster – winger Jerrili Malabanan and liberos Bia General and Gelai Nunag.
A former UAAP Best Opposite Spiker in Season 85, the young Fernandez now rejoins her F2 teammate Dawn Macandili-Catindig and is set to further learn the ropes of the pro league under fellow opposite hitter and namesake Jovelyn Gonzaga.
Fernandez has yet to receive significant playing time in the PVL after her time with F2 was spent mostly on the bench behind the likes of Kianna Dy and Ivy Lacsina.
Following a league-record fourth bronze medal finish in the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference, Cignal is aiming for higher rungs on the podium with a formidable core of Gonzaga, Catindig, MVP Ces Molina, rookie revelation Vanie Gandler, and star blockers Rose Doria and Ria Meneses.
Fernandez is the fifth former F2 player to find a new home in the PVL after teammate Catindig, NxLed’s Lacsina, and Chery Tiggo’s Ara Galang and Aby Maraño. – Rappler.com
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Sharon Cuneta opens up on brief separation with Kiko Pangilinan | Ysa Abad | 3/1/2024 12:20 | SHARON CUNETA. The actress updates fans with photo with husband Kiko Pangilinan.
Sharon Cuneta's Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – After a series of cryptic posts and speculations on social media, Sharon Cuneta has finally spoken about the state of her marriage with former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.
The actress had an Instagram Live on Sunday, December 31, with husband Kiko and their three children: Frankie, Miel, and Miguel. “We’re fine and we love you,” the megastar said as she and her family greeted fans with a happy new year.
Through this Instagram Live, Sharon confirmed that they briefly separated due to a misunderstanding. However, she was quick to clarify that they have gotten back together since.
Moreover, they addressed the rumors of their marriage being on the rocks. Sharon apologized to those who were hurt by her post, stating that she only made those posts to show fans “when [she] was sad.”
“Nag-away kami, naghiwalay kami, tapos nagbati na kami so okay na kami (We fought, we separated, and then we made up, so we’re okay now),” she admitted after Kiko’s prior statement on how all couples and families experience misunderstandings and arguments.
“You always assume; please don’t assume,” Sharon stressed. “We [are] good. We [are] normal. We just got some emotions because we’re real people.”
Sharon then ended the Instagram Live after sending well wishes to their fans.
Netizens began to speculate about the state of Sharon and Kiko’s marriage due to a now-deleted post of the actress cropping out Kiko’s head from a family photograph. Sharon also posted and deleted quotes about loyalty and “side chicks,” fueling speculations further. – with additional reports from Ally De Leon/Rappler.com
Ally de Leon is a Rappler intern.
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Take a flight with the Filipino Little Prince, Prinsipe Bahaghari, in 2024 | Marguerite de Leon | 3/1/2024 15:38 | The following is a press release from Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas.
After being recognized as one of the best Filipino plays in 2023, Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas’ Prinsipe Bahaghari is set to land at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater, Circuit Makati, on January 19- 21 and 26-28, 2024.
Prinsipe Bahaghari is the Filipino puppetry adaptation of the well-loved modern classic The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The puppet play revolves around the journey of the Rainbow Prince in search of a companion who would help him care for his flower, the Gumamela, and keep her safe on his home planet. During his quest, he meets several extraordinary characters and makes a friend, the Storyteller, with whom he shares his joys and hardships. Prinsipe Bahaghari’s encounters ultimately led to his realization of what his relationship with the flower meant to him.
This adaptation celebrates Filipino culture, myths, and language to make the play accessible, especially to children. The puppets are made from rattan while local materials were also used in production.
“The use of the Filipino language and stories are drawn from the experiences of our people to narrate the magic and challenges of growing up, of the many ways of taking care of this world, of faith in different forms of love within and beyond the reach of the physical senses,” shared playwright Vladimeir Gonzales.
The production has received recognition and noteworthy reviews since its first iteration as a thesis project by director Aina Ramolete. It first premiered in November 2023 at the Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio Teatro Papet Museo. It was also featured during the 14th Annual Meeting and International Conference of the Asian Theatre Working Group in March 2022 in Quezon City, Philippines, and at the Puppet Power 2022: Celebration! In May 2022 in Calgary, Canada.
The production was also one of the six finalists from across the globe in The Red Curtain International’s Good Theatre Festival for Young Audiences held on September 24 and 25, 2022, in India, where the play was recognized by the international jury and received Best Direction (Joint Winner) for Ramolete, Best Production, Best Production Design, and an honorable mention for Best Script for Gonzales.
The artistic and production teams behind this magical production include: Vladimeir Gonzales (Playwright), Aina Ramolete (Director, Illustrator, & Overall Production Designer), Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete (Producer & Assistant Director), Steven Tansiongco (Graphics & Video Designer), Ohm David (Set Designer), Arvy Dimaculangan (Music & Sound Designer), Jessamae Gabon (Music Composer), Darwin Desoacido (Costume Designer), Gabo Tolentino (Lights Designer), Sig Pecho (Additional Shadow Puppet Designer & Publicity Manager), Clariz Caingat (Character Illustrator), Shenn Apilado (Technical Director), Shania Lee Cuerpo (Stage Manager), and Joshua Ceasar Chan (Production Manager).
Catch this award-winning puppetry theater play Prinsipe Bahaghari on January 19, 20, 26, and 27, 2024 at 7:38 pm, with matinee shows on January 21 and 28, 2024 at 3:38 pm, at Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater, Circuit Makati. For tickets, click here.
Prinsipe Bahaghari will also go on an outreach run in Palawan on February 23, as part of the outreach program of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
For inquiries, partnerships, and collaborations, please email at [email protected]. Follow Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas on Facebook and Instagram (@mulatpuppets). Connect with the hashtag #TMPPrinsipeBahaghari. – Rappler.com/Press Release
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Cignal continues roster shuffle, signs prospect Jov Fernandez after key player releases | jisaga0269 | 3/1/2024 16:03 | PROSPECT. F2 spiker Jovelyn Fernandez attempts an attack over the Galeries Tower defense in the 2023 PVL Second All-Filipino Conference.
PVL Images
MANILA, Philippines – The F2 Logistics disbandment fallout continues in the PVL as the Cignal HD Spikers snagged young opposite spiker Jovelyn Fernandez on Wednesday, January 3.
This development came just hours after the perennial contenders unloaded three players from their growing roster – winger Jerrili Malabanan and liberos Bia General and Gelai Nunag.
A former UAAP Best Opposite Spiker in Season 85, the young Fernandez now rejoins her F2 teammate Dawn Macandili-Catindig and is set to further learn the ropes of the pro league under fellow opposite hitter and namesake Jovelyn Gonzaga.
Fernandez has yet to receive significant playing time in the PVL after her time with F2 was spent mostly on the bench behind the likes of Kianna Dy and Ivy Lacsina.
Following a league-record fourth bronze medal finish in the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference, Cignal is aiming for higher rungs on the podium with a formidable core of Gonzaga, Catindig, MVP Ces Molina, rookie revelation Vanie Gandler, and star blockers Rose Doria and Ria Meneses.
Fernandez is the fifth former F2 player to find a new home in the PVL after teammate Catindig, NxLed’s Lacsina, and Chery Tiggo’s Ara Galang and Aby Maraño. – Rappler.com
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Taguig offers free teleconsults after Makati closes EMBO health centers | jpcruz0306 | 3/1/2024 11:42 | HEALTHCARE FACILITY. The Taguig City government opens the Ligid-Tipas Super Health Center on June 28, 2023.
Taguig City Government
MANILA, Philippines – The Taguig City government offered free teleconsultations to residents of Enlisted Men’s Barrios (EMBO) after the Makati City government announced the closure of health centers in the area.
Earlier, Makati said that EMBO residents are no longer qualified for the city’s healthcare services following the Supreme Court decision declaring Bonifacio Global City and EMBO barangays as part of Taguig City.
“Due to the abrupt closure of health centers in EMBO barangays by Makati, and its refusal to turn over these facilities to Taguig, Taguig will temporarily provide teleconsultations for the residents of EMBO barangays who have been deprived by Makati of essential health services,” Taguig City said on Wednesday, January 3.
The teleconsultation hotlines operate from 8 am to 5 pm on weekdays, offering free medical check-ups, referrals, prescriptions, and complimentary laboratory requests to the residents.
EMBO residents may also have their check-ups at 31 health centers and three superhealth centers in Taguig. Temporarily, Taguig has designated specific health centers for specific EMBO barangays.
Taguig criticized Makati’s decision to close health facilities in EMBO barangays, labeling it as “deception and fraud.”
Taguig argued that health centers don’t require a license to operate, pointing out that Pitogo Health Center, the sole registered primary care facility in EMBO, still holds a valid license for three more years.
Taguig also asserted ownership of EMBO and its public facilities, appealing to be allowed to manage health centers and lying-in clinics. The city emphasized that citizens’ lives and health should not be manipulated for political purposes.
During meetings held on September 4 and 11, 2023, Taguig said that it agreed to the proposal by Makati Mayor Abby Binay for Taguig to take over the management of health centers starting October 1, 2023.
However, a few days before the supposed takeover, Taguig claimed that Makati backtracked from the supposed agreement.
Responding to Taguig’s claim, Makati argued that a license to operate is required for health facilities that offer diagnostic services, such as those in EMBO.
Makati City administrator Claro Certeza also reiterated that the Supreme Court decision “is about political territory, not ownership.”
“If we use Taguig’s twisted interpretation of the Supreme Court decision, not only do they own the entire parcels 3 and 4 but all the land in the EMBO barangays, including those owned by private individuals,” Certeza said.
He also claimed that Taguig had been aware of the health facility closures in EMBO but took no action.
Certeza questioned why Taguig City only offered teleconsultations instead of building its own health centers in the area.
“The problem with Taguig is that it wants all the perks but none of the responsibilities. It’s about time for Taguig and its leadership to face their responsibilities and do their job,” Certeza said.
Last September 2023, Makati proposed a credit line for Taguig allowing EMBO residents to still access health services from Makati-run health facilities. This move, however, was contested by Taguig, arguing that this went against the directive of Health Secretary Ted Herbosa to exclude ownership issues in the transition process.
Aside from healthcare services, Makati City has discontinued the benefits previously provided to senior citizens living in EMBO barangays.
– Rappler.com
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Northern Mindanao logs 17 fireworks-related injuries, the most in 7 years | Chito de la Vega | 3/1/2024 12:15 | An alleged fireworks warehouse and manufacturing place exploded in a residential community in Sito Manggahan, Pulang Buhangin in Sta Maria, Bulacan on November 3, 2022, 10 people were hurt and taken to different hospitals. Police and fire inspectors are still investigating the cause of the explosion. Jire Carreon/Rappler
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CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) in Northern Mindanao tallied 17 fireworks-related injuries (FWRI) during Christmas and New Year revelries in the region, despite an inter-agency campaign against illegally-manufactured firecrackers and substandard pyrotechnics.
A briefer on January 1 from DOH in Northern Mindanao showed that the 17 FWRI from December 21 to December 31 was 70% more than that of the same period in 2022. It was the most injuries since 2016 when 28 persons were given medical care.
More than half–or 53% –of the 17 FWRI in the region were traced to “triangulo” blasts inflicting wounds and cuts on the hands and faces of five persons, and two other patients each from “kwitis” and “piccolo.”
These “varieties” have long been the list of banned firecrackers pursuant to Republic Act No. 7183 or the Fireworks Regulation Act of 1992.
On December 30, members of city government-created Task Group Firecrackers and Fireworks (TGFF) hauled assorted banned firecrackers and pyrotechnics without Product Standard (PS) stickers within the designated display area for fireworks at the Rodelsa Rotonda in Cagayan de Oro.
Jane Javier Docallos, city director of the Department of Interior and Local Government and TGFF head, said the seized fireworks, valued at P300,000, included banned “piccolo” and “OG” firecrackers, while most of pyrotechnics were imported. These, still in boxes, were found hidden in a grassy area and placed atop branches of a mango tree.
Docallos told reporters that not one of those, with special permits to sell firecrackers, came forward to claim what they seized. These, she said, would be stored at the Cagayan de Oro City Police headquarters for inventory and would be properly disposed, in due time.
Of the 17 FWRI incidents documented by DOH Northern Mindanao, four of the reported injuries were from Cagayan de Oro. Bukidnon has the most cases with eight, two each from Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental, and one from Iligan City.
The surveillance period of the DOH Northern Mindanao, through its Research, Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Disaster Response Unit (RESDRU) started on December 21, 2023 and will end on Saturday, January 6, 2024.
Earlier, Dr. Ellenietta Gamolo, DOH director for Northern Mindanao, released Regional Memorandum No. 2023-55, declaring a Code White Alert (CWA) effective during the said period for FWRI surveillance.
CWA means the DOH Northern Mindanao personnel, including development management officers, human resources for health, contract of service, DOH hospitals, medical health centers, and other health agencies “shall be on standby, on-call, and to report to the office immediately in case of emergency situation.” – Rappler.com
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Grethcel Soltones leaves Petro Gazz, adds veteran firepower to young Akari squad | jisaga0269 | 3/1/2024 14:48 | CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND. Grethcel Soltones and Petro Gazz reach another PVL finals.
PVL
MANILA, Philippines – The Akari Chargers have signed former Petro Gazz star Grethcel Soltones, the team announced on Wednesday, January 3, in a bid to boost firepower and veteran leadership ahead of their second PVL season.
The latest in a high-profile flurry of off-season signings, Akari’s acquisition of the former V-League MVP and PVL Finals MVP is expected to move the needle for the Chargers and possibly propel the upstart franchise to the higher tier of league contenders.
Nicknamed the “Lady Beast” since her MVP-winning days with the NCAA’s San Sebastian College, Soltones was a major part of Petro Gazz’s title-contending stretch from 2021 to 2023, which netted one PVL championship, two silver medal finishes, and one bronze.
The 28-year-old now joins an increasingly formidable Chargers core, with the likes of Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Faith Nisperos, Erika Raagas, and Trisha Genesis leading the way.
Akari, still missing a head coach following the resignation of Philippine women’s volleyball team mentor Jorge Souza de Brito, is set to complete its off-season puzzle sometime before the 2024 First All-Filipino Conference starts in February. – Rappler.com
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[Vantage Point] Economic czar | Mia Gonzalez | 3/1/2024 13:00 | Alyssa Arizabal
Once in a while – and it’s literally far and few between – a few good men willingly join the government to make a positive difference.
I can only name two – Jaime Bautista and lately Frederick Go. Both men come from the private sector which guarantee them comfortable lives even after retirement.
What drives Bautista and Go to sacrifice their otherwise peaceful and comfortable lives to endure scorn and contempt from envious career-clinging government people? Both know that they are entering a snake pit, but the motivation to change what they see as fundamentally flawed system overrides any risks and hardship they will face.
We all know the story of Bautista ever since he took the helm of the Department of Transportation (DOTr). On how some people harboring a corrupt system try as they might to ease him out of office. His clean record has been his armor and to this day, has been impenetrable! Go is built of the same mold and we can expect the same brand of service.
In a December 15 executive order, President Ferdinand (Bongbong) Marcos Jr. announced the creation of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA), headed by its first-ever secretary, 54-year-old Frederick Go, president and chief executive officer of Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC).
By accepting the position, Go divested all of his substantial business shareholdings to eliminate potential conflicts of interest that would compromise his official decision making. For him, the sacrifice was huge, but necessary, if he were to truly serve the public with utmost responsibility, integrity, efficiency, and loyalty.
While Go’s appointment was well-received by foreign and local business groups, the title certainly looks intimidating enough to cause apprehension among some the country’s economic managers. Despite their public pronouncements welcoming Go’s appointment, not all seem sincere.
One of PBBM’s economic managers sees Go as lacking in the fundamentals of economic management and therefore not qualified for the position. Unfortunately for said secretary, news travels fast. Before he knew it, his antipathy reached the ears of many people. This is why I find it utterly hypocritical of him to be effusive in his praise for PBBM’s appointment of Go in various media pronouncements.
The chief mandate of OSAPIEA includes supervising and monitoring the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Finance, Department of Budget and Management, and Department of Trade and Industry, among other agencies.
The heads of these four agencies, the chief of the Presidential Management Staff, and the secretaries of nine other departments make up the Economic Development Group, which is in charge of the major economic policies of the government. This cluster used to be headed by the finance secretary.
One of the concerns raise by some sectors against Go’s appointment is duplicity. The functions of the newly created office, they believe, are already being handled by the country’s economic managers and that there is no need to create an office to do the job.
This was however shot down by Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president George Barcelon, who sees Go’s office more as an additional channel to relay the issues that the business sector wants to be addressed.
“I have heard some concerns that it might be an added redundancy. But from what I see, there are really times when the schedule of the president is full because of his many responsibilities. So, it’s an added channel of communication for us,” Barcelon was quoted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer as saying.
Having someone who has the ears of the president is not unique to the Philippines. The economic success of Indonesia can be largely credited to its Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs (Kementerian Koordinator Bidang Kemaritiman dan Investasi), headed by Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. The office, created by Indonesian President Joko Widodo on October 23, 2019, is tasked to lead the planning, coordinating, as well as synchronizing of policies in maritime affairs and investments.
In four years since its inception, the office has been credited with the rapid economic rise of Indonesia. Recently, Pandjaitan has cemented Indonesia’s cooperation with Korea in the field of electronic vehicles and a project to build a new capital of the Southeast Asian country, leveraging Korea’s technological expertise and Indonesia’s abundant resources.
Pandjaitan also met with US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen in August 2023 to discuss Indonesia’s Just Energy Transition Partnership work on the Comprehensive Investment and Policy Plan. The CIPP will coordinate with partners in allocating the $20 billion in JETP financing towards specific projects and priorities that will support Indonesia’s achievement of the ambitious climate targets that its government has set in the November 2022 JETP Joint Statement.
This is the kind of swift action the Philippines needs to spur much-needed economic activities which government planners, tasked with reading economic data, will be hard put at achieving. Robert Young of the export-oriented Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines also said in the Inquirer interview that they support Go’s appointment, primarily due to his private sector credentials. “My take is that all these departments that have been placed under his supervision, nothing is happening to the issues that are being raised to them. So, there is clamor to put a person who will be in charge of them all.”
Ebb Hinchliffe, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines also in a message to the Inquirer said: “In our interactions with Secretary Go, we were encouraged by his desire to remove roadblocks to investment and doing business. We’re hopeful that this will translate into his new role and in the policies that the government’s economic cluster will pursue.”
I first met Go as a 19-year-old newly minted BS Management Engineering graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University. He was endorsed to me by his uncle, the late Robinson’s patriarch, John Gokongwei Jr. (Mr. John), for training in the business section of the Manila Times which I then headed as editor.
A year prior, Mr. John and I were conceptualizing how he would run Manila Times which he had just bought from the Roces family. At the time, I was the assistant business editor of the Philippine Star. Mr. John was a good friend and my business mentor, but I turned down his offer for me to be the publisher and editorial board chair of the Manila Times. I felt that I was too young and inexperienced to handle such a critical position. I gave him some names: the late Johnny Perez and the late Frederick “Ricky” Agcaoili, who became the Times publisher and editor-in-chief, respectively. The two then proceeded to fill in the editorial staff, with Mr. John’s daughter Robina Pe overseeing the Times’ editorial makeup. I settled for the position of business editor, and Mr. John allotted some company shares to me.
The thing I admire most about the Gokongwei Family is how each member had to learn the ropes, starting at the lowest possible job, before being considered for key positions in one of the companies they own.
Deck proved more than up to the task. I assigned him to cover the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the stock market beat where he honed his business writing and news gathering skills to near perfection. In the beat, he befriended government functionaries and business leaders, all the while concealing his family background. Diligent in his assigned task, he worked his butt off, never complaining and always keeping his two feet on the ground.
I left the Times for a more lucrative offer from a foreign business publication, but never lost touch with Mr. John whom I communicated with on a weekly basis. Deck was transferred to a new department where he also excelled.
I wasn’t surprised when Mr. John finally assigned Deck to take care of RLC as its president and CEO. In the past three decades, Deck has parlayed RLC into a P223-billion property conglomerate with 53 malls, 28 office buildings and 24 hotels. He was also instrumental in the group’s expansion move to the casino business, infrastructure (Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corporation), and banking.
The Gokongweis have never used their prominence or businesses to acquire political influence in furthering their own interests. When Mr. John built the Gokongwei family business in Cebu, he toiled hard and succeeded on his own entrepreneurial and leadership savvy, not on family relations or political influence. He guided each member of his family who now works for a family corporation to use the same work ethic.
Deck Go’s position as the President’s special adviser is not meant to substitute for the expertise of department heads, all of whom were appointed for their competence. President Marcos Jr. only sought to create the position so that he can have more help in coordinating his key policies and economic priorities.
Joining the government is definitely a huge sacrifice for Go. I could only surmise that the decision is spurred by the business sector’s lament that nothing is getting done to fast-track economic progress in the country. Having led a multibillion-peso company, Go is certainly a plus for the Marcos government. He will bring his vast experience in business to spur economic development. The realms of business and economics after all are intricately connected, with both playing vital roles in shaping the global landscape. While economists analyze and interpret economic phenomena, businessmen actively engage in the practical application of economic principles. Compared to economists who often operate at a more theoretical level, businessmen – with their hands-on approach to economic activities – are better-positioned to drive innovation, create value, and spur economic growth.
Businessmen are at the forefront of innovation and agility, constantly seeking new ways to meet market demands, and stay ahead of the competition. Unlike economists who may rely or focus more on analyzing historical data and formulating theories, businessmen operate in the dynamic and ever-changing business environment. Their ability to identify opportunities, take risks, and innovate in response to market needs allows them to contribute directly to economic progress.
Entrepreneurs possess a unique vision that goes beyond theoretical economic models. While economists may study and predict economic trends, businessmen have a tangible impact on the economy by bringing their visions to life. Successful businessmen often possess a deep understanding of consumer behavior, market dynamics, and emerging trends, enabling them to create products and services that resonate with the public.
Businessmen are instrumental in job creation and wealth generation, which are essential components of a thriving economy. Through the establishment and expansion of businesses, entrepreneurs contribute to employment opportunities, thereby reducing unemployment rates and fostering economic stability. Additionally, successful businesses generate wealth, not only for the entrepreneurs themselves, but also for their employees and stakeholders, thus creating a positive ripple effect throughout society. – Rappler.com
Val A. Villanueva is a veteran business journalist. He was a former business editor of the Philippine Star and the Gokongwei-owned Manila Times. For comments, suggestions email him at [email protected].
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This a very good article that is greatly in favor of the new economic czar Frederick Go. Let us hope that this statement is true and will continue to be true: “The Gokongweis have never used their prominence or businesses to acquire political influence in furthering their own interests.” Concerned, open-minded, and critical-minded Filipinos should be watchful for the possible resurgence of “Marcos Kleptocracy” but this time under version 2.0. Yet, this type of Filipino will always need the help of investigative journalists and proven independent and resilient media channels like Rappler.
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Batangas university wins sandbox contest for microelectronics students | Russell Ku | 3/1/2024 10:42 | Xinyx Design
The following is a press release from Xinyx Design.
In an exciting effort to convene the brilliant young minds of the 21st century and emphasize the pivotal role of integrated circuit (IC) design in the Philippines, Xinyx Design sponsored “Xinyx Unlocked 2023,” a nationwide sandbox competition for engineering students studying microelectronics.
“Xinyx Unlocked is our way to promote IC design as a promising, innovative, and fast-growing career path that our next generation of graduates need to be aware of. Filipino engineers are world-class and always in demand. We need to elevate the field of engineering and develop design thinking in our students so that we can compete in the regional and global market,” said Charade Avondo, Xinyx Design president and general manager.
The following teams and their respective entries are the big winners of the Xynix Unlocked 2023 nationwide contest:
Winners were awarded the following: Grand Prize – P70,000; 1st Runner-Up – P20,000; 2nd Runner-Up – P10,000. The winning team receives a monthly stipend of P10,000 for two academic years.
Launched with the theme “From Problems to Possibilities: Building Tomorrow’s Cities Today,” this inaugural competition underscores the necessity for inventive solutions in urban development anchored on microelectronics. Through this, Xinyx also aims to spark the interest of the younger generation in this crucial industry and encourage them to maximize their talents for economic and social development.
According to Statista, revenue in the integrated circuits market is projected to reach US$5.35 billion in 2023 with a projected annual growth rate (CAGR 2023-2027) of 11.50%, resulting in a market volume of US$8.27 billion by 2027. However, the Semiconductor Industry Association in Washington released a study revealing that the United States faces a significant shortfall of 70,000 technicians, computer scientists, and engineers in the semiconductor industry by 2030.
A total of 58 entries were received from state colleges and universities nationwide.
– Rappler.com
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Dwight Howard signs with Strong Group Philippines for 2024 Dubai tournament | jisaga0269 | 2/1/2024 23:18 | Dwight Howard.
Photo from Twitter/@NBA
MANILA, Philippines – Eight-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard is set to play for Strong Group in the 2024 Dubai International Basketball Championship, head coach Charles Tiu confirmed to Rappler on Tuesday, January 2.
Howard, most notable for his time with the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers, is set to arrive next week.
The three-time Defensive Player of the Year and one-time NBA champion is set to make the Philippines his first stop in his “World Smile Tour” – a concerted effort to crack a roster spot in the NBA, according to the Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Howard is set to join former Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Andray Blatche and ex-Oklahoma City Thunder guard Andre Roberson as the team’s reinforcements.
“We are excited for him to come and play for our team. It would be a great honor to have him. He can still play and wants to win,” Tiu said in a message.
“But of course until he actually gets here, I’m holding my breath,” he added.
Local talent such as UAAP Season 86 Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao and Francis Escandor from La Salle, and UP’s JD Cagulangan will also beef up the team as it prepares for the Dubai tournament slated this January 19 to 28.
Howard, who most recently played for Taoyuan Leopards of the T1 League in Taiwan, was able to sign with the team through Blatche, who played in the NBA for almost a decade.
“I had Andray Blatche help me recruit him, and I gave him a call, we spoke for some time had a good talk and figured he’d be a good fit for us,” said Tiu, who also calls the shots for the College of St. Benilde Blazers in the NCAA.
Last year, the Renaldo Balkman-led team was booted out of the quarterfinals with a 106-97 loss to Al Riyadi.
Other notable Strong Group signings throughout its run in Dubai are other former NBA players like Balkman, Nick Young, and Shabazz Muhammad. – Rappler.com
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Sharon Cuneta opens up on brief separation with Kiko Pangilinan | Ysa Abad | 3/1/2024 12:20 | SHARON CUNETA. The actress updates fans with photo with husband Kiko Pangilinan.
Sharon Cuneta's Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – After a series of cryptic posts and speculations on social media, Sharon Cuneta has finally spoken about the state of her marriage with former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.
The actress had an Instagram Live on Sunday, December 31, with husband Kiko and their three children: Frankie, Miel, and Miguel. “We’re fine and we love you,” the megastar said as she and her family greeted fans with a happy new year.
Through this Instagram Live, Sharon confirmed that they briefly separated due to a misunderstanding. However, she was quick to clarify that they have gotten back together since.
Moreover, they addressed the rumors of their marriage being on the rocks. Sharon apologized to those who were hurt by her post, stating that she only made those posts to show fans “when [she] was sad.”
“Nag-away kami, naghiwalay kami, tapos nagbati na kami so okay na kami (We fought, we separated, and then we made up, so we’re okay now),” she admitted after Kiko’s prior statement on how all couples and families experience misunderstandings and arguments.
“You always assume; please don’t assume,” Sharon stressed. “We [are] good. We [are] normal. We just got some emotions because we’re real people.”
Sharon then ended the Instagram Live after sending well wishes to their fans.
Netizens began to speculate about the state of Sharon and Kiko’s marriage due to a now-deleted post of the actress cropping out Kiko’s head from a family photograph. Sharon also posted and deleted quotes about loyalty and “side chicks,” fueling speculations further. – with additional reports from Ally De Leon/Rappler.com
Ally de Leon is a Rappler intern.
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Meet the Philippines’ 3 Winter Youth Olympic Games participants | jisaga0269 | 3/1/2024 7:44 | SKATING. Filipino teen Peter Groseclose (in blue) will be competing in short track speed skating in the Winter Youth Olympic Games in South Korea, which starts January 19, 2024.
Philippine Skating Union
MANILA, Philippines – As the whole Philippine sports community sets its eyes on the Paris Olympics starting July, three Filipino teenagers will compete for glory in the Winter Youth Olympic Games (WYOG) in Gangwon, South Korea from January 19 to February 1.
Peter Groseclose, 16 years old, was the first to qualify in the short track speed skating event. He joined fellow 16-year-old Avery Balbanida in the cross country skiing tournament, while 14-year-old Laetaz Amihan Rabe rounded out the Filipino participants in freestyle skiing.
The delegation will leave for Korea on the third week of January, with several key Philippine Olympic Committee officials headed by its president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino attending the event.
Groseclose qualified after making the cut in the 2023 ISU Junior World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Dresden, Germany last February 2023, despite competing in his first international season.
In order to qualify, a skater must first place within the top 32 in the world to secure a slot, with other slots opening when a country has multiple athletes on the list.
The Fil-Am speed skater will compete in the 500, 1000, and 1,500-meter events from January 20-24, and had since made big strides, according to Philippine Skating Union (PhSU) chief Nikki Cheng.
“[Last] March, [Groseclose] barely clung on to qualifying for a spot for the Philippines in the Junior Worlds, but we sent him to Korea over the summer to train,” recalled Cheng, noting the teenager’s two-second improvement in his personal best of 41.18 seconds.
“His performance and efforts are now being recognized by the International Skating Union and he has been identified as one of the rising stars to watch out for in the sport,” she added.
Groseclose is coming in hot, having placed fourth overall in the 1000m category.
Balbanida, who hails from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, will be showcasing his skills in both the cross country distance and sprint events, which will be held from January 29 to February 1.
Shifting his focus from Nordic combined to becoming a full-fledged cross country skiier, Balbanida racked up enough points by competing in various sanctioned events in Europe and Canada.
“He has done well compared to his peers, I won’t be surprised if he does well,” said Jim Apelar, head of the Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation.
At just 14 years old, Rabe pounced on the window of opportunity provided to her.
Being an alternate in both freestyle slopestyle and freeski big air categories, Rabe was the final inclusion to the delegation after the Philippine Olympic Committee accepted the invite to compete in the WYOG from January 24-28.
Residing in Switzerland, Rabe has been honing her craft in the mountainous European nation.
Apelar said even as one of the youngest participants in the quadrennial event – teen athletes can only get a Federation of International Skiing license at 14 – Rabe can go toe-to-toe with her much older peers.
“To see her compete against 18 year olds is surprising, but that’s the age bracket she’s in, and she gets better each day.”
Amid the lack of opportunity to train in the Philippines, the POC is throwing its full support to the three.
“The Philippines may be a tropical country, but the Olympic spirit knows no boundaries,” said Tolentino.
“It transcends climates, uniting us in the pursuit of excellence and the celebration of the human potential…Our athletes are a testament to this Olympic spirit,” he added.
“They have defied limitations and embraced the challenge of competing in winter sports, demonstrating the Filipino determination.” – Rappler.com
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‘From two embryos, to one, then to none’: Empress Schuck suffers miscarriage | Ysa Abad | 3/1/2024 10:28 | EMPRESS SCHUCK. The actress shares photos from an oath-taking ceremony in June 2022.
Empress Schuck's Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Actress Empress Schuck disclosed that she had suffered a miscarriage in late 2023.
In an Instagram post on Monday, January 1, Schuck shared that they were supposed to welcome a new addition to their family in 2024.
“This year, we would’ve been a family of four or even five. From two embryos, to one, then to none,” she wrote, alongside a photo of a sonogram with two embryos and positive pregnancy kits.
The celebrity vlogger added that she’s still “not sure how to talk about” the loss. “I just know that sometimes our plans for ourselves don’t align with God’s plans for us.”
Schuck then went to express her gratitude towards husband Vino Guingona, saying that he was “God’s blessing” during this “puzzling experience.”
“We may not exactly understand how we feel about this but having each other is enough to say that everything will be okay,” she added.
Fellow celebrities including Melissa Ricks, Iya Villania, Jason Abalos, Ryza Cenon, Chito Miranda, and Sue Ramirez sent messages of support and comfort towards the couple in the comments section.
Schuck and Guingona, who have been dating since 2014, tied the knot in 2021. They welcomed their first child, a daughter named Athalia, in 2015. – Rappler.com
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Meet the Philippines’ 3 Winter Youth Olympic Games participants | jisaga0269 | 3/1/2024 7:44 | SKATING. Filipino teen Peter Groseclose (in blue) will be competing in short track speed skating in the Winter Youth Olympic Games in South Korea, which starts January 19, 2024.
Philippine Skating Union
MANILA, Philippines – As the whole Philippine sports community sets its eyes on the Paris Olympics starting July, three Filipino teenagers will compete for glory in the Winter Youth Olympic Games (WYOG) in Gangwon, South Korea from January 19 to February 1.
Peter Groseclose, 16 years old, was the first to qualify in the short track speed skating event. He joined fellow 16-year-old Avery Balbanida in the cross country skiing tournament, while 14-year-old Laetaz Amihan Rabe rounded out the Filipino participants in freestyle skiing.
The delegation will leave for Korea on the third week of January, with several key Philippine Olympic Committee officials headed by its president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino attending the event.
Groseclose qualified after making the cut in the 2023 ISU Junior World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Dresden, Germany last February 2023, despite competing in his first international season.
In order to qualify, a skater must first place within the top 32 in the world to secure a slot, with other slots opening when a country has multiple athletes on the list.
The Fil-Am speed skater will compete in the 500, 1000, and 1,500-meter events from January 20-24, and had since made big strides, according to Philippine Skating Union (PhSU) chief Nikki Cheng.
“[Last] March, [Groseclose] barely clung on to qualifying for a spot for the Philippines in the Junior Worlds, but we sent him to Korea over the summer to train,” recalled Cheng, noting the teenager’s two-second improvement in his personal best of 41.18 seconds.
“His performance and efforts are now being recognized by the International Skating Union and he has been identified as one of the rising stars to watch out for in the sport,” she added.
Groseclose is coming in hot, having placed fourth overall in the 1000m category.
Balbanida, who hails from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, will be showcasing his skills in both the cross country distance and sprint events, which will be held from January 29 to February 1.
Shifting his focus from Nordic combined to becoming a full-fledged cross country skiier, Balbanida racked up enough points by competing in various sanctioned events in Europe and Canada.
“He has done well compared to his peers, I won’t be surprised if he does well,” said Jim Apelar, head of the Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation.
At just 14 years old, Rabe pounced on the window of opportunity provided to her.
Being an alternate in both freestyle slopestyle and freeski big air categories, Rabe was the final inclusion to the delegation after the Philippine Olympic Committee accepted the invite to compete in the WYOG from January 24-28.
Residing in Switzerland, Rabe has been honing her craft in the mountainous European nation.
Apelar said even as one of the youngest participants in the quadrennial event – teen athletes can only get a Federation of International Skiing license at 14 – Rabe can go toe-to-toe with her much older peers.
“To see her compete against 18 year olds is surprising, but that’s the age bracket she’s in, and she gets better each day.”
Amid the lack of opportunity to train in the Philippines, the POC is throwing its full support to the three.
“The Philippines may be a tropical country, but the Olympic spirit knows no boundaries,” said Tolentino.
“It transcends climates, uniting us in the pursuit of excellence and the celebration of the human potential…Our athletes are a testament to this Olympic spirit,” he added.
“They have defied limitations and embraced the challenge of competing in winter sports, demonstrating the Filipino determination.” – Rappler.com
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Ticket prices, seat plan: Jonas Brothers Live in Manila 2024 | Marguerite de Leon | 2/1/2024 19:33 | Jonas Brothers' Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Heads up, Jo Bros fans! The ticket prices and seat plan for the Jonas Brothers’ upcoming Manila concert have been released by concert promoter Ovation Productions on Tuesday, January 2.
Tickets for the February 22 concert at the Mall of Asia Arena will be on sale beginning January 6, 12 pm, at smtickets.com. Prices range from P2,500 for Gen Ad to P18,500 for SVIP, plus ticketing charges. Both SVIP and VIP are standing room only.
Seat plan and ticket prices for Jonas Brothers live in Manila on February 22 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Tickets on sale January 6, 12nn at https://t.co/acTZcWszLf pic.twitter.com/UO6SJw0EQr
The three-member pop-rock band will be “celebrating five albums” during their concert. The band was last in Manila for an October 2012 concert also at the SM Mall of Asia.
The Jonas Brothers – made up of Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas – formed in 2005 and reached peak fame with their roles in Disney’s Camp Rock, and hit singles like “Year 3000.” The band then came out with four studio albums, releasing hit songs, such as “Lovebug,” “Burnin’ Up,” “S.O.S.,” “Paranoid,” “Pom Poms,” and “When You Look Me in the Eyes,” among others.
Due to “complications within the group,” the band split in 2013, with Nick and Joe pursuing solo music careers soon after.
In 2019, the brothers reunited, releasing their comeback single “Sucker” under their fifth album V. In May, they released The Album. – Rappler.com
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Enchanted River in Surigao del Sur reopens to visitors | Ysa Abad | 2/1/2024 10:57 | ENCHANTED RIVER. Tourists take photos from the observation deck at Enchanted River, Hinatuan town in Surigao del Sur.
Ivy Marie Mangadlao/RAPPLER
BUTUAN, Philippines – The popular Enchanted River of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur has finally reopened.
The local tourist attraction was temporarily closed to the public for nearly two weeks, following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the province in early December, and the impacts of Tropical Storm Kabayan.
It reopened on December 30.
The Enchanted River closed twice in December, accounting for 20 days in total.
The first closure was for over a week, from December 4 to 11. It reopened on December 12, but had to be closed to the public again from December 18 to 29 to give way to clearing operations due to Tropical Storm Kabayan.
The Hinatuan municipal government said the closure also allowed authorities to conduct a safety assessment of the area prior to reopening the site.
Hinatuan tourism officer Gemma Millan said the temporary closure of the tourist site cost about P1.5 million to P2 million in lost revenues for the local economy.
“This is a significant blow to the local economy, especially since we consider December as one of our peak seasons,” said Millan.
Entrance fees at Enchanted River are P100 for non-residents and P30 pesos for locals.
The Enchanted River, one of the most popular destinations in Caraga, is a key inclusion in Surigao del Sur tour packages. It is often featured alongside other renowned attractions such as Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig City and the Britania Group of Islands in San Agustin.
In December 2022, the local tourism office recorded a total of 19,018 tourist arrivals. – Rappler.com
Ivy Marie Mangadlao is an Aries Rufo Journalism fellow.
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Arrivederci, Motorino – NYC pizza shop leaves PH | Marguerite de Leon | 2/1/2024 19:23 | Motorino Pizza Philippines' Facebook
MANILA, Philippines – Brooklyn-born pizzeria Motorino has closed shop in the Philippines after almost 10 years, a Facebook post by Motorino Pizza Philippines announced on Monday, January 1.
“Grateful for nearly a decade of serving ‘New York’s Best Pizza’ Neopolitan-style in Manila, we’ve reached the end of our journey, having served our last pizza on December 31, 2023,” the post read.
“As of today, January 1, 2024, we close our doors with deep gratitude for your patronage. Grazie for being an integral part of our journey. Ciao!” it added.
According to an interview on Spot.ph, Motorino Pizza Philippines owner Eugene Lorenzana said, “We just decided to close Motorino simply due to the different taste and preference of the market in the Philippines.”
Motorino’s first set up shop in the Philippines in 2014 at Greenbelt 3. It then opened several more branches over the years: The Podium, Estancia, Alabang Town Center, and Ayala Malls Manila Bay. Its original store opened in Brooklyn, New York City in 2008. – Rappler.com
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Dwight Howard signs with Strong Group Philippines for 2024 Dubai tournament | jisaga0269 | 2/1/2024 23:18 | Dwight Howard.
Photo from Twitter/@NBA
MANILA, Philippines – Eight-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard is set to play for Strong Group in the 2024 Dubai International Basketball Championship, head coach Charles Tiu confirmed to Rappler on Tuesday, January 2.
Howard, most notable for his time with the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers, is set to arrive next week.
The three-time Defensive Player of the Year and one-time NBA champion is set to make the Philippines his first stop in his “World Smile Tour” – a concerted effort to crack a roster spot in the NBA, according to the Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Howard is set to join former Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Andray Blatche and ex-Oklahoma City Thunder guard Andre Roberson as the team’s reinforcements.
“We are excited for him to come and play for our team. It would be a great honor to have him. He can still play and wants to win,” Tiu said in a message.
“But of course until he actually gets here, I’m holding my breath,” he added.
Local talent such as UAAP Season 86 Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao and Francis Escandor from La Salle, and UP’s JD Cagulangan will also beef up the team as it prepares for the Dubai tournament slated this January 19 to 28.
Howard, who most recently played for Taoyuan Leopards of the T1 League in Taiwan, was able to sign with the team through Blatche, who played in the NBA for almost a decade.
“I had Andray Blatche help me recruit him, and I gave him a call, we spoke for some time had a good talk and figured he’d be a good fit for us,” said Tiu, who also calls the shots for the College of St. Benilde Blazers in the NCAA.
Last year, the Renaldo Balkman-led team was booted out of the quarterfinals with a 106-97 loss to Al Riyadi.
Other notable Strong Group signings throughout its run in Dubai are other former NBA players like Balkman, Nick Young, and Shabazz Muhammad. – Rappler.com
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Arrivederci, Motorino – NYC pizza shop leaves PH | Marguerite de Leon | 2/1/2024 19:23 | Motorino Pizza Philippines' Facebook
MANILA, Philippines – Brooklyn-born pizzeria Motorino has closed shop in the Philippines after almost 10 years, a Facebook post by Motorino Pizza Philippines announced on Monday, January 1.
“Grateful for nearly a decade of serving ‘New York’s Best Pizza’ Neopolitan-style in Manila, we’ve reached the end of our journey, having served our last pizza on December 31, 2023,” the post read.
“As of today, January 1, 2024, we close our doors with deep gratitude for your patronage. Grazie for being an integral part of our journey. Ciao!” it added.
According to an interview on Spot.ph, Motorino Pizza Philippines owner Eugene Lorenzana said, “We just decided to close Motorino simply due to the different taste and preference of the market in the Philippines.”
Motorino’s first set up shop in the Philippines in 2014 at Greenbelt 3. It then opened several more branches over the years: The Podium, Estancia, Alabang Town Center, and Ayala Malls Manila Bay. Its original store opened in Brooklyn, New York City in 2008. – Rappler.com
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Major power outage hits Western Visayas | The wRap | Jaira Roxas | 2/1/2024 22:38 | Today on Rappler – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
A power outage hit major cities and provinces in Western Visayas Tuesday, January 2. The NGCP says all the power plants in Panay Island shut down at around 2:27 pm.
Starting January 1, senior residents in the EMBO barangays no longer have access to benefits from the Makati City government’s programs. This means their Blu Cards are now voided – except for use as a valid ID and debit card.
South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is stabbed in the neck during a visit to Busan Tuesday, January 2. He was airlifted to Seoul, after a man attacked him while touring the site of a proposed airport.
Residents say Israeli aircraft and tanks stepped up strikes in southern Gaza since the new year, after it announced plans to pull back some troops. – Rappler.com
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Enchanted River in Surigao del Sur reopens to visitors | Ysa Abad | 2/1/2024 10:57 | ENCHANTED RIVER. Tourists take photos from the observation deck at Enchanted River, Hinatuan town in Surigao del Sur.
Ivy Marie Mangadlao/RAPPLER
BUTUAN, Philippines – The popular Enchanted River of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur has finally reopened.
The local tourist attraction was temporarily closed to the public for nearly two weeks, following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the province in early December, and the impacts of Tropical Storm Kabayan.
It reopened on December 30.
The Enchanted River closed twice in December, accounting for 20 days in total.
The first closure was for over a week, from December 4 to 11. It reopened on December 12, but had to be closed to the public again from December 18 to 29 to give way to clearing operations due to Tropical Storm Kabayan.
The Hinatuan municipal government said the closure also allowed authorities to conduct a safety assessment of the area prior to reopening the site.
Hinatuan tourism officer Gemma Millan said the temporary closure of the tourist site cost about P1.5 million to P2 million in lost revenues for the local economy.
“This is a significant blow to the local economy, especially since we consider December as one of our peak seasons,” said Millan.
Entrance fees at Enchanted River are P100 for non-residents and P30 pesos for locals.
The Enchanted River, one of the most popular destinations in Caraga, is a key inclusion in Surigao del Sur tour packages. It is often featured alongside other renowned attractions such as Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig City and the Britania Group of Islands in San Agustin.
In December 2022, the local tourism office recorded a total of 19,018 tourist arrivals. – Rappler.com
Ivy Marie Mangadlao is an Aries Rufo Journalism fellow.
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Thieves tunnel into Ozamiz City mall, steal at least P41 million in jewelry, cash | Victor Barreiro Jr. | 2/1/2024 21:42 | HEIST. Police release pictures taken by CCTV of the thieves who tunneled into Gaisano Shopping mall in Ozamiz City on January 1, 2024.
Photo supplied by PNP Ozamiz
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Thieves tunneled into a popular shopping mall in Ozamiz City on Sunday, December 31, and carted away more than P41 million in cash and jewelry.
Major Euridecy Revillas, deputy chief of Ozamiz City, said they arrested April John Permanhil, a carnival worker whom they suspect helped the thieves in tunneling to Gaisano Shopping mall on New Year’s Eve.
Revillas said they are also looking into three persons of interest who were caught on CCTV cameras breaking into the vaults of GKC Jewelry Shop and Oro Italia Fine Jewelry Shop within the mall.
Revillas said the thieves also forcibly opened the MetroBank automated teller machine (ATM) inside the mall.
“The starting point of the tunnel was in the carnival inside a private compound beside the mall,” Revillas said.
He added that, from the carnival, the thieves dug into a cemented drainage canal and made their way inside the mall through the food court area.
Once they were inside, Revillas said the thieves forcibly opened the MetroBank ATM and took P80,000 in cash.
Revillas said the thieves also broke into the vault of GKC Jewelry Shop carting P1,721,903 in jewelries and money, and also also took P40 million in jewelries and cash from Oro Italia fine Jewelry Shop.
Revillas said a forensics team from the Philippine National Police is processing the crime scene. – Rappler.com
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Ticket prices, seat plan: Jonas Brothers Live in Manila 2024 | Marguerite de Leon | 2/1/2024 19:33 | Jonas Brothers' Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Heads up, Jo Bros fans! The ticket prices and seat plan for the Jonas Brothers’ upcoming Manila concert have been released by concert promoter Ovation Productions on Tuesday, January 2.
Tickets for the February 22 concert at the Mall of Asia Arena will be on sale beginning January 6, 12 pm, at smtickets.com. Prices range from P2,500 for Gen Ad to P18,500 for SVIP, plus ticketing charges. Both SVIP and VIP are standing room only.
Seat plan and ticket prices for Jonas Brothers live in Manila on February 22 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Tickets on sale January 6, 12nn at https://t.co/acTZcWszLf pic.twitter.com/UO6SJw0EQr
The three-member pop-rock band will be “celebrating five albums” during their concert. The band was last in Manila for an October 2012 concert also at the SM Mall of Asia.
The Jonas Brothers – made up of Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas – formed in 2005 and reached peak fame with their roles in Disney’s Camp Rock, and hit singles like “Year 3000.” The band then came out with four studio albums, releasing hit songs, such as “Lovebug,” “Burnin’ Up,” “S.O.S.,” “Paranoid,” “Pom Poms,” and “When You Look Me in the Eyes,” among others.
Due to “complications within the group,” the band split in 2013, with Nick and Joe pursuing solo music careers soon after.
In 2019, the brothers reunited, releasing their comeback single “Sucker” under their fifth album V. In May, they released The Album. – Rappler.com
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CHED to stop senior high school in state, local colleges | The wRap | Cara Angeline Oliver | 4/1/2024 22:29 | Today on Rappler – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
The Commission on Higher Education orders state universities and colleges and local universities and colleges to discontinue offering the senior high school program beginning next school year as ‘there was no legal basis to fund it.’
The Chinese military conducts routine patrols with its naval and air forces in the South China Sea from January 3 to 4. This, as the Philippines and the United States carry out their second joint patrol in less than two months in the disputed waters, a move that likely irked Beijing.
There are no reported Filipino casualties so far from the powerful January 1 earthquake in Japan.
Former NBA star Jeremy Lin showers Filipino players and fans with praise in his return to the Philippines for the first time in 10 years.
Elvis Presley fans will be able to catch a glimpse of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll perform once again later this year, thanks to virtual reality.
Britney Spears debunks rumors she is preparing to release an album. On Thursday, January 4, Britney says in an Instagram post, she has no plans to return to the music industry adding, she enjoys writing songs for other artists and prefers it that way.
Alden Richards once again reiterates, he and former onscreen partner Maine Mendoza have never been married, nor do they share a ‘love child.’ — Rappler.com
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Alex Eala, Francis Alcantara score key wins in different doubles tournaments | jisaga0269 | 4/1/2024 21:12 | VALIANT EFFORT. Alex Eala and Francis Alcantara celebrate a point during their Asian Games semifinal match.
PSC-POC MEDIA POOL
MANILA, Philippines – Hangzhou Asian Games mixed doubles bronze medalists Alex Eala and Francis Casey Alcantara both secured quarterfinal victories on Thursday, January 4, to advance to the semifinals of their respective tournaments in the pro circuit.
Fresh off a thrilling 5-7, 6-0, 10-6 win in the opener over ex-world No. 1 doubles player Sara Errani of Italy and Renata Zarazua of Mexico, Eala and Laura Pigossi of Brazil caught a lucky break in the quarterfinals, prevailing via walkover against fourth seeds Anna Bondar of Italy and Celine Naef of Switzerland in the $164,000 WTA Workday Canberra International in Australia.
The Filipina and Brazilian tandem will vie for a finals spot against the winner of the clash between top seeds Nao Hibino of Japan and Irina Khromacheva of Russia versus Australians Kaylah McPhee and Astra Sharma.
This is Eala’s best finish thus far in a WTA doubles event. The only other time she played in a WTA-level doubles event was last October in the Jasmin Open in Tunisia where she and Oana Gavrila of Romania were booted out in the opening round.
Over in Thailand, Alcantara and Kaichi Uchida of Japan toppled the higher ranked pair of Hans Hach Verdugo of Mexico and Jisung Nam of South Korea, 6-2, 7-5, in the round of eight of the ATP Challenger Bangkok Open 1 in Nonthaburi.
Alcantara, now ranked at a career high 211 in the world, and Uchida, at No. 231, came in as the underdogs against Hach Verdugo, previously 60th in the world who has played multiple times in the grand slam main draws, and Nam, ranked 127th in the world.
But Alcantara and Uchida jumped the gun on their fancied foes right in the opening set, erecting a 3-1 lead which they would not relinquish until they closed out the first set in the eight game.
Hach Verdugo and Nam came out for the second set determined to extend the match to a super tiebreak. The Mexican and South Korea tandem jumped to a 4-1 lead and appeared in total control but Alcantara and Uchida refused to give up easily.
The Filipino and Japanese duo captured the next three games to level the score at 4-4. After another tie at 5-5, Alcantara and Uchida broke serve in the 11th game and held serve the next game to end the match after an hour and ten minutes.
Alcantara and Uchida will have to deal with a possible hostile crowd in the semifinals as they are set to face unseeded Thai bets Pruchya Isaro, who incidentally is Alcantara’s former doubles partner, and 19-year-old Maximus Jones on Friday for a shot at playing in the finals over the weekend. – Rappler.com
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Jeremy Lin relishes Manila return, says PH a ‘top, top, top destination’ for players | jisaga0269 | 4/1/2024 18:05 | LINSANITY. New Taipei Kings guard Jeremy Lin handles the ball past Meralco Bolts guard Bong Quinto in the 2023 East Asia Super League
East Asia Super League
MANILA, Philippines – Former NBA player Jeremy Lin was a man on a mission in his return to Manila on Wednesday, January 3, as he led the New Taipei Kings to an 89-77 rout of the Meralco Bolts in the 2023-2024 East Asia Super League (EASL) at the PhilSports Arena.
Despite being 35 years old, the spitfire guard showed why NBA players are always a cut above the rest regardless of age, dropping 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists in just 29 minutes to bury the Meralco home team’s comeback attempt in the second half and lift New Taipei to a 3-0 record.
After the game, however, Lin made sure to reciprocate the love Filipino fans showed him in his brief stay – his first in the Philippines since 2013, when he was still a member of the Houston Rockets squad who played an NBA preseason game against the Indiana Pacers at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“It’s crazy. It’s just crazy,” Lin said in the postgame presser.
“A lot of former teammates, when they talk about the summer or off-season, like, ‘Oh where are we going to do our endorsements? We have to do this and that, where are we going?,’ and the Philippines is a top, top, top destination that everybody wants to be at, that’s for sure.”
Lin surely felt the love even as a visiting player, as he was cheered loudly by Filipino fans whenever he scored or made a big play against the Philippine team Meralco, and was mobbed for autograph and photo opportunities before and after the game.
Beyond the fandom, the former Los Angeles Lakers role player also praised the Filipino ballers’ renowned affinity for hard-nosed, physical play, and even singled out Bolts forward Cliff Hodge for his defensive hustle from buzzer to buzzer.
“They play physical. Cliff Hodge is a great example,” Lin continued. “He plays the [power forward] position at 6-foot-4, but I can see why.”
“He’s very physical, he’s smart, he does his job really, really well, and he makes everything difficult for you. He just plays hard and I think that’s the best type of basketball you want to play.”
Given Meralco and TNT’s poor records so far in the EASL, it is unlikely that Lin and New Taipei will again play a Philippine team for the duration of the league’s home-and-away season.
Surely, however, both Filipino fans and players have made a good enough impression to make Lin’s experience a fond one to look back on down the road. – Rappler.com
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Retirement of 2 officials sets off DA leadership reshuffle | Iya Gozum | 4/1/2024 20:54 | MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) welcomed the new year with a major leadership reshuffle, following the retirement of Undersecretaries Domingo Panganiban and Leocadio Sebastian.
In a radio interview on Thursday, January 4, assistant secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said Panganiban’s term ended on December 31.
Meanwhile, De Mesa said, Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian was also leaving by the end of January. Sebastian led the DA’s rice industry development.
Sebastian was appointed by DA chief Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. as a member of the secretary’s Technical Advisory Group through Special Order No. 1.
Panganiban, 84, was agriculture chief himself under former presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He returned to the DA as senior undersecretary while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was concurrent agriculture chief.
Marcos left the post in November last year, when he appointed fishing industry tycoon Francisco Tiu Laurel.
In a statement on Thursday, the DA said agriculture chief Tiu Laurel issued special orders for the changes in leadership “to better harness their talents and vast experience.”
De Mesa clarified in the interview that there were no controversies surrounding Panganiban and Sebastian’s retirement.
Sebastian told Rappler that it was a voluntary retirement for his part after 28 years of government service. Sebastian started working in government back in 1983 for the Philippine Tobacco Research and Training Center. From 1968 to 1988, he worked at the National Tobacco Administration, an attached corporation of the DA. He spent the next ten years at the Philippine Rice Research Institute before working abroad. Upon his return to the Philippines, Sebastian returned to government work in 2021.
In the past year, the two undersecretaries have been prominent in congressional hearings regarding issues in price hikes of agricultural products. Panganiban was one of the officials who signed the controversial Sugar Order No. 6 which authorized the importation of 440,000 metric tons of sugar back in February 2023.
“Sariling decision po nila, opo… Na mag-retire na po,” De Mesa said. (It was their own decision, yes. To retire already.)
“Ano naman po ito mga– ‘yung iba po ay dahil may bago tayong administration so part po ‘yun ng mga kortesiya,” he added.
(These are– others were compelled because of the new administration so that’s part of the courtesies.)
In light of the retirements, Tiu Laurel appointed those in leadership in other positions, with some serving in concurrent capacity to their original roles. Here is a list of the changes:
The changes are already reflected in the DA’s online directory of officials as of Thursday.
“Further changes in the DA leadership are likely given the temporary nature of certain appointments and the additional work load placed on the shoulder of certain officials,” the statement read. – Rappler.com
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The decision to retire is good and practical for both officials. On the part of USEC Domingo Panganiban, he had been DA Secretary himself under two previous Presidents; hence, he could not ask for more. But on the part of USEC Leocadio Sebastian, it is a different matter. While he has the education, experience, competence, and dedication (with I believe – a CESO eligibility), he was still deprived of the highest position in the agency. This is a lesson to other officials in the Government – perhaps it is not good to give 100% of yourself to Government Service – it may not be worth it all in the end.
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MMFF 2023 to surpass P700-M target, as festival offers hope for Philippine film industry | gdecastro0289 | 4/1/2024 19:47 | Star Cinema's Facebook
MANILA, Philippines – After a dismal 2023 for most Philippine movies, the country’s biggest annual film festival has indicated that not all is lost on the local cinema industry.
The annual Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), which started on Christmas Day, December 25, reached its target of P700 million combined for the 10 participating movies on January 2, Tuesday.
“It’s [box office] much higher than the P501 million in 2022,” Romando Artes, chairman of the MMFF, told One Balita PH on Thursday, January 4, adding that they expect to easily surpass the P700-million target since people can still watch until Sunday.
Unofficially leading the box office is Rewind, the comeback romance tearjerker of real-life couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, also known as DongYan. Other films in the festival are: Firefly, GomBurZa, Mallari, When I Met You in Tokyo, Family of Two, Penduko, Becky and Badette, Kampon, Broken Heart’s Trip.
Artes attributed the success of this year’s festival to better quality films, as well as the active promotion by the celebrities of the movies on the ground.
“Ang tingin kong malaking factor ay magaganda yung pelikula (I think the big factor is the quality of the films),” Artes said.
In previous editions of the MMFF pre-pandemic, escapist movies by comedians Vice Ganda and Vic Sotto were often the top grossers but were often criticized for their quality. This year, both do not have any entry in the 49th edition of the MMFF.
Jose Javier Reyes, a juror in this year’s festival, praised the 2023 entries, saying the “MMFF should be a showcase of what can be done with Philippine cinema.”
“With this year’s assortment of entries, a glimpse of that promise has been fulfilled with the hope that 2024 will offer greater opportunities for producers to make great films that the Filipino audience will support with pride,” said Reyes, also a film director, in a December 27 blog.
Although this year’s festival has the same mix of romance, comedy, horror, drama, and fantasy, the addition of historical film GomBurZa gave a fresh option for moviegoers. Best picture film Firefly, produced by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs, was also not the formulaic fantasy movie that catered to children.
In an earlier post, Reyes had said that “the road map of Filipino cinema in the year to come can be assessed by the patronage of the local audiences to go out and see their Christmas movies again.”
The Philippine film industry has been in dire straits for several years now, especially as cinema-goers turn to streaming platforms instead of watching in theaters. Only a handful of local movies make money, compared to the industry’s heyday in the sixties and seventies when it was producing around 200 films per year, with big theaters often filled with patrons.
The overall situation is even worse when the local industry is compared to what South Korea has done with its Hallyu wave taking the world by storm.
In an interview with Rappler on Thursday, Jose Maria Bartolome, a former GMA Network consultant who now teaches broadcast communications at the UP College of Mass Communications, attributed Rewind’s success to its main film producer Star Cinema’s knowledge of what young Filipino moviegoers want to see.
Dantes and Rivera are Kapuso stars but this movie is co-produced by Star Cinema, the cinema outfit of GMA’s former rival, ABS-CBN Corporation, with APT Entertainment and Dantes’ Agostodos Pictures.
“Kabisado na nila [Star Cinema] ang formula (They’re already familiar with the formula),” he said. “Meron nang parokyano (They already have [regular] patrons).”
Among the 10 films in this year’s MMFF, Bartolome said it’s also Rewind that has the “star value” for the current young movie-going audience. Rivera, who rose to fame via the hit 2007 teleserye Marimar, is 39, while husband Dantes is 43.
Dantes and Rivera are also active on the popular social media platform, TikTok, with Rivera having 8 million followers and Dantes with over a million. Their dance videos often rack up millions in views.
Another comeback romance movie in this year’s festival, When I Met You in Tokyo, is topbilled by showbiz veterans, Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon. Now in their senior years, their movie isn’t doing as well as Rewind despite similar promotional compaigns such as mall tours.
Bartolome also cited the success of Star Cinema’s romance movies The Hows of Us in 2018, followed by Hello, Love, Goodbye in 2019. Both earned over P800 million each at the box office and are the Philippines’ highest grossing movies.
The Hows of Us stars Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, which broke up officially in November after an 11-year relationship. In Hello, Love, Goodbye, Bernardo was paired with GMA’s biggest star, Alden Richards.
The breakup of KathNiel as well as the split of another popular Kapamilya couple, Kim Chiu with Xian Lim, may have been a factor also in Rewind’s success, with Filipinos wanting to see a still real-life couple on the big screen.
Bartolome also noted other Star Cinema movies that did well in the box office like the romance films of John Lloyd with several actresses, such as Bea Alonzo, Sarah Geronimo, and Jennylyn Mercado.
Reyes, meantime, urged Philippine film producers to continue upgrading the quality of local films, and to “cater to an audience over and beyond the margins of our national territory.”
“We should stretch the boundaries to an international market, turning our popular culture into an integral part of the soft economy of the country with the hope of globalizing our cinematic output,” he said in another blog post. – Rappler.com
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Jiro Manio sells Gawad Urian trophy for ‘Magnifico’ performance on ‘Pinoy Pawnstars’ | jreyes0314 | 4/1/2024 20:20 | TROPHY SOLD. Former child actor Jiro Manio sells his Gawad Urian trophy for his performance in the 2003 film 'Magnifico' to Boss Toyo of the YouTube series 'Pinoy Pawnstars.'
Boss Toyo Production's YouTube page
MANILA, Philippines – Former child actor Jiro Manio sold his Gawad Urian Best Actor Award trophy for his performance in the 2003 film Magnifico.
In an episode of the YouTube series Pinoy Pawnstars on Tuesday, January 2, Manio showed his Gawad Urian trophy to showrunner Boss Toyo to gauge how much he could sell it for.
While Manio had hoped to sell the trophy for P500,000, Boss Toyo explained that if he were to purchase Manio’s trophy for that price, he would have to consider whether any of his buyers would be willing to pay that much for it in the next few years.
Boss Toyo named P50,000 as a starting price, but the two eventually settled on a final price of P75,000.
“No’ng napanood kita, sabi ng utol ko na magtatayo ka raw ng museum. Naisip ko, ‘Sana mapabilang ako do’n sa mga dating artista na nakatanggap ng award,'” Manio told Boss Toyo.
(When I watched your videos, my sibling told me that you plan to establish a museum. I thought, “I hope I can be part of the section of former celebrities who received an award before.”)
Boss Toyo also detailed the respect he holds for Manio, who he believes made significant contributions to the Filipino film industry.
The former child actor took home the Gawad Urian award for Best Actor in 2004 for starring in Magnifico. The film follows an obedient little boy named Magnifico who strives to raise money to fund his dying grandmother’s coffin and his sister’s wheelchair.
Manio also raked in awards from other major award-giving bodies in the country like the FAP Awards and FAMAS for his performances in different films.
Manio last appeared in the GMA series Little Star, which ran until February 2011, and in the film Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To!), which premiered in December 2010.
In 2011, Manio entered rehab for drug use. Four years later, in 2015, he was spotted wandering the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for days as he supposedly had nowhere to go.
He had also expressed that he has no plans of returning to the showbiz industry.
In 2020, Marikina City police filed frustrated homicide charges against Manio for allegedly stabbing a man.
Manio currently works as a volunteer at the Department of Health’s Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Bataan. He has two daughters. – Rappler.com
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‘No words to express the devastation and heartbreak’: Tippy Dos Santos mourns passing of mother | Ysa Abad | 4/1/2024 13:26 | Tippy Dos Santos' Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Singer-actress Tippy dos Santos asked for understanding as their family continues to grieve over the loss of her mother, Happy, who figured in a vehicular accident in South Korea.
Tippy’s parents Happy and John were involved in an accident while they were in transit to their hotel shortly after arriving in South Korea on December 27. Happy was brought to the ICU where she lapsed into a coma. On December 30, Tippy’s family announced through Happy’s social media accounts that she had passed away.
“We will never forget the love and happiness that she brought into our lives, and we know that she has touched many others the same way,” the statement read.
In an Instagram post on Monday, January 1, Tippy also expressed her gratitude towards those who reached out to her during this ordeal.
She added: “There are really no words to express the devastation and heartbreak the loss of my mom has caused us. Please bear with us as we try to figure out how to live without mama physically in our lives.”
The singer-actress continued that their family is also trying to “process the tragedy” that cost Happy’s life.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Tippy disclosed other details about the incident. She recalled that she was asleep when her dad started calling her.
“He just told me na your mom and I got into an accident. They were just waiting for an ambulance and I remember he told me that he was not sure my mom was breathing,” she said.
Tippy shared that she immediately started preparing to fly to South Korea. By 7 pm, she arrived there with her aunt and her aunt’s husband.
When they arrived at the hospital, Tippy shared that the doctors told her that her mother suffered from rib bleeding, fractures, head injury, and brain edema, while her dad sustained five to six fractured ribs and minor abdominal injury/trauma.
“What was most heartbreaking the first time I saw her was how she’s not responsive and her tongue was just out and she was on a ventilator,” she told ABS-CBN News.
Tippy said that it was on December 30 when the doctors told their family that there’s no longer brain stem activity in Happy.
“They told us there was really no hope for her,” she said. “That she was not gonna recover from the injury. And that’s when they asked us to prepare and to really just wait.”
She added that the South Korean police are currently investigating the incident. – Rappler.com
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Jiro Manio sells Gawad Urian trophy for ‘Magnifico’ performance on ‘Pinoy Pawnstars’ | jreyes0314 | 4/1/2024 20:20 | TROPHY SOLD. Former child actor Jiro Manio sells his Gawad Urian trophy for his performance in the 2003 film 'Magnifico' to Boss Toyo of the YouTube series 'Pinoy Pawnstars.'
Boss Toyo Production's YouTube page
MANILA, Philippines – Former child actor Jiro Manio sold his Gawad Urian Best Actor Award trophy for his performance in the 2003 film Magnifico.
In an episode of the YouTube series Pinoy Pawnstars on Tuesday, January 2, Manio showed his Gawad Urian trophy to showrunner Boss Toyo to gauge how much he could sell it for.
While Manio had hoped to sell the trophy for P500,000, Boss Toyo explained that if he were to purchase Manio’s trophy for that price, he would have to consider whether any of his buyers would be willing to pay that much for it in the next few years.
Boss Toyo named P50,000 as a starting price, but the two eventually settled on a final price of P75,000.
“No’ng napanood kita, sabi ng utol ko na magtatayo ka raw ng museum. Naisip ko, ‘Sana mapabilang ako do’n sa mga dating artista na nakatanggap ng award,'” Manio told Boss Toyo.
(When I watched your videos, my sibling told me that you plan to establish a museum. I thought, “I hope I can be part of the section of former celebrities who received an award before.”)
Boss Toyo also detailed the respect he holds for Manio, who he believes made significant contributions to the Filipino film industry.
The former child actor took home the Gawad Urian award for Best Actor in 2004 for starring in Magnifico. The film follows an obedient little boy named Magnifico who strives to raise money to fund his dying grandmother’s coffin and his sister’s wheelchair.
Manio also raked in awards from other major award-giving bodies in the country like the FAP Awards and FAMAS for his performances in different films.
Manio last appeared in the GMA series Little Star, which ran until February 2011, and in the film Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To!), which premiered in December 2010.
In 2011, Manio entered rehab for drug use. Four years later, in 2015, he was spotted wandering the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for days as he supposedly had nowhere to go.
He had also expressed that he has no plans of returning to the showbiz industry.
In 2020, Marikina City police filed frustrated homicide charges against Manio for allegedly stabbing a man.
Manio currently works as a volunteer at the Department of Health’s Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Bataan. He has two daughters. – Rappler.com
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LGUs, businesses call for probe into Western Visayas blackout | jsitchon0312 | 4/1/2024 19:15 | BLACKOUT. Residents and workers do their tasks under candlelight after a massive blackout hits Iloilo City on January 2.
Arnold Almacen/Iloilo City Mayor's Office
CEBU, Philippines – Local governments and business groups have called on Congress to investigate the power outages which have severely affected parts of Western Visayas since Tuesday, January 2.
Various city officials like Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas have already expressed their dismay over the isolation of the islands due to the power interruptions and were concerned over the impact of the outage on educational institutions, hospitals, and even local government operations.
According to its Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion (LEDIP), the Iloilo City lost some P400 million to P500 million in the first two working days of 2024.
Businesses have also felt the brunt of the power outages on their day-to-day operations and transactions.
“The power blackout has, regrettably, disrupted normal operations for numerous businesses, hindering productivity and causing inconvenience to our residents,” the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (ILEDF) said in a statement.
On Thursday morning, January 4, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. called a meeting with neighboring governors and city officials in Western Visayas, and representatives of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the Department of Energy, and the Energy Regulatory Commission to address the region-wide power outage.
For Iloilo City District Representative Julienne “Jam” Baronda, the blackout warrants an investigation by the legislature.
“The power outages that sent the entire Panay island and portions of Negros Island into darkness since yesterday warrant scrutiny by the House of Representatives,” Baronda said in a statement on Wednesday, January 3.
Baronda said that the Committee on Energy (COE) still hasn’t concluded its investigation on the April 2023 regional blackout and yet another incident is burdening residents in the region.
“It seems that those responsible and accountable have yet to learn their lesson,” she added.
In a press release on Wednesday, the NGCP said that power outage this week which isolated Panay Island from the Visayas grid was due to the tripping of multiple power plants.
“The unscheduled maintenance shutdowns of the largest power plants in Panay island was the primary cause of the power interruption,” the organization added.
According to NGCP’s data, 451 megawatts (MW) or 68.75% of the 656 MW total in-island generation of the Panay sub-grid was lost during the incident.
As of 11 am on Thursday, NGCP announced in an update that Panay power plants were serving 209.5 MW and are augmented with 32.6 MW from other sources in the region.
NGCP spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza said in an interview on DWIZ 882AM that a total of 6 plants were simultaneously hit by unplanned outages.
As of this writing, the investigation into the cause of the power trips is still ongoing.
“Until makita namin yung buong larawan ng January 2, ipagbabangain natin yung datos ni NGCP sa reports ng mga power plant…mahirap po tayong magspeculate at this point,” Alabanza said.
(Until we can see the full picture of what happened on January 2, we will review NGCP’s data with the reports of the power plants…it’s difficult to speculate at this point) – Rappler.com
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Itadakimasu! New dishes to try at food hall Kiwami | Steph Arnaldo | 4/1/2024 16:01 | MANILA, Philippines – The Standard Group food hall Kiwami isn’t just ringing in the new year with a second branch in Alabang Town Center – Kiwami is also introducing new dishes to the menu, helmed by the group’s renowned Japanese master chefs!
Kiwami’s first branch in Bonifacio Global City – which opened in 2021 – is well-loved for its Japan-inspired dining concept that houses four master kitchens in one communal space, each stall dedicated to authentic specialty Japanese fare – Yabu: House of Katsu, Ippudo Ramen, Hannosuke Tempura, and Yakitori Hachibei, plus the famous Hokkaido Soft Cream.
Here are a few new dishes from Kiwami to look forward to this 2024!
Known for its high-quality tonkatsu, Yabu has been around since 2011, operating under the helm of Michelin Bib Gourmand Chef Kazuya Takeda. It introduced its newest dish in December – the filling Tornado Omelette Curry with Rosu Katsu – which precedes Yabu’s upcoming new Japanese curry line this year.
Moist Japanese rice is topped with a beautiful “tornado omelette” that’s runny and silky – served beside Yabu’s signature rosu katsu cutlet that features tender and moist pork fried in its distinctly light, delicately crispy breading made from in-house panko breadcrumbs.
The curry sauce itself is thick, leaning towards a sweeter flavor profile. You can adjust the spice level as you wish, and even opt for chicken katsu instead. It’s served with the usual Yabu works – cabbage, miso soup, rice, tonkotsu sauce, and fruits, alongside Yabu’s table sauces and dressings.
Master chef Shinya Kaneko – Tokyo’s so-called “leader in tempura” – has produced a new Cold Soba with Tempura dish that’s as authentic as they come. Perfectly chewy soba noodles are dipped in a light but savory soba sauce, made tastier with the addition of freshly-grated wasabi, quail egg, and spring onions on the side.
Hot and cold temperatures merge well here, as the refreshing noodle dish complements the golden-brown, crispy-light seafood tempura on the side (shrimp, squid, and fish), made with sesame oil and specialty flour, and served with Hannosuke’s heirloom tendon sauce.
In November, Kiwami’s yakitori stall – Hachibei – introduced new Baked Miso Hokkaido Oysters and Baked Hokkaido Oysters Rockefeller to its roster of perfectly char-grilled seafood and meats. It is part of Kiwami’s Signatures Menu.
Using the authentic Binchotan Charcoal Grill of Hachibei, these tasty oysters come out heavily topped with an umami-rich miso custard that’s torched until slightly smoky, generously covering a fresh and meaty Hokkaido oyster that’s air-flown from Japan. The richness of the custard pairs well with the fresh oyster; there was no salty or “fishy” after-taste present.
There’s always room for dessert! Kiwami’s crowd-favorite Hokkaido Soft Cream Sundaes come in two new flavors – Maple Honeycomb and Hokkaido Boba, each one served with a lengua de gato stick. Both carry just the right amount of sweetness, since the soft-serve ice cream itself isn’t overly sweet, but more milky and creamy.
If you prefer crunchy textures, the Maple Honeycomb is your best bet; but if you prefer the chewiness of tapioca pearls, Hokkaido Boba will do. Between the two, the former is sweeter.
For oldie but goodie dishes to try, there’s Ippudo Ramen’s Mushroom Ramen (a vegetarian-friendly option that’s rich, creamy, and infused with truffle oil) and the spicy Tantanmen that isn’t for the faint of heart.
Hachibei’s Butabara Platter of Shio, Tare, Miso, Yuzukosho, and Sukiyaki pork skewers are great for sharing too – each juicy and soft pork stick is char-grilled at the binchotan charcoal grill for a kick of smokiness. Although simply seasoned, the distinct flavor of each pork skewer is prominent. – Rappler.com
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MMFF 2023 to surpass P700-M target, as festival offers hope for Philippine film industry | gdecastro0289 | 4/1/2024 19:47 | Star Cinema's Facebook
MANILA, Philippines – After a dismal 2023 for most Philippine movies, the country’s biggest annual film festival has indicated that not all is lost on the local cinema industry.
The annual Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), which started on Christmas Day, December 25, reached its target of P700 million combined for the 10 participating movies on January 2, Tuesday.
“It’s [box office] much higher than the P501 million in 2022,” Romando Artes, chairman of the MMFF, told One Balita PH on Thursday, January 4, adding that they expect to easily surpass the P700-million target since people can still watch until Sunday.
Unofficially leading the box office is Rewind, the comeback romance tearjerker of real-life couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, also known as DongYan. Other films in the festival are: Firefly, GomBurZa, Mallari, When I Met You in Tokyo, Family of Two, Penduko, Becky and Badette, Kampon, Broken Heart’s Trip.
Artes attributed the success of this year’s festival to better quality films, as well as the active promotion by the celebrities of the movies on the ground.
“Ang tingin kong malaking factor ay magaganda yung pelikula (I think the big factor is the quality of the films),” Artes said.
In previous editions of the MMFF pre-pandemic, escapist movies by comedians Vice Ganda and Vic Sotto were often the top grossers but were often criticized for their quality. This year, both do not have any entry in the 49th edition of the MMFF.
Jose Javier Reyes, a juror in this year’s festival, praised the 2023 entries, saying the “MMFF should be a showcase of what can be done with Philippine cinema.”
“With this year’s assortment of entries, a glimpse of that promise has been fulfilled with the hope that 2024 will offer greater opportunities for producers to make great films that the Filipino audience will support with pride,” said Reyes, also a film director, in a December 27 blog.
Although this year’s festival has the same mix of romance, comedy, horror, drama, and fantasy, the addition of historical film GomBurZa gave a fresh option for moviegoers. Best picture film Firefly, produced by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs, was also not the formulaic fantasy movie that catered to children.
In an earlier post, Reyes had said that “the road map of Filipino cinema in the year to come can be assessed by the patronage of the local audiences to go out and see their Christmas movies again.”
The Philippine film industry has been in dire straits for several years now, especially as cinema-goers turn to streaming platforms instead of watching in theaters. Only a handful of local movies make money, compared to the industry’s heyday in the sixties and seventies when it was producing around 200 films per year, with big theaters often filled with patrons.
The overall situation is even worse when the local industry is compared to what South Korea has done with its Hallyu wave taking the world by storm.
In an interview with Rappler on Thursday, Jose Maria Bartolome, a former GMA Network consultant who now teaches broadcast communications at the UP College of Mass Communications, attributed Rewind’s success to its main film producer Star Cinema’s knowledge of what young Filipino moviegoers want to see.
Dantes and Rivera are Kapuso stars but this movie is co-produced by Star Cinema, the cinema outfit of GMA’s former rival, ABS-CBN Corporation, with APT Entertainment and Dantes’ Agostodos Pictures.
“Kabisado na nila [Star Cinema] ang formula (They’re already familiar with the formula),” he said. “Meron nang parokyano (They already have [regular] patrons).”
Among the 10 films in this year’s MMFF, Bartolome said it’s also Rewind that has the “star value” for the current young movie-going audience. Rivera, who rose to fame via the hit 2007 teleserye Marimar, is 39, while husband Dantes is 43.
Dantes and Rivera are also active on the popular social media platform, TikTok, with Rivera having 8 million followers and Dantes with over a million. Their dance videos often rack up millions in views.
Another comeback romance movie in this year’s festival, When I Met You in Tokyo, is topbilled by showbiz veterans, Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon. Now in their senior years, their movie isn’t doing as well as Rewind despite similar promotional compaigns such as mall tours.
Bartolome also cited the success of Star Cinema’s romance movies The Hows of Us in 2018, followed by Hello, Love, Goodbye in 2019. Both earned over P800 million each at the box office and are the Philippines’ highest grossing movies.
The Hows of Us stars Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, which broke up officially in November after an 11-year relationship. In Hello, Love, Goodbye, Bernardo was paired with GMA’s biggest star, Alden Richards.
The breakup of KathNiel as well as the split of another popular Kapamilya couple, Kim Chiu with Xian Lim, may have been a factor also in Rewind’s success, with Filipinos wanting to see a still real-life couple on the big screen.
Bartolome also noted other Star Cinema movies that did well in the box office like the romance films of John Lloyd with several actresses, such as Bea Alonzo, Sarah Geronimo, and Jennylyn Mercado.
Reyes, meantime, urged Philippine film producers to continue upgrading the quality of local films, and to “cater to an audience over and beyond the margins of our national territory.”
“We should stretch the boundaries to an international market, turning our popular culture into an integral part of the soft economy of the country with the hope of globalizing our cinematic output,” he said in another blog post. – Rappler.com
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RESULTS: August 2023 civil service examination | clescudero0258 | 4/1/2024 19:32 | The following is a press release from the Civil Service Commission.
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has announced the topnotchers in the Career Service Examination-Pen and Paper Test (CSE-PPT) conducted nationwide on August 20, 2023.
Patricia D. Victa from the National Capital Region (NCR) topped the Professional level with a rating of 93.60, while Leonard Brian E. Nicolas, also from NCR, topped the Sub-Professional level with a rating of 90.83.
Completing the list of topnotchers in the Professional level are:
Meanwhile, the rest of the top passers in the Subprofessional level are:
The list of passers in the August 20, 2023 CSE-PPT may be accessed through the widget found on the left side of the CSC website. Alternatively, examinees may go directly to the CSC Examination Portal to view the results.
Here is the list of regional performances in order of passing rate:
The CSC Examination, Recruitment, and Placement Office advised examinees to communicate with the CSC Regional Office concerned on the schedule, requirements, and procedure in claiming their certificate of eligibility.
The Career Service Professional Eligibility qualifies individuals for permanent appointment to both first level (clerical) and second level (technical) positions within the career service that do not involve practice of profession and are not covered by the bar, board, and other laws.
On the other hand, the Career Service Sub-Professional Eligibility shall be appropriate to first level positions only.
The CSC reminded the public that eligibility alone does not guarantee appointment in government service as education, experience, training, and other competency requirements of the positions must also be met. – Rappler.com
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[ANALYSIS] Decriminalizing libel | Glenda Gloria | 4/1/2024 17:00 | Editor Edito Mapayo, of Radio Birada FM Claver in Surigao del Norte, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of cyber libel for calling out a local businessman for alleged false advertising; one of three online defamation cases since 2016. He is out on bail.
“Parang nasanay na ako sa mga kaso,” he says. “Binabalewala ko na lang. Kasi lahat ng inilabas kong isyu totoo naman.”
Arnel San Pedro was a correspondent for a Manila-based paper in 2004 when he was accused of libel. He was acquitted in 2021 after what he described as 17 “grueling” years. His newspaper, he said, did not provide him with a lawyer, “so I shelled out thousands of pesos for my defense… Sarili kong gastos.”
Journalists, and citizens in general, have reason to be weary about being charged with libel, a crime punishable by up to three and a half years in prison, and a fine of up to P1.2 million.
For decades, media groups here and abroad have been campaigning for its decriminalization, with little success to show.
Article 19 of two landmark United Nations documents – the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1949) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) – has come to symbolize, among others, “freedom of opinion and expression.” The Philippines signed and ratified both documents.
In 2008, the UN human rights committee ruled that “imprisonment is never an appropriate penalty for defamation” and that a prison term imposed the previous year on Davao broadcaster Alexis Adonis violated the ICCPR. This opinion eventually led to a court order for Adonis’ release. The UN committee also asked State parties to consider decriminalizing libel.
From 2004 to 2012, Philippine legislators filed more than 60 bills seeking the decriminalization of libel or at least the abolition of imprisonment with regard to libel cases. A total of 35 were submitted in the 15th Congress alone. But the farthest any bill reached was approval on second reading in 2009 of House Bill 5760, whose abstract partly reads: “to allow journalists to do their work without fear of being jailed by reason of criminal complaints by those who are offended by their reporting…”
In 2008, Chief Justice Reynato Puno reminded judges of “an emergent rule of preference for the imposition of fine only rather than imprisonment in libel cases.”
The fight against criminal libel took four giant steps backward from 2012 when President Benigno Aquino III approved Republic Act No. 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act, which included libel among cyber crimes if “committed through a computer system.” Step Backward One: the law reinforces libel’s status as a crime.
It also increased the penalty for existing crimes one degree higher. Hence, cyber libel is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Step Backward Two: from prisión correccional to prisión mayor.
After a legal challenge, the Supreme Court in 2014 upheld the law on cyber libel as valid and constitutional. Step Backward Three: you wake up to realize that the bad dream is for real.
In 2017, RA 10951 raised the fines for libel to up to P1.2 million. Step Backward Four.
While libel convictions are rare in the Philippines, UNESCO contends that criminal libel has “an inhibitory and silencing effect, even before a conviction takes place.” The document cites the impact of these laws in terms of time, financial resources, professional career and image, mental health, deprivation of liberty, and self-censorship.
In acquitting San Pedro, the Angeles regional trial court noted that the item in question cannot be deemed “to have been done with actual malice.” It also emphasized that the material “was true” and “done in good faith.”
Nevertheless San Pedro, now editor of the Pampanga iOrbit said, “Nasayang mga opportunities ko for 17 years.” And money: “P3k per hearing. Four times a year.” Or P204,000, not exactly loose change in a profession not known for fat salaries.
Because libel is a crime, respondents are either jailed or released on bail. Mapayo says he paid a total of P100,000 for his temporary liberty.
But that’s not all. He added: “Minsan naapektuhan [ako] dahil sa schedule sa hearing. Normal [din] lang siguro [na] hindi mawala ang takot sa atin baka biglaang bala ang gamitin ng kalaban.”
Since last year, the Philippine Press Institute has been at work encouraging, assisting and inspiring local communities to set up their own multi-sectoral councils that will entertain complaints for accuracy or the right of reply, in lieu of court cases. These urban, provincial and sometimes regional councils can be found in various stages of development in Batangas, Davao, Iloilo; Aklan, Surigao del Norte; Central Luzon, and Eastern Visayas. Already existing are councils in Cebu (which boasts of a zero-libel record) and the Cordilleras. And more to follow this year.
Participation is not limited to PPI members, or to newspapers, or frequency-based broadcast stations. They are free to include social-media bloggers and other sectors they wish to engage. Following the concept of independent co-regulation, as opposed to self-regulatory press councils, these bodies are free to determine whether the non-media members will outnumber their media counterparts.
The short-term goal is to impress upon the public that complaints against the media will be heard by a group of respected individuals from their communities.
The ultimate goal is still the decriminalization of libel. There are four bills — SB1593, SB2403, HB1769 and HB5372 — in the 19th Congress. If and when libel ceases to be a crime, the councils can become ADR (alternative dispute resolution) providers, properly trained and accredited by the Department of Justice. – Rappler.com
Gary Mariano has taught full-time for 35 years at De La Salle University. A former chair of the Philippine Press Council, he is a member of the Commission on Higher Education’s technical committee for journalism. In retirement, he helps PPI promote community-based, media-citizen councils.
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The sad thing here is that of all the Presidents, it was former President Benigno Aquino III who caused the four giant steps backward by signing RA No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act). Although in fairness to him, he is not a lawyer, so who advised him to do it? The Philippine Press Institute may constantly remind our lawmakers to pass the four pending bills in a consolidated law that will decriminalize libel. But more likely, it will be blocked by the combined Repression Machineries of both the Marcos-Romualdez and Duterte Political Dynasties.
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Blogger Sass Sasot’s Facebook page temporarily disappears, returns days later | Gaby Baizas | 4/1/2024 14:52 | MANILA, Philippines – The Facebook page of blogger Sass Sasot, a vocal supporter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, temporarily disappeared from the platform but was restored days later in January 2024.
On Facebook, Sasot posts hyperpartisan political commentary under the page “For the Motherland – Sass Rogando Sasot.”
As of writing, the URL facebook.com/forthemotherlandofficial reads, “This content isn’t available right now.” This message appears if privacy settings prevent a certain user from accessing the content, or if the content has been deleted.
Other pro-Duterte bloggers announced that Sasot was no longer on Facebook as early as January 2. Banat By, whose real name is Byron Cristobal, shared on Tuesday that Sasot’s Facebook page disappeared from the platform, after his own Facebook page became unavailable on December 31.
Pro-administration blogger Krizette Laureta Chu said that apart from Sasot’s Facebook page, her personal account also became unavailable on the platform. The URL facebook.com/sassrogandosasot also displays the same error message about its content being unavailable.
In a video with vlogger Maharlika livestreamed on Tuesday, Sasot said that she received an email from Facebook’s parent company Meta, which said that her account had been flagged and suspended. This prohibited her from also accessing her page and Messenger.
Meta said that Sasot had 180 days to appeal the decision. She explained in Maharlika’s live video that she had already submitted an appeal to the tech company.
It is currently unclear why Sasot’s page became temporarily unavailable on the platform. She also claimed that prior to her Facebook page and account becoming inaccessible, Sasot did not receive any warnings from Meta about possible platform violations.
As of Thursday, January 4, Sasot’s Facebook page was restored, and is accessible under the new URL facebook.com/forthemotherland. However, Sasot also confirmed on Thursday that her personal account is still inaccessible.
Latest records from social media analytics site Social Blade showed that Sasot’s Facebook page had amassed over 807,000 likes before becoming unavailable. Social Blade did not record any Facebook statistics for Sasot’s page on January 2, when her Facebook page disappeared from the platform.
Sasot is a pro-Duterte blogger who has spread disinformation and attacked those critical of the former president in the past. A Rappler investigation also found that Sasot is among the most prominent actors spreading pro-China propaganda online in the Philippines.
Rappler has reached out to Meta to comment on the matter, but has yet to receive a response. – Rappler.com
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Jeremy Lin relishes Manila return, says PH a ‘top, top, top destination’ for players | jisaga0269 | 4/1/2024 18:05 | LINSANITY. New Taipei Kings guard Jeremy Lin handles the ball past Meralco Bolts guard Bong Quinto in the 2023 East Asia Super League
East Asia Super League
MANILA, Philippines – Former NBA player Jeremy Lin was a man on a mission in his return to Manila on Wednesday, January 3, as he led the New Taipei Kings to an 89-77 rout of the Meralco Bolts in the 2023-2024 East Asia Super League (EASL) at the PhilSports Arena.
Despite being 35 years old, the spitfire guard showed why NBA players are always a cut above the rest regardless of age, dropping 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists in just 29 minutes to bury the Meralco home team’s comeback attempt in the second half and lift New Taipei to a 3-0 record.
After the game, however, Lin made sure to reciprocate the love Filipino fans showed him in his brief stay – his first in the Philippines since 2013, when he was still a member of the Houston Rockets squad who played an NBA preseason game against the Indiana Pacers at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“It’s crazy. It’s just crazy,” Lin said in the postgame presser.
“A lot of former teammates, when they talk about the summer or off-season, like, ‘Oh where are we going to do our endorsements? We have to do this and that, where are we going?,’ and the Philippines is a top, top, top destination that everybody wants to be at, that’s for sure.”
Lin surely felt the love even as a visiting player, as he was cheered loudly by Filipino fans whenever he scored or made a big play against the Philippine team Meralco, and was mobbed for autograph and photo opportunities before and after the game.
Beyond the fandom, the former Los Angeles Lakers role player also praised the Filipino ballers’ renowned affinity for hard-nosed, physical play, and even singled out Bolts forward Cliff Hodge for his defensive hustle from buzzer to buzzer.
“They play physical. Cliff Hodge is a great example,” Lin continued. “He plays the [power forward] position at 6-foot-4, but I can see why.”
“He’s very physical, he’s smart, he does his job really, really well, and he makes everything difficult for you. He just plays hard and I think that’s the best type of basketball you want to play.”
Given Meralco and TNT’s poor records so far in the EASL, it is unlikely that Lin and New Taipei will again play a Philippine team for the duration of the league’s home-and-away season.
Surely, however, both Filipino fans and players have made a good enough impression to make Lin’s experience a fond one to look back on down the road. – Rappler.com
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Itadakimasu! New dishes to try at food hall Kiwami | Steph Arnaldo | 4/1/2024 16:01 | MANILA, Philippines – The Standard Group food hall Kiwami isn’t just ringing in the new year with a second branch in Alabang Town Center – Kiwami is also introducing new dishes to the menu, helmed by the group’s renowned Japanese master chefs!
Kiwami’s first branch in Bonifacio Global City – which opened in 2021 – is well-loved for its Japan-inspired dining concept that houses four master kitchens in one communal space, each stall dedicated to authentic specialty Japanese fare – Yabu: House of Katsu, Ippudo Ramen, Hannosuke Tempura, and Yakitori Hachibei, plus the famous Hokkaido Soft Cream.
Here are a few new dishes from Kiwami to look forward to this 2024!
Known for its high-quality tonkatsu, Yabu has been around since 2011, operating under the helm of Michelin Bib Gourmand Chef Kazuya Takeda. It introduced its newest dish in December – the filling Tornado Omelette Curry with Rosu Katsu – which precedes Yabu’s upcoming new Japanese curry line this year.
Moist Japanese rice is topped with a beautiful “tornado omelette” that’s runny and silky – served beside Yabu’s signature rosu katsu cutlet that features tender and moist pork fried in its distinctly light, delicately crispy breading made from in-house panko breadcrumbs.
The curry sauce itself is thick, leaning towards a sweeter flavor profile. You can adjust the spice level as you wish, and even opt for chicken katsu instead. It’s served with the usual Yabu works – cabbage, miso soup, rice, tonkotsu sauce, and fruits, alongside Yabu’s table sauces and dressings.
Master chef Shinya Kaneko – Tokyo’s so-called “leader in tempura” – has produced a new Cold Soba with Tempura dish that’s as authentic as they come. Perfectly chewy soba noodles are dipped in a light but savory soba sauce, made tastier with the addition of freshly-grated wasabi, quail egg, and spring onions on the side.
Hot and cold temperatures merge well here, as the refreshing noodle dish complements the golden-brown, crispy-light seafood tempura on the side (shrimp, squid, and fish), made with sesame oil and specialty flour, and served with Hannosuke’s heirloom tendon sauce.
In November, Kiwami’s yakitori stall – Hachibei – introduced new Baked Miso Hokkaido Oysters and Baked Hokkaido Oysters Rockefeller to its roster of perfectly char-grilled seafood and meats. It is part of Kiwami’s Signatures Menu.
Using the authentic Binchotan Charcoal Grill of Hachibei, these tasty oysters come out heavily topped with an umami-rich miso custard that’s torched until slightly smoky, generously covering a fresh and meaty Hokkaido oyster that’s air-flown from Japan. The richness of the custard pairs well with the fresh oyster; there was no salty or “fishy” after-taste present.
There’s always room for dessert! Kiwami’s crowd-favorite Hokkaido Soft Cream Sundaes come in two new flavors – Maple Honeycomb and Hokkaido Boba, each one served with a lengua de gato stick. Both carry just the right amount of sweetness, since the soft-serve ice cream itself isn’t overly sweet, but more milky and creamy.
If you prefer crunchy textures, the Maple Honeycomb is your best bet; but if you prefer the chewiness of tapioca pearls, Hokkaido Boba will do. Between the two, the former is sweeter.
For oldie but goodie dishes to try, there’s Ippudo Ramen’s Mushroom Ramen (a vegetarian-friendly option that’s rich, creamy, and infused with truffle oil) and the spicy Tantanmen that isn’t for the faint of heart.
Hachibei’s Butabara Platter of Shio, Tare, Miso, Yuzukosho, and Sukiyaki pork skewers are great for sharing too – each juicy and soft pork stick is char-grilled at the binchotan charcoal grill for a kick of smokiness. Although simply seasoned, the distinct flavor of each pork skewer is prominent. – Rappler.com
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