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Trillanes: ICC requests Interpol blue notice for PNP execs linked to drug war | Tetch Torres-Tupas | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 18:31:36 PST | MANILA, Philippines — The International Criminal Court (ICC) has already asked Interpol to issue a “blue notice” against five former and current high-ranking officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) tagged in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Wednesday.
Trillanes said the “blue notice” request came after the ICC asked the Philippine government to interview the five ranking police officers.
The five former and current ranking police officers are Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa who served as PNP chief under the Duterte administration, former PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde, former PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) chief Romeo Caramat, Director of PNP’s Drug Enforcement Group Eleazar Mata, and National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo.
“Kasabay nitong pagbigay ng dokumento na ito sa Philippine government ng ICC ay meron din silang request sa Interpol na isama itong limang ito doon sa blue notice kung saan maaari silang ihold sa mga iba’t ibang immigration counters kung saan man silang bansa lalabas,” he said.
(In addition to submitting this document to the Philippine government, the ICC has requested Interpol to include these five individuals in the blue notice, which could cause them to be held at various immigration counters wherever they may travel abroad.)
Blue Notice is an alert circulated to help law enforcers in member countries share information about a particular person’s activities. The subject of the Blue Notice is either a convicted or charged person, a suspect, or a witness to a crime.
Trillanes said the request of the ICC prosecutor to interview the five police officials is equivalent to a summons.
“Kung ‘di sila magko-cooperate, therefore, ‘yung ebidensya laban sa kanila ay ‘yun ang mananaig at hindi nila mabibigay ‘yung kanilang side doon sa kaso,” he said.
(If they do not cooperate, then the evidence against them will prevail, and they will not be able to present their side of the case.)
Although the Philippine government still insists that the country is no longer under the ICC’s jurisdiction, it said the ICC prosecutor could come and interview the suspects.
READ: PH gov’t can’t stop ICC from probing drug war suspects – SolGen
However, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said they are not legally bound to assist the ICC.
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“The Philippine government cannot stop him from proceeding any way he wants. He can directly interview persons of interest online, through phone, by email, face to face, subject to the consent of these persons,” Guevarra told reporters.
He added: “But the ICC prosecutor cannot expect that the Philippine government will facilitate it for him.”
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5 fashionable Filipino musicians to follow | No author found | 2024-07-21T04:57:47+00:00 | In today’s music scene, more and more Filipino artists are proving that killer tracks and killer style go hand-in-hand. It’s no longer just about the music—it’s a full sensory experience that includes artful visuals and fashion.
These talented local musicians are redefining what it means to be a modern artist, crafting hit after hit all while pushing the boundaries of style. Get to know more about the artists setting the trends and what they love most about dressing up.
A post shared by ena mori (@enamorimusic)
This Filipino-Japanese pop artist has an eclectic sense of style that is just as dynamic and quirky as her music. Ena Mori’s fashion is deeply rooted in her Japanese heritage, reminiscent of the ’90s Harajuku style as she mixes and matches vintage pieces that are normally sourced through ukay. “I strive to be an antique kawaii librarian,” she says, citing Japanese stylist Yuri Nosho and Icelandic artist Björk as her style icons.
A post shared by ena mori (@enamorimusic)
For Mori, fashion plays a huge part in her live performances, with her colorful, sometimes outlandish clothing being a vital source of confidence and energy during gigs. Think big tops, velvet fabric, fun headgear, and vibrant skirts—only fun pieces for a fun artist.
A post shared by Paul Pablo (@itspaulpablo)
If you’re on the lookout for the next big local pop star, Paul Pablo is it. Proudly queer, this Davao-born singer is a huge fan of showcasing his vivid personality via his clothing choices, mentioning that fashion is vital to his artistry. “Whether it’s a bold outfit or a simple printed shirt, my style reflects who I am. I love a Y2K revival with a modern twist,” Pablo shares.
A post shared by Paul Pablo (@itspaulpablo)
When it comes to his stage outfits versus his everyday style, Pablo’s daily wear still mirrors that of his more curated and thoughtful performance wardrobe, albeit being more relaxed. His statement piece of choice? Printed shirts with loud messages. “I wore a shirt with ‘bayot’ printed on it when I won my second Awit Award,” he says. “It was a bold reminder that a ‘bayot’ or gay artist made it.”
A post shared by zild (@zildbenitez)
What makes Zild one of the most exciting young Filipino musicians to follow right now isn’t just his evolving sound but his style as well. We’ve seen him grow from his ’70s disco roots during his IV of Spades days to his all-black gothic fashion from last year’s “Medisina” album release. With yet another new album coming next month, Zild now dons colorful track jackets and jerseys a la Blur. After all, he does describe his own sense of style as “inconsistent and impulsive.”
A post shared by zild (@zildbenitez)
Contrary to popular belief, there is no deep meaning behind his erratic fashion. Zild simply wears what he wants, being a fan of constantly shifting his wardrobe. Style-wise, he also collaborates often with photographer Shaira Luna, whom he enjoys shopping with at ukay-ukay stores or receives clothing recommendations from over Carousell.
A post shared by CARELESS (@carelessph)
R&B artist August Wahh, also known as Abs Haw, finds herself drawn to streetwear and loud prints, textures, and colors—items that make a statement and hit as hard as her soulful music. Recently, she hasn’t just been putting her creativity into songwriting but also into creating her own pieces, such as chopping up her old pants and using the bottom ends as leg warmers and sleeves.
A post shared by August Wahh (@augustwahh)
“I kind of build around [my style] with accessories and layers. I still definitely need to be comfortable, so I like pieces that I can move around in,” says Abs, whose fashion is the perfect blend of chill yet chic. Currently, Abs enjoys getting her clothes from local artisanal brands and loves chokers and belt chains.
The first time anyone watches a Kindred show, it is 100 percent guaranteed that the general reaction will always be something like, “Damn, these guys are pretty f*cking cool.” All eight members make one hell of an entrance every time, donned in bright jumpsuits. Kindred member Jaime says, “We’re like the Generation Z (+1 Millennial) Power Rangers. On stage, we morph into our colorful alter egos and combine to become a Popstar Megazord.”
Kindred’s one-of-a-kind stage outfits are actually custom made by local designer Salad Day, working with their stylist Paul Jatayna. They accessorize their clothing further with their own personal add-ons like bracelets crafted by member Punzi’s younger sister, rings they’ve bought at gigs and events, and shoes gifted by brands like Nike. Their secret to cool fashion? Authenticity. “We dress for ourselves the same way we make music for ourselves,” says Jaime. “We want to be as authentic as we can.”
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Andrea Brillantes appalled by death of abandoned pets during Carina | Jessica Ann Evangelista | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 18:27:04 PST | Andrea Brillantes expresses sympathy for abandoned pets during typhoon Carina. | Image: Instagram/@blythe
Andrea Brillantes expresses sympathy for abandoned pets during typhoon Carina. | Image: Instagram/@blythe
Andrea Brillantes is belatedly weighing on abandoned pets that were left to die in the floods at the height of typhoon Carina.
In her Instagram, Brillantes blamed “irresponsible pet owners” as she shared images of her pets, as well as those of dogs and cats in cages submerged in flood and freezing in the rain, or one that has been dug up dead in the mud by rescuers. The images were supposedly those of the dogs at the San Juan City pound, taken by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).
Brillantes also shared art cards for donation drives for the recovery of other animals, as to assist those who were left homeless due to Carina.
“Rain or shine, I can never leave my pets behind. They are more than just pets; they are companions, partners, and friends. They are family… I am saddened by the fur babies whose lives were taken away by this typhoon due to irresponsibility. People caged them, tied them up, and abandoned them,” continued the actress.
A post shared by Andrea Brillantes (@blythe)
Brillantes stressed that people should take responsibility for their pets in times of calamity.
“If you cannot take responsibility for the lives of your pets, then please don’t let them suffer like this. My heart also goes out to everyone who was affected by the typhoon, both humans and pets. At the end of this slide, there are donation links where we can all help those who suffered from this typhoon,” adding that people should have accountability and help each other.
Another celebrity fur mom, Heart Evangelista, also gave assistance to dogs and cats that were left homeless or abandoned due to Typhoon Carina, on top of participating in relief efforts for the people affected by the calamity.
“What better way to reach out to as many abandoned pets as possible than through and with PAWS Philippines. They have always been part of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, rescuing animals left behind in times of calamities,” wrote the actress-fashion icon on Instagram.
The PAWS earlier condemned the San Juan City pound for its negligence and mistreatment of the animals in cages under its care.
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Playful nostalgia fuels Neil Felipp and Kelvin Morales’ upcoming collab | No author found | 2024-07-02T09:48:43+00:00 | While many of us leave simple toys behind in our childhood years, designers Neil Felipp San Pedro and Kelvin Morales are using it to create nostalgia-inducing wearable art. Inspired by one of everyone’s favorite games, the “Jackstone” collaboration features the combined talent of both designers that puts the toys front and center.
Consisting of 10 pieces, the upcoming collaboration uses literal jackstones handcrafted from metal which are carefully bound in gold and silver. The jackstones are then transformed into earrings, chokers, cufflinks, and even accent handles for minaudierès.
Design duties for the collection were shared by San Pedro and Morales, who both possess a whimsical creative spirit. Both designers’ strengths are proudly showcased in each piece, with San Pedro being known for his intricate and elegant metalwork, while Morales has been celebrated for his avant-garde and contemporary approach to design.
“For me, the collection was a great way for us to revisit our childhood, as we remember the simple things that gave us joy. One of them was jackstones. Its simple design and myriad of colors immediately attracted me as a child. Though, it was also used to tease me as a LGBTQIA+ member,” says San Pedro.
“But we do hope through this collection, that even as we grow up, we would like for our audience and clients to remember their inner child. The inner child who reminds us of the simple joys in life and to see the world with wonder,” he adds.
“The Jackstone Collection [was inspired by] a simple toy that evokes childhood nostalgia and brings back memories of innocence and wonder. Working with Neil, we both collaborated on ideas, and we share a deep understanding of craftsmanship and artistry,” says Morales.
The collection will be available exclusively at the soon-to-open Neil Felipp boutique at The Peninsula Manila and online at neilfelipp.com on Aug. 19.
Photos courtesy of Neil Felipp and Kelvin Morales
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Xian Gaza nakisawsaw sa isyu ni Sandro, tahimik sa break up? | No author found | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 19:07:32 PST | MAGING ang social media personality at self-proclaimed “Pambansang Marites na Lalaki” na si Xian Gaza ay nakisali na sa usapang pananamantala sa baguhang aktor ng dalawang TV executives.
Bagamat wala pang inilalabas na paglilinaw ay marami nang naglalabasang chika na ang timutukoy na baguhang aktor ay si Sandro Muhlach.
Ngayong araw, nag-post si Xian sa Facebook patungkol sa isyung mainit-init na topic ngayon sa social media.
“Ang chesmes ay ito palang pamangkin ni Aga Muhlach ay inaya sa isang after party noong GMA Gala.
“Tara doon sa hotel namin. After party! Maraming pupuntang artista,'” paanyaya raw ng dalawang executive ayon sa kwento ni Xian.
Baka Bet Mo: #JusticeForSandro trending, banta ni Niño: Inumpisahan n’yo, tatapusin ko
A post shared by Bandera (@banderaphl)
Ngunit pagdating raw ng biktima sa naturang suite at nagulat ito dahil tatlo lamang sila.
“Pagdating ng biktima sa suite eh laking gulat niya na tatlo lang pala sila. Itago natin sa pangalang Sandro Muhlach, Jojo Nones at Richard Dode,” buong tapang na pagpapangalan ni Xian.
Sina Jojo at Richard ay mga kilalang TV writer.
“Bilang mga Executive ng GMA7 at bilang close friend ni Big Boss Annette Gozon, hindi makasibat ang Sandro bilang respeto sa dalawa,” pagpapatuloy na kwento pa ni Xian.
Habang nasa loob daw ng suite ay nag-uusap at nagtsi-tsikahan lang ang tatlo.
“Napilitang umamats si lalaki tapos noong anes na eh dinala siya sa kwarto ng dalawang GMA Executive. Doon na nangyari ang malagim na krimen,” sey ni Xian.
Kalaunan ay pumutok ang balita sa pamamagitan ng blind item sa social media.
Chika pa ni Xian, “Matapos pumutok ang issue sa bansa, agad-agad na dineny ng GMA7 si Richard at Jojo. Sila daw ay mga independent contractor lamang.”
Hindi tuloy maiwasan ng social media personality na kwestyunin ang pangyayari.
“Kapag may nagawang krimen, ang tawag do’n ay ‘independent contractor’? Pero kapag nakasungkit ng parangal o gantimpala, ang tawag do’n ay ‘Kapuso’?” intrigang tanong ni Xian.
Nagpahaging rin ito sa entertainment site na na diumano raw ay pagmamay-ari raw ng GMA.
Sabi ni Xian, “Ayon sa PEP . PH — tinangka daw anuhin ng dalawang GMA independent contractor si Sandro Muhlach. Take Note: ‘Tinangka’ at ‘Independent Contractor’.
“Napag-alaman ng ating team na ang totoong may-ari pala ng PEP ay GMA7 kaya ginagamit nila ito upang i-manipulate ang katotohanan.”
Dinamay pa ni Xian ang slogan ng Kapuso network.
“Walang kinikilingan!
Walang pinoprotektahan!
Serbisyong totoo lamang!
“Ayan kayang slogan ng GMA News ay maipaparanas kay Sandro upang mabigyan siya ng hustisya?
“Abangan ang susunod na kabanata dito sa Facebook page ng Pambansang Marites ng Pilipinas!” hirit pa ni Xian.
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Una naman nang naglabas ng pahayag ang GMA hinggil sa pangyayari.
“Online articles and posts have recently circulated regarding an alleged incident involving an artist and independent contractors of GMA Network.
“We have yet to receive a formal complaint from those allegedly involved in the issue. Should one be filed, the Network is committed to conducting a thorough and impartial investigation. We assure the public that GMA Network takes such matters with utmost seriousness.” | Inquirer | https://bandera.inquirer.net/391413/xian-gaza-nakisawsaw-sa-isyu-ni-sandro-tahimik-sa-break-up?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0JwlhcQSdfsz_CYjMGLaF7uZamGRnx8SlZBBGfm3RyGF2oZVZomr_ZMP0_aem_6uoIEVGHaQTjUD63bg0OxQ |
Misis ni Niño Muhlach binantaan ang mga ‘nambaboy’ sa anak | No author found | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 15:02:14 PST | Niño Muhlach, Diane Abby Tupaz, Sandro Muhlach
Niño Muhlach, Diane Abby Tupaz, Sandro Muhlach
Trigger warning: Mention of ‘kababuyan’, ‘pinagsamantalahan’
“HINDI KAMI MAKAKAPAYAG NA HINDI NAMIN MAKAKAMIT ANG HUSTISYA!” Yan ang nanggagalaiting pagbabanta ng asawa ni Niño Muhlach na si Diane Abby Tupaz.
Ito’y sa gitna ng kontrobersiyang pinag-uusapan ngayon sa social media hinggil sa isang blind item tungkol sa baguhang young actor na pinagsamantalahan umano ng dalawang “powerful gay executive” mula sa isang TV network.
Wala mang binabanggit sa mga naglabasang report sa mga news publication at online entertainment sites, kalat na ang balitang ang tinutukoy umamo sa blind item ay ang anak ni Niño na si Sandro Muhlach.
Baka Bet Mo: #JusticeForSandro trending, banta ni Niño: Inumpisahan n’yo, tatapusin ko
A post shared by Bandera (@banderaphl)
Sa pamamagitan ng Facebook, nag-post ang asawa ni Niño at stepmother ni Sandro ng mahabang mensahe para sa mga taong nangwalanghiya sa isa nilang kapamilya na hindi niya binanggit ang pangalan.
Ayon kay Diane, gagawin nila ang lahat para makamit ang hustisya at maparusahan ang mga taong nambaboy sa kanilang anak. Narito ang buong FB status ng misis ni Niño.
“PINALAKI AT ININGATAN NAMING MABUTI ANG AMING MGA ANAK NA PUNO NG PAGMAMAHAL AT PAG AARUGA TAPOS WAWALANG HIYAIN LANG NG MGA KUNG SINONG TAO NA NILAMON NG KADEMONYOHAN SA KATAWAN PARA MAGAWA YUNG GANUNG KLASENG KABABUYAN!
“HINDI KAMI MAKAKAPAYAG NA HINDI NAMIN MAKAKAMIT ANG HUSTISYA! HABANG BUHAY NA DADALHIN NG ANAK NAMIN YUNG KABABUYAN NA GINAWA NYO SA KANYA!
“WALA KAMING PAKIALAM KUNG SINO KAYO O KUNG SINO ANG POPROTEKTA SA INYO!
“SISIGURADUHIN NAMIN NA PAGBABAYARAN NYO YUNG GINAWA NYO! HINDI NAMIN HAHAYAAN NA MAY MABIKTIMA PA KAYO NA IBA!
“ITUTULOY NAMIN ANG LABAN! MANAGOT ANG DAPAT MANAGOT! NAKAKA NGINIG KAYO NG LAMAN!” ang matapang na pahayag ni Diane gamit ang hashtag #JUSTICESHOULDPREVAIL.
Nauna rito, nag-post din ng cryptic message si Niño sa kanyang FB page na pinaniniwalaang para sa mga taong nasa likod ng panghahalay sa kanyang panganay na anak.
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Sabi ng dating child wonder, “INUMPISAHAN NYO, TATAPUSIN KO!”
Ni-repost ito ng ilang kapamilya nina Niño, kabilang na ang aktor na si Andrew Muhlach at anak nina Aga Muhlach at Janice de Belen na si Luigi Muhlach. | Inquirer | https://bandera.inquirer.net/391403/misis-ni-nio-muhlach-binantaan-ang-mga-nambaboy-sa-anak-2 |
PH gov’t should use buildings that housed Pogos – Villanueva | Charie Abarca | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 20:04:04 PST | SHUTDOWN A Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub operating behind the town hall of Bamban in Tarlac province has been shut down following a government raid in March due to human trafficking, online scams, and other illegal activities. —RICHARD A. REYES
SHUTDOWN A Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub operating behind the town hall of Bamban in Tarlac province has been shut down following a government raid in March due to human trafficking, online scams, and other illegal activities. —RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines — What would happen to buildings that housed Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) now that they are banned in the country?
For Sen. Joel Villanueva, the government should use the buildings for the benefit of Filipinos.
“So what do we do now with the buildings? I was the one who mentioned it could be used as housing. Second, evacuation centers. Because what they build is strong. There’s even a tunnel, right?” he said in Filipino.
According to Villanueva, he talked to former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sen. Nancy Binay regarding the matter after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the Pogo ban.
Villanueva also filed a resolution seeking to repeal the law taxing Pogos. If given the chance, he would ask Marcos to consider his bill as a priority measure.
READ: Villanueva files bill to void pogo tax law
Under the bill, Pogos will have 30 days from the effectivity of the proposed measure to cease their operations.
“Failure or refusal of the firms to close operations shall subject the responsible officers to imprisonment of 12 to 20 years or a fine of P100 million or both, and will subject the foreign offenders to deportation after service of sentence,” the bill reads.
The bill also stated that the Bureau of Internal Revenue will still have the authority to collect unpaid taxes from Pogos even after the repeal of Republic Act 11590 or the Act Taxing Pogo, which was signed into law in 2021.
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PH lawmakers expect strong US ties regardless of election outcome | Gabriel Pabico Lalu | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 19:49:50 PST | MANILA, Philippines — Expectations of strong relations between the Philippines and the United States (US) regardless of who wins in the 2024 American presidential polls are a good indication, as Filipino lawmakers in the House of Representatives said this would be key in maintaining the country’s sovereignty.
Deputy Speaker David Suarez, Manila 1st District Rep. Ernesto Dionisio, and Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Wednesday all agreed that the ironclad commitment between the two countries should be maintained whether it will be a Democrat or Republican victory this November.
“Number one, we’re happy because we know that there will be an election in the US this November, and we do not know what its results would be between the two parties vying for the presidency, but what’s important here is that whatever the outcome may be, the position of the US and our country which has been ironclad for the past decades should not change,” Suarez said in Filipino.
US Defense chief Lloyd Austin III and Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the assurance that presidential elections would not change US-Philippine ties after the 2+2 dialogue in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday.
Austin and Blinken met with their Philippine counterparts, Defense Chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, to discuss policy directions on the Enhance Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) sites and more military support amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
READ: Election outcome unlikely to affect US support to PH – officials
During this event, the US officials also committed to providing a $500 million (P29.3 billion) worth of military and security support for the Philippines — dubbed as an “unprecedented” and “once in a generation” investment, amid shared concerns regarding China’s aggressive actions.
READ: US to allocate $500 million in foreign military financing for PH
Dionisio and Barbers said that military aid from the US is a big deal as it would boost the capabilities of agencies and offices securing the country’s territorial integrity.
“Any addition is positive so you know it’s a welcoming thing that America will donate P29 billion that can really be used to upgrade the capabilities of teams securing the West Philippine Sea, like the Coast Guard and the Armed Forces and it also shows that the bond of the Philippines and US, like what Deputy Speaker Jay-jay Suarez said, that it’s ironclad,” Dionisio said. “It’s a very important thing that regardless of who is seated, the practice of helping each other remains.”
“This will benefit our Philippine Coast Guard and we all know that our Coast Guard has had some problems regarding its capability, and now these funds that will be extended to the Philippine Government will purposely upgrade the capability of our Coast Guard,” Barbers added.
Furthermore, Barbers said that the US assistance may allow the Coast Guard to monitor other areas aside from the WPS, putting into reality his goal of having the eastern seaboard protected, too.
“Maybe they can, with that amount of money, not only secure the West Philippine Sea. I’ve been calling for a presence in the eastern seaboard of our country as I said, the eastern waters are equally important, and that traverses the Pacific Ocean from the north of our country down to Midnanao in Surigao City,” Barbers said.
“That’s why we want to have the capability to protect the Philippine territory and our EEZ in that area, so again with this development, this is good news that regardless of whoever wins in Washington by November, ties would remain strong,” he added.
Manila and Washington have enjoyed good relations under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and US President Joe Biden. However, as early as February 2024, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez was quoted as saying that the Philippine government has been monitoring the presidential race.
Biden was seeking reelection in 2024, but he eventually backed out last July 22 and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris instead.
READ: Biden ends his reelection bid, endorses Kamala Harris
In April, before Marcos, Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio held a trilateral summit, Romualdez said that he believed nothing much would change should former US President Donald Trump win in November.
Romualdez — who was already US ambassador when Trump was in office — explained that some of the policies implemented by the Biden administration regarding the Indo-Pacific region started when from 2017 to 2021, the former president was at the helm.
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READ: US official: PH can count on stronger ties, support while Biden is president
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EU gives P76M in aid for flood victims in Mindanao | Dianne Sampang | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 18:35:03 PST | MANILA, Philippines — The European Union (EU) has donated €1.2 million, or over P76 million, in humanitarian aid for flood victims in Mindanao.
The donation will be for food assistance, access to safe water and sanitation facilities, and other essential services.
“The beginning of this year’s monsoon and typhoon season is proving very hard for people in the Philippines, and the EU is stepping up its assistance to the most affected populations. This funding will help provide much-needed relief to people in Mindanao,” said EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič in a statement on Tuesday.
In February, the EU donated €500,000, or over P36 million, to flood victims in Mindanao.
READ: NDRRMC: 36 dead from Carina, habagat and tropical depression
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Wednesday reported that 5,263,531 individuals or 1,421,224 families have been affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Carina, the southwest monsoon, and Tropical Depression Butchoy.
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has the third-highest number of affected individuals. At least 552,971 individuals or 110,874 families in the region were affected by the typhoon.
READ: EU gives donation of P36 million to flood victims in Mindanao
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The making of Bini’s ‘Pantropiko’ | No author found | 2024-07-31T11:38:58+00:00 | 2024 has been quite the year for Bini so far. Since their hit single “Pantropiko” rose to the top of the charts, the eight-piece girl group has broken barriers and records—from performing on the Chinese reality program “Show It All” to becoming the most streamed OPM artist on Spotify Philippines.
More recently, they also made history as the first P-pop group to perform at the KCON Los Angeles pre-show.
While much of their success can be attributed to the virality of the summer hit and the popularity of their other songs such as “Salamin, Salamin” and “Karera”—not to mention the growing following of each of the group’s members—in reality, those behind the scenes are deserving of just as much praise.
READ: BINI delivers sweetness, spice with new single ‘Cherry on Top’
Behind each great singer is a group of songwriters, composers, and producers. And in Bini’s case, it is local production house FlipMusic, particularly Jumbo “Bojam” De Belen, Pow Chavez, and Angelika Samantha Ortiz, the primary producers and songwriters of “Pantropiko.”
They are not only behind the summer hit and the whole “Talaarawan” EP but also the ones responsible for further building the group’s bubblegum pop sound.
According to De Belen, the president and head producer at FlipMusic, “Pantropiko” began with an instrumental he made. “I usually produce beats on a regular basis. We have what we call ‘vacant beats’ for songwriters to write on.”
De Belen credits the tropical sound associated with the local hit to DJ/producer Mat Olavides who he enlisted to hop on the track for his expertise in tropical house.
As for the rest of the track, much of it began at a song camp FlipMusic conducted. During this, they invite several songwriters to collaborate with their pool of producers. “It took us about four months to come up with a bunch of songs that we presented for Bini and ‘Pantropiko’ was one of them,” says De Belen.
He also explained that the whole camp was specifically directed to craft songs for the girl group. “We came up with 12 to 16 tracks and they chose six, which eventually made up the entire ‘Talaarawan’ EP.”
In that same song camp, De Belen invited and asked Ortiz to write what would eventually become “Pantropiko.” And though this was the first-ever song written by the 22-year-old senior from CIIT College of Arts and Technology, it apparently only took her five days to write the demo track. Ortiz credits the presence of De Belen, Olavides, and Chavez whose veteran expertise guided the young talent.
Ortiz, under the stage name Angelika Sam, is also an artist under FlipMusic. She also just recently released her debut single “Ningning,” which, according to her, refers to the feeling of being transported into outer space whenever you look at the one you love. The song was composed by Ortiz, John Michael Conchada, and De Belen.
“The original version was simple because Angelika was not used to making vocal arrangements for groups so I asked Pow to help us out,” says De Belen.
Chavez, a partner at FlipMusic and the secondary songwriter for “Pantropiko,” first gained popularity when he finished in the top five of the first season of “Philippine Idol” in 2006. After pursuing a solo career, he started FlipMusic in 2011 together with De Belen, who he had been working with since 2007, and CEO Jellica Mateo who also participated in the same season of “Philippine Idol” Chavez was in.
A post shared by Angelika Sam (@angelikasam_)
“Especially for a group song, Bojam is very particular na kailangan malagyan ng harmonies—kasi walo yan—kailangan makakanta lahat. It has to be balanced as well,” explains Chavez.
As the song’s secondary songwriter, Chavez primarily handled vocal arrangements as well as added the various adlibs scattered throughout the track. His most important contribution according to him was the “Pantropiko, pantropiko, oh” in the post-chorus.
“I felt that it was something I could add because initially, it wasn’t there. It was originally all instrumental.” Chavez adds, “In a regular gig that I would do live, I would normally hype people in between those lines. That’s how it came about.”
Working with eight voices too was a challenge on its own. With a song only lasting for so long, part of the problem was figuring out how to ensure everyone got sufficient exposure. Those versed in the K-pop scene would understand how it feels for your bias to have barely any lines on a comeback.
But beyond each member’s screen time, another thing to consider was the kind of lines they would get. Jhoanna, Maloi, and Colet are known for their powerful vocals. Meanwhile, Gwen, Aiah, Stacey, and Sheena have softer tones. Not to mention, Mikha has a thick and rich vocal. Part of a producer’s responsibility is carefully picking the lines that best match each member’s strengths. After all, you wouldn’t assign Mikha to sing Jhoanna’s parts. It’s not like she can’t, it just so happens it’s a better fit for Jhoanna.
“It’s really challenging working with eight voices kasi kailan mo sila palilitawin. And we have to find out what the range is and even who is good at adlibs. It’s important to be familiar with those,” says Chavez.
As the primary songwriter, Ortiz also recounts some of her key contributions to the track. “My phrasing before was more on the past tense, so ‘Felt like summer when I’m with you,’ which became ‘Feels like summer when I’m with you.’ So more on the present, which is much better to say especially for those listening—mas ma-fe-feel nila at the moment ’yung meaning nung kanta.”
She also points out that the “Oh, shucks” in “Oh, shucks, ito ba’y pag-ibig na?” was added because she ran out of ideas for the song, and that she didn’t expect it would make the final cut.
Chavez recalls that they once had difficulty pitching songs to other artists and management teams. He remembers even being told, “Hindi pa ready ang mga Pinoy para diyan.” And while he never believed such a sentiment, there was truth to it.
“There was a time na puro ballad—I’m sorry, but it’s just facts.” But in that same breath, he explains, “There were also a lot of covers when we know that people are hungry to release their original songs. And there are people out there who are hungry for new music, who are hungry for something they can dance to.”
The rise of Bini and several other groups and artists, and the growing popularity of P-pop, rap, folk, and other genres that weren’t historically associated with OPM indicates local music’s ongoing evolution. It’s not to say the typical ballads and love songs will go out of style. No, it’s an indication that the public is finding a greater appreciation for artists who venture into the arenas of internationally loved talents without being called baduy or try-hards.
OPM will always have its fair share of belters and lovesick romanticists to fill the charts. But in truth, who expected today’s top Filipino artist to be an eight-member girl group with a bubblegum pop sound?
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PH bet Kayla Sanchez vows to work harder after Paris Olympics stint | Lance Agcaoili | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 19:36:11 PST | FILE–Team Philippines’ Kayla Sanchez. (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP)
FILE–Team Philippines’ Kayla Sanchez. (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines —Team Philippines’ swimmer Kayla Sanchez vows to bounce back stronger after her 2024 Paris Olympics campaign ended early Wednesday morning (Manila time).
Sanchez placed 15th overall in the women’s 100-meter freestyle semifinals after clocking 54.21 seconds to finish seventh in her group. Only the eight fastest swimmers in the two semifinal legs advanced to the medal round.
Despite not making it to the final, the Filipino-Canadian swimmer remained proud of her Olympic debut for the Philippines and she looks to make the most of her upcoming break to recharge and bring honor to the country in her future international tournaments.
“It’s been a long season. Asian Games in September and the World Championships in February. Now, it’s my summer break so I can kind of take my time to reflect and to refresh the mind and body before the next season,” said Sanchez in an interview with Olympics broadcaster One Sports.
“Never give up on your dreams and surround yourself with people that love you. Tuloy ang laban (Keep on fighting),” she added.
The 23-year-old Sanchez reset the Philippine record in Heat 4, finishing fourth with a time of 53.67 to enter the semis.
Sanchez hopes her hard work will bring her back to the Olympic podium someday with the Philippines. She won a silver medal in the Tokyo Games three years ago as part of Canada’s 4x100m freestyle team and a bronze as part of the 4×100 medley.
“A lot of emotions I get to have my family watching which is really important to me I know I have the support of all the Filipinos. I’m not super happy with the swim, to be honest. But all I can do is to look forward and just try to be better,” she said. “I just need more confidence in the race. I trained really hard and I’m hoping that it translates one day so I can be up there on the podium.”
“I’m super grateful for the opportunities that I received, I’m super grateful for all the support.”
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Awra Briguela reveals she doesn’t go out to party anymore | Hannah Mallorca | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 19:11:03 PST | Awra Briguela. Image: Instagram/@awrabriguela
Awra Briguela. Image: Instagram/@awrabriguela
Awra Briguela appeared to be turning a new leaf, saying she does not go to parties anymore, more than a year after getting involved in a brawl at a bar in Poblacion, Makati.
Briguela, who goes by the pronouns she/her, revealed this in response to one @pauchu05 who commented in her post that she should avoid partying in view of the altercation that she got involved.
The post showed the comedian posing with Nadine Lustre for a photo at a dance studio.
A post shared by AWRA (@awrabriguela)
“[For your information] po, I don’t party anymore. Opening po yan ng new dance studio ng A-Team/Zero Studio,” she said.
The netizen then wished Briguela the best in response. “A ok po. Ingat ka po lage (Oh okay, take care always),” @pauchu05 replied.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@awrabriguela
Briguela’s surprise revelation comes months after she revealed that she’s in a “better state” after owning up to the consequences of her controversial brawl and eventual arrest.
The actress made headlines in June 2023 after she was involved in a brawl outside a bar in Barangay Poblacion, Makati City for which she was arrested and detained. A few days later, she was released on bail.
Formal charges were filed by both camps against the other before the prosecutor’s office.
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A sun lover’s guide to protecting your skin | No author found | 2024-07-31T10:51:24+00:00 | The sun, like anything in moderation, has its wonderful benefits—better sleep, a healthy immune system, an elevated mood, and stronger bones to name a few. Too much of it (like those who love to tan) and you risk predisposition to premature aging. The latter gives me the chills.
Since I enjoy the sun—while I am that girl who loves the beach and prefers to sit alfresco—I am also one to like taking care of my skin. I may be a very hardheaded person, but after maturity and gaining some healthy self-awareness—and not to mention, becoming a little skin-conscious, I’ve learned to find a middle ground between my love for being under the sun and taking care of my skin.
Though I am my dermatologists’ nightmare, I see them as my skin ally. I regularly get monthly hydra facials at Belo, and daily, I have secret weapons that allow me to enjoy life exposed to the sun while protecting my skin from aging prematurely.
READ: Bedtime to beauty: My 5-step routine to wake up to my best skin
The first time I was introduced to Heliocare, I was in Carrefour in Sotogrande. I forgot to bring any SPF and my friend said this was a must-try brand. Try I did, and I was so happy with the product that the next day, I asked to be dropped off so I could hoard some for Manila.
Fortunately, it is now carried by leading dermatologists. Daily, I take Heliocare’s Pure White Radiant Pill. It reduces skin redness and helps protect against hyperpigmentation, keeping my skin flawless. Cellular damage ages skin fast and the pills also work to prevent it by acting as a barrier against the sun’s harmful rays.
Additionally, I apply Heliocare SPF 50 daily, and it goes well under makeup too. It is lightweight, protects against UVA and UVB, and is supercharged with antioxidants such as vitamin C and E plus green tea extract. Not to mention, it also has DNA repair enzymes.
There is nothing like hiding from the sun to keep your skin at its best—that’s the hard truth. But, I want to be able to enjoy and live life fully. For me, not having the sun gets in the way of having beautiful experiences. So I just learned how to combat its harmful effects, the best I know how.
Story originally from Ria Recommends
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Rice-for-All program available in 4 Kadiwa stores on August 1 | Dianne Sampang | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 17:42:21 PST | MANILA, Philippines — The Rice-for-All program will be available in four Kadiwa stores on August 1, Thursday, the Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday.
Under this program, rice will be sold to the public at P45 per kilo and initially offered in Food Terminal Incorporated in Taguig City, the Bureau of Plant Industry in Manila, Potrero in Malabon, and Caloocan. Each customer is limited to 25 kilos of purchase per day.
“It will be adjusted depending on the movement of rice prices, but it will definitely be lower than retail prices in general,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. in a statement.
READ: Affordable ‘Rice-for-All’ available soon, says DA
According to Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, the program aims to help Filipinos cope with the impact of inflation on the prices of goods.
De Mesa also said that the ‘Program 29’, the selling of rice at P29 per kilo for vulnerable households, is extended to Sta. Rosa Hall in Sta. Rosa, Laguna and Antipolo City, Rizal. The rice program is currently operating in 17 Kadiwa stores.
“Both the P29 Rice and Rice-for-All programs are designed to make this essential staple more accessible and affordable for every Filipino, in line with President Marcos’ vision of ‘Walang magugutom sa Bagong Pilipinas,’” said de Mesa.
READ: DA eyes one-year test run of P29 rice program
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Hergie Bacyadan second Filipino boxer to end bid in Paris Olympics | Francis T.J. Ochoa | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 18:48:43 PST | Team Philippines’ Hergie Bacyadan (in blue) fights against China’s Li Qian in the women’s 75kg preliminaries round of 16 boxing match during the Paris Olympics 2024 at the North Paris Arena, in Villepinte on July 31, 2024. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)
Team Philippines’ Hergie Bacyadan (in blue) fights against China’s Li Qian in the women’s 75kg preliminaries round of 16 boxing match during the Paris Olympics 2024 at the North Paris Arena, in Villepinte on July 31, 2024. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)
Team Philippines’ Hergie Bacyadan bowed to Chinese Li Qian in the women’s 75-kilogram round of 16 on Wednesday, becoming the second Filipino boxer to crash out of the medal hunt in the Paris Olympics 2024.
Li, a two-time Olympic medalist, worked her jab to the fullest and gamely engaged the power-punching Bacyadan in fierce exchanges, landing the scoring punches to keep her bid alive for a gold at North Paris Arena.
Li won a bronze in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and a silver in the Tokyo Games three years ago.
READ: LIVE UPDATES: Team Philippines at Paris Olympics 2024 July 31
Bacyadan, a world champion in vovinam who was recalled to the Philippine national boxing team, had earlier said she was going to charge early in her Olympic bouts.
She found a willing partner in Li, who wasn’t afraid to mix it up, but stealthily used her jab to set up more landing blows that resulted in a shutout in the first round in favor of the Chinese.
In sparing action in the second round, the same results emerged from exchanges, leaving Bacyadan with a lot of work to do in the third.
READ: Paris Olympics: Team Philippines’ Hergie Bacyadan faces tall order in boxing opener
But Li kept using the jab to blunt Bacyadan’s attack, and when the Filipino did get past that, she managed to win exchanges. But by then, Li had pretty much sewed up the win.
All judges scored it 30-27 for the Chinese.
Bacyadan’s result left Aira Villegas, Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam in the running, with the latter set to fight later Wednesday evening.
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Eumir Marcial was the first member of the Philippine vaunted boxing squad sent off after he lost his 80kg opener to Turabek Khabibullaev of Uzbekistan early Wednesday morning.
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Angara asks stakeholders to help raise 2025 PISA results | Luisa Cabato | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 22:04:54 PST | DepEd Sec. Sonny Angara —Inquirer photo/Niño Jesus Orbeta
DepEd Sec. Sonny Angara —Inquirer photo/Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Wednesday sought help from various stakeholders in improving the performance of Filipino learners in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in March next year.
This was in relation to the 2022 PISA results, which showed that Filipino students ranked sixth to the last in reading and mathematics and third to last in science among 81 countries.
READ: PH students still among lowest scorers in reading, math, science – Pisa
These results “were about the same” as in 2018, when the Philippines first participated in the assessment.
“I’ve read all the letters, I’ve seen all the pending memorandum on my desks of people, companies, organizations who want to help. In the coming days, months, weeks, we will come together and do what we may have neglected to do in the past,” Angara said in his speech.
READ: DepEd recommends PISA task force members to Marcos
“My immediate goal is to raise the PISA results in March, so please help me. Grades 7, 8, 9, and 10 are about 8 million students that we need to assist,” he continued.
The DepEd chief highlighted that the doors of the agency are always open for those who want to assist the government in improving the education sector.
“The doors of DepEd are open to anyone who wants to help, and these are not a few doors; we’re talking about 47,000 public schools, or 60 thousand schools in total. We’re talking about 200+ school divisions,” he said.
Angara noted that assistance from various stakeholders is crucial, as he recognized the problems faced by students in their education.
“Some of them don’t have computers, some of them don’t eat breakfast, and some of them get tired walking in slippers. These are the things that we have to address,” he said.
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NBI raids massage clinic offering ‘lingam’ as freebie | Leah D. Agonoy | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 22:21:02 PST | National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operatives raid a massage clinic offering Lingam massage as “freebies” to clients, rescuing three therapists and arresting its manager (covered by green towel). Photos taken on July 30, 2024 in Pagadian City. —Leah Agonoy/Inquirer Mindanao
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operatives raid a massage clinic offering Lingam massage as “freebies” to clients, rescuing three therapists and arresting its manager (covered by green towel). Photos taken on July 30, 2024 in Pagadian City. —Leah Agonoy/Inquirer Mindanao
PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) here raided a massage clinic that offered “Lingam” massage as freebie to clients, rescuing three therapists and arresting its manager for violations of the anti-trafficking law.
NBI Pagadian district office chief Joey Moran said the massage clinic Vitalidad at Rizal Avenue, Gatas district here appeared to operate a “clean” business at first glance except for the unusual freebie it was offering to customers.
“Being a massage clinic, they offer a massage. But the twist is, they offer freebies like massage on private parts,” Moran said. “The bottomline is they arouse the customer by touching his private parts.”
READ: NBI, SEC nab 2 Ponzi-scheme operators in Pagadian City
Lingam is a type of tantric massage that focuses on the male organ. According to one of the rescued therapists, some customers sought the massage because of its claim as a cure for prostate cancer.
Moran said they received a report on July 22 about the massage clinic’s unusual freebies, prompting them to conduct an operation in the evening of Tuesday, July 30, with a poseur customer who tested the service using marked money and signaled to authorities to start the operation and rescue.
Among the three women therapists rescued by personnel of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), a 25-year old woman from Guipos town said they were giving the Lingam massage because of its claim to “prevent prostate cancer.”
All three rescued therapists denied they were giving “extra services to clients,” but confirmed that Lingam massage was part of the package of services they offered. At a price range of P700 to P2,000, customers can avail of a full body scrub inside the shower and Lingam massage.
“Even if they are massage workers accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), offering Lingam services is not part of their job,” said Joefel Daquiag, CSWD sectoral division head. “They have no idea that the offered packages harass them as women. All they knew was it’s part of the package and it’s part of their job. It degrades them as women and they were unaware of it,” Daquiag said.
Only three therapists and the manager were around during the raid.
Moran said they arrested the massage clinic’s manager, identified as Nenita Batelo, since the owner was not in the area. Batelo and the owner—who is still at large—will be charged with violation of Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
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Moran said the NBI would also be looking into the operations of two other massage clinics in Zamboanga del Sur offering similar services.
The raided massage clinic, which opened in November last year, has around 20 branches all over Mindanao, according to Batelo.
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Paris Olympics: Carlo Paalam advances to boxing quarterfinals | Francis T.J. Ochoa | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 22:20:37 PST | Team Philippines’ Carlo Paalam celebrates after defeating Ireland’s Jude Gallagher in their men’s 57 kg preliminary boxing match at the Paris Olympics 2024, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Team Philippines’ Carlo Paalam celebrates after defeating Ireland’s Jude Gallagher in their men’s 57 kg preliminary boxing match at the Paris Olympics 2024, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher)
SCHEDULE: Team Philippines at Paris Olympics 2024
Carlo Paalam came out smoking and did enough to hammer out a unanimous decision victory over Ireland’s Jude Gallagher in the men’s boxing 57-kilogram division Wednesday in the Paris Olympics.
Paalam advanced to the quarterfinals with the win, where he used his speed against the taller Irishman, who was surprisingly game and quick on his feet.
Both fighters willingly mixed it up in breathless exchanges and although Paalam landed huge shots, Gallagher managed to find his target every now and then.
READ: LIVE UPDATES: Team Philippines at Paris Olympics 2024 July 31
The scorecards certainly reflected the battle: Although Paalam won on all five judges’ scorecards, four judges had him ahead by just one round.
The Tokyo Olympics silver medalist thus got a taste of what awaits him as he seeks another podium finish while fighting in a bigger division.
Paalam was a flyweight when he won his silver three years ago. He’s campaigning against bigger and more natural featherweights at North Paris Arena because of the condensed divisions in the boxing event.
Paris Olympics: Team Philippines’ Carlo Paalam (boxing)
Still in the hunt along with Paalam are fellow Tokyo silver medalist Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas.
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Philippines returns to world’s largest bird fair after 15 years | Dianne Sampang | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 21:50:39 PST | Bird Finders Philippines at the Global Bird Fair 2024 held at Lyndon Top, Rutland, United Kingdom. (Photo courtesy of Bird Finders Philippines)
Bird Finders Philippines at the Global Bird Fair 2024 held at Lyndon Top, Rutland, United Kingdom. (Photo courtesy of Bird Finders Philippines)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines made a comeback after a 15-year hiatus in the largest bird fair in the world last July 12 to 14, 2024 in Lyndon Top, Rutland, United Kingdom.
The British Birdwatching Fair which began in 1989 is held annually and is considered the largest bird fair in the world, attracting birdwatchers, bird photographers, and bird enthusiasts from around the world. It was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later returned as Global Birdfair in 2022.
According to Alain Pascua, co-founder and president of the Wild Bird Photographers of the Philippines, the country can continue its participation in the birdwatching community through support.
“The Philippines’ rich avian biodiversity and the dedicated efforts of Bird Finder Philippines position the country as a must-visit destination for birding enthusiasts worldwide. With continued promotion and support, the Philippines can soar to new heights and gain a place of prominence in the global birdwatching community,” said Pascua in a statement.
READ: Birders find new role: Minimizing bird strikes
The Philippines participated in the 2024 fair through Bird Finder Philippines, an initiative specializing in bird photography tours and bird watching. The country first joined the bird fair in 2009, represented by the Department of Tourism and Wild Bird Club of the Philippines.
The Philippines is home to diverse species of birds. Last March, the spoon-billed sandpiper, the world’s rarest and most threatened migratory shore bird, was spotted in the country for the very first time at Balanga, Bataan.
READ: World’s rarest, most threatened migratory shore bird spotted in PH
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MMDA assures ongoing efforts with 101 NCR flood control projects | INQUIRER.net | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 20:29:21 PST | The MMDA conducts cleaning operations across Metro Manila on Thursday, July 25 to clear debris from Typhoon Carina’s flooding. | PHOTO: MMDA
The MMDA conducts cleaning operations across Metro Manila on Thursday, July 25 to clear debris from Typhoon Carina’s flooding. | PHOTO: MMDA
MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday said it has been actively working on various flood control projects to address the problem of constant flooding in Metro Manila.
MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Romando “Don” Artes said in a statement that the agency is working on an approved budget that includes P2.72 billion for flood control, P2.26 billion for capital outlay, and P395.57 million for the maintenance and operation of 71 pumping stations.
“The MMDA is working on the said budget to cover for the 101 projects across all NCR (National Capital Region) districts. As of July 2024, 56 are completed while 45 are ongoing,” Artes said.
The agency identified outdated, inadequate drainage systems and a limited budget for flood control projects as major reasons for the flooding in Metro Manila when the southwest monsoon and Typhoon Carina hit the region last July 24.
READ: Carina floods leave PH capital in state of calamity
Furthermore, Artes factored in high tide, high water levels, and improper waste management as several factors that also contributed to the problem.
Currently, the MMDA is operating 71 pumping stations across flood-prone areas in Metro Manila and has implemented the Metro Manila Flood Management Project to restore existing pumping stations and create new ones.
However, Artes stressed that effective flood control requires not only flood management projects by the government but also the public’s help in their waste management efforts. — Arianne Denisse Cagsawa, INQUIRER.net intern
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Songwriters, interpreters show beauty of OPM in PhilPop Himig Handog 2024 | Hannah Mallorca | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 21:22:33 PST | The songwriters and interpreters included in the PhilPop Himig Handog 2024 competition. Image: Courtesy of NYOU Consultancy
The songwriters and interpreters included in the PhilPop Himig Handog 2024 competition. Image: Courtesy of NYOU Consultancy
In hopes of promoting the emerging OPM scene, composers and interpreters join forces to showcase the many colors of Filipino music through the 2024 edition of the Philpop Himig Handog songwriting competition.
The annual contest brings together the Top 12 tracks written by songwriters and their respective interpreters covering themes of love, mental health, society, and other topics. This year’s competition is a joint effort by the Philippine Popular Music Festival (Philpop) and Himig Handog to elevate Filipino music.
Compared to its previous inceptions, entries went through two rounds of screening from Philpop and Himig Handog before the final 12 entries were selected. This, according to ABS-CBN Music creative director Jonathan Manalo, was a “difficult process” for the selection committee as the songs went under the ringer before these were selected as the final entries.
“We couldn’t simply pick someone based on name value. They had to make sense in terms of style, the songwriter’s vision, and overall commitment to the song,” Manalo told reporters at a press launch.
Despite this, it was a process that allowed Philpop and Himig Handog to be open to each other’s differences, especially when it came to their respective tastes in music.
“Nadiscover namin sa process na ito kahit magkakaiba ang taste namin, we can actually agree on a good song. So, nagulat kami nung nag-tally kami kasi pare-pareho lang yung gusto namin (What we discovered throughout the process is even though we have different tastes, we can actually agree on a good song. We got surprised while tallying the entries because we had the same choices),” said Manalo.
This remark was seconded by songwriter Keith John Quito, who wrote the entry “Buhi,” who pointed out that OPM is bound to go through changes as sound will always remain “refresh.”
“Nababago rin ang taste natin (Our tastes change). I hope we go in that direction where we allow different languages and genres [in our music]. Music is freedom after all. I am still developing my own sound and style, and then I may shift to go into a different [genre and language],” he said.
Some of the biggest names included among the interpreters are returning contestants Ice Seguerra and Moira Dela Torre, while chart-topper Maki and P-pop boy group VXON joined the competition for the first time.
Anim kabilaan para sa #PhilPopHimigHandog!
Nandito na ang composers at interpreters para sa Top 12 songs 🎶
Suportahan ang kanilang pag-awit!
07.19.24 🇵🇭#PxHTop12 pic.twitter.com/GK84pACQ6I
— Philpop Foundation (@philpopmusic) July 17, 2024
Here is the list of song entries and their respective composers:
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Details of the Philpop Himig Handog 2024 finals are yet to be announced.
The winning songwriter and interpreter duo will win cash prizes worth P1,000,000 (first place), P500,000 (second place), and P200,000 (third place) in the culmination of the contest.
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Niño Muhlach’s wife calls for ‘justice to be served’ in cryptic post | Jessica Ann Evangelista | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 20:48:49 PST | Niño Muhlach with his wife Diane Abby Tupaz | Image: Facebook/Diane Abby Tupaz
Niño Muhlach with his wife Diane Abby Tupaz | Image: Facebook/Diane Abby Tupaz
Taking her cue from husband Niño Muhlach, his wife Diane Abby Tupaz also made a cryptic post on Facebook as she called for justice to be served on unnamed individuals who allegedly disrespected and did despicable things to their children.
Without mentioning names or citing a particular incident, Tupaz lamented that they showered their children love and care, only for them to be treated with disrespect by some people.
“Pinalaki at iningatan naming mabuti ang aming mga anak na puno ng pagmamahal at pag aaruga tapos wawalang hiyain lang ng mga kung sinong tao na nilamon ng kademonyohan sa katawan para magawa yung ganung klaseng kababuyan!” she said in her Facebook post.
(We raised and took good care of our children with love and care, only for them to be disrespected by people consumed by evil to commit such vile acts!)
Image: Facebook/Diane Abby Tupaz
“Hindi kami makakapayag na hindi namin makakamit ang hustisya! Habang buhay na dadalhin ng anak namin yung kababuyan na ginawa nyo sa kanya! Wala kaming pakialam kung sino kayo o kung sino ang poprotekta sa inyo!” further declared the non-showbiz mother.
(We will not allow this without getting justice! Our child will carry the trauma of what you did for the rest of their life! We don’t care who you are or who protects you!)
Tupaz further said that her family plans to go after these individuals so that they will get the punishment they deserve.
“Sisiguraduhin namin na pagbabayaran nyo yung ginawa nyo! Hindi namin hahayaan na may mabiktima pa kayo na iba! Itutuloy namin ang laban! Managot ang dapat managot! Nakaka nginig kayo ng laman!” she stated, adding a hashtag “justice should prevail.”
The post has been shared by some netizens who speculated that it was about her stepson Sandro, Muhlach’s child from his first wife Edith Millare, with many comments alluding to justice being served.
Image: Facebook/Diane Abby Tupaz
Aside from Sandro, Muhlach has another son, 14-year-old Alonzo, whom he shares with Tupaz. Alonzo also used to be a child actor on ABS-CBN, just like his father.
Muhlach first sparked intrigue among netizens after he posted a cryptic statement on his Facebook page, which received comments of support from the netizens for the family, especially his son Sandro.
The young actor likewise shared a religious quote on his Instagram stories about “God healing the helpless.”
Image: Instagram/@sandromuhlach
Speculations about a wrongdoing done on Sandro arose after a blind item came out on social media alleging that two TV consultants had sexually abused a young actor after a recent big network event at a hotel in Taguig.
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The rumor was further fueled by a post by show biz insider Ogie Diaz seemingly affirming that the abuse indeed happened.
Incidentally, GMA Network released a statement addressing rumors about two of its “contractors,” saying it is “committed to conducting a thorough and impartial investigation.”
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Manila Water releases desludging service schedule for August 2024 | INQUIRER.net | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 18:11:20 PST | Manila Water underscores the importance of regular desludging to maintain the efficiency of the waste management system at home.
Manila Water underscores the importance of regular desludging to maintain the efficiency of the waste management system at home.
There are many ways we can take care of our septic tanks at home. One of which is availing of the desludging services offered by Manila Water at no additional cost.
Manila Water underscores the importance of regular desludging to maintain the efficiency of the waste management system at home. As a septic tank’s primary function is to collect household wastewater, neglecting regular septic tank maintenance can cause serious problems.
“Septic tanks are a vital part of our homes but often overlooked. The accumulation of waste can hinder proper functioning and cause sewage backups or overflows. Overflows can result to untreated sewage to pollute nearby soil, groundwater, and water bodies, disrupting ecosystems and marine life. Dirt, viruses, and bacteria from the sludge can also pose risks to human health,” says Jeric Sevilla, Manila Water Corporate Communication Affairs Group Director.
Every month, Manila Water’s desludging caravan goes around barangays in the East Zone to siphon household septic tanks of its customers.
In August, the company’s desludging caravan will be present in:
To know the exact schedule of the desludging caravan’s visit, customers can call the Manila Water Customer Service Hotline 1627 or coordinate with their respective barangay councils.
READ: Manila Water stresses importance of desludging for environmental, community health
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Folk singer Coritha baldado matapos ma-stroke, ‘di iniwan ng partner | No author found | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 13:43:57 PST | Coritha | Photo from Facebook, Julius Babao YouTube ‘UNPLUGGED’
Coritha | Photo from Facebook, Julius Babao YouTube ‘UNPLUGGED’
ANG sakit sa pakiramdam habang pinapanood namin ang panayam ni Julius Babao kay Luisito o Chito Santos, ang partner ng OPM icon na si Coritha.
Nakilala si Coritha sa mga classic OPM hits na “Oras Na”, “Lolo Jose”, “Sierra Madre”, “Gising Na O Kuya Ko” at marami pang iba.
Siya ay bedridden na ngayon at hindi nakapagsasalita matapos na-stroke ilang taon na ngayon ang nakararaan.
Isa rin siguro sa dahilan kung bakit na-stroke si Coritha ay sa dahilang ang minana niyang bahay sa ina sa Sacred Heart, Quezon City ay nasunog noong 2018 at ni isang gamit ay wala siyang naisalba.
Baka Bet Mo: Heart nag-donate ng P1.5-M sa SSFI; katas ng pagbebenta ng bag
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Hindi iniwan ni Coritha ang bahay nila kahit sunog na dahil doon siya natutulog gamit ang folding bed kahit walang kuryente pero may tubig naman base sa kuwento ni Chito.
Ayaw daw iwan ni Coritha ang lugar dahil ang lupang kinatitirikan ng nasunog na bahay ay gustong ibenta ng nag-iisang kapatid na sa kalaunan ay nangyari rin.
Dahil sa awa ay iniuwi na ni Chito ang babaeng hiniling niya sa Diyos na makasama sa buhay sa Tagaytay kung saan siya nakatira at malakas pa noon si Coritha dahil nakakapag-motor pa.
Masayahin din ang OPM legent at may mga pagkakataon pa na pinatatawag niya ang mga bata sa kapitbahay at magpapabili ng pagkain pagkatapos niyang mag-mini-concert.
“Nagkaroon ng mild stroke, kinain ‘yung dalawang guyabanong malaki pagdating ng madaling araw, sabi niya, ‘To nawiwiwi ako (tapos) pagka-ihi niya, nawalan na siya ng laban (lakas) tinakbo ko na sa hospital,” kuwento ni Chito sa “Unplugged” vlog ni Julius sa YouTube.
Emosyonal pang sabi ni Chito, “Mabuti mayroon kaming kapirasong lugar (maliit na bahay sa gitna ng maraming halamanan).”
Ipinakita sa video na nakahiga si Coritha at may nakalagay sa ilong na plastic tube na hindi makagalaw pero nakikita ang mga mata na nagre-react siya.
“Ayos naman siya hindi lang nakakapagsalita pero ‘yung pakiramdam niya matalas,” sambit ni Chito.
Kapag may gustong gawin si Coritha ay, “Pinapakiramdaman ko kung ano ‘yung kailangan niya kapag nawiwiwi, sigaw nang sigaw (tinig lang walang salita) pag basa ang diaper, ganu’n siya lagi.
“Naiintindihan niya kapag nag-uusap tayo (kahit sinong kausap) minsan bigla na lang umiiyak (nakita sa video) kapag naririnig niya ang mga malulungkot na kanta sa TV, yung kanta niya bigla na lang nag-iiyak,” sabi ni Chito.
Ang sanhi ng stroke ng sikat na mang-aawit noong dekada 70 hanggang 90 ay dahil sa diabetis na na-detect noong kinain niya ang dalawang malaking guyabano.
“Nu’ng dinala ko sa ospital at nu’ng makita ‘yung CT scan marami na pala siyang atake na hindi lang napapansin,” say ng partner ni Coritha.
Gustong operahan si Coritha pero tumanggi si Chito, “Hindi ako pumayag na operahan siya, sabi ko kausapin ko muna ‘yung kapatid kong doktora kasi wala akong alam diyan. Gusto nila lagyan ng tubo ayaw ng kapatid ko, sabi ‘kuya walang kasiguruhan ‘yan.’
“Mauubos pera mo at mahihirapan si Coritha kaya kung kaya mong iuwi na walang oxygen, iuwi ko na lang. Inuwi ko nu’ng nakita kong medyo okay-okay na at dito sa bahay ko na lang alagaan.
“Kaya dito (Tagaytay) ko dinala tapos nag-normal naman kasi wala na siyang oxygen kasi nu’ng inuwi ko dito naka-oxygen pa.
“Tapos sabi sa akin kung kaya kong tiisin, pababayaan lang siya matutulog na lang at hindi na gigising, e, ayaw ko (umiling) hindi ako pumayag,” emosyonal na kuwento ni Chito.
Sabi pa raw ni Chito kay Coritha ay mauna na siya kung hindi na kaya at okay lang na maiwan siyang mag-isa pero umiiling daw ang babaeng pinakamamahal na ibig sabihin ay gusto nitong magkasama pa sila.
Okay naman daw ang paghinga ni Coritha, “Minsan tawa nang tawa kasi naglalakad ako napatid ako tawa siya nang tawa. Malakas ang pakiramdam, ‘yun lang ‘yung memory nabawasan.”
Nabanggit din na anuman ang mangyari kay Coritha na kung hindi siya kukunin ng kaanak niya ay sa museleo sa Malabon daw ito dadalhin ni Chito o kaya sa probinsya nila sa Bikol.
Aminadong hindi naman sila sumasala sa pagkain dahil may mga nagpapadala, nahihirapan lang si Chito sa mga personal na pangangailangan ni Coritha tulad ng mga gamot, diaper at gatas na P2,000 kada 4 days.
Nabanggit din na may mga royalties na dapat matanggap pa si Cortiha sa Alpha Records pero hindi naman daw naibibigay pa kaya nanawagan siyang sana makuha na para pambili ng gatas.
Natanong ni Julius kung saan napunta ang perang napagbilhan ng lupang dating tinitirikan ng bahay nina Coritha, “Wala, nasa kapatid hindi naman nagbigay, bipolar ‘yun, eh,” kaswal na sagot ni Chito.
Naikuwento rin sa vlog na hindi nakapag-asawa si Coritha at walang may alam kung nagkaroon ng karelasyon dahil masyado raw itong malihim sabi ni Chito na after 30 years na muli niyang nakita ang babaeng nasa puso niya.
“Nu’ng ibinalitang nasunugan siya, doon ko lang hinanap, 30 years after. Kasi una kaming nagkita nu’ng tinulungan ko siyang makapag-concert, tapos no’n wala na kasi sumikat na siya, nagkapangalan na kaya naisip ko ang layo na (agwat).
“Pero hiniling ko siya sa Diyos, e, kaso sumikat nang husto, paano pa kami magkikita, e, heto nagkita na ulit,” balik-tanaw ni Chito.
At ngayong baldado at hindi na nakapagsasalita si Coritha ay nangako si Chito na kahit anong mangyari ay hindi niya iiwan ang babaeng hiniling niyang makasama sa buhay.
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Sa mga gustong tumulong kay Coritha ay makikita sa vlog ni Julius Babao ang mga detalye.
Sana gumaling si Coritha at marinig pang muli ang magaganda nitong awitin para makilala rin siya ng mga Gen Z. | Inquirer | https://bandera.inquirer.net/391396/folk-singer-coritha-baldado-matapos-ma-stroke-di-iniwan-ng-partner?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2MfN99Ca4VlzgXWoqfxfzoK1f9MVwoHjYHVAJyHWEKKw8EWSDTjSIJYBk_aem_Pz8fP2BdcVYQjUL_9tMa0Q |
Rep. Suarez notes drop in scam texts after Pogo ban | Gabriel Pabico Lalu | Wed, 31 Jul 2024 20:49:24 PST | MANILA, Philippines — It appears that scam text messages, which claim the receiver won a raffle prize or direct them to shady websites designed to extract confidential information, have gone away after a total ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) was declared.
This was the observation made by Deputy Speaker David Suarez on Wednesday when he and other lawmakers were asked about the House of Representatives probe into crimes allegedly linked to Pogos.
Suarez said in a press briefing at the Batasang Pambansa complex that the scam or phishing messages went away after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made the announcement to ban Pogos.
READ: Marcos: ‘All Pogos are banned!’
“I just want to add to what my colleagues have said, haven’t you observed, since it was announced by the President that Pogos are banned, we have not received any scam text? It drastically went down for me,” Suarez said.
“Before I used to have four or five scam messages, but now I do not receive any message asking people to click on a particular link and receive this reward. Haven’t you noticed that?” Suarez asked.
Despite the presence of the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Law, phishing attempts have been prominent, with anonymous cell phone numbers still being able to send messages.
READ: SIM registration law failed, says lawmaker
According to Suarez, this might be another indication that Pogos have been used for criminal activities.
“So, I think that is one clear example that what the President said is correct, that Pogos have already morphed into other illegal activities such as scam, prostitution, human trafficking, murder, and all sorts of other things that was not even within the realm of Pogo to begin with,” Suarez said.
“So, for me, if we need a law, I’m sure with the public opinion on our side, the support coming from the Senators and here in the House, we can pass a bill banning Pogos in our country,” he added.
Suarez’s comments came as the House committee on public order and safety as well as the committee on games and amusements held their third hearing on the problems brought about by Pogos. The hearing continued despite Marcos’ ban, as lawmakers believe those behind illegal activities must be held accountable.
READ: Pogo probe to continue despite ban: Violators should be held accountable
No less than Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez himself ordered House leaders and officials to quickly craft a bill that would ban Pogos so that the prohibition would stay even as President Marcos steps down from office in 2028.
READ: Total Pogo ban bill needed, Romualdez tells lawmakers
Several issues have been linked to Pogos, especially after authorities raided gaming hubs in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga earlier this year.
During the joint committee hearing last July 17, a Pogo worker rescued from Bamban identified as “Dylan” said that a friend invited him to celebrate the Chinese New Year last February 10 at the Baofu Land Development Inc. compound in the town.
However, his friend left him there to be sold for P300,000 to the Pogo under Zun Yuan, which sits on the Baofu compound. Pogo officials eventually said that Dylan would have to work there unless he could pay off the money used to buy him.
READ: Rescued Malaysian testifies Chinese sold him to Bamban Pogo for P300,000
Dylan was one of the 800 Pogo workers rescued in the Bamban hub, which has been linked to suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo. According to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Guo has business interests at Baofu, as she acquired eight parcels of land when she was president of the company.
Guo claims to have divested ownership of Baofu, but DILG believes the amount she divested it for — P2.5 million — was “grossly incongruent to her investment on Baufo which is approximately eight hectares of land.”
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READ: House bill filed to ban Pogos, revoke licenses
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Paris Olympics: Kayla Sanchez upbeat ahead of freestyle semis | Rommel Fuertes Jr. | Tue, 30 Jul 2024 23:49:27 PST | Kayla Sanchez, of the Philippines, prepares for her heat in the women’s 100-meter freestyle at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Kayla Sanchez, of the Philippines, prepares for her heat in the women’s 100-meter freestyle at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
MANILA, Philippines—Team Philippines’ Kayla Sanchez said her performance in the women’s 100m freestyle heats at the Paris Olympics 2024 was a product of hard work in training.
Sanchez cracked the Top 16 to qualify for the semifinal after placing 10th, clocking in at 53.67 seconds to set the national record.
“My coach and I have been working really diligently on our plan. Every practice, we’re visualizing the race and how it’s going to help me perform better and I think that we were able to execute really, really well. I’m excited to have another opportunity,” said Sanchez in an interview with One Sports.
“I managed to squeeze through to the semifinals. It was a good swim and I’m excited for tonight.”
Sanchez, who also set a new personal time in the event, won’t have much time to celebrate or rest with the semifinal set at 3:40 a.m. (Manila time).
But the 23-year-old Sanchez is ready for the tougher challenge that awaits and is motivated to make her country and family proud.
“I think that’s the most special part for me. I’m now representing the Philippines. I have my family there and that makes me really happy,” said Sanchez, who was a former member of the Canadian national team.
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Joyce Ching, husband expecting baby girl | Anne Pasajol | Tue, 30 Jul 2024 17:09:46 PST | Joyce Ching (right) and her non-showbiz husband Kevin Alimon. Image: Instagram/@chingjoyce
Joyce Ching (right) and her non-showbiz husband Kevin Alimon. Image: Instagram/@chingjoyce
Joyce Ching could not seem to contain her elation after she knew that she and her non-showbiz husband, Kevin Alimon, will be welcoming a baby girl soon.
Ching and Alimon held an intimate gender-reveal party, as shown in a video on the actress’ Instagram page on Monday, July 29.
In the clip, the pair pulled a string to open a bear-shaped piñata that contained pink confetti, indicating that their first child is a girl.
Ching, who was “team girl,” was ecstatic as she waved her arms while laughing. Alimon, meanwhile, seemed surprised as he covered his mouth and paused for a few seconds.
“IT’S A—Halatang halata sino ang team boy at team girl,” Ching captioned her post.
“We love you, our Hawhaw,” she then addressed their child.
A post shared by Joyce Ching (@chingjoyce)
Ching’s fellow celebrities including Carla Abellana, Dingdong Dantes, Gina Alajar, Jason Abalos and Thea Tolentino then took to the comments section to congratulate the couple.
Image: Instagram/@chingjoyce
Image: Instagram/@chingjoyce
Ching, best known for her GMA TV series “Reel Love Presents Tween Hearts,” “Endless Love,” “Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin” and “Anna Karenina,” tied the knot with Alimon in 2019 in a garden wedding in Baguio.
The couple announced Ching’s pregnancy last June.
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PhilHealth to recommend premium contribution rate cut to Marcos | Charie Abarca | Tue, 30 Jul 2024 16:12:55 PST | MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) President Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said they would recommend to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the reduction of PhilHealth premium contribution rates.
At the Senate committee on health’s Tuesday hearing, Ledesma said they would raise their recommendation as soon as possible.
“Especially after this very nice hearing that just happened. We will do it immediately as early as this afternoon. I will convene our team and we will recommend for a reduction in the premium contribution rates to President Marcos, immediately,” said Ledesma after he was asked by Senator Bong Go whether or not PhilHealth would recommend the said reduction.
For his part, panel head Go said this would really help Filipinos, noting the importance of every peso.
“Mabigat po ang kontribusyon na ‘yan. Tapos makikita nila may natitira pang balanse,” said Go.
(That contribution is a burden for some. Then they will see that they still have a balance.)
The matter was brought up after it was revealed during the hearing that PhilHealth has an existing P500 billion reserve fund.
“Hindi maintindihan ng ordinaryong Pilipino po ‘yun na meron kayong pondo na P500 billion tapos ito, naghahanap pa sila ng tulong mula sa iba’t-iba. Dalawa lang ‘yan — taasan niyo ‘yung tulong niyo… then pag-aralan natin dito sa Senado, nandyan na ‘yung bill — for interpellation na — yung irereduce o isususpend [muna] ang pag-increase ng contribution,” said Go.
(Any ordinary Filipino wouldn’t understand why you have a P500 billion reserve fund and then they will still find help from others. There are only two solutions to this — increase the help you provide and then let us study it here in the Senate — the bill is already there and it’s already for interpellation — the reduction of suspension of the increase in contribution.)
READ: PhilHealth members’ contribution hikes to 5% this 2024
In January, PhilHealth announced that its members’ premium contribution will increase from four percent to five percent in 2024.
The increase is in line with the Universal Health Care (UHC) law, according to Ledesma.
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Paris Olympics: Joanie Delgaco out of medal race | Rommel Fuertes Jr. | Tue, 30 Jul 2024 17:07:43 PST | The Philippines’ Joanie Delgaco competes in the women’s single sculls repechages rowing competition at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Centre in Vaires-sur-Marne during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 28, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)
The Philippines’ Joanie Delgaco competes in the women’s single sculls repechages rowing competition at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Centre in Vaires-sur-Marne during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 28, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines—Team Philippines rower Joanie Delgaco struggled to keep up with the rest of the field as her medal campaign at the Paris Olympics 2024 came to an end on Tuesday (Manila time).
Delgaco crossed the finish line last with a time of 7:58.30, which was 24 seconds slower than the last semifinal qualifier at Nautica St – Flat Water.
New Zealand’s Emma Twigg topped the quarterfinal round, clocking 7:26.89 while Sweden’s Aurelia-Maxima Janzen (7:31.12), and Spain’s Virginia Rivas Diaz (7:34.01).
The 26-year-old Delgaco failed to advance on opening day but earned another shot after ruling the repechage.
Although Delgaco is out of the medal race, she is still set to compete in the classification round on Wednesday.
Delgaco takes on the classification race on Wednesday, according to the Paris Olympic website.
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PNR train-van collision victim in Albay dies | Ma. April Mier-Manjares | Tue, 30 Jul 2024 16:45:55 PST | INQUIRER FILES
INQUIRER FILES
LEGAZPI CITY — A 24-year-old man died on Tuesday, July 30, three days after a Philippine National Railways (PNR) train dragged the van he was in as it was crossing an intersection in Daraga town in Albay.
His family confirmed that John Carlo Olaybal died at 9:15 a.m. He was among the 12 passengers in the van that was dragged on Saturday, July 27, for almost 78 feet by the PNR train along the intersection in Barangay Gapo.
Some of the victims had severe head injuries and were being treated in different hospitals.
Lieutenant Ma. Isabel Nopia, information officer of Daraga police, earlier said that the van driver may not have heard the train horn while crossing the railroad.
Nopia said passengers rented the van for an outing in Pilar town in Sorsogon province.
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Marcos tells gov’t: Ensure Filipinos receive timely typhoon warnings | Zacarian Sarao | Tue, 30 Jul 2024 16:45:07 PST | President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspects the Mauban Seawall and Mauban Port during the aftermath of Super Typhoon Carina on Friday, July 26, 2024, in Mauban, Quezaon province. The president also presided over the situational briefing with local chief executives with various heads of concerned agencies. (KJ ROSALES/PPA POOL)
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspects the Mauban Seawall and Mauban Port during the aftermath of Super Typhoon Carina on Friday, July 26, 2024, in Mauban, Quezaon province. The president also presided over the situational briefing with local chief executives with various heads of concerned agencies. (KJ ROSALES/PPA POOL)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday directed disaster response agencies to ensure Filipinos receive early warnings against incoming typhoons.
Marcos made the pronouncement after a meeting with the officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
“The safety of our people is our top priority! I have directed our disaster response agencies to ensure Filipinos receive timely warnings about incoming typhoons, along with clear instructions on what actions to take and where to seek shelter or assistance,” Marcos’ Facebook post read.
“We are committed to developing technology to protect lives from future calamities,” he added.
READ: Marcos orders swift relief to typhoon victims
Last week, Super Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon battered several parts of the country, bringing heavy rains and causing severe flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
The two weather systems left 36 people dead, six injured, and three missing.
READ: Marcos to agencies: Coordinate properly amid Carina onslaught
At least 4.5 million individuals were affected by the calamity.
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Gutierrez: VP Duterte’s reduced security still three times Robredo’s | Gabriel Pabico Lalu | Tue, 30 Jul 2024 16:06:54 PST | Then Vice President Leni Robredo and her spokesperson Atty. Barry Gutierrez in Quezon City after holding a news conference when the Supreme Court ordered the release of a committee report on the initial recount of the Marcos poll protest. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO / Gabriel Pabico Lalu
Then Vice President Leni Robredo and her spokesperson Atty. Barry Gutierrez in Quezon City after holding a news conference when the Supreme Court ordered the release of a committee report on the initial recount of the Marcos poll protest. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO / Gabriel Pabico Lalu
MANILA, Philippines — Even after the security force detailed to Vice President Sara Duterte was reduced, she still has three times the number of personnel that former Vice President Leni Robredo had in office, lawyer Barry Gutierrez said on Tuesday.
Gutierrez, a former lawmaker who was also a spokesperson for Robredo, said in an online interview with reporters that he does not see the point of Duterte complaining about her reduced security detail.
Duterte on Monday posted an open letter to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, calling the removal of 75 police officers “political harassment.” However, Gutierrez pointed out that based on Commission on Audit reports, Duterte originally had 433 security officers, meaning that the “reduced” strength could still be over 350.
Robredo, on the other hand, had 108 in 2016, which was eventually reduced to 78.
“First of all, VP Leni started with a security detail of 108 in 2016. That’s the highest it has reached. Based on my understanding from articles that came out in 2022, VP Sara Duterte started with 433. That’s more than four times what VP Leni got. Now, that 108 was reduced to 83 in 2020 — 12 officers at 71 na enlisted,” Gutierrez said.
“At the end of her term in 2022, it was down to 78. But now VP Sara is complaining and making a big fuss of the 75 officers being reassigned — but when you deduct that from 433, that’s still 350, right? That’s still three times VP Leni’s biggest security detail. But we never complained about it, because we never thought that she needed that much security,” he added.
Gutierrez also clarified that Robredo’s 78 security staffers never provided security all at the same time, as different units were deployed to allow for day-offs and other duties of the officers.
But if Duterte still has over 350 officers in her security detail, Gutierrez said he does not understand how deployment works for her office.
“The reason why there are 78 officers is because there are shifts. But at any given time, I don’t think there were even 20 people assigned to secure her […] Usually that’s around ten or a dozen who will accompany her at any time, but definitely the entire detail does not go with her,” Gutierrez said.
“That’s why I cannot imagine how a security detail of 350 officer works, let’s say that one-third of the force is deployed to secure her at any given time, that’s over a hundred — I cannot imagine that you would have over 100 bodyguards with you, that might be more than the audience at some of your events,” he noted.
On Monday, Duterte released an open letter to PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, calling the removal of the 75 police security escorts a “clear case of political harassment.”
READ: Sara Duterte cries ‘political harassment’ as PNP security detail taken away
Duterte also claimed that Marbil was lying when he said that the withdrawal of her police protection detail was due to the PNP being short-staffed, noting that the security was pulled out when she resigned from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s cabinet.
Duterte made the revelation that 75 police officers were pulled from her security detail last July 23 — or a day after Marcos’ Sona. Marbil responded by saying that the officers assigned to Duterte were given another assignment to address personnel shortage within the police force.
READ: VP Duterte: PNP pulls out 75 cops assigned for my security
Marbil also said they saw no threat against Duterte, hence the reduction. He however clarified that Duterte was not singled out, as other retired generals’ security were also recalled.
READ: PNP: Sara Duterte not singled out in recall of 75 police details
Earlier, Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua urged Duterte to respect the PNP’s decision, noting that while Duterte’s security force was reduced, it was not entirely depleted.
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Chua noted that the reduction was meant to cope with the demands of additional police personnel in different areas.
Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., who was also present in the briefing, said that there were times that lawmakers’ security detail were also pulled out due to more pressing tasks for the police, noting that it is a reality that government officials must cope with.
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PCG: ‘Very minimal’ oil sheen along shoreline of Manila, other areas | John Eric Mendoza | Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:22:55 PST | ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT An aerial image from environmental group Greenpeace taken around 4 kilometers off Hagonoy, Bulacan, shows the oil slick from a tanker, which sank on July 25 in Bataan due to bad weather.—NOEL CELIS/GREENPEACE
ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT An aerial image from environmental group Greenpeace taken around 4 kilometers off Hagonoy, Bulacan, shows the oil slick from a tanker, which sank on July 25 in Bataan due to bad weather.—NOEL CELIS/GREENPEACE
MANILA, Philippines — The oil sheens along the shorelines of Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, and Cavite are only “very minimal,” the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Tuesday.
In a statement, the PCG said it conducted an aerial survey and “observed very minimal and unnoticeable oil sheens” along the shoreline.
Fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas on Monday said the oil spill had already reached the shorelines of Tanza.
READ: PH Coast Guard verifying reports that oil spill reached parts of Cavite
According to the University of the Philippines’ Marine Science Institute, the oil spill trajectory model indicates that the oil slick would reach Metro Manila by Tuesday.
However, the PCG said the “social media reports showcasing videos and pictures of oil sheen/oil spill were unindicative to the actual aerial view.” It cited the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited.
MT Terra Nova was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel when it capsized and eventually submerged off Bataan last July 25. A crew member also died.
The PCG has since sealed most of the ships’ valves and deployed oil dispersants and barriers to contain the spillages.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has not yet implemented a fishing ban in adjacent waters, saying these areas are still “unaffected” by the oil spill.
READ: BFAR: No fishing ban in waters unaffected by Manila Bay oil spill
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However, PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said fishing in areas affected by the oil spill in Manila Bay is not advisable.
READ: Coast Guard: Fishing in Manila Bay unsafe due to oil spill
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Leonardo ‘Remy’ Monteverde, husband of Mother Lily, dies at 86 | Anne Pasajol | Tue, 30 Jul 2024 16:06:50 PST | Leonardo ‘Remy’ Monteverde. Image: Instagram/@motherlilymonteverde, @dondonmonteverde
Leonardo ‘Remy’ Monteverde. Image: Instagram/@motherlilymonteverde, @dondonmonteverde
Leonardo “Remy” Monteverde, husband of Regal Entertainment founder Lily Monteverdo, has died at the age of 86, his family confirmed.
Lily, fondly known in the Philippine movie industry as Mother Lily, confirmed Remy’s passing through an obituary card shared via her Instagram page on Tuesday, July 30.
Remy, a former basketball player, passed away on Monday, July 29. The cause of death was not immediately known.
A post shared by GR Rodis (@motherlilymonteverde)
Director Erik Matti and Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chairperson Joey Reyes were among those who paid tribute to Remy through their respective Facebook pages.
“To the Monteverde family—Lily Monteverde Meme, (children) Roselle Monteverde, Dondon Monteverde and Goldwyn, our deepest sympathies for the passing of Father Remy Monteverde,” Matti wrote. “His legacy and contribution to Philippine cinema through Regal Films will always be remembered and recognized.”
Matti further credited Remy for having “championed Filipino Action movies and defined it for so many decades with such icons Lito Lapid and Ace Vergel headlining the marquee.”
“Rest in peace, Father,” Matti concluded.
Reyes, for his part, recalled how Remy had always been a “Father” to those who grew with them in Regal Entertainment.
“He has always been the strong silent figure beside the gregarious Mother Lily. Now he has gone home to the waiting arms of our Big Father. And he will be missed as much as he was and will always be loved,” Reyes said. “Rest in eternal peace, Father Remy Monteverde.”
Other celebrities who extended their condolences were Laurice Guillen, Joel Lamangan, Ricky Davao and Aster Amoyo, among others.
Screenshot from Mother Lily’s Instagram page
Remy’s wake will be held in the family home on 38 Valencia Events Place in Quezon City from Tuesday, July 30, to Friday, August 2.
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Imee Marcos slams PNP chief, wants return of VP Duterte’s security | Charie Abarca | Tue, 30 Jul 2024 16:04:43 PST | MANILA, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos condemned the removal of Vice President Sara Duterte’s 75 police security detail, demanding that it be reinstated as soon as possible.
In a statement posted on her social media account on Tuesday, Marcos explained why Duterte’s security detail should be brought back.
“First, she is the second highest elected official in the country whose safety must never be compromised. Second, she is a Duterte, who, like her father, is a staunch defender of law and order, hence topping the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army’s order of battle,” said Marcos.
The senator then proceeded to lambast Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Rommel Marbil, who ordered the transfer of 75 police officers from Duterte’s personal protection detail to other assignments, particularly in Metro Manila.
READ: Sara Duterte’s PNP security reduced as no threat seen on VP – Marbil
“At sino naman ‘yang Rommel Marbil? Ni hindi ko nga ‘yan kilala,” said Marcos.
(Who’s this Rommel Marbil? I don’t even know him.)
Duterte earlier described the recall of her security detail as a “clear case of political harassment.”
To recall, the country’s second top official posted a four-page letter on her Facebook page slamming Marbil for allegedly lying about the withdrawal of her police protection detail.
READ: Sara Duterte: Removal of my PNP security a ‘political harassment’
For his part, Marbil maintained that Duterte’s security team was reduced because no threat against her had been observed.
This, however, did not sit well with Duterte, who proceeded to ask the PNP chief how he defines a threat.
“Ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng ‘threat’ sa iyo? Ang banta ba ay maaari lamang magmula sa mga external elements? Hindi na ba ‘threat’ kung ang harassment ay nanggagaling mismo sa mga tauhan ng gobyerno?” Duterte asked.
(What does “threat” mean to you? Can threats only come from external elements? Isn’t it a “threat” if the harassment comes from government personnel?)
“Tandaan mo, pagdating sa seguridad ng aking pamilya, ako ang magsasabi kung sino ang karapat-dapat, hindi ikaw. Batas ka lang, hindi ka Diyos,” she added.
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(Remember, when it comes to my family’s security, I get to say who deserves it, not you. You are just the law, not God.)
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Next GEA to include integrated renewable energy, storage system | Philippine News Agency | Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:45:46 PST | Department of Energy facade from DOE / FILE
Department of Energy facade from DOE / FILE
MANILA — The Department of Energy (DOE) on Tuesday announced that it will conduct the fourth round of Green Energy Auction (GEA-4) in the last quarter of the year.
The DOE said the GEA-4 will cover an integrated renewable energy and energy storage system (IRESS), a comprehensive energy solution combining RE technology and energy storage technologies like batteries, flywheel or pumped storage hydropower systems.
“This integration allows renewable energy plants to optimize their operations by storing excess energy generated during peak production periods and utilizing it when needed, thereby reducing the required capacity from the grid,” it said.
The agency added an IRESS enhances the stability and reliability of the energy system, enabling a more efficient power supply.
Moreover, the DOE is also considering including liquefied natural gas (LNG) technologies in the next round of GEA.
It is currently studying the pricing, dispatch, contracts, energy, and capacity for LNG technologies.
A notice of auction (NOA) will soon be issued by DOE.
“In the last two years, the DOE has conducted two rounds of auction which generated a total of 5,306 megawatts of RE capacities committed to deliver power in 2024 to 2026. Additional capacities will be auctioned for the 3rd Auction Round within the third quarter this year,” DOE said.
GEA-3 covers non-Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) eligible RE facilities such as geothermal, impounding, and pumped-storage, as well as run-of-river hydro which is a FIT eligible technology.
DOE’s GEA program facilitates the contracting of clean energy supply to qualified customers through a competitive process.
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Condo ni Basil Valdez tinirhan ng mga multo, tinaboy ni Fr. Roque Ferriols | No author found | Tue, 30 Jul 2024 10:11:13 PST | Basil Valdez, Wilson Flores at Eddy Cobankiat
Basil Valdez, Wilson Flores at Eddy Cobankiat
MULTO sa condo!? Yan ang naranasan ng premyadong OPM legend na si Basil Valdez sa tinitirhan niyang unit ilang taon na ngayon ang nakararaan.
May mga ligaw na kaluluwa o masasamang elemento raw ang nakapasok at nanggugulo sa condo unit ni Basil kaya kinailangan niya itong ipa-exorcise.
Isa ang nakakatakot na pangyayaring ito sa mga napag-usapan sa ginanap na symposium kamakailan para sa pagdiriwang ng ika-100 kaarawan ng yumaong Father of Filipino Philosophy na si Fr. Roque J. Ferriols.
Baka Bet Mo: Jameson Blake pinag-ingat; sinamahan ng multo hanggang Maynila
“Basil Valdez once called for help, feeling spirits haunted his condo,” ang pagbabahagi ni Prof. Dr. Manuel Dy sa naturang symposium na ginanap sa Ateneo de Manila University.
May mga pagkakataon daw na talagang nararamdaman ni Basil ang presensiya ng mga nasabing elemento kaya naiingayan, naguguluhan at nai-stress na raw siya.
A post shared by Basil Valdez (@mrbasilvaldez)
Kuwento ni Dr. Dy, kahit daw nasa retreat nu’ng panahong iyon si Fr. Ferriols ay talagang nagtungo ito sa bahay ni Basil para itaboy ang mga gumagalang espiritu sa lugar.
“Fr. Ferriols, despite being on retreat, went and blessed Basil’s condo, and the spirits disappeared,” sabi pa.
One hundred years old na sana ngayong 2024 ang itinuturing na pioneer ng Filipino philosophy na si Fr. Roque Ferriols na pumanaw noong August 15, 2021 sa edad na 96.
Ang legendary Ateneo de Manila University professor, ay nagbigay din ng inspirasyon sa maraming estudyante, kabilang na sina TV5 President and CEO Manny V. Pangilinan, Cardinal Tagle, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, at marami pang iba.
Samantala, ang naganap na symposium na pinamagatang “The Story of the Wheelwright: The Influence of Chinese Philosophy on the Thought of Fr. Roque Ferriols”, ay co-organized ng Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), sa pangunguna ni President Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro na hindi nakadalo but represented by EVP Victor Lim.
Ayon sa ilang nakakakilala kay Fr. Ferriols, ang rebolusyonaryong hakbang nito noong 1969 na magturo ng pilosopiya sa Filipino noong panahon na ang Ateneo ay pinangungunahan ng mga American Jesuit at ang mga klase ay nasa Ingles ay isang matapang na pampulitikang pagkilos.
Baka Bet Mo: Bongbong Marcos ramdam ang mga multo, duwende sa Palasyo: Walang tao pero may gumagalaw, tapos bumubukas bigla ang pinto
At ang kanyang pagsasama-sama sa Eastern and Western philosophies, lalo na ang kanyang pagpapahalaga sa karunungan ng tao, ay nagpayaman sa kanyang mga turo ng pilosopiyang Pilipino.
Gustung-gusto rin diumano ni Fr. Ferriols ang musika, grabe ang paghanga nito sa Beatles, at ang kantang “Let It Be” ang isa sa sa kanyang mga paborito.
Ang FFCCCII ay business and civic organization na sumusuporta rin sa pagpapaunlad ng kulturang Pinoy, tulad ng The EDDYS awards ng Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd), at pinararangalan din ang mga natatanging artistang Pilipino na may pamana ng Tsina tulad ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining na si Ricky Lee, singer and composer na si Jose Mari Chan at beauty queen-actress na si Michelle Dee.
Samantala, nakausap din ng ilang members ng entertainment media sa naganap na pocket presscon ng naturang samahan ng mga Filipono-Chinese businessman sa Kamuning Bakery si FFCCCI Public Information Committee Co-Chairman Eddy Cobankiat.
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Si Mr. Eddy ang may-ari ng Eslite S-Acetyl Glutathione na ine-endorse ng Kapuso actress na si Sanya Lopez. In fairness, five years nang brand ambassador ng naturang brand ang dalaga at super loyal pa rin siya rito. | Inquirer | https://bandera.inquirer.net/391263/condo-ni-basil-valdez-tinirhan-ng-mga-multo-itinaboy-ni-fr-roque-ferriols?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2Z-QD31HMOrzANOtrhUt09YIBGzfbYLiltcjFADMSSo44qIVJyZXQMr_Y_aem_TqzstTfiX_IvwAyGoUf3lw#ixzz8hQewJgxU |
DepEd: 77% of learners so far enrolled for School Year 2024-2025 | Luisa Cabato | Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:06:21 PST | | PHOTOS: Official Faacebook page of DepEd and Senate PRIB
| PHOTOS: Official Faacebook page of DepEd and Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — More than 77 percent of learners from elementary, high school, and alternative learning systems (ALS) levels have so far enrolled for School Year (SY) 2024-2025, data from the Department of Education (DepEd) showed.
As of 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30, a total of 21,563,642 out of 27,722,835 students enrolled for the current school year, which officially began on Monday in most schools nationwide.
READ: Over 1,000 schools rescheduling start of classes – DepEd
The number is still expected to go up until the end of the enrollment period on Sept. 16, the DepEd said.
SY 2024-2025 will end on May 16, 2025.
However, there are still 841 schools from the National Capital Region and Regions 1, 3, 4A, and 12 that postponed their class opening due to the ongoing cleanup and repair activities in the areas.
READ: DepEd eyes Saturday classes to make up for lost school days
In an interview with reporters on Monday, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said schools that postponed their class opening may conduct Saturday classes to make up for lost school days.
“It’s usually like that; it’s necessary to do make-up classes on the weekend when classes on weekdays are suspended,” he said in Filipino.
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Salceda: Allow legal Pogos to stay | Gabriel Pabico Lalu | Thu, 11 Jul 2024 08:30:10 PST | MANILA, Philippines — Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda still believes that legal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) should be allowed to continue operating in the country, noting that the industry is gradually becoming more Filipino than Chinese.
Salceda, in a statement on Wednesday, said that 25,000 Filipinos are direct Pogo employees, while 30,000 of 65,000 indirect hires are also Filipinos.
“The legal sector is now also becoming less and less Chinese and more Filipino. Filipinos now account for as many as 25,000 direct Pogo employees, with Vietnamese nationals now also outnumbering Chinese nationals,” Salceda, who heads the House of Representatives committee on ways and means, said.
“Among indirect hires, Pagcor cites indirect industry estimates that put the number of indirect offshore online gaming workers at close to 100,000, of which roughly 65,000 are Filipinos and 30,000 [are] foreign nationals,” he added.
Regarding the crackdown on illegal Pogos, Salceda said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration has done a good job of weeding out illegal Pogos from legal ones.
Salceda, however, said he believes the government’s efforts will be negated once a total ban is imposed.
“Since Pagcor began cracking down hard on illegal Pogos under President Marcos’s administration, tax and regulatory fee collections have increased dramatically from fewer licensees. We are cutting out the weeds so that the flowers can grow,” he said.
“(But) if you close down the whole sector, good players and bad, you put to waste all the efforts of the Marcos administration to crack down on the bad players,” he added.
Salceda also echoed previous sentiments by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez — that a total ban on Pogos might only lead to workers within legal operations moving underground, where tracking and taxation will be impossible.
“If you close down the whole sector, the aliens, the existing Pogo clientele, and the hardware and investments already made will have nowhere to go but the illegal sector. It’s going to be a disaster we are ill-equipped to address. Our law enforcement does not have the resources, the capabilities, or even the training to infiltrate and apprehend an expanded black market for gaming,” he said.
“Here’s my suggestion to my friend, (Finance) Secretary (Ralph) Recto, and the economic team: Let’s plow back some of the increased internet gaming tax revenues on improved law enforcement, especially in intelligence gathering and infiltration. The best time for it is the upcoming budget season, when we return from our session break,” he added.
Recto recently said that they have submitted a recommendation to the President for the total ban of Pogos in the country due to problems in how the games are being run.
Last June 11, Makabayan filed House Bill (HB) No. 10525, or the proposed Anti-Pogo Act of 2024, which will revoke existing Pogo licenses and ban other future Pogo companies from operating.
Aside from allegations of human trafficking, there have been claims that individuals may have been killed inside Pogo hubs.
Last June 25, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil confirmed that there were “unreported killings” within the Pogo hubs raided in Central Luzon.
A raid was conducted in a Pogo hub in Porac last June 4, where 186 foreign and Filipino workers were rescued from an alleged human trafficking ring.
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There were also reports that some of the employees were tortured or sold for sex.
Before this, 371 Filipinos and 497 foreigners were rescued from an illegal Pogo in Bamban, Tarlac, which was also raided for alleged involvement in human trafficking.
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Swimmer rescued 80 km off Japan after 36-hour ordeal | Agence France-Presse | Thu, 11 Jul 2024 14:18:44 PST | FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse
FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse
TOKYO — A woman who went swimming off a beach in Japan and was swept out to sea was rescued about 80 kilometers (50 miles) off the coast after 36 hours, officials said on Thursday.
The local coast guard launched a search and rescue operation after the alarm was raised for the Chinese national in her 20s in the central Shizuoka region on Monday evening.
“It was around 7:55 pm on July 8 when we received the information after the woman’s friend reported to a nearby convenience store that she was missing,” a local Japan Coast Guard official told AFP.
READ: WATCH: Pro surfer rescues swimmer swept away by waves
The woman, who was not named, told rescuers that she was swept out to sea and could not return to the beach as she was swimming with a rubber ring.
She was finally spotted floating off the southern tip of Chiba’s Boso peninsula at 7:48 am on Wednesday by a cargo ship, the official said.
Two crew members of a smaller nearby tanker contacted by radio jumped into the sea to rescue her.
READ: 58-year-old man missing after swimming in Moalboal
“There are 80 kilometers in a straight line (between the beach and rescue spot)… but it is assumed she drifted for an even greater distance,” the official said.
The woman was taken to hospital after the rescue but did not need to be admitted as she was clear-headed and her dehydration was not life-threatening.
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‘UndeFEETed’: PWD artist paints abstract and cubism pieces with feet | INQUIRER.net | Thu, 11 Jul 2024 19:01:01 PST | PWD artist Bermin Villasor Rigor, 35, creates impressive abstract and cubism artwork using his feet. Photos courtesy of Bermin Villasor Rigor/Facebook. Graphics: Lance Uy/INQUIRER.net
PWD artist Bermin Villasor Rigor, 35, creates impressive abstract and cubism artwork using his feet. Photos courtesy of Bermin Villasor Rigor/Facebook. Graphics: Lance Uy/INQUIRER.net
Every brushstroke made by the feet of Bermin Villasor Rigor, a 35-year-old artist from Laguna, walks him one step closer to his dream of earning constant commissions and owning an art studio.
Rigor, born without arms and hands due to his mother’s goiter during pregnancy, knows no bounds in maximizing his potential in art-making by his feet since he was eight years old.
A simple hobby became more than a pastime for Rigor as art became his source of living when he finally mustered up the courage to show his talent on social media platforms during COVID-19.
“My artworks are inspired by the colorful works of Pablo Picasso because I find his art very beautiful. Also, I can associate my works with the rainbow since it is a symbol of hope after the rain,” Rigor told the Inquirer.
As the eldest among four siblings, Rigor mentioned that his abstract or cubism-inspired paintings played a crucial role in providing for his family and his maintenance, especially when the pandemic took away his siblings’ jobs.
According to Rigor, his commission rate is usually 30 pesos per square inch, and he spends one week to three months to finish a painting, depending on the size of the artwork.
“For the PWD community, don’t lose hope or feel discouraged. I believe that there is a reason from above why we are living in this world, no matter what our condition or situation in life may be,” Rigor advised fellow PWDs.
Rigor currently accepts commissions or donations. Interested clients or donors may contact him via his Facebook account, Bermin Villasor Rigor. — Cyril Buenaflor, INQUIRER trainee.
RELATED STORIES:
Painter creates realistic artworks despite being colorblind
Student with disability showcases talent in drawing
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Artist inspires through paintings despite battle with meningitis
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Gilas Women go for winning end to Jones Cup campaign | Rommel Fuertes Jr. | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 17:15:13 PST | FILE – Gilas Pilipinas’ Jack Animam at the Fiba Women’s Asia Cup in Australia. Photo from Fiba
FILE – Gilas Pilipinas’ Jack Animam at the Fiba Women’s Asia Cup in Australia. Photo from Fiba
MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas Women hope to end their campaign on a high note in the William Jones Cup on Wednesday night.
With Japan having already clinched the title, Gilas will go for the next best thing, which is to finish with a winning record in the tournament.
The Nationals, bannered by veterans Jack Animam and Afril Bernardino, can do just that with a victory over Chinese-Taipei A later at 7 p.m. at Xinzhuang Gymnasium in Taiwan.
It has been an up-and-down campaign for Gilas so far after splitting its first four games.
The Filipinos lost to Chinese-Taipei B in the opener on Saturday before bouncing back to beat Malaysia, 74-63, a day later.
Gilas then, suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Japan, 85-83, after coming back from a double-digit deficit.
The Philippines kept its slim title hopes alive on Tuesday after holding off Thailand, 68-58, to improve to 2-2 but a victory by Japan over Malaysia in the following game sealed the championship for the Japanese.
Last year, Gilas finished fifth in a six-team field with just one win to show.
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In Zamboanga City, 27 hurt as firecrackers set for disposal explode | Julie S. Alipala | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 04:40:00 PST | Inquirer files
Inquirer files
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — At least 27 people, 11 of them civilians, were injured when the destruction of seized firecrackers here went awry on Monday.
According to Brig. General Bowenn Joey Masauding, Zamboanga Peninsula regional police director, the Philippine National Police is investigating the incident to pinpoint lapses in procedures.
He said personnel from the PNP’s Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) based in the national headquarters in Camp Crame were already here to conduct an independent probe.
READ: 5 dead, 20 hurt after firecracker warehouse explosion in Zamboanga City
From the initial 19 casualties reported on Monday, the number of injured reached 27 on Tuesday, according to the police. The city government’s count has already reached 30, although officials failed to provide further details.
At least seven of the 20 injured are still in critical condition, according to Lt. Col. Helen Galvez, spokesperson for the regional police.
Galvez said a police EOD team was trying to dispose of the seized firecrackers at 5:35 p.m. on Monday at Zone 2 in Cabatangan village, about 6.3 kilometers from the city center, when the explosive materials prematurely detonated, severely wounding at least five security personnel and two others.
At least four vehicles, among them a KM450 military truck and a firetruck, were damaged due to the strong impact of the explosion.
At least 12 structures have been damaged, among these are the Padre Pio Chapel, the regional office of the Civil Service Commission, the Philippine Marines’ Assault Armor Battalion headquarters, the Cabatangan barangay hall and several school buildings, all within 2 kilometers of the blast site, and the Palacio del Sur hotel in Barangay Canelar, which is around 3 km away.
An impact map prepared by engineer Rommel Allan Labayog of the Zamboanga station of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology showed that the impact was created within 2.4 km of the blast site. The explosion was heard by people in communities 28 km away, such as in Sangali village. At the compound of Western Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, people experienced ground shaking “as if there was [an] earthquake,” and some wondered about “a very loud thunder.”
Authorities are still assessing the damage to an undetermined number of houses around the blast site.
Cabatangan village chief Allan Dagun said both the city government and the police failed to coordinate with them the disposal of the firecrackers, noting that the Zamboanga police’s advisory indicated that this would happen on July 7.
He noted that the first disposal on July 4 was properly coordinated and went smoothly.
Monday’s operation was coordinated by the police’s Regional Explosive and Canine Unit, led by Senior Master Sgt. Elton Taluban, under the supervision of Maj. Arnulfo Jacaban Jr. They were assisted by personnel from the Philippine Marines, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Among the severely wounded were Master Sgt. Raymond Herochi, Chief Master Sgt. Delilah Zamora and Patrolman Steve Sta. Esteban of the EOD; Petty Officer 3 Alrick Zar Enriquez of the PCG; Fire Officer 3 Saud Mubin Ammad of the BFP; and two others that the police had yet to name.
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The firecrackers were recovered from the warehouse in Barangay Tetuan that exploded on June 29. That explosion killed five and wounded 38 others.
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La Niña may trigger aggressive rate cuts, think tank says | Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral @ipcigaral | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 14:56:59 PST | INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
A La Niña could bring with it favorable growing conditions for crops in Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines, something that may help tame food prices and give central banks in the region more reason to be aggressive in cutting rates.
In a commentary, Ankita Amajuri, economist at Capital Economics, said the wetter weather that La Niña typically brings to the region would boost production of crops like rice, coffee and sugar, which have been adversely affected by dry conditions over the past year.
READ: Think tank: Aggressive rate cuts coming, starting with PH in August
The projected increase in production, in turn, might convince central banks in Southeast Asia to be more forceful with their rate cuts, Amajuri said. But she added that the extent to which above-normal rainfall conditions affect production will depend on the strength and duration of the event.
“Our view is that central banks in the region will begin cutting interest rates later this year,” she said.
”La Niña increases the odds that easing cycles will be even more aggressive than our forecasts, which are already more dovish than the consensus,” she added.
The World Meteorological Organization is currently forecasting a 70 percent chance of a La Niña between August and November. In the Philippines, the state weather bureau said there’s a possibility that the onset of such a weather phenomenon would happen much later in September.
READ: ANZ: Stubbornly high inflation to block rate cuts in 2024
Capital Economics expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to ease by a total of 75 basis points this year, which would bring the key rate to 5.75 percent by the end of 2024 from the current level of 6.5 percent, an over 17-year high.
That projection was more aggressive than the dovish signals coming from Governor Eli Remolona Jr., who said the BSP may cut rates by a total of 50 bps this year. Already, Remolona had ruled out the possibility of a 75-bp cumulative cuts for 2024, arguing that such a move may spook the market.
But Remolona and Capital Economics both shared the same view that the easing cycle might start in August, and likely ahead of the US Federal Reserve.
In a separate report, Miguel Chanco, economist at Pantheon Economics, said the softer June inflation print of 3.7 percent laid the groundwork for the BSP to cut next month.
“Overall, our below-consensus 3.3 percent full-year average inflation forecast for 2024 remains appropriate, with risks skewed only slightly to the upside,” Chanco said.
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”We forecast the same rate for 2025 and still see the BSP cutting its benchmark rate by 75 bps this year and 50 bps next year,” he added.
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Alice Guo asks SC to stop Senate from using her as resource person | Tetch Torres-Tupas | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 17:56:32 PST | The camp of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo asks SC to stop the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality from inviting her as a resource person and nullify the subpoena issued against her. Photo by Tetch Torres-Tupas/INQUIRER.net
The camp of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo asks SC to stop the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality from inviting her as a resource person and nullify the subpoena issued against her. Photo by Tetch Torres-Tupas/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Saying that her life, liberty, and security were put in danger, Bamban Mayor Alice Guo on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the Senate from using her as a resource person in its committee hearings related to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) and their involvement in criminal activities.
Guo, through her lawyers, also urged the SC to annul and set aside the subpoena issued by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality for her to attend the July 10 hearing.
During Wednesday’s Senate hearing, Guo was held in contempt and ordered arrested for failing to attend the inquiry.
READ: Alice Guo and 7 others cited for contempt, ordered arrested
Guo was dragged into the controversy after the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) raided a Pogo hub in Bamban, Tarlac and rescued hundreds of foreign workers.
The local government of Bamban gave the Pogo hub a permit to operate.
Authorities found that Zun Yuan Technology’s electric meter was registered under Guo’s name, and a vehicle inside the facility was also registered under her name.
In her petition for certiorari and/or prohibition with extremely urgent prayer for a temporary restraining order, Guo said the Senate panel chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction for continuously violating her constitutional rights to due process and right to privacy.
Citing the Senate transcript of stenographic notes for the May 7 and 22 hearings when she was invited as a resource person, Guo’s camp said that “she was never afforded any opportunity to sufficiently explain her side whenever a certain issue was raised.”
She also lamented that even her personal information no longer related to the Senate inquiry was made public.
“Petitioner’s private life was mocked, dishonored, and became the subject of public ridicule, memes, gossips, and malicious public prosecution. As a result, petitioner’s life, liberty, and security were put in actual danger as she received threats from inside and outside the country,” read her petition.
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She urged the SC “to caution investigating entities that information-sharing must observe strict confidentiality.”
“Intelligence gathered must be released exclusively to the authorities empowered to receive the relevant information. After all, inherent to the right to privacy is the freedom from ‘unwarranted exploitation of one’s person or from intrusion into one’s private activities in such a way as to cause humiliation to a person’s ordinary sensibilities,” the petition read.
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Gatchalian: Alice Guo not homeschooled; we attended same school | Charie Abarca | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 15:20:48 PST | Sen. Win Gatchalian (L) and Bamban Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo. | PHOTOS: Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau and INQUIRER.net
Sen. Win Gatchalian (L) and Bamban Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo. | PHOTOS: Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau and INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — No, suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo was not homeschooled. She also did not grow up on a farm.
This was according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian who presented Guo’s school documents before the Senate panel on women, revealing that he and the embattled local official, in fact, studied in the same school.
“Merong mga tips na lumabas sa amin na apparently si Guo Hua Ping o si Alice Guo [ay] hindi lumaki sa farm. Hindi rin siya home schooled — nag-aral ho siya, and I’ll show you the proof,” said Gatchalian.
(We were tipped off that apparently Guo Hua Ping or Alice Guo didn’t grow up on a farm. She was not homeschooled. She went to school, and I’ll show you the proof.)
READ: Senate summons Guo to Pogo probe, cites lack of ‘good reason to be absent’
“Dahil nga lumabas sa hearing yung totoong pangalan niya — nagaral siya sa [ka]parehas kong school: sa Grace Christian High School. For Grades 1, 2, and 3,” he added.
(Since her real name was revealed in the hearings, we found out that she studied in the same school as I did, Grace Christian High School. For Grades 1, 2, and 3.)
Gatchalian’s revelation contradicts Guo’s earlier claims that she was raised on a farm and was only homeschooled by a certain Teacher Rubilyn.
“Year 2000-2003. Hindi siya homeschool[ed] ni Rubilyn, nag-aral talaga ho siya. At kung matatandaan ko sa school namin walang farm doon, puro building ho,” said the senator.
(She wasn’t homeschooled by Rubilyn, she attended school. And I remember our school has no farm, it’s all buildings.)
READ: ‘I am afraid’: Alice Guo says she’s ‘constantly receiving death threats’
According to Gatchalian, documents attached to Guo’s enrollment forms include an Alien Birth Certificate of Registration, which matches what was provided earlier by the Bureau of Immigration.
Along with the enrollment document is a birth certificate from China translated into English.
“Nakasulat dito na father niya si Jian Zhang Guo at ang mother niya si Wen Yi Lin,” said Gatchalian.
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(It’s written here that her father is Jian Zhang Guo and her mother is Wen Yi Lin.)
The embattled local official skipped the Senate’s Wednesday probe on her alleged involvement with illegal Pogo firm Zun Yuan Technology, citing death threats and malicious accusations as the reasons why she is presently stressed and anxious.
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PNP: Davao reshuffle for better police service | Philippine Daily Inquirer | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 04:30:00 PST | RESHUFFLE Davao City’s San Pedro police station, shown here on Monday, is one of the 19 police units in the city whose commanders have been relieved in an unexplained major reshuffle. —Bing Gonzales
RESHUFFLE Davao City’s San Pedro police station, shown here on Monday, is one of the 19 police units in the city whose commanders have been relieved in an unexplained major reshuffle. —Bing Gonzales
MANILA, Philippines — The relief of police commanders in 19 stations in Davao City was due to “discrepancies in terms of the crime statistics,” Philippine National Police spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said on Tuesday.
Brig. Gen. Nicolas Deloso Torre III, Davao regional police director, ordered the transfer of the police officers on July 8 without an immediate explanation.
READ: 19 police chiefs in Davao City relieved, reassigned
Fajardo did not elaborate on the supposed “discrepancies” but said Torre’s intent was “to improve the delivery of police service and restore the trust of the people.”
“He said his decision was part of his sole prerogative as regional director and his intent was to further improve the delivery of public service to the people of Davao,” she said.
On June 17, Torre replaced Brig. Gen. Aligre Martinez, who was relieved barely 50 days after assuming office and three days following the June 10 operation that failed to arrest televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, who is charged with human trafficking and child sexual abuse. —Frances Mangosing
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Parents group slams DOJ, DSWD: Why take aid from Big Tobacco? | Dexter Cabalza | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 05:30:00 PST | Inquirer file photo
Inquirer file photo
MANILA, Philippines — A parents’ organization has assailed the Department of Justice (DOJ) opinion allowing the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to receive the tobacco industry donations, saying it disregarded the government’s international commitments.
“This decision poses significant risks to the health and well-being of our children and youth. Our primary concern is the impact of this decision on impressionable young minds,” Parents Against Vape (PAV) president Rebie Relator said in a statement on Monday.
For the group, the DOJ opinion would send “a misleading message to our children, suggesting that the tobacco industry is a partner in health care and development.”
In a June 6 legal opinion, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the DSWD could accept a donation of three mobile clinics for its social welfare and disaster response operations from an undisclosed tobacco company.
He said this acceptance would not violate Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2010-01 of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Department of Health (DOH). The JMC, particularly Section 3.3, explicitly forbids government officials and employees from soliciting or accepting gifts, favors, or donations from entities in the tobacco industry.
The prohibition was in line with the country’s compliance with commitments under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to which the Philippines is a signatory.
But according to the DOJ opinion, the prohibition only covered officials and employees, and “the same cannot be interpreted to broadly extend to the national government, local government, and other government agencies, subdivisions and offices.”
In 2019, the DSWD issued Administrative Order (AO) No. 11, which reiterated the joint circular of the CSC and DOH and barred the agency and its personnel from accepting gifts, donations, and sponsorships from any person or business related to the tobacco industry.
“As the lead government agency in promoting social services to the general public, it is an ethical and primary duty of the department to care and protect DSWD clientele, particularly children, and its own personnel from [the] harm of tobacco use and threat of tobacco industry interference,” the AO stated.
“Tobacco control measures help save lives, reduce health hazards and counter the economic toll on [citizens] toward greater sustainable development,” it added.
The DOJ, however, recommended that the DSWD address the conflict on AO 11 “internally,” noting its “overarching inclusion of both the department and its officials and employees” to the coverage of the prohibition.
It also advised the DSWD to address its inquiry to both the DOH and CSC as the lead implementing agencies of the joint circular.
PAV called on Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian to reject the donations and for his agency to just seek alternative sources of funding that “align with the nation’s commitment to public health and the protection of our future generations.”
According to the group, the DSWD accepting such donations smacked of “dangerous irony” as it would risk normalizing the presence of the tobacco industry in sectors dedicated to public health and welfare.
It noted that tobacco use is a leading cause among Filipinos, or the seventh out of the Top 10 noncommunicable diseases in the country.
“This not only undermines efforts to reduce tobacco use and its devastating health impacts but also compromises the integrity of public health policies,” Relator said.
It could also create a conflict of interest within the DSWD and other government agencies. The DOH, for one, has been strongly campaigning against smoking and vaping.
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“It opens the door for the tobacco industry to influence public health policies and programs, which should remain free from any vested interests that could jeopardize public health, especially the health of our children,” the group said. INQ
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‘Tokhang’ victim to SC: Reinstate case vs 4 cops | Jane Bautista | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 05:35:00 PST | LEGIT OPERATION The Ombudsman dismissed in 2022 the murder charges filed against four Quezon City policemen by Efren Morillo, saying they were able to prove the antidrug operation in 2016 was legitimate. —Inquirer file photo
LEGIT OPERATION The Ombudsman dismissed in 2022 the murder charges filed against four Quezon City policemen by Efren Morillo, saying they were able to prove the antidrug operation in 2016 was legitimate. —Inquirer file photo
MANILA, Philippines — Efren Morillo, who survived a police “tokhang” operation in Payatas, Quezon City, in 2016 that killed four other men, has challenged before the Supreme Court the Ombudsman’s dismissal of murder charges against the four lawmen implicated in the case.
In a petition for certiorari filed on Monday by his legal counsel, the Center for International Law Philippines (CenterLaw), Morillo asked the high tribunal to junk the Ombudsman’s resolution and order, which dismissed the criminal and administrative complaints for murders, frustrated murder, robbery and grave misconduct against Police Capt. Emil Garcia, Police Staff Sergeant Allan Formilleza and Patrolmen James Aggarao and Melchor Navisaga of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).
READ: PNP hit for not filing charges over ‘tokhang’ slays
Morillo was joined by his co-petitioners Marilyn Malimban, Maria Belen Daa and Lydia Gabo, the relatives of the four men killed in the drug war operation. Together, they asked the high court to step in and order the Ombudsman to find probable cause to indict the four police officers and six other private respondents identified as Maria Lorena Barcelona, Ma. Leonila Barcelona-Tolones, Mary Joy Ralo, Richard Rinon, John Doe and Peter Doe for murder, frustrated murder, robbery, and planting of evidence.
CenterLaw simultaneously filed a separate petition for certiorari before the Court of Appeals to challenge the dismissal of the administrative complaint against the Quezon City policemen.
The case stemmed from the Aug. 21, 2016, antidrug operation of a QCPD team, which, according to Morillo’s affidavit, barged into a house in Payatas and shot him and four others as they were playing billiards.
Anthony Comendo, Jessie Cule, Rhaffy Gabo and Marcelo Daa Jr., the house owner, were killed.
Morillo, who was hit in the chest, survived by playing dead. He then managed to crawl down a nearby ravine before fleeing on foot. The police claimed the five men were armed and had fired at them.
In a joint resolution dated Nov. 28, 2022, the Ombudsman dismissed the criminal and administrative complaint against the policemen for lack of probable cause and substantial evidence. It also later denied a motion for reconsideration filed by the petitioners in a joint order issued on March 22.
“Taken altogether, these decisions of the Ombudsman show capricious or whimsical exercise of judgment done in an arbitrary and despotic manner, amounting to a virtual refusal to perform its duty to file an information when the evidence clearly warrants it,” read a portion of Morillo’s petition obtained by the Inquirer.
In challenging the Ombudsman’s ruling, CenterLaw said that its decision was “tainted with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction” when it dismissed the criminal charges against the QCPD policemen.
It also argued that there was enough evidence to charge the police officers with the crimes based on affidavits and supporting documents, which included statements from multiple witnesses, medicolegal reports, and court decisions and records.
“Probable cause needs only to rest on evidence showing that more likely than not, a crime has been committed and there is enough reason to believe that it was committed by the accused. Proof beyond reasonable doubt enough to secure a conviction is not required,” the petitioners said.
They also claimed that the Ombudsman “intentionally overlooked the dearth of evidence and the inconsistencies and irregularities in the documents submitted by the respondents to arrive at the baseless conclusion that justifying circumstances exist in the present case.”
The Ombudsman had said in its resolution that the lawmen were “able to establish” that they were conducting a legitimate anti-illegal drug operation.
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“This is clear from the documents submitted by the respondents. It is unfortunate, however, that the police operation resulted in deaths,” it added.
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VP Duterte optimistic Nat’l Learning Camp to enhance student skills | Adrian Parungao | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 17:37:58 PST | MANILA, Philippines — Vice President and outgoing Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte expressed her optimism on Wednesday that the National Learning Camp (NLC) will contribute to the skills needed by Filipino students.
According to Duterte, a whole-of-community approach is needed to sustain the NLC, which includes parents, local government officials, and members of the education sector, among others, which she also thanked for their contributions to the program.
READ: DepEd unveils National Learning Camp for interactive education
“I am optimistic that this program will continue to yield positive outcomes, improving the foundational literacy, numeracy, and 21st century skills crucial to our learners’ future success,” Duterte said.
“A whole-of-community approach that brings together parents, barangay officials, our local government units, partners, principals, and other education leaders, and parents is central to the National Learning Camp; and is essential to how we educate our children,” she added.
Duterte made her remarks at the National Learning Camp Appreciation program in Cebu.
She added that more than 2.1 million learners from Grades 1 to 3 and 7 to 10 joined the 2024 NLC, while there were also more than 185,000 learning camp volunteers nationwide.
READ: DepEd pushing for early end of school year due to intense heat
The NLC program will run from July 1 to 19 and will supplement learning losses due to asynchronous classes.
Meanwhile, school year 2024 to 2025 classes will open on July 29.
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INQToday: Alice Guo, others cited for contempt for skipping Senate hearing | INQUIRER.net | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 12:15:05 PST | Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
The Senate panel on women cited for contempt and sought the arrest of suspended mayor Alice Guo and others for skipping the chamber’s hearing on the local official’s alleged ties to Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) in Tarlac.
During the Senate panel on women’s Wednesday hearing, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian made the motion to cite for contempt the following individuals:
Panel head Sen. Risa Hontiveros accepted Gatchalian’s motion.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Erwin Garcia on Tuesday branded as “malicious” and part of a “demolition job” a lawmaker’s allegation about bribe money being deposited in his offshore bank accounts during the bidding for the new automated elections systems (AES) service provider.
Garcia told reporters that he learned of the plot against him about two weeks ago and asked the National Bureau of Investigation to look into it.
Jennie of Blackpink extended her apologies through her agency after a video of her “vaping” indoors with her staff around her went viral on the internet.
On Tuesday, July 9, Jennie’s personal label, OA Entertainment, penned a statement on X (formerly Twitter) to explain the Kpop star’s side.
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Vacuum maker Dyson warns of 1,000 UK job cuts — source | Agence France-Presse | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 12:04:53 PST | British inventor James Dyson’s son Jake Dyson, Chief engineer at Dyson presents the company’s new model of vacuum cleaner in Paris on March 6, 2018. (Photo by ERIC PIERMONT / AFP)
British inventor James Dyson’s son Jake Dyson, Chief engineer at Dyson presents the company’s new model of vacuum cleaner in Paris on March 6, 2018. (Photo by ERIC PIERMONT / AFP)
London, United Kingdom — Dyson’s chief executive Hanno Kirner on Tuesday announced changes to the vacuum maker’s organization that could result in job losses in Britain.
A source close to the matter added that “around 1,000” out of 3,500 UK employees could be impacted by the changes.
Created by inventor James Dyson, the Singapore-based company’s products include also hair dryers and air purifiers.
READ: Singapore firm pledges P11-B investment in PH
“We have grown quickly and, like all companies, we review our global structures from time to time to ensure we are prepared for the future,” Kirner said in a statement.
“As such, we are proposing changes to our organization, which may result in redundancies.”
He added that “Dyson operates in increasingly fierce and competitive global markets, in which the pace of innovation and change is only accelerating”.
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China consumer prices rise slightly in June | Agence France-Presse | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:35:00 PST | Customers select vegetables at a market in Heze, in eastern China’s Shandong province on June 12, 2024. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT
Customers select vegetables at a market in Heze, in eastern China’s Shandong province on June 12, 2024. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT
China consumer prices edged up in June, official data showed Wednesday, but fell short of analyst expectations as the country’s economic recovery continues to falter.
The consumer price index rose 0.2 percent on-year in June, down from May’s 0.3 percent and the fifth straight month in positive territory, the National Bureau of Statistics said.
READ: China consumer prices up in May, factory deflation persists
While the country emerged from a period of deflation in February, prices have grown at a modest rate, in contrast to other major economies which have seen prices soar once again.
At the end of 2023, China plunged into deflation for four months, with the sharpest contraction in consumer prices in 14 years in January.
Bloomberg analysts had predicted a 0.4 percent inflation rate for June.
An ongoing crisis in the real estate sector, which has long accounted for a quarter of the country’s GDP, has dragged down growth.
High youth unemployment, which reached 14.2 percent in May, is also dampening domestic demand.
The NBS said producer prices fell 0.8 percent in June, slightly slower than May’s 1.4 percent decline, continuing a now 20-month downward streak.
READ: China consumer prices rose at slower rate in March
“The risk of deflation has not faded in China,” Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management, said in a note sent to AFP.
“Domestic demand remains weak,” Zhang said, adding that “in the long term China will need a rebound of domestic demand to drive the economy.”
June’s data comes days before the start of a major Communist Party meeting that is expected to put economic recovery high on the agenda.
Policymakers have announced a series of targeted measures to boost infrastructure spending and spur consumption.
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But analysts say much more needs to be done in the form of a major “bazooka” stimulus.
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Carmen, Cebu tragedy: Search for last missing person continues | eares | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 11:24:04 PST | Authorities have shifted their operation for search and retrieval of the body of the last missing victim of the last Monday’s flash flood in Brgy. Cantumog, Carmen, Cebu. | Mayor Carlo Villamor FB
Authorities have shifted their operation for search and retrieval of the body of the last missing victim of the last Monday’s flash flood in Brgy. Cantumog, Carmen, Cebu. | Mayor Carlo Villamor FB
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Authorities have retrieved the bodies of six of the seven individuals, who went missing after they were swept away by raging waters of a river last Monday, July 8.
They were among 17 people aboard a red pickup truck crossing the spillway in a river in Barangay Cantumog, Carmen town in northern Cebu when their vehicle was swept away by a flashflood with the onrushing water of the river coming from the mountains, which experienced heavy rains earlier in the afternoon that day.
After one day of search and rescue operations, six of the victims were found while one is still missing.
READ MORE:
Carmen tragedy: Pregnant woman jumped after husband
Cebu river sweeps away pickup truck with 17 people: 1 dead, 6 missing
Carmen: Family outing ends in tragedy after flashfloods sweep pick-up
The tragedy happened happened at past 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 8, as the victims were on their way home from having a party at a mountain resort in Sitio Mangingit, Brgy. Lower Natimao-an.
A few hours after the seven victims were swept away, they recovered the body of 11-year-old child, Arshane Bejoc, in a river in Brgy. Luyang, a few kilometers downstream.
On Tuesday, July 9, disaster operatives retrieved the body of Rhesamie Ypil Costan, 26, floating in the same river.
She was six months pregnant.
Authorities then reportedly found Nathaniel Lozano, 12; and Clarisse Ypil, 13, in the waters off Panalipan, Catmon.
They also retrieved the body of Aishie Hermoso, 12, in Consuelo, Camotes.
READ MORE:
Carmen, Cebu tragedy: Body of pregnant woman, 12-yr-old boy found
50,000 residents affected by floods in 2 Maguindanao del Sur towns
Meanwhile, some fishermen found the body of Elmer Costan, 25, floating in the waters of Macaas, Catmon at around 2:00 p.m. on the same day.
He was wearing a black shirt and was positively identified by his relatives.
Elmer and Rhesamie are newlyweds, who tied the knot last Saturday, July 6.
Out of the seven individuals who were swept away by the flash flood waters, only one remained missing as of Wednesday, July 10.
Carmen Mayor Carlo Villamor said in his post on Wednesday that authorities were still on the search for Mike Stanly Tungal, 15.
Furthermore, the search and rescue operation for Tungal had been shifted to search and retrieval operation.
The victims were onboard a red pickup truck with 10 other individuals on the day of the incident.
Unfortunately, their vehicle was struck by a huge volume of flood waters as they were trying to cross a spillway in Barangay Cantumog.
A total of 10 individuals were able to get off on a large rock and were promptly rescued.
The rescued persons from the Carmen flash floods were: Ranilo Hermoso, 44, the driver of the vehicle; Debie Hermoso, 40; Jojielyn Tungal, 39; Jasmine Gica, 37; 4 six-year-old girls; an 11-year-old girl; and a 16-year-old girl.
They were subjected to psychosocial intervention and were sent home on Tuesday.
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Chery Tiggo risks missing its Alas Pilipinas players | Angel B. Dukha III, Lance Agcaoili | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 04:30:00 PST | Eya Laure (left) and Jennifer Nierva (middle) were teammates in the bronze-winning Alas Pilipinas squad in the AVC Challenge Cup, alongside La Salle star Angel Canino. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Eya Laure (left) and Jennifer Nierva (middle) were teammates in the bronze-winning Alas Pilipinas squad in the AVC Challenge Cup, alongside La Salle star Angel Canino. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Chery Tiggo risks missing stars Eya Laure and Jennifer Nierva in the PVL Reinforced Conference if both players are not released to the national pool, league president Ricky Palou warned on Monday night at the sidelines of the inaugural Rookie Draft.
“If the team chooses not to allow their players to play [with the national team], on our part, we have an agreement with the PNVF (Philippine National Volleyball Federation) that they will also not be allowed to play in the Reinforced Conference,” Palou told reporters after the Draft.
The potential ban represents the strongest move yet by an organization on clubs refusing to allow their players to suit up for national duty, a sanction never applied in recent history in local pro leagues.
Chery Tiggo Aaron Velez has told reporters that Chery Tiggo is maintaining status quo on both players, depending on negotiations with the league, the federation and the Crossovers’ management.
But there might be no need for negotiations based on agreements between the PVL and the PNVF. Those agreements, Palou explained, is tethered to guidelines by the sport’s international governing body (FIVB) on national team and club commitments.
“We’re trying to explain to [Chery] that there’s an FIVB regulation that if the national federation chooses your players to go to the national team, you’re supposed to [release] those players [to] the national team,” Palou said. “So we’re talking things out and I think there’s a misunderstanding somewhere.
We’re trying to explain [the details] to them; we’re still talking. We [need] time to explain to them what this whole thing [is about] and what our agreements are with the PNVF.”
National team players, Palou said, are mandated to remain with the pool until Aug. 11. The PVL Reinforced Conference starts on July 16.
Laure and Nierva, who were the key members of Alas’ bronze medal run in the AVC Challenge Cup, stopped attending practices after that tournament and also skipped the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup last week after failing to get a clearance from their mother club to play for the flag.
But Palou is hopeful the two will be reinstated once the wrinkles are ironed out.
“Even if they didn’t play in the Challenger Cup, they are still [part of] the pool so there are at least two tournaments for the national team and I think [the team] is also going to Japan to train for two or three weeks,” Palou said.
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“Hopefully they’ll be allowed to join the training in Japan and the two or three other tournaments. We’ll find out more [about the status of Laure and Nierva] in the next two weeks.” INQ
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‘No base’ clause a must in PH-Japan pact | Frances Mangosing | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 05:15:49 PST | COOPERATION AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (left) greets his Japanese counterpart, Japan Self-Defense Forces Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, as officials of the two countries discuss security cooperation during the 2nd Philippines-Japan Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting held in Taguig City on Monday. —Grig C. Montegrande
COOPERATION AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (left) greets his Japanese counterpart, Japan Self-Defense Forces Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, as officials of the two countries discuss security cooperation during the 2nd Philippines-Japan Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting held in Taguig City on Monday. —Grig C. Montegrande
MANILA, Philippines — Japan is not seeking to establish a permanent military base in the Philippines under the newly signed access deal between the two countries that allows the entry of military troops and equipment into each other’s territory, a Japanese diplomat said on Monday.
In an interview with journalists on Monday night, Deputy Press Secretary Mariko Kaneko of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) did not provide any legal foundation for the setup of a military base.
READ: Philippines, Japan sign reciprocal access agreement
Section 3, Article VIII of the agreement explicitly states that: “Nothing in this agreement shall be construed as providing a basis for a Party to establish its military facilities in the territory of the other Party.”
Similar access deals Japan had forged ties with Australia and the United Kingdom did not feature this clause.
The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines prohibits foreign military bases in the country.
Kaneko said both parties had to include the provision during the negotiations “so that there’s no misunderstanding on both sides.”
“It only provides the procedures to facilitate joint exercises and the temporary operation of one country’s forces. This RAA does not provide any legal foundations for a military of one country to be deployed or based permanently,” Kaneko said.
Yusuke Takagi, a Southeast Asia expert and associate professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Japan, said the new deal would open the door “for more substantial participation of Japan Self-Defense Force in joint exercises in the Philippines.”
“This implies an effort to institutionalize the cooperation of the two countries … In the midst of tensions in the West Philippine Sea, I believe that the agreement shows Japan’s moral support [for what] the Philippines is doing to deal with the threats,” he told the Inquirer.
Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said “difficult issues” emerged during the negotiations but that they were eventually resolved “due to the skill of our negotiators.”
The agreement—signed by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa—was completed in a record time of eight months.
By comparison, Tokyo formalized an RAA with London in five years, and with Canberra in seven years.
“They were able to come up with some very useful compromises both in language and also in the substance of the text. So they were able to handle the difficult questions,” Manalo said during a press conference.
“At the strategic level, both Japan and the Philippines recognize the importance of this agreement. So I think that was a basic understanding from the very beginning, so that also helped facilitate the negotiations,” he added.
The first formal negotiations on the RAA were held in Tokyo from Nov. 29 to Nov. 30, 2023, and concluded in a virtual line-by-line reading of the main text, the agreed minutes, and two records of discussions from June 11.
Manalo said the negotiations over the past months took place in both physical and virtual meetings. “They had late-night meetings; they also negotiated via Zoom; they also were in regular contact informally,’’ he recalled.
In a statement on Tuesday, Speaker Martin Romualdez described the signing of the RAA as a “crucial moment” in Philippine-Japan relations.
It would broaden the participation of the Japanese military in the annual “Balikatan” exercises of the United States’ and the Philippines’ Armed Forces, the House leader said.
Iloilo Rep. Raul Tupas, vice chair of the House committee on national defense and security, proposed that the Philippines consider signing similar pacts with South Korea and two of the country’s Southeast Asian neighbors.
“It is possible for the Philippines to have a similar reciprocal access agreement with South Korea … Similar pacts can be forged with Brunei and Malaysia,” the lawmaker said, noting that the enactment of the maritime zones bill could “spur pursuit of more agreements.”
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Brunei and Malaysia are also claimants to the South China Sea. —with a report from Jeannette I. Andrade
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China claims it allowed medevac in West PH Sea; Tarriela says it’s ‘ridiculous’ | John Eric Mendoza | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 12:55:37 PST | This aerial photograph taken from a military aircraft shows the dilapidated Sierra Madre ship of the Philippine Navy anchored near Ayungin shoal (Second Thomas Shoal). FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse
This aerial photograph taken from a military aircraft shows the dilapidated Sierra Madre ship of the Philippine Navy anchored near Ayungin shoal (Second Thomas Shoal). FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse
MANILA, Philippines — China’s claim that it allowed the medical evacuation of a navy personnel stationed in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal is “ridiculous,” Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said on Wednesday.
Tarriela made the response to Chinese state tabloid Global Times’ report that Beijing allowed the medical evacuation of personnel in BRP Sierra Madre upon Manila’s request.
“On July 7, at the request of the Philippines, the Chinese side allowed the Philippines to send a sick person from the illegally grounded warship on [Ayungin Shoal] based on humanitarian considerations,” said Global Times in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
READ: West PH Sea: China tried but failed to block medical evacuation of sailor – PCG
In direct response to this, Tarriela said: “The claim made by the People’s Republic of China that they have permitted a medical evacuation for a sick navy personnel, in order to present themselves as humanitarian while asserting their authority to allow such operation to be carried out in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, is ridiculous.”
The China Coast Guard on Sunday tried but failed to block the medical evacuation of a navy personnel in BRP Sierra Madre, Tarriela said on Tuesday.
READ: West PH Sea: CCG, militia vessels intercept 2 PCG boats near Ayungin
“This statement further confirms their illegal deployment of vessels within our EEZ and highlights their government’s view that the preservation of human life and welfare requires approval,” Tarriela said.
“Evidently, the deployment of numerous boats to delay the medical evacuation for hours just shows that they have a low regard for a humanitarian mission,” he added.
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For comprehensive coverage, in-depth analysis, visit our special page for West Philippine Sea updates. Stay informed with articles, videos, and expert opinions.
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Inter-tropical convergence zone to bring rains in Cebu – Pagasa | merram | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 11:46:05 PST | Satellite image courtesy of Pagasa on July 10, 2024.
Satellite image courtesy of Pagasa on July 10, 2024.
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Due to the presence of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), rains are expected in Cebu and the entire Central Visayas throughout this week, the state weather bureau said.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration in Mactan (Pagasa-Mactan) said on Wednesday, July 10, that Cebu would have rainy days due to the prevailing weather system.
READ MORE:
Marcos orders aid for those affected by heavy rain, flooding in Cebu
Carmen, Cebu: Family outing ends in tragedy after flashfloods sweep pickup truck
Cebu river sweeps away pickup truck with 17 people: 1 dead, 6 missing
In addition, they are currently monitoring cloud formations east of Mindanao that may develop into a low-pressure area (LPA) by next week.
“ITCZ are considered breeding grounds for major weather disturbance. Based on our forecast, our data and analysis showed that an LPA may form east of Mindanao by next week,” said Mark Gales, weather specialist at Pagasa-Mactan.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered concerned agencies here to send help for the individuals affected by the heavy rains last Monday, July 8, that resulted in flashfloods, landslides and even a whirlwind.
“Rest assured, national and local governments are working closely to bring speedy help to those who are affected by the heavy rains, especially in Carmen, in Minglanilla, and Cebu,” said Marcos during his speech at the opening ceremony of the Palarong Pambansa.
The President also said he has directed the Office of the President and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to provide assistance to the local government units affected by the flooding.
READ MORE:
Whirlwind hits Liloan, Cebu brgy, destroying houses, bunkhouse
Pagasa: Fair Tuesday weather with possible rain showers nationwide
Since Monday, July 8, Cebu suffered inclement weather that also resulted in flashflood, landslides and even a whirlwind in several parts of the island.
A flashflood in Carmen town in northern Cebu swept a pick-up truck traveling downhill, resulting in the deaths of five people – including a newlywed couple.
Search and retrieval operations continue on Wednesday for the lone missing passenger who happened to be a 15-year-old boy.
The cities of Cebu and Mandaue also reported floodings in major thoroughfares that day while landslides occurred in the southern towns of Argao, Dalaguete and Minglanilla.
According to Gales, the bad weather last Monday was caused by the easterlies, which were warm and moist air from the Pacific Ocean.
On that day, torrential rains dumped at least 78.4 millimeters of rainwater which is equivalent to the volume of water inside 31 Olympic size swimming pools.
In the meantime, Pagasa-Mactan reminded the public to continually monitor weather updates and obey authorities in case of emergencies.
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Navy asserts PH vessel will stay at shoal, cites ‘past experiences’ | Nestor Corrales | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 05:45:18 PST | Answering the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to strengthen and increase the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) presence and operations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), PCG Commandant, CG Admiral Artemio M. Abu, has deployed one of the PCG Fleet’s largest maritime assets, the BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701), to the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG). Shortly after its deployment to the KIG on January 28, 2023, the crew of MRRV-9701 boarded Filipino Fishing Boats (FFBs) in the waters in and around the KIG to advise Filipino fishermen and crew to radio PCG or Armed Forces of the Philippines shore units in the area for any needed assistance. —Photo from the PCG
Answering the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to strengthen and increase the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) presence and operations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), PCG Commandant, CG Admiral Artemio M. Abu, has deployed one of the PCG Fleet’s largest maritime assets, the BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701), to the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG). Shortly after its deployment to the KIG on January 28, 2023, the crew of MRRV-9701 boarded Filipino Fishing Boats (FFBs) in the waters in and around the KIG to advise Filipino fishermen and crew to radio PCG or Armed Forces of the Philippines shore units in the area for any needed assistance. —Photo from the PCG
MANILA, Philippines — For a week now, the largest coast guard vessels of the Philippines and China have been in close proximity to each other at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal.
As neither had budged, the Philippine Navy on Tuesday reiterated that the Filipinos wouldn’t be the first to do so, citing “our past experiences and current capabilities.”
Still, Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea (WPS), refused to call the situation between the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the China Coast Guard (CCG) a “standoff.”
READ: ‘Monster’ vs Magbanua: New source of tension
Trinidad said the BRP Teresa Magbanua, the PCG’s largest and most modern vessel, would not end its three-month-old mission at Escoda just because of the arrival on July 3 of CCG vessel 5901.
At one point, the CCG ship, called “The Monster” for being the world’s largest coast guard vessel, came as close as 500 yards to the Magbanua.
“We have our plans, not only for Escoda. All our plans are anchored on all our past experiences and current capabilities,” Trinidad said, suggesting a strategy behind the Magbanua’s resolve to stay put.
It was Trinidad’s response when asked how the Navy would avoid a repeat of the 2012 standoff over another shoal — Panatag (Scarborough) — which lasted two months and ended with the Philippines losing the shoal to Chinese control.
Also known as Bajo de Masinloc, Panatag has since been off-limits to Filipino fishermen, mainly those from Zambales province, who now face harassment from the Chinese whenever they dare venture into what used to be part of their traditional fishing grounds.
“There is no standoff. No standoff,” Trinidad stressed.
But he said “We will ensure the integrity of our territory. Of course, it is our mandate. Not only that, but we have to ensure that what is ours will remain ours.”
“We have almost all of our capital ships already being assigned or doing routine patrols in the West Philippine Sea, not only because of the ‘Monster’ ship,” he told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo. “We will not give up that ship (Magbanua). It is an indication of the government’s stand. It is the mandate of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to ensure the integrity of the national territory,” he added.
The PCG first noted the arrival of the 12,000-ton CCG ship at Escoda Shoal, saying it dropped anchor there on July 3.
Cmdr. Jay Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea, then said the CCG earlier made “intrusive patrols” in other parts of the WPS in the last week of June—particularly at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal and Panganiban (Mischief) Reef—before going to Escoda to “intimidate” the Magbanua into leaving the area.
According to an update released on Tuesday by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, at least 95 Chinese vessels were sighted within the WPS on July 8 alone. Of the total, the majority were maritime militia vessels that numbered up to 78.
There are two Chinese warships also seen in the vicinity of Ayungin, which is located some 67 kilometers west of Escoda.
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Escoda, which is about 139 km west of Palawan province, serves as the rendezvous point or staging area for rotation and resupply missions to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippine military outpost at Ayungin.
For comprehensive coverage, in-depth analysis, visit our special page for West Philippine Sea updates. Stay informed with articles, videos, and expert opinions.
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By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. | Inquirer | https://www.inquirer.net/408466/navy-asserts-ph-vessel-to-stay-at-shoal-cites-past-experiences/ |
‘Concerning’: AFP confirms presence of China aircraft carrier in Philippine Sea | John Eric Mendoza | Wed, 10 Jul 2024 14:28:42 PST | This undated handout image released by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense on April 24, 2023 shows the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) aircraft carrier Shandong sailing in waters some 120 nautical miles of southeast Taiwan. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse
This undated handout image released by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense on April 24, 2023 shows the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) aircraft carrier Shandong sailing in waters some 120 nautical miles of southeast Taiwan. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse
MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese aircraft carrier was deployed in the Philippine Sea, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Wednesday.
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla described the deployment of a Chinese carrier strike group in the area as “concerning.”
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines notes the deployment of a Chinese carrier strike group in the Philippine Sea with concern,” Padilla in a statement.
“The AFP remains committed to safeguarding our maritime interests and ensuring the security of our nation’s territorial waters through continued vigilance,” Padilla said.
READ: West Philippine Sea: Chinese aircraft carrier spotted off Luzon
Padilla made the statement as Japan’s Joint Staff Office reported that the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) Shandong’s carrier strike group operated in the Philippine Sea as part of annual drills conducted by China and Russia, according to a USNI report on Wednesday.
AFP public affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad confirmed receiving reports about the bilateral drills.
“We have received reports of a bilateral China-Russia exercise in the Philippine Sea,” Trinidad said in a statement.
READ: WPS: China’s aircraft carrier presence off Luzon deemed ‘innocent passage’
Trinidad said the AFP continues to monitor their activity.
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“What they do in the high seas is being monitored,” he said. “We will continue to monitor this situation to ensure PH sovereign rights are not violated.”
Late last month, Shandong passed about 200 nautical miles away from Luzon in South China Sea, in a move deemed by the Philippine Navy as “innocent passage.”
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By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. | Inquirer | https://www.inquirer.net/408516/concerning-afp-confirms-passage-of-china-aircraft-carrier-in-philippine-sea/ |
HIGHLIGHTS: Alas Pilipinas vs Vietnam FIVB Challenger Cup | Celest Flores-Colina | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 15:00:16 PST | Vietnam star Thi Thanh Thuy Tran, popularly known as T4, in a game against Alas Pilipinas in the FIVB Challenger Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net
MANILA, Philippines — Trần Thị Thanh Thúy had nothing but praises for Alas Pilipinas, especially setter Jia De Guzman, after their showdown in the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup.
Thuy, dubbed as T4, returned to action from injury and only scored two points but still made a huge impact for Vietnam, which eliminated the host Philippines, 25-14, 25-22, 25-21, on Friday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
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“The Philippines’ performance is very well because they have a good connection with the setter,” said Thuy, who checked in midway through the second set and started in the third. FULL STORY
Sisi Rondina leads Alas Pilipinas in scoring in the loss against Vietnam in FIVB Challenger Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Sisi Rondina stood tall against the Vietnamese leading the gallant stand of Alas Pilipinas in the last two sets only for their FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup campaign to end after just one game.FEATURED STORIES
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Rondina led Alas’ charge with 15 points, especially in keeping Vietnam within striking distance but the Filipinos still absorbed a 14-25, 22-25, 21-25 loss after her missed attack in the final set Friday evening before a soldout Ninoy Aquino Stadium. FULL STORY
Jema Galanza during Alas Pilipinas game against Vietnam in the FIVB Challenger Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Jema Galanza was grateful for the chance to suit up for Alas Pilipinas in the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup despite the last-minute changes to her position due to a minor foot injury in practice.
Days before the tournament, Galanza rolled her ankle in practice, which led to her returning to a spiker position despite being initially listed as libero in time for their game against Vietnam. Middle blocker Cherry Nunag taking the second libero role. FULL STORY
Bella Belen and Angel Canino team up for Alas Pilipinas in the FIVB Challenger Cup. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — From UAAP rivals to national team teammates, Bella Belen and Angel Canino relished their first team-up despite Alas Pilipinas losing to Vietnam in the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup on Friday evening at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Philippines witnessed the first team-up of the two UAAP rookie MVPs in their 14-25, 22-25, 21-25 loss to Vietnam in front of a soldout crowd.
Although Alas’ Volleyball Nations League (VNL) qualifier ended in just a game, the newly-formed duo showed a glimpse of what they can offer with Canino pouring in 12 points and Belen only scoring two on top of a steady floor defense in the first two sets. FULL STORY
Alas Pilipinas against Vietnam in the FIVB Challenger Cup quarterfinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Thi Bich Tuyen Nguyen and Vietnam shut the doors on Alas Pilipinas’ hopes of qualifying for the Volleyball Nations League next year after a 25-14, 25-22, 25-21 victory Friday night in the FIVB Challenger Cup at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
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Tuyen peppered the Filipinas with 30 points built on 27 attack points and three blocks to show Alas the exit after just one game in the knockout quarterfinals. FULL STORY
WATCH: T4 on returning to action for Vietnam in the #FIVBChallengerCup. | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/tXOKu7GoVh
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 5, 2024
WATCH: Alas coach Jorge De Brito on the team’s next plans. #FIVBChallengerCup | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/yyQhpipWrP
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 5, 2024
WATCH: Jia De Guzman on growing old with the Philippine women’s volleyball team. #FIVBChallengerCup | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/rsztcG9YLx
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 5, 2024
WATCH: Jema Galanza on her return to Alas Pilipinas. #FIVBChallengerCup | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/5LFaYm1mpy
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 5, 2024
WATCH: Angel Canino on teaming up with Bella Belen for the first time. #FIVBChallengerCup | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/yj57zI3sak
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 5, 2024
WATCH: Sisi Rondina after Alas’ gallant stand was denied by Vietnam. #FIVBChallengerCup | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/XaQDmo5BL1
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 5, 2024
Alas Pilipinas tries to survive in the FIVB Challenger Cup, taking on AVC Challenge Cup champion Vietnam in a knockout match.
Jen Nierva and Eya Laure join Alas Pilipinas’ huddle. #FIVBChallengerCup @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/SVkE9OjOVs
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 5, 2024
Alas’ #FIVBChallengerCup ends. | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/3J0mw66y64
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 5, 2024
Alas Pilipinas ends its #FIVBChallengerCup stint in the quarterfinal.
FINAL: Vietnam sweeps the Philippines, 25-14, 25-22, 25-21, to advance to the knockout semifinal against Czechia on Saturday. | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/sdQOHbABrl
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 5, 2024
THIRD SET
SECOND SET
FIRST SET
We're a few minutes away from the first serve. Laban, Alas! Laban, Pilipinas! 🇵🇭 pic.twitter.com/pfHEA3AtRW
— Volleyball Philippines (@volleyball_phi) July 5, 2024
T4 warms up with the Vietnamese spikers
T4 didn’t start for Vietnam. #FIVBChallengerCup | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/AlkWmTjhpo
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 5, 2024
Belen-Canino as Alas Pilipinas starters!
Starting line-up: Angel Canino, Bella Belen, Sisi Rondina, Jia De Guzman, Thea Gagate, Fifi Sharma, and Dawn Catindig#FIVBChallengerCup @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/nyqbkwt4Q3
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 5, 2024
Cherry Nunag as Alas Pilipinas’ second libero.#FIVBChallengerCup @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/3dVNlsVPJ0
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 5, 2024
Jema Galanza warms up with a floor defense drill. #FIVBChallengerCup @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/kEG0lOImti
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 5, 2024
Bella Belen in Alas Pilipinas jersey.
Belen will team up with Angel Canino for the first time. #FIVBChallengerCup @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/gUmSlI9gLQ
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 5, 2024
Alas Pilipinas starts warming up. #FIVBChallengerCup @INQUIRERSports
📹 @marlocueto pic.twitter.com/p7AkTWGGiC
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 5, 2024
Alas Pilipinas is ready for its knockout quarterfinal game against Vietnam. #FIVBChallengerCup @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/zfgngwTWzM
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 5, 2024
Czechia celebrates a point against Argentina in the FIVB Challenger Cup knockout quarterfinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Czechia sent Argentina packing with a 25-15, 25-22, 25-16 sweep to advance to the FIVB Challenger Cup semifinal on Friday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Michaela Mlejnkova led the charge for the Czechs with 14 points off 13 attacks and a block, while Gabriela Orvosova backstopped her with 12 points including two blocks. FULL STORY
Czechia and Argentina battle in a do-or-die game in the FIVB Challenger Cup with a spot in the semifinals at stake.
FINAL: Czechia sends Argentina packing in straight sets, 25-15, 25-22, 25-16, to advance to the semis.
Czechia battles the winner of Philippines-Vietnam on Saturday. #FIVBChallengerCup | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/eY2tnaKwoV
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 5, 2024
END OF SET 2: Czechia 25, Argentina 22
Czechia takes a 2-0 lead, inching a set closer to the semis. #FIVBChallengerCup | @LanceAgcaoilINQ
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 5, 2024
END OF SET 1: Czechia 25, Argentina 15#FIVBChallengerCup | @LanceAgcaoilINQ
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 5, 2024
Jema Galanza with fellow Alas Pilipinas players Cherry Nunag and Dell Palomata. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — After initially being listed as libero, Jema Galanza is back to her original position as an outside spiker in the FIVB Challenger Cup 2024 on Friday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Two days before their knockout game against AVC Challenge Cup champion Vietnam, Alas Pilipinas coach Jorge Souza De Brito said that Galanza will no longer have to play as libero following a minor foot injury during their preparation.
“She is [doing] better and she’s ok. She will be a regular player,” De Brito told Inquirer Sports. FULL STORY
Alas Pilipinas during a VNL meet and greet at Mall of Asia Arena.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Coming off the high of a historic achievement, Alas Pilipinas is beginning to feel some of the problems of maintaining a high-profile national pool.
Luckily, the women’s program has a few reinforcements coming its way.
National University (NU) ace and UAAP two-time MVP Bella Belen and multi awarded spiker Jema Galanza will bolster Alas Pilipinas when it takes on Vietnam on Thursday in the FIVB Challenger Cup 2024 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium. FULL STORY
FILE–A general view of the crowd during a game between Team USA and Japan in the VNL 2024 at Mall of Asia Arena.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines looks to continue its string of successful hosting gigs with the FIVB Challenger Cup 2024 for Women from Thursday to Sunday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Behind the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), the country will be hosting a third straight international competition this year with the VCC, which serves as a qualifier for the Volleyball Nations League.
Alas Pilipinas will see action in the VCC when it clashes with Vietnam in a knockout game on Friday at 6:30 p.m. following the 3 p.m. match between Argentina and the Czech Republic. FULL STORY
3pm – Czechia vs Argentina
6:30pm – Philippines vs Vietnam
SCHEDULE OF PH GAMES HERE.
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Ex-church volunteer arrested in Cebu City buy-bust; P7.1M worth of shabu seized | clorenciana | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 11:30:52 PST | Contributed photo
Contributed photo
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu – A former church volunteer was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Sitio Lumboy, Barangay San Roque, Cebu City, on Friday, July 5, 2024, at around 3:50 a.m.
The suspect, identified as 48-year-old Amparo Moncada Gaviola, also known as Farah, is a resident of Stockton Village, Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City.
Police confiscated 1,050 grams of suspected shabu worth P7.1 million from Gaviola. They also seized a bundle of boodle money with one genuine thousand-peso bill, P600 in cash believed to be proceeds from her illegal activities, a bag, and a coin purse.
According to Police Major John Lynbert Yango, chief of the Waterfront Police Station, Gaviola is considered a high-value individual in the illegal drug trade. Her name emerged from a tactical interrogation of a previously arrested suspect.
“So nigawas ni ang iyang ngalan nga usa ni siya a high value individual nga involved aning drugs,” Yango said.
The suspect was under surveillance for three weeks and was known as a “bodegera.” She could sell around 1 kilogram of shabu in two weeks.
READ: P2.4M ‘shabu’ seized in separate drug stings in Talisay, Cebu City
An initial transaction attempt was made on Thursday night, July 4, 2024, but the deal was completed early Friday morning.
Police Major John Lynbert Yango stated that the suspect obtained her drugs from an individual known as Dalia, who is already in custody. The suspect operated not only in Cebu City but also in neighboring towns and cities.
Gaviola had been arrested for drug involvement in 2016 and was released in 2021.
She will face charges for violating sections 5 and 11, Article 2 of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. /clorenciana
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West Philippine Sea: China ‘monster ship’ inches closer to PCG vessel | John Eric Mendoza | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 18:03:39 PST | FILE PHOTO: In the West Philippine Sea, the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) “monster ship” has been inching closer to the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) vessel at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal. INQUIRER FILES
FILE PHOTO: In the West Philippine Sea, the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) “monster ship” has been inching closer to the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) vessel at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The China Coast Guard’s (CCG) “monster ship” has been inching closer to the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) vessel at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
According to PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela, the enormous CCG ship is only about 500 yards away from PCG’s biggest vessel as of Friday morning. Previously, the CCG ship with hull number 5901 was spotted about 0.5 nautical miles, or around 1,012 yards, away from the PCG’s BRP Teresa Magbanua (hull number 9701).
The PCG’s BRP Teresa Magbanua is officially the longest-ever deployed Philippine asset in the West Philippine Sea.
Tarriela said personnel of the BRP Teresa Magbanua relentlessly issued radio challenges to the CCG ship but it continued to sail.
READ: PCG challenges China’s ‘monster ship’ anchored off Escoda Shoal
The CCG’s gigantic patrol cutter, the largest coast guard vessel in the world, departed off Hainan Island waters on July 1 and arrived near Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal on July 3.
It even approached Mischief Reef before heading to Escoda Shoal also on July 3.
“Since the day of its arrival [in Escoda Shoal] troops aboard the 9701 challenged the ship,” Tarriela told reporters in an interview Friday, July 4.
The PCG deployed BRP Teresa Magbanua on April 16 as it suspected reclamation in Escoda Shoal, which falls 75 nautical miles from the coast of Palawan or well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
“This is the longest deployment of coast guard in the West Philippine Sea because it already reached more than two months,” Tarriela noted.
Escoda Shoal serves as the rendezvous point for Filipino vessels involved in resupply missions to naval troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre, which was grounded in nearby Ayungin Shoal.
On June 17, CCG personnel rammed, towed, and even boarded Philippine Navy boats during the resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre, which the Philippine military said led to what they deem as “looting” and even caused serious injuries to one of its naval personnel.
READ: West Philippine Sea: Navy’s June 17 encounter with CCG incurs P60M damage
Manila and Beijing held its regular Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on Tuesday, July 2, to tackle deescalation after the violent June 17 incident, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Beijing’s deployment of “monster ship” off Ayungin Shoal – seen as the main flashpoint of tensions in the West Philippine Sea – the day after its talks with Manila did not escape the attention of SeaLight director Ray Powell.
“China aims to force the Philippines to negotiate from a position of relative weakness in hopes of extracting concessions in exchange for de-escalation,” Powell,program head of Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation which monitors Chinese vessels activity in South China Sea, told INQUIRER.net on Wednesday.
Beijing asserts sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, even if such a claim has been effectively invalidated by an arbitral award issued in July 2016.
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The landmark ruling stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013, or a year after its tense standoff with Beijing over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which lagoon is noy being controlled by China. — With reports from Felice Nafarrete, trainee
For comprehensive coverage, in-depth analysis, visit our special page for West Philippine Sea updates. Stay informed with articles, videos, and expert opinions.
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By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. | Inquirer | https://www.inquirer.net/408153/fwd-chinas-monster-ship-inching-closer-to-pcgs-ship-in-longest-ever-west-philippine-sea-duty/ |
Cebu Daily Newscast: Trillanes files plunder, graft raps vs ex-President Duterte, Go | jngojo | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 20:53:34 PST | Listen to Cebu Daily Newscast and get the latest stories in and around Cebu.
Here’s what you need to know on Friday, July 5, 2024.
Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV files a plunder case against former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bong Go. (Photo from Trillanes camp)
Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV filed a complaint for plunder against former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bong Go before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday.
Trillanes alleged that Duterte and Go facilitated corrupt practices, specifically the awarding of more than a hundred government contracts to companies owned by Go’s father and brother worth at least P6.6 billion.
Aside from plunder, both Duterte and Go were also accused of violating Republic Act No. 3019 (The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and Republic Act No. 6713 (The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).
According to the complaint, from 2007 to 2018, Go’s father and brother’s companies allegedly received a total of P6.6 billion worth of contracts despite lacking the required contractors’ license to undertake large-scale projects.
Two young sisters were killed when the motorcycle they were riding on with their parents lost its brakes and slammed into the sidewalk of a dimly-lit portion of Brgy. Sinsin, Cebu City past 10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
The young girls’ parents also suffered serious injuries and are currently being treated at the hospital.
The injured couple were identified as Germain and Cherrefe Pardillo while the two daughters who perished were aged 9 and 12.
According to their relatives, the family left their house in Barangay Bonbon in Cebu City on Wednesday night to attend the wake of a relative in Barangay Mojon in Talisay City before tragedy struck.
Philippine President Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr. will attend the opening ceremony of the Palarong Pambansa 2024 on July 9, at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).
This was confirmed by the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) Chairman and one of Palarong Pambansa’s main organizers, John Pages to CDN Digital.
Although it’s a tradition for the country’s top leaders to attend the sports meet’s opening ceremony, there hasn’t been any confirmation of Marcos’s attendance until today.
In a statement forwarded by Pages, he said that he had a virtual meeting with the “Office of the President” to discuss important measures such as security, programs, and protocols.
Luka Doncic and Slovenia still have Olympic hopes. And so does the Philippines, much to its own surprise.
The Philippines lost to Georgia, 96-94, but advanced to Saturday’s semifinals of their tournament in Riga, Latvia, anyway. That created a bit of an issue; the team had flights home scheduled for Friday.
Georgia needed to win by at least 19 points to have any chance of advancing. Sandro Mamukelashvili led Georgia with 26 points and Goga Bitadze finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Justin Brownlee led all scorers with 28 points for the Philippines, adding eight rebounds and eight assists as well.
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MMDA Advisory: Weekend road repairs set in parts of QC, Parañaque | Luisa Cabato | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 10:25:17 PST | MANILA, Philippines — Some roads in Parañaque City and Quezon City will be closed from Friday evening until early Monday morning for reblocking and repair works, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Friday.
In an advisory, the MMDA said that road works will be carried out by the Department of Public Works and Highways in the following areas starting at 11 p.m. on Friday, July 5, up to 5 a.m. on Monday, July 8:
Parañaque City
Quezon City
“The affected roads will be fully passable by 5 a.m. on Monday, July 08,” the MMDA said.
It also advised motorists to take alternate routes during work hours.
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Pagasa: Rain showers expected in many parts of PH on Friday | John Eric Mendoza | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 07:49:37 PST | MANILA, Philippines – Cloudy skies and rain showers are forecast in Metro Manila and most parts of the country on Friday due to the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), according to the state weather bureau.
“Itong ITCZ ay naapektuhan ang malaking bahagi ng ating bansa,” said Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said.
(The ITCZ is affecting most parts of the country.)
Aurelio said that in addition to Metro Manila, Calabarzon ( Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), Mimaropa (Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), the Bicol region, the entire Visayas, and the Zamboanga Peninsula are expected to have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.
The rest of the country will likely see fair weather and partly cloudy to cloudy skies and chances of isolated rain showers and thunderstorms.
The effects of the ITCZ, which refers to cloud bands that encircle the globe near the Earth’s equator, will continue in the coming days, according to Aurelio.
Pagasa added that no tropical cyclone is expected to form or enter the Philippine area of responsibility in the coming days and that no gale warning is in effect on Friday over any of the country’s seaboards.
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Manila Water issues advisory for clients in Makati, Mandaluyong, Taguig | Adrian Parungao | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 12:47:10 PST | INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — East Zone concessionaire Manila Water said that parts of the cities of Mandaluyong, Makati, and Taguig may experience water supply interruptions from July 5 to 10 to make way for maintenance activities.
The following areas will be affected by the maintenance works:
July 5, 10:00 p.m.–July 6, 4:00 a.m.
July 8, 9:00 p.m.–July 9, 4:00 a.m.
July 9, 10:00 p.m.–July 10, 4:00 a.m.
July 9, 10:00 p.m.–July 10, 4:00 a.m.
Manila Water likewise advised its consumers to prepare by setting aside enough water for the duration of the service works,
“After the activity and once water service is restored, please conduct flushing by letting the water flow out of your taps for a few minutes until it becomes clear,” it said.
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Mason Amos sorry for ‘unacceptable’ actions with Ateneo exit | Lance Agcaoili | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 11:32:18 PST | Mason Amos is leaving Ateneo Blue Eagles after just one UAAP season with the team and is reported to be moving to La Salle. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Mason Amos is leaving Ateneo Blue Eagles after just one UAAP season with the team and is reported to be moving to La Salle. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Following his controversial transfer to La Salle, Mason Amos broke his silence and apologized to Ateneo for not disclosing his final decision of his transfer to the team.
Amos, who is currently with Gilas Pilipinas in Latvia for the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OTQ), on Friday admitted that he was “not being considerate” with the way his decision to leave the Blue Eagles came to light.
“It’s been a tough week with a decision I made due to my reasons. However, my actions were unacceptable and not called for. Although I did mention the offer to the management, they weren’t informed about my final decision as well as my teammates because I felt that it was a personal decision for me and my family,” wrote Amos on X.
READ: UAAP: Mason Amos leaves Ateneo amid reported La Salle transfer
The news of 6-foot-7 Amos’ departure from Ateneo to reportedly take his act to archrival and Season 86 champion La Salle broke on Monday. He posted a lengthy goodbye to the Blue Eagles on his Instagram the day after.
It’s been a tough week with a decision I made due to my reasons. However my actions were unacceptable and not called for. Although I did mention the offer to the management, they weren’t informed about my final decision as well as my teammates bc I felt that it was a personal…
— Mason Amos (@MasonAmos4) July 5, 2024
“I will apologize for not being considerate. To my teammates, coaches, the community and the alumni I am sorry for my actions and I will own up to a mistake that could’ve been handled better,” Amos said. “I don’t expect forgiveness but I just hope for understanding. I do love Ateneo and I wish all the best.”
The Filipino-Australian big man impressed in his first and only season with the Blue Eagles, averaging 8.7 points and 3.3 rebounds. Ateneo reached the Final Four but got dethroned by the twice-to-beat University of the Philippines.
READ: UAAP: Geo Chiu ‘hurt’ over Mason Amos’ sudden Ateneo departure
La Salle has yet to officially confirm the acquisition of Amos, who will undergo a one-year residency and be eligible to play next year in UAAP Season 88.
Amos is part of Gilas’ bench in Riga, Latvia as the Filipinos chase a ticket to the Paris Olympics. They will face Brazil in the semifinal on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. (Manila time) in Riga.
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Quezon busts yield P3.4M worth of shabu from 4 suspects | Delfin T. Mallari Jr. @dtmallarijrINQ | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 12:37:14 PST | INQUIRER FILES
INQUIRER FILES
LUCENA CITY — Four drug traffickers, including a woman who tried to smuggle shabu (crystal meth) into a detention facility in Quezon province, were arrested on Thursday and Friday.
The arrested suspects yielded more than P3.4 million worth of shabu, Colonel Ledon Monte, Quezon police chief, said in a report Friday.
Monte reported that anti-illegal drug operatives in Calauag town arrested at 1:39 a.m. Friday, one alias “Itlog,” 42, after he sold shabu worth P5,000 to a poseur buyer in Barangay San Roque Ibaba.
The operatives confiscated from the suspect a sachet and a knot-tied plastic bag containing 105 grams of meth worth about P714,000 in the Dangerous Drugs Board valuation.
They are worth P2,142,000 in the street market at P20,400 per gram, said the report.
Also seized was a motorcycle believed to have been used by the suspect, who is a resident of the town, in his illegal activities.
Police tagged the suspect as a high-value individual in the local drug trade.
In Tagkawayan town, policemen arrested “Joven,” 22, and “Ryan,” 39, in a drug sting in Barangay Sta. Cecilia at around 11:45 p.m. on Thursday.
The suspects, both rookies in the illegal drug business, had eight sachets of meth weighing 25.89 grams worth P528,156 in the street market.
In Pagbilao town, one alias “Charmaine” was arrested around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday after being caught trying to smuggle shabu at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology jail in Barangay Talipan.
When frisked, she was found to have a package wrapped in electrical tape inserted inside her private part.
The package contained 38.77 grams with a street value of P790,908.
The BJMP reported the incident to local police, who arrested the suspect, a resident of Lucena City.
The Quezon police are investigating the source of the illegal drugs.
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The arrested suspects were detained and are facing a complaint of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
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Cebu weather: Generally fair with 80% chance of rain | ppiquero | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 14:18:03 PST | Pagasa weather update. GRAPHICS BY INQUIRER
Pagasa weather update. GRAPHICS BY INQUIRER
CEBU CITY, Philippines— Generally fair weather with 80 percent chances of rain expected in the coming days in Cebu, says the local weather bureau based in Mactan in its latest update.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration in Mactan (Pagasa Mactan) forecasted on Friday, July 5, that there would be no significant rain-making system affecting the region.
READ MORE:
Pagasa: La Niña is not here yet
Keep umbrellas handy: Pagasa officially declares rainy season
How to make use of rainwater
“Generally makasinati ta’g partly cloudy to cloudy pero taas ang chance of occurrence of thunderstorms,” said Engineer Al Quiblat, the chief of Pagasa Mactan.
(Generally, we can experience partly cloudy to cloudy but there is a big change of occurrence of thunderstorms.)
Quiblat said that no typhoon or low-pressure area (LPA) could be seen entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) in the next five days based on the local weather bureau’s Tropical Cyclone Threat Potential.
However, easterlies and localized thunderstorms are expected that can potentially disrupt Cebu’s generally fair weather. Even so, these chances may vary due to the easterlies and localized thunderstorms interfering with the current weather.
For Friday, July 5, an 80 percent chance of rain could be observed due to localized thunderstorms with 26 to 31 degrees Celsius temperature, for Saturday, July 6, 60 percent chance, for Sunday, July 7, 40 percent chance, for Monday, July 8, 80 percent chance, and for Tuesday, July 9, 40 percent chance of rain.
READ MORE: Pagasa: Rain showers expected in many parts of PH on Friday
Quiblat also reminds the public to stay keen with thunderstorms and to stay updated with the information from the local weather bureau at any time of the day in case they issue a thunderstorm advisory.
He also said that possible lightning strikes, sudden heavy rainfall that could cause flooding and landslides, strong gusts of winds, and slight to moderate waves could be observed particularly for the local fisherfolk with small marine vehicles in the open sea, and hail in elevated areas of Cebu.
Quiblat further explained that the increasing chances of thunderstorms were caused by the changing seasons as we would be entering the rainy season.
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DBM to track delivery of COVID-19 allowance for healthcare workers | Dianne Sampang | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 20:28:24 PST | FILE PHOTO: Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. INQUIRER FILES
FILE PHOTO: Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. INQUIRER FILES
DBM to track delivery of COVID-19 allowance for healthcare workers
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) promised to monitor the distribution of the P27 billion COVID-19 allowance for healthcare workers released Friday, July 5.
DBM chief Amenah Pangandaman said they will coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) to make sure that the allocation will be given to qualified beneficiaries.
The remaining P27.453 billion COVID-19 health emergency allowances (HEAs) are expected to cover 5,039,926 unpaid health emergency allowances and 4,283 COVID-19 Sickness and Death Compensation claims of eligible healthcare workers.
“We will closely coordinate po with the Department of Health. Madali naman pong kausap si [DOH] Sec. Herbosa. We will monitor po kung gaano po kabilis at kung tama po ba ang kanilang distribution,” Pangandaman said in a radio interview, as quoted in a DBM statement issued Friday.
(We will closely coordinate with the Department of Health. DOH Sec. Herbosa is easy to talk to. We will monitor how quick and accurate the distribution will be.)
READ: P27-B COVID-19 allowance for healthcare workers released Friday – DBM
“Ang pakiusap po namin sa DOH ay sana po maging maayos, mabilis at efficient ang kanilang pag-distribute ng HEA. Sana po ay magawa nila ito sa mas madaling panahon, dahil matagal na din po itong hinihintay ng ating mga kababayan,” she added.
(We ask the DOH to be quick and efficient in distributing the HEA. I hope they do it as soon as possible because the healthcare workers have been waiting long enough for this.)
The Alliance of Healthcare Workers (AHW), however, earlier questioned the timeliness of the COVID-19 HEAs release, noting that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address is just around the corner.
READ: COVID-19 allowance release timed for Sona, decries health workers group
“The timing of the release of long overdue benefits is very timely to the upcoming State of the Nation Address by the president. Is it because the administration just wants to showcase his accomplishments rather than addressing the urgent needs of health workers?” asked AHW national president Robert Mendoza.
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The COVID-19 HEAs is based on the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances (PHEBA) for healthcare workers which gives Special Risk Allowance (SRA), compensation for COVID-19 sickness and death, and additional benefits like meals, accommodation, and transportation allowances to them.
For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
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Two sisters killed as motorcycle brakes malfunction in Cebu City | eares | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 06:30:55 PST | Two young sisters perished in a road accident in Barangay Sinsin, Cebu City on Wednesday evening. | Screenshot from contributed video via Paul Lauro
Two young sisters perished in a road accident in Barangay Sinsin, Cebu City on Wednesday evening. | Screenshot from contributed video via Paul Lauro
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Two young sisters were killed when the motorcycle they were riding on with their parents lost its brakes and slammed into the sidewalk of a dimly-lit portion of Brgy. Sinsin, Cebu City past 10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
The young girls’ parents also suffered serious injuries and are currently being treated at the hospital.
The injured couple were identified as Germain and Cherrefe Pardillo while the two daughters who perished were aged 9 and 12.
According to their relatives, the family left their house in Barangay Bonbon in Cebu City on Wednesday night to attend the wake of a relative in Barangay Mojon in Talisay City.
Upon their arrival in a dimly-lit area in Barangay Sinsin, the brakes of their motorcycle allegedly malfunctioned which caused them to slam into the sidewalk.
All four of them were reportedly thrown off the vehicle but the two girls hit their head hard on the cemented road causing their death.
The victims were immediately brought to the Cebu South Medical Center, formerly Talisay District Hospital, for medical treatment.
The attending physician, however, declared the young girls dead on arrival. Meanwhile, their parents are still being treated for their severe injuries at the hospital, as of this writing.
An investigation on the incident is now being conducted by personnel of the Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO). They said that the accident was never reported to them specially since it claimed the lives of two sisters.
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Creation of Department of Peace pushed | Philippine Daily Inquirer | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 05:10:15 PST | Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Carlito Galvez Jr. (File photo from Malacañang)
Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Carlito Galvez Jr. (File photo from Malacañang)
Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said that he would propose to Congress the creation of a Department of Peace in place of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (Opapru).
Opapru, formerly known as the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, was renamed in December 2021 under President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 158.
READ: Galvez bats for the creation of ‘Department of Peace’
It was tasked with managing, directing, integrating, and supervising the implementation of the government’s comprehensive peace process.
Galvez pointed out that the move to transform Opapru would address the security tenure and career advancement of peacebuilders “who have dedicated their lives to peace work in the pursuit of institutionalizing and cultivating a culture of peace as well as sustaining the gains of the comprehensive peace process.” — NESTOR CORRALES
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Palarong Pambansa 2024 schedule | clorenciana | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 10:29:31 PST | The Palarong Pambansa App is now available for download starting today, July 5. /Photo by Jay Chan, CNU Intern
The Palarong Pambansa App is now available for download starting today, July 5. /Photo by Jay Chan, CNU Intern
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Palarong Pambansa 2024 App can now be downloaded from both the iOS App Store and Android’s Play Store starting today, June 5.
Four days before the opening of the most-awaited, grandest week-long sports celebration in the country, Palaro enthusiasts can now access the app and view the game schedules on the Palarong Pambansa official website.
READ MORE: Palarong Pambansa 2024: LIVE UPDATES
For the first time, Palarong Pambansa will feature a new app offering YouTube live streams of games, venues, medal standings, news updates, and tourist spots near the venues.
The PALARONG PAMBANSA 2024: A CDN DIGITAL SPECIAL ONLINE COVERAGE is in partnership with:
To recall, the app was officially launched on Tuesday, July 2, during a press conference at the Cebu City Hall which was attended by Acting Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) chairman John Pages, UBX president and CEO John Januszczak, and Aboitiz Power senior vice president and chief operations officer Anton Perdices.
READ: Palarong Pambansa 2024 will be a Palaro of many firsts
DepEd, Cebu City seal pact for 54th edition of Palarong Pambansa
The Palaro app was developed by Aboitiz Power and UBX, the digital development arm of Aboitiz Corporation.
“This may already be accessed by IOS and Android users starting on Friday, July 5,” said John Januszczak at the conference.
Meanwhile, as of this posting, the game schedules are not yet complete, only the schedules of the following sports have been released on the Palarong Pambansa official website:
/clorenciana
The PALARONG PAMBANSA 2024: A CDN DIGITAL SPECIAL ONLINE COVERAGE is in partnership with:
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Pet Remembrance Day: Celebrities losing pets | Immae Lachica | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 15:55:47 PST | CEBU CITY, Philippines— Some days you can still hear their footsteps climbing up and down the staircases.
On some days you see a pet that looks exactly like them.
On some days you just want to have a few minutes with them again to hug, hold and play with.
Our departed fur babies were more than just a phase in our lives, but have played a vital role in our lives.
Small or big, domesticated or the wild ones, they gave us a different sense of being.
Today, as we celebrate Pet Remembrance Day, let’s take a look at some of Pinoy celebrities who shared their sadness after losing their furbabies.
Just last year, mother and actress Janella Salvador mourned the death of her cat, Twinkie.
Twinkie was with Janella for 17 years.
READ MORE:
Janella Salvador grieves anew with loss of another pet cat
Ryza Cenon nagdadalamhati sa pagpanaw ng kanyang aso: Run free!! No goodbyes
Jona Viray heartbroken after losing 2 pets in span of four days: ‘Di nababawasan sakit sa puso’
“The hardest part about loving animals is knowing that you’re bound to outlive them,” she said in an Instagram post.
Ryza Cenon also took to her instagram account as she bid farewell to her dog, Mallows, who has been with her and her family for 15 years.
“Run free!! No goodbyes! I know we’ll see you again someday. We love you, Mallows,” she writes.
While others are already having a hard time saying goodbye to one fur baby, Jona Viray had to say goodbye to two of her pets, Gravy and Susie.
Her fur babies crossed the rainbow bridge within the span of just four days apart.
Anne Curtis just recently shared this kind of heartbreak with other fur parents when she lost her cat, Mogwai, last July 1.
Mogwai was with her for 11 years and was part of their growing family.
“Sweet dreams old man,” she wrote on her Instagram post.
READ MORE:
Anne nagluluksa sa pagpanaw ni Mogwai: Sweet dreams old man…
Sarah Geronimo, Carla Abellana, uban pa nga celebs, nicondenar sa pagpatay sa iro nga si Killua
Here’s why we should be thankful for our dogs
And who could ever forget about Killua.. The golden retriever who was killed mercilessly and found lifeless inside a sack in Bato, Camarines Sur.
Killua escaped from their home and was running around the neighborhood, and was killed by a bystander after Killua allegedly attacked him and his companions.
In the CCTV footage, it shows the complete opposite.
The internet was furious about this incident.
Many fur parents, advocates and netizens stood behind Killua and his family.
One of the many celebrities who fought for Killua’s justice was Pop Star Royalty, Sarrah Geronimo.
“Every life deserves respect and protection. It’s time to demand accountability and raise our voices against animal cruelty,” she expressed in her social media post.
Our fur babies may have crossed the rainbow bridge, but their paw prints will leave an everlasting mark in our hearts and soul. One day, we will be able to see them again and they will be over the moon to be reunited with their humans!
We miss you our departed, fur babies! Run free and play a lot in pet heaven!
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Toledo City shooting: Two men attack ‘arrogant’ neighbor | eares | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 20:30:59 PST | CDN Digital stock photo
CDN Digital stock photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Two men, who were allegedly drunk, punched and shot a man after calling him arrogant in Sitio Buswang, Barangay Cambang-ug, Toledo City, Cebu on Thursday evening, July 4.
The victim was reportedly sitting by a riverside in the barangay when the assailants approached and attacked him.
The incident happened at around 8:00 p.m. on Thursday.
The victim of the Toledo City shooting was identified as 48-year-old Roy Abarquez Isidro, married and a resident of the barangay.
Meanwhile, the suspects were his neighbors: Johnny Largo, 30, and a certain Jaybe.
Police, in a report, revealed that Isidro was sitting at the riverside when two men suddenly appeared and attacked him.
According to the victim, the suspects seemed to be under the influence of alcohol at that time.
Jaybe reportedly told the victim, “You are so very arrogant,” before punching him in the face.
Then, Largo allegedly pulled out an unknown caliber of firearm and shot Isidro once, hitting him in the right leg.
After this, the two men immediately escaped and headed to an unknown direction.
The victim, on the other hand, was rushed to the Toledo City Hospital for medical treatment.
The Toledo City shooting incident was reported to authorities by a concerned citizen, according to the report.
As of this writing, law enforcers are conducting a hot-pursuit operation to apprehend the perpetrators of the shooting incident.
The two suspects will likely be facing a charge of frustrated murder, stated the report. Police are still clueless as to why the two men attacked the victim who was just sitting by a riverside.
Toledo City is approximately 46 kilometers west of Cebu City.
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China’s West Philippine Sea gray zone tactics: It’s still war | Kurt Dela Peña | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 10:44:33 PST | WPS COMPOSITE IMAGE from Inquirer, AFP, Reuters file photos
MANILA, Philippines—While still outside the definition of outright war, China’s attacks against the Philippines point to just one end game which is complete control of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and other areas in South China Sea (SCS) that the Asian behemoth claims to own.
A geopolitical analyst, Don McLain Gill, said complete control of SCS, which includes WPS, would provide China with advantage in energy supply and geopolitical dominance.
He told INQUIRER.net that China’s ultimate goal is to keep Association of Southeast Nation (ASEAN) states in tow while walling off the rest of regional powers in Indo-Pacific.
China, Gill said, “does not want to be restricted by any rules or by any country.” In short, it wants to rule over the area.
But how?
As pointed out by defense analyst Joshua Espeña, China’s intention is “to render the Philippines a useless actor in its push for the First Island Chain by imposing fait accompli moves in the WPS with its gray zone tactics.”
Look back at how China deployed civilian forces like its coast guard, as well as maritime militias, to gradually surround islets and control WPS to put in place fait accompli, or mission complete.
Based on data from the regional monitoring group Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), China has at least 30 outposts in the SCS, occupying six reefs that are all inside WPS, which are also inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
AMTI said China also controls Scarborough or Panatag Shoal, which lies off the coast of Zambales province. It was “seized” by China in 2012 through the “constant presence” of its coast guard.
GRAPHIC: Ed Lustan / INQUIRER.net
A decade after that, there’s no end in sight to the Chinese occupation of the area. According to Philippine Navy (PN) data, China is even doubling down on its presence in Panatag. At least 146 Chinese vessels were there last June 4 to 10, way higher than 124 on April 16 to 22.
Gray zone tactics, which are coercive actions that are shy of armed conflict but beyond normal diplomatic and economic activities, are now widely recognized as instrumental in China’s aggression.
READ: Confronting China’s ‘gray zone’ tactics
The US think tank RAND Corporation said in its research brief “Understanding and Countering China’s Gray Zone Tactics” that China views gray zone activities as a “natural extension of how countries exercise power.”
GRAPHIC: Ed Lustan / INQUIRER.net
“These activities are a way to pressure countries to act according to Beijing’s interests—advancing its domestic, economic, foreign policy, and security objectives—without triggering backlash or conflict,” the RAND briefer said.
READ: PH should not fall for China’s ‘gray zone trap’ – maritime security scholar
As RAND pointed out, China’s use of gray zone tactics mirror dictator Xi Jin Ping’s “overarching domestic, economic, foreign policy, and security objectives in the Indo-Pacific, which Beijing views as China’s priority region.”
“Gray zone activities balance China’s pursuit of a more favorable external environment by altering the regional status quo in its favor with a desire to act below the threshold of a militarized response from the US or China’s neighbors,” it said.
RAND said that over the past decade, China already employed close to 80 different gray zone tactics across all instruments of its power against the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam and India.
Last month, China even acted like “pirates” in its attack against the PN in Ayungin, or Second Thomas Shoal. The China Coast Guard (CCG) “illegally boarded” Filipino vessels, wielding bolos, knives, and spears.
READ: AFP chief: China Coast Guard used bolos, acted like pirates
As pointed out by Chester Cabalza, a defense analyst, the intensity of China’s gray zone tactics in the WPS is evolving and getting sophisticated with the introduction of weapons like military-grade lasers and powerful water cannons.
READ: China hits PH boats anew with water cannon blasts
RAND said China layers the use of several of its gray zone tactics to exert pressure, especially on issues related to China’s core interests, mainly its goal to have unrestricted control of SCS.
As stressed by the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs, gray zone is giving China a way to win without actual armed combat.
GRAPHIC: Ed Lustan / INQUIRER.net
RAND said recent developments have provided China an increasingly varied toolkit for pressuring other states across four key domains: geopolitical, economic, military, and cyber/IO.
“Combining multiple geopolitical, economic, military, and cyber/IO activities mean that China no longer has to rely on significant escalation in any single domain and, if needed, can sequence actions to apply pressure in nonmilitary domains before resorting to use of military activity,” said RAND in its briefer.
Over the years, it said that China employed the most varied of tactics against Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines. It appeared more cautious vis-à-vis large countries, like Japan and India.
Based on a new report by the think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on the conflict between China and Taiwan, while a lot of attention has been paid to the threat of an invasion, China can get Taiwan back even without firing a single bullet.
CSIS said that one way China could take Taiwan is a gray zone quarantine led not by its People’s Liberation Army but by the CCG and the rest of its law enforcement forces and maritime militia.
“Rather than sealing off the island, a quarantine would aim to demonstrate China’s ability to exert control over Taiwan,” it said, pointing out that a quarantine would be more feasible for China and more likely than an invasion or blockade.
READ: China steps up grey-zone warfare to exhaust Taiwan, defense report says
The report “How China Could Quarantine Taiwan: Mapping Out Two Possible Scenarios” stated that the gray zone quarantine would likewise present new challenges, especially on how Taiwan, the US, and the rest of the international community can respond.
“A key goal is to compel countries and companies to comply with China’s terms,” it said, stressing that if foreign actors would comply, the quarantine would “strengthen China’s narrative that it has control over Taiwan and weaken Taipei’s sovereignty claims.”
READ: China may be surveying Benham Rise to study Taiwan ‘entry’ — expert
While successful implementation of the possible quarantine would set a precedent that would make it easier for China to carry out more operations, everything will not be easy for Beijing as Taiwan’s international relations with the community of nations is complex.
As pointed out by Cabalza, president of the think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, “Taipei is close with Tokyo and Washington in maintaining their self-ruled governance and national security.”
For the CSIS, while China has capabilities to successfully execute a possible quarantine, the implementation “would require operations that are far more complex than anything China demonstrated to date.”
It said such moves would carry significant risk for China, and its success would depend to a large degree on how Taiwan, the US, and other countries respond: “Even if successfully implemented, there are limits to what a quarantine can achieve,” CSIS said.
“If Beijing’s goal is to inflict enough pain to force Taiwan’s surrender, China would need to move beyond the gray zone into overt military action,” it said as it stressed that a military blockade would be a key option for China.
As to the case of the Philippines, while Cabalza said that a quarantine is not applicable since the Philippines is a sovereign state recognized by all member states of the United Nations, the country still has to be prepared for maritime skirmishes.
For Espeña, China “may have motives to contain the Philippines and claim the First Island Chain on its own, but the Philippines is not an island; there are various chokepoints that they must close to quarantine the archipelago.”
“While the exclusive economic zone is where China can freely execute its gray zone tactics, conducting naval quarantine requires going into the territorial sea, which is a direct violation of Philippine sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.
But while this is a two-edged sword, Espeña told INQUIRER.net that the Philippines should take such scenarios seriously, saying that the Philippines “was outmaneuvered for the past years.”
“Operationalizing the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept should be a serious business that requires an arsenal of fixed and rotary-wing crafts, surface vessels, and coastal-based missile systems to deny and punish Chinese moves to establish a quarantine,” he said.
As the Philippines is trying to internationalize the issue on the WPS, especially through recalibrated alliance with the US, it now seems to be counterchecked by China’s more dangerous contour of gray zone tactics.
Why? As Espeña said, China’s goal is to exhaust the Philippines and weaken its linkages so that it can isolate and capitulate Manila from the game and eventually access the WPS without restrictions. | Inquirer | https://www.inquirer.net/408111/chinas-west-philippine-sea-gray-zone-tactics-its-still-war/ |
4-year-old boy found dead in river laid to rest in Talisay | eares | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 16:04:45 PST | Family members of the boy who died after falling into a river in Cebu City sobbed as they said their final goodbyes at his funeral on Friday, July 5. | CDN Photo/ Christian Dave Cuizon
Family members of the boy who died after falling into a river in Cebu City sobbed as they said their final goodbyes at his funeral on Friday, July 5. | CDN Photo/ Christian Dave Cuizon
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The boy who met his untimely demise after falling into a river in Brgy. Inayawan, Cebu City on Sunday, June 30, has been laid to rest less than a week after his passing.
He was only four years old.
The boy’s funeral was held at the Cansojong Public Cemetery in Talisay City, Cebu on Friday, July 5.
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Surrounded by his family and friends, he was brought to his final resting place at past 2:00 p.m.
Overwhelmed with grief over the unexpected passing of the adored child, his relatives each sobbed loudly while saying their final goodbyes.
The pain is indescribable for the boy’s parents, who already lost two children before.
The 4-year-old then became the eldest brother to his two younger siblings aged 3 and 1.
In a tragic turn of events, however, he died before even making it to Kindergarten 2.
The 4-year-old was laid to rest at the Cansojong Public Cemetery in Talisay City, Cebu. | CDN Photo/ Christian Dave Cuizon
The boy was patiently waiting for his father who promised to take him to watch a basketball game on the day of the incident.
His grandfather, Ian, not his real name, believes that he might have fallen asleep while sitting on the edge of the wall.
Without anyone noticing, he fell into the river, hit his head, and drowned.
READ MORE:
Cebu City drowning: 4-year-old tragically dies in Inayawan river
Over 200 died due to drowning from January to March — PNP
Known as a quiet yet bubbly child, the child was adored by everyone around him.
He was a big fan of basketball so he was looking forward to spending time with his father after the latter got back from work.
A day before he died, he wore his name tag around while playing, excited to go back to school later this month.
Because of this, his family dressed him in his school uniform since the wake until he was laid to rest at the cemetery.
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UE parking rule draws flak from netizens | Adrian Parungao | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 15:35:48 PST | University of the East (UE) logo. INQUIRER FILES
University of the East (UE) logo. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The University of the East (UE) is gaining jeers from netizens, who frown on the school’s parking policy that comes with an annual fee but not with a guaranteed space.
A report from UE’s official student publication, The Dawn, stated that the school proposes to charge a gate pass sticker fee of P1,000 for vehicles that will use a parking slot, and P500 for vehicles that will only pick-up or drop-off students to and from the school.
The car sticker will be accepted at UE’s Manila and Caloocan campuses, and valid for a year – for the school year 2024-2025.
However, UE’s guidelines, which copy was attached to The Dawn’s report, stipulate that having the gate pass sticker does not guarantee a parking space inside the campus.
“Parking slots are given on a first-come-first-served basis. Therefore, the gate pass sticker is not a guarantee that you will be given a parking slot,” it said.
READ: UE welcomes free college entrance exam law for qualified students
In a Facebook post on Friday, UE said the implementation of the drop-off and pick-up sticker rule is being suspended pending the result of a study regarding traffic concerns around its campus.
“Kindly be advised that the planned drop-off/pick-up sticker, meanwhile, is suspended pending further review of the traffic flow on and around the campuses within the school year 2024-2025,” UE wrote.
In the same social media post, UE mentioned that: “Due to the limited parking slots on campus, vehicles with an official UE parking sticker for SY 2024-2025 are not necessarily assured of a parking slot on a given day as parking is on a first come, first served basis.”
But the netizens roared in dismay over this policy.
READ: UE Criminology dept offers special degree on cybersecurity
“[Y]ou want the students and faculty to pay a P1,000 fee for a parking slot that is still not assured? [H]ow can you justify that? [O]r have you just found another way to capitalize on what should be the right of your stakeholders?” a social media a user said.
“[B]ayad na nga eh, dapat bilang nila kung ilan ang kasya at may cutoff silang tinatawag, […] anu yun nag bayad ka ng 1k tapos hindi ka pala sure na makaka park ka,” another one added.
(It’s already paid for, they should count how many vehicles they can accommodate so the can cut-off when it’s full […], what’s that, you paid 1,000 but you’re not sure whether you will be able to park.)
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Inquirer.net has reached out to UE for a comment on reactions to its parking rule, but has yet to receive a response as of writing.
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ASF vaccine out in two weeks, says DA | Zacarian Sarao | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 20:08:17 PST | FILE PHOTO: The African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccine will soon be available for commercial use in the country, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA). PHOTO BY RICHARD MALIHAN / CONTRIBUTOR
FILE PHOTO: The African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccine will soon be available for commercial use in the country, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA). PHOTO BY RICHARD MALIHAN / CONTRIBUTOR
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the vaccine against African Swine Fever (ASF) will soon be available for commercial use in the country.
The DA said the commercial trial for the vaccines will be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in two weeks.
“Malapit nang lumabas ‘yung approval sa vaccine for the swine,” Agriculture Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement.
(The vaccine for the swine will be approved soon.)
READ: Despite ASF threat, Philippine hog industry sees better 2024
“FDA and the DA are working very closely on this. Ang ganda ng teamwork namin (We have a very good teamwork),” he added.
Once approved, the DA said the commercial distribution of the vaccine will follow.
READ: Agri department turns to ‘AI’ to rebuild hog industry
Laurel said that with the availability of the vaccine, they expect the spread of ASF in the country to finally end.
“The vaccine from Vietnam really works. So, that solves our problem,” he said.
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NBI, SEC nab 2 Ponzi-scheme operators in Pagadian City | Leah Agonoy | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:41:44 PST | PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) arrested two suspects allegedly involved in a Ponzi-scheme investment here.
Joey Moran, chief of the NBI Pagadian district office, said operatives entrapped Bernadeth Albaracin and John Mark Pineda on Wednesday, July 3, after the two met and sealed a deal with a poseur investor in a coffee shop in Sta. Lucia district here.
Both the NBI and the SEC launched the operation following the complaints earlier filed by 14 investors for the company’s failure to release the promised 35 to 50 percent interest of their investments and the promised freebies that included iPhones, a single motorcycle and a car, according to NBI Agent Leonardo Carpizo. This prompted the NBI to develop the case.
“It turned out that these people [operators] were not authorized to solicit investment from the public. That is why we coordinated with the SEC and conducted the operation,” Moran said.
READ: SEC red-flags three ‘pyramid’ schemes
He said the group first used the company name Skyline Trading for the operation, then renamed it to Hybrid Trading and later Neon Marketing, with the same people operating.
The operators used the social media’s Messenger application to lure investors, then later either set a face-to-face meeting for the transfer of cash investments or conduct the business transaction online, according to the NBI.
Moran said investments range from P200,000 to a million pesos. “The amount varies,” he said. “They just receive them and offer interests of 35 to 50 percent and options for locked-in investments of 15 days or 30 days.”
For locked-in investments, operators entice investors with freebies like a single motorcycle, a car or smartphones, depending on the rate of investments and the choice of the investors.
Moran expected more investors to file complaints against the company since the operation started in April this year.
He said all the 14 complainants who sought the help of the NBI came from Zamboanga del Sur but refused to identify them for security reasons. “We are still accounting for all the collected investments in the Pagadian operation,” he said.
READ: SEC warns public vs investing in The Tipsy Tavern
Lawyer Rona Santos, legal counsel of the SEC extension office based in Zamboanga City, said they had issued an advisory following their investigation of the the operations of Skyline Crypto and Dry Goods Trading which started in April this year.
“(The company) is not authorized to solicit investments from the SEC and has committed a criminal offense. What Skyline Trading, which later on became Neon Marketing, is doing (constitutes) a Ponzi-scheme,” she said. “The operation is not backed up by any legitimate business and is bound to collapse, she said.
Santos also said one of the operators of the Neon Marketing here identified as John Paul Lopez was among the identified operators of the Silver Lion Livestock Trading raided by the NBI and SEC in Zamboanga City in 2022.
The Pagadian City operation has the same modus operandi as that in Zamboanga City, Santos said. “This is a criminal offense and a violation of the Securities Regulation Code,” she said.
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Carpizo confirmed that investors had yet to withdraw interests from their cash investments. The company had no physical office in Pagadian City and only conducted online transactions and later would arrange how the investors deposit their investments, either face-to-face or through online fund transfer,” Carpizo said.
Carpizo also said that Pineda, one of the arrested suspects, was renting a room at a local inn here while Albaracin was a resident.
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PH history: More focus on this, Marcos orders new DepEd chief | dsingson | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 17:41:48 PST | (AFP FILE PHOTO)
(AFP FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. said on Friday that he told incoming Education Secretary Senator Sonny Angara to include more subjects about Philippine history in the current education curriculum.
Marcos, on the sidelines of an assistance distribution event in Sulu, said “The one thing I asked of him was to please teach our children Philippine history. Because I have seen my children’s workbooks, and there’s very little said about the history of the Philippines.
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“And for me, that is so important,” he added, explaining that history could help further shape the identity of Filipinos.
The teaching of Philippine history stopped at Grade 6 during the time of former education secretary Leonor Briones.
It was replaced by the teaching of Asian history in Grade 7, World History in Grade 8, economics in Grade 9, and contemporary issues in Grade 10.
The President also said that certain changes are being considered in the curriculum, including the introduction of “mini-courses,” improving teachers’ welfare, simplifying the curriculum, and “going back to the basics.”
Such changes are being considered after Marcos himself admitted that the K-12 curriculum failed to boost the employability of high school graduates—the very reason it was implemented in the first place.
“Kung titignan natin ang naging resulta, hindi tumaas, hindi gumanda ang employability nila. So we have to do something else,” said Marcos.
(If we look at the result, their employability did not increase or improve, so we have to do something else.)
Marcos said the government intends to coordinate with the private sector to determine and “guarantee the supply of skilled workers” needed in their respective industries.
Furthermore, Marcos said the Department of Education would also improve the quality of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) based on the results of international objective tests, which notes the country needs to catch up.
“We will also simplify the curriculum. We go back to make sure that everybody understands the basics,” he said.
Regarding teachers’ welfare, Marcos said he told Angara to ensure that the the teachers can concentrate on actual teaching.
He added that beef feeding programs are also being planned to address malnutrition and stunting among Filipino students.
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Waterfront Hotels and Casinos wins Privacy Management Program Award 2024 | bfernandez | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 16:45:23 PST | Waterfront Hotels and Casinos (WHC) has been awarded the Privacy Management Program of the Year by the National Privacy Commission (NPC) during its annual Privacy Awareness Week, held at the Solaire Resort on May 30, 2024. This award is given to an organization that has been demonstrating and exemplifying customer-centric approach in the delivery of their products and services, guided by qualities of transparency and proportionality in all their platforms.
The award is a testament to WHC’s commitment in adhering to the standards of NPC in protecting the privacy and personal data of their valued guests, suppliers, other third parties, and even that of their employees, thus advocating for inclusivity and diversity as it makes its data privacy and protection practices equitable to all stakeholders.
Compliance Officer for Privacy, Ms. Jocelyn Aviles, who represented WHC during the awarding ceremony with the theme “Data Privacy for All: Embracing Inclusivity and Diversity,” expressed her gratitude to NPC for this distinct honor. “On behalf of our president, Mr. Kenneth Gatchalian, all our employees and stakeholders, we would like to thank the National Privacy Commission and the distinguished awards selection committee for this recognition.”
From left to right: Atty. Revi Neri (Senior Compliance Specialist – Solaire Resorts), Atty. Frenzel Sta. Ana (President – Hotel Sector of NPC, Director of Compliance – Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels Inc.), Atty. John Henry D. Naga (Privacy Commissioner and Chairman – NPC), Ms. Jocelyn Aviles (Compliance Officer for Privacy – Waterfront Hotels and Casinos), Atty. Rainier Anthony Milanes (Chief Information Technology Officer, Compliance and Monitoring Division – NPC), and Ms. Jenny Rose Dela Cruz (Compliance Specialist – Solaire Resort and Casino)
Through the years, WHC has made strides in implementing comprehensive and robust data privacy practices that are integrated in its operations. Adaptation to evolving laws and regulations is crucial in ensuring compliance and maintaining a high standard of service and data management. Key to WHC’s adherence to data privacy and security policies is the series of information drives and compliance trainings to broaden the awareness and understanding by each employee who has access to the organization’s data.
It is integral for WHC to foster trust and transparency across all of its properties by giving utmost importance to data protection and security. Part of the privacy management is ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of all CCTV footages recorded within its premises and following the guidelines set forth by NPC for the data subject access. Further, substantial steps are taken to constantly update the Privacy Manual and Data Breach Management Program, thus anticipating future security issues or risks for the company and effectively managing security controls.
Privacy Management Program of the Year by the National Privacy Commission (NPC)
The award is a testament to WHC’s commitment in adhering to the standards of NPC in protecting the privacy and personal data of their valued guests, suppliers, other third parties, and even that of their employees, thus advocating for inclusivity and diversity as it makes its data privacy and protection practices equitable to all stakeholders.
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Alice Guo’s birth certificate: Petition to cancel this filed | dsingson | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 16:45:15 PST | Suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ)
Suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ)
MANILA, Philippines — A petition to cancel the birth certificate of suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo has been filed by the Office of the Solicitor General.
They sought to cancel Guo’s birth certificate “on the ground, among others, of failure to comply with the legal requirements for late registration.”
That is according to Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra.
READ MORE:
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During a recent Senate hearing, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Guo’s late birth registration was applied on Nov. 22, 2005 when she was already a teenager.
The entries in her birth certificate, however, are false.
Guevarra said the petition for cancellation of Guo’s birth certificate “will lay the groundwork for the subsequent filing of a petition for quo warranto.
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Solicitor General files petition to cancel Alice Guo’s birth certificate | Tetch Torres-Tupas | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 16:05:00 PST | Suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ)
Suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ)
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has filed a petition to cancel the birth certificate of suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said they sought to cancel Guo’s birth certificate “on the ground, among others, of failure to comply with the legal requirements for late registration.”
During a recent Senate hearing, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Guo’s late birth registration was applied on Nov. 22, 2005, when she was already a teenager.
Guevarra said Guo failed to submit the required supporting documents for late registration.
Under Memorandum Circular No. 2024-17, the mandatory documents to be submitted for late registration are the following: barangay certification as proof of residency; documentary evidence showing the identity of the parents, such as a certificate of live birth, government-issued ID, marriage certificate or certificate of death, and an unedited photo of the registrant.
A personal appearance is required if the applicant is also 18 years old and above.
In this case, however, only a negative certification issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) was submitted, according to Guevarra. Angelito, the supposed father of Guo, also submitted the document for late registration instead of the suspended mayor, who was already 19 years old at that time.
Guevarra said the local civil registrar recorded her certificate of live birth (COLB) although it was incomplete and lacked the required documents.
READ: Gatchalian says arrest order vs Alice Guo possible
The OSG likewise noted that indicated as parents on Guo’s birth certificate were “Angelito Guo and Amelia Leal” and that both were “Filipinos.”
However, the PSA showed no record of her supposed parents.
“The pattern of falsehoods is not just present in Alice’s COLB, but in all four COLBs including those of Shiela, Seimen, and Wesley…These are not mere mistakes or errors in making the entries but are deliberate falsehoods which render all of the COLBs void,” the Solicitor General said, adding that they will also be seeking the cancellation of the birth certificates of Guo’s siblings.
Guevarra explained that the petition for the cancellation of Guo’s birth certificate “will lay the groundwork” for the subsequent filing of a petition for quo warranto.
If Guo’s birth certificate is canceled, Guevarra said, “she will lose her most important defense evidence about her identity.”
However, Guevarra pointed out that Guo’s birth certificate “is not a precondition for the filing of the quo warranto petition.”
READ: Alice Guo’s removal as mayor via quo warranto may come sooner – OSG
“The quo warranto petition can be supported by preponderant independent evidence. It’s not dependent on the outcome of the cancellation petition,” Guevarra said.
He added, “Her foreign citizenship will not be proved in the cancellation petition but in the quo warranto petition.”
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Guo’s lawyers vowed to disprove allegations against the suspended mayor by providing “substantial evidence” to show that she is a Filipino.
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Blooms reminded to respect privacy of Bini members | Immae Lachica | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 13:25:07 PST | CEBU CITY, Philippines— After successive and successful concerts done by Bini, members of the girl group finally had time to rest in their respective hometowns.
Director Lauren Dyogi or Direk Lauren Dyogi took to Bini’s official Instagram account to thank the blooms for all their support and love for Bini.
READ MORE:
Bini Aiah miuli sa Subgo, nag-island hopping
Meet the BINI Bisdak beauties
He shared that after those three successful nights of Biniverse concerts, Bini members were able to take time off and spend it with their friends and family.
Unfortunately, Dyogi had to address the issue regarding blooms invading the privacy and personal time off of some of the Bini members.
“This past few days. Ako (I) personally I was able to see some very disturbing videos. Some of our members who did seem to enjoy their break from their very stressful three-night concert. They went to a public place because they wanted to unwind and to spend some time with their families. But unfortunately, naka experience sila nang hindi magaganda (they experienced something bad),” he said.
READ MORE:
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He specifically cited the experiences of Maloi when she was disrupted by fans while having a family dinner in a restaurant and Aiah when a male fan uncomfortably invaded her personal space in a club in Cebu.
In the video uploaded yesterday across all the social media accounts of Bini, Dyogi asks for blooms to respect the Bini members’ privacy, especially when they are trying to have a taste of the normal life with their family and friends away from the limelight.
“Nakikiusap po ako personally na as part of the BINI team na sana po ‘pag ang ating mga miyembro ay … spending their personal time especially with their families and friends, please also show respect to their privacy and personal space. Tao rin po sila. Kailangan din po nilang makisalamuha sa ibang tao,” he pleaded.
(I appeal to you personally as part of the BINI team that if our member are … spending their personal time with their families and friends, please also show respect to their privacy and personal space. They are also persons. They also need to interact with other people.)
Bini is set to light up Cebu this July 14 for their Biniverse Cebu.
To all the blooms, may this serve as a reminder to you to also know your boundaries.
This is just a simple step to make our Bini members feel safe even when they are relaxing and out of the stage.
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Preparations underway for 2024 POPCEN-CBMS census | rgabuya | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 16:29:10 PST | The public is again encouraged to welcome and cooperate with census personnel to help the government craft vital laws and policies. | CDN file photo
The public is again encouraged to welcome and cooperate with census personnel to help the government craft vital laws and policies. | CDN file photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The public is once again urged to cooperate with enumerators who would collect demographic data for census information.
Representatives from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA 7) aired this reminder on Wednesday, July 4 in the in the Kapihan sa PIA with Chief Statistical Specialist of the PSA7 Statistical Operations and Coordination Division, Leopoldo Alfanta Jr. and the PSA Cebu Senior Statistical Specialist Emmanuel L. Abellana.
Aside from reminding the public about the importance of cooperating with census personnel, the two officials discussed the preparations for the 2024 Census of Population and Community-Based Monitoring System (POPCEN-CBMS).
Because the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) – the list used to target the recipients of poverty elevation – was last conducted in 2019, Alfanta explained, the decision was made to conduct both the POPCEN and CBMS census in 2024 rather than 2025.
The census’s conduct would combine both POPCEN and CBMS into a single interview visit to housing units that would begin on July 15 and end on September 10.
The data from POPCEN-CBMS would then be used to identify beneficiaries as well as plans for the development of programs under the government.
“Data is the new oil, data is the new resources. Data is also wealth, for evidence-based decision making based on data available,” Alfanta said
Measures to access private housing units
Alfanta noted that there will be challenges with people’s reception during the enumerators’ data collection, as well as limited access to private neighborhoods and condominiums.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), with which the PSA will meet on Friday, is one of the agencies that Alfante said they would be contacting as they oversee the exclusive villages and house owners associations.
Through this meeting, they would inform them of such activity being conducted in these private housing units.
They would also be meeting with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), to have the cooperation of the Muslim community.
“We would also like to to get the cooperation and support of the Muslim community. Again this is a census, tanan man wala may pwede ato biyaan. No one is left behind. Everybody is really counted,” Abellana said.
In order to inform the public about the conduct of such operations and foster more cooperation with enumerators, Abellana stated that educational and informational conversations are necessary among platforms frequented by the p[ublic.
“Akong awhagon ang tanan no na mo cooperate especially sa mga lisud namo sudlon no…Awhagon ang tanan na mo cooperate, kaning census importante kaayu Kabalo nata na ihap sa mga tawo. The government cannot do without this data, dili ta ka plan ug tarong ug wala ni siya na data. Ug dili pa nato maayu pagtubag, dili pud maayo ang atung plano, pagplano sa atung developments unya na project buhaton sa government,” Abellana said.
Inadequate number of enumerators for PSA
While Abellana revealed that in highly urbanized cities (HUCs), the PSA requires at least 1,000 enumerators, and the enumerators they are currently training have not yet reached that number, LGUs in the provinces currently have inadequate number of enumerators.
There are now 400 employed enumerators in Cebu City, 500 or more are needed in Lapu-Lapu City but there are only about 300. At least 200 are hired in Mandaue City yet more are needed.
Abellana said that if there is still a lack of census enumerators, they would have to look for more to train as there is a need to maximize enumerators in order to finish the census before the deadline which would be on December 27.
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Palarong Pambansa 2024: President Marcos to grace opening program | rgabuya | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 16:59:38 PST | Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. | FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse
Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. | FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse
CEBU CITY, Philippines– Philippine President Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr. will attend the opening ceremony of the Palarong Pambansa 2024 on July 9, at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).
This was confirmed by the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) Chairman and one of Palarong Pambansa’s main organizers, John Pages to CDN Digital.
Although it’s a tradition for the country’s top leaders to attend the sports meet’s opening ceremony, there hasn’t been any confirmation of Marcos’s attendance until Friday.
In a statement forwarded by Pages, he said that he had a virtual meeting with the “Office of the President” to discuss important measures about the event.
“We just concluded a Zoom meeting with the Office of the President to discuss the Program, protocols, and security measures for the Opening,” said Pages.
Already confirmed to attend is outgoing Department of Education (DepEd) secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Other VIPs expected to attend during the opening ceremony are Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, Cebu City Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, and suspended Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama.
More than 12,000 athletes will converge at the CCSC during the opening ceremony of Palarong Pambansa 2024 on July 9.
Cebu City last hosted the country’s largest sports spectacle in 1994.
The PALARONG PAMBANSA 2024: A CDN DIGITAL SPECIAL ONLINE COVERAGE is in partnership with:
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The PALARONG PAMBANSA 2024: A CDN DIGITAL SPECIAL ONLINE COVERAGE is in partnership with:
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
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DENR plan to void Masungi pact a threat to environment, says lawmaker | Gabriel Pabico Lalu | Fri, 05 Jul 2024 17:33:50 PST | FILE PHOTO: The plan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to cancel a deal on the protection of Masungi Georeserve is a threat to the ecosystem, according to ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro. PHOTO FROM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FILE PHOTO: The plan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to cancel a deal on the protection of Masungi Georeserve is a threat to the ecosystem, according to ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro. PHOTO FROM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MANILA, Philippines — ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said the plan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to cancel a deal on the protection of Masungi Georeserve is a threat to the ecosystem.
According to Castro, the DENR’s plan to void the memorandum of agreement (MOA) it entered into with Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc. (MGFI) in 2017 through then-environment secretary Gina Lopez will open the area to business development and possibly degrade the area, which provides vital support that prevents flood in Metro Manila.
Masungi Georeserve is a forest near Masungi Rock Formation, located near Rizal’s Tanay and Baras towns. Currently, MGFI manages and maintains the protected area. But the private firm is being scrutinized for supposedly profiting from it.
“The DENR’s plan to cancel the MOA is a direct threat to the environmental integrity of Masungi Georeserve. This decision could lead to irreversible damage to a critical ecological area that serves as a natural shield against dangerous flooding in the National Capital Region,” Castro said in a statement Friday.
READ: DENR thanks Leo DiCaprio but says law must prevail on Masungi
“Masungi is not just a piece of land; it’s a vital ecosystem that protects us all. Opening it up for business development is short-sighted and potentially catastrophic,” she added.
Issues surrounding Masungi Georeserve surfaced anew after award-winning Hollywood actor and known environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to intervene and help protect the area against alleged risks of commercialization with the cancellation of the MOA.
On Instagram, the celebrity said Masungi Georeserve is now in danger and will likely face threats from mining and logging.
READ: Leonardo DiCaprio urges Bongbong Marcos to protect Masungi
The DENR’s current leadership, however, maintained that the rule of law must prevail on Masungi. It asserted that the MOA is unconstitutional. It also stressed that the area occupied by the MGFI is owned by the Filipino people and that the operation of resort venues that charge fees to the public “remains non-compliant with Philippine laws.“
The DENR nevertheless thanked DiCaprio for his concern on Masungi.
But Castro said she will raise the Masungi issue during deliberations for the proposed 2025 national budget, when it is DENR’s turn to explain their annual appropriation.
“We thank Leonardo DiCaprio and other global personalities for lending their voices to this crucial cause. Their support amplifies our local efforts and brings international attention to the importance of preserving Masungi,” Castro said.
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“We will definitely bring this up at the next budget hearings. The DENR must be held accountable for its actions and explain why it’s considering a move that could severely compromise our environmental security,” she added.
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HIGHLIGHTS: Gilas Pilipinas vs Georgia Fiba OQT July 4 | Celest Flores-Colina | Thu, 04 Jul 2024 16:30:21 PST | Gilas Pilipinas’ Justin Brownlee puts on another sensational game to help the secure the Fiba OQT semifinals ticket. –FIBA PHOTO
Gilas Pilipinas overcame a horrendous start before settling for a 96-94 loss at the hands of Georgia and still locking a semifinal spot in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OTQ) in Riga, Latvia.
Gilas trailed by as many as 20 points before closing the gap on the world No. 23 Georgia, which needed to win by 19 points to eliminate the Philippines and join host Latvia in the crossover knockout phase. FULL STORY
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FINAL: #GilasPilipinas bows to Georgia, 96-94.
PHI, however, is moving to the knockout semis, and will face either Brazil or Cameroon@manilacone and his crew are 2 wins away from a Paris berth.FEATURED STORIES
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Chris Banchero hits first-ever PBA four-point shot
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Brownlee 28, Ramos 16, Perez, 14, Newsome 13 to lead PH@inquirerSports #FibaOQT pic.twitter.com/5QwsdiemCl
— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrdINQ) July 4, 2024
Despite the loss, Gilas Pilipinas advances to the semifinals along with Latvia, which has earlier advanced to the knockout round.
4th QUARTER
3rd QUARTER
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Cone’s challenge is rejected, but Brownlee quickly hits a fadeaway in the next sequence.@inquirerdotnet @inquirerSports #FibaOQT
— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrdINQ) July 4, 2024
Shengelia and Tamayo exchange words. Coach Tim telling refs that Carl caught an elbow from the Georgian.@inquirerdotnet @inquirerSports #FibaOQT
— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrdINQ) July 4, 2024
HALFTIME STATS
Justin Brownlee leads Gilas Pilipinas with 14 points at the half. Chris Newsome added 8 points while June Mar Fajardo had 6.
Georgia, which needs to win by 19 and more points to qualify for the next round and eliminate Gilas, is led by Alexander Mamukelashvili who has 14 points built on four 3s.
2nd QUARTER
1st QUARTER
Uncharacteristic showing for Gilas halfway through the opening period.
But Justin Brownlee and Chris Newsome finally get PH on board.
16-6, still in favor of Georgia, after back-to-back Gilas triples.@inquirerdotnet @inquirerSports #FibaOQT
— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrdINQ) July 4, 2024
Less than 24 hours after beating Latvia, Gilas Pilipinas looks to seal its entry to the knockout round of the Riga Fiba OQT against Georgia.
Gilas Pilipinas looks to thr crowd after beating world No. 6 and home team Latvia in a Fiba OQT game in Riga. –FIBA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday congratulated Gilas Pilipinas over its win versus Latvia in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Riga, Latvia.
Marcos said Gilas’ victory was “64 years in the making” and is “worth every second.” FULL STORY
Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone during a Fiba OQT Riga game against world No. 6 Latvia. –FIBA BASKETBALL
MANILA, Philippines — In an era where the three-point has become one of the major weapons in basketball, Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone continues to prove that triangle offense can still work even on the world stage, which is now dominated by fast-paced plays.
Cone’s signature offensive scheme worked wonders to stun World No.6 and host Latvia, 89-80, to open Gilas’ Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) campaign with high hopes on early Thursday morning (Manila time) in Riga. FULL STORY
Gilas Pilipinas player Jordan Clarkson from the Utah Jazz in the NBA reacted to the Philippines’ win over Latvia on Thursday. Clarkson was Gilas’ naturalized player for the Fiba World Cup last year.
letsss goooo ‼️‼️❣️ https://t.co/u6JnvV1ZQm
— Jordan Clarkson (@JordanClarksons) July 3, 2024
Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone during a Fiba OQT Riga game against world No. 6 Latvia. –FIBA BASKETBALL
MANILA, Philippines — Even Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone was shocked with how his team pulled off a massive upset against world No.6 Latvia in the opener of their Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) campaign.
Gilas Pilipinas, led by Justin Brownlee and big men June Mar Fajardo and Kai Sotto, never wavered against one of the world’s best teams as it stunned Latvia with a wire-to-wire 89-80 win in front of the massive home crowd on Thursday (Manila Time) in Riga. FULL STORY
Justin Brownlee leads Gilas Pilipinas’ rout of host Latvia to open the Filipinos’ Fiba OQT campaign. –FIBA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Kai Sotto was all praise for Justin Brownlee, who once again played the hero for Gilas Pilipinas in its 89-80 shocker of world No. 6 and host Latvia in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) on Thursday.
Sotto even went on to say that his naturalized teammate is the “Michael Jordan of Philippine basketball.”
Brownlee, also the hero in the Gilas’ historic gold medal run in the Asian Games last year, scored six straight points highlighted with a four-point play to give the visitors an 85-71 with over three minutes left. FULL STORY
Is Justin Brownlee the MJ of the Philippines? 🐐🇵🇭 #FIBAOQT pic.twitter.com/l9QQjJgblV
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 3, 2024
Justin Brownlee leads Gilas Pilipinas’ rout of host Latvia to open the Filipinos’ Fiba OQT campaign. –FIBA PHOTO
National coach Tim Cone has made one thing clear months before the tall order Gilas Pilipinas needs to hurdle in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Latvia.
“I’m a big believer that there are always really hard things to do. But nothing’s impossible,” he had told the Inquirer.
The architect behind last year’s golden romp in the Asian Games in China put that mantra to the test once again on Thursday morning in Manila, when the Philippines wakes up to the result of its National squad opening its OQT stint against Latvia and its home crowd at Arena Riga. FULL STORY
Justin Brownlee leads Gilas Pilipinas’ rout of host Latvia to open the Filipinos’ Fiba OQT campaign. –FIBA PHOTO
Gilas Pilipinas pounced on Latvia’s early shooting woes and played with steely nerves down the stretch to topple World No. 6 and host Latvia, 89-80, in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) on Thursday.
The No. 37-ranked Filipinos, overwhelming underdogs in the short meet at Arena Riga that will send a winner to the Paris Olympics, raced to an 8-0 start and built a sizable cushion that they never yielded until the final horn.
“I’m totally shocked to be sitting in front of you guys after winning this basketball game. This is not something we thought we were gonna do, I’ll be honest with you,” said Gilas coach Tim Cone after the game. FULL STORY
🇵🇭 Gilas Pilipinas upset Latvia and claim their first win against European opposition in an official FIBA competition since 1960! #FIBAOQT pic.twitter.com/hwhSkvMTP1
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 3, 2024
Riga, Latvia
8:30pm– Philippines-Gilas Pilipinas vs Georgia
FULL FIBA OQT RIGA SCHEDULE HERE.
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Pagasa: Generally fair Thursday weather nationwide | Faith Argosino | Thu, 04 Jul 2024 07:28:28 PST | MANILA, Philippines — Generally fair weather will prevail in most parts of the country on Thursday, although isolated rain showers and thunderstorms are possible, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Pagasa weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio, in an early morning forecast, said the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) will continue to affect Palawan, where rain showers and thunderstorms are expected.
“Samantala itong nalalabing bahagi ng Luzon, fair weather po tayo kung saan sa umaga makararanas ng maaliwalas na panahon pero sa hapon o gabi mataas ang tsansa na mabuo ang isang thunderstorm,” Aurelio said.
(The rest of Luzon will have fair weather, but thunderstorms are likely in the afternoon or evening.)
“Sa Visayas at Mindanao, fair weather po tayo kung saan makararanas tayo ng bahagyang maulap hanggang sa maulap ang kalangintan na may tsansa ng mga isolated na pag-ulan dahil sa mga thunderstorms,” he added.
(In Visayas and Mindanao, fair weather is forecast, with partly cloudy to cloudy skies and possible isolated rain showers due to thunderstorms.)
No weather disturbance is being monitored in and around the Philippine area of responsibility, Pagasa added.
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On 4th of July, US envoy hails year of PH-US milestones | MaryKay Carlson | Thu, 04 Jul 2024 05:38:28 PST | US Ambassador MaryKay L. Carlson —US Embassy in the Philippines’ official website
US Ambassador MaryKay L. Carlson —US Embassy in the Philippines’ official website
MANILA, Philippines — On the Fourth of July—the United States’ Independence Day and Philippine-American Friendship Day—we look back on what the US-Philippine partnership has achieved over the past 12 months.
We’ve reached incredible milestones together as friends, partners, and allies, setting a bold agenda to build a more secure and prosperous future for our peoples.
The Trilateral Leaders’ Summit among US President Joe Biden, President Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington was a historic moment in a year of exceptional achievements.
The leaders committed to advancing the security and prosperity of all three nations, the Indo-Pacific region, and the world through cooperation on economic growth, critical technologies, the digital economy, climate and clean energy, infrastructure, and peace and security.
They announced the Luzon Economic Corridor under the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Investment Accelerator, which will support transformative public and private investments from Subic Bay to Batangas—home to 40 percent of the Philippines’ population and 50 percent of its economic activity.
The three leaders also announced $8 million for Open Radio Access Network field trials that will pave the way for more affordable and secure telecommunications.
As Mr. Marcos has said, economic security is national security. Our commitment to bring greater private investment to the Philippines is multifaceted.
In March, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo led the first-ever Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to the Philippines, where US firms announced more than $1 billion in investments in key sectors and new partnerships to help develop a future-ready Philippine workforce.
We built on these engagements in May during the Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Manila, where the US Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant to a Filipino company to deliver affordable, high-quality internet connectivity to underserved communities in the Philippines.
We are accelerating investment in the Philippines with the introduction of new tools and resources.
Later this year, the US Development Finance Corp. (DFC) plans to open a Manila office, its fifth location in the Indo-Pacific region.
This new office underscores DFC’s growing focus on the Philippines in critical sectors, such as renewable energy, agriculture, critical minerals, and infrastructure.
The Millennium Challenge Corp. returned to the Philippines this year and now has a team on the ground to codevelop a threshold program.
This program identifies key constraints to economic growth and creates favorable conditions for new investments from the private sector and development partners.
The United States is committed to supporting the Philippines’ clean energy transition.
Last November, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Week in San Francisco, Secretaries Raphael Lotilla and Antony Blinken signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement, or “123 Agreement,” facilitating US-Philippine cooperation to responsibly develop a peaceful, sustainable nuclear energy program.
The Philippines Department of Energy (DOE) and the Philippine-American Educational Foundation are creating scholarships and academic exchanges on nuclear power and clean energy, and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) is partnering with the DOE to develop a comprehensive civil nuclear energy policy.
Usaid partnered with the Philippine government to launch its first Green Energy Auction Program, in which private sector companies compete to offer the most affordable prices to supply renewable energy to the grid, driving billions of dollars in investments and increasing renewable energy capacity by 65 percent by 2026.
The US Departments of State and Energy also launched the US-Philippine Energy Policy Dialogue to deepen cooperation in this field.
Our military alliance continues to flourish.
We have improved our bilateral exercises and established new ways to work together to address 21st century security challenges, such as cyberdefense. We have reinvigorated our maritime cooperation, conducting joint naval engagements alongside Australia, Canada, France and Japan.
The United States continues to expand funding to help modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Underpinning all these important endeavors are close and meaningful bonds of friendship and family ties that form not only the foundation upon which our relations are based, but a springboard for reaching new heights in the future.
On this day last year, I hailed the positive momentum in US-Philippine relations.
Since then, that momentum has accelerated significantly. As Secretary Blinken described it during his most recent visit to Manila, the US-Philippine relationship is on hyperdrive and has never been stronger.
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Let’s see what we can accomplish in the next 12 months! —contributed
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Gilas Pilipinas upsets Latvia in Fiba Olympic Qualifiers | bochoa | Thu, 04 Jul 2024 09:59:18 PST | Dwight Ramos of Gilas Pilipinas battles for ball possession against a player from Latvia. | FIBA photo
Dwight Ramos of Gilas Pilipinas battles for ball possession against a player from Latvia. | FIBA photo
Justin Brownlee had 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists to help the Gilas Pilipinas hold off a late charge and upset Latvia, 89-80, in Group A of the Fiba Olympic Qualifying tournament on Thursday, July 4, 2024.
Gilas Pilipinas, ranked no. 37 in the world, pounced on Latvia’s early shooting woes to take down the world No. 6 and host Latvia.
The win was the Philippines’ first against a European team in an official Fiba competition since 1960.
READ MORE:
Gold medal remains with Gilas despite Brownlee’s failed doping test, says POC
The Philippines’ Kai Sotto added 18 points and eight rebounds against Latvia, which, at one point, trailed by 26 points.
Justin Brownlee of the Philippines celebrates with his teammates in a game against Latvia. | FIBA photo
Latvia cut what was a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to 10 with 1:21 remaining but the Philippines settled down and was able to close it out.
Rodions Kurucs led Latvia with 18 points.
Gilas Pilipinas is in the driver’s seat to win the group and advance to the knockout stage when it plays Georgia on Thursday. Latvia beat Georgia, 83-55, on Tuesday.
“I’m totally shocked to be sitting in front of you guys after winning this basketball game. This is not something we thought we were gonna do, I’ll be honest with you,” said Gilas coach Tim Cone in an interview with Inquirer.net.
“We wanted to come in and compete and really put on a good show. We got started early. We hit shots early. And thankfully Latvia missed shots.”
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Marcos to allocate P1.4B for Maharlika Highway rehab | Joey Gabieta | Thu, 04 Jul 2024 17:56:17 PST | President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reports significant progress in the government’s fight against insurgency in Samar province. According to Marcos, five Samar municipalities, which he did not identify, have been declared to have “stable internal peace and security status.” He issued the remark during a distribution of assistance to farmers and fisherfolk in Calbayog City on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Photo screengrabbed from RTVM
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reports significant progress in the government’s fight against insurgency in Samar province. According to Marcos, five Samar municipalities, which he did not identify, have been declared to have “stable internal peace and security status.” He issued the remark during a distribution of assistance to farmers and fisherfolk in Calbayog City on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Photo screengrabbed from RTVM
TACLOBAN CITY — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday announced he would allocate P1.4 billion for the rehabilitation of the Maharlika Highway.
“There are parts of the Maharlika Highway which were already dilapidated so we need to fix them and ensure the maintenance of this infrastructure,” he said in his speech during a visit to Calbayog City, Samar.
The project, he said, is set to be completed in March 2025.
Marcos also vowed to widen the roads in the province to hasten the flow of transportation.
The Department of Public Works and Highways in the region earlier said it would ensure that the Maharlika Highway, which connects Eastern Visayas to the rest of the country, would be completed within the administration of Marcos.
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PH, Thailand vow to uphold peace in South China Sea, Myanmar, Gaza | Charie Abarca | Thu, 04 Jul 2024 18:08:16 PST | DFA logo and building facade. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
DFA logo and building facade. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Thailand have promised to continue to uphold peace and security in the South China Sea, Myanmar and Gaza, the Foreign Affairs Department (DFA) said on Thursday.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said he had a “fruitful and productive” meeting with Thailand Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa who was in Manila for an official visit.
In an official statement read during a press briefing, Manalo said he and Sangiampongsa exchanged views on regional issues of mutual interest and concern, particularly those involving the South China Sea, Myanmar, and Gaza.
“As fellow ASEAN member states, the Philippines and Thailand continue to uphold the importance of the Five Point Consensus in promoting lasting peace and security in Myanmar. We welcome Thailand’s approach in providing humanitarian relief to those in need in Myanmar, and in addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country,” Manalo said.
On the South China Sea row, Manalo said he briefed Sangiampongsa about the Philippines’ stand on the issue.
“I reiterated that the Philippine position has been consistent, clear, and firmly anchored on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea,” Manalo said.
“I reaffirmed the Philippines’ continued commitment to ASEAN’s centrality and ASEAN’s goal of peace and stability in the region,” he added.
Other topics discussed include the Israeli-Palestinian conflict where the two countries affirmed the need for peace in the region.
Manalo also said he personally took the opportunity to ask Thailand for its support for a Philippine-led resolution at the 56th UN Human Rights Council Session on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights of Seafarers, noting the current situation of board merchant vessels plying the Red Sea.
“In three weeks’ time, we will meet with our colleagues to attend the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, Lao PDR,” the DFA chief said.
“In conclusion, I had a fruitful and productive meeting with Foreign Minister Maris and I look forward to more opportunities to exchange views with him on how we can strengthen and elevate our bilateral relationship, as well as cooperation in addressing various regional and international challenges,” he added.
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READ: Thailand’s Foreign Minister to visit PH on July 4
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Pagasa: La Niña is not here yet | eares | Thu, 04 Jul 2024 11:05:11 PST | Residents of Cebu City woke up to dark skies on Thursday morning, July 4, 2024. | CDN Photo/ Emmariel Ares
Residents of Cebu City woke up to dark skies on Thursday morning, July 4, 2024. | CDN Photo/ Emmariel Ares
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Despite the heavy rainfall experienced in various parts of Cebu in the past month, the weather bureau clarified that the La Niña phenomenon has not started yet.
According to Engr. Al Quiblat, chief at the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration in Mactan (Pagasa-Mactan), the country is currently in the neutral phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO).
ENSO refers to the naturally occurring phenomenon of the climate system that is the result of the interaction between the ocen and the atmosphere in the Central and Eastern Equatorial Pacific (CEEP).
Quiblat explained that ENSO has three phases: El Niño, neutral, and La Niña.
El Niño, known for warmer temperatures and reduced rainfall, ended on June 7 this year. The preceding months of drought due to El Niño significantly impacted agricultural production.
Now in the neutral phase following El Niño, the country is transitioning towards La Niña, which typically brings increased rainfall. During the neutral phase, neither El Niño nor La Niña conditions prevail.
READ: Keep umbrellas handy: Pagasa officially declares rainy season
IN PHOTOS: Early morning rain causes flooding in some parts of Metro Cebu
Pagasa has issued a La Niña watch due to favorable conditions for its development in the coming months. Quiblat noted a decreased likelihood of La Niña occurring this year, from 69 percent to 55 percent.
“However, katong latest nato nga climate forum, nihinay ang indication sa La Niña nga modevelop,” he said.
This means there’s a reduced chance of La Niña occurring in the next few months.
If La Niña does develop, it’s expected to start later, from October to December, rather than August to October.
Quiblat cited that if La Niña does occur, it might last until March next year, but cautioned against complacency and advised preparing for potential weather changes.
He added that Pagasa is monitoring La Niña’s probability, which could heighten risks like heavy rain, floods, and landslides. /clorenciana
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Despite UN order, war victims get little aid | Tonette Orejas | Thu, 04 Jul 2024 05:06:00 PST | ALLY Sen. Risa Hontiveros meets with the “Malaya Lolas” in Candaba, Pampanga, on Wednesday to hear their stories and assure them of her help. —Tonette T. Orejas
ALLY Sen. Risa Hontiveros meets with the “Malaya Lolas” in Candaba, Pampanga, on Wednesday to hear their stories and assure them of her help. —Tonette T. Orejas
CANDABA, PAMPANGA, Philippines — Except for aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the local government, the Philippine government has not complied with a United Nations resolution to assist the “Malaya Lolas” (Free Grandmothers), who are now down from 96 to 18 members, as they struggled for justice from military sexual crimes committed on them during World War II.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros heard this from the 18 survivors and their support group, “Kaisa Ka,” on Wednesday in a dialogue at the covered court of Barangay Mapaniqui, a local village attacked by the Imperial Japanese Army on Nov. 23, 1944.
READ: Malaya Lolas slam gov’t ‘failure’ to meet UN ruling
At the dialogue, Maria Quilantang and Pilar Galang led the singing of the “Awit ng Malaya Lola” that they composed in 1996 when they first made public their ordeal.
No applause came from the audience as silence was heavy. Hontiveros held back tears but some were seen crying.
READ: DSWD: All ‘Malaya Lolas’ to get P1K monthly aid
“Many of us are weak, sick or bedridden. We didn’t get aid from the DOH (Department of Health),” Perla Balingit, Malaya Lola secretary, told the senator. Most of them are now more than 90 years old.
Hearing the extent of the national government’s noncompliance with the March 8, 2023, resolution to enforce the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw), Hontiveros said the recommendations should be fast tracked.
When the Imperial Japanese Army attacked Barangay Mapaniqui, men and boys were massacred or mutilated, their bodies dumped and burned in a large pit.
Women and girls were forced to loot homes and ordered to carry whatever they took to the nearby village of Anyatam in San Ildefonso town in Bulacan province. They were then held at the “Bahay na Pula” (Red House), a red-brick mansion that was turned into a garrison where mothers were raped, assaulted or abused together with their daughters, four of whom were as young as 9 years old.
“They have waited long enough for justice,” Hontiveros said, adding she would follow up with the Office of the President, Philippine Commission on Women, Department of Health, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
Lawyer Virginia Lacsa Suarez, Kaisa Ka secretary general, said the DSWD gave the survivors P10,000 twice and provided educational scholarships to a number of their grandchildren. The municipal DSWD reported putting eight of the survivors on social pension and facilitated the one-time cash incentive of P100,000 from the provincial government for senior citizens who are 95 years old and above.
Lawyer Gilbert Andres of the Center for International Law (CenterLaw) said the national government, on top of not establishing an effective, nationwide reparation scheme to provide all forms of redress to victims of war crimes, has not helped in ensuring the well-being of the Malaya Lolas like it did to war veterans.
According to Andres, the ordeal and struggle of the Malaya Lolas have also not been memorialized even as it maintains 138 war markers from Bataan to Tarlac, 33 of which are in Pampanga.
This included preserving the Bahay na Pula, which has been “cannibalized” for its old wood and steel windows.
San Ildefonso Mayor Fernando Galvez Jr., in a letter to CenterLaw on May 9, said that he had not signed any demolition order for the structure known to be owned by the Ilusorio family. The owner has not placed off-limits signs or secured the place from unauthorized entry or unlawful demolition.
The fight of the Malaya Lolas has not been made part of the educational curriculum in high school and college with the aim of ending sex-based violence, Andres said.
CenterLaw assisted 24 Malaya Lolas in 2016 in bringing their complaints to the UN after the Supreme Court refused to help them.
“The Philippine government has to comply with its treaty obligations,” Hontiveros said, referring to the UN.
Aside from reintroducing her Proposed Resolution No. 539 that urges the government to fulfill its obligations, the senator sought the removal of statues honoring the Kamikaze or Japanese suicide pilots. One such statue stands in Mabalacat City in Pampanga.
Hontiveros said she had joined efforts of a coalition behind the Flowers for Lolas campaign in searching for the “Comfort Woman” statue, which the government removed from its spot along Roxas Boulevard in Manila in 2018.
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“It was because of the government’s removal of the statue that bonded our groups together … [W]e want our advocacy to resonate with every Filipino who believes that we never should allow wars of any kind to victimize us again and who believe that Japan has to pay for their atrocities to our ‘lola’ victims and for our own government to recognize, respect and give the survivors the benefits long denied them,” the coalition said in a statement.
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Palarong Pambansa 2024: CCPO on full alert to secure games | eares | Thu, 04 Jul 2024 17:31:35 PST | Police in Cebu City, led by city director Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog, meets with representatives from Eastern Visavas to ask about their situation at their billeting quarters at the Ramon Duterte Memorial National High School on Thursday morning, July 4. | CDN Photo/ Emmariel Ares
Police in Cebu City, led by city director Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog, meets with representatives from Eastern Visavas to ask about their situation at their billeting quarters at the Ramon Duterte Memorial National High School on Thursday morning, July 4. | CDN Photo/ Emmariel Ares
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is now on full alert status for the Palarong Pambansa 2024 which will officially start next week.
This was announced by CCPO city director Police Colonel Ireneo B. Dalogdog in an interview with local media during an inspection in one of the meet’s billeting centers on Thursday, July 4, 2024.
“We are now in full alert status tungod sa upcoming na Palarong Pambansa 2024. Although magstart ang opening sa July 9 pa, pero kita, sayo pa lang kaayo nag-andam na gyud ta kay kabalo ta nga daghan na kaayog mga nidagsa nga mga delegates gikan sa nagkalain laing lugar,” he stated.
Dalogdog led the inspection on a few of the 20 billeting centers for the delegates of Palaro on Thursday morning.
Authorities first visited the Lahug Elementary School, where the participants from the Caraga region are billeted.
They then headed to the Mabalo Elementary School, where the police chief even welcomed some delegates from the Cordillera region.
The last two billeting quarters for Palarong Pambansa 2024 they inspected were the Ramon Duterte Memorial National High School and Mabolo Elementary School.
According to Dalogdog, their forces are ready to secure the national sports event and ensure the safety of all the 15,000 expected guests.
He also disclosed that they have deployed around 2,000 personnel a day earlier than the initial send-off ceremony because several participants arrived in Cebu City much earlier.
“Ang atong mga kapulisan, ready na gyud ta no. In fact, ang atoang deployment nagsugod ni siya during the send-off ceremony. Naa na may mga delegates nga nangabot na diri sa Cebu City. So diha diha dayon, wala na ta magdugay no. Nagdeploy na dayon ta sa atoang mga kapulisan. Supposedly dapat sa June 29 pa magstart ang atong deployment. Pero June 28 pa lang, during sa send-off ceremony, namonitor nato nga daghan nag mga participants sa umaabot nga Palarong Pambansa nga anaana na sa mga billeting area,” stated Dalogdog.
To ward off possible robbers from the billeting quarters, Dalogdog said he has instructed the assigned officers to conduct roving of the concerned areas.
Dalogdog stressed that roving is necessary especially at the back of these schools at night because robbers may take advantage of poor lighting. Roving during the day is also crucial because this is when Palarong Pambansa 2024 athletes are out of their quarters to compete.
Aside from this, the police chief requested personnel of the billeting quarters to monitor if their Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras are functioning properly.
The deployed policemen were also told to keep their appearances neat and to always wear their proper uniforms while on duty, added Dalogdog.
“Mao na siya ang usa sa pahimangno sa atoang regional director, si Police Brigadier General Anthony Abellana Aberin, nga kinahanglan nga ang atong mga kapulisan samtang sila nadeploy sa mga kanya-kanyang billeting quarters or asa man sila…kinihanglan atong mga kapulisan, presentable. Proper haircut, wala silay mga bigote or unsa pa. Kinihanglan i-observe nila ang tamang bihis,” he stated.
Palarong Pambansa 2024 returns to Cebu City after 30 years.
The PALARONG PAMBANSA 2024: A CDN DIGITAL SPECIAL ONLINE COVERAGE is in partnership with:
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AFP chief orders troops to wear Philippine flag badge while in uniform | John Eric Mendoza | Thu, 04 Jul 2024 22:45:43 PST | MANILA, Philippines — To further bolster their patriotic zeal amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea, all Philippine military personnel are now ordered to wear the country’s flag badges on their right arm.
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. announced the new directive in a press conference on Thursday, after the command conference with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
The conference was held after the violent June 17 incident in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, which led to what Brawner previously deemed as “looting” of seven firearms, the destruction of two navy boats, and the loss of a navy personnel’s finger.
“As the chief of staff, I have authorized all members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to wear our flag on our right arm,” Brawner said.
“We are requiring all members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to wear the flag proudly on our right arm,” the official, wearing military fatigue while sporting a Philippine flag badge in his right arm, further said.
Before this, Brawner noted that Filipino troops only wore the flag badge either overseas or only during the war games between Manila and Washington.
Last month, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año enjoined patriotic Filipinos to display the national flag in their homes and workplaces in a show of patriotic zeal.
Año’s request comes amid recent tensions in the West Philippine Sea which saw the desecration of the national flag by China Coast Guard (CCG).
READ: Año urges Filipinos to display PH flag amid West Philippine Sea row
Last month, the CCG’s water cannon assault during the resupply mission in the West Philippine Sea appeared to be targeting the Philippine flag hoisted by the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Bagacay. —Felice Nafarrete, INQUIRER.net trainee
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Zamboanga City gov’t suspends firecracker distributor permit after blast | Julie Alipala @InqNational | Thu, 04 Jul 2024 11:45:41 PST | A meeting held at Zamboanga’s City Hall last Monday, July 1, 2024, with representatives of the different agencies and offices concerned to discuss the issue regarding the explosion at Chua’s warehouse. | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of the City Government of Zamboanga
A meeting held at Zamboanga’s City Hall last Monday, July 1, 2024, with representatives of the different agencies and offices concerned to discuss the issue regarding the explosion at Chua’s warehouse. | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of the City Government of Zamboanga
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Mayor John Dalipe suspended the business permit of Jonathan “Jojie” Chua, operator of the Next Step Fireworks Shoppe, whose stockpile of fireworks exploded on Saturday, killing five people and hurting 38 others.
Chua had secured a sole proprietorship in selling, dealing, and distributing all types of pyrotechnics in this city.
He also owned the old firecracker shop at Veterans Street here that caught fire and left two people dead on April 9, 2013.
Dalipe stated that he ordered the suspension of Chua’s business permit pending the results of the ongoing probe on the explosion at 4:14 p.m. on Saturday inside a warehouse at Marquez Drive in Barangay Tetuan.
The mayor said Chua owned the shop but not the warehouse that exploded. The bodies of couple Rolly Limen, 38, and his wife Mirriam, 37, caretakers of the warehouse, along with their 3-year-old son Arden, were recovered from the rubble of the explosion.
Those of Junelyn Ramos, storekeeper of Next Steps Fireworks Shoppe, and Erikka Lacastesantos, 18, an events worker for the Chua family, were found in the compound after the firemen declared fire out at 6:40 p.m. Chua was earlier reported to be among the wounded.
District Fire Marshall Christopher Morales recommended a total ban on firecrackers, fireworks, and other pyrotechnics in the city to prevent another similar incident. But such a ban would have to be covered by a new ordinance as fireworks for entertainment and celebratory purposes were allowed, subject to terms and conditions.
Dalipe was also expected to issue an executive order mandating the City Engineer’s Office, the police, and barangay officials to inspect all warehouses and storage facilities in the city.
Colonel Kimberly Molitas, the city police director, said the ground zero of the explosion remained close to civilians due to the ongoing clearing operations.
She said they found several boxes of pyrotechnics onsite. Although these boxes had been drenched, they had to be retrieved and brought to Barangay Muti for proper disposal.
“People cannot yet return to the area unless everything is cleared, as a safety and precaution,” Molitas said, adding they received 37 more complaints mostly claiming damages from the warehouse owner.
City officials distributed food packs to 40 families living within the periphery of the fireworks blast site.
Aside from food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the city government will release P10,000 to five families whose loved ones died in the incident, according to Maria Socorro Rojas, the city social welfare officer.
But there was no official word yet as to who would shoulder the hospitalization of the 38 persons wounded in the blast and were still confined in four different hospitals here.
The bereaved families of Limen, Ramos, and Lacastesantos are appealing for help with funeral expenses.
Manelyn Gregorio, sister of Mirriam Gregorio Limen, said the family could not afford burial services for her sister, her husband, and their son. The couple, who died in the blast, left three children aged 18, 15, and 2. The family lives in Shanty town in Barangay Lumbangan.
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Nerissa Ramos, a domestic worker abroad and mother of Jonalyn, also pleaded for help to be allowed to visit and mourn for her daughter. Ramos has been working in Saudi Arabia for five months now and all she could afford was a one-way plane trip to Manila. She said her daughter, a nursing student, had been working part-time as a storekeeper for the Chuas before the blast.
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