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Mangan, kaon, kain! What to expect at year-long Philippine Eatsperience food fair in Manila

Steph Arnaldo

05/04/2024 15:37

MANILA, Philippines – It’s a Filipino fiesta all year round! Just in time for Filipino Food Month, the Department of Tourism (DOT) launched the first “Philippine Eatsperience” on Wednesday, April 3, a local food market that aims to highlight Filipino cuisine as a vessel to attract both domestic and international tourists. The food fair is one of the projects under the Philippine Experience Program (PEP), a flagship initiative of DOT. “We are crafting unique culinary tours and circuits that allow connoisseurs and travelers alike to explore our gastronomic delights at the grassroots level,” Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said at the Philippine Eatsperience launch. “Through these, we aim to showcase the diversity and richness of our culinary traditions.” Located at Manila’s historical landmarks like Rizal Park and the walled city of Intramuros, regular park goers and tourists alike can taste their way through the Philippines through the fair’s different regional cuisines. The fair itself exudes the vibrantly diverse culture of our local gastronomy, featuring provincial delicacies, nostalgic treats, and the warm hospitality of the stall owners. Hungry yet? Here’s what you can look forward to before getting a taste of the Philippine Eatsperience for yourself. Kain na! Visitors can expect delicious, authentic, yet affordable Filipino grub, ranging from underrated regional cuisine to nostalgic street food, as well as iconic pasalubong treats and ice-cold refreshers. You can also learn a thing or two about where the dishes hail from – every stall has a brief historical description of its offerings and a background of the region they’re from. Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Mimaropa or the Southwestern Tagalog Region are a few of the regional cuisines repped at Philippine Eatsperience. While there is a variety of food options at both locations, we noticed that there were a few more hefty ulam (viand) options at Intramuros in particular, while Rizal Park’s menu veers towards lighter snacks and merienda (snack) options. We spotted everything from silogs, kakanin, fresh sugarcane and coconut juice, pancit bagnet, cheese corn, tusok-tusok (skewers). You name it! The fair’s filling viand selection is also worth saving your appetite for, featuring the likes of Cebu lechon, chicken inasal, pork dinuguan, and Bicol express. The Philippine Eatsperience showcases more than 30 local food concessionaires and small food businesses, which include merchants from the Kilometro Zero Organization and other community-based groups. In preparation for the project, vendors have rigorously undergone culinary and food safety workshops or seminars led by the Technical Education And Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Philippine Eatsperience merchant Dolores Mendoza has been feeding Intramuros workers and students with her lutong-bahay (home-cooked) meals for more than 40 years now. Not too far from where the Intramuros bazaar is located, Dolores’ eatery is one of many well-loved food spots and karinderyas that originated from the district. They have since relocated to become part of the Philippine Eatsperience for the rest of the year. “Pumayag kami na lumipat dito para ma-recognize, ma-boom, at makilala ng husto ang Intramuros,” Dolores told Rappler. (We agreed to relocate so that Intramuros could be further recognized and could boom.) She shared that the move is an opportunity for small businesses like theirs to become more visible and attract more customers, making the most out of the steady uptick of tourists visiting the area. The fair was strategically set up at the two popular locations. Rizal Park is known to be a prime public outdoor space for social gatherings and picnics, while Intramuros has become its own dynamic lifestyle district, showcasing its rich history while hosting various public events. To fully enjoy the experience, DOT made sure that live entertainment would accompany every food trip. Philippine Eatsperience will also include a “weekly lineup of food demonstrations and activities” for the public to participate in. The “Buwan ng Kalutong Filipino” or Filipino Food Month of April looks to uphold Filipino food as an “art form that celebrates and harmonizes our diversities.” National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Executive Director Oscar Caysasay noted that with centuries of colonization along with the realities of globalization and neoliberalism, the Filipino palate has seen numerous indigenous and colonial influences – a melting pot of all these eras. “Our hapag-kainans, our salo-salos, are constantly changing over time – our proof of our enduring dedication to embrace the culinary traditions and dishes that our ancestors gifted us,” Caysasay said. Spearheaded by the NCCA alongside the DOT, Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement (PCHM), Filipino Food Month is celebrated every April by virtue of Proclamation No. 469, Series of 2018. Philippine Eatsperience is a yearlong project under the lineup of NCR, regional, and international festivities slated for Filipino Food Month this year. Philippines Eatsperience is set to run for one whole year. Its Rizal Park location (Noli Me Tangere Garden) is open from 7 am to 10 pm from Friday to Sunday, while the Intramuros spot (Baluarte Plano de Sta. Isabel) is open daily from 7 am to 5 pm. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Activist Renato Constantino Jr. dies at 79

gdecastro0289

05/04/2024 15:50

Renato 'RC' Constantino Jr. Constantino Foundation Facebook MANILA, Philippines – Activist Renato “RC” Constantino Jr. died on Thursday, April 4. He was 79. The Constantino family announced his demise on the Facebook page of Constantino Foundation, a nonprofit that honors the legacies of RC’s parents, the late Filipino nationalist historians and writers Renato Constantino and Letizia R. Constantino. Renato authored history books, among them, The Philippines: A Past Revisited, and its sequel, The Philippines: The Continuing Past, which he co-authored with Letizia. “With great sadness, we announce the passing of Renato Constantino Jr. – ‘RC’ to family and friends. We mourn the unbearable loss even as we celebrate a life fully lived,” the post reads. His wake will be from Monday, April 8, to Wednesday, April 1,0 at 38 Panay Avenue, Quezon City from 10 am to 10 pm. Sympathies and condolences poured in for RC on the Constantino Foundation post. When Martial Law was declared in September 1972, authorities sought to arrest the elder Renato, but RC offered himself instead since the warrant did not say whether it was for Sr. or Jr., recalled RC’s brother-in-law, UP professor emeritus Randy David, in his Inquirer column in September 2019. RC would later be released while his father was placed under indefinite house arrest. RC was an activist during the Martial Law years, and continued his cause-oriented activities and advocacies post-EDSA Revolution, particularly in the campaign that led to the Senate’s rejection of a new Philippines-US military bases treaty in September 1991. American forces left the country the following year. RC was elder brother to the late Karina Constantino-David, who served in various capacities in government (social welfare undersecretary, housing secretary, Civil Service Commission chair) until her death on May 7, 2019 at 73. Unlike his sister, RC preferred to work in the background, giving advice to various organizations and politicians. He served as vice-chair of former President Joseph Estrada’s campaign team in the latter’s failed presidential bid in the 2010 elections. RC’s daughter is journalist Karmina Constantino-Torres, an anchor of the ABS-CBN News Channel or ANC. Karmina posted about her father’s death on X (formerly Twitter). Karmina last posted a family photo with her parents on February 14, 2024 on her Instagram account. A post shared by KC Constantino-Torres (@constantkc) RC’s son, Renato Redentor or Red, is an environmentalist who was the former executive director of the think-tank Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Top officials with private interests spoil effort to track big fishers

Iya Gozum

05/04/2024 14:13

EMIL MERCADO Top officials with private interests spoil effort to track big fishers EXCLUSIVE: Part 1 | Gamaliel Cordoba, who headed the NTC under Duterte, has a personal stake in commercial fishing because of his family’s business. During his time, the commission stopped issuing service numbers for trackers that would prevent unregulated fishing. PUBLISHED APRIL 5, 2024 2:13 PM PHTBY Lian Buan, Iya Gozum The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Department of Agriculture (DA) fought hard from 2021 to 2022 to implement a system that would track commercial fishing vessels at sea. It is a worldwide standard to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. A Rappler investigation, however, reveals that those efforts were hampered by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), which, at the time, was headed by a person with private interests in a commercial fishing company. Gamaliel Cordoba, the NTC chairperson during that period, is married to Monica Elena Cordoba, whose family partly owns the commercial fishing company Mercidar Fishing Corporation (Mercidar). Monica serves as the chairperson and president of Mercidar, which benefited from NTC memoranda. The NTC’s actions that spoiled rigorous implementation of the tracking system were backed by Cordoba’s fellow Ateneo Law alumnus, then-solicitor general Jose Calida. When all of this was happening in 2022, Cordoba awarded a P6.2-million contract to Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency to provide security services for the NTC. Vigilant used to be wholly owned by Calida and his family until they divested in 2019, when they were being scrutinized for conflict of interest, but his son Josef Calida remained to be the company’s vice president for legal, their 2022 General Information Sheet shows. All of these happened under the Rodrigo Duterte administration. The new Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration, which took over the reins of power in mid-2022, has reversed policies and is now pushing for a slightly limited implementation of the tracking system, although this seems to have been influenced in part by international pressure. Rappler looked at government records and talked to fisherfolk, advocates, and bureaucrats. Our three-month investigation reveals a situation where private and political interests bubble up in a David vs. Goliath fight for rights to fish in Philippine waters. It’s a desperate situation that sees the “commercial fishing industry successfully pushing back against environmental policies that have been there for decades,” one of our sources said. The tracking system that regulates illegal, unreported, and unregulated or IUU fishing is called the Vessel Monitoring System or VMS. It is mandated by Republic Act 10645, which amended the 1998 Fisheries Code. Implementation of the VMS was further strengthened by Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) No. 266. As soon as FAO 266 was passed in 2020, making implementation imminent, commercial fishing companies began preparing to fight the regulation in court. They claim the system violates their constitutional right to protect trade secrets. On January 22, 2021, Malabon Regional Trial Court Judge Zaldy Docena issued a preliminary injunction against the VMS, giving a Round 1 win to the commercial fishers who filed the case: Royale Fishing Corp (from Malabon), Bonanza Fishing Market Resources (from Navotas) and R.B.L Fishing Corp (from Puyo, Palawan). All companies have a history of being apprehended for fishing violations. Royale was apprehended in 2021 for illegal use of super lights, while Bonanza was apprehended the same year in Palawan waters for carrying documents that were spurious or not certified true copies. Meanwhile, four commercial vessels of RBL were caught in 2019 for fishing within municipal waters. In March 2024, the Philippine Coast Guard apprehended two fishing vessels of Royale for purse seine fishing within the municipal waters of Cuyo, Palawan. Only six days after the preliminary injunction, Cordoba, as the head of NTC at the time, issued a memorandum to all regional directors to suspend the issuance of Maritime Mobile Service Identity numbers or MMSI, unique numbers assigned to identify each fishing vessel. The number is used to track and monitor vessels through the VMS trackers. “In view of the writ of preliminary injunction…you are hereby directed to suspend the issuance of MMSI until further orders,” Cordoba said in a memorandum dated January 28, 2021. The Cordoba family owns 40% of Mercidar through Monica and two other members of the family, whom we have verified through family photos they uploaded on their social media accounts. Mercidar is a company also involved in a court case contesting small fishers’ preferential rights over municipal waters. Rolando Ligon Jr., according to the company’s general information sheet as of 2023, owns 30% of Mercidar. Douglas Michael Mallillin, who was former deputy commissioner of the NTC under Cordoba, owns the remaining 30%. By June 2021, Judge Docena gave the commercial fishers a decisive win. He declared FAO 266 or the VMS unconstitutional and made the injunction against the system permanent. Insisting that a lower court injunction was not enough to stop the implementation of a law, the BFAR chief at the time, Eduardo Gongona, continued to write commercial fishers to prepare for installation of the VMS, our documents show. BFAR went to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) for a legal opinion, which they secured favorably. On June 30, 2021, Assistant Solicitor General Ellaine Rose Sanchez-Corro and Senior State Solicitor Melanie Pimentel told BFAR in a legal opinion that nothing less than a Supreme Court injunction could stop the implementation of the VMS. Gongona held on to that OSG opinion, and used it later as justification when the commercial fishers went back to Judge Docena’s court to cite Gongona for indirect contempt. By this time, BFAR was continuing full implementation of the VMS, but Cordoba’s NTC had already suspended the issuance of the transceivers. On January 18, 2022, BFAR held a consultative meeting and warned of sanctions if the VMS requirement was not complied with. The NTC was present in that meeting, and, based on OSG’s record, the NTC wrote them a letter on January 25, 2022, to seek advice, even though the OSG had already given a prior opinion that full implementation of the VMS was allowed. The NTC’s legal department told Rappler that it “never received” the OSG’s June 30, 2021, legal opinion. For NTC’s newest request for a legal opinion, Calida entered the picture. Calida reversed his associates and quickly signed a legal opinion on January 26, 2022, telling BFAR and NTC that they should desist from implementing the VMS. “This departs from the earlier opinion,” said Calida, who told the BFAR and NTC that “the writ of injunction is immediately executory and may not be stayed simply by appeal.” The appeal refers to a petition that, at the time, was already filed at the Supreme Court, challenging Judge Docena’s ruling. Only a month before this legal opinion, in December 2021, Cordoba awarded a P6.27 million contract to Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency to provide security services to the NTC for 2022. Calida, his wife, and children divested from Vigilant in 2019 after they were criticized for bagging hundreds of millions of pesos in government contracts while Calida was still solicitor-general. Vigilant’s new owners are Dominic Edgard Angeles Cabangon and Benjamin del Villar Ramos, the executives of the erstwhile CNN Philippines, but business records show that Calida’s son Josef remained to be company vice president for legal with a .001% share. Vigilant also retained the same corporate secretary. Armed with Calida’s opinion, Edgardo Cabarios, the NTC deputy commissioner at the time, repeated Cordoba’s orders. In a memorandum on January 31, 2022, he told regional directors not to issue any MMSI. “All NTC regional offices are hereby directed to comply with the permanent injunction,” said Cabarios. This did not faze the fishing regulators because documents showed that on March 29, 2022, the Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary then, William Dar, issued a memorandum to BFAR and told the bureau to “continue the full implementation of the VMS to prevent, deter, and eliminate illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.” Dar echoed the earlier opinion of the associate solicitors. “Except the Supreme Court, no court can issue a writ of preliminary injunction against lawful actions of government agencies that enforce environmental laws or prevent violations thereof,” said Dar. This assertion from Dar, and previously from Calida’s associates, is found in the Supreme Court’s Rules of Procedure for Environment Cases for the extraordinary remedy Writ of Kalikasan, a unique innovation from the Philippine judiciary to protect a Filipino’s constitutional right to a healthy environment. Cordoba has not responded to Rappler’s requests for comment on this story, particularly his stake in an issue concerning commercial fishers when his family owns a commercial fishing company. We emailed Cordoba on February 29, which his office at the Commission on Audit (COA) acknowledged. We followed up on March 25, and April 1, but did not receive a response. We will update this story Cordoba replies. The NTC’s legal department told Rappler that its “position is self-explanatory.” Cordoba is now the chairperson of the COA. He was appointed by Marcos to replace Calida, who served there only briefly after his stint in the OSG. This move by the Cordoba-Calida or NTC-OSG tandem to stop the VMS, even if it ran counter to the position of the agriculture department, is reminiscent of the ABS-CBN franchise issue. At the time, the NTC and OSG insisted on shutting down the broadcast channel even if the Department of Justice indicated there was legal basis for ABS-CBN to continue operating. The clash was an “atrophy” or a weakening in the government’s will to prevent IUU fishing, public interest lawyers later told the SC when they joined the appeal in the High Court representing the interest of small fishers. The SC case has undergone oral arguments and is still pending. Rappler asked Calida for comment through representatives on March 26. A lawyer for the family acknowledged our message, but no longer responded. BFAR and the DA almost got nowhere because Gongona was even cited in contempt by Judge Docena in June 2022, and was fined P30,000. Things only started to change under the Marcos administration. Now under Marcos’ solicitor general, Menardo Guevarra, the OSG has shifted largely to the side of the DA and BFAR, radically changing the game. “The OSG advised the BFAR and the NTC as follows: respect the writ of preliminary injunction against the implementation of FAO 266 in areas covered by the injunction order of the RTC until the SC sets it aside; but vigorously implement FAO 266 everywhere else in the country,” Guevarra told Rappler. “Both BFAR and NTC are now on the same page, and compliance by commercial fishers has vastly improved,” Guevarra said. This was reiterated by BFAR. “Tuloy naman ang installation namin at ang NTC ay part ng process,” BFAR spokesperson Nazer Briguera told Rappler. (The installation continues and the NTC is part of the process.) Even the Supreme Court noticed the OSG’s shift. Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh remarked during oral arguments in October 2023 that the OSG was making “new arguments.” Guevarra could only reply: “Please forgive me for doing so, I was not the solicitor general [at the time].” Inside Malacañang, the shifting of positions was less smooth. Initially in March 2023,  Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin suspended the VMS, only to backpedal three months later to say what Guevarra is also saying: implement the VMS, except for the companies who won the injunction. According to Dennis Calvan, a director at the conservation group Rare Philippines and member of the government’s fisheries advocacy council, the VMS is the only cause for small fishers that the Marcos government seems to be willing to stand for “because of the European Union.” Calvan said the EU factor may have provided the incentive to the Marcos administration to stand by the VMS. In 2014, the EU issued a yellow card to the Philippines over IUU fishing. This is equivalent to a threat to ban fishery products from the Philippines. In 2023, exports of fish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic invertebrates, and meat to the EU amounted to $50.30 million, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. If the Philippines does not do anything to combat IUU, it risks becoming a pariah in the EU – the world’s biggest market for fish. The country then amended the Fisheries Code in 2015 to strictly enforce the VMS, which appeased the EU into lifting the yellow card. As early as 2015, Calvan said commercial fishers had threatened to challenge the constitutionality of the VMS provision in the Fisheries Code. But due to delays, like budgeting for technology, the enforcement of the VMS only actually began much later, prompting the constitutional challenge from commercial fishers in 2020. The court cases reached the EU’s radar. “This issue with the VMS does not align with our commitment to the EU. The EU found out about it, and there is an internal memorandum from the EU that they almost issued us a red card,” said Calvan. A red card means exclusion of the country’s fish from the EU market. The Alliance of Philippine Fishing Federations Inc. issued a public statement in June 2023, calling on Marcos not to believe that a red card was on the horizon. APFFI is composed of most commercial fishing operators in the country, and its Allfish partylist nominee to the 2019 elections, Arnold Naval, was the lawyer for the commercial fishers in the Supreme Court VMS case. Arnold Naval is the son of Domingo Naval, former owner of Mercidar. Mercidar was incorporated in 1973 by the Naval family, which includes Monica Cordoba’s mother. We asked APFFI for its side, but got no response. We will update this story once we do. Was there indeed an internal EU memo and did the Philippine government act because of a possible trade sanction? “This exchange of letters or documents between the European Commission and the Republic of the Philippines is not public and we cannot disclose it. The European Commission implements the provisions of the IUU Regulation through decisions published in the EU Official Journal,” a spokesperson of the European Commission told Rappler. Marcos has shown a tendency to please international partners, and advocates have used this as leverage – for instance, the continued call of the human rights community for the EU to dangle GSP Plus, or tariff perks, to compel him to scrap the drug war. Were it not for the EU, would the Marcos administration still have sided with small fishers? (To be concluded) – Rappler.com NEXT: Part 2 | Big fishers encroach on small fisherfolk’s municipal waters Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. Thanks to Rappler for this “three-month investigation,” which “reveals a situation where private and political interests bubble up in a David vs. Goliath fight for rights to fish in Philippine waters.” It shows “… a desperate situation that sees the ‘commercial fishing industry successfully pushing back against environmental policies that have been there for decades.'” Such a report is necessary for the Filipino people to know about one of the corrupt practices of the Duterte Administration. Thanks again to Rappler, Lian Buan, and Iya Gozum. How does this make you feel?

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[In This Economy] Can the PH become an upper-middle income country within this lifetime?

Chay Hofilena

05/04/2024 14:30

On April 4, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan pronounced proudly that the Philippines is on track to become an “upper-middle income country” by 2025. He said, “Because with the 6 to 7% is quite a high growth [sic] and still falls within the realm of possibility for our entry to the upper-middle income class.” Let’s break this down. The first thing to say is that Secretary Balisacan’s statement is merely the latest in a long string of promises made by the country’s economic managers. In August 2017, former socioeconomic planning secretary Ernesto Pernia said that we could be an upper-middle income country by 2018. According to him, “The Philippine Development Plan [PDP] 2017-2022 aims for the Philippines to be an upper middle-income country by 2022. In fact, as I’ve said, we could achieve that by the end of next year.” That did not happen. In 2018, Pernia said again we could be upper-middle income by 2019. That did not happen. In 2019, Pernia said he was “surer” we would become upper-middle income by 2020. That did not happen (of course, we were held back by the pandemic). In 2020, in the throes of the pandemic, there was no upper-middle income promise. Maybe it didn’t seem prudent. But in 2021, the series restarted. The new socioeconomic planning secretary, Karl Kendrick Chua, said that we could be upper-middle income by 2022. He elaborated that “it is really slated at the end of 2022 or early 2023, but I think given the strong progress, the likelihood to achieving that even within 2022 is now higher.” Again, it did not happen. In 2022, Chua said it’s “likely” that we would be upper-middle income by 2023. It did not happen. Also in 2022, just before the new Marcos administration came in, Balisacan (who was returning for a second stint as socioeconomic planning secretary) said we might be upper-middle income by 2024 (at least not 2023). He said, “It might take a while for us to reach that point. So, if we grow at 7% next year, maybe by 2024 we would probably be there.” Actual growth in 2023 turned out to be just 5.6%, not 7%. And again, we did not become upper-middle income. In 2023, Balisacan said we’re “on track” to be upper-middle income by 2025. Then he made the same promise a few days ago. In sum, government officials have been dangling the coveted upper-middle income country status in the past seven years, to no avail. Why do they keep promising it? As I explained in a 2019 piece, countries of the world are classified by the World Bank into four income groups: low-income, lower-middle income, upper-middle income, and high-income. In ASEAN in 2023, there are two high-income countries: Singapore and Brunei. There are three upper-middle income countries: Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. The rest, including the Philippines, are lower-middle income countries. Figure 1 below shows the evolution of incomes in all 10 ASEAN countries. Figure 1. From 1987, when the World Bank started this classification, up until 2023, the Philippines has been assigned just one classification: lower-middle income. This is what we desperately want to change. But to be considered an upper-middle income country, we need to exceed a certain income threshold. In 2023, to be considered upper-middle income, average incomes in the Philippines (measured by gross national income per capita) in 2022 needed to be between $4,466 and $13,845. (Country classifications for a given year are based on the previous year’s income levels.) So, we need at least $4,466. But in 2022, our income was just $3,950. Our average income was short of $516, and that’s quite a lot (about 13% of our actual income level). No wonder we didn’t make it, yet again. If the minimum income is $4,466 – Secretary Balisacan is right in saying that, with modest growth, we will be able to cross the threshold. But the problem is that the threshold itself is increasing because of the need to account for rising prices all over the world. If that happens, we will require more than modest growth to finally become an upper-middle income country. This is not to say that becoming an upper-middle income country is virtually impossible. In fact, in 2023, Indonesia successfully made the crossing (Figure 2). Their average income was $4,580, or $114 more than the threshold. Vietnam, too, is making fast progress. Note that it was classified as a low-income country as recently as 2008. But it became lower-middle income in 2009. What’s more, in 2020, Vietnam’s average income already exceeded ours. In short, Vietnam is much closer to becoming an upper-middle income country than us. And compared to the Philippines, it will take Vietnam less than half the time to achieve the same status change. Figure 2. The next questions are: What is Vietnam doing right? What is the Philippines doing wrong? What can we learn and adopt from Vietnam’s economic miracle? Let’s leave that to another column. The renewed upper-middle income promise comes on the heels of a meeting of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), comprising the economic managers. There they lowered the growth target for 2024 from 6.5-7.5% to 6-7%. For 2025, they also reduced their target range for growth: from 6.5-8% to 6.5%-7.5%. Meanwhile, they still expect growth to be 6.5-8% yearly from 2026 to 2028, the end of Marcos’ term. On the one hand, the revised growth targets are reflections of more realistic assessments of the economy’s prospects, as well as international events (including “global trade disruptions and geopolitical tensions”). Previously, the new finance chief, Ralph Recto, recommended “more realistic” growth targets. Secretary Balisacan gave assurances that the 6-7% target for 2024 is “quite a high growth.” But as I argued before, that just won’t cut it. In fact, we will need more than 10% growth per year if we are to go back to the pre-pandemic growth trajectory by 2028. So while I appreciate the more realistic economic targets, we should be pushing for policies and programs that will boost growth as much as possible. In this post-pandemic era, settling for 6-7% growth spells stagnation. – Rappler.com JC Punongbayan, PhD is an assistant professor at the UP School of Economics and the author of False Nostalgia: The Marcos “Golden Age” Myths and How to Debunk Them. He was recently named one of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) for 2023. JC’s views are independent of his affiliations. Follow him on Twitter/X (@jcpunongbayan) and Usapang Econ Podcast. Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. I am angry at our government’s preoccupation with the economic growth rate. What about poverty, employment, purchasing power, income distribution, government debt, and corruption? This singular focus makes good PR copy, but without considering the other five economic targets and one political target, it would just turn out to be a tool to both misinform and disinform the Filipino people. How does this make you feel?

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US, Philippines, Japan to tackle South China Sea row in summit

Chito de la Vega

05/04/2024 12:22

Crew members signal to a F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet preparing to take off for a routine flight on board the U.S. USS Nimitz aircraft carrier during a routine deployment to the South China Sea, Mid-Sea, January 27, 2023. REUTERS/Joseph Campbell MANILA, Philippines – A trilateral summit between the leaders of the United States, Japan, and the Philippines will include a discussion of recent incidents in the South China Sea, Manila’s foreign ministry said on Friday, April 5. US President Joe Biden will host next week Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to discuss economic relations and the Indo-Pacific. The summit set for next week is not directed at any country, Philippines’ acting foreign affairs undersecretary Hans Mohaimin Siriban told a press conference, although the three countries have expressed concern about China’s growing aggressiveness in the region. “We can expect an alignment of views among the three countries on the recent incidents,” Siriban said, adding they are expected to come up with a “joint vision statement” on their diplomatic relations. Siriban said Biden and Marcos will separately hold a bilateral meeting ahead of the trilateral summit. China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its territory, policed by an armada of coast guard vessels, some more than 1,000 km (620 miles) away from its mainland. The Philippines and China have had a series run-ins at sea and heated exchanges in the past year over disputed maritime features, including an incident last month where China used water cannon to disrupt a Philippine supply mission to soldiers stationed in a grounded warship in a South China Sea shoal. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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High rice inflation could linger until July as market prices keep going up

lkyu0285

05/04/2024 11:36

Residents avail of the ₱20 per kilo NFA rice during the launch of Sugbo Merkadong Barato at Talisay City Hall in Cebu on November 28, 2023. The flagship program aims to bring the price of rice to ₱20 per kilo for all indigent Cebuanos. Jacqueline Hernandez/Rappler MANILA, Philippines – Rice, the staple that feeds millions of households in the Philippines, is nearing an all-time high inflation rate that may soon be breached as rice prices are expected to go up “strongly” until the middle of 2024. Prices for rice continue to climb as rice inflation stands at 24.4% in March 2024, inches from the record high of 24.6% in February 2009. National Statistician Dennis Mapa projected that rice inflation could increase until July. “The expectation is it will actually increase strongly until July because of base effect unless there is really some intervention na mangyayari sa market na biglang bababa ‘yung presyo (in the market that will bring down the price),” Mapa said in a press conference on Friday, April 5. “Wala kami nakikita sa ngayon (We don’t see that right now).” Rice inflation could slow down a little by August, but Mapa noted that the figure may still be in the double digits. Here is a snapshot of the average market price of 1 kilogram of rice in March 2024 vs March 2023: Aside from the year-on-year increases, rice also got more expensive in March compared to February: What’s driving this? According to the National Statistician, factors include the high price of rice in the world market, the effects of El Niño, and base effects. In this case, base effects refer to how last year’s relatively low rice prices exaggerates this year’s rice inflation rate prices since prices are compared to that low base. However, Mapa noted that even if you look at the price of rice on a month-on-month basis, you can still see prices increasing. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, it’s also because the prices of both palay and rice continue to increase. “Ang nakikita talaga natin dito ay ‘yung world price kasi, ‘yung presyo ng bigas sa world market ay continuously tumataas. Medyo tight ‘yung supply sa world market, and this creates impact on our local rice price,” he said. (What we’re seeing is that the price of rice in the world market is continuously increasing. The supply in the world market is a bit tight, and this creates an impact on our local rice price.) Some farms with no access to irrigation are also worried about the effect that El Niño could have on the production of their farms. “May mga areas tayo, farmlands, na ang mga farmers natin ay nagsabi na may mga damages (There are areas, farmlands, where our farmers say there are damages),” he added. “We will be seeing the impact of this in the second quarter.” The price of rice has the highest weight in determining the inflation rate, specifically 8.87% of the entire commodity basket used in assessing inflation. The effect of rice on inflation is even more pronounced for bottom income households, with a weight of 17.9%. That means changes in the price of rice can swing inflation in either direction. To demonstrate, rice inflation was responsible for 1.8 percentage points of the 3.7% March inflation rate. When it comes to inflation for the bottom 30% income households, rice inflation contributed to 3.7 percentage points of the 4.6% inflation rate they experienced in March. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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‘Paris was not to be’: Hidilyn Diaz still happy after missed Olympic return bid

Jasmine Payo

04/04/2024 15:04

LEGEND. Hidilyn Diaz waves to the crowd after a lift during the 2024 IWF World Cup. International Weightlifting Federation MANILA, Philippines – Don’t expect Hidilyn Diaz to quit just yet. Diaz missed the chance to return to the Olympics for the fifth straight edition and fight for another gold, but the Filipino weightlifting superstar admitted she plans to keep going. “I love this sport, I don’t want to stop,” Diaz said in an interview with the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). “But what I have to do now is take a good rest and think about the priorities in my life. Today wasn’t my day. Paris was not to be.” Diaz recorded a 222kg total lift to settle for 11th place in the women’s 59kg class of the IWF World Cup on Wednesday, April 3, in Phuket, Thailand – the last qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It will be the first time Diaz won’t see action in the Olympics after a Philippine record four straight appearances, highlighted by a historic golden performance in the Tokyo Games in 2021. Instead, Elreen Ando will carry the flag in the 59kg division in Paris after the 25-year-old Cebuana finished seventh in the World Cup with a total lift of 228kg, well inside the top 10 Olympic qualification cutoff. Both Ando and Diaz competed in the 59kg as their weight classes were both scrapped in the Paris Olympics. Diaz captured the Philippines’ first Olympic gold in the 55kg weight class, while Ando had a seventh-place debut in the 64kg event of the Tokyo Games. “But overall, I’m happy,” said Diaz. “I’ve given a lot to this sport and it’s given a lot to me.” As the 33-year-old Diaz plans to rest, she also hopes to take her honeymoon with coach and husband Julius Naranjo, almost two years after getting married. “There will be time for that now,” said Diaz. More time, and perhaps less worries, as Naranjo believes the pride of Zamboanga has nothing more to prove. “We gave it our best,” he said. “Hidilyn is still a legend.” – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Clutch Brownlee, Pelita Jaya reach BCL Asia Qualifiers 2nd round

Jasmine Payo

05/04/2024 13:01

CHALLENGE. Pelita Jaya’s Justin Brownlee goes up against the defense of Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos in the Basketball Champions League qualifiers. Pelita Jaya Basketball MANILA, Philippines – No matter what uniform he’s wearing, count on Justin Brownlee to always deliver in the crucial moments. In his third game with Pelita Jaya Basketball, Brownlee came through the clutch as they gutted out an 89-83 win over Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos in the Basketball Champions League (BCL) Asia Qualifiers at the UG Arena in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Thursday, April 4. With Pelita Jaya staring at a two-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter, Brownlee took care of business and fired 11 of his game-high 26 points in the final 10 minutes, including a pair of free throws that iced the win for the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) powerhouse. The 35-year-old naturalized Filipino star also showed that he still has plenty of hops left in the tank after soaring high for a vicious tomahawk dunk early in the final frame. Justin Brownlee is a bad, bad man 😳 #BCLAsia pic.twitter.com/8teU0O8qzo “It feels great,” said Brownlee in a postgame interview. “It was a tough game for us. Mongolia had a tough home crowd. We’re just excited to get to the second round and get a W.” Fresh from an all-around performance in Pelita Jaya’s 99-81 thrashing of Hi-Tech Basketball Club on Wednesday, April 3, Brownlee filled the stat sheet yet again as he also tallied 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block in nearly 30 minutes of action. Thanks to Brownlee’s sensational outing, Pelita Jaya secured its spot in the second round of the qualifiers, which will take place from April 23 to April 26 in Jakarta. “We’ll keep working hard and hopefully we’ll have more success in the future,” said Brownlee. The BCL Asia is a rebranding of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, where champion teams from the PBA, Japan B. League, Korean Basketball League, and the Chinese Basketball Association are already given outright berths in the top tier club competition. The top two finishers from the qualifiers, together with the top two squads from the FIBA West Asia Super League, will round out the eight-team BCL Asia cast late in 2024. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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FACT CHECK: Roque not replacing Romualdez as new House speaker

Lorenz Pasion

05/04/2024 12:21

Claim: Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque was appointed the new House Speaker, replacing Martin Romualdez. Why we fact-checked this: The false video bearing the claim was uploaded on March 31 by the YouTube channel “Banat Kapanig TV,” which has 119,000 subscribers. As of writing, the video has 10,542 views, 196 likes, and 33 comments. The video’s thumbnail originally showed side-by-side images of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., former president Rodrigo Duterte, Romualdez, and Roque. Roque’s picture was altered to show him seemingly holding up a document. The thumbnail included the text “Karma is real! Roque ipinalit sa pwesto. Romualdez tinanggal na” (Roque now in the position. Romualdez was expelled.) The video’s title, which has since been revised, previously read: “Kapapasok lang: Sawakas pinàlítàn sa pwesto. Romualdez sibàk na. PBBM ginulat ang Senado. Harry Roque” (Just in. Finally replaced from his position. Romualdez was expelled. President Bongbong Marcos shocked the Senate. Harry Roque.) The channel that uploaded the video has a history of replacing thumbnails and titles for its misleading videos. The facts: Romualdez remains House Speaker of the 19th Congress, as seen on the official website of the House of Representatives. There are also no official announcements regarding Romualdez’s expulsion from the official Facebook page of the House of Representatives. Roque cannot be appointed House speaker because he is not an elected member of Congress. According to Article VI, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution, only a duly elected member of the House of Representatives can be elected speaker. Marcos, as Philippine president, also does not have the authority to appoint or replace the House speaker, contrary to the claim in the video’s title. No evidence: The misleading video did not provide evidence to support its claim. Instead, the video featured unrelated commentary from a vlogger on the Department of Agrarian Reform’s recent decision to enforce the cancellation of the 2018 Certificate of Land Ownership Award given by the Duterte administration to the Ati tribe members of Boracay. Roque was only mentioned in the original video uploaded on the channel “Badong Aratiles Vlog,” when the narrator discussed Roque’s statement that there was an agreement between the Duterte administration and China to keep the “status quo” in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). The former presidential spokesperson’s remarks come amid heightened tensions in the WPS. Last March, China Coast Guard vessels again used water cannons against a Philippine resupply boat en route to a military outpost in Ayungin Shoal. Online disinformation against Romualdez: Romualdez has been the subject of false claims about his supposed expulsion from office and replacement by another public official since January, amid developments on the issue of amending the 1987 Constitution. In February, Rappler debunked a similar claim that ex-president Duterte was supposedly appointed House speaker. According to the latest Pulse Asia survey conducted from March 6 to 10, Romualdez’s approval rating dropped eight percentage points, from 39% in December 2023 to 31% in March. His trust rating is at 31%, down nine percentage points from his previous 40% trust rating in December 2023.–  Larry Chavez/Rappler.com Larry Chavez is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here. Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to the #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through our Viber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time. Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Next women up: Larroza, Laput ready to lead La Salle after freak Canino accident

jisaga0269

04/04/2024 19:43

WIN AS ONE. The La Salle Lady Spikers huddle after a point in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament UAAP Season 86 Media Team MANILA, Philippines – Be ready when your number is called. That adage holds true in all team sports in all levels of competition, especially with championship-caliber teams. So when defending UAAP women’s volleyball champion La Salle suffered a devastating blow after reigning MVP Angel Canino went down with a freak right arm injury, multiple Lady Spikers were immediately on point to fill the massive offensive void. Although the vaunted volleyball program always expects team-wide effort in all its games, two spikers, Shevana Laput and Maicah Larroza, stood out from the rest as La Salle fended off the feisty UP Fighting Maroons in four tight sets, 26-24, 25-19, 24-26, 27-25. Still finding her way and polishing her skills in her sophomore season, the towering Laput led all scorers with 21 points, while veteran role player Larroza made the most of her extended playing time with 12 points, 10 excellent digs, and 10 excellent receptions. Although the Lady Spikers’ win was far from perfect, as they even blew a 20-24 third-set lead, both standouts were more than happy to fill in the gaps for their fallen teammate. “Definitely, there’s a need to step up. I guess there’s that pressure, but I’m glad that my team and the coaches have that trust in me. It’s just… all of us [need to work]” said Laput, the Fil-Aussie rising star. “Everyone just needs to be ready in case. Whoever is called must deliver,” added Larroza in Filipino. “We will never be able to do it with just one person. We don’t depend on just one player. We all need to deliver and we all need to trust one another.” Always behind Canino and Alleiah Malaluan in the outside hitter rotation, Larroza is pleased that she and fellow second-stringer Baby Jyne Soreño were able to fully repay the trust of legendary head coach Ramil de Jesus when he decided to give them a longer leash. “I will take this opportunity to lead as an ate, as a senior, as a graduating player,” Larroza continued. “I need to step up for Angel, for everyone in the team.” With Canino’s status very much in doubt for the next few games, the Lady Spikers will need all they can get from their role players as they gun for the coveted Final Four twice-to-beat bonus with an 8-1 record. “It won’t be easy, but we will crawl and fight for this,” Larroza said. “We won’t waste coach’s trust since he expects big things from us.” “So why shouldn’t we trust ourselves?” – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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LIST: Philippine holidays in 2024

clescudero0258

06/06/2024 13:05

Editor’s Note: This page was first published on October 13, 2023, and subsequently republished with updates. MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang has released the list of regular holidays and special non-working days in the Philippines in 2024. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Proclamation No. 368 on Wednesday, October 11. The proclamation was made public on Friday, October 13. Here are the 2024 holidays in the country: – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Davao police deploys special tracker team to get fugitive Quiboloy

Herbie G

05/04/2024 10:28

PREACHER. Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church and a friend of former president Rodrigo Duterte. Quiboloy's Facebook page DAVAO, Philippines – The Davao police stepped up efforts to capture embattled Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, creating a special team to spearhead the manhunt for the fugitive preacher. A special tracker team was created and deployed by Philippine National Police-Southern Mindanao director Brigadier General Alden Delvo, to capture the elusive preacher, said police regional spokesperson Major Catherine Dela Rey on Thursday, April 4. Over local broadcaster Bombo Radyo-Davao, Dela Rey called on Quiboloy to just surrender, and defend himself in court. “We appeal to him to likewise surrender, just like his other co-accused did,” she said. Quiboloy is wanted in connection with two criminal cases filed in Davao City, one for child abuse and the other for sexual abuse. Only the preacher was charged with sexual abuse. One of the six accused in the child abuse case, Cresente Canada, was arrested by authorities in the village of Tamayong, while four others – Paulene and Ingrid Canada, Sylvia Sylvia Cemañes, and Jackielyn Roy – subsequently surrendered on two separate occasions since on Wednesday, April 3. All the five Quiboloy associates posted an P80,000 bail each. Quiboloy, who styles himself as the “appointed son of God” and “owner of the universe,” and several of his church associates are also facing a legal battle before a Pasig regional court for human trafficking, a non-bailable offense. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Regional Director Arcelito Albao, “We’re expecting, sana, na mag-surrender si pastor (hopefully, the pastor will surrender).” Albao told reporters that the NBI was equipped with tracking equipment, but could not pinpoint Quiboloy’s location because, apparently, the preacher has not been using electronic gadgets such as cell phones and laptops. “Pastor Quiboloy does not use gadgets. That’s why we cannot trace his location,” he told reporters. Authorities said they believe the fugitive pastor is still in the Davao region, and they warned that anyone found helping him hide faces the prospect of being charged in court. The Davao police has also called on concerned citizens with useful information about Quiboloy’s whereabouts to get in touch with the police. “Rest assured that your (informants’) personal details will be treated confidentially,” Dela Rey said. Authorities searched Quiboloy’s known addresses in Davao City, including a luxurious mountain property in the village of Tamayong village, a school owned by the preacher in Davao City, and a beachfront resort on Samal Island, on Wednesday, but failed to locate the wanted preacher. Delvo said authorities were hoping that Quiboloy’s lawyers would be able to persuade the preacher to turn himself in, and face the child abuse and sexual abuse cases in a Davao court. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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West Visayas university announces repeat of college entrance exams after leakage

Herbie G

05/04/2024 11:07

EXAM TAKERS. Students troop to the state-run West Visayas State University in Iloilo to take the college admission exams on March 10, 2024. West Visayas State University FB page NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – The West Visayas State University (WVSU) has announced a repeat of its college entrance exams, scheduled for April 14 in various testing centers nationwide, move aimed at rectifying a recent breach in examination security. The decision followed a controversial incident of questionnaire leakage during the March 10 admission exams, which affected over 21,000 examinees. Following an investigation prompted by a viral Facebook post, the university announced the decision just five days after administering tests to examinees at its main campus in Iloilo. WVSU President Joselito Villaruz said on Wednesday, April 3, the entrance tests will be administered in more than a dozen venues in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. “It was a painful lesson for us, and we learned much from it,” said Villaruz, adding that they have already ensured all the safety nets in this redo of the entrance exams to avoid the same mistake. He said the test questions were being processed in a highly-secured place by competent people. “Right now, we are employing strategies aimed at ensuring that questionnaires are secured from any leakage,” Villaruz said. Gone are the days when WVSU college entrance test takers from all over the country troop to the university’s main campus in La Paz District, Iloilo City, during the conduct of the entrance examinations. Villaruz said they decided to give the entrance exams in various testing centers in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to make them accessible to thousands of aspirants coming from different regions. But only applicants who took the March 10 exams will be allowed to take the same on April 14. Fourteen testing centers have been identified in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The testing centers are located in the following institutions: Luzon Visayas Mindanao Nereo Lujan, a WVSU alumnus who now serves as information and community affairs officer of the Iloilo provincial government of Iloilo, said the decision invalidate the results of the March exams and schedule another one because of the test paper leakage was a display of commitment to upholding academic integrity and ensuring fairness in the admissions process of the university. “This proactive approach prioritizes the merit-based selection of students and preserves the credibility of the institution’s educational standards,” Lujan said. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Philippines reports H5N1 bird flu outbreak on poultry farm

Chito de la Vega

05/04/2024 11:13

PARIS, France – The Philippines has reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, on a poultry farm in the center of the country, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Thursday, April 4. The virus killed 4,475 birds out of a flock of 60,529 on a farm in the province of Leyte, the Paris-based WOAH said in a report, citing local authorities. “The affected farm is surrounded by rice field paddies and a river which are frequented by wild waterfowl. These free-flying wild birds could have introduced the virus via their droppings, as the first building to be affected was at the back of the farm nearest to the rice paddies,” the authorities said in the report. Bird flu is carried by migrating wild birds and can then be transmitted between farms. It has ravaged flocks around the world in recent years, disrupting supply and pushing up food prices. The Philippines’ farm ministry in January temporarily banned poultry imports from several countries including Japan, Belgium and France due to outbreaks. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Ali’s ‘Thrilla in Manila’ trunks poised to sell for $6 million at auction

Jasmine Payo

05/04/2024 11:22

HISTORIC. Muhammad Ali's boxing trunks from the 1975 'Thrilla in Manila' boxing match with Joe Frazier stand on display at Sotheby's auction house in New York City. Shannon Stapleton/REUTERS Muhammad Ali’s white satin boxing trunks from his epic ‘Thrilla in Manila’ bout with rival Joe Frazier went up for auction on Thursday, April 4, and are expected to sell for upwards of $6 million. Auction house Sotheby’s said the trunks from the October 1975 bout in the Philippines, which was won by Ali and marked a brutal finish to perhaps the greatest trilogy in boxing history, will be up for auction until April 12. The trunks, which feature a black trim at the waistband and black piping running down the side of each leg, are inscribed by Ali’s assistant trainer and corner man, Drew “Bundini” Brown and signed by Ali in black Sharpie. According to Sotheby’s, the trunks were auctioned in 1988 from Bundini’s storage locker after his death for around $1,000 and have since made their way through the auction market. They were last auctioned in 2012 for just over $150,000. In the sweltering heat of a Philippine afternoon, the world of boxing witnessed a brutal spectacle as Ali and Frazier fought each other for the third and final time in a clash of wills that etched itself into the annals of sporting history. In what proved to be a frightfully punishing encounter, Ali retained the heavyweight crown when Frazier’s trainer would not allow his fighter to answer the bell for the 15th round. After the most trying fight of his storied career, Ali said it was the closest thing to death that he had ever felt. In the first of three bouts between the two boxers, Frazier broke Ali’s unbeaten record when he knocked him down with a left hook in the 15th round en route to winning by unanimous decision in March 1971. Ali got revenge when he outpunched Frazier for a unanimous 12-round decision in January 1974, setting the stage for the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ nearly two years later. Ali, whose record-setting boxing career, unprecedented flair for showmanship and controversial stands made him one of the best-known figures of the 20th century, died in June 2016 aged 74 of septic shock due to unspecified natural causes. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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LIST: Long weekends in 2024

clescudero0258

06/06/2024 13:10

Editor’s Note: This page was first published on October 13, 2023, and subsequently republished with updates. MANILA, Philippines – Planning your vacation leaves and rest days in 2024? Malacañang on Friday, October 13, released the regular holidays and special non-working days in 2024, and at least six of them fall near weekends. Here’s a list of the long weekends in 2024. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Marcos’ satisfaction score plunges in Mindanao

Dwight de Leon

14/03/2024 23:55

File photo of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Noel Pabalate/PPA Pool MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s satisfaction score suffered a double-digit drop in Mindanao – the bailiwick of his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte – but rose everywhere else, according to a survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS) in December last year. Marcos’ net satisfaction rating was at 38 points in the last month of 2023, down from 50 points recorded in September of that same year. The double-digit plunge logged in Mindanao was offset by a double-digit gain in Marcos’ net satisfaction in the Visayas. The bullet points below enumerate the adjustments in Marcos’ numbers per geographic area: Nationwide, Marcos’ net satisfaction rating was 47 points for the last quarter of 2023, a three-point increase from the third quarter. SWS classifies this number as “good.” The December 2023 survey results showed Vice President Sara Duterte partially recovering from her previous ratings slump. SWS released the survey findings on Duterte and other top Philippine officials on Thursday, April 4. Duterte’s total net satisfaction rating rose to +61 in December 2023, from +57 in September 2023, though still lower than her +69 net satisfaction rating in June of that year, or prior to the confidential funds mess. During the survey period, 73% of Filipinos were satisfied while 12% were dissatisfied with Duterte’s performance. SWS said the December 2023 numbers showed that net satisfaction with Duterte’s performance was “higher in rural areas at excellent +70 than in urban areas at very good +53.” “Compared to September 2023, both rural and urban areas had single-digit changes, with the former rising from very good +61 to excellent +70,” SWS said. The survey results also showed Duterte earning “excellent” satisfaction ratings among the 25-to-34 age bracket and non-elementary graduates, both at +72. Among geographical locations, net satisfaction with Duterte was highest in her bailiwick, Mindanao (+83 from +82) and remained lowest in the National Capital Region, though it increased to +46 from +39. Her net satisfaction rating also picked up in Balance Luzon, rising to +55 from +46. The only area where she had a lower net satisfaction rating was in the Visayas falling to +60 from +67. Public satisfaction with the performance of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, compared with the previous survey period, remained the same at +44. House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who clashed both with the Vice President and her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, over the confidential funds issue between survey periods, saw a lower net satisfaction rating of +28, from +31 in September 2023. The net satisfaction rating of Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo rose to +32 – his highest since his inclusion in the surveys as the country’s top magistrate. A total of 1,200 adults participated in the nationwide survey conducted from December 8 to 11, 2023. Key developments during this time and in the weeks leading up to the survey field work include the passage of a House resolution calling on the Marcos administration to cooperate with the International Criminal Court probe against former president Duterte’s war on drugs, the release from jail of Duterte’s top critic Leila de Lima, and the announcement by the Philippine government and communist rebels to restart peace talks, a move that Vice President Sara Duterte openly criticized. The survey – which has a margin of error of ±2.8% for national percentages – was conducted a month before charter change efforts kicked into high gear, a move which the Duterte family spoke against. It was also before Marcos and former president Duterte hurled drug accusations against each other, a clear indication that the relationship between the two families had taken a turn for the worse. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Things to know about e-bike, e-trike restriction in Metro Manila

Pia Ranada

04/04/2024 12:02

EV. An e-bike traverses the inner streets of Makati City on March 11, 2024. Rappler MANILA, Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is all set to implement its road restriction on e-bicycles, e-tricycles, tricycles, pedicabs, and more starting April 15. It publicized the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the new policy last Monday, April 1. Active transport advocates from the Move As One Coalition had hoped to have more chances to contribute to the crafting of the IRR, after being told by MMDA officials in a March 11 meeting that they would get to see a draft IRR before its release. After following up thrice with the MMDA for the draft, they received from the agency the IRR that was eventually released to the public. What do commuters and motorists need to know about the road restriction? Here’s a summary of important points, based on the MMDA’s Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 4, Series of 2024, and related announcements by government agencies. Section 5 of the MMDA memo circular states that LEVs – electric bicycles, electric scooters, and similar vehicles weighing less than 50 kilograms –  can still traverse the roads covered by the restriction, if they are inside established bike lanes. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) emphasized this exception in a post. “Pwede pa rin kayo!” said the DOTR’s Active Transport Project Office in a Wednesday Facebook post. It reiterated that bicycles, electric kick scooters, e-tricycles, and electric unicycles may use bike lanes on all major roads, as long as they keep to a speed limit of 25 kilometers an hour and weigh less than 50 kilograms. Active transport advocates pointed out to Rappler that the term used by MMDA – “prohibition” – could confuse LEV users into thinking they are completely banned from national roads. E-bicycles, e-tricycles, electric kickscooters, electric scooters, electric unicycles, tricycles, pushcarts, pedicabs, kuligligs (pedicab mounted with a motorized engine) E-bikes, e-trikes, pedicabs, tricycles, and other covered vehicles are allowed on these major roads, outside the bike lanes, if they need to cross the road. In these cases, the MMDA states the covered vehicles have to yield to all incoming traffic. Tricycles are allowed to traverse the road up to a distance of 500 meters if their purpose is to enter – or exit from – a u-turn slot to get to the other side of the road. In these cases, the MMDA states the covered vehicles have to yield to all incoming traffic. Any driver or owner of the vehicles covered by the restriction who violates the policy will be fined P2,500. If the vehicle is not registered and the driver has no license, the vehicle will also be impounded. Certain types of light electric vehicles require registration with the Land Transportation Office. But active transport advocates are not satisfied with MMDA’s “exception” – allowing electric light vehicles on roads as long as they are on bike lanes. Robert Siy Jr., co-convenor of Move As One Coalition, told Rappler that this would be beneficial only if Metro Manila has a comprehensive network of bike lanes. “The reality is that most bike lanes in Metro Manila are intermittent or end abruptly, exposing LEVs to the risk of suddenly being on a road without a bike lane and in violation of the memorandum circular,” he said. He worries that the situation leaves light electric vehicle users prone to abusive MMDA enforcers who could apprehend them on roads where bike lanes end abruptly. Ira Cruz of AltMobilityPH said the MMDA restriction does not consider the impact on commuters and motorists who have turned to light electric vehicles to deal with the traffic situation in Metro Manila. “The popularity of e-trikes is simply one of the manifestations of the government’s failure to answer basic needs of ordinary Filipinos for mobility. It is unacceptrable for government to focus its energy on restrictions rather than solutions,” he told Rappler. Another group, PARA – Advocates for Inclusive Transport, pointed that the impending road restriction adds to what is already turning out to be a “cruel summer” for commuters in Metro Manila. First was the closure of the Philippine National Railways last March that affected an estimated 30,000 commuters; and the possible loss of critical jeepney routes should the government push through with enforcing its April 30 deadline for jeepney franchise consolidation. – Rappler.com What do you think of this upcoming MMDA policy? Share your thoughts with Rappler journalists and others concerned about transportation in the Liveable Cities chat room in the Rappler Communities app. Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Excessive discretionary fund spending by LGU in Eastern Samar raises COA’s eyebrows

Dwight de Leon

05/04/2024 8:00

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Audit (COA) flagged the municipal government of Guiuan in Eastern Samar province for overspending in 2023, in violation of its agency circular and the Local Government Code. Records show the local government unit (LGU) appropriated P6.56 million for extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses (EME), even though the cap was set at a measly P26,456.14. Using COA Circular No. 85-551 as reference, the municipal government was only authorized to set aside discretionary funds equivalent to 2% of the 2021 real property tax collection, which was valued at P1.323 million. Only the mayor has the authority to tap into that fund. “The municipality did not only exceed the 2% limitation that could be appropriated for discretionary fund,” the COA pointed out, “but also provided budget for other offices other than the Office of the Mayor.” To make matters worse, the LGU’s total expenditures for EME were P7.447 million. The biggest shares went to the following: In response, the municipal accountant’s office of Guiuan said the local government committed an “honest mistake,” wrongly assuming that EME and other maintenance and other operating expenses (OMOOE) were the same. It added that the expenditures were for meetings, conferences for trainings, seminars, and catering services. Guiuan’s budget officer assured COA that corrections for 2024 were put in place, and promised to only allocate the discretionary funds to the mayor’s office. In a statement on Friday, April 12, Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales–Kwan underscored that the amounts appropriated and spent under the 2023 budget were not intended as discretionary fund. The expenses were also supported by receipts and went through the stringent procurement process. LGU officials likewise acknowledged the erroneous classification. “LGU Guiuan is a consistent awardee of the Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping, including CY 2023. It assures its constituents, the Guiuanons, of its continued commitment in promoting transparency and accountability in the administration of public funds, ensuring the efficient allocation of resources while adhering to all relevant laws and regulations,” Gonzales-Kwan said in a statement. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Sandiganbayan junks appeal of ex-Cebu customs exec, trader convicted of graft

Dwight de Leon

05/04/2024 8:43

ANTI-GRAFT COURT. The Sandiganbayan in Quezon City, June 30, 2018. Darren Langit/Rappler MANILA, Philippines – A former customs official in Cebu province and his co-accused’s Hail Mary to the Sandiganbayan did not work, after the anti-graft court denied their plea to reverse a trial court’s graft conviction in 2017, in relation to the seizure of illegally shipped sugar in 1999 that was later auctioned. The court, in a 13-page ruling issued on Monday, April 1, said the grounds and reasons raised in the motions for reconsideration filed by Benjamin Bongon, former auction and cargo disposal chief at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Cebu, and businessman Roger Ang, were “unpersuasive.” The Sandiganbayan retained the six-year prison sentence and P10.8-million fine slapped against them, as well as the punishment of disqualification from government office for Bongon. Over two decades ago, the BOC in Cebu confiscated 28,000 bags of undeclared sugar from a docked vessel. The agency then auctioned the perishable cargo, which was won by Ang’s company. As winning bidder, the firm was required to submit a P21-million deposit. After submitting the deposit, Ang later requested that P10.86 million be refunded to him, claiming his company only got 13,754 bags. Investigators, however, learned the actual number of bags that Ang’s company offloaded was 26,908, resulting in a criminal investigation and indictment. The Cebu Regional Trial Court (RTC) convicted the two in December 2017, then junked the separate appeals they filed in August 2018. The two then knocked on the Court of Appeals’ (CA) doors to challenge the RTC ruling, which was a crucial mistake since the Sandiganbayan has exclusive jurisdiction over cases that involve violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. In June 2022, the appellate court junked their motions for reconsideration for lack of jurisdiction, and transmitted the case to the Sandiganbayan. In its ruling, the Sandiganbayan said the transfer was a mistake, because the Rules of Court states that “an appeal erroneously taken to the Court of Appeals shall not be transferred to the appropriate court but shall be dismissed outright.” The Sandiganbayan added that Bongon, a lawyer, should have known better than to file his appeal with the wrong court. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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FACT CHECK: Marcos’ EO 57 not a declaration of war on China

Lorenz Pasion

05/04/2024 10:13

Claim: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed an order declaring war on China over its continuing hostility in the West Philippine Sea. Why we fact-checked this: The claim was made in the title of a YouTube video posted on April 1, which has gained 57,712 views, 1,400 likes, and 2,545 comments as of writing. The video’s title reads: “Nagulat ang China! PBBM pirmado na utos! Nagdeklara ng gyera? Uunahin na Chinese ambassador ng China” (China was surprised! President BBM has signed an order! Declaring war? China’s ambassador will be first.) The bottom line:  There are no reports or official announcements of the Philippines supposedly declaring war on China. The video’s narrator implies that Marcos’ Executive Order (EO) No. 57 signals aggression or even war. The EO aims to strengthen maritime security amid China’s continued bullying in the West Philippine Sea, but it is not a declaration of war. (READ: Marcos vows countermeasures vs China’s ‘dangerous attacks’) “Strengthening the country’s maritime security and domain awareness is imperative to comprehensively tackle the crosscutting issues that impact the nation’s national security, sovereignty, sovereign rights, and maritime jurisdiction over its extensive maritime zones,” the EO read. Bolstering maritime security: Released by the Presidential Communications Office on March 31, the order reorganizes several agencies involved in upholding the Philippines’ maritime security. The National Coast Watch Council was renamed and reorganized into the National Maritime Council, which will be chaired by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. It will be the “central body in-charge of formulating policies and strategies to ensure a unified, coordinated and effective governance framework for the country’s maritime security and domain awareness.” The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea is attached to the council. This development follows an incident on March 23, where the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) used water cannons against Philippine resupply vessel Unaizah May 4 en route to a military outpost in Ayungin Shoal. According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the boat sustained heavy damages “due to the continued blasting of water cannons from the CCG vessels.” Tensions between the Philippines and China have flared in recent months, as Beijing continues to reject a 2016 arbitral ruling striking down its expansive claims over the South China Sea. – Andrei Santos/Rappler.com Andrei Santos is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here. Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to the #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through our Viber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time. Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Maxine Esteban issues ‘adversely affected’ national team, says PH fencing

Jasmine Payo

04/04/2024 12:21

STANDOUT. Maxine Esteban in action in an international fencing tournament. MAXINE ESTEBAN FACEBOOK PAGE MANILA, Philippines – Just weeks after Maxine Esteban booked her spot in the Paris Olympics, the Philippine Fencing Association (PFA) broke its months-long silence on the issues involving the former national team standout who switched nationalities. Esteban had accused the PFA of “extremely hurtful, unfair, and disrespectful” actions, which prompted her to switch federation and become a naturalized player for Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). But the PFA maintained that Samantha Catantan is the country’s top-ranked fencer in the women’s foil category over Esteban, citing results and statistics in a statement and other supporting documents released on April 3. “It has been said, because Ms. Esteban qualified for the Paris Olympics, that she could have represented the Philippines instead of the Ivory Coast. This is not correct,” the PFA, led by president Rene Gacuma, said. The PFA, which presented the head-to-head results of Catantan and Esteban from 2017 to 2024, noted that the former finished higher in 13 out of 18 competitions and “produced better results overall in international tournaments.” Esteban’s allegations of unjust treatment, the association said, have already “adversely affected the morale and cohesion” of the Philippine fencing team. “[To] secure an Olympic slot for the Philippines, the PFA was and is obliged to send Ms. Catantan – officially the country’s top-ranked women’s FOILIST under the aforementioned results,” the PFA said. Per the International Fencing Federation rules, each country can only send one fencer per weapon to vie for the remaining Olympic spots per continent. Esteban switched nationalities in 2023 after alleging she was unfairly dropped from the Philippine team, while recovering from an ACL tear she suffered during competition. Under Ivory Coast, Esteban became the first homegrown Filipino fencer to clinch a Paris Games berth last March, racking up enough points from previous Olympic qualifiers. The association said it even backed Esteban’s decision to switch nationalities, calling it a “clever move.” “The PFA fully supported Ms. Esteban’s decision to switch nationalities. Evidence of this was the association’s decision to retain her entry in the World Championships under the Philippines when her application for an Ivory Coast passport was still being processed,” the statement said. “Had the association not done this, she would have been unable to fence in this competition if her passport was not issued on time.” When Esteban switched allegiance in 2023, she ranked world No. 39, then the highest-ranked Filipino. However, the PFA said it was a direct result of Esteban playing in more competitions because the former Ateneo star could afford to fund her own participation. “Ms. Esteban accumulated more international ranking points by laudably using her private resources to compete in more overseas tournaments than what the PFA’s limited budget allowed – ranking points that were still insufficient for her to qualify through the more competitive Asian zone,” the PFA said. The supporting documents also noted that Esteban is a US passport holder, but that pathway would be even harder given the elite competition in the Americas. “As her chances in Asia and the US are dim, switching nationalities to Ivory Coast was a clever move in attaining her Olympic dream,” the association said. “The Philippine Fencing Association understood her quest and put all its support behind her.” Despite the “lingering issues,” the federation said it is committed to improving its national team athletes, as well as internal processes, with transparency and fairness. “The association reaffirms its commitment to the development of fencing and to help more Filipino fencers achieve their athletic goals and, in so doing, bring honor to our country and our flag.” – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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DepEd: School heads authorized to suspend in-person classes amid extreme heat

Bonz Magsambol

04/04/2024 20:18

IN-PERSON CLASSES. Students and teachers go about regular classes at the General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City, on February 21, 2024. Jire Carreon/Rappler MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday, April 4, reiterated that school heads have the power to suspend in-person classes and order a shift to remote learning amid the extreme heat. “[The] DepEd has given the school heads the authority and discretion to suspend the conduct of in-person classes and shift to alternative delivery modes (ADM) in cases of extreme heat and other calamities that may compromise the health and safety of learners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel,” the agency said. The agency said that it was best that school heads decide on in-person class suspension for “timely response and interventions to ensure the welfare of learners and personnel.” The education department oversees some 47,000 public schools in the country. The guidelines on class suspension were contained in Department Order 037 issued in 2022. In most cases, class suspensions are announced by respective local government units. This week, several areas in the country have suspended in-person classes due to high heat index. Heat index is measured using the air temperature and the relative humidity in a place at a given time. It is also called the feels-like temperature, and it typically soars during the Philippines’ warm and dry season from March to May. In response to extreme heat, the DepEd earlier approved a gradual return to the old academic calendar, where students would have a break from April to May, although opponents of the proposal view this as a stopgap measure. Critics say the problem is not really the academic calendar, but the classrooms, which are not built to withstand extreme heat in the Philippines, a tropical country. The school opening in the Philippines was moved to October, instead of June, in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and remote learning was implemented. In the succeeding years, it was moved to August. The return to the old academic calendar was triggered by public clamor because the summer months of April and May are not conducive to learning. In 2023, a hundred students from the Gulod National High School Mamatid Extension in Cabuyao, Laguna, were hospitalized due to dehydration after a surprise fire drill. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Why BDO Life’s insurance agents act like missionaries – and why it’s working

lkyu0285

04/04/2024 18:45

Shutterstock MANILA, Philippines – BDO Life, the life insurance arm of BDO Unibank, has emerged as one of the country’s top life insurance companies – all by spreading what it calls “the gospel of life insurance” to the bank’s massive customer base. Data from the Insurance Commission shows that BDO Life ranks fourth in terms of new business annual premium equivalent or NBAPE – the most common performance metric for new sales used by insurance companies. BDO Life may not be at the top, but it’s a marked improvement from the seventh spot where it lingered in 2017, 2018, and 2020. The secret to BDO Life’s growth? The bancassurance firm thinks of itself as a missionary. Picture this: you walk into a bank branch, and a life insurance agent approaches you to talk. Your immediate reaction might be to shake your head right away, but wait – BDO Life’s head would argue that you might need it more than you think. “We’re missionaries trying to spread the gospel of life insurance,” BDO Life president and chief executive officer Renato Vergel de Dios told Rappler on Thursday, April 4. “It is a philosophy, and it’s a way of thinking that I got to put into you.” Vergel de Dios said the biggest challenge in life insurance is that they are “trying to sell a product that nobody wants to buy, that everybody needs.” The insurance industry veteran explained it this way: everyone has a Plan A – savings that go into investments that eventually accumulate into wealth. But while it’s exciting to plan for the things you want to achieve in life, most people neglect to plan for contingencies – their Plan B. “When premature death strikes and disrupts Plan A, Plan B springs to action to inject the needed cash into Plan A that helps empower our loved ones to move on. Life insurance is your Plan B,” Vergel de Dios said. The BDO Life president said the pandemic was a grim reminder for many about their mortality, and that they needed financial protection before focusing on the accumulation of assets. Immediately after COVID-19 restrictions loosened in 2021, BDO Life’s new sales as measured by NBAPE jumped by 49%, while the life insurance industry as a whole went up by 15%. By 2022, BDO Life’s business was back to pre-pandemic levels, with NBAPE growing at 14% for the year. BDO Life also remains optimistic about its growth aspects, especially as a bancassurance firm. Bancassurance refers to life insurance companies that sell products through a bank’s branches. Because the General Banking Law prohibits banks from directly offering insurance products, financial institutions usually get around this by partnering with or setting up separate insurance businesses. In BDO’s case, it has BDO Life, which it wholly owns. BDO Life’s insurance agents are based in the bank’s extensive branch network and cater mostly to BDO’s bank clients. “We see for ourselves a very, very large potential ahead of us. If you ask how far have you gotten in terms of saturating whatever is available to you, ni hindi pa ako nakakakalahati eh (I haven’t even reached half),” Vergel de Dios said. Sy-owned BDO is by far the biggest bank in the Philippines, owning more than P4.28 trillion in assets as of December 31, 2023. That also means that BDO Life has a massive bank customer base to sell its life insurance products to. “From the very beginning, I’m focused on marketing to BDO clients,” Vergel de Dios said. “You market lang (just) to BDO clients, but that’s a whole universe in itself.” The BDO Life president said that at a later period, they will also consider selling products to those beyond BDO branches, but for now, the focus remains on serving clients who physically visit the bank. In particular, BDO customers in the provinces represent the biggest opportunity for the life insurance business. “Our provincial branches have done much better than our Metro Manila sales. And that’s because they’ve been able to go down to the middle income,” Vergel de Dios said. “The people that walk into the branch that we sell to, nobody has approached them…and this is the first time that somebody has bothered to approach them.” – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Inflation rises to 3.7% in March 2024 as food, transport get more expensive

lkyu0285

05/04/2024 9:21

PUBLIC MARKET. A market in Sibalom, Antique. Contributed photo MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ inflation rate rose to 3.7% in March, driven by higher food prices and transportation costs for the month. The 3.7% rate reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority on Friday, April 5, is higher than February’s 3.4%, but lower than the 7.6% recorded in March 2023. The 3.7% rate for March is near the top end of the government’s 2% to 4% target range for inflation. It also means that the inflation rate has risen for the second month in a row since being on a downtrend for four straight months. March’s inflation rate was primarily driven by food and non-alcoholic beverages (from 4.6% in February to 5.6% in March); transport (from 1.2% to 2.1%); and restaurants and accommodation services (from 5.3% to 5.6%). Year-to-date, average inflation stands at 3.3%. In the National Capital Region, inflation also inched up to 3.3% in March from February’s 3.2%. Areas outside NCR also saw higher inflation at 3.8% from 3.5%. By region, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao posted the highest inflation rate at 5%, though this is lower than its previous rate of 5.3%. In contrast, the Ilocos Region registered the lowest rate at 2.2%, but this is slightly higher than its previous 2%. For the bottom 30% income households, inflation rose to 4.6% in March from 4.2% in February. Food and non-alcoholic beverages; housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels; and transport were the main sources of the acceleration for this segment. Earlier, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) estimated March’s inflation rate would settle between 3.4% and 4.2%, with the low end matching February’s figure and the high end breaching the government’s target range. “Continued price increases of rice and meat along with higher domestic oil prices and electricity rates are the primary sources of upward price pressures for the month. Meanwhile, lower prices of fruits, vegetables, and fish along with the peso appreciation could contribute to downward price pressures,” the BSP said in a press release on Monday, April 1. The higher inflation rate would likely prompt the central bank’s Monetary Board to stay hawkish and keep its key policy rate unchanged for longer. In its last monetary policy meeting in February, the Monetary Board decided to keep rates paused at 6.5% since an off-cycle hike in October 2023. The Monetary Board will again decide on changes to its key policy rate on Monday, April 8. With inflation rising, BDO Trust and Investments Group chief investment officer Frederico Ocampo predicts that the BSP will not bring down rates until the latter part of 2024. “Our view was March all the way to May will be a critical period. Critical in the sense that inflation will pierce 4%. And even the BSP shared that concern. And that’s why we expected that they are not cutting interest rates anytime soon,” Ocampo said on Thursday, April 4. “As inflation goes down again below 4%, and becomes a trend – not only one point, but a trend – that’s when they will cut interest rates,” he added. In the March 2024 survey conducted by Pulse Asia, inflation rose as the top urgent national concern. Pulse Asia said inflation was the top concern among 70% of adult Filipinos across geographic areas and socio-economic classes. This was followed by increasing workers’ pay (36%), fighting corruption in the government (26%), creating more jobs (25%), and reducing poverty (25%). The survey’s fieldwork was done between March 6 to 10 through face-to-face interviews. The pollster said the survey was based on a sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above. The margin of error was ± 2.8% at the 95% confidence level. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Inflation rises to 3.7% in March 2024 as food, transport get more expensive

lkyu0285

05/04/2024 9:21

PUBLIC MARKET. A market in Sibalom, Antique. Contributed photo MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ inflation rate rose to 3.7% in March, driven by higher food prices and transportation costs for the month. The 3.7% rate reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority on Friday, April 5, is higher than February’s 3.4%, but lower than the 7.6% recorded in March 2023. The 3.7% rate for March is near the top end of the government’s 2% to 4% target range for inflation. It also means that the inflation rate has risen for the second month in a row since being on a downtrend for four straight months. March’s inflation rate was primarily driven by food and non-alcoholic beverages (from 4.6% in February to 5.6% in March); transport (from 1.2% to 2.1%); and restaurants and accommodation services (from 5.3% to 5.6%). Year-to-date, average inflation stands at 3.3%. In the National Capital Region, inflation also inched up to 3.3% in March from February’s 3.2%. Areas outside NCR also saw higher inflation at 3.8% from 3.5%. By region, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao posted the highest inflation rate at 5%, though this is lower than its previous rate of 5.3%. In contrast, the Ilocos Region registered the lowest rate at 2.2%, but this is slightly higher than its previous 2%. For the bottom 30% income households, inflation rose to 4.6% in March from 4.2% in February. Food and non-alcoholic beverages; housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels; and transport were the main sources of the acceleration for this segment. Earlier, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) estimated March’s inflation rate would settle between 3.4% and 4.2%, with the low end matching February’s figure and the high end breaching the government’s target range. “Continued price increases of rice and meat along with higher domestic oil prices and electricity rates are the primary sources of upward price pressures for the month. Meanwhile, lower prices of fruits, vegetables, and fish along with the peso appreciation could contribute to downward price pressures,” the BSP said in a press release on Monday, April 1. The higher inflation rate would likely prompt the central bank’s Monetary Board to stay hawkish and keep its key policy rate unchanged for longer. In its last monetary policy meeting in February, the Monetary Board decided to keep rates paused at 6.5% since an off-cycle hike in October 2023. The Monetary Board will again decide on changes to its key policy rate on Monday, April 8. With inflation rising, BDO Trust and Investments Group chief investment officer Frederico Ocampo predicts that the BSP will not bring down rates until the latter part of 2024. “Our view was March all the way to May will be a critical period. Critical in the sense that inflation will pierce 4%. And even the BSP shared that concern. And that’s why we expected that they are not cutting interest rates anytime soon,” Ocampo said on Thursday, April 4. “As inflation goes down again below 4%, and becomes a trend – not only one point, but a trend – that’s when they will cut interest rates,” he added. In the March 2024 survey conducted by Pulse Asia, inflation rose as the top urgent national concern. Pulse Asia said inflation was the top concern among 70% of adult Filipinos across geographic areas and socio-economic classes. This was followed by increasing workers’ pay (36%), fighting corruption in the government (26%), creating more jobs (25%), and reducing poverty (25%). The survey’s fieldwork was done between March 6 to 10 through face-to-face interviews. The pollster said the survey was based on a sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above. The margin of error was ± 2.8% at the 95% confidence level. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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La Salle loses MVP Angel Canino indefinitely after right arm accident

jisaga0269

04/04/2024 15:27

SIDELINED. Injured MVP Angel Canino (center) joins La Salle in the pre-game. UAAP MANILA, Philippines – La Salle’s UAAP women’s volleyball title defense campaign in Season 86 hits a big snag. Reigning MVP Angel Canino is now expected to possibly miss multiple games after arriving at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday, April 4, with a heavily covered right arm supported by a sling. La Salle courtside correspondent Patrice Dabao revealed during the Lady Spikers’ game against UP that Canino suffered an “accident not related to volleyball” and that she has “no set timeline for return,” confirming rampant online rumors that swirled after the Holy Week break. Due to the sensitive nature of the issue, La Salle coaches Ramil de Jesus and Noel Orcullo respectfully declined to give interviews before their game against the Fighting Maroons, while the players were instructed to not stop for any media availabilities. Orcullo, however, revealed in the postgame press conference that Canino suffered a gash on her spiking arm, but was also at a loss on how long she will be out, defaulting to a “day-to-day” designation. UAAP | JUST IN:Amid swirling online rumors about her well-being, UAAP MVP Angel Canino arrives with the rest of the La Salle Lady Spikers.Coaches Ramil de Jesus and Noel Orcullo respectfully declined interviews to confirm her status.#UAAPSeason86 pic.twitter.com/LkyUxEVoib Despite the sudden major setback, Canino retained a positive aura as she sat out pre-game warmups. UAAP | WATCH:Injured UAAP MVP Angel Canino looks to be in high spirits alongside head coach Ramil de Jesus, but does not join warmups ahead of La Salle's game against the UP Fighting Maroons.The Lady Spikers are currently second in #UAAPSeason86 with a 7-1 record. pic.twitter.com/K2TwZmlnzT Without the reigning MVP, the Lady Spikers will now lean heavily on other capable offensive weapons like Thea Gagate, Amie Provido, Shevana Laput, Alleiah Malaluan, and substitute spiker Baby Jyne Soreño. UAAP | WATCH:The La Salle Lady Spikers enter the Mall of Asia Arena floor.UAAP MVP Angel Canino arrives with a sling on her right arm, all but confirming her absence for their next game against UP and possibly beyond.#UAAPSeason86 pic.twitter.com/WO3MWgujBW If Canino continues to miss more games after the UP match, her back-to-back MVP bid will also be in jeopardy as there is a minimum-game requirement that players have to hit to keep their eligibility. With nine games done in the elimination round, La Salle currently stands with an 8-1 record in second place behind league-leading UST. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Why BDO Life’s insurance agents act like missionaries – and why it’s working

lkyu0285

04/04/2024 18:45

Shutterstock MANILA, Philippines – BDO Life, the life insurance arm of BDO Unibank, has emerged as one of the country’s top life insurance companies – all by spreading what it calls “the gospel of life insurance” to the bank’s massive customer base. Data from the Insurance Commission shows that BDO Life ranks fourth in terms of new business annual premium equivalent or NBAPE – the most common performance metric for new sales used by insurance companies. BDO Life may not be at the top, but it’s a marked improvement from the seventh spot where it lingered in 2017, 2018, and 2020. The secret to BDO Life’s growth? The bancassurance firm thinks of itself as a missionary. Picture this: you walk into a bank branch, and a life insurance agent approaches you to talk. Your immediate reaction might be to shake your head right away, but wait – BDO Life’s head would argue that you might need it more than you think. “We’re missionaries trying to spread the gospel of life insurance,” BDO Life president and chief executive officer Renato Vergel de Dios told Rappler on Thursday, April 4. “It is a philosophy, and it’s a way of thinking that I got to put into you.” Vergel de Dios said the biggest challenge in life insurance is that they are “trying to sell a product that nobody wants to buy, that everybody needs.” The insurance industry veteran explained it this way: everyone has a Plan A – savings that go into investments that eventually accumulate into wealth. But while it’s exciting to plan for the things you want to achieve in life, most people neglect to plan for contingencies – their Plan B. “When premature death strikes and disrupts Plan A, Plan B springs to action to inject the needed cash into Plan A that helps empower our loved ones to move on. Life insurance is your Plan B,” Vergel de Dios said. The BDO Life president said the pandemic was a grim reminder for many about their mortality, and that they needed financial protection before focusing on the accumulation of assets. Immediately after COVID-19 restrictions loosened in 2021, BDO Life’s new sales as measured by NBAPE jumped by 49%, while the life insurance industry as a whole went up by 15%. By 2022, BDO Life’s business was back to pre-pandemic levels, with NBAPE growing at 14% for the year. BDO Life also remains optimistic about its growth aspects, especially as a bancassurance firm. Bancassurance refers to life insurance companies that sell products through a bank’s branches. Because the General Banking Law prohibits banks from directly offering insurance products, financial institutions usually get around this by partnering with or setting up separate insurance businesses. In BDO’s case, it has BDO Life, which it wholly owns. BDO Life’s insurance agents are based in the bank’s extensive branch network and cater mostly to BDO’s bank clients. “We see for ourselves a very, very large potential ahead of us. If you ask how far have you gotten in terms of saturating whatever is available to you, ni hindi pa ako nakakakalahati eh (I haven’t even reached half),” Vergel de Dios said. Sy-owned BDO is by far the biggest bank in the Philippines, owning more than P4.28 trillion in assets as of December 31, 2023. That also means that BDO Life has a massive bank customer base to sell its life insurance products to. “From the very beginning, I’m focused on marketing to BDO clients,” Vergel de Dios said. “You market lang (just) to BDO clients, but that’s a whole universe in itself.” The BDO Life president said that at a later period, they will also consider selling products to those beyond BDO branches, but for now, the focus remains on serving clients who physically visit the bank. In particular, BDO customers in the provinces represent the biggest opportunity for the life insurance business. “Our provincial branches have done much better than our Metro Manila sales. And that’s because they’ve been able to go down to the middle income,” Vergel de Dios said. “The people that walk into the branch that we sell to, nobody has approached them…and this is the first time that somebody has bothered to approach them.” – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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[Just Saying] Diminished impact of SC Trillanes decision and Trillanes’ remedy

Miriam Grace Go

05/04/2024 7:42

On  November 24, 2010, President Benigno Aquino III signed  Proclamation No, 75, series of 2010, granting amnesty to a number of rebellious police and military officers and soldiers, including former Senator Antonio Trillanes, for their participation in the July 27, 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, the February 2006 marine-standoff, and the November 29, 2007 Manila Peninsula incident. Pursuant to the 1987 Constitution, the House of Representative and the Senate concurred in the amnesty in December 2010. Constitutionally, an amnesty proclamation has the force of law and is vested with public interest. An  amnesty-grantee “stands in the eyes of the law as if he had never committed any punishable offense.” Also, unlike a presidential pardon which looks forward and merely relieves the offender of the punishment for his crime,  “amnesty looks backward and abolishes and puts into oblivion the offense itself, it so overlooks and obliterates the offense with which he is charged that the person released by amnesty stands before the law precisely as though he had committed no offense.” (Barrioquinto et al vs. Fernandez et. al., G.R. No. G.R. No. L-1278 January 21, 1949). On August 31, 2018, President Duterte issued Proclamation Number (No.) 572, specifically targeting  former Senator Antonio Trillanes and the amnesty granted to him declaring that: “The grant of amnesty to former LTSG Antonio Trillanes IV under Proclamation No. 75 is declared void ab initio because he did not comply with the minimum requirements to qualify under the Amnesty proclamation.” On a technicality therefore, former Senator Trillanes who was  already considered innocent by force of law via the amnesty, was again sought to be indicted for the commission of a crime which has already been “put into oblivion.” The proclamation also ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police “to employ all lawful means to apprehend former LTSG Antonio Trillanes so that he can be recommitted to the detention facility where he had been incarcerated, for him to stand trial for the crimes he is charged with.” Regional Trial Court Branch 150 in Makati City issued a warrant of arrest. Senator Trillanes posted bail for his temporary release. In the other Regional Trial Court Branch 148, the case of  former Senator Trillanes was dismissed. Eventually, the Court of Appeals quashed the warrant of arrest issued by RTC Branch 150 but maintained the validity of Proclamation No. 572. On September 6, 2018, former Senator Trillanes went up to the Supreme Court seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop the implementation of Proclamation No. 572. Swiftly, on September 11, 2018, the Supreme Court denied Trillanes’ plea for a TRO. This was at a time when the animosity between  former president Duterte and former senator Trillanes was at its height, as most people also witnessed. After five years and at this time when former president Duterte is no longer the most powerful man in the Philippines, the Supreme Court announced that Duterte’s Proclamation No. 572 is unconstitutional.  According to the Supreme Court press release: “The Court ruled that the revocation of Trillanes’ amnesty long after it became final and without prior notice violated his constitutional right to due process” and his right to equal-protection of the law. The highest tribunal, ruling by the proofs presented, said that there was convincing evidence that senator Trillanes met the necessary requirements for amnesty. Also, since amnesty needed the concurrence of Congress, its revocation should have obtained the concurrence of Congress. In short, the Supreme Court, in effect, ruled that former Senator Trillanes was correct after all. He was a victim of unconstitutional maneuverings by the previous administration. The Supreme Court decision is laudable. There is just one glaring oddity that seems to pique the curiosity of many. Why did the Supreme Court not decide this case during then-president Duterte’s reign of power? Had it been decided at that time, it would have been more significant, asseverating that a sitting president with all his authority was not above the law, much more the Constitution. The judicial rebuke of  presidential abuse would have been more astounding. From a public-opinion standpoint, the decision, had it been released during the Duterte presidency, would have emphatically educated the Duterte devotees that their idol had no unlimited power, that the existence of legitimate opposition was necessary in a democracy, and that persecution was anathema to a decent government administration. And now that Duterte is out, many people may perceive – rightly or wrongly – that suddenly the Supreme Court has found its voice, handing a “courageous”  decision – but unfortunately, one that missed the opportunity to produce the impact and significance that such a constitutional issue deserves. It is too late also to strongly and assertively exhibit the democratic check-and-balance process when it was most needed. The “bite” of this decision has diminished. People might also wonder about the possible reasons for holding the decision in abeyance. Could it be the “fear factor” of a powerful president that has affected a co-equal great department of government? Some might even venture to speculate that the non-decision during Duterte’s time was due to utang na loob for their appointments. If all these were true, then it does not speak well of the Supreme Court which must be without fear nor favor. Only by being unaffected can the stature of its independence be affirmed. The next question now is this: can those people responsible for the violation, if any, of former Senator Trillanes’ constitutional rights, be held accountable? Article 32 of the Civil Code unequivocally provides that “any public officer or employee, or ay private individual, who directly or indirectly obstructs, defeats, violates or in any manner impedes or impairs the rights and liberties of another person shall be liable to the latter for damages.” And one of these rights is precisely the right to the equal protection of the laws, the violation of which was one of the reasons why the  enforcement of Proclamation No. 572 was rendered unconstitutional. In the case of Liwayway vs. Fortune Tabacco (G.R. NO. 141309, December 23, 2008), the Supreme Court said that when the violation involves a duty owing to the public in general, the erring public officer will not be liable and the remedy is political. However if the “complaining individual suffers a particular or special injury on account of the public officer’s improper performance or non-performance of his duty,” then he/she can be held liable. Significantly, the unconstitutional Proclamation No. 572 issued by then-president Rodrigo Duterte was not a general declaration but a directed one targeting only a single person: Trillanes. Following the guideline in the Liwayway case, for former senator Trillanes to hold former president Duterte and other officials liable, he “must  show a wrong which he specially or particularly suffered.” I can only surmise that former senator Trillanes and his lawyers are now studying and perhaps making a list of these special and particular injuries which he had suffered, if any. It is also important to note that good faith is not a defense invocable by a public officer committing any violation of the constitutional rights enumerated in Article 32. It is not necessary that malice or bad faith be made a requisite for holding liable the erring public officer. The Supreme Court, quoting the deliberations of the framers of the Civil Code, in the case of Lim vs Ponce, G.R. No. L-22554, August 29, 1975, said: “To make such a requisite would defeat the main purpose of Article 32 which is the effective protection of individual rights. Public officials in the past have abused their powers on the pretext of justifiable motives or good faith in the performance of their duties. Precisely, the object of the Article is to put an end to official abuse by the pleas of good faith.” The Supreme Court decision on Trillanes might have arrived late, but it may nevertheless give the former senator a strong legal foundation for what could be the vindication of his violated constitutional rights. And so, as the political dynamics continue to unfold, we stand and hope with cautious optimism, for a more robust display of independence and separation of powers from the three branches of our government. We also hope that the constitutional and human rights of all citizens, not only the prominent ones, be always safeguarded without delay. – Rappler.com Mel Sta. Maria is former dean of the Far Eastern University Institute of Law. He teaches law at FEU and the Ateneo School of Law, hosts shows on both radio and Youtube, and has authored several books on law, politics, and current events. Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. I see no balls. I believe the “possible reasons for holding the decision in abeyance” are fear and “utang na loob.” Hence, we have an incident in which the Supreme Court was affected by political pressure from the Executive Department and sadly lost its independence. Indeed: “The (strength of the) ‘bite’ of this decision has diminished,” but it should acutely warn us that it is possible that another President in the future might do the same – this is the ‘bite’ that lingers. How does this make you feel?

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DepEd: School heads authorized to suspend in-person classes amid extreme heat

Bonz Magsambol

04/04/2024 20:18

IN-PERSON CLASSES. Students and teachers go about regular classes at the General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City, on February 21, 2024. Jire Carreon/Rappler MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday, April 4, reiterated that school heads have the power to suspend in-person classes and order a shift to remote learning amid the extreme heat. “[The] DepEd has given the school heads the authority and discretion to suspend the conduct of in-person classes and shift to alternative delivery modes (ADM) in cases of extreme heat and other calamities that may compromise the health and safety of learners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel,” the agency said. The agency said that it was best that school heads decide on in-person class suspension for “timely response and interventions to ensure the welfare of learners and personnel.” The education department oversees some 47,000 public schools in the country. The guidelines on class suspension were contained in Department Order 037 issued in 2022. In most cases, class suspensions are announced by respective local government units. This week, several areas in the country have suspended in-person classes due to high heat index. Heat index is measured using the air temperature and the relative humidity in a place at a given time. It is also called the feels-like temperature, and it typically soars during the Philippines’ warm and dry season from March to May. In response to extreme heat, the DepEd earlier approved a gradual return to the old academic calendar, where students would have a break from April to May, although opponents of the proposal view this as a stopgap measure. Critics say the problem is not really the academic calendar, but the classrooms, which are not built to withstand extreme heat in the Philippines, a tropical country. The school opening in the Philippines was moved to October, instead of June, in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and remote learning was implemented. In the succeeding years, it was moved to August. The return to the old academic calendar was triggered by public clamor because the summer months of April and May are not conducive to learning. In 2023, a hundred students from the Gulod National High School Mamatid Extension in Cabuyao, Laguna, were hospitalized due to dehydration after a surprise fire drill. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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[Rappler’s Best] All that drama at Camp Crame

lfangeles0309

02/04/2024 14:38

Nico Villarete/Rappler Happy Easter to you! I hope you had days of quiet during the Holy Week, which we all deserve in a world of too much chatter and too much strife. Despite problems, Christian churches nationwide prayed for Easter hope. In Rappler, one unit did not get much rest the past few days. Our spirited faith cluster not only churned out stories on the Philippines’ Lenten activities but also chatted with our readers on the Rappler app. Readers spent the past week vigorously sharing stories, photos, experiences, prayers, ideas, and emojis in the faith channel on the app – giving life and color to our Holy Week traditions. If faith and spirituality is a topic close to your heart, go to the Community tab of the Rappler app, look for the “faith” channel and join the vibrant conversations there. Still don’t have the app and therefore missing a lot? Please download it on iOS or Android. I surmise that it’s also been a week without rest for a few police generals who anxiously waited for a call from Malacañang that would signal that, yes, he’s the chosen one to replace Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Benjamin Acorda, whose extended term ended on March 31. After all, the President seemed to have already made up his mind on two things last week: to no longer extend the extended Acorda and to name his replacement. On March 26, Malacañang sent an advisory to key officials and agencies about a March 27 turnover ceremony for the new PNP chief. This meant that Acorda was indeed going to turn over his post to somebody else – belying persistent speculation he’d get extended yet again. It also meant that the replacement was already known by March 26, for how could a ceremony be planned without a name to put on the President’s appointment order? Well, something happened in the holiest of days in this Catholic country. On Easter Sunday, Malacañang decided to instead name an OIC – officer in charge – to take the helm at the PNP: Lieutenant General Emmanuel Peralta. Now why would the President still choose to name an OIC when he had three months – the extended term of Acorda – to choose a replacement? If Peralta can be OIC, why can’t he just be…the chief? It turned out Peralta – and the PNP – was in for a big surprise; he was only OIC for barely 24 hours. On Monday, April 1, at the retirement ceremony for Acorda, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed the PNP’s comptroller, Francisco Marbil, as the new PNP chief. What accounts for this unnerving presidential flip-flop on a critical institution? And thus this happened at Camp Crame: an OIC on Sunday and then permanent PNP chief on Monday. Rappler reporter Jairo Bolledo noted that in December last year, a social media post about Marbil as the replacement of Acorda did the rounds, which the PNP branded as fake. Like Acorda, Marbil is a member of Class 1991 of the Philippine Military Academy; Speaker Martin Romualdez is their honorary member. Why would a choice like this be made in such a haphazard, almost clandestine fashion? Rappler’s Thought Leader John Nery provides some context to this “chaos” in this piece, The Marcoses’ three-body problem. – Rappler.com Rappler’s Best is a weekly newsletter of our top picks delivered straight to your inbox every Monday. To subscribe, visit rappler.com/profile and click the Newsletters tab. You need a Rappler account and you must log in to manage your newsletter subscriptions. Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. General Emmanuel Peralta is the pitiful victim of President Marcos Jr.’s slow decision-making and sudden flip-flopping. After being OIC for a day, General Peralta was replaced by General Francisco Marbil. Although the former has a higher rank than the latter, the latter is connected to Speaker Martin Romualdez, the honorary member of the latter’s PMA Class 1991. The choice is “indeed haphazard, almost clandestine fashion,” following John Nery’s “The Marcoses’ three-body problem.” How does this make you feel?

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#WalangPasok: Class suspensions, Friday, April 5, 2024

Acor Arceo

04/04/2024 19:00

MANILA, Philippines – Some areas suspended face-to-face classes for Friday, April 5, due to high heat index levels. The heat index is measured using the air temperature and the relative humidity in a place at a given time. It is also called the feels-like temperature, and it typically soars during the Philippines’ warm and dry season from March to May. This list will be updated once local or national authorities make announcements. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Supreme Court overturns Duterte: Heinous crimes convicts can get GCTA

Jairo Bolledo

04/04/2024 18:05

BILIBID. Inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, during a media tour conducted by the Department of Justice on December 4, 2023. Angie de Silva/Rappler The Supreme Court (SC) overturned another Duterte-time policy, and ruled that persons convicted of heinous crimes are still entitled to the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) During its session in Baguio City on Wednesday, April 3, the SC en banc ruled that the Department of Justice (DOJ) exceeded its power of subordinate legislation when it excluded persons convicted of heinous crimes from benefiting from Republic Act No. 10592 or the GCTA law. The law allows persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) or convicted persons to have their sentences reduced on the basis of good conduct, resulting in their early release. “In finding the assailed provisions of the 2019 IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations) invalid, the En Banc held that when RA No. 10592 amended Article 97 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), it used the connecting conjunction “or” to express that (1) “any offender qualified for credit imprisonment pursuant to Article 29 of the RPC,” and in the alternative (2) “any convicted prisoner in any penal institution, rehabilitation, or detention center in any other local jail” may avail of the benefits granted by RA No. 10592,” SC said, quoting the decision penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh. The GCTA law was quietly made retroactive by the Supreme Court in June 2019, which was why thousands of longtime convicts serving their sentences were lined up to be released early. For those convicted in the 90s, the GCTA law could slash as much as 19 years from their sentence. One of the beneficiaries set to be released that year was the late convicted murderer and rapist Antonio Sanchez, sparking a public outrage that the populist former president Rodrigo Duterte appeased by calling on all GCTA-released heinous crime convicts to return to prison. To have legal backing of that pronouncement, a habit of Duterte during that time, the Department of Justice under then justice secretary and now solicitor general Menardo Guevarra amended the law’s IRR to exclude persons convicted of heinous crimes from the benefits. In further explaining the en banc’s decision, the SC said that article 97 of the RPC, as amended by RA No. 10592, is clear that all convicted prisoners are entitled to GCTA, “as long as the prisoner is in any penal institution, rehabilitation or detention center, or any other local jail.” The case of rape-slay convict Sanchez highlighted how GCTA’s implementation was subject to either corruption (the “GCTA for sale” allegation), or just poor governance like errors in record-keeping, or non-diligence because Sanchez scored GCTA points even though he had committed infractions inside Bilibid. The Supreme Court has not released yet a full copy of the decision. It is unclear at this point how the convicts who were adversely affected by the DOJ’s policy at that time, will be affected by the SC ruling. Called “returnees” by the Duterte government, the convicts were hunted TokHang style, while some returned to jail out of fear. Rappler’s investigation in 2019 found that at least 4 returnees died inside Bilibid when they returned. In one session, the High Court invalidated two of Guevarra’s acts that were meant to implement Duterte’s whims. On Wednesday, the SC also ruled to uphold former senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s amnesty, which was revoked by the former president on the principle of “void ab initio” or void from the start because they said they could not find Trillanes’ amnesty application form. It was the DOJ that moved the courts to try and rearrest Trillanes. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Supreme Court overturns Duterte: Heinous crimes convicts can get GCTA

Jairo Bolledo

04/04/2024 18:05

BILIBID. Inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, during a media tour conducted by the Department of Justice on December 4, 2023. Angie de Silva/Rappler The Supreme Court (SC) overturned another Duterte-time policy, and ruled that persons convicted of heinous crimes are still entitled to the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) During its session in Baguio City on Wednesday, April 3, the SC en banc ruled that the Department of Justice (DOJ) exceeded its power of subordinate legislation when it excluded persons convicted of heinous crimes from benefiting from Republic Act No. 10592 or the GCTA law. The law allows persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) or convicted persons to have their sentences reduced on the basis of good conduct, resulting in their early release. “In finding the assailed provisions of the 2019 IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations) invalid, the En Banc held that when RA No. 10592 amended Article 97 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), it used the connecting conjunction “or” to express that (1) “any offender qualified for credit imprisonment pursuant to Article 29 of the RPC,” and in the alternative (2) “any convicted prisoner in any penal institution, rehabilitation, or detention center in any other local jail” may avail of the benefits granted by RA No. 10592,” SC said, quoting the decision penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh. The GCTA law was quietly made retroactive by the Supreme Court in June 2019, which was why thousands of longtime convicts serving their sentences were lined up to be released early. For those convicted in the 90s, the GCTA law could slash as much as 19 years from their sentence. One of the beneficiaries set to be released that year was the late convicted murderer and rapist Antonio Sanchez, sparking a public outrage that the populist former president Rodrigo Duterte appeased by calling on all GCTA-released heinous crime convicts to return to prison. To have legal backing of that pronouncement, a habit of Duterte during that time, the Department of Justice under then justice secretary and now solicitor general Menardo Guevarra amended the law’s IRR to exclude persons convicted of heinous crimes from the benefits. In further explaining the en banc’s decision, the SC said that article 97 of the RPC, as amended by RA No. 10592, is clear that all convicted prisoners are entitled to GCTA, “as long as the prisoner is in any penal institution, rehabilitation or detention center, or any other local jail.” The case of rape-slay convict Sanchez highlighted how GCTA’s implementation was subject to either corruption (the “GCTA for sale” allegation), or just poor governance like errors in record-keeping, or non-diligence because Sanchez scored GCTA points even though he had committed infractions inside Bilibid. The Supreme Court has not released yet a full copy of the decision. It is unclear at this point how the convicts who were adversely affected by the DOJ’s policy at that time, will be affected by the SC ruling. Called “returnees” by the Duterte government, the convicts were hunted TokHang style, while some returned to jail out of fear. Rappler’s investigation in 2019 found that at least 4 returnees died inside Bilibid when they returned. In one session, the High Court invalidated two of Guevarra’s acts that were meant to implement Duterte’s whims. On Wednesday, the SC also ruled to uphold former senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s amnesty, which was revoked by the former president on the principle of “void ab initio” or void from the start because they said they could not find Trillanes’ amnesty application form. It was the DOJ that moved the courts to try and rearrest Trillanes. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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‘Paris was not to be’: Hidilyn Diaz still happy after missed Olympic return bid

Jasmine Payo

04/04/2024 15:04

LEGEND. Hidilyn Diaz waves to the crowd after a lift during the 2024 IWF World Cup. International Weightlifting Federation MANILA, Philippines – Don’t expect Hidilyn Diaz to quit just yet. Diaz missed the chance to return to the Olympics for the fifth straight edition and fight for another gold, but the Filipino weightlifting superstar admitted she plans to keep going. “I love this sport, I don’t want to stop,” Diaz said in an interview with the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). “But what I have to do now is take a good rest and think about the priorities in my life. Today wasn’t my day. Paris was not to be.” Diaz recorded a 222kg total lift to settle for 11th place in the women’s 59kg class of the IWF World Cup on Wednesday, April 3, in Phuket, Thailand – the last qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It will be the first time Diaz won’t see action in the Olympics after a Philippine record four straight appearances, highlighted by a historic golden performance in the Tokyo Games in 2021. Instead, Elreen Ando will carry the flag in the 59kg division in Paris after the 25-year-old Cebuana finished seventh in the World Cup with a total lift of 228kg, well inside the top 10 Olympic qualification cutoff. Both Ando and Diaz competed in the 59kg as their weight classes were both scrapped in the Paris Olympics. Diaz captured the Philippines’ first Olympic gold in the 55kg weight class, while Ando had a seventh-place debut in the 64kg event of the Tokyo Games. “But overall, I’m happy,” said Diaz. “I’ve given a lot to this sport and it’s given a lot to me.” As the 33-year-old Diaz plans to rest, she also hopes to take her honeymoon with coach and husband Julius Naranjo, almost two years after getting married. “There will be time for that now,” said Diaz. More time, and perhaps less worries, as Naranjo believes the pride of Zamboanga has nothing more to prove. “We gave it our best,” he said. “Hidilyn is still a legend.” – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Former ISAFP chief Victor Corpus dies

Mia Gonzalez

04/04/2024 14:10

MILITARY OFFICER. Victor Corpus served as ISAFP chief from 2001 to 2003. Victor Corpus' Facebook page MANILA, Philippines – Former military intelligence chief Victor Corpus has died, his family confirmed on Thursday, April 4. He was 79. “It is with great sorrow that we announce the untimely passing of our uncle Victor Corpus,” his niece Jennies Cruz said in a public post on Facebook on Thursday. “We would like to request our relatives and friends to join us in prayer, for the repose of the soul of our beloved and to ask God for comfort for the bereaved family. We value your prayers among anything else,” Cruz added. Corpus, who served as chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) during the early years of the Gloria Arroyo administration, is best known for his defection to the Communist Party of the Philippines just three years after he graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1967. He left the communist movement in 1976 and remained in a military prison until his release after the ouster of Ferdinand E. Marcos through the 1986 People Power Revolution. He was granted clemency by then-president Corazon Aquino, and was reinstated in the AFP in 1987. Corpus’ personal journey inspired the film, Operation: Get Victor Corpus, the Rebel Soldier, directed by Pablo Santiago. The late Rudy Fernandez played the titular role in the film released in 1987. Corpus authored Silent War, published in 1989, which provided an insider’s look into the communist movement and suggested ways to end Asia’s longest-running communist insurgency. Since his reinstatement in the AFP in 1987, Corpus had kept a low profile until Arroyo appointed him as ISAFP chief in 2001. He resigned from the post in 2003, following the Oakwood mutiny that rocked the Arroyo administration. While the Arroyo administration denied that his resignation was in response to the demands of the mutineers, Corpus had said in his brief resignation letter to Arroyo: “In chess, when a queen is beleaguered, it is sometimes necessary to sacrifice a knight to save the game. I feel that the restiveness will not calm down with my continued presence.” The mutineers – junior military officers including then-lieutenant senior grade Antonio Trillanes IV – had demanded the resignation of Arroyo, her defense and police chiefs, and Corpus in relation to their grievances over how the government was handling the military. They blamed Corpus, in particular, for the Davao bombings in March and April 2003 that killed a total of 38 people and hurt over 200 others – either for his alleged involvement in the incidents, or for his failure to prevent it as ISAFP chief. An investigation conducted by the Arroyo government later cleared Corpus and then-defense chief Angelo Reyes Jr. of any involvement in the bombings. Corpus retired from the AFP in 2004, at the age of 60. While the mandatory retirement age is 56, there was a special arrangement with the Arroyo administration that allowed him to retire past that age. Corpus also served as head of the Office of Veterans Affairs at the Philippine embassy in Washington, DC, following his appointment in 2009. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Lesson learned: Cignal rebounds from huge PVL collapse

Jasmine Payo

04/04/2024 22:45

BACK IN FORM. The Cignal HD Spikers celebrate a winning play in PVL action. PVL MANILA, Philippines – Over a week since suffering an embarrassing collapse, the Cignal HD Spikers left no stone unturned this time to get a much-needed win and keep themselves in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference playoff race. Jov Gonzaga, needing to step up as a vocal leader for the HD Spikers, came through and made sure there wouldn’t be a repeat of their stunning five-set loss to Creamline where they blew a two-sets-to-none advantage. “I think one of the challenges in the game is how to maintain the lead and I was proud of the team on how they committed themselves to perform at their best,” said head coach Shaq delos Santos after Cignal swept the Farm Fresh Foxies, 25-10, 25-14, 25-15, on Thursday, April 4, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig. “I was in awe of the leadership of Jov, we could hear how she communicated inside the court,” he added. Gonzaga delivered 17 points, 10 excellent digs, and 7 excellent receptions as Cignal joined Petro Gazz and Chery Tiggo at joint fourth with a 5-2 record. But they remain closely behind Choco Mucho, PLDT, and Creamline – all locked in a three-way logjam on top at 6-1. With Gonzaga teaming up with former PVL Conference MVP Ces Molina and Vanie Gandler, the trio combined for 38 points against the Foxies as the HD Spikers took each set by double digits. Setter Gel Cayuna finished with 18 excellent sets, along with 5 markers. According to Gonzaga, former teammate Rachel Anne Daquis usually took up the more pronounced role of barking out instructions, but with the latter gone, the ‘Bionic Ilongga’ had to fill in the shoes. “Since we’ve been playing for quite some time now, we need to step up since we need to meet our goals for this season,” said Gonzaga, a sergeant in the Philippine Army. “I need to embrace the responsibility to lighten the load of our coaching staff, who juggle on and off the court problems,” she continued. Up next for Cignal are Chery Tiggo, Petro Gazz, and PLDT, as the playoff race heats up. On the losing side, Chinnie Arroyo had 8 points, while Trisha Tubu was held to 6 as the Foxies fell to 2-5. In the second game, Ivy Lacsina unleashed 16 points in the Nxled Chameleons’ 25-16, 25-16, 25-15 win against hapless Strong Group Athletics. Both teams are far behind in the playoff push as the Chameleons claimed their second win against five losses, while Strong Group is dead last at 0-7. Dolly Versoza topped Strong Group’s scoring column with 12, as the team was eliminated from playoff contention. “We prepared extensively for this game, putting in the work as part of our preparation for our upcoming matches against strong teams,” said Lacsina. “It’s crucial for us to boost the team’s morale.” –  Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Marcos not in favor of another extension for Bangsamoro Transition Authority – Galvez

Mia Gonzalez

04/04/2024 14:13

Presidential peace adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez talking to (Moro Islamic Liebration Front (MILF) stalwarts during the 10th year commemoration of the CAB peace deal in Darapanan, Maguindanao del Norte. Rommel Rebollido GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is not in favor of extending the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) by another three years, his chief peace adviser said. Marcos is firm on pushing through with the scheduled 2025 elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), according to Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez. “No more extension,” Galvez said, saying the six years the BTA was extended is already enough. Galvez made the remarks during a media briefing after a Grand Iftar, a religious gathering to end the day’s fasting on Wednesday, April 3, in Mother Kabuntalan, Maguindanao del Norte. The event was also attended by Ebrahim and other BARMM and Maguindanao del Norte officials. Galvez was apparently responding to moves by some quarters in the special region to give the BTA another three years, as many provisions in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) have yet to be implemented. The election of BARMM parliament members in 2025 will lead to the abolition of the BTA, the interim lawmaking body of the special region that was created through the CAB in March 2014. The elections will allow voters in the region to pick their bets for the first time to serve in the BARMM parliament. The elected parliament members will choose the region’s chief minister through a vote. Galvez said that during a meeting in Malacañang, the President made it clear that “the elections need to happen to give legitimacy and accountability to officials” who will be chosen by the people. As such, he said the voter’s registration will be held for the purpose in Darapanan, the MILF camp in Barangay Simuay in Sultan Kudarat town, Maguindanao del Norte, as agreed earlier with the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Amid the campaign for BTA extension by groups identified with incumbent BARMM officials, BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim said the President himself told them when they took their oath in Malacanang in 2022, that the extension he then granted “will be the last and there will be no more.” Ebrahim said what the President said had always reminded them was to prepare for the 2025 elections. “In keeping with what the President said, we are trying our best to prepare for the elections,” he said. But Ebrahim, who remains chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that forged the CAB with the government, said the civil society organizations “have a point in seeking for an extension” of the BTA. Like what thegroups have been pointing out, there are many CAB provisions that remain unimplemented, he said. He explained that the CAB is in two tracks: the political or legal track which is about the creation of the Bangsamoro as a political entity, and the normalization track that consists of provisions, many of which have yet to be implemented. The normalization track includes the decommissioning and reintegration of MILF combatants. In the three occasions of decommissioning, authorities have so far processed 26,132MILF combatants, who gave up 4,625 firearms. Also, the five-year term for the recruitment of combatants and their dependents into the Philippine National Police is about to end, giving uncertainty to the 7,145 who passed the initial selection process. There are now around 600 recruits in three batches undergoing police training. During the 10th year commemoration of the signing of the CAB in Camp Darapanan in Maguindanao del Norte, a representative of the League of Bangsamoro Organizations (LBO) handed Ebrahim and Galvez a one-page letter to Marcos asking for the BTA extension. The letter was said to have been signed by 193 CSOs. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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This is the most affordable tourist spot in the PH, with the cheapest accommodations

Steph Arnaldo

04/04/2024 13:53

Shutterstock MANILA, Philippines – What’s the most affordable tourist spot for budget-conscious travelers looking to enjoy the best of the Philippines this summer? For the months of April to May, it’s Iloilo City, according to digital travel platform Agoda’s data. Iloilo has been named the “most affordable tourist destination in the Philippines,” having the cheapest accommodations and travel deals on average, compared to other Philippine tourist spots. This year, Iloilo’s average room rate goes for P2,814. Iloilo takes over Bacolod, which was the Philippines’ cheapest travel destination in 2023. Agoda said that “despite being a tourist destination with the lowest average room rates, each location has a lot to offer to visitors.” Iloilo is often referred to as “The Heart of the Country” because of its central geographical location and is known for its beautiful beaches, historical landmarks, hidden lagoons, churches, and the freshest seafood around. Popular spots include Islas De Gigantes and the nearby Guimaras Island with the sweetest mangoes. Agoda also shared the cheapest average destination cities (and underrated gems) across eight other Asian countries, starting with Udon Thani in Thailand, which has an average room rate of P1,576. It’s part of the “big four” cities in Thailand’s Isaan region, and is considered a lively city, particularly at Nong Prajak Park and the surrounding lake. A stroll down the boulevard and you’ll see the Chinese Gate and the Udon Thani City Museum. It’s also nearby Vientiane, the capital of Laos, which is on the other side of the Mekong River. Indonesia’s rising metropolis in East Java has an average room rate of P2,195. The thriving port city with Javanese, Chinese, and Arab cultural influences offers heritage architecture, modern buildings, and the Pasar Atom market with traditional crafts and delicacies like Lontong Balap and Sate Klopo. Located in Central Vietnam, Hue has an average room rate of P2,420 and is rich in history and culture (being the former imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty). Imperial City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with majestic palaces and temples, can be found in Hue. Tourists can take a boat cruise through the city on the Perfume River! The state capital of Sarawak in Malaysia offers an average P2,758 room rate and is situated on the island of Borneo, along the Sarawak River. Surrounded by natural beauty, Kuching is a plethora of arts and crafts – check out the Main Bazaar, Carpenter Street, and the Sunday Market for local handicrafts and souvenirs. Kuching’s nearby Bako National Park has rainforests, wildlife, and beaches to visit. Bengaluru’s average room rate is at P3,096. Called the “Silicon Valley of India,” Bengaluru is a rising technology hub with a lot of historical charm and rich culture, found in the majestic Bangalore Palace or the 16th century Nandi Temple. It also has a bustling South Indian culinary scene. With an average room rate of P3,996, Narita is a sought-out destination of travelers, especially since it houses the famous Narita International Airport, the gateway to Tokyo. The beautiful city in Japan’s Chiba Prefecture is also known for the Shinsjoji Temple, the traditional Naritasan Omotesando Road, and the seasonal beauty of cherry blossoms! Taiwan’s second biggest city has an average room rate of P5,684, and is easily accessible through the international airport and a high-speed rail connection to Taipei and Taoyuan. Kaohsiung’s Yancheng District showcases street art and shopping spots by the pier, and the city itself is known for its culture, temples, art, street food, music scene, and more. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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SC upholds validity of Trillanes amnesty | The wRap

Cara Angeline Oliver

04/04/2024 22:21

Today on Rappler – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world: The Supreme Court upholds the validity of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s amnesty. The Supreme Court overturns another Duterte-era policy, and rules persons convicted of heinous crimes are still entitled to the Good Conduct Time Allowance. Taiwan condemns China as ‘shameless’ after Beijing’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations thanked the world for its concern about a strong earthquake on the island. The National Museum of the Philippines says the four panels from the heritage church of Boljoon in southern Cebu will be returned. The issue of ownership, however, will be settled separately. Filipino weightlifting superstar Hidilyn Diaz misses the chance to return to the Olympics for the fifth straight edition but the Filipino weightlifting superstar says she plans to keep going. — Rappler.com How does this make you feel?

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No political amendments in charter change push? Marcos’ adviser Gadon suggests otherwise

Dwight de Leon

04/04/2024 8:00

DISBARRED LAWYER. Larry Gadon answers questions from the media ahead of the Marcos-Duterte proclamation rally, on February 8, 2022, at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. Rappler.com President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and charter change advocates under his administration have constantly denied wanting to touch on political provisions of the 1987 Constitution, but not one of his men in Malacañang. Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon went to the House of Representatives on Wednesday, April 3, delivering a letter that urges the leader of the two chambers of Congress to consider expanding the current charter change agenda beyond economic provisions. We’re talking about longer terms of office, a larger Senate, and a new system of government – proposals that undermined charter change efforts under previous administrations. “Certain political provisions have proven to be costly and redundant, and amending them could lead to improved governance and greater benefits for the people,” Gadon wrote in his letter addressed to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. His “humble suggestions” include: “Charter change is a rare opportunity that demands meaningful changes benefiting our nation and future generations. Let us seize this moment to enact comprehensive reforms,” Gadon insisted. Gadon said the President was unaware that his presidential adviser would ask Congress to consider his suggestions on charter change. “I am exercising my right as a Filipino desiring a better future for the country,” he said. Marcos has flip-flopped on charter change, from saying last year that it was not his priority, to admitting his administration is keen on amending the Constitution’s economic provisions. In a television interview in January, he did not close his doors to the idea of modifying the charter’s political provisions, but said he would rather have discussions on term limits at a later time. Marcos Jr.’s father – the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos – successfully changed the Constitution during his time as president, which, according to the Martial Law Museum, allowed him to stay in power beyond the two four-year terms provided in the 1935 Constitution. He ran the country from 1965 to 1986, stepping down only after being ousted by the EDSA People Power Revolution. The President appointed Gadon as one of his advisers in June 2023. The foul-mouthed former lawyer – disbarred by the Supreme Court that same month – has always branded himself as a true-blooded Marcos loyalist. He claimed history has always been biased for the political rivals of the Marcoses – the Aquinos, and said the Marcos family does not need to apologize for the human rights violations committed during the patriarch’s martial rule. Gadon has had a long history of making headlines for his outlandish remarks and actions – he once called supporters of an embattled chief justice “bobo” (stupid) and raised his middle finger at them – and the media have learned not to always echo his comments over the years. But now that he’s a presidential adviser pushing for divisive charter change amendments – whether it’s for genuine intentions or a mere cry for attention – it’s difficult to look the other way. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. Even if Gadon does not hold the presidential advisory position, the fact that he claims to be a “true-blooded Marcos loyalist” makes it easy to suspect who the mastermind behind such a move is. His push for such divisive charter change amendments thickens the plot of the Political Theatrics in our country. As long as the combined greed for power, fame, and wealth dominates our society, it will always be this way. How does this make you feel?

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Why BDO Life’s insurance agents act like missionaries – and why it’s working

lkyu0285

04/04/2024 18:45

Shutterstock MANILA, Philippines – BDO Life, the life insurance arm of BDO Unibank, has emerged as one of the country’s top life insurance companies – all by spreading what it calls “the gospel of life insurance” to the bank’s massive customer base. Data from the Insurance Commission shows that BDO Life ranks fourth in terms of new business annual premium equivalent or NBAPE – the most common performance metric for new sales used by insurance companies. BDO Life may not be at the top, but it’s a marked improvement from the seventh spot where it lingered in 2017, 2018, and 2020. The secret to BDO Life’s growth? The bancassurance firm thinks of itself as a missionary. Picture this: you walk into a bank branch, and a life insurance agent approaches you to talk. Your immediate reaction might be to shake your head right away, but wait – BDO Life’s head would argue that you might need it more than you think. “We’re missionaries trying to spread the gospel of life insurance,” BDO Life president and chief executive officer Renato Vergel de Dios told Rappler on Thursday, April 4. “It is a philosophy, and it’s a way of thinking that I got to put into you.” Vergel de Dios said the biggest challenge in life insurance is that they are “trying to sell a product that nobody wants to buy, that everybody needs.” The insurance industry veteran explained it this way: everyone has a Plan A – savings that go into investments that eventually accumulate into wealth. But while it’s exciting to plan for the things you want to achieve in life, most people neglect to plan for contingencies – their Plan B. “When premature death strikes and disrupts Plan A, Plan B springs to action to inject the needed cash into Plan A that helps empower our loved ones to move on. Life insurance is your Plan B,” Vergel de Dios said. The BDO Life president said the pandemic was a grim reminder for many about their mortality, and that they needed financial protection before focusing on the accumulation of assets. Immediately after COVID-19 restrictions loosened in 2021, BDO Life’s new sales as measured by NBAPE jumped by 49%, while the life insurance industry as a whole went up by 15%. By 2022, BDO Life’s business was back to pre-pandemic levels, with NBAPE growing at 14% for the year. BDO Life also remains optimistic about its growth aspects, especially as a bancassurance firm. Bancassurance refers to life insurance companies that sell products through a bank’s branches. Because the General Banking Law prohibits banks from directly offering insurance products, financial institutions usually get around this by partnering with or setting up separate insurance businesses. In BDO’s case, it has BDO Life, which it wholly owns. BDO Life’s insurance agents are based in the bank’s extensive branch network and cater mostly to BDO’s bank clients. “We see for ourselves a very, very large potential ahead of us. If you ask how far have you gotten in terms of saturating whatever is available to you, ni hindi pa ako nakakakalahati eh (I haven’t even reached half),” Vergel de Dios said. Sy-owned BDO is by far the biggest bank in the Philippines, owning more than P4.28 trillion in assets as of December 31, 2023. That also means that BDO Life has a massive bank customer base to sell its life insurance products to. “From the very beginning, I’m focused on marketing to BDO clients,” Vergel de Dios said. “You market lang (just) to BDO clients, but that’s a whole universe in itself.” The BDO Life president said that at a later period, they will also consider selling products to those beyond BDO branches, but for now, the focus remains on serving clients who physically visit the bank. In particular, BDO customers in the provinces represent the biggest opportunity for the life insurance business. “Our provincial branches have done much better than our Metro Manila sales. And that’s because they’ve been able to go down to the middle income,” Vergel de Dios said. “The people that walk into the branch that we sell to, nobody has approached them…and this is the first time that somebody has bothered to approach them.” – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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EXPLAINER: The blemished reputation abroad of Miru, Comelec’s 2025 voting machine supplier

Dwight de Leon

04/04/2024 10:00

SIGNED. The Commission on Elections and Miru Systems seal their partnership for the 2025 elections as Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia and MIRU Systems president Jinbok Chung sign the contract for the full automation system at the Comelec office on March 11, 2024. Rappler The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has officially replaced Smartmatic after a months-long search for a new poll technology provider, but the commission’s choice has its own baggage. Miru, a company based in South Korea, has an imperfect and shaky record overseas, having faced allegations of faulty technology in countries where it deployed its equipment. A number of election watchdogs and lawmakers in the Philippines have raised their concerns about Miru’s history abroad, while the company has since insisted that allegations against them are false. Rappler breaks down the controversies overseas that Miru had to grapple with in the past. The enduring allegations against Miru came from The Sentry, an organization that “produces hard-hitting investigative reports and dossiers on individuals and entities connected to grand corruption and violence,” according to its website. In its June 2018 report, the group took a deep dive on Miru’s alleged efforts to penetrate the election scene in Argentina, a country that had yet to automate its polls at the national level back then. Citing past news articles, The Sentry said the country’s modernization minister Andres Ibarra procured a ballot machine prototype from a South Korean firm in 2016 even though Congress had yet to approve a bill seeking to automate the elections there. A lawyer eventually filed a complaint against Ibarra in federal court, asking that he be investigated for supposed abuse of authority and violation of his duties. The case was eventually dismissed. The Argentina angle will be relevant once Miru becomes the election tech provider in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Sentry and other researchers alleged that their analysis of publicly available images indicated that the “electronic single” ballot machines pitched for Argentina’s 2016 national elections were similar to the prototype machines being sold to DR Congo, which was scheduled to hold its first electronic polls in December 2018. “Were the machines originally intended for Argentina modified for use in DR Congo? How can electronic voting technology that failed review in Argentina be safe for use in DR Congo’s arguably more logistically-demanding electoral environment?” The Sentry asked. The Sentry shared documents they obtained with Joseph Lorenzo Hall, chief technologist of the US-based Center for Democracy and Technology. The latter flagged the following supposed features of Miru’s machines: It is important to note that Hall was reacting only to photos and documents, and making observations guided by his expertise. Miru, at the time, downplayed the allegations, and pointed out that Hall did not actually physically examine the machines. “The security concerns raised are not real as the author of the paper seems to have taken facts only from pictures seen and published,” Miru vice president Ken Cho told The Washington Post. The winner of the 2018 presidential election in DR Congo was Félix Tshisekedi of the opposition. The candidate publicly backed by outgoing president Joseph Kabila placed only third in that race. Runner-up Martin Fayulu, however, embraced widely circulated rumors at the time that Tshisekedi’s victory was due to a last-minute deal he made with Kabila after the latter supposedly realized that he backed the wrong horse. For a time, numerous countries either questioned or raised doubts about the results, including France, Belgium, and Britain. Some heads of state in the African Union also asked the DR Congolese government to delay the announcement of final results in January 2019. The AU, European Union, and the US, however, all later decided to back Tshisekedi’s presidency. DR Congo retained Miru’s services for the December 2023 presidential election, a vote that saw Tshisekedi win by a landslide. His rival Moïse Katumbi refused to accept the results and said there had been “massive fraud” surrounding the polls. An joint observation mission by the Catholic and Protestant churches there said 60% of incident reports they received were about interrupted voting. An unscheduled extension of the election took place as a result of the delays, but the legality of the process was questioned by critics. Media reports put the percentage of malfunctioning machines at 45%. When asked by Philippine senators about that high figure, Miru claimed the problem was “due to delay in logistics, which is out of the scope of our company.” In January 2024, Miru showed Rappler a project completion satisfactory certificate given to the firm by the independent election commission in DR Congo, attesting to Miru’s fulfillment of its obligations “in a diligent, efficient, and economical manner.” The Comelec later said it had also seen the certification from DR Congo’s poll body. Type keywords “Miru” and “Iraq” on Google Search and among the top results is the Reuters article from August 2018 saying that Iraq’s election commission “ignored an anti-corruption body’s warnings about the credibility of electronic vote-counting machines used in May’s parliamentary election” that year. The equipment in question came from Miru. That election saw a “shock victory” – as Al Jazeera reported – to a political bloc led by a “longtime adversary of the United States,” in Reuters’ words. The anti-corruption body reportedly raised nearly a dozen red flags in the partnership, from contractual procedures undertaken by the commission, to its supposed failure to examine the machines for potential flaws. The outgoing parliament ordered a manual recount, and replaced the election commission with judges. The new commission, however, later determined that the manual recount had similar results with the electronic count. Iraq has held two more parliamentary elections since, one in 2021, and another in 2023. Miru remained the voting machine supplier of the government in those elections. A delegation from the European Union who observed the 2021 election also concluded that the “elections were technically well-managed, competitive,” although there were concerns about lack of transparency. For Miru, the fact that these two countries – both struggling democracies – continued to seek their services is proof that they are able to deliver. “The governments of Iraq and DR Congo have been using our machines for several consecutive elections since 2018, and have continued to show trust in our technology even after the administrators and ruling parties have shifted,” Miru said in a statement in January. Aside from the punches Miru had to deal with overseas, there are other concerns that make lawmakers and local watchdogs uneasy about the Comelec’s new collaborator in 2025. These include the fact that Miru had no competition in the P17.9-billion project since no one else submitted a bidding proposal. “Not only did the joint venture between Miru and three other companies undergo legal, financial, and rigorous technical evaluation, but the Comelec also publicly showed end-to-end demonstrations in the presence of the media, stakeholders, and other observers, which the first time in history of the Comelec’s procurement, before deciding. We have proven that they are technically capable,” election spokesman Rex Laudiangco said in Filipino in February. Read other stories from Rappler’s ongoing coverage of the search for election technology providers in the 2025 midterms. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Lesson learned: Cignal rebounds from huge PVL collapse

Jasmine Payo

04/04/2024 22:45

BACK IN FORM. The Cignal HD Spikers celebrate a winning play in PVL action. PVL MANILA, Philippines – Over a week since suffering an embarrassing collapse, the Cignal HD Spikers left no stone unturned this time to get a much-needed win and keep themselves in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference playoff race. Jov Gonzaga, needing to step up as a vocal leader for the HD Spikers, came through and made sure there wouldn’t be a repeat of their stunning five-set loss to Creamline where they blew a two-sets-to-none advantage. “I think one of the challenges in the game is how to maintain the lead and I was proud of the team on how they committed themselves to perform at their best,” said head coach Shaq delos Santos after Cignal swept the Farm Fresh Foxies, 25-10, 25-14, 25-15, on Thursday, April 4, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig. “I was in awe of the leadership of Jov, we could hear how she communicated inside the court,” he added. Gonzaga delivered 17 points, 10 excellent digs, and 7 excellent receptions as Cignal joined Petro Gazz and Chery Tiggo at joint fourth with a 5-2 record. But they remain closely behind Choco Mucho, PLDT, and Creamline – all locked in a three-way logjam on top at 6-1. With Gonzaga teaming up with former PVL Conference MVP Ces Molina and Vanie Gandler, the trio combined for 38 points against the Foxies as the HD Spikers took each set by double digits. Setter Gel Cayuna finished with 18 excellent sets, along with 5 markers. According to Gonzaga, former teammate Rachel Anne Daquis usually took up the more pronounced role of barking out instructions, but with the latter gone, the ‘Bionic Ilongga’ had to fill in the shoes. “Since we’ve been playing for quite some time now, we need to step up since we need to meet our goals for this season,” said Gonzaga, a sergeant in the Philippine Army. “I need to embrace the responsibility to lighten the load of our coaching staff, who juggle on and off the court problems,” she continued. Up next for Cignal are Chery Tiggo, Petro Gazz, and PLDT, as the playoff race heats up. On the losing side, Chinnie Arroyo had 8 points, while Trisha Tubu was held to 6 as the Foxies fell to 2-5. In the second game, Ivy Lacsina unleashed 16 points in the Nxled Chameleons’ 25-16, 25-16, 25-15 win against hapless Strong Group Athletics. Both teams are far behind in the playoff push as the Chameleons claimed their second win against five losses, while Strong Group is dead last at 0-7. Dolly Versoza topped Strong Group’s scoring column with 12, as the team was eliminated from playoff contention. “We prepared extensively for this game, putting in the work as part of our preparation for our upcoming matches against strong teams,” said Lacsina. “It’s crucial for us to boost the team’s morale.” –  Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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LIST: April 2024 special non-working days in PH provinces, cities, towns

Miriam Grace Go

26/03/2024 20:09

Pangasinan image from provincial government; Antipolo and Mountain Province images from Shutterstock MANILA, Philippines – This is a compilation of special non-working days in various localities in the Philippines for April 2024, as proclaimed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Bookmark this page for possible additional announcements from Malacañang. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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16 Filipinos on Forbes 2024 list of world’s richest billionaires

gdecastro0289

03/04/2024 10:46

Raffy de Guzman/Rappler MANILA, Philippines – Sixteen Filipinos are on Forbes’ 2024 list of the world’s richest people which has 2,781 names. Real estate magnate Manuel Villar, ports tycoon Enrique Razon, and food and beverage king Ramon Ang are the top 3 richest Filipinos on the latest Forbes’ World’s Billionaires List: The Richest in 2024. Villar was 190th on the list with a net worth of $11 billion, Razon was 224th with a net worth of $10 billion, and Ang was 920nd with a net worth of $3.5 billion, as of writing. They were followed by the following (world ranking and net worth): 1286. Hans Sy ($2.6 billion) 1330. Henry Sy Jr. ($2.5 billion) 1330. Herbert Sy ($2.5 billion) 1330. Lucio Tan ($2.5 billion) 1380. Harley Sy ($2.4 billion) 1438. Teresita Sy-Coson ($2.3 billion) 1545. Elizabeth Sy ($2.1 billion) 1623. Andrew Tan ($2 billion) 2152. Tony Tan Caktiong ($1.4 billion) 2410. Lucio Co ($1.2 billion) 2545. Susan Co ($1.1 billion) 2545. Lance Gokongwei ($1.1 billion) 2692. William Belo ($1 billion) The Sy siblings own the SM group of companies, which includes SM Prime, SM Investments, SMDC, BDO, Chinabank, 2GO, Goldilocks, among others. Lucio Tan is founder of the LT group, which includes Fortune Tobacco, Asia Brewery, Philippine National Bank, PAL, Eton Properties, among others. Andrew Tan is head of Alliance Global Group, which includes Megaworld, Emperador Incorporated, McDonald’s Philippines, among others. Tony Tan Caktiong is founder of Jollibee Foods Corporation. Lucio and Susan Co are owners of Puregold Price Club. Lance Gokongwei heads JG Summit Holdings, which includes Cebu Air or Cebu Pacific airlines, Robinsons Land, Universal Robina, among others. William Belo is founder and chair emeritus of home improvement company Wilcon Depot. Forbes said the US has the most number of billionaires on the list with 813, followed by China (plus Hong Kong) with 473, and India with 200. A post shared by Forbes (@forbes) The richest person in the world is France’s Bernard Arnault and family, owner of luxury goods firm LVMH (Louis Vuitton) with a net worth of $222.4 billion. Next to the LVMH owner is Amazon’s Jeff Bezos ($198.7 billion); Tesla/SpaceX’s Elon Musk ($190.2 billion); and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg ($174.4 billion), all from the US. Pop star Taylor Swift made it to the list for the first time with a net worth of $1.1 billion, joining 13 other celebrities. Forbes said Swift’s Eras Tour grossed more than $1 billion from her first 60 shows alone. Forbes says its “real-time billionaires rankings tracks the daily ups and downs of the world’s richest people.” It is based on net worth, and the value of the person’s public holdings is updated every 5 minutes when stock markets are open. Their net worths are updated once a day. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. Congratulations to fellow Filipinos who made it to this list, especially Manny Villar. If he ever won the Presidency, we would have our first Forbes-listed Billionaire President. That is better than having a president who has billions of hidden wealth (either in pesos or dollars) and known wealth but with intentionally unpaid and evaded taxes. (Note: Assuming that Manny Villar correctly declares his wealth and prudently pays his taxes.) How does this make you feel?

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Majority of recent CO2 emissions linked to just 57 producers, report says

Victor Barreiro Jr.

04/04/2024 16:08

SAUDI ARAMCO. Oil tanks seen at the Saudi Aramco headquarters during a media tour at Damam city on November 11, 2007. Ali Jarekji/Reuters The vast majority of planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions since 2016 can be traced to a group of 57 fossil fuel and cement producers, researchers said on Thursday, April 4. From 2016 to 2022, the 57 entities including nation-states, state-owned firms, and investor-owned companies produced 80% of the world’s CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and cement production, said the Carbon Majors report by non-profit think tank InfluenceMap. The world’s top three CO2-emitting companies in the period were state-owned oil firm Saudi Aramco, Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom and state-owned producer Coal India, the report said. Saudi Aramco declined to comment. Coal India and Gazprom did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The report found most companies had expanded their fossil fuel production since 2015, the year when nearly all countries signed the UN Paris Agreement, committing to take action to curb climate change. Since then, while many governments and companies have set tougher emissions targets and rapidly expanded renewable energy, they have also produced and burned more fossil fuels, causing emissions to rise. Global energy-related CO2 emissions hit a record high last year, the International Energy Agency has said. InfluenceMap said its findings showed a relatively small group of emitters were responsible for the bulk of ongoing CO2 emissions, and it aimed to increase transparency around which governments and companies were causing climate change. “It can be used in a variety of cases, ranging from legal processes seeking to hold these producers to account for climate damages, or it can be used by academics in quantifying their contributions, or by campaign groups, or even by investors,” InfluenceMap Program Manager Daan Van Acker said of the report. A previous edition of the Carbon Majors database was cited last month in a legal case brought by a Belgian farmer against French oil and gas company TotalEnergies. The farmer argued that as one of the world’s top 20 CO2-emitting companies, TotalEnergies was partly responsible for damage to his operations from extreme weather. The database was first launched in 2013 by the non-profit research organisation Climate Accountability Institute. It combines companies’ self-reported data on coal, oil and gas production with sources like the U.S. Energy Information Administration, national mining associations and other industry data. Carroll Muffett, CEO of the non-profit Center for International Environmental Law said the database would improve investors’ and litigators’ ability to track companies’ actions over time. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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PBA legend Sean Chambers excited to bring ‘Mr. 100%’ energy to UAAP with FEU

jisaga0269

04/04/2024 21:31

CHAMPIONSHIP METTLE. PBA legend Sean Chambers (left) and UAAP board member Mark Molina of FEU answer questions UAAP Season 86 Media Team MANILA, Philippines – After years of trying, legendary PBA import Sean Chambers finally landed a head coaching gig in the Philippines, latching onto the retooling FEU Tamaraws for the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament and beyond. Four years removed from his failed bid to lead the UST Growling Tigers, the six-time PBA champion and former Best Import is raring to bring his expertise at the collegiate level and lead the slumping Tamaraws back to its former, championship-winning glory. “Being in the UAAP has always been a dream. I don’t think I’ve ever really thought about coaching in the PBA. I love helping out, but not ever did I have the desire to be a PBA coach. But to come back at the university level has been an absolute dream of mine,” he said in a press conference on Thursday, April 4. “I’m absolutely honored for Mr. [Mark] Molina and the Montinola family for bringing me on board on this amazing opportunity,” continued Chambers, who is taking over for FEU icon Denok Miranda as the latter slides down as deputy. Inheriting a younger roster after the exit of veterans L-Jay Gonzales and Patrick Sleat, Chambers is ready to inject a winning energy that he was once known for in his playing days. “I promised the guys, I’m not called ‘Mr. 100%’ just by accident. I guarantee that I’m going to be the hardest working coach in the UAAP. Nothing to take away from the current coaches who are here, but I just know what’s in my court, and what’s in my court is to give 110% on whatever I do,” he said. “I’m trying to curb my expectations, but I don’t expect the turnaround to take that long. I want to have an instant impact on so many different levels, and I think we can do that. Just minor details, fundamentals of the game, and playing for one another.” While he did go into much detail about Chambers, Molina revealed that the Alaska Aces legend is in it for the long haul with the Tamaraws, who are trying to snap a two-year Final Four drought and possibly add to their league-leading 20 championships. “So far, I’ve been able to attend three practices and I’m just trying to get to know the players, getting to know the ins and outs of the UAAP. I have a bit of a learning curve to know what’s successful and what’s gonna be successful here,” said Chambers. “FEU has always been a contender,” added Molina. “We missed the Final Four in the last few years, but before that, we were in the Final Four for eight straight years. We still are the No. 1 team in the UAAP with 20 championships. We’re always contenders. We make do with what we have and we always compete.” – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Next women up: Larroza, Laput ready to lead La Salle after freak Canino accident

jisaga0269

04/04/2024 19:43

WIN AS ONE. The La Salle Lady Spikers huddle after a point in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament UAAP Season 86 Media Team MANILA, Philippines – Be ready when your number is called. That adage holds true in all team sports in all levels of competition, especially with championship-caliber teams. So when defending UAAP women’s volleyball champion La Salle suffered a devastating blow after reigning MVP Angel Canino went down with a freak right arm injury, multiple Lady Spikers were immediately on point to fill the massive offensive void. Although the vaunted volleyball program always expects team-wide effort in all its games, two spikers, Shevana Laput and Maicah Larroza, stood out from the rest as La Salle fended off the feisty UP Fighting Maroons in four tight sets, 26-24, 25-19, 24-26, 27-25. Still finding her way and polishing her skills in her sophomore season, the towering Laput led all scorers with 21 points, while veteran role player Larroza made the most of her extended playing time with 12 points, 10 excellent digs, and 10 excellent receptions. Although the Lady Spikers’ win was far from perfect, as they even blew a 20-24 third-set lead, both standouts were more than happy to fill in the gaps for their fallen teammate. “Definitely, there’s a need to step up. I guess there’s that pressure, but I’m glad that my team and the coaches have that trust in me. It’s just… all of us [need to work]” said Laput, the Fil-Aussie rising star. “Everyone just needs to be ready in case. Whoever is called must deliver,” added Larroza in Filipino. “We will never be able to do it with just one person. We don’t depend on just one player. We all need to deliver and we all need to trust one another.” Always behind Canino and Alleiah Malaluan in the outside hitter rotation, Larroza is pleased that she and fellow second-stringer Baby Jyne Soreño were able to fully repay the trust of legendary head coach Ramil de Jesus when he decided to give them a longer leash. “I will take this opportunity to lead as an ate, as a senior, as a graduating player,” Larroza continued. “I need to step up for Angel, for everyone in the team.” With Canino’s status very much in doubt for the next few games, the Lady Spikers will need all they can get from their role players as they gun for the coveted Final Four twice-to-beat bonus with an 8-1 record. “It won’t be easy, but we will crawl and fight for this,” Larroza said. “We won’t waste coach’s trust since he expects big things from us.” “So why shouldn’t we trust ourselves?” – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Supreme Court overturns Duterte: Heinous crimes convicts can get GCTA

Jairo Bolledo

04/04/2024 18:05

BILIBID. Inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, during a media tour conducted by the Department of Justice on December 4, 2023. Angie de Silva/Rappler The Supreme Court (SC) overturned another Duterte-time policy, and ruled that persons convicted of heinous crimes are still entitled to the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) During its session in Baguio City on Wednesday, April 3, the SC en banc ruled that the Department of Justice (DOJ) exceeded its power of subordinate legislation when it excluded persons convicted of heinous crimes from benefiting from Republic Act No. 10592 or the GCTA law. The law allows persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) or convicted persons to have their sentences reduced on the basis of good conduct, resulting in their early release. “In finding the assailed provisions of the 2019 IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations) invalid, the En Banc held that when RA No. 10592 amended Article 97 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), it used the connecting conjunction “or” to express that (1) “any offender qualified for credit imprisonment pursuant to Article 29 of the RPC,” and in the alternative (2) “any convicted prisoner in any penal institution, rehabilitation, or detention center in any other local jail” may avail of the benefits granted by RA No. 10592,” SC said, quoting the decision penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh. The GCTA law was quietly made retroactive by the Supreme Court in June 2019, which was why thousands of longtime convicts serving their sentences were lined up to be released early. For those convicted in the 90s, the GCTA law could slash as much as 19 years from their sentence. One of the beneficiaries set to be released that year was the late convicted murderer and rapist Antonio Sanchez, sparking a public outrage that the populist former president Rodrigo Duterte appeased by calling on all GCTA-released heinous crime convicts to return to prison. To have legal backing of that pronouncement, a habit of Duterte during that time, the Department of Justice under then justice secretary and now solicitor general Menardo Guevarra amended the law’s IRR to exclude persons convicted of heinous crimes from the benefits. In further explaining the en banc’s decision, the SC said that article 97 of the RPC, as amended by RA No. 10592, is clear that all convicted prisoners are entitled to GCTA, “as long as the prisoner is in any penal institution, rehabilitation or detention center, or any other local jail.” The case of rape-slay convict Sanchez highlighted how GCTA’s implementation was subject to either corruption (the “GCTA for sale” allegation), or just poor governance like errors in record-keeping, or non-diligence because Sanchez scored GCTA points even though he had committed infractions inside Bilibid. The Supreme Court has not released yet a full copy of the decision. It is unclear at this point how the convicts who were adversely affected by the DOJ’s policy at that time, will be affected by the SC ruling. Called “returnees” by the Duterte government, the convicts were hunted TokHang style, while some returned to jail out of fear. Rappler’s investigation in 2019 found that at least 4 returnees died inside Bilibid when they returned. In one session, the High Court invalidated two of Guevarra’s acts that were meant to implement Duterte’s whims. On Wednesday, the SC also ruled to uphold former senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s amnesty, which was revoked by the former president on the principle of “void ab initio” or void from the start because they said they could not find Trillanes’ amnesty application form. It was the DOJ that moved the courts to try and rearrest Trillanes. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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#WalangPasok: Class suspensions, Friday, April 5, 2024

Acor Arceo

04/04/2024 19:00

MANILA, Philippines – Some areas suspended face-to-face classes for Friday, April 5, due to high heat index levels. The heat index is measured using the air temperature and the relative humidity in a place at a given time. It is also called the feels-like temperature, and it typically soars during the Philippines’ warm and dry season from March to May. This list will be updated once local or national authorities make announcements. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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DepEd: School heads authorized to suspend in-person classes amid extreme heat

Bonz Magsambol

04/04/2024 20:18

IN-PERSON CLASSES. Students and teachers go about regular classes at the General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City, on February 21, 2024. Jire Carreon/Rappler MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday, April 4, reiterated that school heads have the power to suspend in-person classes and order a shift to remote learning amid the extreme heat. “[The] DepEd has given the school heads the authority and discretion to suspend the conduct of in-person classes and shift to alternative delivery modes (ADM) in cases of extreme heat and other calamities that may compromise the health and safety of learners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel,” the agency said. The agency said that it was best that school heads decide on in-person class suspension for “timely response and interventions to ensure the welfare of learners and personnel.” The education department oversees some 47,000 public schools in the country. The guidelines on class suspension were contained in Department Order 037 issued in 2022. In most cases, class suspensions are announced by respective local government units. This week, several areas in the country have suspended in-person classes due to high heat index. Heat index is measured using the air temperature and the relative humidity in a place at a given time. It is also called the feels-like temperature, and it typically soars during the Philippines’ warm and dry season from March to May. In response to extreme heat, the DepEd earlier approved a gradual return to the old academic calendar, where students would have a break from April to May, although opponents of the proposal view this as a stopgap measure. Critics say the problem is not really the academic calendar, but the classrooms, which are not built to withstand extreme heat in the Philippines, a tropical country. The school opening in the Philippines was moved to October, instead of June, in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and remote learning was implemented. In the succeeding years, it was moved to August. The return to the old academic calendar was triggered by public clamor because the summer months of April and May are not conducive to learning. In 2023, a hundred students from the Gulod National High School Mamatid Extension in Cabuyao, Laguna, were hospitalized due to dehydration after a surprise fire drill. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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DepEd: School heads authorized to suspend in-person classes amid extreme heat

Bonz Magsambol

04/04/2024 20:18

IN-PERSON CLASSES. Students and teachers go about regular classes at the General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City, on February 21, 2024. Jire Carreon/Rappler MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday, April 4, reiterated that school heads have the power to suspend in-person classes and order a shift to remote learning amid the extreme heat. “[The] DepEd has given the school heads the authority and discretion to suspend the conduct of in-person classes and shift to alternative delivery modes (ADM) in cases of extreme heat and other calamities that may compromise the health and safety of learners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel,” the agency said. The agency said that it was best that school heads decide on in-person class suspension for “timely response and interventions to ensure the welfare of learners and personnel.” The education department oversees some 47,000 public schools in the country. The guidelines on class suspension were contained in Department Order 037 issued in 2022. In most cases, class suspensions are announced by respective local government units. This week, several areas in the country have suspended in-person classes due to high heat index. Heat index is measured using the air temperature and the relative humidity in a place at a given time. It is also called the feels-like temperature, and it typically soars during the Philippines’ warm and dry season from March to May. In response to extreme heat, the DepEd earlier approved a gradual return to the old academic calendar, where students would have a break from April to May, although opponents of the proposal view this as a stopgap measure. Critics say the problem is not really the academic calendar, but the classrooms, which are not built to withstand extreme heat in the Philippines, a tropical country. The school opening in the Philippines was moved to October, instead of June, in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and remote learning was implemented. In the succeeding years, it was moved to August. The return to the old academic calendar was triggered by public clamor because the summer months of April and May are not conducive to learning. In 2023, a hundred students from the Gulod National High School Mamatid Extension in Cabuyao, Laguna, were hospitalized due to dehydration after a surprise fire drill. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Results, team standings: UAAP Season 86 volleyball

Jasmine Payo

05/05/2024 21:02

ROARING. NU's Bella Belen (left) and Alyssa Solomon react in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball finals UAAP Season 86 Media Team MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournaments reach a tipping point with the men’s and women’s finals! LOOK: UAAP volleyball championship schedule Here are the results in the men’s and women’s divisions: MAY 15 May 11 MAY 8 MAY 5 MAY 4 MAY 8 MAY 5 MAY 4 ** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated APRIL 27 APRIL 24 APRIL 21 APRIL 20 APRIL 17 APRIL 14 APRIL 13 APRIL 10 APRIL 9 APRIL 4 APRIL 3 MARCH 24 MARCH 23 MARCH 20 First round MARCH 17 MARCH 16 MARCH 13 MARCH 10 MARCH 9 MARCH 6 MARCH 3 MARCH 2 FEBRUARY 28 FEBRUARY 25 FEBRUARY 24 FEBRUARY 21 FEBRUARY 18 FEBRUARY 17 ** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated APRIL 27 APRIL 24 APRIL 21 APRIL 20 APRIL 17 APRIL 14 APRIL 13 APRIL 10 APRIL 9 APRIL 4 APRIL 3 MARCH 24 MARCH 23 MARCH 20 First round MARCH 17 MARCH 16 MARCH 13 MARCH 10 MARCH 9 MARCH 6 MARCH 3 MARCH 2 FEBRUARY 28 FEBRUARY 25 FEBRUARY 24 FEBRUARY 21 FEBRUARY 18 FEBRUARY 17 – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Rappler Talk: Trillanes gets first major Supreme Court win vs Duterte

Jairo Bolledo

04/04/2024 18:00

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) has sided with former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, upholding the amnesty granted to him by then-president Benigno Aquino III in 2010. By doing so, the SC struck down former president Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation No. 527 that ordered the revocation of the Trillanes’ amnesty. The amnesty was granted by Aquino through Proclamation No. 50, to those involved in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny and the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege. In its decision, the SC said the revocation of Trillanes’ amnesty after it became final, and without prior notice, violated his constitutional right to due process. How would the SC ruling impact Trillanes? Will he go after Duterte? In this episode of Rappler Talk, justice reporter Jairo Bolledo sits down with Trillanes to discuss his SC victory and his plans moving forward. Bookmark this page to watch the interview at 6:30 pm, April 4. – Rappler.com How does this make you feel?

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Next women up: Larroza, Laput ready to lead La Salle after freak Canino accident

jisaga0269

04/04/2024 19:43

WIN AS ONE. The La Salle Lady Spikers huddle after a point in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament UAAP Season 86 Media Team MANILA, Philippines – Be ready when your number is called. That adage holds true in all team sports in all levels of competition, especially with championship-caliber teams. So when defending UAAP women’s volleyball champion La Salle suffered a devastating blow after reigning MVP Angel Canino went down with a freak right arm injury, multiple Lady Spikers were immediately on point to fill the massive offensive void. Although the vaunted volleyball program always expects team-wide effort in all its games, two spikers, Shevana Laput and Maicah Larroza, stood out from the rest as La Salle fended off the feisty UP Fighting Maroons in four tight sets, 26-24, 25-19, 24-26, 27-25. Still finding her way and polishing her skills in her sophomore season, the towering Laput led all scorers with 21 points, while veteran role player Larroza made the most of her extended playing time with 12 points, 10 excellent digs, and 10 excellent receptions. Although the Lady Spikers’ win was far from perfect, as they even blew a 20-24 third-set lead, both standouts were more than happy to fill in the gaps for their fallen teammate. “Definitely, there’s a need to step up. I guess there’s that pressure, but I’m glad that my team and the coaches have that trust in me. It’s just… all of us [need to work]” said Laput, the Fil-Aussie rising star. “Everyone just needs to be ready in case. Whoever is called must deliver,” added Larroza in Filipino. “We will never be able to do it with just one person. We don’t depend on just one player. We all need to deliver and we all need to trust one another.” Always behind Canino and Alleiah Malaluan in the outside hitter rotation, Larroza is pleased that she and fellow second-stringer Baby Jyne Soreño were able to fully repay the trust of legendary head coach Ramil de Jesus when he decided to give them a longer leash. “I will take this opportunity to lead as an ate, as a senior, as a graduating player,” Larroza continued. “I need to step up for Angel, for everyone in the team.” With Canino’s status very much in doubt for the next few games, the Lady Spikers will need all they can get from their role players as they gun for the coveted Final Four twice-to-beat bonus with an 8-1 record. “It won’t be easy, but we will crawl and fight for this,” Larroza said. “We won’t waste coach’s trust since he expects big things from us.” “So why shouldn’t we trust ourselves?” – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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#WalangPasok: Class suspensions, Friday, April 5, 2024

Acor Arceo

04/04/2024 19:00

MANILA, Philippines – Some areas suspended face-to-face classes for Friday, April 5, due to high heat index levels. The heat index is measured using the air temperature and the relative humidity in a place at a given time. It is also called the feels-like temperature, and it typically soars during the Philippines’ warm and dry season from March to May. This list will be updated once local or national authorities make announcements. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Supreme Court overturns Duterte: Heinous crimes convicts can get GCTA

Jairo Bolledo

04/04/2024 18:05

BILIBID. Inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, during a media tour conducted by the Department of Justice on December 4, 2023. Angie de Silva/Rappler The Supreme Court (SC) overturned another Duterte-time policy, and ruled that persons convicted of heinous crimes are still entitled to the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) During its session in Baguio City on Wednesday, April 3, the SC en banc ruled that the Department of Justice (DOJ) exceeded its power of subordinate legislation when it excluded persons convicted of heinous crimes from benefiting from Republic Act No. 10592 or the GCTA law. The law allows persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) or convicted persons to have their sentences reduced on the basis of good conduct, resulting in their early release. “In finding the assailed provisions of the 2019 IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations) invalid, the En Banc held that when RA No. 10592 amended Article 97 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), it used the connecting conjunction “or” to express that (1) “any offender qualified for credit imprisonment pursuant to Article 29 of the RPC,” and in the alternative (2) “any convicted prisoner in any penal institution, rehabilitation, or detention center in any other local jail” may avail of the benefits granted by RA No. 10592,” SC said, quoting the decision penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh. The GCTA law was quietly made retroactive by the Supreme Court in June 2019, which was why thousands of longtime convicts serving their sentences were lined up to be released early. For those convicted in the 90s, the GCTA law could slash as much as 19 years from their sentence. One of the beneficiaries set to be released that year was the late convicted murderer and rapist Antonio Sanchez, sparking a public outrage that the populist former president Rodrigo Duterte appeased by calling on all GCTA-released heinous crime convicts to return to prison. To have legal backing of that pronouncement, a habit of Duterte during that time, the Department of Justice under then justice secretary and now solicitor general Menardo Guevarra amended the law’s IRR to exclude persons convicted of heinous crimes from the benefits. In further explaining the en banc’s decision, the SC said that article 97 of the RPC, as amended by RA No. 10592, is clear that all convicted prisoners are entitled to GCTA, “as long as the prisoner is in any penal institution, rehabilitation or detention center, or any other local jail.” The case of rape-slay convict Sanchez highlighted how GCTA’s implementation was subject to either corruption (the “GCTA for sale” allegation), or just poor governance like errors in record-keeping, or non-diligence because Sanchez scored GCTA points even though he had committed infractions inside Bilibid. The Supreme Court has not released yet a full copy of the decision. It is unclear at this point how the convicts who were adversely affected by the DOJ’s policy at that time, will be affected by the SC ruling. Called “returnees” by the Duterte government, the convicts were hunted TokHang style, while some returned to jail out of fear. Rappler’s investigation in 2019 found that at least 4 returnees died inside Bilibid when they returned. In one session, the High Court invalidated two of Guevarra’s acts that were meant to implement Duterte’s whims. On Wednesday, the SC also ruled to uphold former senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s amnesty, which was revoked by the former president on the principle of “void ab initio” or void from the start because they said they could not find Trillanes’ amnesty application form. It was the DOJ that moved the courts to try and rearrest Trillanes. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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LIST: Philippine holidays in 2024

clescudero0258

06/06/2024 13:05

Editor’s Note: This page was first published on October 13, 2023, and subsequently republished with updates. MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang has released the list of regular holidays and special non-working days in the Philippines in 2024. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Proclamation No. 368 on Wednesday, October 11. The proclamation was made public on Friday, October 13. Here are the 2024 holidays in the country: – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Results, team standings: UAAP Season 86 volleyball

Jasmine Payo

05/05/2024 21:02

ROARING. NU's Bella Belen (left) and Alyssa Solomon react in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball finals UAAP Season 86 Media Team MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournaments reach a tipping point with the men’s and women’s finals! LOOK: UAAP volleyball championship schedule Here are the results in the men’s and women’s divisions: MAY 15 May 11 MAY 8 MAY 5 MAY 4 MAY 8 MAY 5 MAY 4 ** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated APRIL 27 APRIL 24 APRIL 21 APRIL 20 APRIL 17 APRIL 14 APRIL 13 APRIL 10 APRIL 9 APRIL 4 APRIL 3 MARCH 24 MARCH 23 MARCH 20 First round MARCH 17 MARCH 16 MARCH 13 MARCH 10 MARCH 9 MARCH 6 MARCH 3 MARCH 2 FEBRUARY 28 FEBRUARY 25 FEBRUARY 24 FEBRUARY 21 FEBRUARY 18 FEBRUARY 17 ** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated APRIL 27 APRIL 24 APRIL 21 APRIL 20 APRIL 17 APRIL 14 APRIL 13 APRIL 10 APRIL 9 APRIL 4 APRIL 3 MARCH 24 MARCH 23 MARCH 20 First round MARCH 17 MARCH 16 MARCH 13 MARCH 10 MARCH 9 MARCH 6 MARCH 3 MARCH 2 FEBRUARY 28 FEBRUARY 25 FEBRUARY 24 FEBRUARY 21 FEBRUARY 18 FEBRUARY 17 – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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La Salle loses MVP Angel Canino indefinitely after right arm accident

jisaga0269

04/04/2024 15:27

SIDELINED. Injured MVP Angel Canino (center) joins La Salle in the pre-game. UAAP MANILA, Philippines – La Salle’s UAAP women’s volleyball title defense campaign in Season 86 hits a big snag. Reigning MVP Angel Canino is now expected to possibly miss multiple games after arriving at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday, April 4, with a heavily covered right arm supported by a sling. La Salle courtside correspondent Patrice Dabao revealed during the Lady Spikers’ game against UP that Canino suffered an “accident not related to volleyball” and that she has “no set timeline for return,” confirming rampant online rumors that swirled after the Holy Week break. Due to the sensitive nature of the issue, La Salle coaches Ramil de Jesus and Noel Orcullo respectfully declined to give interviews before their game against the Fighting Maroons, while the players were instructed to not stop for any media availabilities. Orcullo, however, revealed in the postgame press conference that Canino suffered a gash on her spiking arm, but was also at a loss on how long she will be out, defaulting to a “day-to-day” designation. UAAP | JUST IN:Amid swirling online rumors about her well-being, UAAP MVP Angel Canino arrives with the rest of the La Salle Lady Spikers.Coaches Ramil de Jesus and Noel Orcullo respectfully declined interviews to confirm her status.#UAAPSeason86 pic.twitter.com/LkyUxEVoib Despite the sudden major setback, Canino retained a positive aura as she sat out pre-game warmups. UAAP | WATCH:Injured UAAP MVP Angel Canino looks to be in high spirits alongside head coach Ramil de Jesus, but does not join warmups ahead of La Salle's game against the UP Fighting Maroons.The Lady Spikers are currently second in #UAAPSeason86 with a 7-1 record. pic.twitter.com/K2TwZmlnzT Without the reigning MVP, the Lady Spikers will now lean heavily on other capable offensive weapons like Thea Gagate, Amie Provido, Shevana Laput, Alleiah Malaluan, and substitute spiker Baby Jyne Soreño. UAAP | WATCH:The La Salle Lady Spikers enter the Mall of Asia Arena floor.UAAP MVP Angel Canino arrives with a sling on her right arm, all but confirming her absence for their next game against UP and possibly beyond.#UAAPSeason86 pic.twitter.com/WO3MWgujBW If Canino continues to miss more games after the UP match, her back-to-back MVP bid will also be in jeopardy as there is a minimum-game requirement that players have to hit to keep their eligibility. With nine games done in the elimination round, La Salle currently stands with an 8-1 record in second place behind league-leading UST. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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‘Paris was not to be’: Hidilyn Diaz still happy after missed Olympic return bid

Jasmine Payo

04/04/2024 15:04

LEGEND. Hidilyn Diaz waves to the crowd after a lift during the 2024 IWF World Cup. International Weightlifting Federation MANILA, Philippines – Don’t expect Hidilyn Diaz to quit just yet. Diaz missed the chance to return to the Olympics for the fifth straight edition and fight for another gold, but the Filipino weightlifting superstar admitted she plans to keep going. “I love this sport, I don’t want to stop,” Diaz said in an interview with the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). “But what I have to do now is take a good rest and think about the priorities in my life. Today wasn’t my day. Paris was not to be.” Diaz recorded a 222kg total lift to settle for 11th place in the women’s 59kg class of the IWF World Cup on Wednesday, April 3, in Phuket, Thailand – the last qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It will be the first time Diaz won’t see action in the Olympics after a Philippine record four straight appearances, highlighted by a historic golden performance in the Tokyo Games in 2021. Instead, Elreen Ando will carry the flag in the 59kg division in Paris after the 25-year-old Cebuana finished seventh in the World Cup with a total lift of 228kg, well inside the top 10 Olympic qualification cutoff. Both Ando and Diaz competed in the 59kg as their weight classes were both scrapped in the Paris Olympics. Diaz captured the Philippines’ first Olympic gold in the 55kg weight class, while Ando had a seventh-place debut in the 64kg event of the Tokyo Games. “But overall, I’m happy,” said Diaz. “I’ve given a lot to this sport and it’s given a lot to me.” As the 33-year-old Diaz plans to rest, she also hopes to take her honeymoon with coach and husband Julius Naranjo, almost two years after getting married. “There will be time for that now,” said Diaz. More time, and perhaps less worries, as Naranjo believes the pride of Zamboanga has nothing more to prove. “We gave it our best,” he said. “Hidilyn is still a legend.” – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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All-around Brownlee helps Pelita Jaya open BCL Asia Qualifiers on high note

Jasmine Payo

04/04/2024 15:55

ON A ROLL. Pelita Jaya’s Justin Brownlee soars over the Hi-Tech defense in the BCL Asia Qualifiers. Pelita Jaya Basketball MANILA, Philippines – Justin Brownlee delivered an all-around performance for Pelita Jaya Basketball as they opened the Basketball Champions League Asia Qualifiers with a 99-81 rout of Hi-Tech Basketball Club at the UG Arena in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Wednesday, April 3. Brownlee, who had a triumphant debut with the Jakarta-based squad in the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) late in March, racked up 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists in only his second game in a Pelita Jaya uniform. The Barangay Ginebra resident import and Gilas Pilipinas naturalized star shot 4-of-9 from the field and recorded a team-best +/- of +22 in 21 minutes and 36 seconds of play off the bench for Pelita Jaya. Formerly known as the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) – which will kick off later this year – will feature the champions from the PBA, Japan B. League, Korean Basketball League, and the Chinese Basketball Association, as well as the top two teams from the BCL Asia Qualifiers and the top two squads from the FIBA West Asia Super League. Brownlee’s Pelita Jaya earned its spot in the BCL Asia Qualifiers after finishing second in the IBL last year. Muhammad Guntara and JaQuori McLaughlin dropped 20 points apiece for Pelita Jaya, which is bunched with Thailand’s Hi-Tech Basketball, Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos, and Singapore’s Adroit Club in Group B. Pelita Jaya will look to make it two in a row when it collides with Ulaanbaatar Xac late Thursday. –Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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[OPINION] Can Marcos survive a voters’ revolt in 2025?

Glenda Gloria

04/04/2024 14:00

The steady, double-digit decline in the performance ratings of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., tracked by polling firm Pulse Asia since October last year, reveals a shift in the public mood, an impatience previously restrained by a sense of courtesy or residual loyalty to newly-elected national leaders. The survey numbers indicate growing discontent across all regions and socio-economic classes. At its core is the perception that the Marcos administration has failed to rein in inflation and mitigate economic hardships. That the double-digit decline in public approval would come this early in the President’s term (newly-elected presidents are historically granted at least a three-year honeymoon by the public) and coincide with early positioning for the 2025 mid-terms could even be politically disastrous, a creeping sense of frustration potentially redefining the political landscape and derailing the President’s agenda. The President’s approval numbers have been slipping since September 2023 when Pulse Asia recorded a sharp drop of 15 points in his performance ratings, from an 80% approval rating in June to 65% in September. Inflation, specifically the sharp increase in the price of rice, triggered the disapproval. The 68% approval rating in December 2023 represented only a marginal gain of 2% for the President. In its first quarter 2024 survey, Pulse Asia recorded another double-digit drop in his performance rating. From December’s 68%, approval for the President’s performance slipped by 13 points to 55% in March. Contrast these depressing numbers with the buoyant ratings received for the same period by his two predecessors. In March 2013, then-president Benigno Aquino III garnered a performance approval rating of 72%. Former president Duterte, on the other hand, recorded a performance rating of 79% in a Social Weather Stations survey of March 2019. These performance surveys – Aquino, Duterte – were conducted two months before the elections. In today’s context for the May 2025 mid-term polls, prospective candidates and political parties begin preparations a year before, or next month. Aquino III and Duterte managed to sustain their high approval numbers well into the mid-term elections. Administration candidates dominated the senatorial mid-terms of 2013 and 2019. Vice President Sara Duterte’s performance rating also suffered a drop from 74% in December 2023 to 67% in Pulse Asia’s March survey. In October 2023, her approval ratings slipped by 11%, from 84%  in June to 73% in September. The Vice President’s survey decline also bucked historical trends. A vice president’s approval ratings are largely insulated from declines in the ratings of the president simply because the public’s expectations are higher for the president. But a bounce in a president’s numbers usually benefits a vice president, especially when the vice president is seen as a team player and not an obstructionist. In the case of the Vice President, her survey results have so far mimicked the upward or downward movements of the President’s. Who stands to gain should the public’s sour mood turn into a voters’ revolt in 2025? A weakened base could swing voters in the direction of senatorial candidates led by former president Duterte who has made no bones about staging a political restoration of his own. It could also favor independent senatorial candidates who, for purposes of practicality and prudence, might align themselves with the administration during the elections but act independently once elected. But the stakes go beyond an independent Senate and a possible hijack of the President’s agenda. The President’s desire to build his own legacy, one that is distinct from his father and namesake, is under threat by growing discontent. And the sheen of restored family glory, the real prize for winning the presidency in 2022, is now in danger of being tarnished, rightly or wrongly, by the perception that this government is aimless and adrift, lacking direction, substance, and purpose. – Rappler.com Joey Salgado is a former journalist, and a government and political communications practitioner. He served as spokesperson for former Vice President Jejomar Binay. Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. I agree: “… this government is aimless and adrift, lacking direction, substance, and purpose.” This is true concerning the Government’s social goals but not in “subtle” corruption, “doublespeak” repression, and “deceptive” disinformation. How does this make you feel?

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Former ISAFP chief Victor Corpus dies

Mia Gonzalez

04/04/2024 14:10

MILITARY OFFICER. Victor Corpus served as ISAFP chief from 2001 to 2003. Victor Corpus' Facebook page MANILA, Philippines – Former military intelligence chief Victor Corpus has died, his family confirmed on Thursday, April 4. He was 79. “It is with great sorrow that we announce the untimely passing of our uncle Victor Corpus,” his niece Jennies Cruz said in a public post on Facebook on Thursday. “We would like to request our relatives and friends to join us in prayer, for the repose of the soul of our beloved and to ask God for comfort for the bereaved family. We value your prayers among anything else,” Cruz added. Corpus, who served as chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) during the early years of the Gloria Arroyo administration, is best known for his defection to the Communist Party of the Philippines just three years after he graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1967. He left the communist movement in 1976 and remained in a military prison until his release after the ouster of Ferdinand E. Marcos through the 1986 People Power Revolution. He was granted clemency by then-president Corazon Aquino, and was reinstated in the AFP in 1987. Corpus’ personal journey inspired the film, Operation: Get Victor Corpus, the Rebel Soldier, directed by Pablo Santiago. The late Rudy Fernandez played the titular role in the film released in 1987. Corpus authored Silent War, published in 1989, which provided an insider’s look into the communist movement and suggested ways to end Asia’s longest-running communist insurgency. Since his reinstatement in the AFP in 1987, Corpus had kept a low profile until Arroyo appointed him as ISAFP chief in 2001. He resigned from the post in 2003, following the Oakwood mutiny that rocked the Arroyo administration. While the Arroyo administration denied that his resignation was in response to the demands of the mutineers, Corpus had said in his brief resignation letter to Arroyo: “In chess, when a queen is beleaguered, it is sometimes necessary to sacrifice a knight to save the game. I feel that the restiveness will not calm down with my continued presence.” The mutineers – junior military officers including then-lieutenant senior grade Antonio Trillanes IV – had demanded the resignation of Arroyo, her defense and police chiefs, and Corpus in relation to their grievances over how the government was handling the military. They blamed Corpus, in particular, for the Davao bombings in March and April 2003 that killed a total of 38 people and hurt over 200 others – either for his alleged involvement in the incidents, or for his failure to prevent it as ISAFP chief. An investigation conducted by the Arroyo government later cleared Corpus and then-defense chief Angelo Reyes Jr. of any involvement in the bombings. Corpus retired from the AFP in 2004, at the age of 60. While the mandatory retirement age is 56, there was a special arrangement with the Arroyo administration that allowed him to retire past that age. Corpus also served as head of the Office of Veterans Affairs at the Philippine embassy in Washington, DC, following his appointment in 2009. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Things to know about e-bike, e-trike restriction in Metro Manila

Pia Ranada

04/04/2024 12:02

EV. An e-bike traverses the inner streets of Makati City on March 11, 2024. Rappler MANILA, Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is all set to implement its road restriction on e-bicycles, e-tricycles, tricycles, pedicabs, and more starting April 15. It publicized the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the new policy last Monday, April 1. Active transport advocates from the Move As One Coalition had hoped to have more chances to contribute to the crafting of the IRR, after being told by MMDA officials in a March 11 meeting that they would get to see a draft IRR before its release. After following up thrice with the MMDA for the draft, they received from the agency the IRR that was eventually released to the public. What do commuters and motorists need to know about the road restriction? Here’s a summary of important points, based on the MMDA’s Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 4, Series of 2024, and related announcements by government agencies. Section 5 of the MMDA memo circular states that LEVs – electric bicycles, electric scooters, and similar vehicles weighing less than 50 kilograms –  can still traverse the roads covered by the restriction, if they are inside established bike lanes. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) emphasized this exception in a post. “Pwede pa rin kayo!” said the DOTR’s Active Transport Project Office in a Wednesday Facebook post. It reiterated that bicycles, electric kick scooters, e-tricycles, and electric unicycles may use bike lanes on all major roads, as long as they keep to a speed limit of 25 kilometers an hour and weigh less than 50 kilograms. Active transport advocates pointed out to Rappler that the term used by MMDA – “prohibition” – could confuse LEV users into thinking they are completely banned from national roads. E-bicycles, e-tricycles, electric kickscooters, electric scooters, electric unicycles, tricycles, pushcarts, pedicabs, kuligligs (pedicab mounted with a motorized engine) E-bikes, e-trikes, pedicabs, tricycles, and other covered vehicles are allowed on these major roads, outside the bike lanes, if they need to cross the road. In these cases, the MMDA states the covered vehicles have to yield to all incoming traffic. Tricycles are allowed to traverse the road up to a distance of 500 meters if their purpose is to enter – or exit from – a u-turn slot to get to the other side of the road. In these cases, the MMDA states the covered vehicles have to yield to all incoming traffic. Any driver or owner of the vehicles covered by the restriction who violates the policy will be fined P2,500. If the vehicle is not registered and the driver has no license, the vehicle will also be impounded. Certain types of light electric vehicles require registration with the Land Transportation Office. But active transport advocates are not satisfied with MMDA’s “exception” – allowing electric light vehicles on roads as long as they are on bike lanes. Robert Siy Jr., co-convenor of Move As One Coalition, told Rappler that this would be beneficial only if Metro Manila has a comprehensive network of bike lanes. “The reality is that most bike lanes in Metro Manila are intermittent or end abruptly, exposing LEVs to the risk of suddenly being on a road without a bike lane and in violation of the memorandum circular,” he said. He worries that the situation leaves light electric vehicle users prone to abusive MMDA enforcers who could apprehend them on roads where bike lanes end abruptly. Ira Cruz of AltMobilityPH said the MMDA restriction does not consider the impact on commuters and motorists who have turned to light electric vehicles to deal with the traffic situation in Metro Manila. “The popularity of e-trikes is simply one of the manifestations of the government’s failure to answer basic needs of ordinary Filipinos for mobility. It is unacceptrable for government to focus its energy on restrictions rather than solutions,” he told Rappler. Another group, PARA – Advocates for Inclusive Transport, pointed that the impending road restriction adds to what is already turning out to be a “cruel summer” for commuters in Metro Manila. First was the closure of the Philippine National Railways last March that affected an estimated 30,000 commuters; and the possible loss of critical jeepney routes should the government push through with enforcing its April 30 deadline for jeepney franchise consolidation. – Rappler.com What do you think of this upcoming MMDA policy? Share your thoughts with Rappler journalists and others concerned about transportation in the Liveable Cities chat room in the Rappler Communities app. Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Masungi’s claim in protected areas in Rizal ‘void from the beginning’ – DENR

Iya Gozum

03/04/2024 19:27

KARST. The 'Nanay' and 'Tatay' rock formations are staple tourist attractions in the georeserve. Screenshot from Rappler MANILA, Philippines – For the first time, Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga openly spoke about the 2017 contract of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc. (MGFI) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), saying it was void ab initio or void from the beginning. “The legal grounds for the [recommendation of] cancellation are what we’re calling [void] ab initio, given the advice of the DOJ (Department of Justice),” Loyzaga said on Wednesday, April 3, in a Senate hearing that was broadcast live. In 2017, the DENR, under the leadership of the late environment secretary Gina Lopez, signed a memorandum of agreement with the MGFI. It gave the MGFI the responsibility to reforest around 3,000 hectares of land in Rizal province which is within the Upper Marikina Watershed and the Kaliwa Watershed. The MGFI also oversees the popular ecotourism spot Masungi Georeserve. Contested in the said contract was the provision that gave the MGFI “perpetual land trust for conservation.” The DOJ previously said the perpetuity provision violated Section 2, Article XII of the 1987 Constitution, which provided that such agreements must not exceed a period of 25 years. When asked about the issue in 2023, Loyzaga only said that there were “certain features” that “bring it into question,” which would need “appropriate actions” from the agency. This is the first time Loyzaga mentioned anything about a recommendation to cancel the contract. Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones had referred to it before, saying the recommendation was still pending the approval of the secretary. In her message before the Senate committee on environment, natural resources and climate change on Wednesday, Loyzaga said that the conservation of protected areas in the Philippines is historically fraught with conflicting claims. Four years since the passing of the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act (E-NIPAS), Loyzaga said the DENR has had to contend with “realities on the ground.” “The E-NIPAS law has been tested against the context of rights that preceded its passing,” she said. The environment chief said national and local laws, formal and informal agreements, “as well as powerful influences and pressures both benign and malignant” have all affected the implementation of the law. In response to Loyzaga, the MGFI said in a statement that no one – not Filipinos and not the environment – would benefit from the cancellation of the contract. “Hindi na nga mabantayan ng DENR ang ating mga protected areas, gusto pa nilang tanggalin ang isa sa mga nangungunang organisasyon na nagtataguyod dito?” said Billie Dumaliang, MGFI’s director for advocacy. (The DENR can’t even safeguard our protected areas, and now they want to remove one of the leading organizations in conservation?) The MGFI continued to stand by the validity of the contract they signed with Lopez. Ann Dumaliang, managing trustee of the foundation, told Rappler they were “ready to defend” the contract in any legal forum. “We’ll pursue legal action when necessary,” she said. The MGFI said on Wednesday that the claim that the contract was void ab initio was “untenable.” “The contract was validly entered into by the DENR secretary under her broad powers under the E-NIPAS Act to enter into agreements with non-state actors in pursuit of conservation. The contract also has all the elements of a valid agreement,” the statement read. The geopark management was referring to a recommendation from the International Union for Conservation of Nature that conservation projects can be held in perpetuity by private partners to ensure long-term gains, as has been the case in other countries. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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La Salle loses MVP Angel Canino indefinitely after right arm accident

jisaga0269

04/04/2024 15:27

SIDELINED. Injured MVP Angel Canino (center) joins La Salle in the pre-game. UAAP MANILA, Philippines – La Salle’s UAAP women’s volleyball title defense campaign in Season 86 hits a big snag. Reigning MVP Angel Canino is now expected to possibly miss multiple games after arriving at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday, April 4, with a heavily covered right arm supported by a sling. La Salle courtside correspondent Patrice Dabao revealed during the Lady Spikers’ game against UP that Canino suffered an “accident not related to volleyball” and that she has “no set timeline for return,” confirming rampant online rumors that swirled after the Holy Week break. Due to the sensitive nature of the issue, La Salle coaches Ramil de Jesus and Noel Orcullo respectfully declined to give interviews before their game against the Fighting Maroons, while the players were instructed to not stop for any media availabilities. Orcullo, however, revealed in the postgame press conference that Canino suffered a gash on her spiking arm, but was also at a loss on how long she will be out, defaulting to a “day-to-day” designation. UAAP | JUST IN:Amid swirling online rumors about her well-being, UAAP MVP Angel Canino arrives with the rest of the La Salle Lady Spikers.Coaches Ramil de Jesus and Noel Orcullo respectfully declined interviews to confirm her status.#UAAPSeason86 pic.twitter.com/LkyUxEVoib Despite the sudden major setback, Canino retained a positive aura as she sat out pre-game warmups. UAAP | WATCH:Injured UAAP MVP Angel Canino looks to be in high spirits alongside head coach Ramil de Jesus, but does not join warmups ahead of La Salle's game against the UP Fighting Maroons.The Lady Spikers are currently second in #UAAPSeason86 with a 7-1 record. pic.twitter.com/K2TwZmlnzT Without the reigning MVP, the Lady Spikers will now lean heavily on other capable offensive weapons like Thea Gagate, Amie Provido, Shevana Laput, Alleiah Malaluan, and substitute spiker Baby Jyne Soreño. UAAP | WATCH:The La Salle Lady Spikers enter the Mall of Asia Arena floor.UAAP MVP Angel Canino arrives with a sling on her right arm, all but confirming her absence for their next game against UP and possibly beyond.#UAAPSeason86 pic.twitter.com/WO3MWgujBW If Canino continues to miss more games after the UP match, her back-to-back MVP bid will also be in jeopardy as there is a minimum-game requirement that players have to hit to keep their eligibility. With nine games done in the elimination round, La Salle currently stands with an 8-1 record in second place behind league-leading UST. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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2 more Quiboloy church associates surrender

Herbie G

04/04/2024 11:36

PREACHER. Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church and a friend of former president Rodrigo Duterte. Quiboloy's Facebook page CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Two more close associates of embattled doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Davao City on Thursday morning, April 4. The two – Ingrid Canada and Jackielyn Roy – surrendered a day after authorities arrested one of Quiboloy’s close aides in Barangay Tamayong, Davao City, while two others turned themselves in in connection with a child abuse case. They are expected to be released by authorities just like their three colleagues – Cresente Canada and younger sister Paulene, and Sylvia Cemañes – who posted bail late Wednesday afternoon, April 3. Authorities first arrested Cresente, a barangay chairman in Davao City, Barangay Tamayong around 2 pm on Wednesday, while Pauline and Cemañes turned themselves in. Three hours after Cresente’s arrest, all three were released on a P80,000 bail each. Police Davao Region chief Brigadier General Alden Delvo said various law enforcement agencies were closely coordinating in pursuing Quiboloy, who is charged with child abuse and sexual abuse of a minor. The three Canadas, all siblings, belong to one of the first families to convert to the KOJC, and are considered among the closest church associates of the pastor. Cresente, Barangay Tamayong chairman, served as Quiboloy’s close-in security aide and driver. Ingrid is the KOJC church’s administrator, while their youngest sister Paulene is a former KOJC chief finance officer and a member of the preacher’s pastoral department. Cemañes is a KOJC coordinator, while Roy is one of the KOJC’s lead choir singers who also serves as one of Quiboloy’s “pastorals.” In the KOJC, pastorals are women who are considered “privileged,” who do special tasks, including errands, for Quiboloy – acts that they are taught to see as service to God. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regional director Archie Albao told Cignal TV’s One News in an interview that Quiboloy is considered a “fugitive from justice” after authorities failed to arrest him based on two court warrants at his known addresses. Delvo said the police and NBI looked for the preacher at the KOJC’s Prayer Mountain in Barangay Tamayong, Barangay Caliclic in Davao’s Babak District, the Quiboloy-owned Jose Maria College, and Samal Island, but failed to arrest him. One of Quiboloy’s lawyers, Trinidad Arafol II, received the arrest warrant on behalf of the controversial pastor, according to the police. Albao said the KOJC members who met them were cooperative and allowed them to search the compounds, including the pastor’s offices. None of the followers of Quiboloy could say where he was, and told authorities that he has been gone for several days already, Albao told One News. In March, Judge Dante Baguio of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 12 in the Davao Region issued two arrest warrants for Quiboloy in connection with separate sexual abuse and child abuse cases. His associates were included in the child abuse case. The cases were brought to court following a review by the Department of Justice (DOJ), which overturned the Davao City prosecutors’ June 29, 2020 resolution dismissing the complaint of a former KOJC worker. The Davao prosecutors had also rejected her motion for reconsideration. The alleged victim subsequently submitted to the DOJ a petition for review of the resolution and her accusations of rape, qualified human trafficking, and child abuse. Her petition remained pending at the DOJ for four years. In its March resolution, the DOJ noted that her allegations of abuse date back to 2011, with the alleged victim claiming to have been raped while still a minor in September 2014. She alleged enduring emotional and physical mistreatment, as well as forced labor without compensation, all purportedly in the name of religion. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Marcos not in favor of another extension for Bangsamoro Transition Authority – Galvez

Mia Gonzalez

04/04/2024 14:13

Presidential peace adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez talking to (Moro Islamic Liebration Front (MILF) stalwarts during the 10th year commemoration of the CAB peace deal in Darapanan, Maguindanao del Norte. Rommel Rebollido GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is not in favor of extending the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) by another three years, his chief peace adviser said. Marcos is firm on pushing through with the scheduled 2025 elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), according to Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez. “No more extension,” Galvez said, saying the six years the BTA was extended is already enough. Galvez made the remarks during a media briefing after a Grand Iftar, a religious gathering to end the day’s fasting on Wednesday, April 3, in Mother Kabuntalan, Maguindanao del Norte. The event was also attended by Ebrahim and other BARMM and Maguindanao del Norte officials. Galvez was apparently responding to moves by some quarters in the special region to give the BTA another three years, as many provisions in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) have yet to be implemented. The election of BARMM parliament members in 2025 will lead to the abolition of the BTA, the interim lawmaking body of the special region that was created through the CAB in March 2014. The elections will allow voters in the region to pick their bets for the first time to serve in the BARMM parliament. The elected parliament members will choose the region’s chief minister through a vote. Galvez said that during a meeting in Malacañang, the President made it clear that “the elections need to happen to give legitimacy and accountability to officials” who will be chosen by the people. As such, he said the voter’s registration will be held for the purpose in Darapanan, the MILF camp in Barangay Simuay in Sultan Kudarat town, Maguindanao del Norte, as agreed earlier with the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Amid the campaign for BTA extension by groups identified with incumbent BARMM officials, BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim said the President himself told them when they took their oath in Malacanang in 2022, that the extension he then granted “will be the last and there will be no more.” Ebrahim said what the President said had always reminded them was to prepare for the 2025 elections. “In keeping with what the President said, we are trying our best to prepare for the elections,” he said. But Ebrahim, who remains chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that forged the CAB with the government, said the civil society organizations “have a point in seeking for an extension” of the BTA. Like what thegroups have been pointing out, there are many CAB provisions that remain unimplemented, he said. He explained that the CAB is in two tracks: the political or legal track which is about the creation of the Bangsamoro as a political entity, and the normalization track that consists of provisions, many of which have yet to be implemented. The normalization track includes the decommissioning and reintegration of MILF combatants. In the three occasions of decommissioning, authorities have so far processed 26,132MILF combatants, who gave up 4,625 firearms. Also, the five-year term for the recruitment of combatants and their dependents into the Philippine National Police is about to end, giving uncertainty to the 7,145 who passed the initial selection process. There are now around 600 recruits in three batches undergoing police training. During the 10th year commemoration of the signing of the CAB in Camp Darapanan in Maguindanao del Norte, a representative of the League of Bangsamoro Organizations (LBO) handed Ebrahim and Galvez a one-page letter to Marcos asking for the BTA extension. The letter was said to have been signed by 193 CSOs. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Zamboanga state university shifts to hybrid classes to beat the heat

Herbie G

04/04/2024 12:37

CLASS SUSPENSION. Zamboanga Mayor John Dalipe convenes the city's Task Force El Niño, and suspends classes across all levels in both private and public schools for April 4 and 5, following the forecast of a 42°C heat index. Zamboanga City Information Office ZAMBOANGA, Philippines – A state university in Zamboanga announced a shift in its class scheduling, moving towards a hybrid model that separates face-to-face classes from online learning sessions as the heat index in the city reached dangerous levels. In the coming week, the Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University (ZPPSU) will hold in-person classes only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while dedicating Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays for online classes. Dr. Roy Valesco, ZPPSU vice president for academic affairs, said, “The safety and well-being of our learners and teachers are our top priority.” The decision came as temperatures continued to rise, with the heat index in the city forecast to reach 42 degrees Celsius on Thursday and Friday, April 4 and 5 by the state weather bureau  Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical System Administration (PAGASA). The PAGASA forecast prompted Zamboanga Mayor John Dalipe to order the suspension of classes in the city in all levels, in both private and public educational institutions, for two days on Wednesday, April 3, on the recommendation of the city’s Task Force El Niño. Dalipe created the task force in March “to strategize and implement effective measures to mitigate the impact of El Niño” in Zamboanga. It is composed of six committees dedicated to ensuring food security, water security, energy security, health and sanitation, safety security, and information and education. Sheila Covarrubias, head of the Zamboanga City Information Office, said the task force would “coordinate the city government’s response to address the prolonged dry spell that has caused water shortage, effects on agriculture and fisheries, and rising heat index.” The city government also ordered new rules implemented in the city to help people who might struggle in very hot weather, like those with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with health issues. These rules would allow for flexible work hours in government jobs to keep them safe from the heat. Local officials were also contemplating on allowing school officials and government office heads to decide to either close schools or let employees work flexible hours whenever it gets extremely hot, specifically when the temperature goes above 40 degrees Celsius. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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‘Paris was not to be’: Hidilyn Diaz still happy after missed Olympic return bid

Jasmine Payo

04/04/2024 15:04

LEGEND. Hidilyn Diaz waves to the crowd after a lift during the 2024 IWF World Cup. International Weightlifting Federation MANILA, Philippines – Don’t expect Hidilyn Diaz to quit just yet. Diaz missed the chance to return to the Olympics for the fifth straight edition and fight for another gold, but the Filipino weightlifting superstar admitted she plans to keep going. “I love this sport, I don’t want to stop,” Diaz said in an interview with the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). “But what I have to do now is take a good rest and think about the priorities in my life. Today wasn’t my day. Paris was not to be.” Diaz recorded a 222kg total lift to settle for 11th place in the women’s 59kg class of the IWF World Cup on Wednesday, April 3, in Phuket, Thailand – the last qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It will be the first time Diaz won’t see action in the Olympics after a Philippine record four straight appearances, highlighted by a historic golden performance in the Tokyo Games in 2021. Instead, Elreen Ando will carry the flag in the 59kg division in Paris after the 25-year-old Cebuana finished seventh in the World Cup with a total lift of 228kg, well inside the top 10 Olympic qualification cutoff. Both Ando and Diaz competed in the 59kg as their weight classes were both scrapped in the Paris Olympics. Diaz captured the Philippines’ first Olympic gold in the 55kg weight class, while Ando had a seventh-place debut in the 64kg event of the Tokyo Games. “But overall, I’m happy,” said Diaz. “I’ve given a lot to this sport and it’s given a lot to me.” As the 33-year-old Diaz plans to rest, she also hopes to take her honeymoon with coach and husband Julius Naranjo, almost two years after getting married. “There will be time for that now,” said Diaz. More time, and perhaps less worries, as Naranjo believes the pride of Zamboanga has nothing more to prove. “We gave it our best,” he said. “Hidilyn is still a legend.” – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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This is the most affordable tourist spot in the PH, with the cheapest accommodations

Steph Arnaldo

04/04/2024 13:53

Shutterstock MANILA, Philippines – What’s the most affordable tourist spot for budget-conscious travelers looking to enjoy the best of the Philippines this summer? For the months of April to May, it’s Iloilo City, according to digital travel platform Agoda’s data. Iloilo has been named the “most affordable tourist destination in the Philippines,” having the cheapest accommodations and travel deals on average, compared to other Philippine tourist spots. This year, Iloilo’s average room rate goes for P2,814. Iloilo takes over Bacolod, which was the Philippines’ cheapest travel destination in 2023. Agoda said that “despite being a tourist destination with the lowest average room rates, each location has a lot to offer to visitors.” Iloilo is often referred to as “The Heart of the Country” because of its central geographical location and is known for its beautiful beaches, historical landmarks, hidden lagoons, churches, and the freshest seafood around. Popular spots include Islas De Gigantes and the nearby Guimaras Island with the sweetest mangoes. Agoda also shared the cheapest average destination cities (and underrated gems) across eight other Asian countries, starting with Udon Thani in Thailand, which has an average room rate of P1,576. It’s part of the “big four” cities in Thailand’s Isaan region, and is considered a lively city, particularly at Nong Prajak Park and the surrounding lake. A stroll down the boulevard and you’ll see the Chinese Gate and the Udon Thani City Museum. It’s also nearby Vientiane, the capital of Laos, which is on the other side of the Mekong River. Indonesia’s rising metropolis in East Java has an average room rate of P2,195. The thriving port city with Javanese, Chinese, and Arab cultural influences offers heritage architecture, modern buildings, and the Pasar Atom market with traditional crafts and delicacies like Lontong Balap and Sate Klopo. Located in Central Vietnam, Hue has an average room rate of P2,420 and is rich in history and culture (being the former imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty). Imperial City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with majestic palaces and temples, can be found in Hue. Tourists can take a boat cruise through the city on the Perfume River! The state capital of Sarawak in Malaysia offers an average P2,758 room rate and is situated on the island of Borneo, along the Sarawak River. Surrounded by natural beauty, Kuching is a plethora of arts and crafts – check out the Main Bazaar, Carpenter Street, and the Sunday Market for local handicrafts and souvenirs. Kuching’s nearby Bako National Park has rainforests, wildlife, and beaches to visit. Bengaluru’s average room rate is at P3,096. Called the “Silicon Valley of India,” Bengaluru is a rising technology hub with a lot of historical charm and rich culture, found in the majestic Bangalore Palace or the 16th century Nandi Temple. It also has a bustling South Indian culinary scene. With an average room rate of P3,996, Narita is a sought-out destination of travelers, especially since it houses the famous Narita International Airport, the gateway to Tokyo. The beautiful city in Japan’s Chiba Prefecture is also known for the Shinsjoji Temple, the traditional Naritasan Omotesando Road, and the seasonal beauty of cherry blossoms! Taiwan’s second biggest city has an average room rate of P5,684, and is easily accessible through the international airport and a high-speed rail connection to Taipei and Taoyuan. Kaohsiung’s Yancheng District showcases street art and shopping spots by the pier, and the city itself is known for its culture, temples, art, street food, music scene, and more. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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DOST hack consistent with ransomware attack, but no ransom demanded so far – DICT

Victor Barreiro Jr.

04/04/2024 13:47

MANILA, Philippines – The nature of the cyberattack that caused the defacement of at least three websites of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) was consistent with a ransomware attack, though no ransom has been demanded so far, according to Renato Paraiso, Department Of Information and Communications Technology Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs. Speaking with reporters on Thursday, April 4, Paraiso said an investigation was ongoing regarding the extent of the cyberattack’s damage. He mentioned, however, that DOST personnel were apparently locked out of their systems, much like in a standard ransomware hack. Paraiso added at least 20 of the DOST’s systems were compromised in the April 3 attack, and at least two terabytes of data, such as schematics and designs – including old or already-created designs of inventions held by the DOST – were compromised. Backups and redundancies were also compromised, though he did not elaborate on what was taken versus what was deleted. The effects of the hack – both in the short- and long-term – have yet to be determined while they investigate, however, and Paraiso didn’t discount the possibility that the amount of data accessed could have been larger. As of April 4, he said they’ve partially regained access to their systems. Paraiso added that while the site defacements were a means of communication by the hackers, and that digital footprints were consistent with local threat actors, they have not made any demands other than posting political statements on some affected DOST sites. Earlier on April 3, according to a Manila Bulletin report, sources at the Department of Information and Communications Technology had said the hackers also deleted 25 terabytes of data. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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DOST hack consistent with ransomware attack, but no ransom demanded so far – DICT

Victor Barreiro Jr.

04/04/2024 13:47

MANILA, Philippines – The nature of the cyberattack that caused the defacement of at least three websites of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) was consistent with a ransomware attack, though no ransom has been demanded so far, according to Renato Paraiso, Department Of Information and Communications Technology Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs. Speaking with reporters on Thursday, April 4, Paraiso said an investigation was ongoing regarding the extent of the cyberattack’s damage. He mentioned, however, that DOST personnel were apparently locked out of their systems, much like in a standard ransomware hack. Paraiso added at least 20 of the DOST’s systems were compromised in the April 3 attack, and at least two terabytes of data, such as schematics and designs – including old or already-created designs of inventions held by the DOST – were compromised. Backups and redundancies were also compromised, though he did not elaborate on what was taken versus what was deleted. The effects of the hack – both in the short- and long-term – have yet to be determined while they investigate, however, and Paraiso didn’t discount the possibility that the amount of data accessed could have been larger. As of April 4, he said they’ve partially regained access to their systems. Paraiso added that while the site defacements were a means of communication by the hackers, and that digital footprints were consistent with local threat actors, they have not made any demands other than posting political statements on some affected DOST sites. Earlier on April 3, according to a Manila Bulletin report, sources at the Department of Information and Communications Technology had said the hackers also deleted 25 terabytes of data. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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DA cracks down on illegal diversion of galunggong, mackerel, bonito to wet markets

Iya Gozum

04/04/2024 11:59

GALUNGGONG. A fish vendor sells round scad or galunggong at a market in Quezon City, August 17, 2018. Rappler NUEVA ECIJA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has started a probe that would lead to the crackdown of importers illegally diverting tons of frozen galunggong (round scad), mackerel, and bonito into wet markets. “We’ve identified most of them,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Wednesday, April 3, in an ambush interview in the Science City of Muñoz. Tiu Laurel was a resource person in the first day of the Food Security Cluster Communications Workshop held at the Philippine Rice Research Institute. “But of course, we have to do our audit, right? I mean, to be fair to everybody,” said Tiu Laurel. “We don’t want to harm those that are legitimate.” The crackdown will focus on “registered importers” who, instead of supplying canning and processing factories, divert and sell the frozen fish to palengke or wet market vendors Tiu Laurel said small players in wet markets are harmless and “are just doing their jobs.” “They just need income,” he added. About 30,000 tons of fish imports are diverted to wet markets per quarter, according to the agriculture chief, resulting in at least 90,000 to 100,000 tons diverted in a year. On Monday, April 1, Tiu Laurel suspended the importation of frozen galunggong, bonito, and mackerel through Memorandum No. 14. The memorandum takes effect 15 days after issuance. These frozen fish products are intended for institutional buyers, as well as canning and processing purposes. Diverting these imported fish to the wet market is illegal. Under Fisheries Administrative Order No. 195, series of 1999, importers who are found guilty of violating their restrictions will be “permanently disqualified from applying for subsequent importation of fish and fishery/aquatic products and shall be penalized.” Upon arrival in Philippine ports, imported fish are subject to physical examination and microbiological analysis to determine if these are fit for human consumption. Memorandum No. 14 instructed importers to add additional labelling for other imported fish and should read as follows: “Imported under FAO 195 for canning purposes only and not for sale or distribution to wet markets and supermarkets.” Trade Undersecretary Ed Sunico said they plan to discuss the DA memorandum in a regular meeting with manufacturers to assess how the suspension may affect prices. “There will be a special focus probably on this one,” Sunico told reporters on Thursday, April 4. “So we can see if there are interventions that the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) needs to do.” – Rappler.com *Quotes translated to English for brevity Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Taiwan earthquake injuries top 1,000, missing hotel workers found

Victor Barreiro Jr.

04/04/2024 8:57

TAIWAN EARTHQUAKE. People ride motorcycles near the site where a building collapsed, following the earthquake, in Hualien, Taiwan April 4, 2024. Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters HUALIEN, Taiwan – The number of people injured in a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in eastern Taiwan climbed past 1,000 on Thursday, April 4, though the death toll remained steady at nine, with dozens of workers on their way to a hotel in a national park mostly now found safe. The temblor, the strongest in 25 years, hit on Wednesday morning just as people were readying to go to work and school, centered on the largely rural and sparsely populated eastern county of Hualien. Buildings also shook violently in capital Taipei, but damage and disruption there was minimal. Taiwan’s fire department said the number of injuries had reached 1,050, putting the total number of missing at 52. Around two dozen of almost 50 hotel workers on their way to a resort in Taroko National Park had been located. The fire department said the group was trapped on the cross-island highway which traverses the gorge connecting Hualien with Taiwan’s west coast and is a popular tourist destination. It showed drone footage of some of the hotel workers, along with other people, waving from the side of a road, with the crushed back part of a minibus also clearly visible. Another group of 26 workers had also been found, it added. On Thursday morning, a helicopter rescued six people who had been trapped in a mining area, the fire department said. The railway line to Hualien re-opened ahead of schedule on Thursday, although one rural station north of Hualien city remains closed due to damage, the railway administration said. In Hualien city, where people who had been trapped in buildings have all been rescued, some people slept outdoors overnight as more than 300 aftershocks rocked the region, unnerving residents. A lady, 52, who gave her family name as Yu, said she checked herself into a tent on a sports ground being used for temporary shelter late on Wednesday night because she was too scared to sleep in her apartment, which she described as “a mess”. “The aftershocks were terrifying. It’s nonstop. I do not dare to sleep in the house,” she said. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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No political amendments in charter change push? Marcos’ adviser Gadon suggests otherwise

Dwight de Leon

04/04/2024 8:00

DISBARRED LAWYER. Larry Gadon answers questions from the media ahead of the Marcos-Duterte proclamation rally, on February 8, 2022, at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. Rappler.com President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and charter change advocates under his administration have constantly denied wanting to touch on political provisions of the 1987 Constitution, but not one of his men in Malacañang. Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon went to the House of Representatives on Wednesday, April 3, delivering a letter that urges the leader of the two chambers of Congress to consider expanding the current charter change agenda beyond economic provisions. We’re talking about longer terms of office, a larger Senate, and a new system of government – proposals that undermined charter change efforts under previous administrations. “Certain political provisions have proven to be costly and redundant, and amending them could lead to improved governance and greater benefits for the people,” Gadon wrote in his letter addressed to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. His “humble suggestions” include: “Charter change is a rare opportunity that demands meaningful changes benefiting our nation and future generations. Let us seize this moment to enact comprehensive reforms,” Gadon insisted. Gadon said the President was unaware that his presidential adviser would ask Congress to consider his suggestions on charter change. “I am exercising my right as a Filipino desiring a better future for the country,” he said. Marcos has flip-flopped on charter change, from saying last year that it was not his priority, to admitting his administration is keen on amending the Constitution’s economic provisions. In a television interview in January, he did not close his doors to the idea of modifying the charter’s political provisions, but said he would rather have discussions on term limits at a later time. Marcos Jr.’s father – the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos – successfully changed the Constitution during his time as president, which, according to the Martial Law Museum, allowed him to stay in power beyond the two four-year terms provided in the 1935 Constitution. He ran the country from 1965 to 1986, stepping down only after being ousted by the EDSA People Power Revolution. The President appointed Gadon as one of his advisers in June 2023. The foul-mouthed former lawyer – disbarred by the Supreme Court that same month – has always branded himself as a true-blooded Marcos loyalist. He claimed history has always been biased for the political rivals of the Marcoses – the Aquinos, and said the Marcos family does not need to apologize for the human rights violations committed during the patriarch’s martial rule. Gadon has had a long history of making headlines for his outlandish remarks and actions – he once called supporters of an embattled chief justice “bobo” (stupid) and raised his middle finger at them – and the media have learned not to always echo his comments over the years. But now that he’s a presidential adviser pushing for divisive charter change amendments – whether it’s for genuine intentions or a mere cry for attention – it’s difficult to look the other way. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. Even if Gadon does not hold the presidential advisory position, the fact that he claims to be a “true-blooded Marcos loyalist” makes it easy to suspect who the mastermind behind such a move is. His push for such divisive charter change amendments thickens the plot of the Political Theatrics in our country. As long as the combined greed for power, fame, and wealth dominates our society, it will always be this way. How does this make you feel?

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Elreen surpasses Hidilyn: Ando books Paris berth as Diaz falls short of 5th Olympic stint

delfin.dioquino editor

03/04/2024 23:55

LIFT. The Philippines' Elreen Ando in action during the 19th Asian Games. Kim Kyung-Hoon/REUTERS MANILA, Philippines – Paris beckons for Filipina weightlifter Elreen Ando. Ando booked a return trip to the Olympics as she saved the best for last in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup in Phuket, Thailand, finishing seventh in the women’s 59kg class on Wednesday, April 3. The pride of Cebu cleared 100kg in snatch and 128kg in clean and jerk for a total of 228kg to crack the top 10 of the IWF Olympic Qualification Ranking (OQR) and secure her Paris Games berth. Ando eclipsed her previous best lift of 222kg she set in the World Weightlifting Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in September. But with Ando qualifying for Paris, Hidilyn Diaz fell short of her bid to make her fifth straight Olympics as only one athlete per country per weight category will advance, with the World Cup serving as the last qualification event. Diaz, who owned the No. 8 spot in the OQR after recording 224kg in Riyadh, cleared just 222kg (99kg in snatch and 123kg in clean and jerk) as she settled for 11th place in the World Cup. A pair of clean and jerk attempts at 127kg in a bid to raise her OQR score to 226kg ended unsuccessful for the 33-year-old Diaz. Ruling the 55kg division in the Tokyo Games to become the Philippines’ first Olympic champion, Diaz needed to move up to 59kg as her former weight category got scrapped. Ando, 25, became the second Filipino weightlifter to punch a ticket to Paris after John Ceniza, who earned his Olympic berth in the men’s 61kg class. The IWF will release its final and official ranking list in May. Ando, who shattered the Southeast Asian Games record last year, now aims to surpass her Olympic debut performance where she finished seventh in the Tokyo Games in 2021. Also bound for Paris for Team Philippines are pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan, and boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, and Aira Villegas. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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‘Mini Miss UST’ defies odds anew, books quick UAAP Final Four return with young core

jisaga0269

03/04/2024 20:40

STAR TIGRESSES. UST spiker Angge Poyos (left) and libero captain Detdet Pepito react in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament UAAP Season 86 Media Team MANILA, Philippines – Too small. No veterans. No star power. The UST Golden Tigresses have heard it all before their UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball campaign kicked off, with many fans – for good reason – being somewhat skeptical of their ability to retain their title-contention status. However, just one year removed from losing veteran stars Eya Laure, Imee Hernandez, and Milena Alessandrini, this young batch of Tigresses have easily won back hearts and erased all doubts as they were the first in line to book a Final Four ticket off a four-set win over Adamson on Wednesday, April 3. Largely thanks to super freshman Angge Poyos‘ rookie-record 31-point explosion, UST now holds an impressive 9-1 record, successfully bouncing back from its streak-snapping loss against fellow contender NU last March 24. One of the few remaining veterans, libero captain Detdet Pepito, couldn’t be prouder that her young proteges quickly bought in to the underdog winning culture the Tigresses are trying to keep since the days of Laure and Sisi Rondina. “We keep on saying that we didn’t expect to be in this position,” she said in Filipino after the 22-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-20 win. “I’m happy because a lot were saying before that we’re ‘Mini Miss UST’ and that we’d get destroyed by other teams, but we’re happy that we keep on proving that it’s not about height, it’s about heart.” Even head coach Kungfu Reyes, who has seen it all in his tenure as Golden Tigresses coach, was still surprised that they were able to cruise past the competition so far with big wins one after another. “We’re just surprised that we’re already here at 9-1. We’re surprised of the results, but not of the way we got there, because that’s already how we move in practice,” he said in Filipino. “We’re just gauging their performances in their last few games, but I can really see that their hard work is really paying off.” Meanwhile, Poyos, who quickly reset UE star Casiey Dongallo’s 30-point rookie record, is just thankful that she quickly healed from her pre-Holy Week injuries and was able to rebound from their painful first loss against the mighty Lady Bulldogs. “I’m thankful for this comeback game and I’m thankful that I was able to contribute to the team,” she said after tallying 27 attacks, 3 aces, and 1 block. “I’m thankful we were able to rally back and I’m thankful for my ates who keep on fighting for me and the team.” “Mini Miss UST” now has a golden chance for the coveted twice-to-beat advantage with four elimination round games left, and the Tigresses know it’s a foolish endeavor now to lose sight of the ultimate goal at this stage of the tournament. “We’ll just keep grinding. That’s all it is. That’s just our baseline,” Reyes continued. “How we prepare, that’s one of the good results we keep on seeking. We will polish our skills, regroup, correct our unforced errors, sharpen our skills.” “Tomorrow, we just go back to training.” The job is not finished, after all. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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No political amendments in charter change push? Marcos’ adviser Gadon suggests otherwise

Dwight de Leon

04/04/2024 8:00

DISBARRED LAWYER. Larry Gadon answers questions from the media ahead of the Marcos-Duterte proclamation rally, on February 8, 2022, at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. Rappler.com President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and charter change advocates under his administration have constantly denied wanting to touch on political provisions of the 1987 Constitution, but not one of his men in Malacañang. Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon went to the House of Representatives on Wednesday, April 3, delivering a letter that urges the leader of the two chambers of Congress to consider expanding the current charter change agenda beyond economic provisions. We’re talking about longer terms of office, a larger Senate, and a new system of government – proposals that undermined charter change efforts under previous administrations. “Certain political provisions have proven to be costly and redundant, and amending them could lead to improved governance and greater benefits for the people,” Gadon wrote in his letter addressed to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. His “humble suggestions” include: “Charter change is a rare opportunity that demands meaningful changes benefiting our nation and future generations. Let us seize this moment to enact comprehensive reforms,” Gadon insisted. Gadon said the President was unaware that his presidential adviser would ask Congress to consider his suggestions on charter change. “I am exercising my right as a Filipino desiring a better future for the country,” he said. Marcos has flip-flopped on charter change, from saying last year that it was not his priority, to admitting his administration is keen on amending the Constitution’s economic provisions. In a television interview in January, he did not close his doors to the idea of modifying the charter’s political provisions, but said he would rather have discussions on term limits at a later time. Marcos Jr.’s father – the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos – successfully changed the Constitution during his time as president, which, according to the Martial Law Museum, allowed him to stay in power beyond the two four-year terms provided in the 1935 Constitution. He ran the country from 1965 to 1986, stepping down only after being ousted by the EDSA People Power Revolution. The President appointed Gadon as one of his advisers in June 2023. The foul-mouthed former lawyer – disbarred by the Supreme Court that same month – has always branded himself as a true-blooded Marcos loyalist. He claimed history has always been biased for the political rivals of the Marcoses – the Aquinos, and said the Marcos family does not need to apologize for the human rights violations committed during the patriarch’s martial rule. Gadon has had a long history of making headlines for his outlandish remarks and actions – he once called supporters of an embattled chief justice “bobo” (stupid) and raised his middle finger at them – and the media have learned not to always echo his comments over the years. But now that he’s a presidential adviser pushing for divisive charter change amendments – whether it’s for genuine intentions or a mere cry for attention – it’s difficult to look the other way. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. Even if Gadon does not hold the presidential advisory position, the fact that he claims to be a “true-blooded Marcos loyalist” makes it easy to suspect who the mastermind behind such a move is. His push for such divisive charter change amendments thickens the plot of the Political Theatrics in our country. As long as the combined greed for power, fame, and wealth dominates our society, it will always be this way. How does this make you feel?

Rappler

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LIST: Long weekends in 2024

clescudero0258

06/06/2024 13:10

Editor’s Note: This page was first published on October 13, 2023, and subsequently republished with updates. MANILA, Philippines – Planning your vacation leaves and rest days in 2024? Malacañang on Friday, October 13, released the regular holidays and special non-working days in 2024, and at least six of them fall near weekends. Here’s a list of the long weekends in 2024. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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LIST: April 2024 special non-working days in PH provinces, cities, towns

Miriam Grace Go

26/03/2024 20:09

Pangasinan image from provincial government; Antipolo and Mountain Province images from Shutterstock MANILA, Philippines – This is a compilation of special non-working days in various localities in the Philippines for April 2024, as proclaimed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Bookmark this page for possible additional announcements from Malacañang. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Beyond Siargao: Six other must-visit Caraga destinations

Herbie G

02/04/2024 14:56

PICTURE PERFECT. Tourists enjoy the scenic view of Bega Falls in Barangay Mabuhay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. Department of Tourism-Caraga BUTUAN, Philippines – With the start of the dry season, it’s the perfect time to seek out places to beat the heat, and the Caraga region boasts some of these ideal summer destinations. While Siargao Island is unquestionably the premiere tourist destination in the region, Caraga has much more to offer beyond its surfing capital’s famed shores. From uninhabited islands, enchanting rivers, and stunning waterfalls, Caraga is a treasure trove just waiting to be explored. Here are some destinations where you can venture off the beaten track this season and find some of the most fascinating spots that highlight the region’s natural beauty: Nestled on Pangabangan Island in the town of Libjo, Dinagat Island, this tidal pool got its name ‘Blue Lagoon’ due to its crystal-clear waters, which boast rich shades of blue when viewed from afar. Surrounded by towering karst formations, the Blue Lagoon is a perfect place for sunbathing, seaside relaxation, and tranquil swimming experiences. There’s a floating cottage available for those who wish to soak up the scenery, or a bamboo raft for exploration. For those seeking adventure, one can climb a large karst formation that offers a panoramic perspective of the Blue Lagoon and its surrounding waters. Though the climb may be a bit steep and slightly risky, the breathtaking view from the top makes it all worthwhile. Tourists can opt to spend the night by setting up camp under the coconut trees. The Tinuy-an Falls Eco Park features a majestic waterfall, with its curtain of water cascading down a four-tier drop that spans 95 meters wide and 55 meters high. Tourists often liken Tinuy-an Falls to a mini-version of Canada’s Niagara Falls. Found in Barangay Burboanan, Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, about 16 kilometers from the city center, the entire area is filled with tall trees, which adds to its appeal. The water basin on the second tier, the tallest of the four layers, is an attraction in and of itself. Visitors can swim, take photos, and ride a bamboo raft to come up close to the waterfall and feel the water cascading down like a soothing massage. As soon as you catch sight of the river tucked away in the coastal town of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur, you’ll find yourself utterly enchanted. Situated in the Barangay of Cambatong, about 14 kilometers from the town center, the Hinatuan Enchanted River offers a visual feast of greenish-blue crystal-clear waters. The river traverses the boundaries of the villages of Talisay and Cambatong and flows out of Hinatuan Bay, facing the Pacific Ocean. Upon arrival at the spot, you’ll be welcomed by a stunning blue lagoon. Although the enticing color of the water may tempt you to jump right in, it’s reserved solely for sightseeing. The designated area where tourists can take a plunge or swim is situated some 10 meters away from the lagoon and is secured with ropes and floaters. According to local folklore, the river earned its name due to the “engkantos” (Philippine mythical creatures or spirits) believed to inhabit its waters, with legends also suggesting that supernatural beings act as its guardian. If you’re seeking an island adventure, Britania Island is definitely the destination for you. With its clear turquoise waters, pristine white sand beaches, and delectable seafood offerings, this group of islets comprising Britania Islands in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur promises to captivate all who visit. Located along Lianga Bay, facing the Pacific Ocean, the Britania Islands consist of approximately 20 to 25 islands and islets, their numbers depending on the tides. Among these islands, four are prominent stops on the island-hopping tour packages that have become popular with tourists: Boslon, Hagonoy, Hiyor-hiyoran, and Naked Island. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of recreational water activities such as jet skiing, snorkeling, banana boating, and flying fish rides. While Agusan del Sur, the only landlocked province in the region, may lack the sandy shores found in other provinces with coastlines, it compensates with breathtaking waterfalls, among them is the Bega Falls. Located in Purok 5 of Barangay Mabuhay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, approximately 16 kilometers from the town center, Bega Falls stands as a natural wonder boasting three tiers of cascading water within the Bega River system, originating from the source at Sitio Ugnop Cave. Each level of Bega Falls has its unique charm, with clear water flowing gently over moss-covered rocks. Surrounded by lush greenery, Bega Falls welcomes visitors to experience its layered beauty and enjoy the peacefulness of nature. On Surigao City’s western side lies a one-of-a-kind beach experience: Mabua Pebble Beach. Unlike the typical sandy stretches, you might expect, this shoreline is made up of multi-sized pebbles, which sets it apart from most of the beaches in the Philippines. This pebble beach, named after Barangay Mabua where it is located, offers crystal-clear waters. Even when the water reaches chest-deep, you can still see your feet clearly beneath the surface. And those pebbles? They’re not just for looks. Walking barefoot on them is therapeutic too, as it’s like giving your feet a mini-massage while you explore. For sunset lovers, Mabua Pebble Beach offers a showstopping view. It’s one of the best spots in the Caraga region to catch the sky changing its colors to a mesmerizing orange hue. – Rappler.com Ivy Marie Mangadlao is a community journalist writing for Mindanews and an Aries Rufo Journalism fellow for 2023-2024. Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Belga makes history for Rain or Shine with triple-double in throwback game

delfin.dioquino editor

03/04/2024 22:34

CONTESTED. Beau Belga in action for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup. PBA Images MANILA, Philippines – In a game where Rain or Shine brought back a little piece of its history, Beau Belga made one of his own. Belga became the first Elasto Painters local to notch a triple-double in franchise history as Rain or Shine mauled Converge, 110-90, for back-to-back wins in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, April 3. Doing it all for an Elasto Painters side seeking to turn things around after a 0-4 start to the conference, Belga finished with a career-high 25 points, 12 rebounds, and a career-high-tying 10 assists. His stellar performance came in the same game Rain or Shine donned throwback jerseys of the Welcoat Dragons, the name the franchise used when it joined the PBA in 2006 after its success in the Philippine Basketball League. “We wanted to win wearing this jersey. We tried our best to get the win,” said Belga. On triple-double alert with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists through the first three quarters, Belga achieved the feat when he located Andrei Caracut for a triple that gave the Elasto Painters a comfortable 87-67 cushion. According to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, the 37-year-old forward became the oldest player to net a triple-double since legend Ramon Fernandez – then 38 years old – accomplished one for San Miguel in 1992. “When you get older, you also get smarter,” said Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao, drawing out a smile from Belga. “I think he has rounded out his game very well. He has offense and he has rebounding.” Santi Santillan backstopped Belga with a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds, Shaun Ildefonso put up a career-high 15 points, while Caracut dished out a career-high 13 assists to go with 15 points. Gian Mamuyac added 10 points for the Elasto Painters, who recorded their most lopsided win in the Philippine Cup since they cruised to a 103-80 rout of Blackwater in a playoff for the last quarterfinal berth in 2017. The game also marked the first time Rain or Shine rookie Sherwin Concepcion scored this season after he sank a three-pointer late that gave his side its biggest lead at 110-86. Justin Arana delivered 20 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals, but his solid numbers went down the drain anew as the FiberXers remained winless in six games. Unable to recover after finishing at the bottom last conference, Converge has lost by at least 20 points for three straight matches. Rain or Shine 110 – Belga 25, Santillan 23, Caracut 15, Ildefonso 15, Mamuyac 10, Demusis 6, Borboran 4, Clarito 4, Concepcion 3, Asistio 3, Norwood 2, Belga 0, Paredes 0. Converge 90 – Arana 20, Winston 14, Stockton 13, Santos 12, Delos Santos 7, Caralipio 7, Melecio 7, Zzaldivar 3, Balanza 3, Nieto 1, Ambohot 0, Maagdenberg 0, Fleming 0, Fornilos 0. Quarters: 24-24, 52-47, 75-63, 110-90. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Senators grill DENR for mismanagement of protected areas

jsitchon0312

03/04/2024 18:15

HEARING. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga and other DENR officials attend the Senate hearing on the defacement or exploitation of the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument and other protected areas on April 3, 2024. Angie de Silva/Rappler CEBU, Philippines – Senators, during a joint session of the committees on local government and environment, natural resources and climate change scolded officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for their alleged negligence in the issuance of environmental compliance certificates (ECC) to projects in protected areas. To recall, the controversial Captain’s Peak Resort, which built structures on the foot of three Chocolate Hills in Bohol, did not have an ECC. Rappler visited other establishments built on top of Chocolate Hills and found that they had ECCs. During the Senate session that was broadcast live on Wednesday, April 3, it was revealed that more establishments in other provinces were operating without an ECC, while other establishments had ECCs but were allegedly noncompliant with environmental standards. In their defense, DENR Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga pointed out that the membership of the Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB) affects what happens to the management of protected areas. “The membership of the PAMB is dominated by the local interest. The DENR sits as chair, it does not vote, and the PAMB can be constituted when the DENR is absent or is not available,” the DENR secretary said. Under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (E-NIPAS) Act of 2018, the PAMB consists of the DENR regional director under whose jurisdiction the protected area is located, the concerned governor, district representative/s, mayor/s, barangay head/s, three representatives from nongovernmental organizations, and at least one representative each from indigenous peoples and communities, academe, and the private sector, to name a few. Loyzaga argued that it was the barangay officials of Canmano in Sagbayan town who presided over the meeting for the PAMB resolution in 2018 that endorsed the construction of Captain’s Peak Resort. “Whenever there is a meeting, the sheer number of the attendees will outvote even the DENR,” she said. Senator Nancy Binay, however, argued that the DENR, through its secretariat, still prepares the agenda for the PAMB resolution meetings. “Kung hindi ‘yun ang agenda, walang ia-outvote to begin with (If that was never the agenda, nobody would be outvoted to begin with),” Binay said. An irate Senator Cynthia Villar, who chaired the environment committee, pointed to DENR officials and told them that the committee could excuse the PAMB since it was comprised mostly of non-environmental experts, but the DENR still issued ECCs to questionable establishments. “Walang nag-i-issue ng ECC kundi ang DENR, so kasalanan ‘yon ng DENR (Nobody else issues an ECC but the DENR, so it is the DENR’s fault),” Villar said. Senator Raffy Tulfo questioned the DENR’s process in issuing ECCs and how some establishments, particularly in the Mount Apo Natural Park (MANP), managed to build structures despite having no ECCs. According to him, the DENR in Davao was aware of these structures in the MANP yet still gave the owners of the properties an allowance of two years to comply with the ECC requirement. DENR Davao Regional Executive Director Mercedes Dumagan said that there were 53 establishments without a PAMB clearance and ECC operating within the MANP. The regional director explained that they still sent notices of violation to these establishments, called owners to a technical conference, and penalized known violators with a P50,000 fine. “If it is deemed that the project is not detrimental to the environment, they can be issued an ECC,” Dumagan said. The senators were still not content with the DENR’s response to the violations and lambasted them for putting minimal effort into preventing the structures from being built. “You should have monitored that, nakarating sa inyong kaalaman na bawal ‘yan (you learned that it was not allowed), you should have coordinated with the LGU,” Tulfo said. Binay questioned why the DENR did not just demolish structures encroaching on protected areas. “You never exercised the power to demolish,” Binay said. Loyzaga clarified that in some of the protected areas, there were alienable and disposable lands that were titled to locals. “Therefore, we have no option but to recognize the [ownership] rights,” she said. According to the DENR, around 13,500 of about 13,900 hectares of land in the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument were alienable and disposable before its enrollment in the E-NIPAS list. Binay proposed to look for ways to expropriate the properties. Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado echoed the sentiment in his speech and said that private owners should be properly compensated for the land that they could no longer use. “One of the findings is that the regional office is weak,” Villar said in a mix of English and Tagalog. Binay pointed out this weakness in the case of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. in Surigao del Norte. Members of the cult organization illegally occupied a 353-hectare protected area provided by the government. Senator Bato dela Rosa shared that the DENR cited a lack of personnel in the conduct of inspections and enforcement of laws in that protected area. In the case of the MANP, the DENR cited that it only had one plantilla officer and 30 job-order employees monitoring 62,000 hectares of the protected area. Binay responded to this, stating that the lack of personnel shouldn’t have prevented the DENR from adopting new technologies like drones to conduct inspections. Loyzaga said they were still in the process of procuring the necessary drone equipment and specialists. “We are not fully in control of these areas, as you know, given the kind of manpower that we have. The local governments are our partners in the protection of the environment. This is not DENR’s sole job – this is the job of [everyone],” the DENR secretary said. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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16 Filipinos on Forbes 2024 list of world’s richest billionaires

gdecastro0289

03/04/2024 10:46

Raffy de Guzman/Rappler MANILA, Philippines – Sixteen Filipinos are on Forbes’ 2024 list of the world’s richest people which has 2,781 names. Real estate magnate Manuel Villar, ports tycoon Enrique Razon, and food and beverage king Ramon Ang are the top 3 richest Filipinos on the latest Forbes’ World’s Billionaires List: The Richest in 2024. Villar was 190th on the list with a net worth of $11 billion, Razon was 224th with a net worth of $10 billion, and Ang was 920nd with a net worth of $3.5 billion, as of writing. They were followed by the following (world ranking and net worth): 1286. Hans Sy ($2.6 billion) 1330. Henry Sy Jr. ($2.5 billion) 1330. Herbert Sy ($2.5 billion) 1330. Lucio Tan ($2.5 billion) 1380. Harley Sy ($2.4 billion) 1438. Teresita Sy-Coson ($2.3 billion) 1545. Elizabeth Sy ($2.1 billion) 1623. Andrew Tan ($2 billion) 2152. Tony Tan Caktiong ($1.4 billion) 2410. Lucio Co ($1.2 billion) 2545. Susan Co ($1.1 billion) 2545. Lance Gokongwei ($1.1 billion) 2692. William Belo ($1 billion) The Sy siblings own the SM group of companies, which includes SM Prime, SM Investments, SMDC, BDO, Chinabank, 2GO, Goldilocks, among others. Lucio Tan is founder of the LT group, which includes Fortune Tobacco, Asia Brewery, Philippine National Bank, PAL, Eton Properties, among others. Andrew Tan is head of Alliance Global Group, which includes Megaworld, Emperador Incorporated, McDonald’s Philippines, among others. Tony Tan Caktiong is founder of Jollibee Foods Corporation. Lucio and Susan Co are owners of Puregold Price Club. Lance Gokongwei heads JG Summit Holdings, which includes Cebu Air or Cebu Pacific airlines, Robinsons Land, Universal Robina, among others. William Belo is founder and chair emeritus of home improvement company Wilcon Depot. Forbes said the US has the most number of billionaires on the list with 813, followed by China (plus Hong Kong) with 473, and India with 200. A post shared by Forbes (@forbes) The richest person in the world is France’s Bernard Arnault and family, owner of luxury goods firm LVMH (Louis Vuitton) with a net worth of $222.4 billion. Next to the LVMH owner is Amazon’s Jeff Bezos ($198.7 billion); Tesla/SpaceX’s Elon Musk ($190.2 billion); and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg ($174.4 billion), all from the US. Pop star Taylor Swift made it to the list for the first time with a net worth of $1.1 billion, joining 13 other celebrities. Forbes said Swift’s Eras Tour grossed more than $1 billion from her first 60 shows alone. Forbes says its “real-time billionaires rankings tracks the daily ups and downs of the world’s richest people.” It is based on net worth, and the value of the person’s public holdings is updated every 5 minutes when stock markets are open. Their net worths are updated once a day. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. Congratulations to fellow Filipinos who made it to this list, especially Manny Villar. If he ever won the Presidency, we would have our first Forbes-listed Billionaire President. That is better than having a president who has billions of hidden wealth (either in pesos or dollars) and known wealth but with intentionally unpaid and evaded taxes. (Note: Assuming that Manny Villar correctly declares his wealth and prudently pays his taxes.) How does this make you feel?

Rappler

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[Vantage Point] The ‘untouchable’ Quiboloy

Glenda Gloria

02/04/2024 8:14

Will self-proclaimed “Son of God” Apollo Quiboloy violently resist if and when the Senate serves its arrest order against the flamboyant cult leader? On March 20, the upper chamber finally decided to cite the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader for contempt after snubbing the Senate investigation into his alleged predatory sexual exploits. The arrest order was signed by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality. The Senate was probing assertions of years of exploitation and abuse perpetuated against former KOJC workers by preacher Quiboloy and his associates. In a parallel move, the Department of Justice (DOJ) also ordered the filing of cases of child abuse and human trafficking against Quiboloy and five of his associates. Many are speculating that the DOJ move could be related to the extradition of the cult leader to the United States where he is on the most-wanted list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In November 2021, a superseding federal indictment in the Central District of California was unsealed, charging Quiboloy and two church administrators with conspiring in a sex trafficking operation between 2002 and 2018, where girls and women, aged between 12 and 25, were recruited to work as the pastor’s personal assistants. It is a fair question to ask if Quiboloy would go quietly. Quiboloy’s lair in Davao is suspected of harboring several munitions, some of which are believed to be carried locked and loaded by his loyal servants. In fact, a witness, alias “Rene,” alleged during the Senate investigation that Vice President (VP) and Education Secretary Sara and her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, had left Quiboloy’s vast property in Davao City with bags of assorted firearms. The VP did not confirm nor deny the allegation. But several witnesses saw them leaving the Glory Mountain with bags of guns. Quiboloy’s mountain den is a vast property nestling on the ramps of Mount Apo, in Barangay Tamayo in Davao City’s Calinan District. Ms. Duterte could only say that all these allegations are politically motivated. On June 20, 2002,  at least 23 people died during a night fraught with violence as policemen and soldiers were to serve the arrest warrant to the late Ruben Ecleo Jr., who, just like Quiboloy, was politically well-connected. Ecleo was the leader of the cultist group Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA). A joint team of Philippine National Police (PNP) and soldiers of the Army’s 20th Infantry Battalion – with air support from two MG-520 helicopters – were met with bullets when they tried to serve Ecleo a warrant of arrest for the murder of his wife, fourth-year medical student Alona Bacolod Ecleo, in Cebu City on January 6, 2002. Ecleo finally surrendered after a night of blood shedding, but eventually jumped bail while he was on trial. He had been on the run with a P2-million bounty on his head since 2011 and was finally re-arrested on July 2020. He died from various heart complications on April 25, 2021, while serving prison time. Quiboloy has many sympathizers, among them, the Duterte father and daughter, on whom the pastor is said to be leaning to bolster his innocence. These die-hard supporters have in fact participated in organized prayer rallies in support of Quiboloy, along with the Dutertes and some cabinet secretaries of the former president. Recent rallies for the embattled cult leader turned into anti-Marcos Jr. assemblies, where chants calling for the resignation of the President loudly rang out. It is from this base support that Quiboloy draws his confidence and belief that he is untouchable. Quiboloy’s case, from my Vantage Point, is also a litmus test for the government. Would the Marcos Jr. administration really execute its lawful duty to hale Quiboloy into court? How could President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. allow his VP to lend her presence to a crowd that her father was agitating to clamor for his ouster? One of the reasons former VP Leni Robredo was fired from her post as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) was that then President Rodrigo Duterte suspected her of conniving with the opposition in undermining his administration. A reader wrote that she is perplexed as to why Ms. Duterte issued a statement during Women’s Month no less that she is supporting Quiboloy who is allegedly a rapist. “Wasn’t she a victim of rape too?” When presidential candidate Duterte was onstage at a campaign rally for the 2016 elections, he narrated a rape incident about Australian lay missioner Jacqueline who was also killed during the 1989 hostage-taking at the Davao Penal Colony. Duterte said  he felt angry because it was a waste that, as then city mayor, he should have been “first in line” when Hamill was raped because “she was as beautiful as an American actress.” The former president said later that he was just joking. In her Instagram account, VP Sara posted that she was not offended by her father’s comments about Hamill, although she claimed that she too was a rape victim: “Not a joke. I am a rape victim … I am just saying I went through it and I do not feel offended by the rape joke. I do not want to talk about the details of my experience. It is embarrassing.” Mr. Duterte later dismissed his daughter’s confession by describing her as a drama queen: “She can’t be raped – she carries a gun.” Since the Dutertes look like they are twisting themselves into a pretzel in defending Quiboloy, some people suspect that they are doing so because they expect something big in return. Is it the promise of block votes from Pastor Quiboloy who claims to have millions of devoted followers? Pray tell, the size of Quiboloy’s congregation, notwithstanding his claims, is not even a fraction of that of, say, the Iglesia ni Cristo. Political pundits believe that it is not for the votes. The flighty Ms. Duterte, they say, is executing a calculated political move for the most ignoble reason. It could be for the protection of the family’s political war chest. She needs billions of pesos to finance her coming campaign for the presidency. The compelling motivation is dark money. While other politicians can expect only crumbs, the father and daughter may get the lion’s share of the KOJC’s wealth. Mr. Duterte’s appointment, announced by Quiboloy himself, as caretaker of the vast religious empire, does nothing to dispel that suspicion. He actually owns, people believe, houses in the US and Canada, found to have been registered in the names of KOJC operatives in those countries. The real estate properties cost millions of dollars each. However much Quiboloy squeezes them, his members can only deliver so much by way of tithing. Most of them are dirt-poor, living on the fringes of society. To finance his lavish lifestyle (with a jet plane and a fleet of helicopters and luxury cars), the pastor sends out an army of brainwashed young men and women every day in Metro Manila, with instructions to sell rice cakes, ballpoint pens, and other knickknacks and pretend they are poor students trying to earn tuition money. In spite of their best efforts, however, they could only make a few hundred pesos each to remit to their handlers. He deploys members to major cities in the US and Canada to beg for alms, supposedly to benefit calamity victims in the Philippines. They are brought there carrying religious visas, for which Quiboloy and his associates have been charged with fraud, among other offenses, by the FBI. The Dutertes did not hesitate at raising the communist bogeyman in an effort to get Congress to appropriate billions, even trillions, of pesos that they to date have not been accounted for. As it has now become apparent, the P125 million that President Marcos Jr. granted to Ms. Duterte before the Uniteam unraveled was spent in just 11 days is only the tip of the iceberg. The amount is “loose change,” compared to what she felt she was entitled to. VP Sara wanted Congress to allocate P100 billion and put that money at her disposal. Unfortunately for Ms. Duterte and Mr. Duterte, Quiboloy’s religious empire is collapsing under its own weight. Just recently, District Judge Terry Hatter Jr. of California ordered that the warrants against KOJC founder Quiboloy unsealed. That, according to legal observers, is the first step towards the filing of a request for the extradition of Quiboloy from the Philippines to the United States. Coming on the heels of that development was the announcement made by the Pasig Prosecutors Office that it had approved a resolution charging the self-proclaimed messiah with human trafficking and child abuse. No bail was recommended, which means the accused will have to stay in the hot, overcrowded, vermin infested city jail pending resolution of the cases. Give Quiboloy a few days in that hellhole, and he’ll long for the comfort of a California detention facility, into which the FBI or the US Marshal plans to consign him after his extradition. The man flatters himself when he claims the Central Intelligence Agency is preparing to subject him to the infamous rendition process. Under the arrangement, the US deep state, as it is called, subjected to waterboarding and other forms of torture suspected terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria at the US Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to extract information from them regarding the whereabouts of Usama bin Ladin, the Al-Queda leader who planned the attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001. Why Guantanamo Bay? A writ of habeas corpus, which compels authorities to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his detention, cannot be enforced there, which is beyond the reach of the US judicial system. It’s funny because Quiboloy does not have the guts and the smarts required of a terrorist. He is wanted by the FBI for the common but very serious crimes of rape of minors, human trafficking, and cash bulk smuggling, in addition to the aforementioned fraud charges. The CIA, the US spy organization ranged against the Russian Federation’s KGB, is not interested in a common criminal like him. It has bigger fish to fry. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. I agree: “Quiboloy’s case is a litmus test for the Marcos government.” It is a test of President Marcos Jr.’s concern about Quiboloy’s victims, and the latter’s still unaware, denying, or brainwashed members (except its officers). In the background, this is a contest of who has the better political savvy: President Marcos Jr. or Former President Digong Duterte. President Marcos Jr. should not underestimate the significance of this contest because it will directly affect the chances of his cousin Martin’s quest for the Presidency in the 2028 national elections. How does this make you feel?

Rappler

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Calvin Abueva suspended, fined over dirty finger incident

delfin.dioquino editor

03/04/2024 18:59

FLOATER. Calvin Abueva in action for the Magnolia Hotshots in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup. PBA Images MANILA, Philippines – Flashing the middle finger to a fan proved costly for Calvin Abueva. Abueva will serve a one-game suspension and pay a fine of P20,000 as punishment for his latest misconduct, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial announced on Wednesday, April 3. The PBA cracked the whip on the Magnolia forward after he got caught on camera flipping off a fan in their 87-77 loss to Barangay Ginebra in the Philippine Cup last March 31. “He knows he is wrong for doing that. He apologizes for what happened,” Marcial said in Filipino after summoning Abueva on Wednesday. “If he does it again, I told him I’ll increase his suspension and fine. He said that it will not happen again. We’ll see.” The incident came just two months after the PBA slapped Abueva with a hefty fine of P100,000 after he mocked the visual impairment of San Miguel head coach Jorge Gallent during the Commissioner’s Cup finals in February. Marcial then warned Abueva – who once served a 16-month suspension for a series of on-court antics – of a repeat ban if he fails to change his ways. Abueva explained he only retaliated after being cursed at by the fan, but Marcial said the two-time Best Player of the Conference should leave it to the officials to take action. “I told him the next time it happens again, he should tell the referees, the technical committee, or me so we can talk to the fan. We can eject them,” said Marcial. Abueva will sit out as Magnolia battles NLEX at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Saturday, April 6. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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[Rappler’s Best] All that drama at Camp Crame

lfangeles0309

02/04/2024 14:38

Nico Villarete/Rappler Happy Easter to you! I hope you had days of quiet during the Holy Week, which we all deserve in a world of too much chatter and too much strife. Despite problems, Christian churches nationwide prayed for Easter hope. In Rappler, one unit did not get much rest the past few days. Our spirited faith cluster not only churned out stories on the Philippines’ Lenten activities but also chatted with our readers on the Rappler app. Readers spent the past week vigorously sharing stories, photos, experiences, prayers, ideas, and emojis in the faith channel on the app – giving life and color to our Holy Week traditions. If faith and spirituality is a topic close to your heart, go to the Community tab of the Rappler app, look for the “faith” channel and join the vibrant conversations there. Still don’t have the app and therefore missing a lot? Please download it on iOS or Android. I surmise that it’s also been a week without rest for a few police generals who anxiously waited for a call from Malacañang that would signal that, yes, he’s the chosen one to replace Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Benjamin Acorda, whose extended term ended on March 31. After all, the President seemed to have already made up his mind on two things last week: to no longer extend the extended Acorda and to name his replacement. On March 26, Malacañang sent an advisory to key officials and agencies about a March 27 turnover ceremony for the new PNP chief. This meant that Acorda was indeed going to turn over his post to somebody else – belying persistent speculation he’d get extended yet again. It also meant that the replacement was already known by March 26, for how could a ceremony be planned without a name to put on the President’s appointment order? Well, something happened in the holiest of days in this Catholic country. On Easter Sunday, Malacañang decided to instead name an OIC – officer in charge – to take the helm at the PNP: Lieutenant General Emmanuel Peralta. Now why would the President still choose to name an OIC when he had three months – the extended term of Acorda – to choose a replacement? If Peralta can be OIC, why can’t he just be…the chief? It turned out Peralta – and the PNP – was in for a big surprise; he was only OIC for barely 24 hours. On Monday, April 1, at the retirement ceremony for Acorda, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed the PNP’s comptroller, Francisco Marbil, as the new PNP chief. What accounts for this unnerving presidential flip-flop on a critical institution? And thus this happened at Camp Crame: an OIC on Sunday and then permanent PNP chief on Monday. Rappler reporter Jairo Bolledo noted that in December last year, a social media post about Marbil as the replacement of Acorda did the rounds, which the PNP branded as fake. Like Acorda, Marbil is a member of Class 1991 of the Philippine Military Academy; Speaker Martin Romualdez is their honorary member. Why would a choice like this be made in such a haphazard, almost clandestine fashion? Rappler’s Thought Leader John Nery provides some context to this “chaos” in this piece, The Marcoses’ three-body problem. – Rappler.com Rappler’s Best is a weekly newsletter of our top picks delivered straight to your inbox every Monday. To subscribe, visit rappler.com/profile and click the Newsletters tab. You need a Rappler account and you must log in to manage your newsletter subscriptions. Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. General Emmanuel Peralta is the pitiful victim of President Marcos Jr.’s slow decision-making and sudden flip-flopping. After being OIC for a day, General Peralta was replaced by General Francisco Marbil. Although the former has a higher rank than the latter, the latter is connected to Speaker Martin Romualdez, the honorary member of the latter’s PMA Class 1991. The choice is “indeed haphazard, almost clandestine fashion,” following John Nery’s “The Marcoses’ three-body problem.” How does this make you feel?

Rappler

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Supreme Court upholds validity of Trillanes’ amnesty, rebukes Duterte order

Jairo Bolledo

03/04/2024 21:52

FORMER SENATOR. File photo of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Rappler MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) upheld on Wednesday, April 3, the validity of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s amnesty. In a decision penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh, the SC en banc ruled that former president Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation No. 527, which revoked the former senator’s amnesty, was unconstitutional. The High Court explained that a sitting president cannot revoke a granted amnesty without the Congress’ concurrence. In deciding in Trillanes’ case, the SC said it grounded on the “primacy of Bill of Rights” and “reaffirmed that neither the government nor any of its officials, including the President, are above the law.” The SC added that the revocation of the amnesty, after it became final and without prior notice, violated the former senator’s constitutional right to due process. Duterte’s proclamation, which sought to revive Trillanes’ criminal cases that had already been dismissed, violated the former lawmaker’s rights against ex post facto laws and double jeopardy. An ex post facto law, which is prohibited under the 1987 Constitution, is equivalent to penalizing a person for an act that may be illegal for a certain time, but was not illegal when the alleged crime was committed. The right against double jeopardy, meanwhile, ensures that a person will not be prosecuted for the same crime. In addition, the SC said there was convincing evidence that Trillanes filed his amnesty application. The SC also noted that Duterte’s decision to revoke only Trillanes’ amnesty, even though the application forms of other amnesty grantees were also not available, was a violation of the former senator’s right to equal protection of the laws. “The decision affirms that in balancing the exercise of presidential prerogatives and the protection of the citizens’ rights, the Constitution and the laws remain as the Court’s anchor and rudder,” the ruling read. Trillanes’ amnesty was granted by late former president Benigno Aquino III through Proclamation No. 50 in 2010. The order also granted amnesty to others involved in the Oakwood mutiny in 2003 and the Manila Peninsula incident in 2007. Aquino granted the amnesty “to promote an atmosphere conducive to the attainment of a just, comprehensive and enduring peace and in line with the government’s peace and reconciliation initiatives.” The then-president later issued Proclamation No. 75 in November 2010 that superseded his Proclamation No. 50. Both chambers of Congress concurred in the proclamation. In 2018, Duterte signed a proclamation that revoked the amnesty of one of his most vocal critics. He also ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines “to pursue all criminal and administrative cases” against the former soldier. Trillanes’ amnesty case reached several levels of courts – from trial to the High Court. Judge Andres Soriano of the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148 contradicted Duterte in 2018 and junked the DOJ’s request to have Trillanes arrested. However, Soriano upheld that Duterte was within his power to issue the proclamation. When the case reached the Court of Appeals (CA), the appellate court sided with Trillanes in 2021 but did not invalidate Duterte’s proclamation. The CA said Duterte’s order did not violate the equal protection clause and the right against double jeopardy. The SC ruling is important because it explicitly said that Duterte’s proclamation was unconstitutional, and noted that the order violated Trillanes’ rights to equal protection and against double jeopardy and ex post facto laws. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. I appreciate the Supreme Court’s decision on the validity of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s amnesty. I agree that it is grounded on the “primacy of the Bill of Rights” and “reaffirmed that neither the government nor any of its officials, including the President, are above the law.” I believe this will anger former President Digong Duterte after his belief that he is above the law has been rebuked. How does this make you feel?

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History made: Fil-Am guard Ethan Alvano bags Korean Basketball League MVP

delfin.dioquino editor

01/04/2024 21:11

SHOT. Ethan Alvano in action for the Wonju DB Promy in the Korean Basketball League. Wonju DB Promy Facebook page MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-American guard Ethan Alvano just made history in the Korean Basketball League (KBL). Alvano, who plays for the league-leading Wonju DB Promy as an Asian Quota import, was named as the domestic MVP of the 2023-2024 KBL Season on Monday, April 1, becoming the first non-Korean player to capture the top individual award. In 54 games played this regular season, the 27-year-old Alvano averaged 15.9 points, 6.6 assists, 3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals to steer Wonju to an impressive 41-13 record. Alvano, who is in his sophomore year in the Land of the Morning Calm, is one of 11 Filipino imports to suit up in the KBL this season, along with Rhenz Abando, SJ Belangel, Juan Gomez de Liaño, Dave Ildefonso, Justin Gutang, Migs Oczon, Alex Cabagnot, Joshua Torralba, and Filipino-Canadians Calvin Epistola and Avan Nava. Prior to his stint with Wonju, Alvano had seen action for the San Miguel Alab Pilipinas in the now-defunct ASEAN Basketball League, Hi-Tech Bangkok City in the Thailand Basketball Super League, and Eisbären Bremerhaven in Germany. Aside from Alvano, another Wonju player took home an individual award this season as American import Dedric Lawson got hailed foreign MVP. Wonju will take on the winner of the quarterfinal series between the Seoul SK Knights and the Busan KCC Egis in the semifinals. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Rodel Canino: Daughter Angel ‘doing fine’ amid grim rumors, awaits DLSU statement

jisaga0269

02/04/2024 19:37

STELLAR. Rookie standout Angel Canino vies to lead the La Salle Lady Spikers anew. UAAP MANILA, Philippines – The La Salle Lady Spikers may have a bit of trouble ahead as the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament resumes on Wednesday, April 3. Despite the defending champions currently holding a 7-1 record in second place, fans online have stirred ominous speculations regarding the well-being of reigning MVP Angel Canino – that her playing status for the rest of the crucial second-round stretch may suddenly be in doubt. Pursued for comment on Tuesday, April 2, Angel’s father Rodel respectfully declined to divulge the exact nature of the issue. While he did not deny the existence of the apparent problem, he insisted on reassuring fans that his daughter “is doing fine” as of the moment. The elder Canino, currently an Akari assistant coach in the PVL, also said that La Salle will issue a statement in the near future and that he did not want to preempt the team’s approach on the sensitive matter. Canino’s true playing status will be confirmed as the Lady Spikers return to action on Thursday, April 4, against the UP Fighting Maroons. If the rookie MVP will not be able to take the court, La Salle will be forced to lean more heavily on other potent weapons like spikers Alleiah Malaluan and Shevana Laput, and middle blockers Thea Gagate and Amie Provido. In eight games so far in the season, Canino is averaging stellar numbers of 16.3 points, 5.8 excellent receptions, and 4.8 excellent digs. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Court of Appeals reverses Ombudsman order dismissing ex-MIAA officials

Jairo Bolledo

02/04/2024 15:40

FORMER HEAD. In this file photo, Cesar Chiong, then-Manila International Airport Authority General Manager, attends the senate inquiry on the alleged human trafficking at the NAIA, on March 20, 2023. Angie de Silva/Rappler MANILA, Philippines – The Court of Appeals (CA) has reversed the dismissal of former Manila International Airport Authority officials who had been sanctioned by the Office of the Ombudsman. In a 13-page decision dated March 21, the CA overturned the Ombudsman order, which found former MIAA general manager Cesar Chiong and former assistant manager Irene Montalbo guilty of grave misconduct, abuse of authority or oppression, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. NEWS UPDATE: The Court of Appeals reverses the dismissal of MIAA general manager Cesar Chiong imposed by the Ombudsman. @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/Efq1mXy0b5 The Ombudsman order imposed the penalty of dismissal from service with forfeiture of all retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification to reenter government service against Chiong and Montalbo. “WHEREFORE, premises considered, the instant petition is hereby GRANTED. The 01 August 2023 Decision of the Office of the Ombudsman in OMB-C-A-APR-23-0061 is REVERSED and SET ASIDE. Accordingly, the Complaint for Grave Abuse of Authority, Misconduct, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service is DISMISSED for lack of merit,” said the decision penned by Associate Justice Eleuterio Bathan, with concurrences from Associate Justice Zenaida Galapate-Laguilles and Associate Justice Alfred Ampuan. Chiong and Montalbo’s case stemmed from a complaint filed by “anonymous MIAA officials” with the Ombudsman. The complaint was in relation to the reassignment of around 285 MIAA employees within a year, after Chiong’s designation as MIAA chief. The complaint also cited Montalbo’s appointment despite her “unsatisfactory rating in 2020.” Chiong and Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista explained that the reassignment was crucial for the improvement of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s (NAIA) operations and finances. The former MIAA head earlier explained that over 200 reassigned personnel were transferred to the airport police unit to address the security needs of NAIA. He said this was based on the recommendation of the Airport Police Department chief and Assistant General Manager for Security and Emergency Services. Chiong added that his predecessors “reassigned even larger numbers of personnel without facing any legal repercussion,” citing former MIAA head Jose Angel Honrado who reassigned 646 employees; and Eddie Monreal who reassigned 397 employees. The Ombudsman, in an order dated April 28, 2023, placed the two officials under preventive suspension, prompting them to file an urgent motion to lift the preventive suspension and their respective counter-affidavits. When the Ombudsman had yet to act on Chiong and Montalbo’s petition after a month, they filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition with the appellate court. Certiorari is a legal remedy used to review a decision or order of another body, or grave abuse of discretion. But while the Ombudsman moved for the extension to file its comment on the CA petition, it already issued Chiong and Montalbo’s dismissal. In their CA petition, Chiong and Montalbo argued that the Ombudsman has no jurisdiction over reassignments in the civil service. The appellate court said it sustained and affirmed the petitioner’s position, based on the Supreme Court decision in Reyes Jr. v. Belisario. According to the said ruling, “the CSC (Civil Service Commission) has the authority to determine the validity of the appointments and movements of civil service personnel.” The CA said in its decision that there was no definitive ruling from the CSC that the reassignment was not valid “nor at least a referral of the case to the CSC for such prior determination.” The appellate court also noted that the allegations against the petitioners were acts involving human resource movement in the civil service, so the Ombudsman should have referred the complaint to the CSC. “Consequently, when the OMB assumed jurisdiction over the complaint and proceeded to rule on the case without the prior ruling of the CSC, the assailed decision should be struck down for prematurity and lack of factual and legal bases. On this ground alone, we resolve to grant the instant petition,” the CA said. The CA said the Ombudsman decision finding Chiong and Montalbo guilty lacked factual basis and substantial support in evidence. The appellate court explained that an administrative decision becomes valid if it has “something to support itself,” among others. But in the former MIAA officials’ case, the CA said the Ombudsman “merely made a general statement” that the reassignment and designation of MIAA employees “were exercised with clear intent to violate the law, or flagrant disregard of established rules which characterized unlawful behavior and contradicts the very purpose of the reassignment and designation.” However, the CA said the basis of the said finding came from four out of the 285 cases of employees reassigned. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Tim Cone adds Mason Amos, Japeth Aguilar to Gilas 12 reserves

jisaga0269

02/04/2024 19:55

BACKUP ARRIVED. Gilas Pilipinas forwards Japeth Aguilar (left) and Mason Amos in action. FIBA MANILA, Philippines – The new-era Gilas Pilipinas will have some much-needed depth down low ahead of its future training camps and international tournaments. National team head coach Tim Cone, looking to avert a big man shortage in the event of injuries or other absences, has tapped trusty Ginebra veteran Japeth Aguilar and young sharpshooter Mason Amos to the current Gilas reserve pool, according to a Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas release on Tuesday, April 2. “We’re excited that Mason and Japeth agreed to be our alternates in Gilas,” Cone said. “The first [FIBA] window showed us that we were a little thin in our lineup after AJ Edu, June Mar [Fajardo], and Jamie [Malonzo] missed our game versus Chinese Taipei due to injuries, and we were left with only nine players and only Japeth as a replacement to make 10.” With Aguilar and Amos on board, Gilas is expected to have bases covered in terms of post defense and shooting, and have a healthier mix of savvy veteran leadership and high-potential youth. “So now, Japeth and Mason will practice and travel with the original 12 and be ready to step in if the need arises. If we lose one of our bigs, Japeth will step in. If any of the others, Mason will fill the hole. Mason, too, because of his youth, projects as one of the regulars over time,” Cone continued. Gilas is off to a promising start in the four-year reboot era under Cone, as the Nationals routed Hong Kong, 94-64, and Chinese Taipei, 106-53, in their first two games of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers last February 22 and 25. Up next for the Philippines is a trip to Europe for the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where it has the tall task of conquering basketball powers Georgia and host country Latvia in succession to keep its Paris qualification dreams alive. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Man disrupts Mass, smashes statues in Negros Occidental church rampage

Herbie G

03/04/2024 16:16

DESTROYED. A religious icon is destroyed after a man went on a rampage at the San Isidro Labrador Church in Negros Occidental on Wednesday morning, April 3. courtesy of Father Leopoldo Cahilig NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – Police arrested a man, believed to have mental health problems, who crashed into a Catholic church while Mass being being celebrated and smashed nearly all the religious statues in sight in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday morning, April 3. Authorities identified the suspect as Rolly Semira, a resident of Sitio Don Pedro Yulo, Barangay Santo Rosario in Binalbagan, where the church also stands. Semira, 39, barged into the San Isidro Labrador Church with a motorcycle at around 7:15 am while a priest, Father Leopoldo Cahilig, was officiating a morning Mass. Shocked and helpless, Cahilig paused as he and the mass-goers watched Semira go berserk and begin destroying statues, including images of Saint Joseph, San Isidro Labrador, two angels, and the Immaculate Conception. Police sergeant Lester Salido, an investigator from the Binalbagan Municipal Police Station (BMPS), said Semira showed no remorse even behind bars, claiming he acted under divine guidance. The suspect told the police he was ordered by a deity to destroy the church properties. Salido said Semira had been imprisoned following a homicide conviction, and is said to be suffering from mental health problems. Police said they were preparing a complaint for violation of a law about the obstruction of religious worship against Semira within 18 hours from his arrest. The offense, detailed in Articles 132 and 133 of the Revised Penal Code of 1930, is considered a crime, and carries the penalty of six months to six years of imprisonment. In a statement, Cahilig called on town residents and Catholics in Negros Occidental to “pray for the immediate restoration of the sanctuary and complete spiritual and emotional healing of everyone.” “We entrust the person concerned to the mercy and compassion of God. God bless us all,” Cahilig said. The priest also said the church will be temporarily closed on Wednesday afternoon “while we try to fix the physical damage in the sanctuary ‘externally’ and the injury and pain felt by all Catholics in Binalbagan ‘internally’ caused by this untoward incident.” Diocese of Kabankalan Bishop Louie Galbines said in a statement that the parish church will be temporarily closed to repair all the damages inflicted on the church. “Witnessing the desecration of the sanctuary and utter disrespect to the revered images generated so much pain and suffering to the people of the parish. Thus, while restoring the broken images is urgent, the reparation of the internal injury and pain is even paramount,” he said. “We unite all our prayers and I fervently hope that we all move forward and come out stronger and more dedicated Catholics at the end of this,” the bishop said. Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol condemned the attack on the church and assured all of its constituents that the local government would help them renovate the church’s damaged properties. Achir Saripada, an Imam or a Muslim church leader in the town, confirmed that the suspect is among their worshippers and apologized for the damage inflicted by Semira. “We do not tolerate such actions,” he said. Saripada clarified that “being a believer in the Islamic faith does not include inflicting damage on other individuals with different beliefs or religions.” Saripada said Semira converted to Islam when he was imprisoned in Manila after a homicide conviction. He also said that Semira previously attended their worship sessions but he rarely saw him because of his said “underlying mental condition.” In 2008, Semira was arrested in Taguig City for inflicting harm on a three-year-old girl which led to her permanent blindless, according to a PhilStar report. – With reports from Reymund Titong/Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Stars in each role: Meralco banks on Quinto, others as top scorers struggle

delfin.dioquino editor

03/04/2024 21:08

DRIVE. Bong Quinto in action for the Meralco Bolts in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup. PBA Images MANILA, Philippines – With top Meralco scorers Allein Maliksi and Chris Newsome struggling, the rest of the Bolts played their roles to the hilt. Bong Quinto took over down the stretch as Meralco posted back-to-back wins in the PBA Philippine Cup after scraping past stubborn Terrafirma, 86-83, at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, April 3. Rising to the occasion with both Maliksi and Newsome limited to single-digit scoring, Quinto finished the game on a personal 7-2 run and totaled 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists as the Bolts improved to an even 3-3 record. “We each have our own roles. Whatever our role is in the team, we have to be a star player in it,” said Quinto, who scored in double figures for just the second time this conference – both coming in wins. The Dyip were poised to continue their promising start and clinch their fourth win in six games when they went up 81-79 with two minutes left before Quinto sank a triple, a free throw, and a layup in succession for an 85-81 lead. Stephen Holt pulled Terrafirma within 85-83 off a pair of foul shots, but Quinto sealed the victory with another free throw. Like Quinto, Norbert Torres stepped up with 15 points, while Raymond Almazan – fresh from winning the Big Men Three-Point Shootout during the PBA All-Star Weekend in Bacolod City – chimed in 14 points with 3 rebounds. Also crucial in the win were the two offensive rebounds All-Star first-timer Cliff Hodge grabbed inside the final minute to highlight his all-around performance of 4 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Their contributions made up for offensive woes of Maliksi and Newsome, who entered the game averaging 18.8 and 17.6 points, respectively. Newsome scored just 7 points, although he also posted 8 rebounds and 8 assists, while Maliksi put up only 6 points as they shot a combined 5-of-21 (24%) from the field. “It is important that we won because if we lost this game, we do not know how we’re going to approach our remaining games,” said Quinto. Juami Tiongson paced the Dyip with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds on top of 6 assists, while Holt churned out 20 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. Despite a pair of solid outings from its top guards, Terrafirma shot itself in the foot with turnovers and poor rebounding late as it fell to 3-3. Meralco 86 – Quinto 18, Torres 15, Almazan 14, Black 7, Mendoza 7, Newsome 7, Banchero 6, Maliksi 6, Hodge 4, Pascual 2, Jose 0, Rios 0. Terrafirma 83 – Tiongson 20, Holt 20, Gomez de Liano 11, Ramos 11, Sangalang 6, Go 4, Camson 4, Carino 4, Cahilig 3, Mina 0, Calvo 0, Alolino 0. Quarters: 19-25, 39-46, 63-65, 86-83. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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ONE Fight Night 21: Jeremy Pacatiw predicts explosive scrap against Wang Shuo

Jasmine Payo

03/04/2024 21:56

COMEBACK. Jeremy Pacatiw celebrates a ONE Championship triumph. ONE CHAMPIONSHIP MANILA, Philippines – Jeremy “The Juggernaut” Pacatiw isn’t expecting an easy win in his return to ONE Championship. The 27-year-old jumps back into the world of MMA against Wang Shuo in a three-round bantamweight bout at ONE Fight Night 21: Eersel vs Nicolas on Saturday, April 6, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Boxing Stadium. Wang owns a 16-7 record, with half of his wins coming via KO or TKO, proving that he’s got power in his hands. Not only that, but the Chinese fighter has never been knocked out, making him one of the most durable opponents Pacatiw will have faced. “He’s a battle-tested veteran. We’ve seen him compete when he was a flyweight, and he’s a really tough guy,” he said of Wang. “He’s really sturdy. His strength, I believe, is his toughness and his ability to absorb shots. I’m sure he’s motivated to make his return.” Nonetheless, Pacatiw expects a scrap in this matchup. Like himself, Wang has also spent some time away from the sport, so the Filipino expects his rival to come in fired up for this match. In fact, he promises to give Wang a solid scrap in return. “This is the perfect match for me. He’s also coming off a layoff, and it will be a beautiful match between two men who are looking to prove a lot of things. I believe this fight will show who really worked during the offseason and who improved,” Pacatiw said. But while he’s giving Wang the respect he deserves, Pacatiw is confident that he’ll score the win at the end of the fight. “I don’t know how it will end, but my prediction is my hands will be raised after this fight. Whether it be by finish or decision, I really don’t care as long as it’s not via disqualification,” Pacatiw said, referring to the controversial DQ win that his teammate, Joshua Pacio, experienced earlier this month. “If there’s an opportunity for the finish, I’ll definitely go for it. But if things are going well for me, my main goal will always be to win and show my improvements as a mixed martial artist.” – Rappler.com Read more from ONE Championship: Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Belga makes history for Rain or Shine with triple-double in throwback game

delfin.dioquino editor

03/04/2024 22:34

CONTESTED. Beau Belga in action for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup. PBA Images MANILA, Philippines – In a game where Rain or Shine brought back a little piece of its history, Beau Belga made one of his own. Belga became the first Elasto Painters local to notch a triple-double in franchise history as Rain or Shine mauled Converge, 110-90, for back-to-back wins in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, April 3. Doing it all for an Elasto Painters side seeking to turn things around after a 0-4 start to the conference, Belga finished with a career-high 25 points, 12 rebounds, and a career-high-tying 10 assists. His stellar performance came in the same game Rain or Shine donned throwback jerseys of the Welcoat Dragons, the name the franchise used when it joined the PBA in 2006 after its success in the Philippine Basketball League. “We wanted to win wearing this jersey. We tried our best to get the win,” said Belga. On triple-double alert with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists through the first three quarters, Belga achieved the feat when he located Andrei Caracut for a triple that gave the Elasto Painters a comfortable 87-67 cushion. According to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, the 37-year-old forward became the oldest player to net a triple-double since legend Ramon Fernandez – then 38 years old – accomplished one for San Miguel in 1992. “When you get older, you also get smarter,” said Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao, drawing out a smile from Belga. “I think he has rounded out his game very well. He has offense and he has rebounding.” Santi Santillan backstopped Belga with a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds, Shaun Ildefonso put up a career-high 15 points, while Caracut dished out a career-high 13 assists to go with 15 points. Gian Mamuyac added 10 points for the Elasto Painters, who recorded their most lopsided win in the Philippine Cup since they cruised to a 103-80 rout of Blackwater in a playoff for the last quarterfinal berth in 2017. The game also marked the first time Rain or Shine rookie Sherwin Concepcion scored this season after he sank a three-pointer late that gave his side its biggest lead at 110-86. Justin Arana delivered 20 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals, but his solid numbers went down the drain anew as the FiberXers remained winless in six games. Unable to recover after finishing at the bottom last conference, Converge has lost by at least 20 points for three straight matches. Rain or Shine 110 – Belga 25, Santillan 23, Caracut 15, Ildefonso 15, Mamuyac 10, Demusis 6, Borboran 4, Clarito 4, Concepcion 3, Asistio 3, Norwood 2, Belga 0, Paredes 0. Converge 90 – Arana 20, Winston 14, Stockton 13, Santos 12, Delos Santos 7, Caralipio 7, Melecio 7, Zzaldivar 3, Balanza 3, Nieto 1, Ambohot 0, Maagdenberg 0, Fleming 0, Fornilos 0. Quarters: 24-24, 52-47, 75-63, 110-90. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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‘Mini Miss UST’ defies odds anew, books quick UAAP Final Four return with young core

jisaga0269

03/04/2024 20:40

STAR TIGRESSES. UST spiker Angge Poyos (left) and libero captain Detdet Pepito react in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament UAAP Season 86 Media Team MANILA, Philippines – Too small. No veterans. No star power. The UST Golden Tigresses have heard it all before their UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball campaign kicked off, with many fans – for good reason – being somewhat skeptical of their ability to retain their title-contention status. However, just one year removed from losing veteran stars Eya Laure, Imee Hernandez, and Milena Alessandrini, this young batch of Tigresses have easily won back hearts and erased all doubts as they were the first in line to book a Final Four ticket off a four-set win over Adamson on Wednesday, April 3. Largely thanks to super freshman Angge Poyos‘ rookie-record 31-point explosion, UST now holds an impressive 9-1 record, successfully bouncing back from its streak-snapping loss against fellow contender NU last March 24. One of the few remaining veterans, libero captain Detdet Pepito, couldn’t be prouder that her young proteges quickly bought in to the underdog winning culture the Tigresses are trying to keep since the days of Laure and Sisi Rondina. “We keep on saying that we didn’t expect to be in this position,” she said in Filipino after the 22-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-20 win. “I’m happy because a lot were saying before that we’re ‘Mini Miss UST’ and that we’d get destroyed by other teams, but we’re happy that we keep on proving that it’s not about height, it’s about heart.” Even head coach Kungfu Reyes, who has seen it all in his tenure as Golden Tigresses coach, was still surprised that they were able to cruise past the competition so far with big wins one after another. “We’re just surprised that we’re already here at 9-1. We’re surprised of the results, but not of the way we got there, because that’s already how we move in practice,” he said in Filipino. “We’re just gauging their performances in their last few games, but I can really see that their hard work is really paying off.” Meanwhile, Poyos, who quickly reset UE star Casiey Dongallo’s 30-point rookie record, is just thankful that she quickly healed from her pre-Holy Week injuries and was able to rebound from their painful first loss against the mighty Lady Bulldogs. “I’m thankful for this comeback game and I’m thankful that I was able to contribute to the team,” she said after tallying 27 attacks, 3 aces, and 1 block. “I’m thankful we were able to rally back and I’m thankful for my ates who keep on fighting for me and the team.” “Mini Miss UST” now has a golden chance for the coveted twice-to-beat advantage with four elimination round games left, and the Tigresses know it’s a foolish endeavor now to lose sight of the ultimate goal at this stage of the tournament. “We’ll just keep grinding. That’s all it is. That’s just our baseline,” Reyes continued. “How we prepare, that’s one of the good results we keep on seeking. We will polish our skills, regroup, correct our unforced errors, sharpen our skills.” “Tomorrow, we just go back to training.” The job is not finished, after all. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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