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Marcos forms Bataan oil spill task force

Dianne Sampang

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 20:06:49 PST

This photo from the Philippine Coast Guard shows the sunken MT Terra Nova, was en route to Iloilo to deliver 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel when it sank off Limay, Bataan at around 1:10 a.m. on Thursday. (PCG) This photo from the Philippine Coast Guard shows the sunken MT Terra Nova, was en route to Iloilo to deliver 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel when it sank off Limay, Bataan at around 1:10 a.m. on Thursday. (PCG) MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. formed an inter-agency task force on Saturday to assess and address the oil spill off Bataan and its possible effects to the environment, health, public welfare, and livelihood. The task force will be made up of the Office of the Civil Defense, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Marcos also raised the use of indigenous materials to quickly absorb the oil from the waters. “Simulan na natin because kahit anong mangyari, mangangailangan talaga tayo ng mga – the commercial booms, kung ano ang makuha, makuha natin. Mag offer naman ang mga iba, pero it’s not going to be enough,” Marcos  said. (Let’s start because whatever happens, we will be needing commercial booms. We will take whatever we can get. There may be other offers, but it’s not going to be enough.) The PCG on Saturday reported that there is already some oil leaking from the Motor Tank (MT) Terra Nova, which was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel when it sank off Bataan Thursday morning. The DENR will handle water and air quality tests within the contaminated areas while DOH will be in charge of looking after affected residents’ health, while the DILG will be in charge of coordinating with local government units. PCG, tasked to assess the condition of the sunken tank, said on Saturday that the estimated stretch of the oil spill reached 12 to 14 kilometers. Its current trajectory is southwest, facing areas such as Nasugbu and Naig in Batangas, Mariveles in Bataan, and Cavite. DOLE will be in charge of providing livelihood programs for affected residents while DSWD will provide aid to the victims and ensure the protection of the affected communities within the coastal areas. Marcos also ordered the task force to coordinate with Oriental Mindoro Governor Bonz Dolor on how the local government responded to the Mindanao oil spill in February 2023. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. The oil spill cost nearly P1 billion in livelihood damage. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1966506/marcos-forms-bataan-oil-spill-task-force?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0TYFexLaWgN1qNmHhPHHPFI50W2G2TBNEHxUcOIxXJ-y08B83FMVO7Dg0_aem_DntVfjbPEjbqQW0mdmFBag

‘Marketing Gone Wrong’: Viral ‘Gil Tulog’ stunt proves that just because you can, doesn’t mean you should

Xianna Bengo

2024-07-26T12:06:19+00:00

Featured POP! is INQUIRER.net’s premier pop culture channel, delivering the latest news in the realm of pop culture, internet culture, social issues, and everything fun, weird, and wired. It is also home to POP! Sessions and POP! Hangout, OG online entertainment programs in the Philippines (streaming since 2015). As the go-to destination for all things ‘in the now’, POP! features and curates the best relevant content for its young audience. It is also a strong advocate of fairness and truth in storytelling. POP! is operated by INQUIRER.net’s award-winning native advertising team, BrandRoom. MRP Building, Mola Corner Pasong Tirad Streets, Brgy La Paz, Makati City On July 25, the Gil Puyat sign was changed to “Gil Tulog,” making waves on Filipino social media. Despite the sign’s comical aspect, it did not sit well with many people, who felt that road signs should be treated with respect. It then turned out that it was a marketing stunt by Wellspring, a brand that sells Melatonin gummies. Yes, it did gain attention from people, but at what cost? Earlier this morning, Makati Mayor Abby Binay confirmed that the marketing stunt was actually unauthorized. She emphasized that it did not reach her office and that the city officials who issued the permit should have exercised prudence as this can cause chaos not only among motorists but also among commuters. As of this writing, the altered road signs have already been removed. Social media users took to the comments to share their thoughts about the viral sign being taken down. One user wrote, “Maraming salamat Mayora. These people did not even try to google the name. Gil Puyat was the former Senate President. Hindi man lang nila naisip kung ano mararamdaman nung mga kamaganak at ginagawang katatawanan yung apelyido. Sino ba yang ‘Marketing’ na nag pagawa niyan? Mapag sabihan [Thank you so much Mayor. These people didn’t even try to google the name. Gil Puyat was the former Senate President. They didn’t think about what the relatives would feel and made the last name a joke. Who is the ‘Marketing’ that got that done? Let me reprimand].” “Gil Puyat dating Senador, tatay yan ng dati kong amo si Mr. Victor Puyat. Kung ano man ang ginawa nyong pakulo bilang advertising marketing gimik hindi pa rin dapat, ginawa niyong katatawanan yung tao hindi niyo nirespeto. Salute kay Mayora [Gil Puyat former Senator, father of my former boss Mr. Victor Puyat. Whatever trick you did as an advertising marketing gimik you should not, you made fun of the person you disrespected. Salute to the mayor].”, as written by a second user. A third user wrote, “Sana may maparusahan dito sa nangyari na ito. At ilabas nyu kung sino ang gustong mangulo sa Makati. Hindi naman papayagan ni Mayor iyan. Ginawang katawatawa [I hope someone will be punished for what happened. And bring out who wants to mess up Makati. Mayor will not allow that. Making it for laughs].” The Philippines has seen several problematic marketing stunts, including Skin White’s ad that suggested having tanned skin was a problem, Snow Caps’ billboard that directly targeted ‘morenas,’ and more recent ones such as Taragis’ scripted April Fools’ stunt and Mendokoro’s ‘Ramen Weather’ campaign, to name a few. This controversy shows the need for greater sensitivity and awareness in marketing strategies. As brands navigate the fine line between attention-grabbing and respectful advertising, it’s crucial for them to consider the broader social implications of their campaigns. Other POP! stories that you might like: ‘Controversial’ Virgin Mary sculpture vandalized in Austria, artists and catholics react Filipino influencer faces backlash for seemingly describing swimming in flood as a ‘fun’ experience Some people are only just discovering now that Hello Kitty is NOT a cat, and they are not okay Filipino educator’s call for presidential support on his ‘math discovery’ met with backlash [Commentary] Educating about people’s pronouns truly matters, but it shouldn’t be done this way Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. For marketing/advertising inquiries, email us at [email protected] Copyright © 2021 POP! All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://pop.inquirer.net/365594/marketing-gone-wrong-viral-gil-tulog-stunt-proves-that-just-because-you-can-doesnt-mean-you-should?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2p00XgLnyymYMo78ji8Wpg3UhGM_JQa0-8E0UazmuVDAo0j98c13llS4k_aem_Hr_sm1_fzKz1Fhqbp8epdA#ixzz8h5j6F8v1

Filipinos call for more ‘thoughtful’ marketing from brands after ‘tone deaf’ FB post from ramen place

Allysa Fernandez

2024-07-26T12:01:24+00:00

Featured POP! is INQUIRER.net’s premier pop culture channel, delivering the latest news in the realm of pop culture, internet culture, social issues, and everything fun, weird, and wired. It is also home to POP! Sessions and POP! Hangout, OG online entertainment programs in the Philippines (streaming since 2015). As the go-to destination for all things ‘in the now’, POP! features and curates the best relevant content for its young audience. It is also a strong advocate of fairness and truth in storytelling. POP! is operated by INQUIRER.net’s award-winning native advertising team, BrandRoom. MRP Building, Mola Corner Pasong Tirad Streets, Brgy La Paz, Makati City In the age of digital marketing and social media ubiquity, the fine line between effective promotional strategies and public backlash can often blur. This phenomenon was recently exemplified by the viral controversy surrounding Mendokoro Ramenba’s Facebook post. The restaurant posted a photo featuring the text, “Now this is ramen weather,” accompanied by a caption that read, “Ramen Weather Advisory: Our doors are open. Come dine with us, and wait out the storm in comfort. We’ll keep you warm and dry.” This seemingly innocuous advertisement quickly attracted criticism from social media users, who deemed the marketing approach both insensitive and tasteless. The Mendokoro Ramenba team then issued a public apology after receiving significant backlash for a recent social media post that many deemed insensitive, especially in light of the recent typhoon that has impacted the community. The post, which attempted to use the inclement weather as a promotional angle for their ramen, sparked outrage among customers and the broader public. “We deeply regret our earlier post and the offense it caused. Our goal was never to harm or disrespect anyone, especially during such a challenging and distressing time. We recognize the insensitivity of the content and the impact it had on those affected by the typhoon,” the post stated. In the aftermath of the controversial post, social media users have been vocal about the need for brands to be more sensitive in their messaging, particularly during times of crisis. The incident has highlighted a broader issue where consumers are increasingly demanding empathy and awareness from companies and influencers alike. One user commented: “If I were a part of your PR team, I would suggest organizing a food drive as a gesture of goodwill to support those who have been affected. Helps you get out of this marketing nightmare while helping the people in time of need. It’s a win-win! When you’re in a roadblock, you pivot.” Another pointed out the difference in approach between Mendokoro Ramenba and another restaurant. “Buti pa yung post ng Italian resto [The Italian resto is way better], at least yun may compassion and concern, yung ginawa nyo [what you did] is more marketing stunt that failed miserably. Do better next time and get someone who’s more compassionate when posting specially on these trying times.” Critics argued that promoting a dining experience during inclement weather, which could potentially involve severe conditions such as flooding or typhoons, was in poor taste. The post was viewed as exploiting a situation that might cause significant distress or danger to many individuals. This raises important questions about the ethical considerations businesses must account for in their marketing strategies. The backlash highlights the critical need for companies to remain acutely aware of the broader context in which their advertisements are released. In this case, while the intention may have been to create a cozy, inviting image of dining during a rainy day, the broader implications of the weather conditions were not adequately considered. Social media users were quick to point out that promoting dining during a storm could be seen as trivializing the potential risks and hardships that accompany severe weather conditions. The misstep underscores the importance of context-sensitive marketing, particularly in regions prone to extreme weather events. From a theoretical standpoint, this incident aligns with the principles of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ethical marketing. CSR posits that companies have a duty to consider the social and environmental impact of their actions. Mendokoro Ramenba’s post, however, can be critiqued for its apparent disregard for these principles, as it failed to acknowledge the potential negative impact of encouraging people to venture out in dangerous weather. Ethical marketing involves not only promoting products in a way that resonates with the target audience but also ensuring that such promotions do not inadvertently cause harm or offense. The negative reception of Mendokoro Ramenba’s post serves as a cautionary tale for businesses, emphasizing the need to balance promotional goals with ethical considerations. Furthermore, the speed and intensity of the backlash illustrate the power and unpredictability of social media as a platform for public discourse. In today’s digital age, posts can go viral within minutes, and the court of public opinion can be swift and unforgiving. This incident demonstrates how quickly a brand’s image can be tarnished by a single misjudged post. It also highlights the necessity for businesses to have robust social media management strategies in place, including crisis management plans to address and mitigate any potential fallout from controversial posts. The viral backlash against Mendokoro Ramenba’s Facebook post serves as a reminder of the complexities inherent in social media marketing. Businesses must navigate the delicate balance between engaging their audience and maintaining ethical standards. The incident underscores the importance of context-aware marketing strategies and the necessity for companies to be prepared for the rapid and unpredictable nature of social media responses. By learning from such missteps, businesses can better align their marketing efforts with the values and expectations of their audience, ultimately fostering a more positive and responsible brand image. Other POP! stories you might like: A statement from Cinemalaya entry ‘Balota’ reflects public’s sentiments amid Super Typhoon Carina Filipino influencer faces backlash for seemingly describing swimming in flood as a ‘fun’ experience Filipino educator’s call for presidential support on his ‘math discovery’ met with backlash [Commentary] Educating about people’s pronouns truly matters, but it shouldn’t be done this way BINI does a ‘laro’ with Jabbawockeez-inspired airport look, shows how to clap back at bashers Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. For marketing/advertising inquiries, email us at [email protected] Copyright © 2021 POP! All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://pop.inquirer.net/365611/filipinos-call-for-more-thoughtful-marketing-from-brands-after-tone-deaf-fb-post-from-ramen-place?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0pd8E9puSIPAkfvbmb5EtLBeub84Jskk3K_MDMX5GNjov12lH4ZZrAXd4_aem_OtkhfB7vlwtP3qRFx7m8iw

PVL: MJ Perez, Cignal stay hot with win over Capital1

Angel B. Dukha III

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 16:43:52 PST

MJ Perez and the Cignal HD Spikers in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net MJ Perez and the Cignal HD Spikers in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net MANILA, Philippines–Cignal remained on top of the PVL Reinforced Conference Pool B standings after dragging Capital1 back to Earth, 25-20, 25-17, 23-25, 25-13, on Saturday at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. MJ Perez made that happen with 23 points, 20 attacks, two aces and a block for the HD Spikers to improve to 3-0. Her performance was highlighted with 12 excellent digs and 15 excellent receptions. “Very thankful and proud of the team because it executed our game plan that we had in training two days ago,” coach Shaq delos Santos said in Filipino. Cignal coach Shaq Delos Santos, MJ Perez, and Jackie Acuña share their thoughts after overcoming Capital1. #PVL2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/ujnYifsCbL — Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 27, 2024 “We just struggled in the third set but the good thing is that we recovered and knowing our team, if it really wants to come back, it will do everything to win,” he added. Ces Molina and Jackie Acuña contributed 12 points each. Molina made her impact with 12 attacks while Acuña stopped six attacks at the net. Chin Basas added nine points. Gel Cayuna tossed in 16 excellent sets and five points that she mostly got from 1-2 plays. Capital1 failed to capitalize on its last win, a stunning sweep of Petro Gazz on Tuesday despite Marina Tushova’s 28 points, all but one coming from attacks. “We are happy but still, it’s not enough I feel,” Perez said. “Still we feel like we [haven’t] reached our peak and we need to push more especially in these kinds of games. “Capital is a team that fights a lot. They’re young and have nothing to lose so they come to fight.” Des Clemente was the only other Solar Spiker who reached double digits with 10 points on eight attacks and two blocks as Capital1 slid down to a 1-2 card. The Solar Spikers fought hard to extend the match and steal the third frame as the HD Spikers committed back-to-back errors and allowed Capital1 to tie the game and gain the match-point advantage before Tushova’s set clinching kill from the back row. “We were very close to winning that set so we know that we have to push more … [Capital1] was fighting. I told the girls and coach told us we have to establish [ourselves] very strong and that was our mindset from the beginning—to be able to forget another set and start a new set with our game,” Perez said. But that was all the heat the Capital1 could bring as Cignal got back on track to manufacture a 19-9 lead in the deciding frame. And the HD Spikers refused to make the same mistakes in the final frame using a 5-0 run to secure their third win in as many games as Capital1 had 10 more errors than its opponent. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Despite a rousing start to the conference, Cignal is not looking to relax as it battles Petro Gazz, which is battling Akari as of posting time, next on Thursday. “Our another win today is a big help … we have three days to study [Petro Gazz] … and knowing [the Angels] we will give them a lot of respect but the fight that we will give them also needs to be bigger,” Delos Santos said. Subscribe to our sports news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://sports.inquirer.net/576595/pvl-mj-perez-cignal-stay-hot-with-win-over-capital1?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0kLR0B0bGK4JLGTQ_97FqwqZSXHFYIwy1zMjiNsMniny-xNmK75ko0Lpo_aem_5V59V7g0oUVKufBGoiFxZg

DOH looking after physical, mental health of typhoon victims

Luisa Cabato

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 16:09:54 PST

A flooded area in Barangay San Miguel, San Antonio, Zambales after Typhoon Catina and the southwest monsoon triggered heavy downpour that resulted in massive flooding in many parts of the country.  (Joanna Aglibot, Philippine Daily Inquirer) A flooded area in Barangay San Miguel, San Antonio, Zambales after Typhoon Catina and the southwest monsoon triggered heavy downpour that resulted in massive flooding in many parts of the country.  (Joanna Aglibot, Philippine Daily Inquirer) MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has been tasked with ensuring the physical and mental well-being of evacuees in areas hit by Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon or “habagat.” This directive came from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos during a situation briefing in Bulacan on Saturday. “Mayroon po tayong mga health workers sa lahat ng evacuation center at will augment the local … ang priority nila [Governors] ay ang health. So may mga tao talaga doon sa evacuation center,” Herbosa told the President. (We have health workers in all evacuation centers who will augment the local efforts … their [Governors] priority is health. So there are personnel stationed at the evacuation centers.) Herbosa added that the DOH will also provide psychological first aid to farmers and fishermen whose livelihoods have been affected by the torrential rains and flooding in the previous days. “I think we need to support all of this, kaya nanghingi ng ayuda pa iyan. Sometimes it is the stress of the effect sa kanilang kabuhayan, so magpadala tayo ng mga psychological first aid,” Herbosa said. (I think we need to support all of this, which is why they are asking for more aid. Sometimes it is the stress from the impact on their livelihoods, so we’ll extend psychological first aid.) Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, the DOH cautioned the public of the diseases due to filthy water. “Mag-ingat sa mga sakit na dala ng maruming tubig! Siguraduhin malinis ang iyong inuming tubig. Pakuluan ang tubig sa loob ng dalawang minuto o gumamit ng chlorine tablets,” the post read. (Beware of diseases caused by dirty water! Ensure your drinking water is clean. Boil the water for two minutes or use chlorine tablets.) “Hugasan mabuti ang mga lalagyan tulad ng jerry cans o plastik na bote bago gamitin muli. Ugaliing maghugas ng kamay gamit ang tubig at sabon sa loob ng 20 segundo o gumamit ng alcohol,” it added. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. (Thoroughly wash containers like jerry cans or plastic bottles before reusing them. Make it a habit to wash your hands with water and soap for 20 seconds or use alcohol.) Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1966482/doh-on-typhoon-carina-and-habagat-victims?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1OUT1YP8_8w5fBJlWSQtZ0s2810KkeEvpGEYr-lSJqqnnWwm3alaquzpw_aem_OGoRf_UKRUq6Bo8KDLFolg

2 Chinese nationals arrested in Benguet – BI

Luisa Cabato

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 16:13:22 PST

MANILA, Philippines — Two foreign nationals were apprehended in a raid by local authorities at a residence in Benguet on Saturday, according to Bureau of Immigration (BI) Spokesperson Dana Sandoval. The operation was conducted inside a residence in Barangay Poblacion in Tuba. “Information came from PAOCC with additional data from immigration. So, we acted on a mission order issued by Commissioner Norman Tansingco after ma-receive po natin ‘yung initial information from PAOCC,” Sandoval told INQUIRER.net over the phone, noting that the arrested individuals were one male and one female. “Nakikita natin na ‘yung isa po hindi nakapagpresenta ng any kind of immigration document, so siya po ay tinuturing natin na undocumented alien. Samantalang ‘yung isa po while mayroon daw siyang working visa—which has to be verified pa sa ating system—maaari po siyang humarap na kaso na harboring illegal alien,” she added. (One of the arrested was unable to present any kind of immigration document and isconsidered an undocumented alien. Meanwhile, the other person, while claiming to have a working visa—which still needs to be verified in our system—may face charges of harboring an illegal alien.) In a report on Sunday, the BI identified the two foreigners as Wang Keping, 35, and Khuon Moeurn, 37. The operation against them stemmed from PAOCC’s information about a Chinese woman they were looking for in relation to their recent raid in Bamban, Tarlac, prompting BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco to issue a mission order to arrest her. “However, upon arrival at the site, the target was nowhere to be found but two other foreign nationals were seen in the vicinity.  After verification, it was found that Moeurn, an alleged Cambodian national, was an undocumented and overstaying alien after being unable to present his documentation,” BI said. “Both foreigners were arrested and will be brought to Manila for booking procedures. Physical custody of the duo will remain with the PAOCC while undergoing deportation proceedings,” it added. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1966478/2-chinese-nationals-arrested-in-benguet-bi?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0Axutx6UenEnrwggZTLOSsRyBl9aKIjLx2SZ48A8JOLXc4AQQVc-W8yuY_aem_NFfPKhF2tuMtAhzqy0leYQ

15 QC public schools defer opening of classes, 143 others ready by Monday

Antonio Iñares

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 15:53:08 PST

QC Mayor Joy Belmonte takes part in the Brigada Eskwela at Commonwealth Elementary School QC Mayor Joy Belmonte takes part in the Brigada Eskwela at Commonwealth Elementary School MANILA, Philippines –  A total of 143 public elementary and high schools in Quezon City will be ready for the opening of classes on Monday, July 29, while others will defer their opening amid the effects left behind by Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon Mayor Joy Belmonte announced. Based on Division Memorandum No. 778, Series of 2024, Belmonte stated that classes in 15 public elementary and high schools will not begin on Monday (July 29) due to various reasons. Classes in Sto. Cristo Elementary School, Balumbato Elementary School, Cong. Reynaldo Calalay Elementary School, Sinagtala Elementary School, San Francisco Elementary School, Dalupan Elementary School, Diosdado P. Macapagal Elementary School, Rosa L. Susano Elementary School, Odelco Elementary School, Josefa Jara Martinez High School, and Sta. Lucia High School will start on August 1 (Thursday) as they are currently being used as evacuation centers. Mayor Belmonte distributes free school bags and school supplies to Bagong Silangan Elementary School students Belmonte added that Betty Go Belmonte Elementary School, Masambong Elementary School, Masambong High School, and Sergio Osmena Sr. High School sustained damages that needed immediate repair and can only begin classes on August 5. “Magsasagawa ng Saturday classes ang mga paaralang ito para mapunuan ang nawalang araw,” ( Saturday classes will be held to compensate  for the lost school days) , Belmonte said. Aside from these schools, Belmonte assured QCitizens that it is all systems go for the opening of classes in 84 public elementary and 59 public high schools in the city. Mayor Belmonte with newly appointed Education Secretary Sonny Angara “Handang-handa na po ang ating mga paaralan para tanggapin ang mga estudyanteng magbabalik eskuwela sa Lunes,” ( Our schools are ready to accept all students returning to their classes on Monday) said Belmonte, who also led Brigada Eskwela activities in various schools across the city and distributed over 400,000 school supplies and bags to students. During the formal launch of Brigada Eskwela at Commonwealth Elementary School and Bagong Silangan High School, she was joined by Education Secretary Sonny Angara and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority acting chairman Romando Artes. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1966471/15-qc-public-schools-defer-opening-of-classes-143-others-ready-by-monday?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3oIr5Vbn58EMiNl33GZrqo9_AaSxvA7iHvyplTFxRrUZ2MMiT8PvhMVfY_aem_gjgvu0OKDactLASttgNDQA

Pagcor debunks document on immediate closure of Pogos

Luisa Cabato

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 14:39:30 PST

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) hs  debunked a memorandum ordering  local government units in Metro Manila to terminate all activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo) or Internet Gaming Licensees (IGL) by next month. The false document, with thePagcor and Bagong Pilipinas logos and dated July 26, claimed that “all local government operations groups are required to end these activities within the first week of August 2024.” In response, Pagcor issued a memorandum also dated July 26, which was sent to reporters on July 27, pointing out that the document was not authentic. “We have received information that a memorandum with subject Immediate Full Closure of Pogo/IGL Operations has been circulating in IGL offices and various social media and messaging platforms,” said Pagcor. “Please be informed that this office did not issue said memorandum,” it clarified. Pagcor also assured Pogos or IGLs that their Offshore Gaming Licensing Department would keep them informed about the developments related to the closure, which was ordered by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos. Marcos announced in his State of Nation Address last July 22 the that Pogos in the country are banned effective immediately. “Effective today, all Pogos are banned,” he said. “I hereby instruct the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to wind down and cease the operations of Pogos by the end of the year,” Marcos also said. He instructed the Department of Labor and Employment, in coordination with the administration’s economic managers, to use the time “between now and then” to find new jobs for Filipinos who will be displaced. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1966466/pagcor-on-fake-pogo-closure-document?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1an0wwEixlL-nwMcZLlQd5qiGJqHzu_oyyji8EtURdnNRjikgRuDQr2cY_aem_VGjebI6vNlquDJTwZcQ4gQ

Philippine Coast Guard says oil leaking from sunken tanker

Agence France-Presse

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 14:35:30 PST

This Coast Guard photo shows the bow of the M/T Terra Nova as it sank off Bataan on Thursday. (PHOTO FROM PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD) This Coast Guard photo shows the bow of the M/T Terra Nova as it sank off Bataan on Thursday. (PHOTO FROM PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD) MANILA, Philippines – Some of the 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil inside a sunken Philippine tanker has started to leak into Manila Bay, the coast guard said Saturday, calling for a suspension of fishing in the waterway. The MT Terra Nova sank in bad weather in the busy waterway early Thursday, killing one crew member and leaving the country potentially facing its worst oil spill disaster. The oil slick has more than tripled in size from Thursday and is now estimated to stretch between 12-14 kilometers (7.5-8.7 miles) across the bay, which thousands of fishermen and tourism operators rely on for their livelihoods. Divers inspected the hull of the vessel on Saturday and saw a “minimal leak” from the valves, coast guard spokesman Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said, adding it was “not alarming yet”. “It’s just a small volume flowing out,” Balilo said. “We’re hoping that tomorrow we will be able to start syphoning the oil from the motor tanker.” The coast guard has warned that if the entire cargo leaked it would be an “environmental catastrophe”. It has previously said the oil leaking from the tanker appeared to be the diesel fuel used to power the vessel, which is resting on the sea floor under 34 meters (116 feet) of water. Oil containment booms have been deployed for what Balilo earlier described as “the worst case scenario” of the cargo leaking out. The vessel sank nearly seven kilometers from its origin in the port of Limay west of Manila. It was attempting to return to port after running into bad weather. The incident occurred as heavy rains fuelled by Typhoon Gaemi and the seasonal monsoon lashed Manila and surrounding regions in recent days. The state weather service said the monsoon had weakened by late Friday, giving the authorities a window of relative calm at sea to recover the cargo. The coast guard estimates the extraction would take at least seven days. The Philippines has struggled to contain serious oil spills in the past. It took months to clean up after a tanker carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil sank off the central island of Mindoro last year, contaminating waters and beaches of the island and devastating the fishing and tourism industries. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Another tanker sank off the central island of Guimaras in 2006, spilling tens of thousands of gallons of oil that destroyed a marine reserve, ruined local fishing grounds and covered stretches of coastline in black sludge. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Boy drowns in Laguna; Elderly man dies from flash flood in Rizal

Delfin T. Mallari Jr.

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 14:23:52 PST

A 13-year-old boy drowns in a swamp in San Pedro City, Laguna, on July 26, 2024, while an old man dies in a flash flood in Rodriguez, Rizal, on July 25, according to the police. Maps of Laguna and Rizal/INQUIRER FILES A 13-year-old boy drowns in a swamp in San Pedro City, Laguna, on July 26, 2024, while an old man dies in a flash flood in Rodriguez, Rizal, on July 25, according to the police. Maps of Laguna and Rizal/INQUIRER FILES LUCENA CITY — A 13-year-old boy drowned in a swamp in San Pedro City, Laguna while an old man perished in a flash flood in Rodriguez, Rizal, the police said. In a report released Saturday, July 27, the Region 4A police said that “DJ”, 13; “Justin”, 10; and “Mel, 12, were playing near a swamp in Barangay (village) San Antonio in San Pedro City at around 2 p.m. on Friday, July 26. Justin went into the water and subsequently drowned. DJ jumped into the water to rescue his playmate but also drowned, police said quoting information from Mel. READ: Boy drowns after falling into the sea in Lapu-Lapu City Rescuers recovered DJ’s body around 6 p.m. He died while being taken to the hospital.. The report said authorities are still conducting a search operation to find Justin who was still missing. Meanwhile, in a belated report, Rodriguez police said that one alias “Diosdado”, 66, drowned in a flash flood in Barangay Burgos on Thursday, July 25, when he refused to leave his house to evacuate during torrential rains. READ: DSWD: P70 million worth of aid given to calamity-hit families The house was consequently swept away by the raging flash flood. The victim’s body was recovered at 10:30 a.m. the same day. Heavy rains due to Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) and the strong southwest monsoon resulted in massive floods and landslides in parts of the country in recent days, forcing cities and towns to eventually declare a state of calamity. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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DSWD: P70 million worth of aid given to calamity-hit families

Dianne Sampang

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 14:00:06 PST

FILE PHOTO: This photo shows piled boxes of relief items from the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) and a woman helping in the repacking of goods. The DSWD said more than P70 million worth of assistance was distributed to families affected by heavy rains and floods in recent days due to Typhoon Carina and the strong southwest monsoon. INQUIRER / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA FILE PHOTO: This photo shows piled boxes of relief items from the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) and a woman helping in the repacking of goods. The DSWD said more than P70 million worth of assistance was distributed to families affected by heavy rains and floods in recent days due to Typhoon Carina and the strong southwest monsoon. INQUIRER / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said more than P70 million worth of assistance was distributed to families affected by heavy rains and floods in recent days due to Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) and the strong southwest monsoon. DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group Irene Dumlao said the aid given to distressed families included food packs, family kits, hygiene kits, laminated sacks, and kitchen kits, among other relief items. She added that cash assistance under the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program was also distributed to affected families. “Apart from the food and non-food items, some 20,000 individuals from CALABARZON and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) received financial assistance, based on the assessment of our social workers,” Dumlao said in a statement Friday, July 26. READ: DBM: P11B available for relief efforts in Typhoon Carina aftermath According to the Department of Budget and Management, around P11 billion is still available in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund that can be used for relief efforts. “Our government is prepared. We are ready to support all operations for disaster rescue and relief with the necessary budget. Identified frontline government agencies may mobilize their Quick Response Fund (QRF) allocated in their respective budgets,” said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Wednesday, July 24. QRF is a standby fund that identified frontline agencies can immediately utilize to help people affected by calamities. The DSWD, one of the agencies with QRF under the 2024 General Appropriations Act, is granted a P1.75 billion fund. READ: Carina floods leave PH capital in state of calamity According to a situational report released by National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Friday, more than 1,300,000 people or around 299,000 families bore the brunt of Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon, locally termed habagat. The boosted southwest monsoon brought incessant rains to many parts of the country, triggering heavy flooding and landslides. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Support Typhoon Carina Victims The Inquirer is extending its relief and fund drive to help families affected by Typhoon Carina. Donate to Inquirer Foundation Corp. at BDO Current Account No: 007960018860. For inquiries, email [email protected]. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Central Visayas cops go after POGOs

Nestle Semilla-Dakay

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 12:54:49 PST

This is a composite image of workers for Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos). INQUIRER file and stock photos This is a composite image of workers for Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos). INQUIRER file and stock photos CEBU CITY — The Central Visayas police are monitoring possible activities of Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) in the region following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ban them. Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of Regional Director Brigadier General Anthony Aberin, said they earlier monitored five Pogos in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu but these were no longer active. “All Pogos, if ever they are existing in Central Visayas, will cease operating in compliance with the President’s order,” Pelare said Thursday. July 24. READ: PRO-7: No Pogo hubs monitored in Central Visayas In 2022, a licensed POGO in Cebu was closed after it was discovered that it was used as a front for illegal activities. For now, Pelare said there were no Pogos operating in Central Visayas. “We would like to encourage everyone who has knowledge of any operation like POGOs to please report it to us so that we can take action immediately,” Pelare said. “Enforcing the law is always a joint undertaking between the government and the community, and we cannot fully implement it without your help,” he added. READ: Marcos bans Pogo, cites ‘disorder’ it caused PH In Eastern Visayas, government leaders thanked Marcos for his accomplishments and policies, including the ban on Pogos. “Indeed, Pogos have brought more harm than good to our country and people. The challenge is now in the hands of our law enforcement agencies to ensure that these Pogos do not go underground,” said Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone. Rep. Jude Acidre of the Tingog Party-list shared the same sentiments. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. “(The ban on Pogos will help) restore public order and address the social economic issues associated with their operations,” he said. — with reports from Joey Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Poverty rate in Eastern Visayas slightly drops – PSA data

Joey Gabieta

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 12:46:22 PST

Poverty incidence in Eastern Visayas – one of the poorest in the country – has declined in the first quarter of 2024. Based on the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the poverty rate in the region from January to March 2024 reached 26.19 percent – which means 26 out of 100 families were classified as poor. The figure, however, was an improvement from the 28.9 percent in January to March 2023. INQUIRER FILES Poverty incidence in Eastern Visayas – one of the poorest in the country – has declined in the first quarter of 2024. Based on the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the poverty rate in the region from January to March 2024 reached 26.19 percent – which means 26 out of 100 families were classified as poor. The figure, however, was an improvement from the 28.9 percent in January to March 2023. INQUIRER FILES TACLOBAN CITY — Poverty incidence in Eastern Visayas – one of the poorest in the country – has declined in the first quarter of this year. Based on the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the poverty rate in the region from January to March 2024 reached 26.19 percent – which means 26 out of 100 families were classified as poor. The figure, however, was an improvement from the 28.9 percent in January to March 2023. According to the PSA, the decline in poverty incidence could be attributed to the region’s good economic performance. The PSA reported that the region’s economy grew by 6.8 percent in 2023 with a total value of P492.9 billion. READ: PH poverty rate falls to 15.5% in 2023 – PSA In Tacloban City, Leyte, considered the region’s capital, a family of five needs at least P13,665 in monthly gross income to avoid being classified as “poor.” Wilma Perante, PSA regional director, said falling below the amount places a family within the poverty threshold. “So, if in a family, there are two who are working with a combined monthly gross income of P13,665 and above, they are considered to be outside the poverty threshold,” she said in a media conference on July 23. An ordinary wage earner in the city has a daily income of P405 based on the current minimum wage. Perante said the cost of living in the city remains affordable with the inflation rate in the first semester of 2024. “As of June this year, the inflation rate in the region is at 4.0 percent, while that of Tacloban is only 3.6 percent. So, we cannot really say that our cost of living is expensive,” she said. READ: SWS: 58 percent of Filipino families rate themselves poor in Q2 survey Gladys Leporada, 43, depends on the income of her husband and eldest son. Leporada’s husband, Neil, 45, works as a carpenter, while her son, Ryan, 19, is a service crew in one of the fast-food chains in the city. Their combined monthly income is just over P11,000. As a mother of seven, Leporada offers “hilot” (massage) services in their neighborhood, earning P200 per person, to meet both ends. Most of their income goes to food and daily necessities. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. “Our income barely meets our daily needs. Sometimes I have to take extra jobs to help my husband and son bring food to our table,” Leporada said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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[Commentary] Do academic grades still reflect true competency in today’s education system?

Allysa Fernandez

2024-07-26T12:17:16+00:00

Featured POP! is INQUIRER.net’s premier pop culture channel, delivering the latest news in the realm of pop culture, internet culture, social issues, and everything fun, weird, and wired. It is also home to POP! Sessions and POP! Hangout, OG online entertainment programs in the Philippines (streaming since 2015). As the go-to destination for all things ‘in the now’, POP! features and curates the best relevant content for its young audience. It is also a strong advocate of fairness and truth in storytelling. POP! is operated by INQUIRER.net’s award-winning native advertising team, BrandRoom. MRP Building, Mola Corner Pasong Tirad Streets, Brgy La Paz, Makati City A viral post from a Facebook user has sparked a significant conversation about the true state of education in the Philippines. The post, shared widely across social media, highlights a troubling disconnect between reported academic performance and actual competencies among students. OP’s commentary centers on the case of an applicant to a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management (BSHM) course who, despite having stellar grades ranging from 90 to 94, exhibited severe deficiencies in basic English language skills and comprehension. This incident has not only brought attention to individual shortcomings but has also underscored systemic issues within the educational framework. The post reads: “Here is the report card of an applicant to our BSHM course and one of that student’s answer to an essay question. The student has stellar grades on the report card, but struggles to string together a simple sentence in English, reads at a snail’s pace, and misinterprets even the simplest instructions. After getting an email of non-acceptance, the mother called the registrar to complain why her ‘intelligent’ child was not accepted. We have seen so much ‘drama’ in our registrar’s office this month, with tears flowing. But No, we are standing by our ground. We are a private school after all. Students and parents should realize that grades are not everything, real education is so much more. 📚 This isn’t just an isolated case. Many of them are like this. It’s a symptom of a larger issue in our educational system. This post is not about blaming teachers or students. It’s about hoping to wake everyone to the crisis in our educational system. I think this issue is more important than the price of rice. #EducationReformNow” The essay excerpt provided in the post further illustrates the issue: “I think to help all student is laptop and cellphone to helpful students because laptop is a good to help student and study of HM, course.” This sentence, riddled with grammatical errors and lacking coherence, stands in stark contrast to the student’s impressive grades, raising questions about the metrics used to evaluate academic performance in schools. The post sheds light on the current nature of academic excellence that is pervasive in the current educational system. It emphasizes the critical need for a reevaluation of the parameters used to gauge student success. The reliance on numerical grades as the primary measure of academic achievement has led to a dangerous trend where the true objective of education—holistic understanding and critical thinking—is often sidelined. The discrepancy between the applicant’s grades and their actual skills is a symptom of a larger problem: the overemphasis on rote learning and the underdevelopment of essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication. This situation underscores a systemic failure, where grades are being inflated or students are being pushed through the system without ensuring they have grasped the necessary competencies. The student’s inability to articulate a coherent thought despite high grades reveals a fundamental flaw in teaching methodologies and assessment practices. The post’s mention of frequent similar incidents indicates a pervasive issue that demands immediate attention and action. The reaction of the parent, who believed that high grades equated to qualification, further reflects a widespread misconception about what true education entails. This belief is not uncommon and speaks to a societal issue where the value of education is often reduced to numerical achievements rather than actual knowledge and skills. OP’s stand on maintaining the integrity of their institution’s admission standards, despite parental pressure, is commendable and highlights the need for educational institutions to prioritize genuine learning over superficial success. Implementing this kind of system evidenlty resulted to a noticeable increase in the number of honor students in our country. In the past, it was challenging to see your name on the honor list due to demanding requirements. Today, however, we are seeing a ‘more inclusive approach’ to recognizing academic achievement. But does this approach maintain our students’ competency? In this crisis, a multifaceted approach is required. There must be a shift in assessment practices to ensure that grades accurately reflect a student’s understanding and capabilities. Standardized testing, project-based assessments, and oral examinations could provide a more comprehensive evaluation of a student’s abilities. Secondly, there needs to be an overhaul in teaching methodologies to focus on developing critical thinking, creativity, and effective communication skills. Educators should be trained to move away from rote memorization techniques and instead foster an environment that encourages questioning, exploration, and application of knowledge. Furthermore, there is an urgent need for policy reform at the national level to address these systemic issues. The government, educational institutions, and stakeholders must collaborate to develop and implement policies that prioritize quality education over quantitative metrics. Investments in teacher training, curriculum development, and educational resources are crucial to ensuring that students receive a holistic and meaningful education. The viral post has ignited an essential dialogue about the state of education in the Philippines. The incident serves as a wake-up call to the systemic flaws that prioritize grades over actual learning and underscores the urgent need for comprehensive educational reform. It is imperative that stakeholders at all levels recognize the gravity of this issue and work collectively to ensure that education in the Philippines is truly reflective of student understanding and capability, thereby fostering a generation of competent and critical thinkers. Other POP! stories you might like: ‘Progress or lowered standards?’ Social media user questions increasing number of students graduating with honors Filipino educator’s call for presidential support on his ‘math discovery’ met with backlash A statement from Cinemalaya entry ‘Balota’ reflects public’s sentiments amid Super Typhoon Carina Filipino influencer faces backlash for seemingly describing swimming in flood as a ‘fun’ experience ‘Controversial’ Virgin Mary sculpture vandalized in Austria, artists and catholics react Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. For marketing/advertising inquiries, email us at [email protected] Copyright © 2021 POP! All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

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Latest RoRe mission at West Philippine Sea went smoothly – DFA

Luisa Cabato

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 12:20:24 PST

FILE PHOTO: The BRP Sierra Madre, a Navy warship that now serves as military outpost, keeps watch over Ayungin (Second Thomas), located within the country’s exclusive economic zone. Nearby are Chinese coast guard and militia vessels in this shot taken on February 21, 2023, during an aerial surveillance by the Philippine Coast Guard. Philippine Daily Inquirer/Niño Jesus Orbeta FILE PHOTO: The BRP Sierra Madre, a Navy warship that now serves as military outpost, keeps watch over Ayungin (Second Thomas), located within the country’s exclusive economic zone. Nearby are Chinese coast guard and militia vessels in this shot taken on February 21, 2023, during an aerial surveillance by the Philippine Coast Guard. Philippine Daily Inquirer/Niño Jesus Orbeta MANILA, Philippines — The country’s first rotation and resupply (RoRe) mission to BRP Sierra Madre in the West Philippines Sea, following an “understanding” with China regarding such trips to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, went smoothly. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported this development in a statement as the RoRe mission pushed through on Saturday, July 27. It credited the “lawful and routine” RoRe mission to the professionalism of personnel from the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard, and the close coordination among the National Security Council, Department of National Defense, and DFA. READ: West Philippine Sea: PH, China reach understanding on Ayungin missions – DFA “The Philippines conducted a rotation and reprovisioning (RoRe) mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal on 27 July 2024. The mission utilized the civilian vessel MV Lapu-Lapu, escorted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Cape Engaño. No untoward incidents were reported,” the DFA said. “It was the first RoRe mission conducted under the ambit of the understanding reached between the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China on principles and approaches for the conduct of RoRe missions in Ayungin Shoal for the purpose of avoiding misunderstandings and miscalculations, without prejudice to national positions,” it added. READ: DFA: PH, China committed to easing tensions in West Philippine Sea Last July 21, the DFA said the Philippines and China have reached “an understanding” on a provisional arrangement for RoRe missions to Filipino troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre, the grounded World War II  ship in Ayungin Shoal. It did not provide further details but said the understanding was reached after discussions between the two countries during the 9th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea held in Manila on July 2. According to a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the RoRe mission to the Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal was monitored by the CCG. “The entire process was monitored by China Coast Guard. China had been notified of the resupply before it was carried out. After confirming on-site that the Philippine vessel carried only humanitarian living necessities, the Chinese side let the vessel through,” the official said in a press conference. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. The spokesperson further asserted China’s claim over the Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, noting that, “China’s position on the Ren’ai Jiao [Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal] issue has not changed. China has sovereignty over Ren’ai Jiao, the rest of Nansha Qundao and their adjacent waters. China will continue to properly deal with relevant territorial issues and disputes over maritime rights with the Philippines through dialogue and consultation.” For comprehensive coverage, in-depth analysis, visit our special page for West Philippine Sea updates. Stay informed with articles, videos, and expert opinions. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Philex Mining’s H1 profit plunges by 42%

Lisbet K. Esmael

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 02:12:00 PST

Pangilinan-led Philex Mining Corp. saw its profit plunge during the first half of 2024 as higher metal prices failed to boost sales amid a drop in production. Still, the gold and copper firm maintained a bullish outlook as the development of new revenue sources pushed ahead while its current main asset approaches the end of operations. In a disclosure to the local bourse Friday, the company said its core net income fell by 42 percent to P410.33 million from P702 million in the similar period a year ago. Philex Mining said net income attributable to equity holders of the parent company also plunged by 53 percent to P329.43 million in the first semester against the P704.13 million previously. Cash flow as measured by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization also decreased to P912.2 million from the previous P1.18 billion. Its revenues also tumbled by 4 percent to P3.97 billion versus the previous P4.15 billion. Mill throughput settled at 3.27 million metric tons (MT), down from 3.53 million MT in the January to June period of 2023. Gold production fell 23 percent to 15,765 ounces from 20,361 last year. Copper output dove by 12 percent to 9.8 million pounds against 11.17 million pounds in the first half of last year. Meanwhile, gold and copper prices in the April-June period were higher than in the previous quarter. Average realized gold prices in the second quarter stood at $2,008 per ounce, slightly up from $2,061 per ounce. Copper prices, meanwhile, also inched up to $4.45 per pound against the previous $4 a pound. Despite the decrease in metal production, production costs still inched up to P2.66 billion, 3 percent higher than the P2.57 billion spent in the first semester last year. However, company president and CEO Eulalio Austin Jr. remained bullish about the company’s growth outlook amid the development of its Silangan copper and gold project in Surigao Del Norte. “Acceleration to commercial operations of the Silangan Project will be foremost of our priorities, and we are targeting to have our first metal output before the end of 2025,” Austin said. “As soon as we reach the Boyongan Ore body during the end of this third quarter, we will start the block development works of the first production level, and thereafter, we will be seeing the first ore coming from the Boyongan Ore body,” he added. According to the CEO, construction works on other ancillary facilities such as a ventilation shaft at the underground mine had been awarded to a mining contractor and are in progress. Austin earlier said that keeping the operations of the company’s Padcal mine in Benguet until 2027 would depend on its bottom line and high gold prices. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Padcal mine, which started operations in 1958, was scheduled to cease operations at end-2024 after several extensions to its life. It has been producing copper concentrates, with gold and and silver as byproducts. Curated business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Eraserheads docu ‘Combo on the Run’ to unveil trailer at San Diego Comic-Con

Allan Policarpio

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 00:10:00 PST

Eraserheads —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS Eraserheads —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS Combo on the Run,” an upcoming documentary on the iconic Filipino rock band Eraserheads, is set to unveil its trailer at the renowned San Diego Comic-Con on July 26 (Saturday, July 27, Philippine time) at the San Diego Convention Center in California, United States. The film started production in 2022 amid preparation work for the band’s “Huling El Bimbo” reunion concert. It delves on how an “unlikely group of disbanded punks provided healing” toward the end of a politically divisive year—all while trying to “grapple with it for themselves.” Written and directed by Maria Diane Ventura, “Combo on the Run” is her first feature since her internationally acclaimed 2021 movie, “Deine Farbe” (Best German feature, Berlin Festival; Best Director, International Film Festival Manhattan). DVent’s Maria Diane Ventura (left) and Voyage Pictures’ Chuck Gutierrez Panel, signing The Eraserheads—composed of Ely Buendia, Raymund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro—will also be featured in an exclusive San Diego Comic-Con issue of “The Lumpia Squad” series, a popular Filipino-American indie comic. Ely said he was excited to attend the annual comic book and multigenre entertainment event, which is said to be “the largest of its kind in the world.” He will also grace a panel dedicated to the “Lumpia” universe alongside its creator Patricio Ginesla and comic artist-writer Whilce Portacio (“Iron Man,” “The Punisher,” “The Uncanny X-Men”). The Eraserheads frontman will then hold an exclusive autograph-signing session the following day. “Combo on the Run” is coproduced by Ely and Voyage Studios and presented by DVent Pictures and WEU Events. After its world premiere, the trailer will be made available on the DVEnt and the Eraserheads’ official YouTube channels. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our entertainment news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Negros officials warn public on dangers of selling ID information

Carla P. Gomez

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 11:34:25 PST

Negros authorities are cautioniong the public against people offering to pay to take photographs of their nationally issued identification cards (IDs) or driver’s licenses. INQUIRER.net stock images Negros authorities are cautioniong the public against people offering to pay to take photographs of their nationally issued identification cards (IDs) or driver’s licenses. INQUIRER.net stock images BACOLOD CITY — Negros authorities have cautioned the public against people offering to pay to take photographs of their nationally issued identification cards (IDs) or driver’s licenses. According to Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, the data taken could be used by others to assume their identities or for scams. “This could be a smoking gun. We will not take this lightly. If we can prevent a crime, much better,” Benitez said on Wednesday, July 24. The mayor called for a proper investigation into reports that a Chinese-looking female offered some Bacolod residents money in exchange for allowing her to take photographs of their nationally issued IDs or driver’s licenses. He said the data taken from the IDs could be used for identity theft or money laundering. READ: Don’t expose national ID on social media to avoid fraud, PSA tells public Lawyer Van Encabo of the City Legal Office said taking photographs of IDs may seem harmless but a breach of data will be committed if it is used for the commission of any crime. Lacson, for his part, called Col. Rainerio de Chavez, Negros Occidental police director, to a meeting on Thursday after he received information that there are some Chinese looking individuals taking pictures of driver’s licenses. The governor warned Negrenses not to sell their ID information as it could be used for scams or crimes. “We have to be vigilant,” he said amid reports of suspected Chinese nationals assuming Filipino identities. Lacson said he will also talk to the Bureau of Immigration about foreigners entering Negros Occidental. Capt. Francis Depasucat, Bacolod Police Station 4 chief, said they earlier brought in a Chinese looking female for questioning for her alleged purchase of ID information but could not detain her since no complainant came forward. READ: NTC says criminals ‘updating ways’ to scam people The woman, who said she is Chinese-Filipino and has been residing in Bacolod for nine years, added that she had a store at a Bacolod mall. She also showed the police her valid driver’s license. The store, however, has no authorization from the Bacolod Permits and Licensing Office. Jose Gabriel Jr., executive officer of the National Bureau of Investigation-Bacolod, said the woman brings a lot of cellular phones with her to create multiple E-wallet accounts using the data she gets from the IDs of residents for a fee of P400. So far, the NBI agents have received reports of 13 persons at the boundary of Barangays Estefania and Vista Alegre in Bacolod who sold their driver’s licenses and national IDs. “They were told they will be paid P100 if they agree to show their IDs and another P300 when the E-wallet is activated,” Gabriel said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. These E-wallet accounts, he said, could be used for online financial scams. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

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Tagbilaran LGU goes after beauty products with high mercury content

Leo Udtohan

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 11:48:18 PST

Tagbilaran officials are warning businesses operating in the city that they will face strict penalties and legal action if proven that they are selling products containing mercury. INQUIRER.net stock images Tagbilaran officials are warning businesses operating in the city that they will face strict penalties and legal action if proven that they are selling products containing mercury. INQUIRER.net stock images TAGBILARAN CITY — Mayor Jane Yap warned businesses operating in the city that they will face strict penalties and legal action if proven that they are selling products containing mercury. Yap assured Boholanos that the safety and well-being of the community is her top priority. “The use of mercury in cosmetics poses significant health risks, including skin damage, kidney issues, and other severe health problems. This is unacceptable, and we will not tolerate the distribution of such dangerous products in Tagbilaran City, ” she said. The EcoWaste Coalition, a non-governmental organization promoting zero waste, has informed Yap and cautioned consumers after finding two mercury-laden skin whitening products sold in the city. These mercury-containing beauty product have already been banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the group noted. READ: Banned beauty products still sold in some Taguig shops EcoWaste ‘s market monitoring conducted on June 23 revealed that unauthorized cosmetics with high mercury content are openly sold in retail shops in Tagbilaran City, the capital of Bohol province. In particular, Pakistan-made Goree Beauty Cream variants and Thailand-made 88 Total White Underarm Cream – all banned by FDA between 2017 and 2023. Yap said the city, in partnership with the local health authorities and regulatory agencies, will conduct inspections and product testing from various retailers to ensure compliance with safety standards. “Any business establishment that will be proven to be selling products containing mercury will face strict penalties and legal action,” said Yap. READ: FDA urged to crack down on banned mercury cosmetics in Visayas “In the meantime, we urge all residents to exercise caution and avoid purchasing or using any whitening creams unless they are verified to be safe and mercury-free. If you come across any suspicious products or have any concerns, please report them immediately to our local health office,” she added. The Inquirer visited some stores in Tagbilaran on Thursday, July 25, and still found some beauty products prohibited by the FDA. Yap nonetheless said authorities will go after these stores. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. “We are committed to protecting the health of our citizens and maintaining the integrity of our marketplace,” she stressed. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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15 public schools in Quezon City move class opening to Aug 1 and 5

Luisa Cabato

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 11:10:14 PST

FILE PHOTO: Elementary students attend class at General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Fifteen public schools in Quezon City have rescheduled their opening of classes for the School Year (SY) 2024-2025 to August. According to the city government, these schools have been affected by torrential rains and eventual flooding brought by Typhoon Carina-enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat” in local term. INQUIRER / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE FILE PHOTO: Elementary students attend class at General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Fifteen public schools in Quezon City have rescheduled their opening of classes for the School Year (SY) 2024-2025 to August. According to the city government, these schools have been affected by torrential rains and eventual flooding brought by Typhoon Carina-enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat” in local term. INQUIRER / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE MANILA, Philippines — Fifteen elementary and secondary schools in Quezon City have rescheduled their opening of classes for the School Year (SY) 2024-2025 to August. In a Facebook post on Saturday, July 27, the local government said most public schools in the city will push through with their SY 2024-2025 class opening on Monday, July 29, except for the following: To open on August 1 READ: DepEd: Over 12,000 schools affected by Typhoon Carina, southwest monsoon To open on August 5 According to the city government, these schools have been affected by torrential rains and eventual flooding brought by Typhoon Carina-enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat” in local term. On Friday, July 26, the Department of Education (DepEd) said incessant rains and floods in recent days damaged at least 12,800 schools in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila; and Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A, 4-B, 5, 6, and 8. The DepEd also reported that 738 public schools in CAR, NCR, and Regions 3 and 12 would not be following the set SY 2024-2025 class opening on July 29. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Mics are on! SB19 delivers powerful one-take performance of ‘Gento’ on The First Take

No author found

2024-07-02T04:07:39+00:00

Even Japanese viewers can’t get enough of SB19’s vocal power as the P-pop boy group’s one-take performance of “Gento” went live last night on Japanese YouTube channel The First Take. With witty comments like “(SB19) eats 100 CDs every day” and “they said ‘itadakimasu’ because they ate and left no crumbs” fans and new viewers were amazed by the powerful arrangement of “Gento.” SB19 is the first Southeast Asian and Filipino group to perform on the 9.8-million follower channel, which already has more than 400 episodes to date. SB19’s “Gento” performance is the channel’s 449th episode, and marks another significant milestone for the group and the song’s success. The video has earned nearly 600,000 views as of writing. “It was a true first take, so we were very nervous and overwhelmed, but it was fun and an amazing experience,” the “Moonlight” singers share in a press release. “Above all, we are grateful for this opportunity and for being able to represent the Philippines by performing our song here. We are honored to showcase our music and culture through The First Take.” SB19 joins the ranks of Harry Styles, Avril Lavigne, (G)I-DLE, BTS’ V, and Itzy among the channel’s international guests. “Gento” was released in 2023 and was an officially approved entry to the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. It also soared to global recognition through various international and K-pop artists joining the “Gento” dance challenge on TikTok. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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PVL: Choco Mucho posts first win at expense of ZUS Coffee

Angel B. Dukha III

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 22:47:55 PST

Choco Mucho Flying Titans celebrate during a win over ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net Choco Mucho Flying Titans celebrate during a win over ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net MANILA, Philippines–After losing two consecutive matches, Choco Mucho finally chalked up a win in the PVL Reinforced Conference on Saturday at PhilSports Arena. The Flying Titans scratched a first set deficit and carved out a 14-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-18 victory against ZUS Coffee behind Royse Tubino and Isa Molde. “At last, we won this conference. We have waited for this a long time even in our first two games,” coach Dante Alinsunurin said in Filipino. “We felt down after those two losses but in our game today we maximized our advantage … I hope this continues in our next games.” Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin, Royse Tubino, and Maddie Madayag after their first win in the Reinforced Conference. #PVL2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/YVxuUiCMx0 — Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 27, 2024 With Alinsunurin opting to sideline import Zoi Faki, Tubino poured in 21 attack points and Molde 17 points with Deanna Wong tossing 20 excellent sets. Molde was also present on the defense with 12 excellent digs and six excellent receptions. “[My motivation was] just to go to work because that’s what coach always says: to work for the points, dig and receive and the mindset that when you step on the court, do your best,” Tubino said in Filipino. Maddie Madayag added nine points, including two aces, while Faki only had four as Choco Mucho improved to 1-2 standing. “We’re just really happy to get that win so we would also be confident coming into the next game,” Madayag said. “As you can see in the first set we were still down like we were still feeling the weight of the losses but I am really grateful that ate Royse stepped up as well as Isa, Thang [Ponce] with her defense and even Deanna.” “Maybe that’s what was missing because the skills were there. We were still feeling it out at first because it’s like a totally new core inside,” she added. The Thunderbelles absorbed a third consecutive loss in as many games even with Japanese import Asaka Tamaru’s 23-point performance and Gayle Pascual 12 points behind Cloanne Mondonedo’s 20 excellent sets. Hungry for that first win and already having the momentum with a 2-1 set advantage, Choco Mucho rushed to an 18-5 lead in the fourth set. ZUS Coffee had a late run, 7-1 , to try and extend the match but it was already too late as Faki, who returned inside late in the fourth frame, scored off a cross-court kill. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Both teams committed errors before Maika Ortiz nailed a running attack for the Flying Titans’ anticipated win. “I just reminded the team to forget about the first two games and focus on the game today. We were successful in that but we still have to work,” Madayag said as Choco Mucho tries to follow up its performance against Capital1 next on Thursday. Subscribe to our sports news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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DFA says China not notified on recent Ayungin RoRe mission

Dianne Sampang

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 21:53:27 PST

File photo File photo MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) debunked claims on Saturday that China was informed of the rotation and reprovisioning (RoRe) mission conducted by the Philippines in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. In a message to a Whatsapp group with reporters, DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza clarified that the Philippines had “no prior notification” to China in conducting the RoRe mission on Saturday. READ: Latest RoRe mission at West Philippine Sea went smoothly – DFA It is contrary to a statement released on Saturday where the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the “China had been informed of the resupply before it was carried out.” The country’s first RoRe mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal did not report any “untoward incidents.” Further, Daza noted that “the Chinese Coast Guard vessels were at a reasonable distance with no risk of collision.” READ: West Philippine Sea: PH, China reach understanding on Ayungin missions – DFA According to DFA, this is the first RoRe mission conducted after the Philippines and China reached an “understanding” on July 21 on the provisional arrangements on RoRe missions to Ayungin Shoal “for the purpose of avoiding misunderstandings and miscalculations.” “The RoRe was meant to supply the necessary provisions to the personnel onboard the Sierra Madre,” Daza said. The mission was conducted by civilian vessel MV Lapu-Lapu and escorted by the Philippine Coast Guard. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. For comprehensive coverage, in-depth analysis, visit our special page for West Philippine Sea updates. Stay informed with articles, videos, and expert opinions. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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PVL: Emotional Dani Ravena responds to ‘nepo baby’ label

Lance Agcaoili

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 22:15:46 PST

Akari Chargers libero Dani Ravena in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net Akari Chargers libero Dani Ravena in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net MANILA, Philippines — Dani Ravena couldn’t hide her emotions and chose to focus on Akari’s campaign to block out the criticisms about her family lineage being the reason for making the Chargers’ lineup. Ravena shed tears after Akari pulled off another come-from-behind  23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 29-27, 16-14 victory over defending champion Petro Gazz to stay unbeaten in three games in Pool B of the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference on Saturday at Philsports Arena. The libero, the daughter of Akari team manager and former national team player Mozzy and ex-PBA cager Bong Ravena, recently called out a fan on social media for calling her a “nepo baby.” Dani Ravena was emotional, talking about the criticisms. #PVL2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/XYEdwgYXDl — Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 27, 2024 For the youngest Ravena, the only criticism that matters is from her Japanese coach Taka Minowa. “I always joke about [Coach Taka] being my biggest basher but I think he’s the only basher that I would befriend. The rest, okay lang sila dyan. But all jokes aside. I think, Coach Taka really pushes me,” said an emotional Ravena. “I’m done with proving myself kasi to anybody else. I just want to make sure na I am worth it dito sa team. Kasi nakikita ko, I have talented coaches, talented teammates. So, no matter what other people will say, yung paniniwalaan ko is kung ano yung sinasabi ng coaches ko, ano sinasabi ng teammates ko and I’ll never take this opportunity for granted.” “Sorry for being emotional. I guess, it’s just something that I really had to let out. But again, I can never do it alone. The team will never win just because of one person. So, I think that’s the highlight of this team is nagtulungan kami lahat to get that goal,” added the sister of Japan B.League stars Kiefer and Thirdy. Minowa, who has been Ravena’s coach since he arrived in Manila for Nxled last season before moving to Akari together this conference, said his player may not be the most talented libero in the league but he lauded her improvement and dedication to help the Chargers. “About Dani, since I came to the Philippines she’s my first libero and she’s my captain also for my Nxled. Her tactical [skill] has improved a lot. But she’s the kind of libero, who is not like super high [level]. So we cannot make too much expectations but also as a coach, I don’t want to give up on anyone to make her improve. I believe in the potential of players. She’s always eager to do something for her team,” said the Japanese coach. Ravena is grateful to her strong support group from her family, Minowa, and the rest of the Chargers amid the doubts surrounding her in the PVL. “I think I have enough motivation to push myself despite all the criticism. I think I’ve grown to understand that it will never go away. I just have to live with it. Exceed expectations and just really reach my full potential on and off the court I really do my best and criticism will always come my way so I don’t really mind it, as long as I can help the team in any way, basta mapasalita or masigaw ako, or I’m vocal inside the court, I’ll help them,” said the former Ateneo libero. “I’ll just continue to do it as much as possible, and sana magcontinue lang yung pag-i-improve ko not only as a team, but also as a player.” In her return to Akari after two conferences in Nxled, the Chargers had their best start at 3-0 since joining the PVL two years ago. Ravena believes the key to their strong start is Minowa’s system. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. “It’s the culture that I guess the team and Coach Taka implied to the entire Akari team. More than the skills kasi, I feel like one of the biggest things na tinitignan is attitude,” said Ravena. “The maturity inside the court and off the court. Being the best possible player that you can be and even if you’re not the oldest one, or you’re the youngest, you can still lead in your own way and I think we’re now on the same page, everybody, from the coaches, to the team, to the management, and may sistema and may extra push na yung Akari ngayon.” Subscribe to our sports news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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LOOK: Pasalubong cheat sheet to Ilocos Sur

No author found

2019-04-25T02:50:04+00:00

Mention Ilocos Sur and Vigan City is the first thing that comes to mind—the bahay na bato structures there with the Philippine colonial era architecture on grid-patterned streets and pretty sett pavements, the dreamy Calle Crisologo, the charm and authenticity of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. There’s also Nuestra Señora dela Asuncion Church, a centuries-old structure used as a fortress during the 1896 Revolution and World War II, just a couple of towns away from Vigan. It’s the second UNESCO World Heritage Site in the province. There are a lot of culture-heavy sites to behold here, but there are also 34 must-buy Ilocos Sur pasalubongs, one for each town. Like other provinces in the country, the Ilocos Sur government also implements the 17-year-old One Town One Product (OTOP) program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). “The program enables localities to determine, develop, support, and promote products or services that are rooted in its local culture, community resource, creativity, connection, and competitive advantage,” according to DTI’s website. So, if ever you’re in the area, support locals by buying an Ilocos Sur pasalubong directly from the community or from the source. Here’s a quick guide: “Sukang Iloko” is usually produced using the old tradition of fermenting sugarcane and made from Ilocano wine or basi. They are more mellow compared with rice vinegar because of their fresher taste. Abel is a traditional product of the Ilocos region. Made from yarns of cotton or sagut, it’s a fabric known to be strong and colorful. They’re woven into towels, throws, home decor, and clothing. Kalamay is a sticky sweet delicacy made with coconut milk, brown sugar, and ground glutinous rice. They can be flavored with margarine, peanut butter, or vanilla. Want to try the best and innovative versions of kalamay in the city? Drop by the Kalamay Festival, which is held every March. Basi is known as the local beverage in the Ilocos region, which has been around since before the Spanish era. It’s made by fermenting extracted sugarcane juice, then boiled in vats, and stored in earthen jars or tapayan. When the juice has cooled, fruits and barks like java plums are added. And then, they’re sealed with banana leaves to be fermented for several years. Labtang is a durable twiner vine perfect as material for making bags, baskets, trays, flower vases, and home decor among others. And in the upland municipality of Suyo, there’s an abundance of labtang. Another thing the Ilocos region is famous for is its bagnet. And perhaps, you can find the most delectable fried pork belly dish in the town of Narvacan. It’s considered one of the first producers of bagnet in Ilocos and it celebrates the Bagnet Festival every December. Nata de coco is a translucent chewy jelly made by fermenting coconut water. It’s usually sweetened as a dessert and toppings to dishes like ice cream, halo-halo, and fruit cocktails. Used as a spice and treatment to body pains, ginger is a pretty versatile plant. You can use it to spice and season a dish up a notch, as a tea to make salabat, or turn it into a snack (pickled in vinegar or sherry). Buri is the largest palm in the Philippines, and in terms of economic and industrial importance, it follows the coconut. In San Juan, buri is used for making hats, boxes, and other novelty items. It’s easy to work with—to weave into various shapes and to dye. Called the Vegetable Bowl of the North, this small town is known for its richness of vegetables and organic farming especially of cabbages, onions, and cauliflowers among others. It celebrates Larga Festival, which is also an agricultural trade fair, every November. Ilocos Sur has quality coffee, too. In the towns of Sigay and Gregorio del Pilar, coffee farmers grow the robusta variety. Dried mangoes are one of the most enjoyable snacks ever, thanks to the innovators who made mangoes eatable anywhere, anytime, without a mess. And in Quirino, there are lots of them that you can munch on as is or as an ice cream topping. The folks at Sta. Cruz is combining the protein-rich tuna with a few simple ingredients to make a tuna burger. Another OTOP in this town is the famous crispy deep-fried empanada with fresh filling composed of meat, carrots, corn, cheese, peppers, and more. Kind of resembling the brown rice we’re all familiar with—except this one has hues of red and black violet—balatinaw rice is an Indigenous rice variety known for its distinct texture (semi-sticky) and aroma in Burgos. This kind of variety is also famous in Mountain Province. Etag is native meat (especially pork) that is preserved through salt-treating, sun-drying, and smoking. These methods make the meat savory and salty, so it’s a good seasoning and meat ingredient for vegetable dishes and others. However, it’s also nice to just grill and eat with rice. Sugpon is promoting the beloved ube made from boiled and mashed purple yam. The people in the town also turn the product into a jam, wine, and powder. In Salcedo, rambutan trees just grow in their backyards, so the town pushes for the tropical fruit to be its OTOP. The farmer-scientists at the Farmers’ Information and Technology Services Center have even developed a technique of producing rambutan that can be harvested during the off-season. There is also a lot of calamansi plants in Tagudin, so to market the fruit more, the folks at the town extract the juice from the fruit and process it to be bottled as a ready-to-drink beverage. A post shared by Tatay Mike’s Pinoy Deli (@tataymike) on Feb 21, 2019 at 6:49pm PST This small and plump native sausage is the favorite must-buy in Ilocos Sur. Unlike other longganisa varieties, Vigan’s is garlicky and yellowish in color. These noodles from Sto. Domingo is made with a blend of wheat flour, squash purée, salt, egg, and noodle improver. The farmers of this town created this kind of noodles because of a squash overproduction in 2007. Pasalubong centers in San Vicente are made up of not only the usual goods but also wooden furniture, including intricately sculpted ones made from narra and other tropical hardwoods, which the town is known for. Sta. Lucia is known in the north as the main producer of peanut butter, a paste made with ground dry roasted peanut. It’s used as an ingredient for dishes like kare-kare or simply a sandwich spread. Tapey is the traditional wine of Igorots and Ilocano. It’s made with budbod or rice yeast, malagkit rice, and banana leaves. It’s made by cooking glutinous rice or malagkit, laying flat the cooked rice in banana leaves, and mixing with pounded rice yeast or budbod. It is then placed in a container to be fermented in seven days. If you’re looking for blacksmith products, you can trust the town of Santa to provide you with lots of options. Forging wrought iron or steel, the panday there produce gates, grilles, railings, light fixtures, tools, agricultural implements, and buneng or bolo knife. In Banayoyo, one of the sources of income of the farmers is farming fruit crops such as bananas. With this, they’ve come up with ideas to present the humble fruit in various ways: They have banana flour, banana pastilyas, banana purée, dried banana blossoms, banana chips, and more. Galimuyod’s exotic rice blend consists of a mix of long grain brown rice, Himalayan red rice, wild rice, and brown basmati rice. A post shared by Genevieve P. Tolentino, LPT (@msgen11) Corn husks, the leaves on a cob of corn, are usually just thrown away after being peeled off. In Magsingal, where corn plantations are abundant, however, these leaves get a new lease on life as the local government is bent on promoting crafts made from this material. Bamboo is one of the most common materials in house constructions, especially in the provinces where there are still kubo or nipa huts, as well as in making furniture like sala sets. Cabugao also has a musical instrument made of bamboo called aweng ti kawayan or sound of the bamboo. Sinait is known as the Garlic Center of the North because of its high yield in garlic. During May, the town aims to celebrate the hard work of Ilocano farmers through a garlic festival. In the town of Nagbukel, entrepreneurs turn the healthy papaya into purée, concentrate, powder, and others. So expect your juice, fruit cocktails, jams, and jellies here to also be flavored in papaya. The town also celebrates Papaya Festival during February. Read more: 9 shops to buy inabel, a loom-weaved indigenous textile from the north 69th Manila Fame to put spotlight on reimagined traditional designs Is simply buying local products enough to show support? Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. 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PVL: Undefeated Akari comes back to beat Petro Gazz

Angel B. Dukha III

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 21:48:57 PST

Akari’s Oly Okaro in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net Akari’s Oly Okaro in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net MANILA, Philippines–Oly Okaro and Akari pulled off another come-from-behind win in the PVL Reinforced Conference as the Chargers notched their third consecutive victory on Saturday at PhilSports Arena. Okaro once again carried Akari, now with a 3-0 record, on her back with 31 points to weather Petro Gazz and give the Angels a second consecutive loss. Akari was coming off a reverse sweep of Choco Mucho on Tuesday and with the win over the Angels, 23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 29-27, 16-14, extended its best start. Akari coach Taka Minowa and Oly Okaro talk about their third straight win. #PVL2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/jFqhvFc58a — Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 27, 2024 “Definitely, this was a really hard fought win. Petro Gazz didn’t give it to us easily. But [my] motivation is my teammates, coaches and every one who supports Akari from the very beginning until now, that’s who we play for. Nobody else,” returning libero Dani Ravena said with a mix of Filipino. “Those who believed in us since Day 1, simple as that. So we just hope that we can continue and at least improve on the following games because it’s just going to be a really long season and hopefully it’s gonna be good for us,” Ravena added But Okaro was not alone and got a lot of help from Grethcel Soltones who contributed 19 points from 16 attacks and three aces, Ivy Lacsina added 18 points and Ced Domingo 11 points. “Today felt a little different. I definitely feel like I relied a lot on the team, I didn’t feel like I was always up. I felt like I just needed some kind of extra pull. I don’t think I always made the best decisions even towards the end, those crucial times to keep the serve in and I missed it so I think I could’ve done better in certain moments especially when it was one of those momentum killers in a way,” Okaro said. Petro Gazz was not able to bounce back from a stunning sweep handed to it by Capital1 last Tuesday and was not able to convert a two-set lead even with the duo of Brooke van Sickle and Cuban import Wilma Salas. Van Sickle paced the Angels with 24 points from 20 attacks, three aces and a block apart from 16 excellent digs as Salas chipped in 22 points built on 20 attacks and two blocks. Remy Palma had crucial plays on the way to 11 points with rookie setter Donalyn Paralejas having extended playing minutes. “I just lessened my excitement compared to the last game where I was super excited facing a top team (Choco Mucho),” Lacsina said. “Now, I was relaxed with ate Greta and Dani telling me to calm down and that’s probably why I had a better game.” With everything on the line and neither side giving the other an inch to pull away, Salas tried to get the job done with two consecutive scores before Okaro responded with points of her own for the lead. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Soltones hammered the nail in the coffin with a service ace as Akari looks to maintain the momentum against ZUS Coffee, which is currently battling slumping Choco Mucho. “We need to memorize coach Taka [Minowa’s] system. We are somehow getting it but we haven’t perfected it yet,” Lacsina said. “We will just do what the coaches want us to do because we know that at the end of the day if we want to win, they also want to win as well.” Subscribe to our sports news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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12 injured in train-van collision in Albay

Ma. April Mier-Manjares

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 21:30:10 PST

LEGAZPI CITY — Twelve persons were injured after a Philippine National Railways (PNR) train collided with a passenger van in Daraga, Albay  Saturday afternoon (July 27). Major Ma. Luisa Tino, spokesperson of the Albay police, said based on the investigation, the passenger van driven by Larry Marilla, 35, was crossing the railroad tracks en route to Barangay (village) Dinoronan when it was hit and dragged for almost 78-feet by the PNR train in Barangay (village) Gapo at around 2:30 p.m. Twelve van passengers were injured  and brought to ospital. The passenger train, operated by Jade De Jesus, was traveling from Sipocot town to Legazpi City. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Typhoon, monsoon leave P19.3 M agri damage in Bicol

Rey Anthony Ostria

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 21:15:29 PST

GUINOBATAN, ALBAY – Damage to the agriculture sector caused by Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon in the Bicol region was pegged as P19.3 million as of Saturday. According to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol, the damage covers production loss in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte. Meanwhile, 21 houses were destroyed while 80 others were damaged in the region. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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How Francisca Reyes-Aquino sought and fought for our country’s folk dances

No author found

2019-03-09T05:36:53+00:00

A day after the world paid tribute to all women, leading search engine Google is celebrating another esteemed woman through an animated doodle of a dancing Filipina. Fondly called the “Mother of Philippine Dancing,” Francisca Reyes-Aquino lived a life dedicated to preserving Filipino heritage through studying and teaching folk dances. Reyes-Aquino is the first National Artist for Dance. She was born in Bulacan on Mar. 9, 1899 (exactly 120 years ago)—at a time when the hegemony of the United States in the country was at its peak. After noticing “the corrupting influences of American Culture in the early years of the 20th century—jazz, movies, comics, language, and dance” while working as a student assistant for physical education in the University of the Philippines (UP), Reyes-Aquino decided to lead a cultural research on the Philippines’ unique folk culture and popularize it. This is according to Theodore Gonzalves’ book “The Day the Dancers Stayed.” With a small team of researchers, Reyes-Aquino spent months traveling to different rural communities, such as the barrios in Central and Northern Luzon, and studying the dances, activities, and even songs prevalent in it. She finished her research in 1926 and published the thesis titled “Philippine Folk Dances and Games,” which became a big help for educators and most Filipinos to recognize “unrecorded forms” of local dances, celebrations, and rituals. Because of this, she was asked to chair a research committee at UP to seek more folk dances and teach it. She went to Boston University to study more about the art form and came back with a penchant to uncover native dances in Mindanao, Leyte, and Mountain Province. It was in Leyte where Reyes-Aquino discovered the widely known Filipino dance tinikling, which involves two bamboo poles and has movements imitating those of the tikling birds dodging the traps of farmers in rice fields in the Visayan Islands. Reyes-Aquino also discovered and taught the Maglalatik, Lubi-lubi, and Polka sa Nayon through her books, which are still used as a major reference for teaching physical education until today. These discoveries were a product of Reyes-Aquino’s firm belief that “culture was not an afterthought to the social organization of the commonwealth regime.” As noted by Gonzales, the repertoire she pioneered became a bulwark against US hegemony and the first step towards a new bodily discipline. “Heritage must not be sacrificed for progress,” Reyes-Aquino once said. “What matters for now is for every Filipino to protect our tradition and let no one distort it under the guise of modernization. Leave the folk dances as they are.” May we all embody a love, respect, and strong for our country’s heritage in the way Reyes-Aquino showed. Read more: Women in Philippine history you should know about This exhibit is proof that women did not sit silently during WW2 To these women in MILF, peace and security means reclaiming their rights Google honors Francisco Balagtas with a charming comic Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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The do’s and don’ts of Baybayin, according to this artist

No author found

2018-12-20T07:00:03+00:00

Planning to get a Baybayin tattoo? Before you engrave that Google Translate version onto your skin for the rest of eternity, maybe hold off til you’ve seen Kristian Kabuay’s Instagram first. Kabuay is a self-taught artist and speaker on our ancient native script. He’s spent his college years teaching himself Baybayin, did talks at prestigious universities like Stanford and Harvard, has toured his Baybayin calligraphy art around Europe, and even developed his own performance style of Baybayin called Tulang Kalis. In other words, he’s pretty legit. Kabuay has hawk eyes for Baybayin errors and apparently, there’s a lot. Here’s a rundown of the top mistakes real people have made with their Baybayin tattoo designs, as pointed out by Kabuay in hilarious IG story format: Don’t forget, ladies and gents: Baybayin is nothing like the Roman alphabet we know. The characters represent full syllables, so translating each letter shouldn’t be necessary. If the six-word phrase you’re converting is starting to reach three lines in Baybayin, you need to double-check your work. The term Alibata actually came from a Spanish scholar named Paulo Verzosa way back in 1921, probably patterned after the Spanish El Alfabeto but with the Arabic letters alif and bata. Okay so the term is wrong, but what’s the big deal, you ask? Well, Alibata is a misnomer that means alphabet, which Baybayin is not. It’s an alphasyllabary, which means that characters represent consonant-vowel syllables. Since we might view it as an alphabet, we could end up using characters the same way we use Roman letters. Remember, if it’s long, it’s probably wrong. A common mistake according to Kabuay’s series is canceling vowels. If you’re wondering how to use the consonants in a Baybayin character without the vowel, all you have to do is add a kudlit to cancel it out. Also, if in one character you cancel a vowel, you don’t need to add it in again with another character. Baybayin is short and sweet and doesn’t have to be complicated. This one is just… a head-scratcher. Double-check your stuff, guys. Especially if it’s going to be on your skin forever. Wanna know more? Here’s our interview with Kabuay to talk more about the beginnings of his work as well as his thoughts on Baybayin today. I started when I learned that the Ka character on the Katipunan flag was not a capital I. It started with a chart in the book and then early websites and correspondence with Hector Santos and Paul Morrow where I learned the history. It was the first artistic writing style I was into as a kid. What is “Western?” I assume that it’s either non-Filipinos or Filipino Americans. When I first started doing this publicly, not many Filipinos knew about it. Since then, awareness has grown. The most common comment is ‘I didn’t know Filipinos/we had a writing system.’ Having to explain the writing system is a similar experience explaining ourselves. Not many know about the Philippines as a people or even geographically, so what more the food, cultural practices, martial arts, dance, textiles, etc. I must say that the Fil-Am community I work with are more [culturally informed] than those I was exposed when living in the Philippines. Just because they don’t speak a certain language or have a different passport, it doesn’t make them any less ‘Filipino.’ I play both sides of the scripts being alive and dead. I’ve promoted both at the same time. What keeps it alive is the yearning for identity. Cultural identification means different things depending on the context of the person but at its core, it’s filling a hole. My art is only a catalyst for cultural realization and change. If you go beyond the “pogi points” of the art, clothing, tattoos, etc, you will start to realize how much more you don’t know about culture in general from a micro and macro perspective. Ideally, I’d want the youth to decolonize and do better than me but until then, bring it on. PS: I do realize when I mention the term “decolonize,” some people will roll their eyes and have an unoriginal comment like ‘Why you speaking English’ or ‘You don’t even live in the Philippines.’ Decolonization isn’t black and white and is an ongoing process. I look at it more of a mental state rather than something that manifests in language, geographic or a shirt that says ‘I Love Adobo.’ Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Filipino seafarers held in Yemen port safe after Israeli attack – Marcos

Dianne Sampang

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 19:48:33 PST

MANILA, Philippines —  All Filipino seafarers currently held by the Houthis are safe and unharmed following a recent attack by Israeli forces on Hodeidah port in Yemen, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr said on Saturday. “I am gratified to inform the nation that none of our 17 seafarers currently in the custody of the Houthis were affected by the recent Israeli attack on the port of Hodeidah, Yemen. Our Embassy in Riyadh reports that they are all safe,” Marcos posted in X, formerly Twitter. Israeli warplanes attacked Hodeida port in Yemen last Saturday, triggering a fire and resulting in the death of three persons. Eighty seven others were wounded. The incident occured after the Houthis, an Iranian-backed group, launched a drone attack in Tel Aviv, Israel. Hodeida port is an entry port for international aid for rebel-held areas in Yemen and has remained untouchable by the decade-long war of Huthis and the internationally recognized government. Millions of Yemenis have become dependent on aid coming through the port. Marcos Jr. assured the families of the seafarers that “our government has not forsaken them and that we are doing everything to secure their safe return home.” On May, 13 Filipino crew members were reported to be safe after their vessel crossing the Yemeni coast near Hodeidah was attacked by Houthis with missiles. “The Philippines once again joins the community of nations in calling for a speedy resolution of the current conflicts in the Middle East region, to the end that no more lives may be lost and all can live in peace,” Marcos said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our global news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Cloudy skies, scattered rains expected due to LPA, ‘habagat’

Dianne Sampang

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 18:49:55 PST

MANILA, Philippines — A low pressure area (LPA) and the southwest monsoon or “habagat”, will continue to bring cloudy skies, scattered rains and thunderstorms to different parts of the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa)  said Saturday afternoon. In its 4 p.m. weather bulletin, Pagasa reported that Zambales, the Ilocos region, Babuyan Islands, and Batanes will experience cloudy skies and scattered rains due to the southwest monsoon. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms are forecast in Metro Manila, Western Visayas, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan likewise due to the southwest monsoon. The LPA was last spotted some  770 kilometers off Butuan City, Agusan del Norte. “Kung makikita po natin, ito po ay nasa karagatan pa rin po kaya hindi po natin inaalis ang posibilidad na ito ay maging isang ganap na bagyo,” said Pagasa weather forecaster Chenel Dominguez. (The LPA is still over the sea, hence we are not discounting the possibility that it will develop into a storm.) Due to the LPA’s trough or extension, cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms are forecast in the Bicol region, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, and Quezon. Meantime, no gale warnings are in effect over any of the country’s seaboards Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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How exercise affects the immune system

No author found

2018-05-07T04:08:29+00:00

The knowledge that exercise has apparent health benefits is not lost on anyone, much less on the people who frequent this site. The association between leading an active lifestyle and being in good health is so deeply embedded in our collective consciousness such that the two are sometimes taken to be the same thing. Yet the idea that physical activity keeps people from getting sick remains controversial, partly because of some general notions we have about the immune system (that it’s something that should be protected from physical strain and bacteria, for instance). But these notions are not unfounded. Research from the 1980s showed evidence that strenuous activities like running marathons actually heighten the risk of contracting an infection, thus leading to the widespread belief that engaging in endurance sports can make a person more susceptible to sickness. Recently, however, there have been studies that tried to reevaluate this belief, with some suggesting that we’ve been looking at it all wrong: Exercise actually ups the immune system’s performance. Exercise affects the immune system in two ways. The first effect takes place during exercise, where a person’s immune cells in the bloodstream can increase by up to 10 times. A type of immune cell that undergoes this dramatic increase is the “natural killer cells,” which are responsible for combating infections. The second effect happens after exercise, and is characterized by a substantial decrease in immune cells. This fall in immune cells, which can last for several hours, has led many scientists to consider exercise as a cause of immune-suppression or as a dampening of the immune system’s performance. But a study from the University of Bath is suggesting that this is not the right way to interpret this information: A fall in immune cells does not necessarily mean that cells have been lost or destroyed. These “lost cells” have actually just moved to other areas in the body that are more likely to become infected such as the lungs. The authors of the University of Bath study have found evidence suggesting that “losing” cells after exercising just means that the cells have left the bloodstream in order to work on other parts of the body. Primed by exercise, these “lost immune cells” are able to travel to and protect other sites in your body that would otherwise be neglected had you not engaged in exercise. “The findings from our analysis emphasize that people should not be put off by exercise for fear that it will dampen their immune system. Clearly, the benefits of exercise, including endurance sports, outweigh any negative effects which people may perceive,” says co-author Dr. James Turner. He also adds that the role exercise and endurance sports play in reducing your long-term disease risk outweighs any fears that it will negatively affect your immunity. The positive effects of exercise on the immune system are manifested in obvious ways—for one, you’re less likely to contract infections. But a less apparent benefit has to do with vaccines. If you exercise regularly, or more specifically, if you exercise just minutes before receiving vaccination, your immune system will respond to the medicine quicker. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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The benefits of strength training women will feel more than men

No author found

2024-03-15T23:20:58+00:00

If there’s one thing I’m happy to report over the past few years I’ve been working out in my highly commercial gym, it’s that there are a lot more women lifting. If you’re not a gym regular, you can see an abundance of women’s gym content on social media. I’m definitely happy to see them embrace getting stronger. It doesn’t matter if they’re lifting light weights or they’re able to carry something much heavier—I genuinely feel exercise, especially in the gym, is more than just aerobics and cardio (not that there’s anything wrong with those). But despite the strides gym culture has made in getting more women in, the myth of the muscular female body—you know, the one where women are discouraged from lifting weights because they might look like jacked guys—persists, and is still an obstacle for a good number of ladies. Of course, I can always keep repeating the very real fact that girls only get big muscles when they specifically train to have them, but many have likely already heard that. Instead, I’ll outline a few notable benefits of strength training that women might feel a lot more than men, and hope that that finally gets those still sitting on the fence through the door. By now you’ve probably already heard that osteoporosis presents more in women, especially as they get older and approach menopause. Strength training—specifically, high-load resistance training—helps fix bone issues by increasing bone mineral density. That particular study was conducted on elderly women, but it generally found that it’s beneficial for women of all ages. For those already experiencing bone issues, a lighter-impact workout would already be enough of a start; no need to do anything that would put you further at risk. The unfortunate reality that women experience in the modern world right now is that they’re more likely to have self-esteem issues compared with men. Whether it’s rooted in physical appearances or mental well-being, these problems exist and have to be dealt with. The bonuses of increased strength, a better physique (which, again, isn’t necessarily a hyper-muscular one), and post-workout endorphin boosts are no small matters to the mind. While men can also benefit from these just the same, a lot of times women aren’t usually encouraged to be active and athletic. There’s a reason why women dread the onslaught of menopause—the hormonal changes in the body can prove to be too much, and getting out of it takes years. Fortunately, steady strength and resistance training can mitigate the terrible effects of menopause. On top of the osteoporosis prevention already mentioned, lifting can cushion the physical bone and joint pain a woman can feel in their back and lower body, and deter risks of other illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. So whether you’re feeling any of these things or you’re still years away from them, it’s never a bad time to at least consider taking up strength training. As long as you don’t go about the hobby or lifestyle the wrong way (such as overdoing it physically or mentally) it’s always going to be beneficial to you—I’ve never heard of anyone with a healthy relationship with fitness regretting the decision to start. Good luck! Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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The many health benefits of sardines

No author found

2020-04-02T10:42:13+00:00

Many have flocked to groceries and stocked up on food and supplies when the global pandemic was officially announced and the government enforced the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon. To those who are privileged enough to fill up their refrigerators and cupboards, one staple to stock up on are canned goods due to convenience and shelf life. Fortunately, some canned goods are actually full of health benefits. Sardines are one of the most popular types of canned goods in the Philippines—just check the aisles of any grocery store. The country also gains economic benefits from the abundance of the fish sourced from our seas as mentioned by arguably the hottest sardines brand right now. Sardines are one of the most inexpensive foods to eat that are actually tasty and filled with good-for-you nutrients. They’re rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties, and promote heart health, better brain function, and a lower risk of chronic disease. Sardines also contain vitamins and minerals such as 137 percent daily value (% DV) of vitamin B12, 69% DV of selenium, 63% DV of vitamin D, and 35% DV of calcium. Unfortunately, many individuals lack vitamin B12 due to aging in which the stomach produces less acid, having conditions that interfere with nutrient absorption or adhering to vegetarian diets since vitamin B12 generally comes from milk, dairy, eggs, meat, and poultry. Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient for cardiovascular health, and a deficiency of which can lead to nerve damage, impaired mental function, difficulty supplying cells with oxygen, and chronic fatigue. If you’ve already stored enough sardines and are running out of ideas on how to eat them, here’s a simple recipe you can try right now. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/495816/the-many-health-benefits-of-sardines/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR32Oic9BkgCDCQ12mUuCSR0ijj4hRoPMu2hIgKD6SOoRBhWzGXwMN3VMwQ_aem_cQoILkWg25tCHiVWFaQavg

Karen Davila dinipensahan ang sarili: I should’ve been specific

No author found

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 15:52:00 PST

NAGSALITA na ang Kapamilyq anchor na si Karen Davila kaugnay sa nag-viral niyang statement tungkol sa nation’s girl group ns BINI. Matatandaang noong July 23 nang i-report sa “TV Patrol” ang international tour ng nation’s girl group. After ng kanilang regional tour sa Pilipinas ay magtatanghal ang BINI sa pre-show ng KCON event sa Los Angeles, USA. Baka Bet Mo: Karen Davila sa BINI: ‘OMG ang babait! Tama lang na iniidolo niyo sila!’ A post shared by Bandera (@banderaphl) Matapos ang ulat ay nagpakita ng excitement ang iba pang anchor at isa na rito si Karen. “Ang galing ng BINI. At saka maganda dun, ang K-pop sikat sa buong mundo, maganda yung BINI na silang magbubukas ng pintuan para [sa] P-pop. Pag sumikat sila, sisikat din yung iba pang Pilipino,” saad ni Karen bago ang kanyang extro spiels. Agad ngang nag-trending ang naging pahayag ng Kapamilya anchor at marami ang na-trigger lalo na ang fans ng P-pop boy group na SB19 na binubuo nina Stell, Pablo, Justin, Josh, at Ken. Marami ang hindi sumang-ayon sa sinabi ni Karen dahil para sa mga A’TIN (ang tawag sa mga fans ng boy group) ang SB19 ang nagbukas ng pintuan oaea makilala ang P-pop internationally. May ilan ring nabastusan dahil tila inichapwera ng Kapamilya anchor ang tagumpay ng SB19 kasama ang mga parangal na inuwi nito sa Pilipinas. Agad namang dinipensahan ni Karen ang sarili at naglabas ng pahayag sa X (dating Twitter) noong Biyernes, July 26. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Paliwanag ni Karen, hindi niya intensyong mabalewala ang Ppop group. “SB19 first opened the doors for PPOP internationally and made history! BINI is carving their own – being the first all girl group to hit it big. “I should’ve been more specific. SB19 & BINI, you make us all proud! “And may you both open more doors for aspiring local artists. Both are Proudly Filipino,” paliwanag ni Karen.

Inquirer

https://bandera.inquirer.net/390982/karen-davila-dinipensahan-ang-sarili-i-shouldve-been-specific?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0ziUJT0EYAWhw4oRwzXDzL9pqiteDiIlL5w_HBTgmw8b7k8KFsabfOThA_aem_KgVPU30kwDMu0-P0Pb9WXQ

Kiefer Ravena,Diana Mackey magkasama sa Siargao, magdyowa nga ba?

No author found

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 23:59:05 PST

TRENDING ngayon ang Yokohama B-Corsairs guard na si Kiefer Ravena matapos itong mamataang kasama ang Kapamilya actress-beauty queen na si Diana Mackey habang nagbabakasyon sa Siargao. Ngayong araw, July 26, agad na nag-viral ang TikTok video ng isang netizen kung saan makikitang magkasama ang dalawa sa Afam Bridge. Makikita sa video na naglalakad si Diana habang nakasunod naman sa kanya si Kiefer. Agad ngang pumukaw sa pansin ng netizens ang pagsasama ng dalawa at hindi nila mapigilan na magtanong kung may namamagitan na nga ba sa dalawa. Baka Bet Mo: Kiefer Ravena pinalagan ang cheating allegations sa paghihiwalay nila ni Alyssa Valdez HARD LAUNCH? 👀 TINAPOS na ni Kiefer Ravena ang mga haka-haka ng netizens matapos nitong i-restory ang mga litrato kasama ang kanyang jowang si Kholeen Ortiz, isang flight attendant. | 📸: Instagram/Ravena THROWBACK: https://t.co/L3qosJ3FHP pic.twitter.com/O0xwYmbU7B — Bandera (@banderaphl) June 24, 2023 Mapapanood pang kumaway si Kiefer sa naturang video pagkatapos ay sinundan ang dating “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate. Sa ibang social media post naman ay uploaded ang larawan nilang dalawa kung saan magkadikit sila at nakalapat pa ang kamay ng basketbolista sa hita ni Diana. May ilang mga netizens rin ma tila shookt dahil ang pagkakaalam ng mga ito ay isang flight attendant ang kanyang dyowa. “May ugali talaga to si [Kiefer] Ravena na hindi magugustuhan ng isang babae kaya iniiwan. . Ang ganda ng ipinalit nya kay alyssa at halata nman na mabait kasi hindi yon nagsalita o nag post sa social media laban kay alyssa. . Edukada kasi. . Etong lalaking to edukado nman ewan ko kung saan banda,” saad ng isang netizen. May nagsabi rin na mukhang malabo magkaroon ng relasyon ang dalawa dahil babae raw ang gusto ni Diana. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Samantala, nadadamay rin ang volleyball superstar na si Alyssa Valdez sa isyu. Matagal rin kasing naging magkarelasyon sina Alyssa at Kiefer ngunit noong 2022 ay tuluyan na silang naghiwalay. Sa ngayon ay wala pa namang kumpirmasyon ang dalawa kung ano ang real score na namamagitan sa kanila.

Inquirer

https://bandera.inquirer.net/390972/kiefer-ravenadiana-mackey-magkasama-sa-siargao-magdyowa-nga-ba?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR23dbyMn1Jobn3rCP9hbJf3FL6gE5o_P8RNXbAPwy4KX_8_5CUKm-eqmdc_aem_tsgwj7_J1vYcy_1H02xd2A

Marcos calls for more impounding systems to curb flooding

Luisa Cabato

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 17:14:54 PST

A swollen river in Barangay San Miguel, San Antonio, Zambales after Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon or “habagat” whipped many parts of Luzon earlier this week. (Joanna Aglibot / Philippine Daily Inquirer) MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday ordered the building of more water impounding systems in Central Luzon in a bid to mitigate flooding in the region. A swollen river in Barangay San Miguel, San Antonio, Zambales after Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon or “habagat” whipped many parts of Luzon earlier this week. (Joanna Aglibot / Philippine Daily Inquirer) In a situation briefing in Bulacan on Saturday, Marcos stressed that many parts of Central Luzon were submerged in floods following the torrential rains brought by Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon or “habagat.” “‘Yung tubig walang pupuntahan e. Wala talagang pupuntahan. Mataas yung tubig ng dagat. Mataas yung tubig ng ilog, may baha pa dun sa mga farmlands,” the President said. (The water isn’t going anywhere. It’s really not going anywhere. The sea level is high. The river water is high, and there’s flooding in the farmlands.) “Ang laki ng bumaba na tubig, sabay sabay, bigla. Hindi na nakayanan ng ating mga slope protection, ng ating flood control, ng ating mga dike, so we have to find another way to do it. Kaya palagay ko ‘yung impounding talaga, ‘yung ponds ang pinakamagiging solusyon dyan eh,” he added. (There was a large volume of water all at once. Our slope protection, flood control, and dikes couldn’t handle it. So, we have to find another way to address this. I think impounding, like creating ponds, will be the best solution.) The Philippine National Police has so far reported  34 deaths due to heavy rains triggered by Carina and the “habagat” as of July 26. Twelve people died in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon),  11 in Metro Manila, nine in Central Luzon and two in the Bicol region,  according to reports from PNP regional offices. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

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Alden Richards bet nang mag-gf, may pa-presscon ‘pag nagkadyowa

No author found

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 10:49:49 PST

“JUST to settle this question magpapa-presscon ako Tito Boy (Abunda) kukunin kitang host pag maga-announce na po ako officially kung sino ang aking makaka-partner,” ito ang pangako ni Alden Richards sa Fast Talk TV host. Ang aktor ang ka-one-on-one interview ng King of Talk sa Friday episode ng programa niyang “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” at natanong nga kung kumusta ang kanyang love life ngayon. Ito rin ang madalas na tanong kay Alden lalo’t nakikitang masyado silang malapit ng leading lady niyang si Kathryn Bernardo sa pelikulang “Hello, Love Again” na sinu-shoot ngayon sa Canada under Direk Cathy Garcia-Sampana produced ng Star Cinema at GMA Films. Halos lahat ng online talk show ay madalas na topic ang KathDen pero may nagsabing wala pang relasyon ang dalawa dahil may ibang nanliligaw kay Kathryn na hindi pa niya bina-basted na ibig sabihin ay puwede pa siyang mag-entertain ng manliligaw. Baka Bet Mo: A post shared by Bandera (@banderaphl) Anyway, sa 2 minute fast-talk ay pinili ni Alden ang magka-girlfriend kaysa magkaroon ng pera at more time for dates. Kuya Boy, “Guwapo, romantiko?” Alden, “romantiko.” Kuya Boy, “Mahal mo, mahal ka?” Alden, “mahal ko.” Kuya Boy, “magka-pera, magka-girlfriend?” Alden, “magka-girlfriend.” Kuya Boy, “more time for dates or more time for gaming.” Alden, “more time for dates.” Kuya Boy, “kung invisible ka, sino ang mamanmanan mo?” Alden, “secret po.” Kuya Boy, “ideal place for dates?” Alden, “something private.” Kuya Boy, “ideal age to get married?” Alden, “35 (years old).” Sa madaling salita ay may tatlong taon na lang si Alden para mahanap ang kanyang ‘the one’ dahil gusto na niyang mag-settle down, edad 32 na siya ngayon. Guilty ang sagot ng aktor sa tanong kung nasubukan na niyang mag-drive ng nakainom, may naka-alitang co-actor, nang block ng basher, nang ghost ng babae. ‘Both,” ang sagot ni Alden sa tanong kung ano ang pipiliin niya, love o career Samantala, puro paghanga sa aktor ang nabasa namin sa ilang komento sa kanya mula sa netizens. Galing kay Rosemarie Atieza 8830, “Sa lahat ng mga batang artista sa ngaun itong si Alden ang pinakagusto ko marespetong sumagot walang angas at napaka-desenteng bata.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. “This guy always speaks from the heart, so genuine!” say naman ni Dixiegirl3959. Say ni Alice Mejiaco 6113, “First time I saw Richard talking on TV and was impressed by the sincerity in explaining everything for us to realize that he is one of those actors whose honesty in him prevailed. Congratulations! Always keep safe and may God bless you forever! Aabangan daw ni Marilyn Cervantes 6319 ang announcement ni Alden pag may girlfriend na siya., “Super smart ka talaga, Alden Richard. Wait namin ang announcement mo sa yong partner in life na. God bless on your serye Pulang Araw and safe flight to Canada excited to watch HLA with your Queen Kathryn.”

Inquirer

https://bandera.inquirer.net/390976/alden-richards-bet-nang-mag-gf-may-pa-presscon-pag-nagkadyowa?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1qK8rTMgJ1vyaLl4y0lSBPYMlgWgdr1mTmOcFw5EKHrKqPLarf1CmBNsU_aem_xHmbeQbGR2fNE5BOFThVSA

China warns Philippines of ‘resolute’ response in South China Sea

Agence France-Presse

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 17:39:32 PST

This frame grab from handout video footage taken and released on April 30, 2024 by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shows the Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Bagacay (C) being hit by water cannon from Chinese coast guard vessels near the Chinese-controlled Scarborough shoal in disputed waters of the South China Sea. The Philippines said the China Coast Guard fired water cannon on April 30 at two of its vessels, causing damage to one of them, during a patrol near a reef off the Southeast Asian country. (Photo by Handout / Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) / AFP) This frame grab from handout video footage taken and released on April 30, 2024 by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shows the Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Bagacay (C) being hit by water cannon from Chinese coast guard vessels near the Chinese-controlled Scarborough shoal in disputed waters of the South China Sea. The Philippines said the China Coast Guard fired water cannon on April 30 at two of its vessels, causing damage to one of them, during a patrol near a reef off the Southeast Asian country. (Photo by Handout / Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) / AFP) VIENTIANE, Laos – China will “respond resolutely” to any violation by the Philippines of a recent deal to calm tensions between the two countries in the South China Sea, its top diplomat told his Filipino counterpart, Beijing said Saturday. Manila is locked in a longstanding territorial row with Beijing over parts of the strategic waterway through which trillions of dollars worth of trade passes annually. Last week, the two sides agreed to a “provisional arrangement” for resupply missions to Filipino troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, which has been the focus of violent clashes in recent months. Wang Yi called on the Philippines to “honour its commitments” under the deal rather than “backtracking or creating complications”, according to a readout of his meeting with Philippine foreign secretary Enrique Manalo at an ASEAN gathering in Laos. “Otherwise, China will definitely respond resolutely,” he said. Wang also warned the Philippines against deploying a US missile defense system. “If the Philippines introduces the US intermediate-range missile defense system, it will create tension and confrontation in the region and trigger an arms race,” he said. Speaking to reporters late Friday, Manalo said he hoped Beijing would keep its side of the bargain. “If the parties implement, and we hope China implements the agreement, then we’ll be able to resupply our military personnel on the ship without any obstruction,” he said. “I think that would be an important step forward in diffusing tensions and hopefully lead to other areas of cooperation on the South China Sea.” The two diplomats met in Laos capital Vientiane, host of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers meeting that comes amid high tensions over the South China Sea. Beijing claims the waterway — through which trillions of dollars of trade passes annually — almost in its entirety despite an international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. The clashes have fueled fears of a conflict that could drag in the United States due to its mutual defence treaty with Manila. US top diplomat Antony Blinken arrived in Laos on Saturday for talks with ASEAN foreign ministers and will also meet with Wang. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Blinken has prioritized promoting a “free and open” Asia-Pacific region — a thinly veiled criticism of China’s regional economic, strategic and territorial ambitions. For comprehensive coverage, in-depth analysis, visit our special page for West Philippine Sea updates. Stay informed with articles, videos, and expert opinions. Subscribe to our global news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/243755/china-warns-philippines-of-resolute-response-in-south-china-sea?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR00uOyxuTf-0HdA2_F8lg2C4iFXvlVRqII53isb4-_n3o3gIasO0BmPf8I_aem_xhRUIGID7VHdAVBge6ITCA

Paris Olympics: Rower Joanie Delgaco places fourth, stays in medal hunt

INQUIRER.net

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 17:31:18 PST

FILE–Joanie Delgaco and Melcah Jen Cabrallero (foreground) of the Philippines compete with Indonesia’s Mutiare Rahma Putri and Melani Putri (background) during the lightweight women’s double sculls heat at the 2021 World Rowing Asia-Oceania Olympic and Paralympic Continental Qualifying Regatta in Tokyo on May 6, 2021, where the Olympic and Paralympic Games events will be held. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) FILE–Joanie Delgaco and Melcah Jen Cabrallero (foreground) of the Philippines compete with Indonesia’s Mutiare Rahma Putri and Melani Putri (background) during the lightweight women’s double sculls heat at the 2021 World Rowing Asia-Oceania Olympic and Paralympic Continental Qualifying Regatta in Tokyo on May 6, 2021, where the Olympic and Paralympic Games events will be held. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) MANILA, Philippines—Rower Joanie Delgaco kicked off Team Philippines’ campaign in the Paris Olympics 2024 on Saturday in France. Delgaco got off to a strong start but faltered in the end to finish in fourth place in the women’s single sculls heat at Nautical St. – Flat Water. The 26-year-old Delgaco, the first Filipina rower to qualify for the Olympics, reached the finish line with a time of 7:56.26. The Netherlands’ Karolien Florijn topped the event at 7:36.90 while Sweden’s Aurelia-Maxima Janzen finished second (7:41.15) and Slovenia’s Nina Kostanjsek rounded out the top three at 7:46.30. Delgaco burst out of the scene in Heat 2 with an explosive start that saw her take the lead in third place early. For the majority of the race, Delgaco tried her best to keep the Slovenian at bay but to no avail as Kostanjsek eventually took over third place. Despite falling short, Delgaco, who was a volleyball player before fully committing to rowing, still remains in podium contention after being relegated to the repechage round set on Sunday. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Paris Olympics 2024. Subscribe to our sports news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

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Jhong Hilario divorced na sa British ex-wife Michelle Westgate

No author found

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 11:59:30 PST

KUMAKALAT ngayon sa social media ang larawan ng kopya ng court petition na mula kay Jhong Hilario para kilalanin ang kanilang divorce ng British ex-wife na si Michelle Westgate. Ang court petition ay ibinahagi ng The Philippine Star columnist na si Victor Agustin. Mababasa sa naturang court petition ang pangalan ni Jhong na Virgilio V. Hilario Jr. at pangalan ng dati nitong asawa. “Spotted in a dimly-lit nook within Makati City Hall. Actor-councillor Jhong Hilario (finally) seeking legal recognition of his foreign divorce,” saad ni Victor sa caption. Ibig sabihin ay na-grant na ang divorce niya sa kanyang dating asawa. Baka Bet Mo: Anak ni Jhong Hilario na si Sarina nag-birthday party sa bahay-ampunan A post shared by Bandera (@banderaphl) At dahil hindi pa kinikilala ang ang diborsyo sa Pilipinas kahit dito sila kinasal ay sa England sila nag-file. Ngayon ay maaari nang mapawalang bisa sa local court ang kasal ni Jhong kay Michelle. Para sa mga hindi aware, taong 2007 nang aminin ng “It’s Showtime” host sa publiko na iki asal na siya sa isang British national. Nagkakilala noon sina Jhong at Michelle nang maging bahagi ang aktor ng cast ensemble sa West End’s “Miss Saigon”. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. October 2005 nang ikasal silang dalawa ngunit matapos ang halos 6 na taon ay naghiwalay na rin sila boong June 2011. Hindi sila nagkaroon ng anak. Samantala, siguradong tuloy tuloy-tuloy na ang saya ni Jhong dahil maaari na rin silang magpakasal ng longtime girlfriend at partner nitong si Maia Azores. Mayroon silang anak na si Sarina.

Inquirer

https://bandera.inquirer.net/390979/jhong-hilario-divorced-na-sa-british-ex-wife-michelle-westgate?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2s2TdI_0P8tT0Bwh8w5_60tIIHEmp3mLYgxAQXukwqPeJKup4a8wRXJwY_aem_TW9PWKAkEVua_8w7pXmzBg

PCG: Oil spill may affect parts of Bataan, Cavite

Dianne Sampang

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 16:18:51 PST

Philippine Coast Guard (PCCG) personnel prepare to deploy an oil spill containment boom and skimmer at a port in Limay, Bataan on Friday, July 26, 2024. A Philippine-flagged tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil capsized and sank off Manila on July 25, authorities said, as they raced against time to contain the spill. (Photo by Jam Sta Rosa / Agence France-Presse) Philippine Coast Guard (PCCG) personnel prepare to deploy an oil spill containment boom and skimmer at a port in Limay, Bataan on Friday, July 26, 2024. A Philippine-flagged tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil capsized and sank off Manila on July 25, authorities said, as they raced against time to contain the spill. (Photo by Jam Sta Rosa / Agence France-Presse) MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Saturday said that they meet with concerned local government unit (LGUs) officials in Bataan and Cavite regarding the extent of the oil spill off Bataan. “Kahapon, northeast ‘yong trajectory ng oil pero ngayon parang ang southwest, ibig sabihin, Nasugbu, Naig, at dyan sa Mariveles at tsaka Cavite. Ayan ‘yong kailangang kausapin at maghanda,” PCG Spokesperson Rear Admiral Arman Balilo said in an online briefing. (Yesterday, the trajectory of the oil was northeast but now, it seems like it shifted southwest, meaning, Nasugbu, Naig, Mariveles and Cavite. We need to talk to them so they can prepare.) The PCG on Saturday said that the oil from the sunken Motor Tanker (MT) Terra Nova started to leak into Manila Bay and is now estimated to stretch between 12 to 14 kilometers across the bay. The MT Terra Nova, carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel capsized and eventually sank some seven kilometers east of Lamao Point in Limay, Bataan on Thursday morning. Balilo said that divers spotted  a minimal leak from the valves of the sunken tanker. “Manageable pa pero katulad nung sinasabi ko, hindi tayo papakampante. We notify ‘yong local government units na pwedeng maapektuhan nito para makapagprepare,” he added. (This is still manageable but like what I have said, we must not be complacent. We will notify local government units that may be affected so they can prepare.) “We are trying to do our best para hindi maapektuhan ‘yong mga kababayan nating mangingisda,” Balilo noted. (We are trying to do our best so the fishermen will not be affected.) PCG also reported that a vessel from Batangas will be arriving on Saturday afternoon or night to transfer the oil from MT Terra Nova. “Ang ginagawa ngayon ay minomobilize lahat ng equipment na kailangan para wala nang problema sa siphoning tomorrow.” (We are mobilizing all the equipment needed so there will be no problem with the siphoning tomorrow.) “May mga divers na tutulong para magkabit ng hose sa mga tangke. Pagkatapos non, mayroong makina na gagamitin para sumipsip. Mayroon ding nakahandang mga bags katulad ng ginamit sa Mindoro just in case may leak sa ibang area. Parang katulad no’ng sa Mindoro, sasaluhin yung tapon ng langis habang sinisiphon para hindi na umangat sa dagat.” (Divers will help in attaching the hose to the tanks. After that, we will use machines. There are also bags like the ones used in Mindoro [oil spill] just in case there are leaks in other areas. It will catch the oil leak while siphoning so it does not surface.) Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1966492/pcg-warns-lgus-on-possible-stretch-of-bataan-sunken-tank-oil-spill-to-other-areas?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0_Q5LIN3eWXp5mw_StZc0Pwdv-hNZdfhZhGugOXalB3QDofXoTJjiaPI8_aem_ToCMyHPclGEbwGgK6-dArw

PVL: Jackie Acuña an early revelation for unbeaten Cignal

Lance Agcaoili

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 16:59:13 PST

Cignal’s Jackie Acuna in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net Cignal’s Jackie Acuna in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net MANILA, Philippines — Jackie Acuña has been making the most of the opportunity given by coach Shaq Delos Santos to Cignal as she helped her team stay unbeaten in three games in Pool B in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference. Acuña provided six of the HD Spikers’ 10 blocks to finish with 12 points in their 25-20, 25-17, 23-25, 25-13 win over Capital1 on Saturday at Philsports Arena. “Yung mindset ko lang every day is makatulong tapos tapangan ko lang,” said the former National University player. “Hindi basta basta yung mga kalaban ngayon talagang nagsstep up lahat ng teams. Nagha-hard work ako sa training tapos sumusunod lang ako sa instruction ng coaches.” Cignal coach Shaq Delos Santos, MJ Perez, and Jackie Acuña share their thoughts after overcoming Capital1. #PVL2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/ujnYifsCbL — Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 27, 2024 Acuña emerged as a starter this conference with a total of 25 points including 10 blocks in three games with coach Shaq Delos Santos looking to unlock her full potential by exposing her in the import-laden tournament. “Lahat naman ng middles namin laging merong malaking opportunity yan pagdating sa training. Balanced naman lahat ng nabibigay naming time para sa kanila. But nakikita rin namin kasi yung malaking potential ni Jackie and mas aggressive din doon sa mga galawan,” said the Cignal coach. “Gusto ko rin maexpose yung talagang potential niya kasi malaki yung matutulong niya sa team.” Besides Acuña, Delos Santos lauded his wards for stepping up with Ces Molina, Chinchin Basas, Ria Meneses, Gel Cayuna, and Judith Abil and supporting Venezuelan import MJ Perez despite missing Alas Pilipinas players Vanie Gandler and Dawn Macandili-Catindig as well as Jovelyn Ganzaga, who skipped the conference due to her commitment with Army. “Siyempre nabawasan dahil grabe yung effort na ginagawa ng players namin sa team while nasa Alas yung two players namin and happy lang ako kasi sumusunod lang sila sa sistema na meron yung team,” he said. “For sure pagaaralan talaga kami ng mga teams. Mas pagbubutihin pa namin yung trabaho namin and mas aaralin namin yung mga kalaban namin.” Cignal is set for a 2022 Reinforced finals rematch against two-time defending champion Petro Gazz on Thursday next week. Acuña, who is turning 24 on Sunday, promises to keep working hard to repay the full trust of her team. “Masaya po pero hanggang today lang po dapat kasi job’s not finished. Ginawa ko lang yung best ko para makatulong sa team para hindi masayang din yung tiwala na binibigay ng coaches and management,” she said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our sports news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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12 hurt as PNR train drags passenger van in Albay town

Ma. April Mier-Manjares

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 23:06:14 PST

Inquirer file photo Inquirer file photo LEGAZPI CITY, ALBAY, Philippines — At least 12 passengers were injured after a van was dragged by a Philippine National Railways (PNR) train in Daraga town in Albay on Saturday afternoon, July 27. Major Ma. Luisa Tino, spokesperson of Albay police, said based on the investigation, the passenger van driven by Larry Marilla, 35, was crossing the railroad heading toward Barangay (village) Dinoronan when it was accidentally hit and dragged for almost 24 meters by the PNR train in Barangay (village) Gapo at around 2:30 p.m. READ: After 6 years, rail trips resume in Bicol The passengers of the van sustained injuries in different parts of their body, and were taken to the nearest hospital. The passenger train, driven by Jade De Jesus, was traveling from Sipocot town to Legazpi City. No passenger was hurt from the PNR train. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. News that matters By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Japan exhibition takes Manny Pacquiao way back to 1998

Mark Giongco

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 22:55:55 PST

Manny Pacquiao smiles during a press conference ahead of his exhibition bout against Rukiya Anpo in Super RIZIN 3 on Sunday at Saitama Super Arena in Japan.–MP Promotions/Wendell Alinea Manny Pacquiao smiles during a press conference ahead of his exhibition bout against Rukiya Anpo in Super RIZIN 3 on Sunday at Saitama Super Arena in Japan.–MP Promotions/Wendell Alinea TOKYO—Manny Pacquiao’s latest exhibition match on Sunday will also mark his first ring appearance in Japan since 1998 when he was still an up-and-comer. Throughout his 26-year pro boxing career, Pacquiao only fought in the country currently in its golden age with a slew of world champions bannered by one of the top pound-for-pound fighters today in two-division undisputed champion Naoya Inoue. On May 18, 1998, a 19-year-old Pacquiao stopped Japanese Shin Terao in the first round of their flyweight bout at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. The fight was also Pacquiao’s first outside Philippine soil. WATCH: Manny Pacquiao hops on a time machine back to 1998 when he first fought in Japan. He fights again here at Saitama Arena on Sunday in an exhibition. | @MarkGiongcoINQ pic.twitter.com/DWJokyQVcF — INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 26, 2024 That bout led to his maiden crack at a world title which took place seven months later in Thailand where he knocked out home bet Chatchai Sasakul to snatch the WBC flyweight belt. “It’s nice to be back in Japan. I’m excited on Sunday. It’s been a long time,” said Pacquiao during a press conference at Westin Hotel Tokyo on Friday. Pacquiao, of course, went on to conquer seven more divisions to become the only fighter to win titles in eight different weight classes—an achievement deemed nearly improbable to replicate. Pacquiao takes on Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo, a former K-1 champion, in a three-round exhibition on Sunday to headline Super RIZIN 3 at Saitama Super Arena. The bout is set at a 152-pound catchweight. “I hope we can give a good fight and make the Japanese fans happy.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our sports news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Enterprising Lucena teen gets aid from impressed Frontrow founder Sam Verzosa

INQUIRER.net

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 19:13:17 PST

NEGOSYO PACKAGE | Frontrow founder Sam Verzosa (right) with 14-year-old Jaeden dela Cruz (left) and mother Maricel and his siblings. NEGOSYO PACKAGE | Frontrow founder Sam Verzosa (right) with 14-year-old Jaeden dela Cruz (left) and mother Maricel and his siblings. MANILA, Philippines — An enterprising 14-year-old  Jaeden dela Cruz has become such a local sensation in Lucena City in Quezon for his dedication and hard work — so much that he impressed Sam Verzosa, founder of the multi-level marketing firm Frontrow. An incoming eighth-grade student, Jaeden spends his afternoons selling pasalubong items after finishing school in the morning. Despite his young age, he already earns around P500 dail, which he uses for his school needs and savings. According to his mother, Maricel dela Cruz, Jaeden is not forced to sell or work for the family. She describes him as very hardworking, helpful, and a loving son. Jaeden’s motivation stems from the loss of his father due to pulmonary and heart complications, which has driven him to help his family. In addition to selling pasalubong, Jaeden happens to be an active member of Frontrow. He is dedicated to learning the trade and regularly attends seminars and meetings to improve his skills. Recently, a viral video of Jaeden talking about the importance of hard work and dignity in selling pasalubong caught the attention of Sam “SV” Verzosa – the host of the public service program “Dear SV.” After watching the video, SV decided to visit Jaeden in Lucena. In the episode of “Dear SV,” Jaeden impressed the host with his positive attitude and potential despite his young age and struggles. As an entrepreneur and salesman himself, SV challenged Jaeden to a sales contest, where they competed to sell as many pasalubong as possible. Jaeden won the challenge with his persistence and dedication. Dumayo kami ng Lucena City para kilalanin ang masipag na batang si Jaeden at magbigay ng tulong para sa kanya at sa kanyang pamilya.. sana ingatan at mapalago mo lahat ng naitulong ng Dear SV sayo 👍🏼☺️ #DearSV on GMA 7 💫❤️ ♬ original sound – Sam Verzosa – Sam Verzosa To support Jaeden and his family, SV provided them with a negosyo package to help them sell goods from home. He also gave them a cellphone for their loading business, a grocery package, school supplies for Jaeden and his siblings, a bicycle (Jaeden had to sell his own previously to make money), a scholarship, and financial assistance for Jaeden to continue his education. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. SV emphasized to Jaeden: “Kahit na naguumpisa ka na magnegosyo, naguumpisa ka na kumita, gusto ko pa din ibahagi sayo yung kahalagahan ng pagaaral. Kaya importante pa din na magkaroon ka ng diploma mo.” [Even if you have started to get into business and are already earning, I still want to share with the value of studying. So it’s important for you to get a diploma.] Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Lawmakers urged to prioritize funding of digital infrastructure projects

Dianne Sampang

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 19:11:13 PST

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. starts his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) at the Batasan plenary hall on Monday, July 22, 2024. —Screenshot from an RTVM livestream President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. starts his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) at the Batasan plenary hall on Monday, July 22, 2024. —Screenshot from an RTVM livestream MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers should prioritize allotting proper funding for digital infrastructures projects after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made the pronouncement of the status of the projects in his 3rd State of the Nation Address (Sona), an international think tank said on Friday. Stratbase Institute highlighted the importance of having proper budget in stabilizing the digital infrastructures to address the digital gaps in the country. “The President said some P3 trillion pesos in total investments in various sectors have already been green lane certified,” said Stratbase Institute President Victor Manhit. “This is well and good, but our legislators should already be looking ahead and prioritize the funding of Phases 2 and 3 of the national fiber backbone as soon as possible,” he added. Marcos announced in his third Sona that the first phase of the National Fiber Backbone program has been operationalized. The second and third phase began this year and is expected to be completed in 2026. READ: Marcos: Nat’l broadband program gains ground, ‘common towers’ pushed “This fiber backbone will give us efficient capacity in terms of bandwidth,” said the President. Stratbase said that backbone “intends to improve” the country’s internet connectivity where 20.6 million households are connected to the internet in 2022. The think tank also lauded the Chief Executive for acknowledging the efforts of private organizations in pushing for a more improved internet connectivity for the country. READ: Nat’l Fiber Backbone launched, starting with Laoag-QC phase “But while much has been done, a lot more needs to be accomplished so that our economy can truly become digitally empowered, and our people truly digitally capable,” Manhit added. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. The first phase of the national fiber backbone would cover 1,245 kilometers from Laoag City in Ilocos Norte to Quezon City, expected to extend the digital lifeline to more than 3,000 free Wi-Fi sites, benefitting around 750,000 in the two areas. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Bohol acting governor laid to rest

Leo Udtohan

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 22:52:34 PST

Bohol acting Gov. Dionisio Victor Balite. (Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas) Bohol acting Gov. Dionisio Victor Balite. (Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas) TAGBILARAN CITY – Boholanos on Friday, July 26, bid goodbye to Acting Gov. Dionisio Victor Balite. A funeral Mass officiated by Bishop Crispin Varquez of the Diocese of Borongan in Eastern Samar and co-celebrated by Balite’s son, Rev. Fr. Bernadine Jade Dionne Balite was held at the St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral in Tagbilaran City prior to the burial. Balite died last July 17 at the age of 52. READ: President asked to declare Dagohoy Day in Bohol a non-working holiday “Thank you for your ministry not only to the Boholano people but also to the Church. Your public and church service has benefited many people,” Bishop Varquez said in his message. In his homily, Fr. Balite described his father as “selfless, humble and a great family man.” “Despite his busy political career, he didn’t fail to be a good husband and a father to us,” he said. During the wake, Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen. Francis Tolentino had time to visit his remains and condole with the family. Tolentino, the current Senate Majority Floor leader, said “Balite was a friend. He was a good man.” Balite’s father, former Vice Gov. Dionisio “Dioning” Balite, is a founding member of PDP-Laban, the party of Tolentino. The funeral mass was attended by Representatives Vanessa Aumentado and Alexie Besas-Tutor, some mayors, teachers and staff of BIT-International College and relatives from Camiguin, Cebu and Mindanao. They were mostly clad in white and black. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan, for its part, passed a resolution citing Balite’s invaluable contribution to the province. The board members, Acting Gov. Tita Baja, and suspended Gov. Aris Aumentado gave a copy of the resolution to the widow, Russell. The remains of Balite arrived at the Victoria Memorial Park in Barangay Taloto in Tagbilaran City. Balite, the youngest of five siblings and a father of five, was given full military honors with a 21-gun salute. A Philippine flag that covered Balite’s casket was also turned over to the Balite family from Col. Lorenzo Batuan, director of Bohol Police Provincial Office and Baja, who was received by Balite’s wife. Butterflies were set free during the burial. At 4:40p.m., Balite was laid to rest in a tomb beside his mother, Lilia, who died in 2021. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Balite served as board member from 2016 to 2019 and 2019 to 2022 until he was elected as vice governor in 2022. He became acting governor on May 28, 2024 when Aumentado was preventively suspended by the Ombudsman due to the construction of illegal structures at the foot of the Chocolate Hills. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Paris Olympics: Hergie Bacyadan faces tall order in boxing opener

Rommel Fuertes Jr.

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 22:54:52 PST

FILE–Team Philippines Hergie Bacyadan is competing in the Paris Olympics 2024 women’s boxing competition. –Cignal TV PHOTO FILE–Team Philippines Hergie Bacyadan is competing in the Paris Olympics 2024 women’s boxing competition. –Cignal TV PHOTO SCHEDULE: Team Philippines at Paris Olympics 2024 MANILA, Philippines—Hergie Bacyadan may be facing a tougher route in the Paris Olympics 2024 women’s boxing tournament compared to her Team Philippines compatriots. Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial earned byes into the Round of 16 but Bacyadan will have to work a bit harder as her first opponent in Olympic debut is China’s Li Qian. In contrast to Bacyadan, Li is as seasoned as a veteran could get. The Chinese bet has already had her taste of Olympic triumph as she won bronze in the Rio 2016 Games. He also has a pile of gold medals from the Women’s World Boxing Championships and the Asian Games. Paris Olympics: Team Philippines’ Hergie Bacyadan (boxing) But if Bacyadan wins in the David vs. Goliath affair, she only needs one more win to be assured of a podium finish for Team Philippines. Paalam, meanwhile, will face Ireland’s Jude Gallagher in his first bout in the men’s 52kg category. Marcial will have a hit of nostalgia in his first match in the 57kg category as he will face Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khyzhniak–the man who made him settle for bronze in Tokyo, three years ago. Much like Bacyadan, Paalam and Marcial need to win two bouts in order to be assured of a medal. Team Philippines in Paris Olympics 2024: Meet the athletes The same can’t be said for Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio, though, as they both need to win three matches for a medal finish. Villegas slugs it out with Morocco bet Yasmine Mouttaki in the women’s 50kg class while Petecio clashes with India’s Jaismine Lamboria in the women’s 57kg category. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Villegas will be the first to compete for Team Philippines on Monday (Manila time). Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Paris Olympics 2024. Subscribe to our sports news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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DOH issues list of medicines currently on price freeze

Luisa Cabato

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 17:11:31 PST

INQUIRER.net file photo INQUIRER.net file photo MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday released the list of medicines that are on “price freeze” due to the state of calamity declaration in some localities in Luzon. Metro Manila, Batangas, Cainta in Rizal, Cavite, Oriental Mindoro, Bataan, and Bulacan are currently under a state of calamity because of the onslaught of Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) and the southwest monsoon, or “habagat.” READ: DTI orders price freeze in Metro Manila amid state of calamity In a Facebook post, the DOH encouraged consumers to report any overpricing or violations to the following contact numbers and email addresses: “DOH Hotlines: (632) 8651-7800 local 5003-5004, (632) 165-364 E-mail: [email protected] Department of Trade and Industry hotline: 1-384 or email [email protected]” Below is the list of medicines that are on price freeze: Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Number of new voter registrants about to reach 5 million, says Comelec

Luisa Cabato

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 22:32:37 PST

A participant of the voter registration of the Commission on Elections is seen filling up forms in this photo taken in January 2021. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA A participant of the voter registration of the Commission on Elections is seen filling up forms in this photo taken in January 2021. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA MANILA, Philippines — The Commission of Elections (Comelec) said the number of new voter registrant is nearing the five-million mark ahead of the May 2025 national and local elections. In a data sent to reporters on Friday, the poll body said there are already 4,672,947 new voter registrations from all regions of the country, including its main office in Intramuros, Manila. READ: Comelec breaches 3 million target of new voter registrants The Comelec, last May, already reached its target of three million new voter registrants for the midterm elections next year. The voter registration for the 2025 elections started last February 12, and will last until September 30. Eligible voters only need to visit the office of the election officer (OEO) or satellite registration sites in their areas from Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registrants may access the application form via OEO and the Comelec website. Applicants need to bring one of the following government-issued identification cards (ID) with their signature: The Comelec also reminded the public that company ID will no longer be accepted, and only government-issued ones will be honored. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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NBI warns public vs. online lending scams

Tetch Torres-Tupas

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 19:22:35 PST

NBI chief Jaime Santiago (seated in blue jacket) presented Mi Duan, a Chinese woman, the suspect in an online lending scam. | Photo from the Facebook page of the NBI) NBI chief Jaime Santiago (seated in blue jacket) presented Mi Duan, a Chinese woman, the suspect in an online lending scam. | Photo from the Facebook page of the NBI) MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) cautioned the public against online lending schemes on  Friday following the arrest of a Chinese woman involved in an online collection scam that extorts money from borrowers through deceptive and coercive methods. “We have been receiving messages about cash loans. Let’s be careful. We should consider these a menace to society,” NBI National Capital Region Regional Director Rommel Vallejo said. The NBI-NCR arrested a Chinese woman identified as Mi Duan last July 22 in an operation conducted in Pasay City. The NBI was prompted to investigate following a complaint of a woman who downloaded the application 24HPeso from the Google Play store to borrow P3,500. Instead of receiving the loaned amount, the victim received only P1,900 after interest was deducted. She eventually was able to fully pay the entire P3,500 loan. Despite the full payment, agents purportedly of 24HPeso continuously contacted and threatened her. One of the messages she received stated: “Hoy, yakapin mo na lahat ng mahal mo sa buhay. Sisiguraduhin ko sa’yo pagsisisihan mo ‘yan. Tinakasan mo utang mo. Itaga mo sa bato, nagkamali ka ng binangga. Ang mali mo, nag-iwan ka ng impormasyon.” [Translation: Hug all your loved ones. I assure you, you will regret this. You ran away from your debt. Mark my words, you messed with the wrong person. Your mistake was leaving behind information.] The victim said collection agents kept calling her, requesting a receipt to prove she had fully paid her loan. Still, she is being harassed and even mentioned about sending a coffin for her. NBI investigators found that the 24HPeso app contains malware that can access the victim’s phonebook once installed on a mobile phone. The information gathered from the victim’s phone is used to coerce, harass, and threaten the victim, including through posts on social media. After locating the 24HPeso office, the NBI-NCR secured a search warrant and implemented it in the lending company’s office in Pasay City. NBI agents seized the following: 33 smartphones, 32 computers, 1 laptop, 1 USB containing CCTV footage, 1 set of Visionary Lending Inc. documents, and a set of lease contracts. NBI Director Jaime Santiago assured that the law enforcement operation was thoroughly documented through videos, photos taken by the NBI official photographer, and body-worn cameras in compliance with a Supreme Court order. READ: SC to issue rule requiring use of body cams for serving search warrants Meanwhile, the Filipino collection agents testified that they were initially hired as collection agents. Still, once they started working, they were given instructions and scripts to harass the borrowers. They added they were verbally and physically abused if they failed to meet their daily quota. The collection agents will serve as the government’s witness. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Mi, who failed to present a passport is facing cases of violating Section 25 of the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173)  in relation to Section 6  and Section 4(a1) of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (RA No. 10175). Subscribe to our global news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Carina evacuees get aid: 3,000 in Navotas, 10,000 in Marikina

Gabriel Pabico Lalu

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 17:56:29 PST

A resident with their belongings ride on an improvised inflatable buoy made from the interior of a tire along with other residents evacuate from their flooded homes in Barangay Tumana, Marikina City, east of Manila on July 24, 2024, amid heavy rains brought about by Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi). | Photo by Ted Aljibe, Agence France-Presse A resident with their belongings ride on an improvised inflatable buoy made from the interior of a tire along with other residents evacuate from their flooded homes in Barangay Tumana, Marikina City, east of Manila on July 24, 2024, amid heavy rains brought about by Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi). | Photo by Ted Aljibe, Agence France-Presse MANILA, Philippines — At least 13,000 evacuees — 3,000 in Navotas City and 10,000 in Marikina — who were affected by the rains and floods due to Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon got relief goods, including food packs, from the government, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said in a statement on Friday. “The administration of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. has provided this help to people affected by this calamity.  We are here to let you citizens feel and get the services of the government services,” Romualdez said in Filipino. He added that other government officials, including lawmakers, will visit other areas to give assistance. “We will be going to more evacuation centers. We will bring to the victims of the habagat and Typhoon Carina help from the government, whatever part of the country they may be in. Our [resident knows the situation and he has issued a directive to help people who have been affected,” he added. The 3,000 food packs delivered in flood-stricken Navotas came from the Tingong party list and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),  Romualdez said. In Marikina, another area severely affected by flooding, Romualdez said 10,000 residents would each receive a P5,000 cash grant through the DSWD’s Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (Akap) by the last week of July. This is aside from the 10,000 relief packs facilitated by Romualdez’s office and the Tingog party list, led by Rep. Yedda Romualdez and Rep. Jude Acidre. The items will be given to the office of Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo. According to Romualdez, President Marcos and the government are ware that most of the evacuated individuals in Metro Manila are Marikina residents. “Marikina City recorded the most evacuees due to floods caused by Typhoon Carina. And it is the goal of our President Marcos Jr. to make you feel that the government is present during times of calamity,” he said. “May the food packs and the cash aid from the AKAP — a program of the government — be of help. We are preparing this aid for you and you will receive it by next week. We sincerely sympathize with your situation right now,” he added. Initially, Romualdez’s office and Tingog distributed hot meals to affected communities in Marikina’s Barangay Malanday and Barangay Jesus Dela Peña. READ: Speaker’s office steps up to aid struggling Marikina folk For the Navotas aid distribution, Romualdez was accompanied by Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., who is the appropriations panel chair;  Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co; Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco; and Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco. The officials also inspected the damaged Tangos-Tanza Navigational Gate — which Tiangco believes could have prevented flooding in Navotas and other nearby areas. READ: MMDA aims to fully repair Malabon-Navotas River floodgate by August For his part, Romualdez said: “We need to reassess the plans against floods because of what has happened.  We will ensure that our national budget has appropriate funding for drainage systems, pumping stations, and whatever is needed to prevent floods.” Meanwhile, Tiangco said:  “We thank President Bongbong because he was able to visit us and check on Navoteños. His presence and the immediate assistance he extended brought hope to our people. We also appreciate him personally inspecting the navigational gate and directing the public works department to implement emergency measures to address the damage.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. “Massive flooding in Navotas had become a thing of the past, especially since we surrounded our city with bombastic pumping stations. The company responsible for the damage to the navigational gate should be held accountable. We must ensure such negligence does not happen again,” he added. Support Typhoon Carina Victims The Inquirer is extending its relief and fund drive to help families affected by Typhoon Carina. Donate to Inquirer Foundation Corp. at BDO Current Account No: 007960018860. For inquiries, email [email protected]. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. 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Paris Olympics: Tough road ahead for PH bet Samantha Catantan

Rommel Fuertes Jr.

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 21:34:25 PST

Team Philippines’ fencing bet Samantha Catantan is set to compete in the Paris Olympics 2024. — UAE FENCING via SAM CATANTAN INSTAGRAM Team Philippines’ fencing bet Samantha Catantan is set to compete in the Paris Olympics 2024. — UAE FENCING via SAM CATANTAN INSTAGRAM MANILA, Philippines—Team Philippines’ fencing bet Samantha Catantan is set for a tough start in the Paris Olympics 2024. For Catantan’s first match in the Summer Games, she will take on Brazil’s Mariana Pistoia in a match that will virtually send the winner to the category’s Round of 32 phase. Catantan is currently ranked the World’s no. 226 fencer while Pistoia is ranked at 60. SCHEDULE: Team Philippines at Paris Olympics 2024 But the challenge will not get any easier for Catantan, should she see the light of day after taking on Pistoia. Whoever advances to the Round of 32 between the Philippines’ and Brazil’s bets will have to take on the daunting task of facing Italy’s Arianna Errigo. Errigo is currently the world’s second best fencer and has an outright ticket to face the winner of Catantan vs. Pistoia. Maxine Esteban, who changed nationalities from the Philippines to Ivory Coast, meanwhile is already assured of a spot in the Round of 32. The 20th-seeded fencer will be taking on the competition’s 13th-seeded Pauline Ranvier of France. Esteban got an outright advance from the first round by securing points as the top African qualifier in the official ranking of the International Fencing Federation. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Paris Olympics 2024. Subscribe to our sports news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Marcos eyes building weirs to reduce flood risk in PH

Zacarian Sarao

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 21:29:54 PST

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. holds a situation briefing on the effects of Super Typhoon Carina on Thursday, July 25. Screenshot from RTVM/Facebook President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. holds a situation briefing on the effects of Super Typhoon Carina on Thursday, July 25. Screenshot from RTVM/Facebook MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday ordered the conduct of a study on building weirs, which can control water flow from the Sierra Madre and reduce flood risk in Rizal province and Metro Manila. Marcos made the pronouncement during a situation briefing in San Mateo, tackling the effects of Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon in Rizal province. According to the Presidential Communications Office, a weir is a small barrier or a small-scale dam built across a stream or river to control the water level by raising it slightly on the upstream side. It is used to prevent flooding, measure water flow, and hold water, with the impounded water used in towns, homes, industry, or irrigation. During the briefing, Marcos cited unimpeded water flow from Sierra Madre as one of the causes of the severe flooding in Rizal and Metro Manila. “Iyong weir kasi, pagka wala namang tubig — like now, sinasabi ni governor, wala ka nang makitang tubig doon sa ilog — so, bakit pa tayo maglalagay ng dam? If there’s a weir, pinapadaan niya ang tubig pero…binabagalan ‘yung takbo,” he explained. (The function of the weir is, when there is no water — like now, you won’t see any water in the river — so, why should we put up a dam? If there’s a weir, it lets the water flow but it slows the flow.) “I don’t see a weir here in this country which is parang bagay na bagay sa atin ‘yun. Maybe it’s applicable here in the Philippines. I think it might be because I’ve seen it in other places and although the water passes, mababa ‘yung tubig dito sa baba, mas mataas ‘yung tubig doon sa taas. Pero dumadaan ‘yung tubig, pati isda nakakadaan,” he added. (I don’t see a weir in this country, and it seems to be appropriate for us. Maybe it’s applicable here in the Philippines. I think it might be because I’ve seen it in other places and although the water passes, the water is low here at the bottom, the water is higher up top. But the water flows, and even fish can pass.) Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan told the President that the previous plan was to build the Marikina Dam to control flood waters from the Sierra Madre, but it has been reconsidered because of the construction of the Wawa Dam. Marcos earlier stressed the need to integrate water flow management in the country’s flood prevention projects, both locally and nationally. READ: ‘Water flow management’ will control floods, Marcos tells LGUs Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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DepEd: Over 12,000 schools affected by Typhoon Carina, habagat

Luisa Cabato

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 17:58:54 PST

Massive flooding drenched school equipment inside classrooms in Sergia Soriano Esteban Integrated School in Barangay Kalaklan in Olongapo City. | PHOTO: Vice Mayor Jong Cortez via Joanna Aglibot, Philippine Daily Inquirer Massive flooding drenched school equipment inside classrooms in Sergia Soriano Esteban Integrated School in Barangay Kalaklan in Olongapo City. | PHOTO: Vice Mayor Jong Cortez via Joanna Aglibot, Philippine Daily Inquirer MANILA, Philippines — Over 12,000 schools nationwide were affected by torrential rains and flooding brought by Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) and the southwest monsoon, or habagat, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Friday. The agency said that as of 11 a.m. on July 26, at least 12,866 schools from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); the National Capital Region (NCR); and Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A, 4-B, 5, 6, and 8 were affected by inclement weather conditions. READ: DepEd: At least 90 schools won’t start SY 2024-2025 on July 29 The agency also said 65 school divisions were affected. At least 246 schools were flooded while 425 were used as evacuation centers. As of Friday, 64 schools are still being used as temporary shelters. The DepEd also reported that 738 public schools in the CAR, the NCR, and Regions 3 and 12 would not be able to join in the opening of classes on Monday, July 29. In a press conference on Friday, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the opening of classes in schools in Malabon City and Valenzuela City would push through on July 31 and August 5, respectively. “As a general rule, we really want the school opening to push through on July 29, but others can’t really make it,” he said in Filipino. READ: DepEd says over 18 million students enrolled for SY 2024-2025 “So far, the report to me is that the NCR, Region 4-A, and it seems Region 3 also were severely damaged,” he added. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Support Typhoon Carina Victims The Inquirer is extending its relief and fund drive to help families affected by Typhoon Carina. Donate to Inquirer Foundation Corp. at BDO Current Account No: 007960018860. For inquiries, email [email protected]. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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34 reported dead in Luzon due to Carina – PNP

John Eric Mendoza

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 20:36:10 PST

⁨People aboard the rescue boat during the Army’s rescue efforts amid the massive flooding brought about by Super Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon in Quezon City on July 25, 2024.⁩ | Photo from the Facebook page of the Philippine Army ⁨People aboard the rescue boat during the Army’s rescue efforts amid the massive flooding brought about by Super Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon in Quezon City on July 25, 2024.⁩ | Photo from the Facebook page of the Philippine Army MANILA, Philippines — A total of 34 people were reported dead due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon Carina and a southwest monsoon (habagat) that it enhanced, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson, Col. Jean Fajardo. Twelve people died in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon),  11 in Metro Manila, and nine in Central Luzon, according to reports from their respective police regional offices. Fajardo later confirmed this. Also, Fajardo said there are two additional deaths in the Bicol Region. Most of the deaths — 22 of them — are due to drowning: nine in Metro Manila, seven in Central Luzon, three in Calabarzon, and two in the Bicol Region. Six deaths were due to landslides — two in Central Luzon and four in Agoncillo, Batangas. Five were electrocuted — two in Metro Manila and three in Calabarzon. A 46-year-old man in Nasugbu, Batangas was killed due to a fallen tree. In Calabarzon, six were injured and two remain missing; eight were injured in Metro Manila, while three were injured and two missing in Central Luzon. Metro Manila and its adjacent regions bore the brunt of the heavy rains due to Carina. La Mesa Dam also overflowed, and the Marikina River reached critical levels due to incessant rains, exacerbating the flooding in Metro Manila. Entire bungalows in some areas submerged with some even seeing floodwater reach the second floor of their houses. Many main thoroughfares in Metro Manila seemed to become rivers as its drainage system was overwhelmed by heavy downpours. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Metro Manila and  Batangas, Cavite, Bulacan, and Bataan were declared now under a state of calamity. This would allow local governments to tap their calamity funds and enable a price freeze to be enforced. Support Typhoon Carina Victims The Inquirer is extending its relief and fund drive to help families affected by Typhoon Carina. Donate to Inquirer Foundation Corp. at BDO Current Account No: 007960018860. For inquiries, email [email protected]. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Rains to drench NCR, nearby provinces Friday night – Pagasa

John Eric Mendoza

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 20:04:30 PST

Pagasa weather update. GRAPHICS BY INQUIRER Pagasa weather update. GRAPHICS BY INQUIRER MANILA, Philippines — Moderate to heavy rains are expected to drench Metro Manila, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Rizal, and Batangas on Friday evening, according to the state weather bureau. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) earlier said Luzon is expected to have fairer weather, but chances of thunderstorms were not ruled out. READ: Rainy Friday expected in Luzon, fair weather in Visayas, Mindanao Metro Manila and nearby provinces are still reeling from the torrential rains caused by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Carina. A total of 32 people were reported dead due to heavy rains brought by the typhoon and the weather system, many of whom are from Metro Manila. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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PH gymnast Levi Ruivivar recovering after anaphylactic reaction

Rommel Fuertes Jr.

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 19:48:09 PST

Team Philippines gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar during training ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024 gymnastics competition. –Levi Jung-Ruivivar Instagram Team Philippines gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar during training ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024 gymnastics competition. –Levi Jung-Ruivivar Instagram MANILA, Philippines—Team Philippines gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar had an unforgettable experience even before the Paris Olympics 2024 officially opened. Jung-Ruivivar, the youngest athlete in the Team Philippines delegation this Summer Games, shared that she had an anaphylactic reaction that needed medical attention in her first week inside the Olympic Village. The 18-year-old Filipino-American bet uploaded a video on Instagram journaling the harrowing experience last Monday. READ: SCHEDULE: Team Philippines at Paris Olympics 2024 “I guess you could say I had an Olympics experience like no other,” said Jung-Ruivivar in her video. “It definitely was a stressful night and something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.” On Monday, Jung-Ruivivar was walking around Olympic Village when she suddenly had an anaphylactic reaction that “escalated rapidly.” A post shared by Levi Jung-Ruivivar (@levijungruivivar) She said that she experienced difficulty breathing, throat constriction, itching in the chest, and severe swelling, prompting her to self-administer an EpiPen as she was looking for medical attention. The California native said was “unaware” of what caused the reaction because she didn’t suffer any bug bites nor did she ingest tree nuts, which she said was allergic to. READ: Paris Olympics: PH gymnasts compete with their Filipino families in mind Fortunately, fellow Team Philippines gymnast Aleah Finnegan was present to help her get medical attention. “Luckily, my teammate Aleah was so incredibly helpful and I had so many people supporting me and I got the medical attention I needed at this moment.” Jung-Ruivivar said she’s feeling “fatigued” from the incident, but vowed to still perform at the Paris Olympics gymnastics competition. “[I] just want to let everyone know that I am 100% safe and healthy. My muscles are fatigued and it definitely took a toll on my body, but I am doing everything I can to recover and perform at my best possible level. I am slowly progressing back into routines; I will be competing at this Olympic Games and I am beyond grateful to everyone that helped me through this incident,”  Jung-Ruivivar. On Friday (Manila time), Jung-Ruivivar posted a few snapshots of her already practicing on a podium with fellow Team Philippine gymnasts Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. “My body’s still recovering but that’s not going to stop me from competing in these Olympics. The women bets take the mat on Sunday for the women’s qualifications. Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Paris Olympics 2024. Subscribe to our sports news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Don Lee’s film on Pogos to screen in PH cinemas in August

Jessica Ann Evangelista

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 19:03:49 PST

Don Lee’s film on Pogos to screen in Philippine cinemas in August | Contributed photo Don Lee’s film on Pogos to screen in Philippine cinemas in August | Contributed photo Following President Bongbong Marcos’ call to ban Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), Don Lee’s film “The Roundup: Punishment,” which is loosely based on online gambling in the country, is set to hit Philippine cinemas in August. Filmed in both South Korea and the Philippines, specifically in Angeles and Tarlac City, “The Roundup: Punishment” touches on the controversies of online gambling as it sees the team of Ma Seok-Do (Lee) chasing one of Korea’s dangerous criminals, Baek Chang-gi (Kim Moo-yul), who operates an online gambling ring in the Philippines. The story unfolds after the murder of a young Korean professional who escaped from Chang-gi’s gambling operations, leading to a deeper exploration of how the ex-special forces mercenary monopolizes Korea’s illegal online gambling business utilizing human trafficking, kidnapping, torture and murder. En route to solving the abduction and murder of missing Korean citizens as well as hunting the mastermind behind the gambling operation, Seok-do’s team takes the action to the streets in the Philippines, where they ride jeepneys and form alliances with the local authorities. READ: Seventeen’s ‘Follow Again’ concert film to hit PH cinemas in August According to the press release, the shooting not only magnified the film’s scale but also perfectly captured the reality of “borderless and turfless online crime” by switching locations between Korea and the Philippines. Meanwhile, the film had its world premiere at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival last Feb. 23. It was then pre-sold in 164 countries including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia, among others, in May. On April 24, the film was released in theaters in South Korea, showcased in ‘Prime Picks’ at the 23rd New York Asian Film Festival, and is set to screen at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, Canada, later this month. According to Variety, “The Roundup: Punishment” extended its dominance in South Korea’s box office, accumulating $75 million in its fourth week. “The Roundup: Punishment” opens exclusively at SM Cinemas on Aug. 14. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our entertainment news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Filipino influencer faces backlash for seemingly describing swimming in flood as a ‘fun’ experience

Xianna Bengo

2024-07-25T12:18:06+00:00

Featured POP! is INQUIRER.net’s premier pop culture channel, delivering the latest news in the realm of pop culture, internet culture, social issues, and everything fun, weird, and wired. It is also home to POP! Sessions and POP! Hangout, OG online entertainment programs in the Philippines (streaming since 2015). As the go-to destination for all things ‘in the now’, POP! features and curates the best relevant content for its young audience. It is also a strong advocate of fairness and truth in storytelling. POP! is operated by INQUIRER.net’s award-winning native advertising team, BrandRoom. MRP Building, Mola Corner Pasong Tirad Streets, Brgy La Paz, Makati City Now, this is another level of being ‘out of touch.’ Influencer and entrepreneur Cat Arambulo-Antonio has recently drawn significant online attention with a controversial post. In the TikTok video she posted, she shared her experience of driving home with her kids while encountering a flood along the road. https://twitter.com/pinoy_reaction/status/1816252893378547766/video/2 “Wow,  look at this,” she said as she saw the flood. “It’s cool,” her daughter responded. “So first time for the kids to experience baha [flood] here in Manila,” continued. Her daughter then suggested that they use a floatie in the flood. “Safe ba magfloatie diyan, yaya?[Is it safe to use a floatie there, yaya?] I guess so? It’s just water. Should we try? We should wakeboard.” The said post has now been deleted from her TikTok account but other users reposted the video online. People who saw the tweet were not pleased, as they felt it was inappropriate given the situation of people who experienced the impact of the recent calamity. By now, it should be common knowledge that floods are destructive and should not be taken lightly, let alone seen as amusing. Social media users voiced their disappointment with the influencer across various platforms. One user wrote, “Kapag naranasan nyo ng sumampa sa bubong, matulog sa evacuation center, pumila para sa relief goods dahil sa baha at magka leptospirosis dahil sa baha saka nyo sabihin yan. Mga insensitive! Sarap mo ihagis sa baha ate! [If you have experienced climbing up the roof, sleeping in the evacuation center, lining up for relief goods because of the flood and have leptospirosis because of the flood then you can say that. You’re insensitive! I want to throw you in the flood sister!]” Another user wrote, “The case of Cat Arambulo is just an example of how out of touch, vain and oa the rich are. Imagine the level of insensitivity someone has to have to see the storm like it’s the beach where you can use “floatie” and do wakeboard while lots of people are losing their lives over it.” A third user wrote, “She’s so gross. Always has been. I can’t stand her. When any of her content appears on my timeline, I mute it or swipe next right away. We shouldn’t give her any views or engagement.” More and more were enraged by the post: How privileged must some people be to find amusement in situations that cause others to suffer? While the suffering may not be their fault, their inability to acknowledge the gravity of the situation speaks volumes about their insensitivity. In times like these, it is crucial to empathize with those affected by disasters and to avoid posting content that could be perceived as insensitive. Other POP! stories that you might like: Filipino educator’s call for presidential support on his ‘math discovery’ met with backlash [Commentary] Educating about people’s pronouns truly matters, but it shouldn’t be done this way BINI does a ‘laro’ with Jabbawockeez-inspired airport look, shows how to clap back at bashers GCash reminds users about validity of transactions after altered e-wallet receipts go on sale online YG Entertainment goes over and beyond expectations following the announcement of their 2025 plans Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. For marketing/advertising inquiries, email us at [email protected] Copyright © 2021 POP! All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

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Marikina fire kills senior, injures two others

Dianne Sampang

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 17:36:55 PST

Marikina is in the eastern part of Metro Manila. \ INQUIRER FILE Marikina is in the eastern part of Metro Manila. \ INQUIRER FILE MANILA, Philippines  — A fire broke out in a three-story residential building in Barangay Tumana, Marikina City, and killed a 66-year-old male and injured two other individuals, the Bureau of Fire Protection – National Capital Region (BFP-NCR) reported on Friday. The fire, which originated in the kitchen on the ground floor of the building, was put under the first alarm at 2:50 a.m. It was declared under control at 3:29 a.m. and extinguished at 3:55 a.m. READ: 1 dead as fire razes elderly couple’s house in Olongapo City The BFP-NCR identified the fatality as Vidal Garcia, 66 years old. A firefighter, FO2 Bernardino Cruz, inhaled some smoke but was already in good condition as of this writing. Cris Garcia suffered from second-degree burns on the face and upper back. The BFP-NCR estimated the damage to eight establishments to be P200,000. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Does quitting my dream job mean ‘the dream’ is dead?

No author found

2024-07-26T10:16:56+00:00

The official time of death of my dream is July 28, 2024 at 6 p.m. Whether you’re reading this before or after that, I’m either tearfully tying up loose ends at my dream job or on a flight back to my hometown leaving everything I’ve known for the past four years behind. Dramatic, I know. Other people claim they do not dream of labor, but as a child poring over the glossy pages of magazines, I most certainly did. Seeing my name on its glossy pages was the dream. I used to fantasize about strutting through a well-appointed office in high heels on my way to an editor’s meeting a la Andy Sachs from the life changing “The Devil Wears Prada.” I’d be a common figure at the coolest parties with my inbox full of invites to all the most sought after events. Scheduling shoots, eating at all the best restaurants, and rubbing elbows with the rich and famous would be a normal day at work. In my prepubescent dreams, I would undoubtedly be the shit. And it would please my prepubescent self to know that I did all of that—the parties, the full inbox, shoots, restaurants, and even the elbows. I got (almost) everything that I wanted and did (more importantly, ate) everything beyond my wildest imaginations. So why is the dream dead? If I have anyone to thank (or blame) for how everything has turned out, it would likely be Tablo from the Korean hip-hop trio Epik High. Everyone did insane things during the pandemic, and my insane thing was leaving my high-paying job with no backup plan. During my final days at the office when masks and face shields were still a thing, I listened to a song he co-wrote. It spurred me to write an essay about how mind-bendingly good the song was, which led me to write a story for an online news outlet. And that story was ultimately the deciding factor (I think) that led my boss to hire me as a content creator for Nolisoli back in 2020. At 24, I fucking did it. I landed the dream magazine job at the company I looked up to and respected my entire life. It was the pandemic and people were dying, sure, but it gave me the sense of purpose I would have lost my mind without. Earlier this week, I was reminiscing with my managing editor, Pauline Miranda, about my time here. She giggled at the fact that I was a workaholic that would send her emails about pitches and stories at 3 a.m. Back then, she’d gently admonish me for working way past hours and told me to relax. I reminded her that a few months later, it would be the two of us keeping each other company during the witching hours. At first sending random work ideas, and then sending memes and virtually holding each other’s hands when things got a little too hard. “This was love,” I told her. “I wanted to prove that I belonged so bad. Because I really wanted this.” Another thing I did at 24 was constantly wait for the other shoe to drop. The time I’ve spent here was fun, but it was also filled with anxiety, impostor syndrome, and an indescribably palpable sense of dread because I couldn’t possibly be this happy and have everything this early. A post shared by Andrei Yuvallos (@andreiana) It wouldn’t be the whole truth to say I’ve spent the whole four years working this job. I’ve already been separated from this job twice prior to this (out of circumstances unrelated to my performance). And each time, I’d find a way to claw myself back to where I’d been. My last comeback run was thanks to a hiring post I saw on our company’s social media, which prompted me to immediately send a message to our HR manager. He was a kind and understanding man with a high tolerance for my level of insanity. A screenshot of the posting found its way into his WhatsApp inbox followed by a GIF of Bea Alonzo from “One More Chance.” It was the scene where she’d tearfully beg John Lloyd Cruz, “Sana ako na lang! Ako na lang ulit!” And that message led to two more years of disgustingly early mornings, horrifically late nights, disaster upon disaster at different events, and the most backbreaking, mentally exhausting work I’ve ever had to do. Be that as it may—a phrase I tend to associate with our associate editor and fellow Brat Christian San Jose—it was some of the best days of my life. Ask any seasoned publishing professional and they’ll tell you it’s the most godawful work they’ve ever subjected themselves to. They’ll wax poetic about how it will never give even close to what you put in and they look forward to the day they’ll retire for good. But in the same breath, they’ll also tell you that they can’t see themselves anywhere else. To me, even the toughest days were the best days ever. The shoot could go four hours overtime with no end in sight, or I’d be stranded at an event late enough to qualify as morning, but I would still feel in my heart that this was the work I was meant for. Then there were the perks. Trips, free meals at the most esteemed restaurants, free designer items that our ex-boss would raffle off because she had a surplus, and of course, working with some of the craziest and crazy talented group of people I’d ever had the pleasure of meeting. A post shared by Andrei Yuvallos (@andreiana) In an ideal world, things would have balanced each other out. The perks would have at least matched all the sacrifices I’ve had to make to keep going. I would have climbed the ladder, click-clacked my stilettos into that editors meeting as someone in a position to call shots, and kept going until I developed arthritis. But alas, it was not enough. Growing up means priorities change. No matter how much I lived, breathed, ate, and slept my job, other responsibilities take precedence over the dream. And the dream was also running on borrowed time. It takes a certain type of privilege (yes, the financial one I was lucky to have) to keep it going. But now, time’s up. It was a difficult, tearful, and long-drawn out goodbye, but it’s still goodbye. It’s also a goodbye filled with fear. Fear that I made a mistake in leaving, fear about what I’ll do next, and fear that I’ll never love and be great at something as much as this. I’m so scared that one day I’ll look back at this whole experience and blame myself. I’d think that I just wasn’t strong, talented, or determined enough. I put my (literal at times) blood, sweat, and tears into the job I loved so indescribably and so deeply, but I just couldn’t hack it. No matter how much our senior editorial manager Eric Salta would rightfully remind me that it’s just a job, I’ve woven so much of my identity into the work that I’ve done. Which brings us to the multi-billion dollar question: What now? The end of this story is sadly anti-climactic. Instead of the tearful final frames I expected when I walk away from my desk one final time, I am working alone at home. Due to unforeseen circumstances, there is no loud celebration to mark my last working day filled with nostalgic laughter and too much dancing. Well not yet, at least. The end of this story also includes an apology, confession, and a clarification. I’m sorry, I lied. The dream isn’t actually really dead. Because as corny as it sounds, dreams don’t die. I’m quitting publishing full time, but that doesn’t mean I won’t keep writing. I won’t be working with my favorite people anymore, but that doesn’t mean we’ll stop being friends. I’ll probably end up at a job that I won’t love as much, but that’s just life. The law of conservation of energy comes to mind when I say this. “Energy can neither be created nor destroyed—only converted from one form of energy to another.” Another confession: The dream as it is has died. But the dream can always take another shape. And forgive me for saying this, but the dream will also live on in my heart. It’ll live on in the shoots we slaved over, the meals I’ve eaten, the people I’ve interviewed, and the deranged DMs I’ve exchanged with my teammates at all hours of the day. So all that’s left now is gratitude. I am grateful to everyone I worked with; everyone who believed in me, supported me, taught me, and read all about my weird hyperfixations and hot takes. This hopefully isn’t the last thing I write that’ll see the light of day. All the love and energy I have for the craft still needs somewhere to go. Best believe I’m a yapper to my core, so no, I will never shut up. And so the dream lives on. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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BuCor guard, ex-inmate nabbed as suspects in mother, son killing

Tetch Torres-Tupas

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 16:44:21 PST

NBI chief Jaime Santiago (second from right) presents the two suspects at the NBI headquarters on Friday, July 26, 2024. | Photo from the Facebook page of the NBI NBI chief Jaime Santiago (second from right) presents the two suspects at the NBI headquarters on Friday, July 26, 2024. | Photo from the Facebook page of the NBI MANILA, Philippines — A guard of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and a former inmate were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for their suspected involvement in the killing of a mother and her son last June. NBI Director Jaime Santiago presented the two suspects to the media on Friday and identified them as Corrections Officer 1 Pio Jonathan Aniero Eulalio and former inmate Raymond David Reyes. Santiago said Eulalio and Reyes were arrested by operatives from the NBI Homicide Division in two separate operations last July 11 and 12, respectively, in Cavite. READ: NBI nabs owner of designer bag with drugs left in a taxi in 2023 READ: PNP, NBI share similar findings: Man in drug video not Marcos Eulalio and Reyes are suspects in the killings of Christian and his mother, Gloria Razon Ortega last June 10 in Quezon City. On that day, at around 2 a.m., mother and son were traveling on a white L300 van along L.R. Pascual Street in Barangay Baesa when a black Fortuner blocked their way. Christian tried to reverse maneuver the van in an attempt to escape, but two men in the Fortuner fired shots at him, killing him. The assailants then took P100,000 in cash and kidnapped Gloria. Later, they demanded P5 million for Gloria’s release. However, she was eventually killed. Her body was found at a ravine, beside a dump site in Sitio Talahiban, Barangay Santa Cruz in Bay, Laguna last July 12. Complaints for robbery with homicide and kidnapping for ransom with homicide were filed against Eulalio and Reyes before the Department of Justice (DOJ). The two identified Vergel Burata Olanda, an employee of the victims, as their cohort. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Olanda was arrested last July 12 and is currently in the custody of the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG). Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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INQToday: Carina deaths now 32; man dies after fall from New Senate Building

INQUIRER.net

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 18:16:37 PST

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories: President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. said the opening of classes will continue on Monday, July 29, but administrators of schools affected by the recent flooding have the discretion to decide whether or not they need more time to recover. Marcos shared his directive to the Department of Education (DepEd) after conducting a situation briefing involving the effects of Super Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon on Rizal province. Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara said at least 90 schools nationwide postponed the opening of their classes for School Year (SY) 2024-2025 on Monday, July 29, following the onslaught of typhoon-boosted southwest monsoon, locally termed “habagat,” which resulted in floods around Metro Manila and nearby areas. DepEd did not list the schools that postponed their opening, but Angara said schools in Malabon City and Valenzuela City will push through with it on July 31 and August 5, respectively. The last two typhoons that hit the Philippines — Carina and Butchoy — affected more than 1.3 million people nationwide, according to a situation issued at 8 a.m. on Friday by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The report said 1,319,467 people — or 299,344 families — were affected. Of those affected, 211,396 people — or 53,414 families — sought shelter in evacuation centers. The Philippine National Police (PNP) reduced Vice President Sara Duterte’s police security because no threat against her has been observed, its chief General Rommel Marbil explained Friday. “We don’t see any threat against the vice president so we need to reduce the people,” the PNP boss said in a radio interview over dwPM. Senator Risa Hontiveros said their investigation of Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) will continue, stressing that it was not only about suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo. She issued the remark even as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the ban on Pogos during his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) at the Batasang Pambansa last July 22. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. A man fell off the New Senate Building and died in Taguig City, the police said Friday, July 26. In a report, the Philippine National Police-Southern Police District (PNP-SPD) said the 23-year-old man was a Philippine Navy applicant. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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DOTr starts feasibility study for Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas railway

Luisa Cabato

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 15:50:36 PST

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, July 22, 2024. In this Sona, he mentions the Luzon Economic Corridor initiative, which includes a plan for a Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas railway. | Screenshot from an RTVM Live video President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, July 22, 2024. In this Sona, he mentions the Luzon Economic Corridor initiative, which includes a plan for a Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas railway. | Screenshot from an RTVM Live video MANILA, Philippines — The funding for a feasibility study for a Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas railway is being prepared, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said in a statement on Friday. The railway project is part of the Luzon Economic Corridor initiative unveiled last April during the trilateral summit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. According to the DOTr, the plan for the railway was hatched after Marcos mentioned the initiative in his third State of the Nation Address last Monday. READ: DOTr, Jica to wrap up rail master plan by year-end “We are now getting a feasibility study ready for this Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas rail,” Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan said in Filipino during the post-SONA discussions on Wednesday, as quoted in the statement. This railway project is an extended system. “Unfortunately, our Subic-Clark Railway did not get the financing that we were hoping for. So we did another study and got the idea of making it a Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas railway,” Batan said. Specifically, the project aims to connect Subic Port with Clark International Airport, the Port of Manila, and the Port of Batangas. READ: DOTR to prioritize digitization of railway operations The project will be a joint initiative with the US, Sweden, and the Asian Development Bank if it is ever pushes through, the DOTr said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Young Fil-Am basketball player assaulted during Bay Area game

Nimfa U. Rueda

2024-07-26T08:08:39+00:00

Screencap/ABC7 Screencap/ABC7 SAN FRANCISCO – Police are investigating the assault on a young Filipino American basketball player that was captured on camera during a recent game at the College of Alameda in Alameda, California. The assault happened during a game between Fil-Am youth basketball team, Tumakbo United, and Payton’s Place on Sunday. The video shows a 13-year-old Payton’s Place player stomping on the Fil-Am teen, identified as the son of Eva and Roderick Guingab. The Fil-Am couple has filed a formal report, prompting authorities to investigate the incident. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Guingab caught the ball, which a player from Payton’s Place tried to grab from him. A scuffle ensued as the two players wrestle for the ball. Another opposing player then came over and stomped on Guingab’s head while he was on the ground. Eva Guingab told ABC7 that her son suffered a concussion. “You could clearly see the size of (the attacker’s) shoe on his face,” she said. “If we don’t say anything right now, this kid will think it’s OK to do it because he’s young. He thinks that walking away from this situation is OK, and it’s not OK,” Guingab added. The family of the boy who attacked Guingab said he was standing up for his teammate he believed was kicked and punched during the scuffle. “I think everyone was just in shock. I think we all kind of went on the court and went to the coach of the other team to say, ‘What just happened? What’s going on?'” said Michael Tolentino, who coaches Tumakbo United, a Fil-Am youth team based in the Bay Area with members from across the US. “There is footage circulating of one of our team’s games this past weekend. Unfortunately, the footage is not a positive representation of our team and our values,” Payton’s Place posted on Instagram. A post shared by Payton’s Place Basketball (@paytonsplacebasketball) “The behavior that was exhibited by our player is not acceptable, and is being taken seriously. We do not condone violence. Our players are expected to conduct themselves with integrity on and off the court. At this time, both teams are working together to resolve this matter.” Want stories like this delivered straight to your inbox? Stay informed. Stay ahead. Subscribe to InqMORNING Stay informed. Stay ahead. Subscribe to InqMORNING By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Fire hits two areas in Malabon

Dianne Sampang

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 16:13:29 PST

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) says fire struck two areas in Malabon City on Friday morning (July 26, 2024), both reaching the third alarm.. INQUIRER FILES The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) says fire struck two areas in Malabon City on Friday morning (July 26, 2024), both reaching the third alarm.. INQUIRER FILES MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said fire struck two areas in Malabon City on Friday morning, both reaching the third alarm. The first fire incident was at a commercial area located along Dumalay St., Brgy. Sta. Monica. It reached the first alarm at 5:22 a.m., the second alarm two minutes later, and the third alarm at 5:38 a.m. It was declared under control by 6:27 a.m. with no injury or fatality reported. READ: Malabon City fire kills a 20-year-old woman The second fire incident happened at Gutierrez Street corner Macanas Street in Brgy. Panghulo. Authorities said the blaze reached the first alarm at 10:39 a.m. and then immediately raised to the second alarm at 10:41 a.m. A  third alarm was hoisted at 10:48 a.m. before firemen managed to control the fire at 11:23 a.m. with no reported injury or fatality as of writing. The BFP-National Capital Region said investigations are underway regarding the two fire incidents. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Sarah Geronimo marks 36th birthday with call to help Typhoon Carina victims

Jessica Ann Evangelista

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 16:12:13 PST

Sarah Geronimo marks 36th birthday with call to help Typhoon Carina victims | Image: Instagram/@justsarahgph Sarah Geronimo marks 36th birthday with call to help Typhoon Carina victims | Image: Instagram/@justsarahgph Actress-singer Sarah Geronimo marked her 36th birthday on Thursday, July 25, by offering prayers for the victims of Typhoon Carina and thanking volunteers and rescuers who extended their help to the victims. The Popstar Royalty took to Instagram to share photos of individuals and pets that suffered the onslaught of the typhoon, as well as art cards for emergency hotlines and a donation drive for the affected. “As I celebrate my birthday and blow out my candles, my heart also goes out to those affected by Typhoon Carina. Ipinagdarasal ko po lahat ng ating mga kababayang nasalanta ng bagyo at ngayon ay sinusubukang makabangon muli (I am praying for all our countrymen who were devastated by the typhoon and are now trying to get back on their feet.),” she wrote in her caption. “Gusto ko rin magbigay-pugay sa ating mga matatapang na rescue teams na patuloy na nag-aalay ng kanilang buhay para siguraduhing ligtas ang lahat—pati na rin ang ating mga alagang hayop. Napakalaki ng respeto ko sa mga kababayan natin na di pinabayaan ang kanilang mga alagang hayop sa kabila ng peligro na dulot ng bagyo,” continued the singer, adding that they are the real superheroes. READ: Bela Padilla calls out influencer’s ‘detached’ reaction to flood A post shared by Sarah Geronimo (@justsarahgph) (I also want to pay tribute to our brave rescue teams that continue to sacrifice their lives to make sure everyone is safe — including our pets. I have a lot of respect for our countrymen who did not abandon their pets despite the danger from the typhoon.) Geronimo urged her followers to continue praying for their fellowmen and to support ongoing relief operations as “efforts and donations go a long way.” Meanwhile, the pop singer’s husband, Matteo Guidicelli, also penned a sweet birthday message to his wife on Instagram. “Wishing you all the happiness, love, smiles, joy, laughter, and music in the world!” he said. “I’ll always be here right beside you to support you, and I’ll be cheering you on as you chase your dreams!” His Instagram message was accompanied by pictures of them together and some solo snaps of Geronimo. A post shared by Matteo Guidicelli (@matteog) Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our entertainment news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Marcos Highway traffic jam due to muddy road, accident – MMDA

Luisa Cabato

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 15:20:06 PST

This photo shows the traffic situation at a portion of Marcos Highway, which is experiencing gridlock on Friday afternoon (July 26, 2024) because of a muddy road and an accident involving a truck and a motorcycle, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Photo lifted from the Facebook page of Antipolo City Mayor Jun-Andeng Ynares This photo shows the traffic situation at a portion of Marcos Highway, which is experiencing gridlock on Friday afternoon (July 26, 2024) because of a muddy road and an accident involving a truck and a motorcycle, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Photo lifted from the Facebook page of Antipolo City Mayor Jun-Andeng Ynares MANILA, Philippines — Marcos Highway is experiencing a traffic jam on Friday afternoon because of a muddy road and an accident involving a truck and a motorcycle, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said. A report from the MMDA Metrobase indicated that only one lane of the Marcos Highway-SM Marikina underloop was passable around Friday noon, as some motorists avoided the muddy road sections of the thoroughfare. “Marcos Highway-SM Marikina underloop, one lane passable dahil po sa maputik na kalsada (due to muddy road),” the agency said in a Viber message sent to reporters. READ: Flooded portions of NLEx now passable “Yung ibang sasakyan po ayaw nila daanan ‘yung area kaya halos ng sasakyan ang daan ay going Katipunan. Volume na po ng mga sasakyan,” it added. (Some vehicles avoid passing through the area so almost all vehicles go towards Katipunan. The volume of vehicles is high.) READ: MAP: Metro traffic so bad it calls for ‘state of calamity’ The MMDA also said a motorcycle and a truck crashed along the westbound portion of Marcos Highway, aggravating the traffic situation. The incident occurred at 1:38 p.m. and was responded to by MMDA personnel. As of 2:30 p.m., the MMDA said traffic flow in the area has already improved. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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More than 1.3 million people affected by Carina, Butchoy – NDRRMC

Dianne Sampang

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:23:55 PST

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The last two typhoons that hit the Philippines — Carina and Butchoy — affected more than 1.3 million people nationwide, according to a situation issued at 8 a.m. on Friday by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The report said 1,319,467 people — or 299,344 families — were affected. Of those affected, 211,396 people — or 53,414 families — sought shelter in evacuation centers. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was the region that had the most number of affected people  — a total of  552,971 individuals or 110,874 families. For those affected by Carina alone, the total assistance given so far has amounted to P61.3 million, which came from several sources — mainly the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Office of Civil Defense, local government units, and nongovernment organizations. According to the Department of Budget and Management on Wednesday, the government still has P11 billion available under the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund (NDRRMF) to use in relief efforts for Carina. “Our government is prepared. We are ready to support all operations for disaster rescue and relief with the necessary budget. Identified frontline government agencies may mobilize their Quick Response Fund (QRF) allocated in their respective budgets,” said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. In Friday’s situational report, NDRRMC said that no addition to the death toll, injured and missing people were so far reported. Its last recorded death toll was 14 while two remained missing and two others were injured. NDRRMC also recorded damage to agriculture amounting to P9.7 million with Northern Mindanao recording the most damage at P6.6 million. Butchoy and Carina triggered massive flooding and landslides in some parts of the country. On Thursday, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. announced that several areas had been put in a state of calamity — Metro Manila, Batangas, Cavite, Oriental Mindoro, Bataan, and Bulacan. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. On the same day, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a review of flood control measures, considering that just three days earlier he said in his third State of the Nation Address that more than 5,000 flood control projects had been completed. “They have many flood control measures and yet we have these floods. We have to relook. We have to reexamine some of the designs of our flood control measures,” he said. Support Typhoon Carina Victims The Inquirer is extending its relief and fund drive to help families affected by Typhoon Carina. Donate to Inquirer Foundation Corp. at BDO Current Account No: 007960018860. For inquiries, email [email protected]. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Hontiveros says Pogo probe ‘not over yet’: It’s not just about Alice Guo

Gabriel Pabico Lalu

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 15:09:43 PST

Sen. Risa Hontiveros (L) and Alice Guo. | PHOTOS: Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Senate PRIB Sen. Risa Hontiveros (L) and Alice Guo. | PHOTOS: Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Senate PRIB MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros said their investigation of Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) will continue, stressing that it was not only about suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo. She issued the remark even as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the ban on Pogos during his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) at the Batasang Pambansa last July 22. Hontiveros stressed on Friday that the whole offshore gaming industry in the country is under investigation. The Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality is set to hold its 11th public hearing on the matter on Monday, July 29. Several government officials are invited to attend the hearing, while an arrest order against Guo, who repeatedly skipped the inquiry, remains pending. READ: Arrest Alice Guo, others – Senate “It’s not over yet. Hindi lang naman si Mayor Guo ang iniimbestigahan dito, kundi ang buong industriya ng Pogo na nagdala ng samu’t saring krimen sa bansa,” Hontiveros said in a statement. (It’s not over yet. We are not only investigating Mayor Guo, but the whole industry of Pogos which brought different kinds of crime into the country.) “Kahit inanunsyo na ang pag-ban ng Pogo, oversight function ng Senado ang matiyak na ang phaseout ay tunay na maipapatupad, na ang mga sangkot sa krimen ay matukoy, ang mga victim-survivors ay mabigyan ng hustisya, at na ang mga manggagawa ay mabigyan ng just transition,” she added. (Even if the President already announced a ban on Pogos, it is part of the Senate’s oversight function to ensure that the phaseout will be implemented, that those involved would be identified, that victim-survivors will be given justice, and workers would have a just transition.) According to Hontiveros, there are many things that should be discussed in the inquiry — regulatory checks that have failed and gave birth to Pogos and the crimes associated with it, among others. “We also need to ensure our regulatory failures are addressed. Maraming institusyon ng gubyerno ang mukhang na-korap ng mga POGO at kailangan tugunan ito ng mga polisiyang maaaring isulong namin sa Senado,” she noted. (We also need to ensure our regulatory failures are addressed. Many government institutions seem to have been corrupted by Pogos, and we need to address these through policies that we can push for in the Senate.) READ: Marcos: ‘All Pogos are banned!’ Marcos received a standing ovation during his Sona speech, when he announced that Pogos are banned due to the societal costs and problems that the offshore gaming have brought into the country. The President also instructed the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation “to wind down and cease the operations of POGOs by the end of the year.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. At the House of Representatives, lawmakers including no less than Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez emphasized that the chamber’s own investigation of Pogos will continue despite Marcos’ ban. Romualdez, along with Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers and Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez said investigations would push through because there is a need to seek accountability from those behind illegal Pogos. Subscribe to our global news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Metro Manila flood control plan needs update – Romualdez, Momo

Gabriel Pabico Lalu

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 12:58:55 PST

Rescuers paddle their boats along a flooded street in Manila on July 24, 2024, amid heavy rains caused by Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi). | Photo by Ted Aljibe, Agence France-Presse Rescuers paddle their boats along a flooded street in Manila on July 24, 2024, amid heavy rains caused by Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi). | Photo by Ted Aljibe, Agence France-Presse MANILA, Philippines — The flood management master plan for Metro Manila must not only be implemented but also updated to avoid a repetition of the severe flooding in the region recently, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo said in separate statements on Friday. “There is already a flood control masterplan in place. We just need to follow, update, and implement it,” Romualdez said. “We can’t avoid stronger storms and heavier rainfall due to climate change. We need to revisit and update our flood control masterplans, implement them fully, and consider relocation for residents in low-lying areas, particularly in places like San Juan and Marikina,” he added. According to Romualdez, the House will review the master plan. “Our oversight functions include ensuring accountability in budget spending. We will review if funds have been used effectively and efficiently, and address any misuse,” he noted. Meanwhile, Momo, who heads the House Committee on Public Works and Highways, said that relevant agencies must swiftly implement the Metro Manila Flood Management Project and other projects in all major river basins and principal rivers across the country. “It is about time that all concerned agencies — the DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways], MMDA [Metropolitan Manila Development Authority], LGUs [local government units], and other officials — work together to adhere to this master plan. It has been a long time coming,” he said. “It is not enough that we are prepared for the recovery and rehabilitation, but what is more important is that we are ready for any type of disaster, especially in terms of flooding because this has taken too much from us — lives, properties, livelihoods, and so much more,” he added. Momo stressed the importance of the government mitigating flooding while the country was still recovering from the economic slump brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re at the cusp of an economic recovery. All our industries are booming, but if we continue to let flooding dictate the way we run and do our business, we’re going to lose that momentum,” he said. According to Momo, the $500-million Metro Manila Flood Management Project received funding from the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for $207.6 million each in 2017, while the Philippine government is tasked to provide the remaining $84.79 million. The project, Momo said, aims to achieve the following: Momo said he would meet with various officials of the DPWH to check on the implementation of the project. “Many of the projects are yet to be bidded out and some are still ongoing. We need to double time with our flood infrastructure projects. The money is already available. There’s strong support from Congress for the completion of these projects. Let’s make it happen already,” he said. In addition, Romualdez said that flood control projects would be funded under the P6.352 trillion national budget, which the Department of Budget and Management was expected to hand over to Congress on Monday, July 29. “We are fully prepared and have anticipated this, as there is a process that includes a budget call from the past few months. We are ready to scrutinize, read, review, and, if necessary, refine and amend the budget to be submitted by the DBM and the Executive,” Romualdez said. “Addressing climate change and its effects on rainfall is a work in progress. We need to focus on flood control programs, advisories, and possible relocation to prevent future incidents,” he added. Different roads and communities in Metro Manila and nearby provinces were flooded from Wednesday to Thursday due to nonstop rains caused by the southwest monsoon and intensified by Typhoon Carina. This has forced the national government to place Metro Manila in a state of calamity. Last Wednesday, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said that Navotas and its neighboring cities would not have experienced severe floods if only the Tangos-Tanza Navigational Gate had not been damaged. However, a barge towed in by tugboats damaged the floodgate,  leading Tiangco to mull possible legal action against the company that owns the barge. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Earlier, Senator Grace Poe, who heads the Senate Committee on Finance, said that agencies involved in flood control operations would be scrutinized at the start of Senate deliberations on the proposed 2025 national budget. Support Typhoon Carina Victims The Inquirer is extending its relief and fund drive to help families affected by Typhoon Carina. Donate to Inquirer Foundation Corp. at BDO Current Account No: 007960018860. For inquiries, email [email protected]. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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NBI nabs owner of designer bag with drugs left in a taxi in 2023

INQUIRER.net

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:53:51 PST

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago shows a sample of a stuffed animal toy that Nguyen Van Thai or Nguyen Van Quan, a Vietnamese national arrested for illegal drugs, allegedly uses to conceal ecstasy, a popular party drug, before delivering them to clients via the transportation network vehicle service (TNVS).  Nguyen was presented to the media at the NBI headquarters in Manila on Friday, July 26, 2024. Nguyen is the owner of a designer bag containing illegal drugs, which was left in a taxi in 2023, according to the NBI. | PHOTO: Tetch Torres-Tupas / INQUIRER.net National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago shows a sample of a stuffed animal toy that Nguyen Van Thai or Nguyen Van Quan, a Vietnamese national arrested for illegal drugs, allegedly uses to conceal ecstasy, a popular party drug, before delivering them to clients via the transportation network vehicle service (TNVS).  Nguyen was presented to the media at the NBI headquarters in Manila on Friday, July 26, 2024. Nguyen is the owner of a designer bag containing illegal drugs, which was left in a taxi in 2023, according to the NBI. | PHOTO: Tetch Torres-Tupas / INQUIRER.net MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested the owner of a designer bag containing illegal drugs, which was left in a taxi in 2023. NBI Director Jaime Santiago identified the suspect as Nguyen Van Thai or Nguyen Van Quan, a Vietnamese national. The Vietnamese man was arrested by operatives of the NBI-Dangerous Drugs Division (DDD) during a buy-bust operation in Parañaque City on July 10. Authorities said the suspect sold ecstasy and ketamine to a government agent who pretended to be a buyer of the illegal drugs. According to the NBI, the suspect would sell ecstasy and deliver it through the transportation network vehicle service (TNVS). The prohibited pills are hidden inside stuffed animal toys. READ: NBI, PNP share similar findings: Man in drug video not Marcos Following Nguyen’s arrest, the NBI-DDS secured a search warrant from Parañaque Regional Trial Court Branch 260 and scanned the suspect’s rented condominium unit at the Entertainment City in Parañaque where they found 14 grams of Ketamine and 53 tablets of ecstasy, which has an estimated street value of more than P500,000, as well as stuffed animal toys of different sizes. Santiago said a tablet of ecstasy is worth P 2,000 while ketamine is 12,000 per gram. He added that ecstasy is a popular party drug, while ketamine is abused for its dissociative sensations and hallucinogenic effects and is also used to facilitate sexual assault. Also recovered from Nguyen’s condominium unit were weighing scales, bundles of cash, and plastic sachets. Nguyen would be facing complaints for violating Republic Act 9165 the Dangerous Drugs Act, Falsification of Documents, and RA No. 6085 (Illegal Use of Aliases), the NBI said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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‘Professor’ Pacquiao masterclass looms in Japan exhibition

Mark Giongco

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:46:24 PST

Manny Pacquiao smiles during his open workout at Kod Lab Gym in Shinjuku City in Tokyo, Japan.–MP Promotions/Wendell Alinea Manny Pacquiao smiles during his open workout at Kod Lab Gym in Shinjuku City in Tokyo, Japan.–MP Promotions/Wendell Alinea TOKYO–Manny Pacquiao had a lot of monikers throughout his professional boxing career, which spanned 26 years. Before being bestowed as the PacMan, Pacquiao had been called “Destroyer” early in his career as he beat one opponent after another in devastating fashion. Pacquiao was then dubbed “Mexicutioner” due to his dominance over Mexican fighters although that label did not appeal to him. Days before his exhibition boxing match headlining Super RIZIN 3 at Japan’s Saitama Super Arena on Sunday, Pacquiao may have added another to the list—something more apt as an elder statesman in the sport at 45 years old. “Boxing is like science for me… I’m not boasting myself, but in terms of boxing I’m like a professor,” said Pacquiao in an interview with RIZIN. In a bout pitting a legend against a rookie, a class could certainly be in session for Pacquiao as he looks to take Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo to school. Pacquiao, who is 17 years older than his opponent, may not be as strong and fast as he once was during his heyday that saw him claim titles in eight different divisions, but he believes his mind is as sharp as ever if not better as he aged. “I’ve been in boxing 80 percent of my life in this world. I can still compete like before,” said Pacquiao, who held an open workout Thursday night at Kod Lab Gym in Shinjuku City here. “They think boxing is more on physical but 60 percent of boxing is mental. You need the proper execution of all your strategies. I study boxing while I do boxing. That’s the reason why I was able to capture all those titles in different divisions.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our sports news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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DepEd chief signs IRR for teachers’ career progression

Luisa Cabato

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:17:53 PST

FILE PHOTO: A public school teacher and her students during a classroom exercise. Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara signed Friday, July 26, 2024, the implementing rules and regulations for public school teachers’ expanded career progression system. INQUIRER FILES FILE PHOTO: A public school teacher and her students during a classroom exercise. Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara signed Friday, July 26, 2024, the implementing rules and regulations for public school teachers’ expanded career progression system. INQUIRER FILES MANILA, Philippines — Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara signed Friday the implementing rules and regulations for public school teachers’ expanded career progression system. The IRR was for Executive Order (EO) 174, titled Establishing the Expanded Career Progression System for Public School Teachers, which targets to address the long-standing problem of slow promotion processes among public school teachers. Under the IRR, the Classroom Teaching Career Line will now include additional teaching positions: Teacher IV (Salary Grade (SG) 14), Teacher V (SG 15), Teacher VI (SG 16), Teacher VII (SG 17), and Master Teacher V (SG 22). Meanwhile, the career path for public school teachers pursuing administrative roles will feature the following positions: School Principal I, School Principal II, School Principal III, and School Principal IV. READ: DepEd says over 18 million students enrolled for SY 2024-2025 Public school teachers who qualify for Master Teacher I, on the other hand, will have the option to remain in classroom teaching or move into school administration. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allocated P6.1 billion for public school teachers’ expanded career progression system that is set to take effect next year. In his speech, Angara said  EO 174 will give teachers more options on where they want to go with their career. “So here under the new EO or implementing rules, mayroon na po siyang (they now have a) choice. He or she can go freely from the teaching track to the administrative track,” he said. READ: Marcos: No public teacher will retire as ‘Teacher 1’ “So hindi po nasasakripisyo ‘yung kalidad ng ating education sapagkat nandoon pa rin ‘yung choice ng teacher, the teacher can still teach, and the students will benefit from that teacher’s experience,” he added. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. (So the quality of our education is not being sacrificed because the teacher’s choice is still there, the teacher can still teach, and the students will benefit from that teacher’s experience.) The DepEd is set to collaborate with the DBM, Civil Service Commission, and Professional Regulation Commission in the reclassification process and standardization of qualifications for the new teaching positions. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Marcos: Start of classes set Monday, flood-hit schools may need more time

Zacarian Sarao

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:42:29 PST

(AFP FILE PHOTO) (AFP FILE PHOTO) MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. said the opening of classes will continue on Monday, July 29, but administrators of schools affected by the recent flooding have the discretion to decide whether or not they need more time to recover. Marcos shared his directive to the Department of Education (DepEd) after conducting a situation briefing involving the effects of Super Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon on Rizal province. “Gawin niyo lahat. Ang pagpasok, gawin niyo hangga’t maaari, kung kaya niyo buksan. That’s the usual ano. Hangga’t maaari, open the schools and conduct classes. But there are areas na hindi talaga pwede,”  said Marcos in a chance interview on Friday. (Do everything you can. The resumption of classes, do it as much as possible, if you can. As much as possible, open the schools and conduct classes. But there are areas that really can’t) Marcos said some schools may have to conduct their classes outside school buildings, or through asynchronous learning, as experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. “As much as possible. Hangga’t maaari. If the school buildings are a condition to take classes, they will do it,” he said. “Pero meron pa talaga na kakaunti na lang ang may tubig pero marami na nag-iwan ng putik na hindi magamit. Tapos may mga nasira na gamit, we’ll have to replace them. As much as possible. It will be up to the school to decide what they— kung kaya o hindi,” Marcos further added. (But there are still few flooded schools, but others are muddy and cannot be used. Then there are damaged items, we’ll have to replace them. As much as possible. It will be up to the school to decide whether or not they will open.) The opening of classes has been set on July 29, Monday. Meanwhile, DepEd earlier said that at least 90 schools nationwide have postponed the opening of  classes for School Year 2024-2025 on Monday. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Pacquiao foe Rukiya Anpo risking $5 million fine in exhibition

Mark Giongco

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:23:12 PST

Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo faces Manny Pacquiao in a three-round exhibition match in the main event of Super RIZIN 3 at Saitama Super Arena in Japan.–Photo from Rizin Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo faces Manny Pacquiao in a three-round exhibition match in the main event of Super RIZIN 3 at Saitama Super Arena in Japan.–Photo from Rizin TOKYO–Japanese kickboxer and mixed martial artist Rukiya Anpo faces a steep risk taking on Manny Pacquiao in a three-round exhibition in the main event of Super RIZIN 3 on Sunday at Saitama Super Arena in Japan. A strike attempt outside boxing rules will cost Anpo a hefty fine of $5 million, according to RIZIN Fighting Federation president Nobuyuki Sakakibara. “Any violations will be punishable by $5 million fine,” Sakakibara said. That includes feinting or pretending to attempt a kick–which is already a challenge for the 28-year-old Anpo, who has been figuring in competitive kickboxing since 2010 when he was still an amateur at just 14 years old. “At the time of the Tenshin vs Mayweather match in 2018, that was approximately 500 million yen. However, due to the weak yen, that figure is now around 750 million yen.” Sakakibara was pertaining to the exhibition fight where Floyd Mayweather Jr. stopped Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in the first round also at Saitama Super Arena. When asked if Anpo could afford to pay such amount in the event of incurring a fine, Sakakibara didn’t offer much choice. “If not, he will have no choice but to pay with his body.” Pacquiao and Anpo, a former K-1 champion, will fight at a 152-pound catchweight. The 45-year-old Pacquiao arrived here three days ago and held an open workout on Thursday night at Kod Lab Gym in Shinjuku City. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our sports news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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When ‘designated survivor’ leaves amid disaster, flood of flak follows

Cristina Eloisa Baclig

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:29:28 PST

VP Sara Duterte composite image from PNA and Inquirer photos MANILA, Philippines—Vice President Sara Duterte’s decision to miss President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (Sona) came after she designated herself as the “designated survivor.” Following Duterte’s trip to Germany early on July 24 (Wednesday), netizens went on social media to comment, with many criticizing the trip as insensitive because it coincided with massive flooding in Metro Manila brought on by Super Typhoon Carina, enhancing the southwest monsoon. Some netizens connected Sara’s trip with her designated survivor pronouncement. One netizen, who shared an article published by INQUIRER.net titled “‘Designated survivor’: Understanding protocol alien to PH,” sarcastically wrote online: “Kaya pala bumiyahe sa Germany, self appointed designated survivor. […]” (So that’s why [the vice president] traveled to Germany, a self-appointed designated survivor.), the netizen wrote. READ MORE: ‘Designated survivor’: Understanding protocol alien to PH Another netizen commented: “What is the debate all about? E[h] talaga namang s[i]ya ang “designated survivor” in case something happens to the President. […]” But does Duterte’s self-appointment as the designated survivor have anything to do with her decision to fly out of the country just as millions of Filipinos were grappling with up to two-story flooding? Historically, in the United States, the term designated survivor refers to a high-ranking official in the presidential line of succession who is kept at a secure, undisclosed location during significant events. In some instances, officials who are not in the line of succession are named as designated survivor. This precaution ensures continuity of government, allowing the designated survivor to assume the presidency if a catastrophic incident incapacitates the President, Vice President, and other top officials. The exact duration of the designated survivor role is not explicitly defined, but according to accounts from previously designated survivors in the US government, the role typically lasts for the duration of the event from which they are absent. Former Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman, who was flown to New York City in 1997 after being chosen as the designated survivor during President Bill Clinton’s State of the Union address, recalled that his role, though brief, carried significant responsibilities. According to a report published by the HISTORY Channel, Glickman watched the State of the Union broadcast from his daughter’s apartment, accompanied by Secret Service agents and a military officer with the “Football” — a 45-pound briefcase containing top-secret nuclear launch codes. After Clinton’s speech, he was informed by the security detail that “the mission is terminated” and was offered a flight back to Washington, D.C., which he declined. Instead, he took his daughter out for Japanese food, reflecting on the irony of having served as a critical backup to the President just hours earlier. In a separate article by NBC News, Glickman recalled that while the role had its perks, those were shortlived. “Only three hours before, I was potentially the most powerful person in the world,” Glickman told NBC News. “Three hours later, I couldn’t even get a cab,” he added. While the designated survivor protocol has been a long-standing practice in the US, there is no such thing in the Philippines. “I think she is just joking … because we do not have such thing as a designated survivor,” said House of Representatives Secretary General Reginald Velasco, referring to Sara’s pronouncement. “In the US, there is. You have seen the series on US TV—they have a designated survivor —a Cabinet official, a Cabinet secretary will not be attending the Sona, and the person is secluded,” Velasco said. “And then whatever happens to the president and the immediate successors—because in the US Sona, like us, the vice president is there who’s the head of the Senate, and then the chief justice of the Supreme Court, the speaker of the House, so the immediate successors are all attending the [Sona] that is why they have the so-called designated survivor,” he added. GRAPHICS by Ed Lustan / INQUIRER.net Although the Philippine government does not adhere to a designated survivor protocol, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution clearly outlines the line of succession in the event of the sitting president dying or becoming permanently incapacitated. Section 7 states that the Vice President will succeed the President if “at the beginning of the term of the President, the President-elect shall have died or shall have become permanently disabled.” The Vice President will also be President to serve the unexpired term of the President “in case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation.” READ: VP Duterte as ‘designated survivor’? No such thing in PH – House SecGen Bills on designated successor have been filed in Congress, but these have not been enacted. Among these was a bill filed by former Senator Panfilo Lacson in 2019, authorizing the President to name a designated survivor. READ: Lacson pushes for passage of bill naming President’s ‘designated survivor’ A statement released by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Thursday, July 25 —a day after Duterte’s departure was reported—clarified that she is “on a personal trip with her family overseas.” Respect her privacy, the statement added. The OVP said the trip was allowed by a travel authority from the Office of the President issued last July 9. READ: VP Duterte’s trip to Germany ‘received necessary approvals’ – OVP The statement did not mention where she and her family were traveling, although it was already reported that they took a flight bound for Dubai, from where they would take a connecting flight to Munich, Germany. “The timing of the trip coinciding with Typhoon Carina is unfortunate,” the OVP said, adding that even in her absence, the Disaster Operations Center of the OVP “is always ready to assist families affected by calamities.” READ: OVP: Timing of Sara’s trip ‘unfortunate’ The Metro Manila Council (MMC) on Wednesday declared a state of calamity in the National Capital Region (NCR) following the widespread flooding due to heavy rains induced by Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) and the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat. READ: Carina floods leave PH capital in state of calamity The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday reported that at least 21 people from Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon died. Some reports placed the casualty figure at 14. READ: 21 dead after Typhoon Carina pounds PH – PNP

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Bela Padilla calls out influencer’s ‘detached’ reaction to flood

Jessica Ann Evangelista

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:56:04 PST

Bela Padilla calls out influencer’s detached reaction to flood | Image: Instagram/@bela Bela Padilla calls out influencer’s detached reaction to flood | Image: Instagram/@bela Actress Bela Padilla could not help but share her disappointment over a socialite’s viral video, wherein the latter was heard asking if she and her children could put a “floatie” in the middle of a flood on the street that was caused by Typhoon Carina. Padilla took to Instagram to express her dismay at the now-deleted video of the said influencer, who is said to be Cat Arambulo. “You see people risking their lives for their loved ones, and your question is, if you and your kids can use a floatie here, come on,” the actress lamented. “Could’ve been a nice teaching moment for your kids, but [shrugging emoji].” READ: Marian Rivera, Heart Evangelista join in relief efforts for Typhoon Carina victims Image: Instagram/@bela In the video uploaded on TikTok by the socialite herself, she was seen inside a vehicle with her family while they were wading through the flood on a street, when a little girl, who was supposed to be her daughter, expressed her interest in putting a “floatie” in the flood. “So, it’s the first time for the kids to experience baha (flood) in Manila,” Arambulo said. “Safe kaya mag-floatie diyan, yaya? I guess so; it’s just water, noh? Should we try? We should wakeboard.” The influencer’s video sparked online outrage and was shared multiple times on different online platforms, with netizens expressing varied reactions. “The case of Cat Arambulo is just an example of how out of touch, vain, and oa the rich are. Imagine the level of insensitivity someone has to have to see the storm like it’s the beach where you can use “floatie” and do wakeboarding while lots of people are losing their lives over it,” wrote one netizen on X. In 2020, Arambulo also faced online backlash after she expressed harsh comments to stranded commuters for coming out on the streets to work, amid the government’s bid to keep people home during the peak of the COVID pandemic. “God why don’t you motherf*ckers stay at home? Stay at home! Don’t you guys get it? Tigas ng ulo! This is exactly why they needed the military because you f*ckers won’t stay at home. Guys, come on?” she said at the time. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our entertainment news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Senate orders probe into death of man who fell off its new building

Maila Ager

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:54:39 PST

The Senate leadership orders a thorough probe into the death of an unnamed man who fell at the construction site of the New Senate Building in Taguig City on July 25, 2024. INQUIRER FILES The Senate leadership orders a thorough probe into the death of an unnamed man who fell at the construction site of the New Senate Building in Taguig City on July 25, 2024. INQUIRER FILES MANILA, Philippines — The Senate leadership has ordered a thorough probe into the death of an unnamed man who fell at the construction site of the New Senate Building in Taguig City. Senate spokesperson Arnel Bañas confirmed that the unfortunate incident happened on Thursday night, citing reports from the on-site security team and Southern Police District. “We would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased,” Bañas said in a statement Friday. “Senate President Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero has been apprised of the incident. He immediately ordered a thorough investigation of the incident and a review of the security protocols in the construction site,” he added. READ: Man dies after falling from New Senate Building in Taguig City According to reports, the 23-year-old man “slipped into the construction area” around 9:00 p.m. on July 25 and was chased by a companion and the security guards but could not be found. An hour after, the man fell off the north tower of the still-being-constructed New Senate Building, Bañas said, further citing reports reaching the Senate. “We have instructed security to recheck and tighten control of all entrance and exit points as well as the façade barriers to prevent unauthorized entry and loitering,”  the Senate spokesman said. “The Senate is taking this matter very seriously. We extend our full support to the ongoing investigation to find out the actual circumstances surrounding this tragic incident,” he added. The construction of the New Senate Building is under review by the current Senate leadership as questions have been raised over its ballooning cost. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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‘About Us But Not About Us’ got me questioning my own moral compass

No author found

2023-05-06T12:29:33+00:00

I’ve always been a fan of psychological thrillers—especially those characterized by action-packed sequences and elaborate special effects. They peel off the layers of the human psyche in a graphic way, effectively exposing the raw (and often ugly) truth that most people try so hard to conceal. They disturb your peace and mess with your mind by explicitly and unapologetically demonstrating how everyone, even the seemingly principled ones, can be capable of the most unspeakable acts. Award-winning director Jun Robles Lana’s “About Us But Not About Us” is different, though, as it promises a fresh treatment to the genre. Instead of relying heavily on visual stimuli, the film, which took home 10 awards during its Summer Metro Manila Film Festival premiere, banks on the power of words (and the delivery of the actors) to bring to life a story that’s supposed to be unsettling and riveting. It’s as if the viewers are given full liberty to create imagery based on their subjective interpretations of the narrative, and to make sense of things that are only hinted at through dialogue. So, as I settle into my seat in the dimly lit theater, I remember asking myself: “How can a movie with such limited resources possibly hold my attention for about an hour and a half?” But my doubts are immediately put to rest the moment Eric (a gay professor in his 40s played by Romnick Sarmenta) appears on the screen. He’s wordlessly sitting in his car, with the camera focusing on his eyes reflected in the rearview mirror. Contrary to the conventional notion of psycho-thriller cinema, the opening scene of “About Us But Not About Us” is relatively subdued—almost to the point of being mundane—but the subtle sense of dread that hangs in the air seems to foreshadow an ominous turn of events. Eric steps out not long after and enters a fancy-looking restaurant. He’s greeted by Lance (a twentysomething aspiring novelist played by Elijah Canlas)—who turns out to be a literature student he has taken under his wing. As an invisible fourth person (you’ll know what I mean as you read through) in the room, it’s easy to dismiss their initial exchange as casual professor-student chitchat. But what seems to be a lighthearted talk soon escalates into full-blown psychological warfare that delivers unpleasant blows to both parties. Stories of their (complicated) personal histories and revelations from their shared past slowly chip away at their facade, exposing the deep-seated anguish, guilt, and frustration that have been festering within them for the longest time. It’s a verbal dance of manipulation and vulnerability—each line dripping with tension, each pause pregnant with meaning. The film doesn’t waste time on unnecessary exposition and cheap thrills. Instead, it unfolds the narrative in a deliberate and almost methodical manner: Chaotic, but not too overwhelming. Raw, but carefully constructed. Its technical limitations work to its advantage, too. Eric and Lance’s disturbing chat juxtaposed with the elegant and sterile environment of the restaurant trigger an unsettling contrast, further intensifying the emotional impact of the dialogue. It gives off a feeling of suffocation—as if the characters are trapped in a space that’s supposed to be pristine and calm, but is now tainted by their inner demons. At one point, listening in on their conversation feels almost invasive. It’s like eavesdropping on something I shouldn’t be privy to, but for some reason, I can’t seem to disregard it until everything has been laid bare. As the layers of their psyche are stripped off, it becomes apparent that Eric and Lance aren’t the only ones with secrets to hide. The restaurant itself holds clues to the past and to the private meetings that took place within its walls. Similar to what the film’s title implies, Eric’s and Lance’s stories are about them, but not entirely about them. They keep mentioning a name throughout their talk—someone whom I consider the film’s third protagonist. Despite not being there in a literal sense, his looming presence and influence over Eric and Lance are too palpable that it almost feels like he’s in the room with them. He’s a pivotal figure that can tie up all loose ends and provide answers to the questions that have been nagging at everybody’s mind, but due to an unanticipated circumstance, he can never do so even if he wanted to. This ultimately leaves Eric and Lance with irreparable emotional wounds, unresolved issues, and inner demons that will continue to haunt them even after stepping out of the restaurant. With the credits rolling down and the lights coming back on, I find myself lost in thought. “About Us But Not About Us” doesn’t provide answers or neat resolutions, leaving room for interpretation and introspection. In fact, a few Qs linger in my mind even after I’ve left the cinema—some don’t seem to have straightforward answers, while others make me reassess my own actions and beliefs. In a nutshell, “About Us But Not About Us” is a tale of betrayal, guilt, and regret. It doesn’t shy away from the fact that people can be cruel, selfish, and manipulative… that sometimes, redemption is elusive. And honestly, it’s rare to see a piece of media that captures the human condition in such an unvarnished manner. Eric and Lance aren’t your typical protagonists—they’re not even likable if you ask me. They are neither superheroes with extraordinary powers nor one-dimensional villains who revel in their evil deeds. Eric and Lance are flawed, complex, and arguably despicable at times. They are the kind of characters that would make us uncomfortable because we can see a bit of ourselves in them—and would make us ask ourselves, “What would I do if I were in their shoes?” Their actions, although morally questionable, are understandable in the context of their experiences. But does that make them excusable? It’s easy to sympathize with someone who’s been through a lot, but where do we draw the line between understanding and enabling destructive behavior? Between empathy and accountability? How do we balance the need for justice with the need for compassion? It’s a complex issue that challenges the viewers to examine their own perspectives on morality. Inner demons aren’t exclusive to a select few. They are in all of us—some are just better at managing them than others. And while they generally manifest in different ways, Eric and Lance’s conversation is a microcosm of the struggles that we face when it comes to confronting ours. But is self-reflection enough for us to move forward? How do we deal with the parts of ourselves that we don’t even want to acknowledge? Do we force ourselves to confront them head-on or just bury them deep down in the recesses of our minds, hoping that they won’t resurface? Do we seek help, or do we continue to suffer in silence? Eric and Lance’s meeting isn’t just a simple reunion of two individuals with a shared history. It’s a confrontation, a reckoning, a chance for closure. Although it hasn’t led to a resolution—and has dredged up more pain and regret—it (at least) provided them with an opportunity to confront their past and come to terms with it. But does closure always lead to healing? Or is it just a temporary balm that masks the underlying wounds? Is it an important step in the process of moving on or a mere illusion that we cling to because it gives us a false sense of control? Closure is a luxury that not everybody can afford, and “About Us But Not About Us” acknowledges that. It’s not always possible to get clear-cut answers to the questions hanging in the air. But in the absence of it, where do we find other ways to heal? How do we cope with uncertainties and the lack of resolution? Lance has always dreamt of becoming an extremely successful novelist, but his aspiration comes at a great cost. His actions in the film reveal a willingness to compromise his integrity, manipulate those around him, and lie to get what he wants. To be fair, there’s a backstory that can (somehow but barely) justify his behavior, but it still begs the question: Is it worth it? And if so, what does that say about him as a person? It’s a question that resonates with many of us, especially in a society that puts a premium on external validation, recognition, and professional titles. The film challenges us to reflect on the trade-offs we make to achieve our goals, and whether or not it’s worth betraying our own values to get there. In the end, “About Us But Not About Us” proves that a film doesn’t need flashy effects or a sprawling cast to make an impact. Sometimes, all it takes is two actors, a posh restaurant, and a tight script that’s unafraid to explore the human condition in all its messy, unpredictable glory. In Gen Z language, the production team had two dollars and a dream, yet they were able to make it work. Watching it feels like working on a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces—you can see the edges and the shapes they’re supposed to be, but there are gaping holes where important pieces should be. It leaves you with more questions than answers. But sometimes, that’s exactly what we need to confront the demons that lie within us. P.S. For the “it gets worse before it gets better” trope enjoyers, I’m sorry (not really) to announce that no happily-ever-afters await you in “About Us But Not About Us.” The film stays true to its bleak and thought-provoking nature until the very end. It may not be an easy watch, but it’s worth the emotional investment. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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5 original Filipino fragrance brands to check out

No author found

2024-05-24T00:57:32+00:00

As a perfume enthusiast, my main beef with the local fragrance scene is that it is saturated with dupe houses and “inspired” scents—copies of more popular scents from international brands. While I understand that not everyone can afford designer and niche fragrances and that dupes are a way for more people to enjoy them, I’m much more interested in Filipinos showcasing their creativity in the art of perfumery. Thankfully, there are a number of Filipino fragrance brands that specialize in their own original scent blends, and a lot are more than worth exploring. So without further adieu, here are five Filipino fragrance brands that are absolutely killing it when it comes to putting out unique perfumes mindfully crafted for the local audience. From fresh scents perfect for our tropical weather to niche picks made for more refined noses, there’s something for everyone on this list. Being quite new to Filipino fragrance brands, I personally had no idea we had local artisan fragrance houses of niche quality. But we actually have a handful created by Filipino noses trained in Grasse, France (the world’s capital of perfumery), one of whom being Renato Lopena Jr., a certified natural perfumer. The creative force behind Wren Atelier, Renato focuses on blending the most one-of-a-kind fragrances as well as working on bespoke, custom scents for his clientele. Each perfume from his private collection is mostly inspired by Filipino culture, from the spread of Christianity in the Philippines to the work of our local farmers and fishermen. A post shared by Wren Atelier (@wrenatelier) Apart from the dreamy Valensole Romance and the floral, boozy Cerveza Rosa, a lot of these scents can pull masculine, so this is definitely a brand to check out if you’re looking for a special gift for your boyfriend, husband, brother, or dad. Must-try: Valensole Romance, a unique and deep gourmand inspired by the lavender fields of Provence Imperfect Scents’ heart and soul come from the creativity of its founders, Kelsey and Marouis, who also happen to be sisters. Out of all the brands listed, this house has the most fragrance options in its roster—whether you want woody scents, soft skin scents, sweet milky gourmands, calming tea perfumes, they’ve got it. What makes them stand out as well is the sheer effort and care placed into their branding. Just visit their website and you’ll notice every fragrance is paired with a unique (and super cute) illustration as well as thoughtfully written copy. A post shared by Imperfect Scents 🦦 (@imperfectscents) Both Kelsey and Marouis suffer from allergic rhinitis, so their creations are the most ideal for anyone who enjoys a good scent but is sensitive to stronger formulations. Must-try: Washi, a woody scent reminiscent of fragranced stationery Patricia Cotoco and Ivana Ching started Ilum Studios during the pandemic, originally as a scented candle brand. But their market enjoyed their scents so much that they requested that they be crafted as perfumes as well. “Every time we create a new fragrance, we first think of a memory, place, or emotion that we want to capture with our scents,” they say, then elaborating that they spend months of oil testing and blending to craft the perfect scents that would match our tropical Philippine weather. Through their fragrances, Pat and Ivana want to spread light and joy to each customer, hence the name “ilum.” A post shared by ilum studios (@ilumstudios) Just recently, Ilum Studios released a spring/summer fragrance collection, aimed to last and smell great in the heat of summer. Must-try: Matcha Mochi, a subtly sweet but fresh and airy matcha latte scent Another candle brand that branched out into perfumes and room sprays, Home Studio Scents has been running since 2020, creating various unique fragrance collections. What’s interesting about this house is that each of their collections have very distinct branding and art, from vintage aesthetics to funky and modern visuals. No two products are the same. Like Imperfect Scents, Home Studio Scents has branched out into so many different scent profiles, pleasing any discerning nose that has had the privilege of sniffing their perfumes. A post shared by @homestudioscents I bought an entire line of one of their fragrance series and gifted them to my barkada. You know a brand is good when all seven of them loved what they got. Must-try: Clean Slate, a musky and clean skin scent Letters of Love is actually a new local fragrance house from the same team behind other lifestyle brands such as SnailWhite, Oxecure, and Trizie. The concept behind it is that every simple thing in life is a form of love, whether that’s remembering your childhood memories, seeing a pretty flower, or eating your favorite treat—and they aim to capture these through their fragrances—one scent, one story, one letter of love at a time. A post shared by Letters Of Love 💌 (@lettersoflove.ph) Their first release is Mango Sticky Rice Gourmand, which basically smells like a photorealistic mango sticky rice dessert. Despite it being a gourmand, it’s still light and refreshing enough for the summer heat, so I’m excited to see the other fragrances this new brand comes up with. Must-try: Mango Sticky Rice Gourmand, a light and sweet fragrance inspired by the famous Thai dessert Photos from brandsArt by Ella Lambio Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Another Coast Guard vessel joins fight against Bataan oil spill

John Eric Mendoza

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:19:43 PST

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday said it deployed another vessel to help contain the oil spill off Bataan. The BRP Gabriela Silang, the second largest vessel of the PCG, has also been sent to the site, according to spokesperson Armand Balilo. Balilo said the personnel of BRP Gabriela Silang would conduct a marine casualty investigation. One of the two largest PCG ships in its fleet, BRP Melchora Aquino, was earlier deployed along with three other multirole response vessels. PCG is giving itself a week to finish draining oil from the sunken  M/T Terra Nova petroleum tanker, Balilo previously said. The tanker was en route to Iloilo City when it capsized and eventually sank some 3.6 nautical miles east of Lamao Point in Limay, Bataan at around 1:10 a.m. on Thursday. Balilo said 16 of the 17 crewmen on board had been rescued by BRP Melchora Aquino personnel, while the other  crewman was found dead at 3:00 p.m. Thursday. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Man dies after falling from New Senate Building in Taguig City

Zacarian Sarao

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:38:50 PST

A man fell off the New Senate Building and died in Taguig City, the Southern Police District said Friday, July 26, 2024. INQUIRER FILES A man fell off the New Senate Building and died in Taguig City, the Southern Police District said Friday, July 26, 2024. INQUIRER FILES MANILA, Philippines — A man fell off the New Senate Building and died in Taguig City, the police said Friday, July 26. In a report, the Philippine National Police-Southern Police District (PNP-SPD) said the 23-year-old man was a Philippine Navy applicant. Citing witnesses, the SPD said the man was first seen entering the premises of the New Senate Building, which is still under construction, around 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. The man ran towards the third floor. A witness immediately alerted security guards about it but they failed to locate the man. READ: Maid dies after falling from roof as she was allegedly escaping from employer Around 9 p.m., the witness and other security guards heard a loud thud, according to police. Eventually, they found the man’s body on the ground. Information reaching the Senate, however, indicated that the man was being chased by an unidentified companion after he slipped into the construction site around 9:00 p.m. on Thursday. READ: New Senate building construction delayed by 852 days, says Cayetano “The security team searched the area and reviewed the CCTV but were not able to locate the person,” the Senate said in a statement. The Senate also said the man fell off the north tower of the New Senate Building around 10:00 p.m. on July 25. The SPD said it is still assessing the “technical aspects” of its investigation of the incident. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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DepEd: 738 public schools won’t start SY 2024-2025 on July 29

Luisa Cabato

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:17:53 PST

Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara emerges from a school he inspected following massive flooding around Metro Manila and nearby areas in recent days due to torrential rains from typhoon-enhanced southwest monsoon, locally termed habagat. Angara said Friday, July 26, 2024, that at least 90 schools nationwide postponed opening their classes for School Year (SY) 2024-2025 on Monday, July 29, as they clean up and rehabilitate facilities. | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of Education Secretary Sonny Angara Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara emerges from a school he inspected following massive flooding around Metro Manila and nearby areas in recent days due to torrential rains from typhoon-enhanced southwest monsoon, locally termed habagat. Angara said Friday, July 26, 2024, that at least 90 schools nationwide postponed opening their classes for School Year (SY) 2024-2025 on Monday, July 29, as they clean up and rehabilitate facilities. | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of Education Secretary Sonny Angara MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) said 738 public schools nationwide postponed the opening of their classes for School Year (SY) 2024-2025 on Monday, July 29, following the onslaught of typhoon-enhanced southwest monsoon, locally termed “habagat,” which resulted in floods around Metro Manila and nearby areas. Data from DepEd showed 442 of these schools are in Region 3, 206 in the National Capital Region, 86 in the Cordillera Administrative Region, and four in Region 12. In a press conference earlier the day, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said more than 90 schools nationwide will postpone their opening of classes on Monday. He noted that this number is still subject to change. Seven hundred thirty eight public schools nationwide postponed the opening of classes for School Year (SY) 2024-2025 on Monday, July 29, data from the Department of Education shows. (Photo courtesy of DepEd) Angara also mentioned that schools in Malabon City and Valenzuela City will push through with it on July 31 and August 5, respectively. “As a general rule, gusto natin talaga na makabalik talaga sa July 29, pero ‘yung iba hindi talaga kakayanin,” Angara said, noting that some schools in affected cities are still being used as evacuation centers. (As a general rule, we really want to be able to return on July 29, but the others can’t really make it.) READ: DepEd says over 18 million students enrolled for SY 2024-2025 According to Angara, schools in Metro Manila and nearby provinces were the most damaged by heavy rains and flooding early this week. “So far, ang report sakin severely damaged talaga ‘yung NCR (National Capital Region), Region IV-A, atsaka it seems Region 3 din,” he said. (So far, the report to me is that the NCR, Region IV-A, and it seems Region 3 also were severely damaged.) READ: DepEd: Brigada Eskwela SY 2024-2025 set for July 22–27 “May iba na gusto talagang i-postpone ng malawakan; we cannot do it because, alam natin, what if next week may tumama na namang typhoon. So ‘yung kaya sana pumasok na sila,” Angara added. (Others really want a broad postponement of school opening; we cannot do it because we know that what if another typhoon hits next week. So for those who can, I hope they open and let students come in.) DepEd said 18,370,310 students from elementary to senior high school have enrolled for SY 2024-2025 as of 9 a.m. on Friday, July 26. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Of the total, 10,001,689 are elementary students, 5,577,374 are junior high school students, and 2,598,529 are senior high school students, according to the education department. Student enrollment in all public schools for SY 2024-2025 was set from July 3–26. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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What’s the Yuzpe method and why you need to know about it

No author found

2023-12-26T03:00:00+00:00

It’s pretty common to have a pregnancy scare when you’re sexually active. Whether the condom broke or you consented to unprotected sex in the heat of the moment, it’s okay. It happens. And there are contraception methods you can take to lower the chances of an unplanned pregnancy. One of them is the Yuzpe method, an emergency contraception method used as an alternative to emergency contraceptive pills. It prevents pregnancies through the use of daily oral birth control, ones that are available over the counter. If used within 72 hours after the sexual encounter, it can prevent up to 95 percent chance of pregnancy. The sooner it’s taken, the higher the chances of it working. Getting pregnant doesn’t happen right after sex. It takes up to seven days until the sperm reaches your eggs. Using this method prevents fertilization because the body releases estrogen and progestin from the pills you take so your body will stop the release of the egg from your ovaries. The number of pills to take depends on the dosage of the OTC birth control pills. Here’s a guide from The Philippine Clinical Standards Manual on Family Planning 2014 Edition. The Yuzpe method is generally regarded as a safe emergency contraceptive, but it is still best to consult with a healthcare provider. There will be side effects since the body is absorbing a ton of hormones. Possible side effects may include nausea, vomiting, and headache. It’s worth noting that recurring use of this method is not recommended. The Philippine Clinical Standards Manual on Family Planning states that “all other contraceptive methods are more effective in preventing pregnancies and have less of the unwanted side effects.” Remember, this is for emergencies only and not for regular use. It’s better to be on a dedicated birth control if you see yourself being sexually active. Between the Yuzpe method and morning after pills, doctors recommend the latter since it is more effective and has lesser side effects. But why is it not available in the Philippines? The Philippine Food and Drug Administration banned emergency contraceptive pills in the country because of its “abortifacient” effect even though studies show that it does not have any links to abortion. Women could have access to better emergency contraception if the government reconsiders its position—a position not really backed by science. Failing to provide women with reproductive healthcare options continues to bring serious risks to their health and lives as many are forced to turn to unsafe abortions or endure unwanted or unplanned pregnancies. It’s our right to have better and more accessible options for our reproductive healthcare. Follow Preen on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Viber Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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‘Water flow management’ will control floods, Marcos tells LGUs

Zacarian Sarao

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 12:04:58 PST

President Ferdinand “Bongbongf” R. Marcos Jr. inspects  the Mauban Sea Wallall and Mauban Port  during the aftermath of typhoon Carina on Friday, July 26, 2024. The President also presided over a situational briefing with local officials and various heads of concerned government agencies.  (PHOTO BY YUMMIE DINGDING / PPA POOL) President Ferdinand “Bongbongf” R. Marcos Jr. inspects  the Mauban Sea Wallall and Mauban Port  during the aftermath of typhoon Carina on Friday, July 26, 2024. The President also presided over a situational briefing with local officials and various heads of concerned government agencies.  (PHOTO BY YUMMIE DINGDING / PPA POOL) MANILA, Philippines —  Local governments must rethink their flood prevention projects by understanding water flow management rather than simply as a response to recent flooding, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. said on Friday. Marcos made the call during a situation briefing in Mauban, Quezon, where the effects of Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon were tackled. In the briefing, Marcos said flood response should also know “the flow of water” and how to manage it. “[‘Yung] padagdag lang ng padagdag ng dike, dagdagan ng isang meter (Just adding more dikes, adding one meter) – that’s not going to do it, we have to understand the flow of the water and somehow learn how to manage it so that it won’t flood to productive areas, households, residential communities and this kind of thing na nasisira ‘ang daan,” said Marcos. The President said such a method must also be part of the government’s national plan for dealing with flooding, especially as a low-pressure area is already being monitored by the state weather bureau 1,035 kilometers east of Mindanao. “Kailangan hindi ito ano lang eh, talagang it will have to be a national plan. Ngayon lalo at parating na ‘yung sa Mindanao, titignan na naman natin kung ano ‘yung gagawin,” he added. (This really will have to be a national plan. Now, especially in Mindanao, we will see what to do.) Marcos likened the flooding in Quezon to Metro Manila, where floods affected erstwhile flood-free areas. “Hindi pwedeng isang bayan lang dito bayan doon, that’s why we’re trying to assess other significant changes kasi all our other flood control projects are in response to flooding noon, eh bago na, nagbago,” he said. (It can’t be just one town here and one town there, that’s why we’re trying to assess other significant changes because all our other flood control projects are in response to flooding; then, well, it’s new, it’s changed.) The President also further stressed the need for readiness, pointing out that Carina is only the first typhoon in the La Niña season. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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NBI, PNP Cybercrime findings on video: ‘Definitely not the President’

Tetch Torres-Tupas

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 18:14:14 PST

National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago says the video showed on Maisug rally was circulated by disgruntled people underestimating the intelligence of the Filipino people. INQUIRER.net / Tetch Torres-Tupas National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago says the video showed on Maisug rally was circulated by disgruntled people underestimating the intelligence of the Filipino people. INQUIRER.net / Tetch Torres-Tupas MANILA, Philippines — “Definitely not the President,” Justice Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres said Tuesday, referring to the man from the so-called “polvoron video.” The video was purportedly that of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. allegedly using illegal drugs. It was played during a Maisug rally abroad in time for the President’s State of the Nation Address (Sona). The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Philippine National Police (PNP) Cybercrimes Offices examined the video and made consistent findings. READ: DOJ, PNP to probe ‘fake,’ ‘malicious’ Marcos video NBI Cybercrime Division Chief Jeremy Lotoc said they conducted a “sort of” open AI process. NBI’s Cybercrime Division Chief Jeremy Lotoc explains their findings after analyzing the video allegedly that of the President. INQUIRER.net / Tetch Torres-Tupas “We captured a photo from the image taken from the FB page, and then from there, we tried to remove the background images and then diverted and enhanced the photo and transformed the pixelated subject into a high-definition image,” Lotoc said. The NBI and the PNP Cybercrime units analyzed the facial features of the unidentified man in the video and the President’s. Both bodies noted significant discrepancies in the man’s facial features from the video and that of the President. “So as you can see from the two photos that were presented as done spectral analysis from the Video Spectral Analysis, you can see that the tragal notch here (Photo of President Marcos’s ears) are embossed compared here (the man from the video) which is not that embossed. Also the intertragal notch is larger here (referring to the President’s ear), this is narrower in this picture (the man from the video),” the NBI expert said. He added, “Also, the antitragus here is more embossed (the President’s ear) than here, which is not embossed. So it means this picture is definitely not the same.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. On the part of the PNP, its Cybercrime Director Ronnie Francis Cariaga noted the facial feature discrepancies, not only the ears but the shape of the eyes and nose, as well as sideburns. “The materials that you are seeing here are really enhanced video material…Indeed, the intention is really to misrepresent. This is really malicious and this is already borne by the forensic investigation done by the NBI together with the PNP,” Andres said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Investors dump property stocks on new Marcos policy

Meg J. Adonis

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 02:11:00 PST

While investors seem to be rushing to shed their property stocks after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s sweeping order to ban Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) in the country, most real estate firms may not be hurt for long, according to analysts. Property firms were in the red on Tuesday, shedding 1.62 percent, as several index heavyweights such as Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) and SM Prime Holdings Inc. declined. READ: Markets mixed after US rally ahead of inflation report However, experts said this may only be a “knee-jerk reaction” to Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address (Sona), during which he ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to act on his order banning Pogos, whose presence in the country steadily increased during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s term. “Long-term, we think that [the ban] won’t have a large effect, as majority of the developers have already started shifting to cater BPOs (business process outsourcing) for their office segment,” Jose Antonio Cipres, research analyst at AP Securities Inc., said in a Viber message. The local bourse looked unaffected by the declines in the property sector as it resumed its march toward 6,800. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) gained 0.61 percent, or 41.07 points, to close at 6,753.12. Likewise, the broader All Shares Index climbed by 1.07 percent, or 38.50 points, to 3,638.48. ALI, whose Pogo exposure is less than 5 percent, was the top-traded stock as it dipped by 0.94 percent to P31.60. Notably, SM Prime, which no longer has Pogos exposure, also dropped by 2.45 percent to P29.90. Claire Alviar, research analyst at Philstocks Financial Inc., pointed out that most property firms had minimal exposure to Pogos. As a result, the ban’s impact on revenues “could be minimal to insignificant for some; they could also offset or cover this through their other businesses.” COL Financial data show that Megaworld Corp., Robinsons Land Corp., Filinvest Land Inc. and RL Commercial REIT all have less than 5-percent exposure, as Pogo presence has “significantly decreased since its peak in 2019.” But if there was a company that may be significantly impacted by the ban, Cipres said this would be DDMP REIT Inc. (DDMPR), the real estate investment trust arm of developer DoubleDragon Corp. Pogos and Pagcor-accredited BPOs accounted for 51 percent of DDMPR’s P1.81-billion rental income last year. DDMPR’s shares dipped by 5.17 percent to P1.10 each on Tuesday as investors priced in the anticipated negative impact of the President’s order. At the same time, COL Financial analyst Richard Laneda noted that Pogos’ exit would also result in higher vacancy rates across the office segment. Data from real estate brokerage firm Leechiu Property Consultants show that Pogos accounted for 75,000 square meters of leased office space in the first half of the year. This is down from 88,000 sq m last year. Leechiu also said in its first-semester property report that lease terminations during the period eased due to the “absence of contractions caused by the Pogo industry.” The vacancies caused by the ban will likewise add to the 786,000 sq m of office space that will be added to the market supply by the second half of the year. READ: Not just BPOs, Pogos: Government drives office demand According to Cipres, there may also be an uptick in residential vacancies, particularly in the Bay Area, as Pogo workers start to leave. “While the effect is mostly isolated, this may temper the current uptrend that we are seeing in the index, most especially given the fact that the property sector is what we are expecting to spearhead the index’s run-up moving forward,” he said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Analysts earlier projected property firms to help lift the local bourse, especially with the anticipated interest rate cuts that could mean better borrowing terms for prospective buyers. —with a report from Czashaine Mai T. Abella Curated business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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DepEd says over 18 million students enrolled for SY 2024-2025

Luisa Cabato

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 12:25:21 PST

The Department of Education (DepEd) says more than 18 million students from elementary to senior high school have enrolled for School Year (SY) 2024-2025. Based on DepEd’s data, a total of 18,370,310 students enrolled in public and private schools as well as in alternative learning systems, state universities and colleges, and local universities and colleges as of 9 a.m. on Friday, July 26, 2024. PHOTO FROM Agence France-Presse/INQUIRER FILES The Department of Education (DepEd) says more than 18 million students from elementary to senior high school have enrolled for School Year (SY) 2024-2025. Based on DepEd’s data, a total of 18,370,310 students enrolled in public and private schools as well as in alternative learning systems, state universities and colleges, and local universities and colleges as of 9 a.m. on Friday, July 26, 2024. PHOTO FROM Agence France-Presse/INQUIRER FILES MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) said more than 18 million elementary to senior high school students have enrolled for the school year 2024-2025. Based on DepEd’s data released Friday, a total of 18,370,310 students enrolled in public and private schools as well as in alternative learning systems, state universities and colleges, and local universities and colleges as of 9 a.m. on July 26. Of the total, 10,001,689 are elementary students, 5,577,374 are junior high school students, and 2,598,529 are senior high school students, according to the education department. Student enrollment in all public schools for SY 2024-2025 was set from July 3-26. READ: DepEd starts enrollment in public schools The DepEd said SY 2024-2025 will begin on Monday, July 29, and end on Friday, May 16, 2025. However, in a statement on Thursday, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said school openings were postponed in some areas that were hardly hit by the typhoon-strengthened southwest monsoon to give time for cleanup operations and rehabilitation. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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S&P expects infrastructure investments to support growth

Mariedel Irish U. Catilogo @CatilogoIrish

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 11:05:52 PST

This photo taken on January 29, 2019 shows a general view of the skyline of Manila. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP) This photo taken on January 29, 2019 shows a general view of the skyline of Manila. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP) S&P Global Ratings said on Thursday that improved infrastructure will support robust growth in the Philippines. However, the country’s public fixed investment assets remain relatively low compared to its regional peers. While the country’s share of overall worth of public infrastructure and properties to the economic output are low, S&P said that it is increasing, even as the economy has experienced rapid growth over the past 10 years. “This means public capital grew faster than the economy, and reflects policymakers’ emphasis on infrastructure investment,” Vishrut Rana, senior economist at S&P Global Ratings said. READ: S&P trims PH 2024 growth forecast to 5.8% In 2023, the share of gross capital formation to gross domestic product (GDP) reached 23.2 percent, or nearly a quarter, marking the highest level since the pandemic began. Meanwhile, economic output grew by 5.5 percent, the lowest growth rate since 2011, excluding the contraction experienced during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic. The debt watcher also highlighted improvements in the country’s logistics, as reflected by the Logistics Performance Index. The country’s score increased by 0.4 points to 3.3 out of 5, placing it 43rd out of 139 economies. This index measures the efficiency of trade, using indicators derived from large datasets tracking shipments. “There is room for further infrastructure deepening, which remains a policy priority. As such, public capital relative to the economy is likely to grow further,” Rana said. The Philippines has been successful in attracting private partners for investment in public-private partnership projects (PPPs), Rana added. READ: Marcos sees sustained PPP to boost PH tourism This aligns with the Marcos administrations’ commitment to further increase its non-tax revenue for the year, of which a significant portion of this revenue comes from remittances from state-owned corporations and other non-tax revenues including privatization, income from the treasury and others “In the Philippines and Indonesia public-private partnership capital assets are higher than global averages,” the report said. According to the International Monetary Fund’s Capital Stock Database, the country’s PPP capital assets account for 6.7 percent of GDP, which is higher than the global average of 3.4 percent. As a result, Rana anticipates that private investments will increase, supported by improved infrastructure. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Moreover, S&P forecasts growth in emerging Asia Pacific except China, to expand by $11.4 trillion by 2033 from $6.6 trillion in 2023 translating to a 5.5 percent annual growth driven by improved infrastructure. Curated business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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INQToday: Rains to persist in Luzon, Visayas due to habagat; ‘Gil Tulog’ road signs removed

INQUIRER.net

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 12:35:29 PST

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories: A cloudy, rainy Friday due to the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” is forecast in Luzon, while fair weather is expected in the Visayas and Mindanao, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). “Sa buong Luzon makakaranas pa din tayo ng maulap na may kalat-kalat na pag-ulan, pagkulog at pagkidlat,”  Pagasa weather specialist Daniel Villamil said in an early morning update. The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has tagged as “suspects” former national police chief and now Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and four other retired and current police officers for alleged involvement in the deaths of thousands of people in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war. In a July 3 ICC document shared by former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday, the prosecutor of The Hague-based tribunal found “reasonable grounds to believe” that the five former and current Philippine National Police officials had “concrete involvement” in Duterte’s ruthless anti-drug campaign’s systematic killings. The viral “Gil Tulog” road signs that altered the original “Gil Puyat” markings were immediately taken down, Makati Mayor Abby Binay said Friday. Binay explained that the permit request to change the road sign for an advertising campaign did not reach her office, adding that she would have denied it if it did. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Centuries-old Bulacan church inundated by monsoon-induced floods

Dianne Sampang

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 11:03:35 PST

MANILA, Philippines — The 356-year-old Parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Meycauayan City, Bulacan, was not spared from the onslaught of the Typhoon Carina-enhanced monsoon rains, as it got submerged in chest-high floodwater on Wednesday, July 24, causing damage to pews and religious images. The present religious building constructed in 1668 is one of the oldest in Bulacan and has weathered past calamities. Not even Typhoon Ondoy in 2009 brought that much floodwater inside the religious building, according to church authorities. This photo shows the flooded Parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Meycauayan City, Bulacan. Photo from Fr.Patrick Gumasing/Parokya ng San Francisco ng Assisi – Meycauayan “Hindi gano’n kalaki ‘yong taas ng baha no’ng Ondoy. Ito na ‘yong pinakamalaki sa history ng simbahan,” said Sacristan Mayor Armando Berroya in an interview with INQUIRER.net on Thursday, July 25. (The floodwater from Typhoon Ondoy was not that massive. The church never had this kind in its history.) READ: Central Luzon bears brunt of super typhoon Carina Berroya recalled that as early as 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, the floodwater had already reached chest level inside the church, while the floodwater around the patio area outside the church was neck-high. This photo shows the flooded Parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Meycauayan City, Bulacan. Photo from Kenneth Guban and Armando Berroya/Parish of St. Francis of Assisi – Meycauayan While floodwater subsided inside the church on Thursday, the torrential rains’ fury was evident in the damaged pews, religious statues, and other church properties. One of these is the cracked statue of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. The church was undergoing renovations when the flood struck. A portrait of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. (Photo courtesy of Kenneth Guban and Armando Berroya/Parish of St. Francis of Assisi – Meycauayan) According to Berroya, they will meet with the city mayor on Friday to discuss plans for the church’s operations. “Wala munang Misa hangga’t hindi humuhupa ang baha,” Berroya added. (There will still be no Mass until the floodwater subsides.) READ: Carina floods leave PH capital in state of calamity Berroya said floodwater inside the church fully subsided as of Friday morning. Cleaning operations will also be conducted inside the church. “Ang tantya po ay magmi-Misa ng Sabado ng gabi ‘pag naisaayos na po hanggang bukas ng umaga,” said Berroya on Friday. (Based on estimates, the church will have a Mass on Saturday night if cleaning is done until Saturday morning.) This photo shows the flooded Parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Meycauayan City, Bulacan. Photo fro, Kenneth Guban and Armando Berroya/Parish of St. Francis of Assisi – Meycauayan Bulacan was placed under a state of calamity due to the effects of Carina and the typhoon-boosted southwest monsoon, which is locally termed habagat. Bulacan towns that were hit the hardest included Sta. Maria, Obando, Baliwag, Plaridel, and Pulilan. In a Palace briefing on Wednesday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. reported that Central Luzon was among the most affected regions by incessant rains in recent days. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. As Carina further weakened and left the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday morning, cloudy and rainy Friday is expected in Luzon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Sara’s trip explained, draws Leni Robredo comparison

Kathleen de Villa

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 05:38:00 PST

Vice President Sara Duterte –INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES Vice President Sara Duterte –INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES The Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Thursday finally broke its silence about the foreign trip taken by Vice President Sara Duterte and her family shortly after midnight on July 25, the day government efforts were to focus on disaster response amid the widespread flooding caused by Supertyphoon “Carina” (international name: Gaemi). In a statement, the OVP said Duterte went on a “personal trip” to Germany and that she was granted travel authority by Malacañang on July 9. “The timing of the trip coinciding with Typhoon Carina is unfortunate. Nonetheless, the Disaster Operations Center of the OVP, institutionalized by the Vice President, is always ready to assist families affected by calamities,” the OVP said. As of Thursday afternoon, the OVP has extended assistance to individuals and families taking shelter in at least nine evacuation centers in Manila, the Inquirer learned. On Wednesday, the OVP initially declined to confirm or give additional details of Duterte’s flight or the nature of her trip. ‘Lack of empathy, concern’ The day saw netizens criticizing her absence at a time when government agencies were being mobilized as Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon went underwater due to the heavy monsoon rains induced by Carina. Some social posts drew comparisons between today’s OVP and the time of Vice President Leni Robredo, who personally oversaw relief efforts during calamities and gave situational updates. Robredo on Wednesday reactivated her nongovernmental organization Angat Buhay for relief operations in several provinces hit by the typhoon. The group also revived Bayanihan E-Konsulta, an online medical consultation service provided by volunteer doctors. READ: Metro Manila now under state of calamity due to Typhoon Carina Following the OVP statement, Liberal Party chair and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said Duterte pushing through with her family trip showed an “appalling lack of empathy and concern” at a time when “hundreds of thousands of Filipinos (are) in agony and despair.” “It is not an excuse that the trip has long been planned and she has a travel authority. It does not justify her leaving the country at a time of crisis,” Lagman said. “She should have allowed the members of her family to go ahead with the trip and she could have just followed after attending personally to the needs of the victims as is expected of a genuine public servant.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. “The sincerity of public leaders must be gauged by their selflessness and support in times of nationwide calamities and emergencies,” the opposition lawmaker said. —With a report from Krixia Subingsubing News that matters By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

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China Coast Guard ship spotted ‘cruising’ just outside Manila Bay

John Eric Mendoza

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 09:25:22 PST

This photo shows an aerial view of China Coast Guard vessel inside Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea on February 16, 2024. (Photo by JAM STA ROSA / AFP) This photo shows an aerial view of China Coast Guard vessel inside Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea on February 16, 2024. (Photo by JAM STA ROSA / AFP) MANILA, Philippines — A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship was spotted “cruising” outside Manila Bay on Thursday morning, according to West Philippine Sea monitor Ray Powell. Sea Light director Ray Powell said this is not the first time it passed close to Manila Bay, but he still deemed it unusual. “We’re seeing China normalizing a new activity in sending its coast guard nearer the Philippine coastline,” Powell, Powell, program head of Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation which monitors the activities of Chinese vessels in South China Sea, told INQUIRER.net. “This is not the first time I’ve seen them pass this close to Manila Bay, but it is unusual.” READ: 2 China Coast Guard vessels passed near El Nido, PCG confirms Earlier, Powell said on X (formerly Twitter): “China’s intrusive patrols continue with China Coast Guard 3301 cruising outside Manila Bay this morning.” Powell CCG ship with hull number 3301 was marked about 95 nautical miles (NM) from the mouth of Manila Bay at 9 a.m. on Thursday. However, as of 11:32 a.m., the CCG vessel passed approximately 62.08 NM west of Capones Island, Zambales, Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said in a statement. Powell said the CCG ship might be heading back to China since the ship has been at sea since June 15. “Given how long it’s been at sea it may head home after this,” he said. At one point, CCG ship 3301, along with another CCG vessel with hull number 3015, passed by El Nido, Palawan, Tarriela earlier confirmed. READ: PH wins arbitration case over South China Sea As of Thursday, CCG ship 3015 remains 64.5 NM away from El Nido, Palawan, according to Tarriela. Manila is holding the line in the West Philippine Sea as Beijing asserts sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the exclusive economic zone of the country’s western section, even if such a claim has been effectively invalidated by the July 2016 arbitral award. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Beijing, which continues to reject the historic tribunal award, employs what experts deem as intrusive patrols in Manila’s exclusive economic zone as one of its ways to assert claims in the area. The landmark July 2016 ruling stemmed from a case filed by Philippines in 2013, or a year after its tense standoff with China over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which lagoon is now being controlled by Beijing. For comprehensive coverage, in-depth analysis, visit our special page for West Philippine Sea updates. Stay informed with articles, videos, and expert opinions. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

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Marian Rivera, Heart Evangelista join in relief efforts for Typhoon Carina victims

Jessica Ann Evangelista

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 12:00:59 PST

Marian Rivera, Heart Evangelista and others join in relief efforts for Typhoon Carina victims | Image: Instagram/@marianrivera, @iamhearte, @sparklegmaartistcenter Marian Rivera, Heart Evangelista and others join in relief efforts for Typhoon Carina victims | Image: Instagram/@marianrivera, @iamhearte, @sparklegmaartistcenter Filipino celebrities, including Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Heart Evangelista and Rocco Nacino, among others, participated in relief efforts for Filipino families affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon, or habagat. Rivera and Dantes, along with their two kids, Zia and Sixto, personally wrapped more than 700 relief goods to turn over to the GMA Kapuso Foundation for Operation Bayanihan for the affected individuals of Typhoon Carina. On Instagram, the Kapuso primetime queen shared some of her photos and videos preparing the relief goods. She asked her followers for their respective locations to be able to extend help to those in need. Marian Rivera and her kids Zia and Sixto packing relief goods | Image: Instagram/@marianrivera Meanwhile, Dantes, alongside co-Navy reservists Nacino and beauty queen Beatrice Gomez, led the distribution of relief goods in a school in Marikina. On the other hand, as the president of the Senate Spouses Foundation, Evangelista spearheaded the packing and distribution of relief goods in Marikina. Image: Instagram/@iamhearte Image: Instagram/@iamhearte Celebrity couple Jennylyn Mercado and Dennis Trillo took to Instagram to ask for donations for individuals and pets affected by the typhoon. “Muli naming ibinabalik ang @startruck.ph para maging daan sa pagpapaabot ng inyong mga tulong. We are now opening our lines for cash donations. Lahat po ng malilikom ay gagamitin para matulungan ang communities na nasalanta ng super typhoon Carina. Magtulong-tulong po tayong muli para sa ating mga kababayan,” wrote Mercado in her caption. A post shared by Jennylyn Mercado (@mercadojenny) Other celebrities who volunteered for the packing and distribution of relief goods were Enzo Pineda, Ashley Ortega, Faith Da Silva, and “Unang Hirit” hosts Shaira Diaz and Suzi Entrata-Abrera, among others. A post shared by Sparkle GMA Artist Center (@sparklegmaartistcenter) Meanwhile, Gerald Anderson and actor-singer Ronnie Liang participated in rescue operations for a stranded family and other residents of Quezon City, respectively. “Joining the rescue operations for the victims of the flood caused by Typhoon Carina at Barangay Roxas, Quezon City. Reporting for duty as a reservist of the Philippine Army together with the other troops of the 1302 Ready Reserve Battalion, Reserve Command, Philippine Army,” Liang wrote on his Instagram update on Thursday, July 25. A post shared by Ronnie Liang (@ronnieliang) Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our entertainment news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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PCG to deploy floating barriers to contain oil spill off Bataan

Agence France-Presse

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 10:35:38 PST

Philippine Coast Guard (PCCG) personnel prepare to deploy an oil spill containment boom and skimmer at a port in Limay, Bataan on Friday, July 26, 2024. A Philippine-flagged tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil capsized and sank off Manila on July 25, authorities said, as they raced against time to contain the spill. (Photo by Jam Sta Rosa / Agence France-Presse) Philippine Coast Guard (PCCG) personnel prepare to deploy an oil spill containment boom and skimmer at a port in Limay, Bataan on Friday, July 26, 2024. A Philippine-flagged tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil capsized and sank off Manila on July 25, authorities said, as they raced against time to contain the spill. (Photo by Jam Sta Rosa / Agence France-Presse) BATAAN, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) planned Friday to deploy oil dispersant and floating barriers a day after a tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel sank off Limay municipality in this province. Agence France-Presse journalists at the Port of Limay watched PCG personnel preparing equipment for a boat to be used against the slick in Manila Bay. The MT Terra Nova sank in rough seas nearly seven kilometers (4.3 miles) off Limay municipality early Thursday after setting out for the central city of Iloilo. An oil slick stretching several kilometers has been detected in the waterway, which thousands of fishermen and tourism operators rely on for their livelihoods. READ: Tanker with 1.4M liters of oil sinks off Bataan; ‘working fuel’ leaks But PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armando Balilo told a briefing Thursday that it appeared diesel fuel used to power the tanker had leaked and, so far, not the industrial fuel oil cargo. The PCG has set a target of seven days to offload the cargo and prevent what Balilo warned would be the worst oil spill in Philippine history if it were to leak. The incident happened as heavy rains fueled by Typhoon Gaemi, locally named Carina, and the seasonal monsoon lashed Manila and surrounding regions early in the week. After setting out late Wednesday, the captain decided to abort the journey to Iloilo due to rough seas, but as the vessel turned back it was swamped by large waves and went down. One crew member died, but 16 were rescued. An investigation into the cause of the incident was underway but Balilo said Thursday the vessel had not broken rules on heavy-weather sailing. Campaign group Greenpeace said the owners of MT Terra Nova should “foot the bill” for any environmental damage and compensate affected communities. READ: Oil spill from sunken tanker off Bataan may reach Manila shores – PCG One of the worst oil spills in the Philippines was in February 2023, when a tanker carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil sank off the central island of Mindoro. Diesel fuel and thick oil from that vessel contaminated the waters and beaches along the coast of Oriental Mindoro province, devastating the fishing and tourism industries. The oil dispersed over hundreds of kilometers of waters famed for having some of the most diverse marine life in the world. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. A tanker sank off the central island of Guimaras in 2006, spilling tens of thousands of gallons of oil that destroyed a marine reserve, ruined local fishing grounds, and covered stretches of coastline in black sludge. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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Woman dead in Bacoor City fire

Delfin T. Mallari Jr. @dtmallarijrINQ

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 11:32:10 PST

INQUIRER FILES INQUIRER FILES LUCENA CITY — A woman died on Thursday night, July 25, in a fire that gutted her house in Bacoor City, Cavite. The Region 4A police said in a report on Friday that the blaze of still unknown origin struck the two-story residential house of Evangeline Manuel Perlas in Barangay Molino 3. The fire started at 10:15 p.m. and was extinguished by responding firemen 26 minutes later. Police said Perlas perished in the blaze. The report did not provide additional information on the victim and how she died. Investigators have yet to determine what caused the fire. INQ Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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