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Malacañang suspends Muslims commission chairman over 2023 pilgrimage mess
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Herbie G
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11/01/2024 16:13
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SUSPENDED. National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Chairman Guiling Mamondiong gets suspended for 90 days due to alleged anomalies in the 2023 hajj pilgrimage.
NCMF
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Malacañang has placed National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Chairman Guiling Mamondiong under preventive suspension due to alleged anomalies related to the hajj pilgrimage in mid-2023.
Mamondiong, holding a secretary-level position, was given the three-month preventive suspension order for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, showed a decision signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on January 2, a copy of which Rappler secured on Thursday, January 11.
The 90-day preventive suspension order was also based on the findings in a December 7, 2023 audit report from the Internal Audit Service of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), pointing to grave misconduct and/or neglect of duty.
Bersamin’s order showed that there were complaints against Mamondiong “relative to anomalies in the recently concluded 2023 Hajj for Muslim Filipinos.”
The complaints included one from provincial governors in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) who brought to the attention of Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. the “extremely unfortunate situation” of Filipino pilgrims who went to Mecca in June 2023.
That month, about 7,200 Filipino pilgrims went to Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the costly pilgrimage.
In a June 29, 2023 letter to Abalos, governors Mamintal Adiong Jr. of Lanao del Sur, Abdusakur Tan of Sulu, Mariam Mangudadatu of Maguindanao del Sur, Yshmael Sali of Tawi-Tawi, and Hadjiman Hataman Salliman of Basilan, alleged that Filipino pilgrims had to endure poor living conditions during their pilgrimage in Mecca.
The governors blamed it on the NCMF-Bureau of Pilgrimage and Endowment’s “poor planning and misconduct of Hajj 2023.” The bureau is mandated by law to facilitate the annual pilgrimage of Muslim Filipinos.
The governors’ letter showed that pilgrims complained about enduring cramped tents in Mina – one of the places in the hajj journey, overpriced and tight accommodations with poor amenities in Mecca, delayed distribution and under-budgeted food provisions, and limited transportation chartered to and from holy sites.
All of these allegedly happened despite the pilgrims each paying more than P300,000 for the hajj package, covering hotel and catering expenses, flight tickets, bus charter, visas, and other associated costs.
About 1,000 pilgrims from Sulu, for instance, were made to pay a total of P350 million, and yet, the provincial government still had to shoulder their hotel and food expenses in Manila prior and upon their return from Saudi Arabia, showed the governors’ letter.
Even before the 2023 hajj pilgrimage, there were complaints from pilgrims about how the NCMF had been handling the event.
Rappler tried to reach Mamondiong for a comment, but he didn’t answer the call. We will update the story when he issues a statement. – Rappler.com
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It is sad to know that a religious event was being conducted anomalously by a government agency. Thanks to the complainants, DILG Internal Auditors, and the concerned governors for bringing this out and to the support of DILG Secretary Abalos and the Office of the President through Executive Secretary Bersamin.
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LOOK: Senior citizen among candidates in Miss Universe Philippines-Quezon City pageant
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Ysa Abad
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11/01/2024 15:01
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JOCELYN CUBALES. The fashion designer is among
Miss Universe Philippines -- Quezon City's Facebook
MANILA, Philippines – Jocelyn Cubales, a 69-year-old fashion designer, is among the official candidates of the Miss Universe Philippines-Quezon City (MUPH-QC) pageant.
Jocelyn will compete alongside 14 other beauty queens in hope of representing Quezon City in the national edition of Miss Universe Philippines 2024.
In the official photo released by MUPH-QC on Tuesday, January 9, Jocelyn is described as someone who “believes that the younger generation can learn a lot from her life experiences, most especially her grit.”
Following the announcement of the candidates, her husband Marc Cubales also applauded Jocelyn for pushing through in the competition.
“She’s a woman with honor and dignity who can represent our country well. Her good and honest compassionate heart makes her a real beauty queen to all of us,” he said about her wife.
Marc also shared that Jocelyn is joining the pageant because she wants to “inspire other Filipino women to pursue their passions and achieve their dreams.”
Jocelyn’s participation in the pageant was made possible after the Miss Universe organization announced in September 2023 that they were removing the age restrictions for their candidates starting with their 2024 edition. In its more than 70-year history, the MUO had only allowed women aged between 18 to 28 to participate in the competition.
As of writing, Jocelyn is the first and only senior citizen beauty queen that is competing in any of the Miss Universe Philippines’ local pageants.
However, this won’t be Jocelyn’s first foray into pageantry. In 2017, she represented South Asia in Mrs. Universe.
The coronation night for MUPH-QC is set for February 5.
For their 2024 edition, the MUPH organization has several accredited partners that will select the candidates from their respective localities through local pageants.
Only the winners of these local pageants will be able to participate in the national edition of Miss Universe Philippines. The organization has yet to announce the coronation date for the national pageant. – Rappler.com
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[WATCH] On ‘appropriateness’ of Cebu’s viral Sinulog TikTok dance trend
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jsitchon0312
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11/01/2024 19:03
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CEBU, Philippines – As the celebration of the 459th Fiesta Señor and the Sinulog sa Sugbo Philippines 2024 commences, some Cebuanos are looking to “spice up” the famous Sinulog ritual dance on TikTok by adding new moves and not many are happy about it.
Some netizens say it is disrespectful to the tradition and others think that it’s just the younger generation, specifically Gen Z’s, expressing their love and faith to the Santo Niño (Child Jesus).
Historically, the Sinulog dance originated from Baladhay, Rajah Humabon’s adviser, who was fond dancing and shouting after being cured of his illness, a remedy he attributes to the image of the Child Jesus.
The late Sinulog Foundation Project Director Dolores Suzara revealed in the “KABILIN” documentary series that these dances were made into a tradition performed by candle vendors outside of the churches every Fiesta Señor.
These dances are considered “petitions” or offerings made by devotees to the Holy Child.
With this in mind, Father John Ion Miranda, the secretariat of the Fiesta Señor celebration, said during a media forum on Tuesday, January 9, that people should be mindful of their actions and the appropriateness of the online trends that they join.
“We cannot forget the historicity and the context that the dance has been made a tradition…Let us remember the appropriateness of our actions as we celebrate our faith in Jesus Christ,” Miranda said.
Watch as Rappler Visayas Reporter John Sitchon breaks the issue down on TikTok here. – Rappler.com
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Swifties ng Bayan! UP Diliman to offer Taylor Swift elective
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jreyes0314
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11/01/2024 16:29
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MANILA, Philippines – Isko Swifties, rise! The UP College of Mass Communication has prepared a Special Topics in Broadcasting class on “the conception, construction, and the performance of Taylor Swift as a celebrity,” it announced on its Facebook page on Thursday, January 11.
Dr. Cherish Brillon will be teaching the elective class – titled “Celebrity Studies: Taylor Swift in Focus” – for the second semester of school year 2023 to 2024 under the BA Broadcast Media Arts and Studies degree program.
Aside from the critical analysis of Swift’s explosive career spanning for more than a decade thus far, Brillon will also explore the intersections of media with class, politics, gender, and race, as well as success and mobility-related fantasies, according to her interview with Philstar L!fe.
Brillon’s course is neither the first nor last class offered that studies the pop star’s run in the music industry. However, it is the first class to be held in a Philippine university, which Brillon notes as a “bit surprising,” given the reputation of the country as a “Taylor Swift nation.”
Further, this course explores fandom politics and activism in a Filipino context. In her interview, Brillon mentioned that past courses held at the likes of Stanford University, Harvard University, University of Texas, and New York University — where Swift herself has an honorary doctorate degree — focused on Swift’s songwriting prowess in a literary lens or massive commercial success as a business case study.
Harvard’s course, Taylor Swift and Her World, particularly studies the singer-songwriter’s music catalog and artistic precursors, accompanied by readings of literary works that supplement a student’s understanding of Swift’s work.
US universities are not the only institutions studying Swift’s life and work. The University of Melbourne, one of Australia’s most reputable universities, is set to hold a “Swiftposium” – an academic conference about all things Taylor in February 2024. Scholars from Australia and New Zealand call for Asia-Pacific researchers to submit papers studying Swift’s impact on culture and society.
The creation of the Celebrity Studies: Taylor Swift in Focus course arose from Brillon being “a huge fan of pop culture in general,” as she has been a fan of Swift since her Red album and a Darna fanatic, which served as the focus of her graduate studies.
More details about the course can be found on UP College of Mass Communication Facebook page.
This is not the first time UP Diliman has put a spotlight on pop culture in their academic contexts. In late 2023, the university’s biology department offered courses on various anime series, games and other forms of media. – with reports from Ally de Leon/Rappler.com
Ally de Leon is a Rappler intern.
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Kevin Quiambao absorbing lessons from NBA talent
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Jasmine Payo
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11/01/2024 17:24
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STILL GOING. Kevin Quiambao practices with Strong Group for a Dubai tournament.
STRONG GROUP ATHLETICS
MANILA, Philippines – Barely two months after winning the UAAP Season 86 Most Valuable Player and the men’s basketball championship with La Salle, Kevin Quiambao seeks to level up even further in his play – courtesy of bona fide NBA talent.
From playing with collegiate teammates, Quiambao now has the luxury of learning under eight-time All-Star Dwight Howard, defensive specialist Andre Roberson, and Gilas Pilipinas stalwart Andray Blatche.
“They hold a huge influence over me knowing that I still have a young career, I learn a lot every day, I just take everything I could learn,” Quiambao told Rappler during Strong Group’s practice session in Makati on Wednesday, January 10.
“I just relish the learning process and whatever they say, I just take advantage of it and I will take their advice for my whole career,” he added.
The Strong Group squad will see action on January 19 to 28 in the 2024 Dubai International Basketball Championship, a pocket tournament featuring some of the best teams in the Middle East.
Still with his La Salle mentor coach Topex Robinson – who’s serving as Strong Group’s deputy – the 6-foot-4 Quiambao is slowly adjusting to the rigors of international basketball as a wing.
“As early as December, coach Charles (Tiu) told me that I cannot play as a four (forward) because it’s the international level,” said Quiambao, who became the first local player since 2015 to earn the UAAP MVP honors after pouring 16.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.9 steals during the eliminations.
He also authored quality stats of 14.7 points and 9.3 rebounds on top of 2.7 assists and 1.7 blocks in the title series, winning the Finals MVP in the Green Archers’ first championship since 2016.
“I’m really a wing, I developed [my skills] every day, adjusted everything to becoming a wing.”
Watch out, UAAP. — Rappler.com
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Bishop Pabillo warns against ‘politico-led’ people’s initiative
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Chito de la Vega
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11/01/2024 20:57
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MANILA, Philippines – Bishop Broderick Pabillo, one of the Catholic Church’s most outspoken leaders in the Philippines, warned the public against moves to amend the 1987 Constitution through people’s initiative.
“Sabihin sa mga tao na huwag pumirma! Hindi ito inisyatiba na galing sa mga tao kundi ng ilang mga politico (Tell the people not to sign! This is not an initiative from the people, but from politicians),” Pabillo wrote in a statement posted on Thursday, January 11, on the CBCPNews website.
Pabillo is known for his activism and sharp takes on social issues ever since his appointment as auxiliary bishop of Manila in 2006. Now assigned as apostolic vicar of Taytay in Palawan, Pabillo had highlighted the need to end mining and defend the environment.
Pabillo said that there are even offers to bribe people in exchange for their signatures, and that barangay assemblies may be used to gather them. He also noted that the circulating petition seeks to combine the House of Representatives and the Senate to vote as one constituent assembly–effectively disregarding senators’ votes.
This comes as efforts for charter change–which proponents say are for amending economic provisions–are gaining momentum on ground and on the airwaves.
Legislators from opposition congressman Albay Representative Edcel Lagman to Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte, son of former president Rodrigo Duterte, had denounced the use of monetary incentives–reported to be as low as P100–enticing people to sign the petition.
Rappler estimates that 7.884 million registered voters are needed to amend the constitution through people’s initiative.
Catholic bishops have been critical of previous attempts to amend the Constitution.
In 2018, Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, then-president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, released pastoral guidelines for discerning charter change.
“If the Constitution is to be revised at all, the process should lead to a greater defense and promotion of the above-mentioned moral values of human dignity and human rights, integrity and truth, participation and solidarity, and the common good,” Valles said. – Rappler.com
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‘I did not steal’: Why Rowena Guanzon faces graft over a Marcos case
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Jairo Bolledo
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11/01/2024 18:04
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MANILA, Philippines – Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Rowena Guanzon faces a graft case not in relation to corruption allegations, but for publicizing her dissenting opinion in the Comelec ruling that allowed now President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to run in 2022.
The Office of the Ombudsman, in a resolution approved by Deputy Ombudsman Jose Balmeo, found Guanzon liable for two counts of graft for “prematurely disclosing confidential information.” Although Balmeo is in charge of cases involving military and law enforcement, the resolution shows he is the officer-in-charge of the office, in lieu of Ombudsman Samuel Martires.
RA No. 3019, also known as the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act, is a law against anomalous transactions, usually involving public money. Most of the graft cases deal with Section 3(e) and 3(g) which covers projects and transactions where the public loses, instead of benefits, because of various reasons that range from corruption to just negligence.
“Hindi po ako nagnakaw sa gobyerno (I did not steal from the government),” Guanzon told Rappler.
“Did I make money or favor a litigant? NO. The spirit of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act is to punish and prevent corruption. That means there must have been a transaction or information with monetary value. There was none,” said Guanzon.
Guanzon is indicted under Section 3(k) which prohibits “divulging valuable information of a confidential character…. or releasing such information in advance of its authorized release date.”
The questionable act by Guanzon was disclosing to two reporters in January 27 and 28, 2022 her dissenting opinion, where she voted to disqualify Marcos from running for president. At the time, the Comelec en banc still had not promulgated its ruling favoring Marcos, doing so only on February 10 when Guanzon already retired. (Editor’s Note: One of the two interviews that Guanzon gave was to Rappler’s Paterno Esmaquel II.)
“Respondent also divulged that the resolution of the disqualification cases was being intentionally delayed so as to negate her vote for disqualification since she was set to retire on 2 February 2022. In addition, respondent also claimed that powerful people were meddling with the said cases thereby causing the delay in the resolution of the consolidated cases,” the resolution read.
Disclosing votes ahead of promulgation are deemed unethical because they might be seen as trying to influence or pressure the other voting members. Rules are in place to ensure that the leakage of such information will not affect the integrity of courts or quasi-judicial bodies.
In the past, leakages merited contempt charges – but not a graft indictment.
“I don’t know though of any other instance in the past where a constitutional commissioner or quasi-judicial officer has been successfully prosecuted under that section for releasing a draft decision under deliberation. It doesn’t mean that it’s impossible,” University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law lecturer Oliver Xavier Reyes told Rappler.
Reyes said Guanzon’s indictment “could end up a leading case.”
A previous highly similar case was the 1948 case of Abelardo Subido, director of The Manila Post, who wrote about the supposed voting of the High Court “before the promulgation and publication of the ruling in the famous Krivenko case.”
The SC’s Second Division declared Subido guilty of contempt – a concept in place to punish individuals who disrespect the court – and ordered him to pay a certain amount.
“Lawyers and judges though who participate in the leaking/disclosure of confidential court documents are more likely to face administrative proceedings, such as disbarment,” Reyes said.
But Guanzon, unlike Subido, could face a harsher sanction since she faces a graft case, and not contempt.
Graft punishes violators with “imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than ten years, perpetual disqualification from public office.”
Guanzon filed her motion for reconsideration on January 9.
The Ombudsman resolution cited the Comelec’s Resolution No. 10685, which says that confidential information are exempt from the freedom of information rule.
“With respondent’s improper disclosure of confidential information, this Office finds probable cause to indict her for violation of Section 3 (k) of Republic Act No. 3019, as amended,” the resolution read.
Guanzon said it was her duty to disclose to the public that there were politicians meddling with Marcos’ case in the Comelec. She added these people “influenced and dictated” upon some commissioner to favor the then-presidential candidate.
On the confidential information in question, Guanzon explained they did not have internal deliberations on the case because the ponencia or the resolution authored by the commissioner in charge of writing it was not released.
“Kaya, saan naman po ‘yong confidential information na inilabas ko? Sinabi ko lang naman na mag-ingat tayong lahat at sinabi kong, kailangan niya na pong ilabas ang kanyang ponencia para makaboto na po kami ng dalawa pang commissioner,” Guanzon added.
(That’s why, where is the confidential information I gave out? I just said, let us all be cautious and I said, the ponencia should already be issued so that I and the two other commissioners can cast our vote on the case.)
Reyes noted that “unlike some other provisions under Section 3, there is no requirement under 3(k) that it be proven also that the motive for such unauthorized release is the receipt of a gift/bribe or the handing out of a favor. But a corrupt practice does not always mean the receipt of financial benefit; the betrayal of public trust is already a corrupt act,” Reyes told Rappler.
The Ombudsman junked the other complaint against Guanzon for violating the Code of Conduct. Under the Code of Conduct, disclosure of confidential information is also prohibited. But under this law, or Section 7(c), disclosure of confidential information is prohibited if it was done “to further their private interests, or give undue advantage to anyone; or to prejudice the public interest.” This law has a punishment of “imprisonment not exceeding five (5) years, or a fine not exceeding five thousand pesos (P5,000), or both.”
It was lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, a known supporter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, and Diego Magpantay who filed the three complaints against the then-Comelec commissioner allegedly for disclosing confidential information.
Dylan Santos, Guanzon’s lawyer, said that his client was also asking the Ombudsman for her case to be transferred to another lawyer, and not to the one who signed the ruling. “What she is praying for is fairness. To be assured that we are all treated the same. If you were the one who issued the resolution, how would you review your own work?”
Meanwhile, Guanzon added she asked the Ombudsman to reconsider the resolution since she has confidence in the said office, especially in its procedures for reviewing the resolution.
“I am hoping that a new investigator will give the case a fresh look on review,” she added. – with reports from Lian Buan/Rappler.com
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This is a relevant case to watch – a “leading case,” indeed.
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Rain or Shine enters playoffs on 6-game winning streak with escape vs Converge
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delfin.dioquino editor
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14/01/2024 18:13
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LAYUP. Beau Belga in action for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner's Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – Rain or Shine survived a late collapse and extended its red-hot run in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup with a 112-111 escape against Converge at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Sunday, January 14.
Demetrius Treadwell posted a near-triple-double of 21 points, 17 rebounds, and 8 assists, including a key bucket down the stretch that allowed the Elasto Painters to pick up their sixth straight win to end the elimination round.
Rain or Shine saw a 109-102 lead vanish when FiberXers rookie King Caralipio scored a layup and three-pointer in succession in a 6-0 blitz that pulled Converge within a whisker.
Treadwell, though, scored on the next possession with 40 seconds left to give the Elasto Painters a 111-108, which proved enough for Rain or Shine to pull through despite a couple of errors in the dying seconds.
After sinking another triple to cut their deficit to 111-112, Caralipio earned a crack at the game-winner when Gabe Norwood turned the ball over, but the PBA newcomer failed to beat the buzzer for his baseline jumper.
Beau Belga backstopped Treadwell with 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals as the Elasto Painters improved to 6-5 to secure the seventh seed in the quarterfinals.
Rain or Shine wrapped up the eliminations tied with NorthPort, but the Batang Pier clinched the No. 6 seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head matchup.
Boasting of the longest active winning streak in the league, the Elasto Painters need to overcome a twice-to-win handicap against the second seed, which will either be Phoenix or San Miguel, to advance to the semifinals.
Rookie big man Keith Datu added 10 points and 5 rebounds in the win, while former two-time MVP James Yap chimed in 9 points on a 3-of-3 shooting for his best game of the conference.
Caralipio balled out with a career-high 16 points on a perfect 7-of-7 clip in the loss that dropped Converge to 1-10.
Another FiberXers rookie saw a career-best effort go down the drain as Bryan Santos fired 18 points on a sizzling 5-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc.
Import Jamil Wilson paced Converge with 26 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 blocks.
Rain or Shine 112 – Treadwell 21, Belga 19, Datu 10, Yap 9, Demusis 8, Nocum 8, Nambatac 6, Norwood 6, Belo 5, Borboran 5, Santillan 5, Clarito 5, Mamuyac 4, Ildefonso 1, Caracut 0, Asistio 0.
Converge 111 – Wilson 26, Arana 19, Santos 18, Caralipio 16, Nieto 7, Fornilos 6, Delos Santos 6, Winston 4, Stockton 3, Melecio 3, Maagdenberg 2, Vigan-Fleming 1.
Quarters: 28-19, 55-48, 82-78, 112-111.
– Rappler.com
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Rookie Jordan Hawkins drops 34 as Pelicans top Mavericks in battle of undermanned teams
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jisaga0269
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14/01/2024 19:45
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SHINING. New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins (24) drives to the basket past Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Rookie Jordan Hawkins scored 34 points and six teammates scored in double figures as the visiting New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Dallas Mavericks 118-108 on Saturday night (Sunday, January 14, Manila time).
Herbert Jones scored 15 points, Jonas Valanciunas had 14 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists and Larry Nance Jr. and Jose Alvarado scored 14 points apiece.
Naji Marshall had 13 points and Dyson Daniels chipped in with 10 for the Pelicans, who played without Brandon Ingram (Achilles), CJ McCollum (ankle) and Zion Williamson (rest).
Kyrie Irving scored 33 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. and Derrick Jones Jr. each added 24 to lead the Mavericks, who played without Luka Doncic (ankle) and Dante Exum (foot).
These teams will meet again Monday afternoon in Dallas.
Hawkins made two 3-pointers and Marshall made one as New Orleans overcame a five-point halftime deficit to pull even at 59 with 9:56 left in the third quarter.
Alvarado made two 3-pointers and had two assists to help the Pelicans take an 85-77 lead with 1:32 left in the third. The Mavericks got within four points before New Orleans took an 88-81 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Dallas trimmed the lead to four points three times in the fourth quarter before the Pelicans took a 104-95 lead with 5:37 remaining.
Hawkins scored eight points as New Orleans opened a 15-8 lead.
The Mavericks trimmed the deficit to two points with 4:25 left in the first quarter, but New Orleans ended the quarter on a 10-3 run to take a 29-20 lead into the second quarter.
Kira Lewis Jr. made two free throws to start the second-quarter scoring and push the lead to 11 before Hardaway scored seven points to help the Mavericks pull even at 33 with 8:17 left in the first half.
Marshall made a layup to give the lead back to New Orleans, which built a 46-37 lead.
Irving made two 3-pointers and Hardaway added four points as Dallas finished with a 17-3 run to take a 54-49 halftime lead. – Rappler.com
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Treadwell hailed game changer as Rain or Shine rebounds from horror start
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delfin.dioquino editor
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14/01/2024 20:55
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STURDY. Demetrius Treadwell in action for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner's Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – It took a single personnel change for Rain or Shine to turn its fortunes around.
The decision to switch imports and bring in Demetrius Treadwell has worked wonders as the Elasto Painters barged into the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs owning the longest active winning streak in the league.
All hope seemed lost for Rain or Shine as it dropped its first four games of the conference with original import DaJuan Summers.
That inauspicious start prompted the Elasto Painters to send Summers home and tap Treadwell, whose imposing inside presence and all-around play proved just what the team needed to put itself in the contending mix.
With the stocky Treadwell on board, Rain or Shine ended the elimination round with six consecutive victories and secured the seventh seed in the quarterfinals with a 6-5 record.
“He is like the glue of the team,” said Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao of Treadwell after their 112-111 win over Converge on Sunday, January 14.
Treadwell is not as prolific a scorer as other teams’ imports.
While his counterparts have been casually dropping 40 to 50 points, Treadwell averages 19.6 points – the second-lowest mark among active imports.
It is in the other departments, though, where Treadwell truly shines.
Treadwell averages a league-leading 18.1 rebounds and leads all imports with 5.9 assists as he ranks only behind Barangay Ginebra star Scottie Thompson (7.6 assists).
“He is exactly what we need. He is not a heavy scorer, he is not flashy. I like imports who can shoot the three, but I have no problem that he does not have an outside game as long as he is this dominant inside,” said Guiao.
Rain or Shine locals have benefited as Treadwell serves as a facilitator.
Andrei Caracut (14.9 points), Leonard Santillan (11.9), and Keith Datu (11.2) are norming in double figures, while four more – Beau Belga, Rey Nambatac, Adrian Nocum, and Jhonard Clarito – are averaging at least 8 points.
“Our locals gain confidence because they know that they cannot just rely on our import to score 40 or 50 points. It is important that they they know how to create opportunities for themselves,” said Guiao.
The Elasto Painters have not reached the semifinals for nearly five years and there is hope that Treadwell will be the one to lead them there. – Rappler.com
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‘Miracle’: Roger Pogoy returns in time for TNT after health scare
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delfin.dioquino editor
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14/01/2024 22:41
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COMEBACK. Roger Pogoy in action for the TNT Tropang Giga in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner's Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – Roger Pogoy calls it a miracle.
Pogoy came back earlier than anticipated from a health scare as he played his first game of the 2023-2024 PBA season, helping TNT claim a 116-96 win over Phoenix on Sunday, January 14.
Expected to be out for six months after being diagnosed with myocarditis – a condition that weakens the heart and reduce its ability to pump blood – in September, Pogoy delivered 11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.
His return could not have come at a better time as the Tropang Giga clinched the eighth and last quarterfinal berth in the Commissioner’s Cup.
“This is a miracle. Thank you Lord,” said Pogoy in Filipino.
Pogoy was at a high as he suited up for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup, which the country co-hosted from August to September.
That stint included a momentous victory over China as the Philippines won a World Cup match for the first time since 2014.
He was also supposed to represent the national team in the Asian Games in China, but his diagnosis of the rare heart condition forced him to be sidelined.
“I was shocked because I was fresh from the World Cup. It was the highest level of basketball, then I was suddenly down,” said Pogoy. “I just prayed and asked Lord to take care of me. Whatever his plan was, I just trusted him.”
“When I had my second MRI scan, the doctor cleared me.”
Pogoy, though, knows he has a lot of catching up to do after being away from competitive basketball for four months.
“I’m lucky that my first shot went in. But with my third and fourth shots, I felt that my legs were still weak,” said the Cebuano guard.
Still groping for his old form, Pogoy will be thrown into the fire as TNT battles twice-to-beat Magnolia in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, January 17, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig. – Rappler.com
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Sandiganbayan dismisses cases vs Maguindanao provincial officers who passed away
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Jodesz Gavilan
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14/01/2024 19:58
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ANTI-GRAFT COURT. The Sandiganbayan in Quezon City, June 30, 2018.
Darren Langit/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan dismissed corruption charges filed against two Maguindanao provincial officers following their deaths.
Former provincial treasurer Osmeña Bandila and former provincial budget officer Datuali Abpi were co-defendants of former Maguindanao governor Sajid Ampatuan in graft and malversation of public funds filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2019 and 2023.
Abpi was convicted in October 2022, but did not appear during the promulgation where he was sentenced to reclusion perpetua for the three counts of malversation.
Abpi, together with Ampatuan, were sentenced to reclusion perpetua on the three counts of malversation, while 14 to 18 years on the other case.
Bandila never appeared before the court.
In two recent resolutions, Sandiganbayan’s First Division stated that the prosecution already submitted death certificates of both Abpi and Bandila.
According to the certificates obtained from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Bandila died in May 2021 of “undetermined natural death,” while Abpi died due to “cerebrovascular accident” in January 2023.
The two are just the latest in a string of individuals facing cases together with Ampatuan. According to the prosecution, three others also died between 2015 and 2016. – Rappler.com
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What happened to the Funds they “illegally” got from the Government? Can they not be recovered anymore?
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[OPINION] Court trial vacancies and presidential appointments
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Marguerite de Leon
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14/01/2024 13:20
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Marian Hukom/Rappler
The Philippines has the dubious reputation of having the slowest pace of criminal trial dispositions in the world. On average, criminal trials, where defendants languish in jail, last for three years, and in many documented cases, extend to 20 to 25 years, and the defendants are still unconvicted and presumed legally innocent. Despite the abundance of legal luminaries and the placement of the legal profession in the highest pedestals of Philippine society, this recognized problem has become increasingly intractable.
One of the major culprits to this problem is the delay in the appointments of judges, public prosecutors, and Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) by the Office of the President. The Office of the President must seriously consider this as a top priority and, in coordination with the Supreme Court and the Department of Justice, must devise mechanisms on how to recruit, select, appoint, and promote criminal justice actors efficiently and meritoriously.
As of January 10, 2024 data from Trial Court Locator of the Philippine Supreme Court, there are 2,741 courts nationwide. Of these, 2,033 are occupied by a sitting judge (74.17%), 526 are vacant (19.19%), 122 are unorganized (4.45%) and 60 are newly created (2.19%). This means that 1 in every 4 courts do not have assigned judges. On top of these, interview data shows that there could be a similar number of vacancies among public prosecutors and the Public Attorney’s Office. Thus, the number of court vacancies, where either a judge, a public prosecutor, or a PAO lawyer is not fully designated to a particular court branch could be as high as 50%. This is a major problem that affects the administration of justice and leads to tremendous negative outcomes such as the delay in hearings, jail and prison congestion and violence, high recidivism rates, and a huge cost of running the criminal system.
My ongoing research suggests that the delay in the appointments emanates squarely from the Office of the President. In the case of judges, after the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) nominates names for consideration in the Malacañang Palace, it should take the Office of the President only 90 days to make an appointment. Interviews with applicants, however, shows that it takes at least a year from when a court is vacant, either through retirement, promotion, resignation, or untimely death, until a new permanent judge will take over. In many anecdotal cases, judges’ positions are vacant for 4 to 6 years.
Similarly, Public Prosecutors and Public Attorneys, after being vetted by their respective agencies, experience a similar extremely slow process of appointments. In one interview, a Chief City Prosecutor position has been vacant for 6 years and counting. Thus, as a stop-gap remedy, judges are designated as “pairing judges” and prosecutors and PAO lawyers attend to multiple court salas, translating into conflict in schedules.
Interviews with court actors describe the difficulty in scheduling calendar hearings. When a public prosecutor or PAO lawyer is assigned to 2 to 3 courts, judges can only hear cases 1 or 2 days a week. This eventually leads to organizational inefficiencies that exacerbate court docket congestion. For example, to maximize the presence of a prosecutor, judges calendar as many as 30 or more hearings in a day, which practically results in postponements based on “lack of material time.”
The escorts from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), who bring the detained accused from jail to courts lament the fact that almost 70% of the hearings they bring daily to the courts are postponed, reset, or rescheduled, leading to the wastage of government resources and exposure to security problems on their part. Cumulatively, the absence of court actors and the hearing postponements incrementally accumulates, which leads to the inexplicable detention of accused, many for more than 10 years, which leads to forced pleading of guilt.
The President of the Republic of the Philippines has the sole authority to appoint judges, public prosecutors, and public defense lawyers. He must do this efficiently and meritoriously. In coordination with the Judicial Bar Council (JBC) of the Supreme Court, and the National Prosecutorial Services (NPS) and the Public Attorney’s Office of the Department of Justice, the following are suggested to improve the process. These recommendations were elicited through interviews and focus group discussions of court actors nationwide.
First, there must be a mechanism to anticipate the number of vacancies at least 12 months in advance. Using effective data management and analysis, the JBC, NPS, and PAO can scientifically anticipate how many judges, prosecutors, and PAO lawyers retire and get promoted within the next 12 months.
Second, given the anticipated number of vacancies, the JBC, NPS, and PAO can develop a merit list of qualified applicants. That is, once a court position is known to be vacant within 12 months, the process of recruitment, selection, and nomination should immediately start. The Civil Service Commission (CSC) should allow the declaration of anticipatory vacancy and the pre-selection process a year prior to the actual vacancy.
Third, once the applicants made it to this rigorous merit list, they should now be considered “judges in waiting,” “prosecutors in waiting,” and “defense lawyers in waiting.”
Fourth, while they are waiting for their appointments from the Office of the President, they can now undergo training in their respective agency training facilities, so that they will be able and ready to assume the responsibilities immediately on the day the office is functionally vacant.
Fifth, individuals who have been nominated in the merit list but were not appointed by Malacañang should be simply renominated by their respective vetting offices, and they do not need to undergo the same vetting process. Their names should be in the merit list for at least three years until their time of appointment.
This process will be more meritorious and less politicized. It will also be more efficient and effective. It will immediately place a judge, a public prosecutor, and a PAO lawyer on the day a position is functionally vacant. It will help address the problem of trial delays and solve the problem of court docket congestion. If all the courts are fully staffed, it will lead to the faster disposition of cases, less congestion and violence in jails and prisons, and less cost of running the system. It simply requires coordination between the Office of the President, the Supreme Court, and the Department of Justice. My ongoing research suggests that this proposal is feasible. – Rappler.com
Raymund E. Narag, PhD is an Associate Professor at the School of Justice and Public Safety, Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
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Thanks to Prof. Raymund E. Narag for his inspiring article. Indeed, if only his suggestions were followed, then our justice system would be greatly improved. But I am doubtful it will be so. Take note that his suggestions focus on a process that is “more meritorious and less politicized.” Politicians, past, present, and future, would prefer that our Justice System be “politicized.” They do not care if those appointed are meritorious or competent as long as the appointees are loyal to them.
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Manibela to hold protest against PUV modernization program on January 16
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Bonz Magsambol
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14/01/2024 15:10
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STRIKE. Commuters queue and wait for public transport along Commonwealth Avenue in Philcoa during the morning rush hour as the nationwide transport strike called by the group Manibela begins on October 16, 2023.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Transportation group Manibela will hold a protest against the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program on Tuesday, January 16.
An announcement regarding the protest was made on Saturday afternoon, with Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena clarifying they would be holding a protest rather than a transport strike on January 16.
The protest is set to be held from UP Diliman to Mendiola, beginning at 9 am.
At a press briefing on Sunday, January 14, Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena estimated that around 15,000 jeepney drivers and operators will join the protest against government’s PUV modernization program.
“Gusto po natin i-panawagan sa ating pangulo ang pagbalik sa mga ni-revoke na prangkisa ng ating mga kasamahan, lalo na sa hanay ng mga operator. Dahil kawalan ng pagkakakitaan ang dulot nito sa ating mga drivers at operators at kawalan ng masasakyan ng taumbayan,” he said.
(We would like to appeal to the President to return the revoked franchise of our operators. Because this would result in loss of income for our drivers and operators, as well as loss of transportation means for the public.)
The protest action comes about a month after transport group PISTON held a transport strike against the PUV modernization program.
The government deadline for the registration for the franchise consolidation ended on December 31. 2023. Those who failed to submit their consolidation are only allowed to ply routes until January 31. – Rappler.com
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Matthew Wright remains supportive of ex-team Phoenix
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delfin.dioquino editor
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14/01/2024 17:34
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GUNNER. Matthew Wright in action for the Japan B. League Asia All-Stars.
Japan B. League Facebook page
OKINAWA, Japan – Despite playing professionally thousands of miles away in the Land of the Rising Sun, former Phoenix Fuel Masters star Matthew Wright continues to keep tabs on his former team.
The Fuel Masters have been one of the hottest teams in the PBA and Wright is pleased to see them succeed.
“I love it. A part of me is still Phoenix. I gave six years of my life with them and I still keep in touch with them,” Wright told Rappler during a media briefing organized by the Japan B. League here.
“I was in the trenches with those guys for a long time so it’s just hard to forget about your team and just leave. I still keep in contact with them,” he added.
PBA | WATCH:DEEPER THAN SPORTS.Japan B. League Asia All-Star Matthew Wright remains in touch with his former Phoenix Super LPG teammates, expressing his support as the team seeks a top two finish in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. pic.twitter.com/pO9zUqYIVe
Wright played for Phoenix from 2016 to 2022, earning a spot in the Elite Five, a pair of Mythical Second Team honors, and two All-Star Game MVP plums before he parted ways with the squad to sign with the Kyoto Hannaryz.
The Filipino-Canadian guard became the fastest Filipino player to breach the 1,000-point mark in the B. League, taking just 80 games to reach the milestone.
Unlike the Fuel Masters, though, the Hannaryz have been struggling as they sit at 20th place with an 8-20 record.
Even if he is not part of the team anymore, Wright feels proud to have helped lay the groundwork for Phoenix.
“I’m very proud of that organization because I tried my absolute best. [They were] nothing when I first came into the team, one of the worst teams,” said Wright, who scored 8 points in the Asia All-Stars’ 127-115 win against the Rising Stars during the B. League All-Star Weekend at the Okinawa Arena on Saturday, January 13.
“Trying to build something, trying to build a fanbase like Phoenix. I’m very happy to see that.”
It goes beyond basketball for Wright and his former PBA teammates as they get together whenever he visits Manila.
“Our kids play with each other. It’s deeper than just sports,” he said. – Rappler.com
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Keeping up with the Agassis: A year of polarizing tracks from the Amir of Rap
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Marguerite de Leon
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14/01/2024 14:24
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Now that you’ve read all the year-end essays of the people that matter to you – your fam, your squad, whatever snappy thing kids call their designated peer groups these days – let’s talk about how 2023 was, in ways both funny and laughable, the year of two unlikely people: Carlos Agassi and Sarina Agassi.
Seemingly out of nowhere, the husband-and-wife duo just started churning out singles on a regular basis, blessing our feeds and group chats with much-needed GV and hilarity. Their songs were easy hate-listen fodder, but people connected to them in a way Bible quotes, TikTok dance routines, and Ben&Ben songs just couldn’t.
When the couple first dropped the decidedly risqué “Milk Tea” – and “risqué” is perhaps too tender a descriptor, with the song’s barely-veiled references to, erm, oral matters – I imagine we all thought, “Haha, one-off joke track. Okay, well, moving on.”
Were we wrong. So, so wrong.
The Agassis continued to unilaterally gift us with prolificacy, releasing (pretty much) a tune a week on streaming and socials. Most tracks were accompanied by videos of the couple working the cameras: Carlos and his abs, Sarina and her…whatever snappy thing kids call being “extra” these days. The videos were rife with bling but, you know, domesticated.
A quick Spotify audit shows the Agassis released a total of 25 tracks in 2023. That’s more than two full-length albums’ worth of material. You don’t stretch a joke for that long while keeping a straight face.
So, for what it’s worth: Yes, I think they’re dead serious. Yes, I think they’re really that way. But also: No, I don’t know why people – from both sides of the approval coin – are drawn to their stuff like onlookers to a car crash. I mean, if there was a car crash on every street corner, would you stop and ogle each one?
Well, a lot of us did stop and ogle each one. Perhaps because each car crash, despite sporting the same tells, provides consistent entertainment across an array of touch points.
There’s sex, naturally (“Luluhod Na,” “Tok Tok,” “Pusa”), but also love (a much less gallant brand of it, but oh well – “Babe,” “Lablab,” “Tinarantado”). Often one can detect an ounce or two of misogyny in these – granted, the guy does appear to have his wife’s stamp of approval, nay, active, unbridled participation – and arguing otherwise is like hitting your own head with a chipped brick.
Agassi was, incidentally, called out for the supposed transphobic subtext of “Milk Tea,” a charge he denied and defended by saying it’s “a romantic comedy song” and that art should be “open to interpretation and criticism” (as reported in Inquirer.net).
The gall is, indeed, a thing of wonder.
There’s also the swagger-ific material (“Who Rocks,” “Cute Ako,” “Tabi,” “Meme”), which is practically requisite for hip-hop of a certain bent. Swagger is, of course, intrinsic to the idiom. But like ‘80s- and ‘90s-era professional wrestling, the bluster projected in the Agassis’ material is more blinding than the actual luster. In these songs, Carlos and Sarina are the center of the universe, and they’re not glib about it; they spew it like textbook truth. Which is precisely how you should do swagger material: without breaking character.
And then there’s the topical stuff (“Halimaw,” “Problema,” “Pera,” “Chismosa,” “Plastik,” “OTW,” “Utang,” “Dami Utos”). And by “topical,” we don’t mean Seeger or Dylan verses and rhymes that glimmer with beauty and insight. We mean vitriolic diss tracks of the tallest (and pettiest) order: diatribes against the galling gossipmonger, the beatific backstabber, the leeching liar.
But what takes the cake – the category so obvious it’s a mystery not enough artists do the same – is the seasonal material (“Pasko,” “Happy Birthday,” “Happy New Year”). If Jose Mari Chan can milk Christmas ad infinitum, you’d think artists with serious ambition would explore doing one or two red-letter occasions. I mean, who wouldn’t want to send a YouTube link to “Happy Birthday” to a friend to cheer him up? And this idea of pegging each non-working day (“Walang Pasok”) as a banner occasion worthy of getting enshrined in song? It’s just *chef’s kiss*.
The Agassis’ draw isn’t inexplicable; it’s the same quality that gets people roped in by cult leaders, populist politicians, and pyramid marketers: confidence. And this roping-in occurs despite damning things that stare them right in the face. In the case of the Agassis – and it’s funny considering this is supposedly a music piece, and I’ve held back to the bitter end – the “damning things” mostly involve the music.
The self-styled “Amir of Rap” does have history in the form and it shows, and his wife does display an often-surprising, dulled-blade acumen for spitfire verses. But many of the melodic parts are tone-deaf, several verses (laid atop very basic beats) are off-time, and the chest-thumping moments often fall flat. Similarly, the videos have a handmade, homespun goofiness that runs antithetical to the megalomania.
But the general back-and-forth between online commenters are about the matters of self-awareness: how it’s all calculated, how the baiting is as clear as day. Some days I agree, and other days I don’t.
Today, though, is the day that I allowed the Agassis to get inside my head. As one of their better-known tracks goes, “Ang dami kong problema / dumagdag ka pa.” – Rappler.com
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After 12 years, Mary Grace Café in Greenbelt 2 closes, will move to new space in Greenbelt 5
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Steph Arnaldo
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10/01/2024 15:45
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MANILA, Philippines – It’s a sad day for the many loyal patrons of Mary Grace Café’s iconic branch in Greenbelt 2, Makati City – the homegrown brand’s flagship store permanently closed its doors on January 2, 2024, after 12 years of service.
The unfortunate closure was confirmed by Adrian Dimacali – the director of Mary Grace Foods, Inc. and the son of Mary Grace herself – on Facebook on Tuesday, January 9. In his post, he recounted the origin story of Mary Grace’s Greenbelt 2 space, which opened in May 2011. He shared that is was the brand’s first “large format space” then, with a seating capacity of 159 guests and a total leased floor of 303.95 square meters (of which 53.92 was ground floor, 76.50 was mezzanine, and 73.53 was al fresco). It was also Mary Grace’s fourth branch in Ayala Malls and its seventh café overall.
Prior to it being Mary Grace, the space was first occupied by former tenant Pepato, a fine dining concept by Chef Margarita Fores of Cibo fame.
“It was my younger brother Gabby who believed in and fought for signing this space. I told him it was too big and that we should stick to small, efficient spaces. I told him, “If the esteemed Gaita didn’t want that space anymore, why should we?'” Dimacali wrote.
“As it turns out, with a little patience and a lot of faith, Greenbelt 2 became our strongest branch. Even as we opened new cafés that were bigger and more eye-catching, this grand old dame would come out on top year after year,” he added.
Greenbelt 2 is set to undergo redevelopment, and so the logo, signage, equipment, furniture, fixtures, toys, books, spiritual objects, hanging lamps, and mechanical birds of Mary Grace’s branch had to be taken away to be part of new cafés.
“Only a shell remains now. And even that will be gone soon,” Dimacali wrote.
Mary Grace’s Greenbelt branch was his family’s “gold standard,” and what helped them see “what was possible.”
“She was an academy and a proving ground for our managers today. She gave us wings to fly. She pushed us to dream big. She made us believe. Now she is gone, and things will never be the same, at least not for me,” he added.
In a separate Facebook post, the brand reassured patrons that this is just the start of “new beginnings,” and that Mary Grace is relocating to a new space in Greenbelt 5.
“Thank you to everyone who came through our doors in our first flagship. It was an absolute honor having you spend time with us. To our team and to the many leaders who sprung from the challenge of Greenbelt 2, hats off to you and thanks for the many years of friendship,” the post read.
Mary Grace – known for “freshly baked goodness daily” – first rose to fame for its ensaymadas, cheese rolls, and cakes. Matriarch Mary Grace started selling her homemade ensaymadas in bazaars before selling them at her first mall kiosk at Glorietta 4 in 2000. In 2004, the family opened the first Mary Grace café and has been serving other crowd-favorite, best-selling baked goodies since then, as well as hot meals, sandwiches, pasta, and more. They now have several branches in and outside Metro Manila. – Rappler.com
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Three strikes? Imee criticizes gov’t again, this time over fuel transfer from Honolulu base to Subic
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Bea Cupin
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11/01/2024 21:15
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FAMILY. Senator Imee Marcos answers questions from the Senate media during the Kapihan sa Senado on July 27, 2023.
Angie de Silva/Rappler
The sister of Malacañang’s chief resident called it a “strike three” – the supposed “inexplicable silence” of the Philippine and United States governments over the transfer of fuel from a storage facility that supplies Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, to Subic, a province where once stood an American military base.
“Not again! This is strike three in attempting to deprive the Filipino people of the right to know,” said Senator Imee Marcos, “manang” or older sister to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in a statement on Wednesday, January 10.
While concerns over transparency on potential deals between the Philippine and United States governments are certainly valid, Senator Marcos’ latest statement is but the latest in her expanding role as critic to the way her ading, or little brother, runs things.
The “three strikes” she’s referring to include an American request for the Philippines to temporarily host Afghan refugees, including those who worked with the US, as well as “advisory lapses concerning the multiple landings of C-17 Globemasters of the US Air Force in the country’s domestic and international airports,” she said in the same statement.
Senator Marcos, this time, was bemoaning the shipment of “39 million gallons of fuel of the U.S. Navy from Pearl Harbor to Subic.” The President’s sister said the supposed “silence” of the two countries “only raised suspicions about the pre-positioning of military supplies in the country amid predictions of an eventual war between China and the US over Taiwan.”
“The Mutual Defense Treaty is not a license to leave the Filipino people in the dark…. Subic is not an EDCA site, so where in Philippine territory will millions of gallons of oil be stored?” added Senator Marcos, chair of the Senate foreign relations committee.
EDCA, or the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), is a deal between the US and the Philippines that allows American troops access to select Philippine bases for the prepositioning of assets. As of January 2024, Subic is not an EDCA site.
But the transfer of millions of gallons of fuel – not just to the Philippines, but also to other facilities, both in the Indo-Pacific and to the United States – has not been a secret.
As early as October 2023, Stars and Stripes, an independently-run news site that’s partially funded by the Pentagon, reported the process of “emptying millions of gallons of fuel from the defunct Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Honolulu.”
The Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility was ordered defueled and permanently closed by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin back in March 2022 following controversies over a leak that contaminated local water wells in 2021.
Joint Task Force-Red Hill, a body tasked to oversee Red Hill’s shutdown, told Stars and Stripes that the fuel – totalling over 104 million gallons – would be shipped off to “San Diego, Subic Bay in the Philippines, the Port of Singapore and a pair of fuel depots in Hawaii.”
The US embassy on Thursday, January 11, confirmed the transfer of fuel to Subic and said it was a commercial, and not a military transaction.
“We can confirm that the Yosemite Trader, a commercial tanker, is currently in the vicinity of Subic Bay, Philippines in order to transfer clean fuel from the U.S. military facility at Red Hill, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to a commercial storage facility at Subic Bay,” said Kanishka Gangopadhyay, US embassy spokesperson.
He added: “This is one of multiple shipments of safe, clean fuel from the Red Hill facility to other locations in the Pacific. All arrangements for the transfer and storage of this fuel were made through the proper channels, using established logistics contracts with Philippine commercial entities.”
In a separate statement following the US embassy’s release, the Philippines’ defense department said they were not involved in the deal, noting that it was “part of regular commercial transactions between the US Government and Philippine companies.”
Neither the defense department nor the US embassy identified who those commercial entities or companies were.
Under President Marcos, Philippine and US defense ties have only grown warmer. New EDCA sites were announced in early 2023, and the decades-old Mutual Defense Treaty was beefed up with new guidelines. In late 2023 and in early 2024, the West Philippine Sea witnessed joint air and marine patrols by the US and the Philippines. This was preceded by the biggest iteration of Balikatan, a yearly joint exercise between the two allies.
While this has been a welcome development for Washington DC, Beijing has been anything but amused. In statements, China has criticized the US for supposedly fueling tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
As Philippine-US ties warm, Sino-Filipino relations have become more tense. Similarly, ties between the Marcos siblings appear to have turned cold, if not lukewarm.
Senator Marcos has been noticeably absent from many of her brother’s engagements as president – unlike other family members, including presidential son, Representative Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, and cousin House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. Unlike the senator, the two are regulars in events of the President, both in the Philippines and abroad.
The last and only time, thus far, that Senator Imee joined the President overseas? His state visit to Beijing back in January 2023. – Rappler.com
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Rookie Enoch Valdez proving Frankie Lim, NLEX right with consistent play
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delfin.dioquino editor
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11/01/2024 15:36
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REBOUND. Enoch Valdez in action for the NLEX Road Warriors in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner's Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – NLEX head coach Frankie Lim knew from the start that Enoch Valdez is his man.
And the rookie guard out of Lyceum did not disappoint as he helped the Road Warriors remain in control of their playoff fate in the Commissioner’s Cup, starring in a 107-103 victory over Converge on Wednesday, January 10.
Selected 18th overall by NLEX in the previous draft, Valdez played the finest game of his young PBA career and finished with 19 points and 9 rebounds in the win that hiked the Road Warriors’ record to 4-6.
“Even before the draft, when I saw him practice with our team, I was already telling my coaches, I’m going to pick this guy. If he lands with us, I’m going to get him for sure,” said Lim.
“I like the way he plays – very aggressive, he defends well, he can shoot threes, and you can count on him to make layups in transition.”
Turning into a consistent double-digit scorer as he averaged 12.5 points in the last two games, Valdez has earned the trust of Lim and his coaching staff, as proven by the 35 minutes he logged against the FiberXers.
Valdez repaid that belief by hitting big shots down the stretch, scattering 10 points in the fourth quarter alone, including a pair of timely triples.
He made 4 of his 6 three-point attempts, a welcome improvement from his combined 2-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc in his last two outings.
“I work on the things I need to improve on every day. I do whatever coach Frankie and the coaches need me to do,” said Valdez.
Lim is a witness to how Valdez badly wants to raise his game to another level.
“He is very aggressive and hardworking in practice. He comes in early, takes some shots, gets out of the gym late. He is doing extra work and it is paying off,” said Lim.
NLEX needs Valdez to continue his stellar play as it battles Barangay Ginebra in Albay on Saturday, January 13, with its quarterfinal hopes on the line. – Rappler.com
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Lito Adiwang scouts loaded ONE strawweight field ahead of exciting 2024
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jisaga0269
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11/01/2024 18:28
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ROAR. Lito Adiwang in action in ONE Championship.
ONE Championship
MANILA, Philippines – The first order of duty for Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang in 2024 is to scout out the loaded strawweight MMA division, and it all starts at the end of the month when two top contenders clash.
Third-ranked strawweight contender Hiroba Minowa takes on No. 4 Gustavo Balart at ONE 165 on January 28 inside Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, and the Filipino will be watching intently.
Adiwang has always wanted another shot at Minowa, while he’s been targeting Balart ever since he made his return. Now Adiwang hopes to face the winner of this clash.
“When Balart and Minowa were announced, I was shocked because I wanted them both. I wanted to either fight Balart or rematch Minowa, but there they were fighting,” he said.
“I’m excited to see the fight, that’s a very good matchup. We’ll see who ends up winning. I want to fight the winner.”
Another guy on his radar is fifth-ranked Mansur Malachiev, a guy who Adiwang was supposed to welcome to ONE Championship last year.
The “Thunder Kid” was scheduled to return from an ACL injury against the Russian wrestler, but he aggravated his knee, scratching the match altogether.
During Adiwang’s time away, Malachiev faced two Filipinos, beating Jeremy Miado and losing to former ONE strawweight MMA world champion Joshua Pacio in a hotly contested three-rounder.
For Adiwang, a matchup with Malachiev also furthers his trajectory through the strawweight division.
“If it’s not them, I want to face Mansur. I think he’s a good matchup. We were supposed to meet before, and now’s the perfect time to pick up on it,” he said.
“He’s also a ranked fighter, so it’s a perfect opportunity for me because I want to get back to the rankings. I am targeting that belt, so Mansur is the perfect challenge for me.” – Rappler.com
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Pre-dawn fire razes San Fernando City, La Union’s public market
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Chito de la Vega
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11/01/2024 18:23
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FIRE razes San Fernando City public market in La Union province.
city of san fernando social media
ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines — At least 1,156 business establishments were affected by the predawn fire which razed the public market in the capital city of San Fernando in La Union province on Thursday, January 11.
The city government estimated losses at P200 million.
In a news conference, Mayor Hermenegildo “Dong” A. Gualberto said he has asked the city council to declare a state of calamity to speed-up recovery efforts.
The fire, which burned to the ground all business stalls in the one-hectare complex, was determined to have started at 1 am and quickly spread, said Jun Eland Wanawan, fire investigator of the Bureau of Fire Protection.
Details as to what caused the fire remained unclear, Wanawan said, but he added that their investigations so far showed that it was likely that the blaze rapidly spread because the structure and the vendors’ merchandise at the public market were made of “light materials.”
It took at least five hours for firefighters to declare a “fire out” at around 6:52 am, Wanawan said. A general alarm was raised at the height of the blaze and responders from nearby municipalities, private groups, and volunteers were called in to help douse the fire.
The city government said that no one was hurt or injured during the incident.
“We will do everything to help and serve those who were affected by this tragedy as we help one another for the building of a new wet market,” said Gualberto, adding that psychological and financial assistance will be given to those affected.
In the meantime, market operations have been transferred at the Barangays Ilocanos Sur and Ilocanos Norte, the city government said.
The Market Operations Office was also temporarily transferred to the Ilocanos Sur Barangay Hall.
Both the city and provincial government launched donation drives to bring additional relief to the individuals, most of them owners of small stalls, affected by the incident. – Rappler.com
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Diarrhea cases in Baguio City hit 2,199
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Mia Gonzalez
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11/01/2024 16:40
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Photo courtesy of Dr. Donnabel Panes
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Acute gastroenteritis cases in Baguio City hit 2,199 before noon on Thursday, January 11, according to the City Health Services Office (CHSO).
Of the number of cases, 45 people had been hospitalized.
Acting City Health Officer Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes said that the majority of cases emerged between January 2 and 8.
Of the 492 affected individuals who sought medical consultation, 64.4% are still exhibiting symptoms. Based on local government data, 63.6% of the patients had eaten at food establishments, 13.2% consumed takeout food, 11.2% had home-cooked meals, and the 12% cited other causes.
The geographic spread of the cases is extensive, with 218 from outside Baguio, 204 from neighboring towns, and significant numbers from barangays Bakakeng Norte, Irisan, and Camp 7.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who declared a gastroenteritis outbreak in the city the day before, expressed optimism that the health issue would be contained, citing safety and preventive measures implemented across the city’s food establishments and households.
He also highlighted ongoing efforts to test water samples from various suspected sources.
Brillantes confirmed that one sample from an establishment tested positive for bacterial contamination.
In response to the outbreak, the Sanitation Division of the CHSO and the Baguio Water District have intensified inspections of water sources, especially in affected establishments.
The Department of Health (DOH) has also stepped in, collaborating with the Baguio City Government to manage the situation.
“Pending the final results of the epidemiologic investigation, we will ensure access to clean, potable water for the affected communities,” the DOH said.
Following the outbreak, health officials advised residents to do the following:
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Malacañang suspends Muslims commission chairman over 2023 pilgrimage mess
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Herbie G
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11/01/2024 16:13
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SUSPENDED. National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Chairman Guiling Mamondiong gets suspended for 90 days due to alleged anomalies in the 2023 hajj pilgrimage.
NCMF
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Malacañang has placed National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Chairman Guiling Mamondiong under preventive suspension due to alleged anomalies related to the hajj pilgrimage in mid-2023.
Mamondiong, holding a secretary-level position, was given the three-month preventive suspension order for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, showed a decision signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on January 2, a copy of which Rappler secured on Thursday, January 11.
The 90-day preventive suspension order was also based on the findings in a December 7, 2023 audit report from the Internal Audit Service of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), pointing to grave misconduct and/or neglect of duty.
Bersamin’s order showed that there were complaints against Mamondiong “relative to anomalies in the recently concluded 2023 Hajj for Muslim Filipinos.”
The complaints included one from provincial governors in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) who brought to the attention of Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. the “extremely unfortunate situation” of Filipino pilgrims who went to Mecca in June 2023.
That month, about 7,200 Filipino pilgrims went to Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the costly pilgrimage.
In a June 29, 2023 letter to Abalos, governors Mamintal Adiong Jr. of Lanao del Sur, Abdusakur Tan of Sulu, Mariam Mangudadatu of Maguindanao del Sur, Yshmael Sali of Tawi-Tawi, and Hadjiman Hataman Salliman of Basilan, alleged that Filipino pilgrims had to endure poor living conditions during their pilgrimage in Mecca.
The governors blamed it on the NCMF-Bureau of Pilgrimage and Endowment’s “poor planning and misconduct of Hajj 2023.” The bureau is mandated by law to facilitate the annual pilgrimage of Muslim Filipinos.
The governors’ letter showed that pilgrims complained about enduring cramped tents in Mina – one of the places in the hajj journey, overpriced and tight accommodations with poor amenities in Mecca, delayed distribution and under-budgeted food provisions, and limited transportation chartered to and from holy sites.
All of these allegedly happened despite the pilgrims each paying more than P300,000 for the hajj package, covering hotel and catering expenses, flight tickets, bus charter, visas, and other associated costs.
About 1,000 pilgrims from Sulu, for instance, were made to pay a total of P350 million, and yet, the provincial government still had to shoulder their hotel and food expenses in Manila prior and upon their return from Saudi Arabia, showed the governors’ letter.
Even before the 2023 hajj pilgrimage, there were complaints from pilgrims about how the NCMF had been handling the event.
Rappler tried to reach Mamondiong for a comment, but he didn’t answer the call. We will update the story when he issues a statement. – Rappler.com
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It is sad to know that a religious event was being conducted anomalously by a government agency. Thanks to the complainants, DILG Internal Auditors, and the concerned governors for bringing this out and to the support of DILG Secretary Abalos and the Office of the President through Executive Secretary Bersamin.
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Xyrus Torres forgoes final FEU year, bolsters decorated TNT 3×3 team
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jisaga0269
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11/01/2024 18:59
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FEU gunner Xyrus Torres blows past the UE defense at the UAAP Season 85 men's basketball tournament
UAAP Season 85 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – FEU guard Xyrus Torres is moving on from the rebuilding Tamaraws after a lackluster UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball campaign and has now set his sights on the pro scene by signing with the PBA 3×3’s most decorated team, TNT Triple Giga.
On Wednesday, January 10, the former Gilas Youth sniper posted his farewell on Instagram, thanking his teammates, coaches, and fans who supported him in his nine-year stint in Morayta, high school and college combined.
“I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the entire FEU community for the unwavering support throughout my athletic career. It is your continuous support that has fueled my drive and inspired me to push my limits both on and off the field,” he wrote.
“In a span of 9 years, I was able to visit six different countries representing not only the school, but also our country, and I owe this all to FEU.”
Torres has since played with TNT 3×3 in the Jumpshot 3×3 International Tournament in Singapore.
The 6-foot gunner, alongside now-graduated captain L-Jay Gonzales and up-and-coming guard Jorick Bautista, powered the Tamaraws’ charge with averages of 9.29 points, 3.57 rebounds, and 1.0 assist.
Team-wide inconsistencies, however, plagued the 20-time UAAP champion program, as it languished with a seventh-place, 3-11 record – a school-worst in the Final Four era.
FEU will now lean on the likes of Bautista, Chiolo Añonuevo, and incoming rookie sensation Janrey Pasaol for its Season 87 bounce-back bid. – Rappler.com
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Kevin Quiambao absorbing lessons from NBA talent
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Jasmine Payo
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11/01/2024 17:24
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STILL GOING. Kevin Quiambao practices with Strong Group for a Dubai tournament.
STRONG GROUP ATHLETICS
MANILA, Philippines – Barely two months after winning the UAAP Season 86 Most Valuable Player and the men’s basketball championship with La Salle, Kevin Quiambao seeks to level up even further in his play – courtesy of bona fide NBA talent.
From playing with collegiate teammates, Quiambao now has the luxury of learning under eight-time All-Star Dwight Howard, defensive specialist Andre Roberson, and Gilas Pilipinas stalwart Andray Blatche.
“They hold a huge influence over me knowing that I still have a young career, I learn a lot every day, I just take everything I could learn,” Quiambao told Rappler during Strong Group’s practice session in Makati on Wednesday, January 10.
“I just relish the learning process and whatever they say, I just take advantage of it and I will take their advice for my whole career,” he added.
The Strong Group squad will see action on January 19 to 28 in the 2024 Dubai International Basketball Championship, a pocket tournament featuring some of the best teams in the Middle East.
Still with his La Salle mentor coach Topex Robinson – who’s serving as Strong Group’s deputy – the 6-foot-4 Quiambao is slowly adjusting to the rigors of international basketball as a wing.
“As early as December, coach Charles (Tiu) told me that I cannot play as a four (forward) because it’s the international level,” said Quiambao, who became the first local player since 2015 to earn the UAAP MVP honors after pouring 16.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.9 steals during the eliminations.
He also authored quality stats of 14.7 points and 9.3 rebounds on top of 2.7 assists and 1.7 blocks in the title series, winning the Finals MVP in the Green Archers’ first championship since 2016.
“I’m really a wing, I developed [my skills] every day, adjusted everything to becoming a wing.”
Watch out, UAAP. — Rappler.com
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Rookie Enoch Valdez proving Frankie Lim, NLEX right with consistent play
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delfin.dioquino editor
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11/01/2024 15:36
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REBOUND. Enoch Valdez in action for the NLEX Road Warriors in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner's Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – NLEX head coach Frankie Lim knew from the start that Enoch Valdez is his man.
And the rookie guard out of Lyceum did not disappoint as he helped the Road Warriors remain in control of their playoff fate in the Commissioner’s Cup, starring in a 107-103 victory over Converge on Wednesday, January 10.
Selected 18th overall by NLEX in the previous draft, Valdez played the finest game of his young PBA career and finished with 19 points and 9 rebounds in the win that hiked the Road Warriors’ record to 4-6.
“Even before the draft, when I saw him practice with our team, I was already telling my coaches, I’m going to pick this guy. If he lands with us, I’m going to get him for sure,” said Lim.
“I like the way he plays – very aggressive, he defends well, he can shoot threes, and you can count on him to make layups in transition.”
Turning into a consistent double-digit scorer as he averaged 12.5 points in the last two games, Valdez has earned the trust of Lim and his coaching staff, as proven by the 35 minutes he logged against the FiberXers.
Valdez repaid that belief by hitting big shots down the stretch, scattering 10 points in the fourth quarter alone, including a pair of timely triples.
He made 4 of his 6 three-point attempts, a welcome improvement from his combined 2-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc in his last two outings.
“I work on the things I need to improve on every day. I do whatever coach Frankie and the coaches need me to do,” said Valdez.
Lim is a witness to how Valdez badly wants to raise his game to another level.
“He is very aggressive and hardworking in practice. He comes in early, takes some shots, gets out of the gym late. He is doing extra work and it is paying off,” said Lim.
NLEX needs Valdez to continue his stellar play as it battles Barangay Ginebra in Albay on Saturday, January 13, with its quarterfinal hopes on the line. – Rappler.com
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FACT CHECK: Kris Aquino is alive
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Ailla Dela Cruz
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11/01/2024 15:00
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Claim: Kris Aquino died on Wednesday, January 3.
Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook post containing the claim has over 1,100 reactions, 343 comments, and 165 shares as of writing. The post originated from a Facebook page named “Philippine Scholar 2023,” which has a substantial following of over 12,000 followers.
The post claimed that Aquino passed away on January 3 and included a link to a blog site.
The facts: Contrary to the claim, Kris Aquino is very much alive. On January 8, her attending nurse, Mike Alayon, shared a photograph on his Facebook account showing Aquino alongside her former partner, Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste, and her son, Joshua Aquino.
There are also no official news reports confirming the claim.
Health update: Aquino has been battling several autoimmune diseases since 2018. She was first diagnosed with chronic spontaneous urticaria and with erosive gastritis and a gastric ulcer in March 2022.
She has been in the US since June 2022 to receive treatment for her autoimmune diseases.
Aquino last provided an update on her health through an Instagram post on November 26, 2023, where she said that her blood tests revealed “abnormalities.” This was also her last public update on her social media page.
This is not the first time false information about Aquino’s health circulated online. In 2022, Rappler fact-checked and refuted claims of her death:
– Marie Flor Cabarrubias/Rappler.com
Marie Flor Cabarrubias is a Rappler Intern. She is a fourth year Communication Research student at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Sta. Mesa Manila.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to#FactsFirstPH tipline by messagingRappler on Facebook orNewsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through ourViber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation oneFact Check at a time.
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Demonizing EDSA? Cha-Cha ad surprises public during primetime TV
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Kaycee
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10/01/2024 15:48
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EDSA-PWERA? Television ad surprised audiences on Tuesday, January 9, during primetime TV.
Screengrab of TV ad
MANILA, Philippines – Filipinos tuned into primetime evening newscasts on Tuesday, January 9, saw a paid advertisement on the supposed “failures” of the 1987 Constitution to highlight the need for charter change.
“Pangako nila pagsulong pero sa pagbuo ng 1987 Constitution, na-Edsa-pwera tayo (They promised us progress but in forming the 1987 Constitution, we were left out),” the commercial’s narrator said, in a word play on EDSA – a reference to the 1986 People Power Revolution that toppled the dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos – and etsapuwera, the Filipino term for being excluded or cast aside.
The ad was aired amid questions about the integrity of a fresh charter change bid through people’s initiative. Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman bared over the weekend an alleged plan to bribe voters to sign the petition calling for charter change, while similar campaigns were noted by Senator Imee Marcos and Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte, among others.
Lawmakers from the House of Representatives have been keen on amending the Constitution, saying they would focus on its economic provisions.
The Cha-Cha ad focuses on the alleged losses the country suffered under the provisions of the 1987 Constitution – from business and economic opportunities to missing out on having quality education.
“Ang pinayaman ng Konstitusyon, mamamakyaw at negosyante (The Constitution enriched wholesalers and businessmen),” the ad claimed, without citing facts or other resources to support this allegation.
Over on X (formerly Twitter), the public who were tuning in to newscasts noted that the ad was aired across ABS-CBN, TV5, and GMA.
It is still unclear which advertising firm is behind the commercial or if it was produced in-house.
One of the commercials aired featured a text saying it was paid for by Gana Atienza Avisado Law Offices. Their clientele includes former Senator Panfilo Lacson, Leyte 4th District Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez, and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, a cousin of Speaker Martin Romualdez and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In an interview on Thursday, January 11, with ANC News Channel, the firm’s managing partner, Evaristo Gana, said the ad was meant to spur public discussion on constitutional amendments.
The Ad Standards Council oversees the self-regulation of advertising stakeholders. Its Code of Ethics specifically states that advertisements “shall not contain messages that deride or otherwise discredit the law and its enforcement.”
Lagman linked the ad to the Marcos family.
“The ‘EDSA-pwera’ charter change ad campaign is part of the Marcos family’s continuing demonization of the EDSA People’s Power Revolution which ousted the Marcos dictatorship and helped install the ‘Cory Constitution’ or the present 1987 Philippine Constitution,” he said in a statement on Wednesday, January 10
“The ad is crudely crafted and there is nothing substantial conveyed in the message,” he added.
Former senator Leila de Lima echoed Lagman, adding that the “trash” ad is “a subtle continued attempt at historical revisionism.”
“This is once again an attempt to muddle facts with relentless lies and false content just to pursue their selfish interests and political agenda. Malinaw ang pakay: Lalo pang lasunin ang diwa ng EDSA habang isinusulong ang charter change (The goal is clear: To further poison the spirit of EDSA while pursuing charter change),” she said in a statement on Thursday.
She said in Filpino that the ad casts doubt on the integrity of the charter change bid, as the argument the ad presents is “based on a defamation, deception, and lies.”
De Lima said that all Filipinos who are conscious of the truth would know who had been cast aside after the EDSA Revolution: “Ang diktador at ang kanyang pamahalaang tadtad ng katiwalian at pang-aabuso (The dictator and his government marked by corruption and abuses).”
De Lima said that the 1987 Constitution was crafted to prevent abuses, especially of those who wish to cling to power.
Kabataan Partylist also slammed the ad and connected it to the Marcos family.
“The TV ad is a pro-dictatorship and Marcos rehabilitation propaganda video packaged as advocacy. In reality, sinusulong lang nito ang pro-oligarch agenda: 100% foreign ownership ng assets, term extensions, at iba pang self-serving revisions (it is pushing for the pro-oligarch agenda: 100% foreign ownership ng assets, term extensions, and other self-serving revisions),” Kabataan said in a statement on Thursday.
The group called the ad “OA” for claiming that the country’s poverty problem is rooted in the Constitution.
“Limang konstitusyon na ang pinagdaanan natin pero di naman niresolba ng bawat Cha-Cha ang dati nang mga suliranin tulad ng kawalan ng lupa, trabaho, industriya, at pati na rin ang laganap na inhustisya, katiwalian, at pagpapakatuta sa dayuhan,” Kabataan said.
(We have gone through five constitutions but Cha-Cha did not solve the problems on land, jobs, industries, as well as widespread injustice, corruption, and subservience to foreigners.)
“Hindi sa EDSA o sa isang dokumento nagmula ang ating mga problema. Matindi na ang krisis sa ekonomya bago pa mag-EDSA People Power. Baon tayo sa utang noon at hanggang ngayon. Hindi pa rin nalulutas ang mga ugat ng rebelyon. Para umunlad ang bansa, hindi Konstitusyon ang bara, kaya hindi rin Cha-Cha ang sagot,” it added.
(Our problems did not sprout from EDSA or any single document. The economic crisis was already severe before before the EDSA People Power. We had been mired in debt long before until now. The roots of teh rebellion had yet to be addressed. The Constiution is not a hindrance to national development, and therefore, Cha-Cha, is also not the answer.)
Akbayan Partylist said in a statement on Thursday that constitutional amendments are not needed for “crucial actions” that the people want.
Akbayan said the people want “their government to impartially enforce all existing laws, tackle inflation, combat corruption, appoint capable officials – especially a competent education secretary – dismantle political dynasties, and hold all extrajudicial killers and plunderers accountable, starting with the Dutertes.”
“Amending the Constitution will not cure the problem of corruption and poverty,” said human rights lawyer and Martial Law victim Neri Colmenares. – With reports from Reuters/Rappler.com
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If I am allowed to revise Cong. Lagman’s statement: “The ad is crudely crafted and there is nothing substantial conveyed in the message” – to: The ad is “rudely” crafted, it is assumed to be substantially paid and it carries a dangerous message. More likely, it is designed by the Marcos-Romualdez Disinformation Machinery.
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FACT CHECK: Kris Aquino is alive
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Ailla Dela Cruz
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11/01/2024 15:00
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Claim: Kris Aquino died on Wednesday, January 3.
Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook post containing the claim has over 1,100 reactions, 343 comments, and 165 shares as of writing. The post originated from a Facebook page named “Philippine Scholar 2023,” which has a substantial following of over 12,000 followers.
The post claimed that Aquino passed away on January 3 and included a link to a blog site.
The facts: Contrary to the claim, Kris Aquino is very much alive. On January 8, her attending nurse, Mike Alayon, shared a photograph on his Facebook account showing Aquino alongside her former partner, Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste, and her son, Joshua Aquino.
There are also no official news reports confirming the claim.
Health update: Aquino has been battling several autoimmune diseases since 2018. She was first diagnosed with chronic spontaneous urticaria and with erosive gastritis and a gastric ulcer in March 2022.
She has been in the US since June 2022 to receive treatment for her autoimmune diseases.
Aquino last provided an update on her health through an Instagram post on November 26, 2023, where she said that her blood tests revealed “abnormalities.” This was also her last public update on her social media page.
This is not the first time false information about Aquino’s health circulated online. In 2022, Rappler fact-checked and refuted claims of her death:
– Marie Flor Cabarrubias/Rappler.com
Marie Flor Cabarrubias is a Rappler Intern. She is a fourth year Communication Research student at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Sta. Mesa Manila.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to#FactsFirstPH tipline by messagingRappler on Facebook orNewsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through ourViber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation oneFact Check at a time.
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Ex-King Archer son Jacob Cortez tipped to join La Salle
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Jasmine Payo
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11/01/2024 11:49
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CHAMP. San Beda guard Jacob Cortez celebrates winning the NCAA Season 99 men's basketball championship.
NCAA-GMA SPORTS
MANILA, Philippines – Reigning UAAP men’s basketball champion De La Salle University scored a major transferee as San Beda’s Jacob Cortez signified his intention to join the Green Archers, a source with knowledge of the situation told Rappler.
The development came as Cortez, the son of former La Salle superstar Mike Cortez, announced his decision to leave NCAA champion San Beda Red Lions.
“With great difficulty, I have decided that my time as a Red Lion is closing, and would like to officially announce that I will not be playing for San Beda University in their upcoming season,” said Cortez in an Instagram post on Thursday, January 11.
“Challenging, improving, and growing is always my goal, and so I have decided that to achieve this, I need to get out of my comfort zone. With that, I plan to compete in the UAAP.”
A 5-foot-11 guard, Cortez delivered on his promise by helping San Beda capture its first title since 2018 after leading the team in scoring with 13.7 points on top of 7 rebounds and 4 assists in the NCAA championship series against Mapua.
“I have had THE BEST time at San Beda. From playing as a rookie fresh out of high school in an isolating yet invigorating bubble season to helping bring back the crown where it belongs after many have counted San Beda out.”
Cortez’s father Mike, nicknamed the “Cool Cat” during his stint as La Salle’s King Archer, won back-to-back UAAP championships in 2000 and 2001.
The younger Cortez, though, won’t see action yet this year as he needs to serve his residency in UAAP Season 87, likely redshirting along with Kean Baclaan, who’s also speculated to join the Archers after leaving the NU Bulldogs.
Both Cortez and Baclaan are expected to fill in a glaring hole left by the graduation of point guard Evan Nelle.
San Beda nosed out the Mapua Cardinals, who are led by NCAA Season 99 Most Valuable Player Clint Escamis, in three hard-fought games, with the Red Lions emerging victorious, 76-66, in the winner-take-all Game 3 last December.
In 23 games played in Season 99, Cortez normed 15.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 steals.
Playing high school ball with the University of Santo Tomas, Cortez committed to join San Beda in 2021. — Rappler.com
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Champion coaches Sauler, Martin join Jarencio for UST revamp
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jisaga0269
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11/01/2024 12:51
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MORE WEAPONS. The UST coaching staff, including new additions Juno Sauler (third from left) and Peter Martin (second from right), pose for a photo
UST Growling Tigers Media
MANILA, Philippines – The UST Growling Tigers continue to shore up their revamp ahead of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, as head coach Pido Jarencio took in fellow champions Juno Sauler and Peter Martin as his sideline assistants, the team announced on Thursday, January 11.
Jarencio, who helped push the now-languishing Tigers to their last men’s basketball title in 2006, will now share brainpower with Sauler, the architect of the Jeron Teng-led La Salle Green Archers champion squad in 2013.
In his time away from the UAAP, Sauler has also held assistant coaching gigs in the PBA with title-winning ball clubs Ginebra and, currently, Magnolia.
Martin, meanwhile, had been a key fixture in the San Miguel Beermen’s dynastic run in the PBA under former head coach Leo Austria.
“These guys helping us are both winners, and we’re glad that they will teach a lot to the kids buying into the winning culture we’re trying to build,” Jarencio said in Filipino in a statement.
Along with the two new additions, Jarencio now has no shortage of help on the sidelines as the likes of Japs Cuan, Jeric Fortuna, and team consultant Bonnie Tan are still on board, in the hopes that UST will improve from its sorry 2-12 record and a two-year long, 19-game skid in Season 86.
The improved coaching staff will have plenty of weapons to work with come Season 87, as the Tigers will unleash the likes of Kyle Paranada, Rhayyan Amsali, James Una, and the controversial Forthsky Padrigao alongside team leaders Nic Cabañero and Migs Pangilinan. – Rappler.com
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FACT CHECK: No firm plans yet for multi-nation patrol in West PH Sea
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Lorenz Pasion
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11/01/2024 14:35
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Claim: The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is readying multinational patrols in the West Philippine Sea to counter continued Chinese aggression.
Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook reel was posted on January 3 by a page with 4,100 followers and has 1,500 likes and 1,600 shares as of writing.
The narrator said: “China, kabahan ka na. Multi-nation patrols naka-umang na para labanan ang walang katwiran mong pag-okupa sa West Philippine Sea.”
(China, beware. Multi-nation patrols are poised to fight your unjustified occupation of the West Philippine Sea.)
The reel was posted on the same day that the Philippines and the United States began their second joint maritime cooperative activity in the West Philippine Sea.
The bottom line: Contrary to the video’s claim that the multi-nation patrols are already poised to be held in the West Philippine Sea, there are no firm plans nor formal agreements yet with other countries.
Last month, AFP spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar only said that “more patrols” can be expected in 2024 as the Philippines prepares to partner with allies that signified their intention to help protect the West Philippine Sea.
Aguilar also said that there is a possibility that multi-nation patrols can happen “maybe later.”
In November, AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said there was interest from other countries for joint maritime and air patrols “not just bilaterally but multilaterally.” He added that while there is no specific plan yet, the AFP is “continuously talking with our allies and partners.”
Paradigm shift: The move towards joint patrols and more military cooperative activities is part of a “paradigm shift” in the Philippines’ approach to protecting its sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, Aguilar said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said this was needed after “traditional methods of diplomacy” had very little progress against the “more assertive” China.
“It’s time that the countries that feel that they have an involvement in this situation, we have to come up with a paradigm shift,” the President said.
In 2023, the Philippines conducted joint air and sea patrols with the US and Australia. France has also expressed openness to conducting joint activities.
On January 5, the Philippines’ national security adviser Eduardo Año reiterated that the country remains open to diplomatic discussions with China, and that the Philippines’ joint patrols and potential future activities with other allies “shows our mutual commitment to a rules-based international order and for promoting peace and stability of the region.”
China lays claim to almost the entire South China Sea, rejecting a 2016 Hague ruling that said Beijing’s claims had no legal basis.
Rappler has already published several fact-checks about claims related to the West Philippine Sea situation:
– Kyle Marcelino/Rappler.com
Kyle Marcelino is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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Fiesta Señor 2024 in Cebu begins with a walk of devotion
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jsitchon0312
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11/01/2024 13:01
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FIESTA SEÑOR. Catholic devotees join the 'Walk with Jesus’ or the penitential foot procession from Fuente Osmeña to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu on January 11, officially kicking off the 459th Fiesta Señor celebration in Cebu.
Jacqueline Hernandez/Rappler
CEBU, Philippines – Surrounded by thousands of devotees and their families, the image of the Santo Niño (Child Jesus) made its solemn journey from the Fuente Osmeña Circle to its home at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu at dawn on Thursday, January 11.
The procession, known as the “Walk with Jesus,” marks the start of the 459th celebration of Fiesta Señor. A total of nine days of novena masses, followed by a day of vespers, takes place during the celebration and will culminate on January 21.
The entire celebration coincides with the Sinulog festival and has historically drawn in thousands of pilgrims from all over the world due to the religious and spiritual nature of the event.
“Dinhi sa Sugbo (Here in Cebu), all roads lead to Basilica, all roads lead to Santo Niño,” BMSN rector Reverend Father Nelson Zerda said during his homily on the opening mass of the celebration.
According to Zerda, devotees are called to holiness in a similar way that the Gozos, also known as “Bato-Balani sa Gugma (Magnet of Love),” draws people closer to one another when sung together at the Basilica.
Zerda explained that once devotees have been called, they must carry out the mission that achieves the identity of the synodal Church, which is to be of service to one another.
The theme of this year’s Fiesta Señor is “Santo Niño: Magnet of Love in the Synodal Church.”
Twenty-three-year-old Kianree Delos Santos could not contain his excitement as he witnessed the procession and the breathtaking view of devotees expressing their love for the Santo Niño from the streets of Cebu to the Basilica.
“The roads were packed with people who wanted to see the Santo Niño and praise him,” Delos Santos said.
Delos Santos said he was overwhelmed with emotions to be able to share the experience with his family, especially since joining the walk was their annual tradition.
He also took part in the novena mass and kept Zerda’s homily to heart, acknowledging the responsibility of being a servant to others in a synodal church.
In his own way, as a bank account officer of a real estate company, Delos Santos said he strives to assist people, particularly clients, by providing them with options needed to make sound financial decisions.
Roberto Basbas Jr., a 21-year-old accountancy student from the University of San Jose-Recoletos, told Rappler on Thursday that although he couldn’t attend the first day of the novena masses, he felt that he fulfilled his duty as a devotee by participating in the online livestream of the opening mass.
“I could still feel the connection between Santo Niño and me through my prayers during the novena, whether it’s virtual or face-to-face,” Basbas said.
The student has been a proud devotee since his junior high school days and has been attending the masses even in Samar, where he’s from, as it is also celebrated by local churches there.
For Basbas, the most important thing for devotees is their ability to show their faith, which he said is grounded solely in their obedience to Christ and His will. – Rappler.com
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Dr. Josefa Saniel, former dean of UP Asian Center, dies at 98
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gdecastro0289
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05/01/2024 19:13
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DEAN. Dr. Josefa Saniel, a former dean of the UP Asian Center, in her home in Quezon City in 2007. She died on December 21, 2023.
Takushi Ohno
MANILA, Philippines – Dr. Josefa Saniel, a former dean of the University of the Philippines (UP) Asian Center in UP Diliman, passed away during the Christmas holidays at the age of 98.
Known as the “grand dame of Japanology,” Saniel established the foundation for Japanese studies in the Philippines back in sixties when most Filipinos still despised Japan over the atrocities, destruction, and hardship during World War 2 and early post-war years.
It would take around half a century for Japan to reverse that animosity, but only after becoming the Philippines’ largest aid donor, one of the biggest sources of foreign investments and trade partners, liberalizing the entry of Filipinos in Japan, expanding cultural exchanges, and most importantly, opening its labor market to Filipinos that expanded people-to-people ties.
The UP Asian Center shared with Rappler on Friday, January 5 its internal announcement on Saniel’s death on December 21, four days before Christmas.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Professor Emeritus and former Dean of the UP Asian Center, Josefa M. Saniel, Ph.D. She was a remarkable leader and an inspiring mentor, known as the ‘grand dame of Japanology’ in the Philippines. Her contributions to academia and her unwavering commitment to the development of Japanese Studies in the country have made a lasting impact on our community,” the school said.
One of her early Japanese graduate students, Takushi Ohno, recalled Saniel’s familiarity with Japanese culture by not initially correcting him in his letters that the dean of what was then the UP Graduate School of Asian Studies was female, not male.
“Before I entered UP’s Asian Center in 1970, I corresponded with the [Asian] center from Tokyo by letter, and the professor responded to me as ‘Dean’ [Dean of the Graduate School of Asian Studies]. ‘Dean should be a man,’ I thought so, and always addressed my letters as ‘Mr. Saniel,’ but my teacher didn’t bother to change that,” recalled Ohno, in an email to Rappler.
“In order to save on travel expenses, I took a cargo ship from Yokohama to Manila, and when I arrived at UP a few weeks later of academic schedule to registration, she greeted me with a smile and said, ‘Oh, I’m Mr. Saniel.’ It was her style of humor that was based on her thorough understanding of Japan’s social background, behind the assumption that ‘people in high positions are men’ at that time,” he said.
Ohno, now a retired journalist, said it took him five years to finish his master’s degree from the UP Asian Center, and he would not have been able to do it had Saniel not helped him through his poor English.
“Meeting her enriched my relationship with the Philippines ever since. When I think of ‘great Filipinos,’ Dr. Saniel always comes to mind,” Ohno, a former Manila bureau chief of the Japanese broadsheet, Asahi Shimbun, said.
Another of her graduate students, Dr. Ed Tadem, professor emeritus of Asian Studies and an Asian Center professorial lecturer, said he and Saniel shared a common Visayan heritage: Saniel was from Carcar, Cebu, while Tadem’s father was from Duero, Bohol, and they “always conversed in Cebuano.”
“Through the years, Dean Saniel constantly monitored my academic progress. When my studies lagged after my course work, she kept reminding me to do my thesis quickly. She was overjoyed when I finally got my degree nine long years after. I will always remember Dean Saniel as a uniquely warm, caring, and compassionate person,” Tadem said.
“I didn’t know Dr. Saniel but found her so endearing every time she’d come to the Asian Center and attend one of our activities,” Professor Antoinette Raquiza, assistant to the Dean for Public Affairs of the UP Asian Center, told Rappler.
In its tribute, the UP Asian Center said: “She was known for her warm personality, her willingness to listen, and her ability to motivate and guide her students. Her passion for research and dedication to her work were unparalleled. She set an example that many aspired to follow.”
Saniel finished her Bachelor of Science in Education at the UP, graduating magna cum laude in 1949. She got her master’s degree in history at the University of Chicago in 1953 through a Fulbright Smith-Mundt grant, and her doctorate in Far Eastern Studies at the University of Michigan in 1961. John W. Hall, an authority on pre-modern Japan, supervised her in her graduate studies.
“Just as Professor Hall played an influential role in the development of Japanese Studies in the United States, so did Dr. Saniel in the case of the Philippines. She helped establish area studies as a field of study, and develop Japanese Studies as a graduate degree program, in the University of the Philippines,” said the UP Asian Center in its profile on Saniel.
“…she wrote on modern Japanese history, with particular emphasis on the second half of the 19th century; Philippines-Japan relations; Japanese culture, society, and literature, and Japan’s foreign policy in Southeast Asia. Some of her publications were translated into Japanese and published in Japan,” reads a biography of Saniel published in the Asian Studies, a journal of the UP Asian Center.
The school said that her pioneering book, “Japan and the Philippines: 1868 to 1898,” which is based on her PhD dissertation and published by the UP Press, is her most-cited work.
“The greatest achievement of the author’s research is the opening of a new field so far neglected by Western scholars…. One must praise Dr. Saniel for what must have been the extremely difficult research involved in detailing the activities of the shishi, Japanese military officers and civilians who were sent to the Philippines despite the official hands-off policy of Japan,” the biography says.
Saniel also worked for a time as consultant for Japan Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs. She started her career in the academe by teaching history in the state university in the 1950s, and rose from the ranks to eventually become dean of the UP Asian Center from 1980 to 1985, and professor emeritus in 1993. The school’s library has a Saniel Collection which consists of 1,773 books, mostly on Japanese studies, that she donated.
In a special feature, “Meet the female scholar who helped pioneer Japanese Studies in post-war Philippine,” for International Women’s Day in 2022, the UP Asian Center honored Saniel for her contributions to Asian studies.
Citing several studies of Saniel on the Japanese family system, state building, and modernization and how they compare to the Philippines, the Asian Studies journal said what emerges is a “contrast between the two countries.”
“Meiji Japan had social cohesion, ‘strong and responsible leadership,’ a ‘political system stable and powerful enough to channel cohesive social action in the attainment of national ends,’ and ‘strong national group consciousness and solidarity.’ (Saniel 1965a, 143–45). By contrast, there was social and political fragmentation in the Philippines, and the prevalence of partisan interests that militate against nation-building. Advocating for ‘national cohesion’ and loyalty to the ‘nation,’ her conclusion in the discussion the Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation, resonates today,” wrote the introduction to an Asian Studies special issue, “Area Studies and Nationalism: Japan the the Philippines in the Writings of Dr. Josefa Saniel,” published in 2018.
“The crucial need of the Philippines today is the transcending of personal and small group interests which impede the channeling of loyalties to the larger community –– the nation state. Once national cohesion is reached, it would be difficult for any country or people to bargain for any arrangement detrimental to the country and its people. The sooner this is realized by the Filipino leaders, the faster can national goals be reached, and the easier it will be for the Filipino political leaders to negotiate for mutually beneficial arrangements with another country, say Japan….,” wrote Saniel in 1971.
Due to her work on Japanese studies, Saniel was conferred in November 1986 the Order of the Precious Crown by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese government. According to the Philippines’ Official Gazette, the Order of the Precious Crown, established by Emperor Meiji on January 4, 1888, is given to ladies, Japanese and foreign, for meritorious services.
In a statement on Tuesday, January 9, the Japanese embassy condoled with Saniel’s family and friends.
“Dr. Saniel’s unwavering commitment to the development of Japanese Studies has rightfully earned her the title ‘grand dame of Japanology.’ Her impactful contributions to fostering cultural understanding between Japan and the Philippines has left an indelible mark on our shared academic landscape,” the embassy said.
“May her legacy continue to inspire generations of scholars, and may she rest in eternal peace.” – Rappler.com
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Champion coaches Sauler, Martin join Jarencio for UST revamp
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jisaga0269
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11/01/2024 12:51
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MORE WEAPONS. The UST coaching staff, including new additions Juno Sauler (third from left) and Peter Martin (second from right), pose for a photo
UST Growling Tigers Media
MANILA, Philippines – The UST Growling Tigers continue to shore up their revamp ahead of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, as head coach Pido Jarencio took in fellow champions Juno Sauler and Peter Martin as his sideline assistants, the team announced on Thursday, January 11.
Jarencio, who helped push the now-languishing Tigers to their last men’s basketball title in 2006, will now share brainpower with Sauler, the architect of the Jeron Teng-led La Salle Green Archers champion squad in 2013.
In his time away from the UAAP, Sauler has also held assistant coaching gigs in the PBA with title-winning ball clubs Ginebra and, currently, Magnolia.
Martin, meanwhile, had been a key fixture in the San Miguel Beermen’s dynastic run in the PBA under former head coach Leo Austria.
“These guys helping us are both winners, and we’re glad that they will teach a lot to the kids buying into the winning culture we’re trying to build,” Jarencio said in Filipino in a statement.
Along with the two new additions, Jarencio now has no shortage of help on the sidelines as the likes of Japs Cuan, Jeric Fortuna, and team consultant Bonnie Tan are still on board, in the hopes that UST will improve from its sorry 2-12 record and a two-year long, 19-game skid in Season 86.
The improved coaching staff will have plenty of weapons to work with come Season 87, as the Tigers will unleash the likes of Kyle Paranada, Rhayyan Amsali, James Una, and the controversial Forthsky Padrigao alongside team leaders Nic Cabañero and Migs Pangilinan. – Rappler.com
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Ex-King Archer son Jacob Cortez tipped to join La Salle
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Jasmine Payo
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11/01/2024 11:49
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CHAMP. San Beda guard Jacob Cortez celebrates winning the NCAA Season 99 men's basketball championship.
NCAA-GMA SPORTS
MANILA, Philippines – Reigning UAAP men’s basketball champion De La Salle University scored a major transferee as San Beda’s Jacob Cortez signified his intention to join the Green Archers, a source with knowledge of the situation told Rappler.
The development came as Cortez, the son of former La Salle superstar Mike Cortez, announced his decision to leave NCAA champion San Beda Red Lions.
“With great difficulty, I have decided that my time as a Red Lion is closing, and would like to officially announce that I will not be playing for San Beda University in their upcoming season,” said Cortez in an Instagram post on Thursday, January 11.
“Challenging, improving, and growing is always my goal, and so I have decided that to achieve this, I need to get out of my comfort zone. With that, I plan to compete in the UAAP.”
A 5-foot-11 guard, Cortez delivered on his promise by helping San Beda capture its first title since 2018 after leading the team in scoring with 13.7 points on top of 7 rebounds and 4 assists in the NCAA championship series against Mapua.
“I have had THE BEST time at San Beda. From playing as a rookie fresh out of high school in an isolating yet invigorating bubble season to helping bring back the crown where it belongs after many have counted San Beda out.”
Cortez’s father Mike, nicknamed the “Cool Cat” during his stint as La Salle’s King Archer, won back-to-back UAAP championships in 2000 and 2001.
The younger Cortez, though, won’t see action yet this year as he needs to serve his residency in UAAP Season 87, likely redshirting along with Kean Baclaan, who’s also speculated to join the Archers after leaving the NU Bulldogs.
Both Cortez and Baclaan are expected to fill in a glaring hole left by the graduation of point guard Evan Nelle.
San Beda nosed out the Mapua Cardinals, who are led by NCAA Season 99 Most Valuable Player Clint Escamis, in three hard-fought games, with the Red Lions emerging victorious, 76-66, in the winner-take-all Game 3 last December.
In 23 games played in Season 99, Cortez normed 15.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 steals.
Playing high school ball with the University of Santo Tomas, Cortez committed to join San Beda in 2021. — Rappler.com
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Kathryn Bernardo unfollows Daniel Padilla on Instagram
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Ysa Abad
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11/01/2024 9:37
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Daniel Padilla's Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Fans were sent into a frenzy when eagle-eyed netizens noticed on late Wednesday, January 10, that Kathryn Bernardo had unfollowed ex-boyfriend Daniel Padilla on Instagram, more than a month after announcing their split.
Although Padilla no longer appears in the actress’ following list, their photos are still up on her Instagram feed.
Meanwhile, Padilla still follows Bernardo’s Instagram account, as of writing.
Bernardo and Padilla confirmed on November 30, 2023, that they had ended their 11-year romance through separate Instagram posts. “We’ve been drifting apart for a while now, and we ultimately had to accept that we can’t go back to where we used to be,” Bernardo had said.
At the time, actress shared that she was “well aware of the rumors and speculations going around” their relationship, but assured fans that their “love story began with respect and ended with respect.”
For his part, Padilla expressed his gratitude towards Bernardo, adding that no matter what he will always love the actress. He had since deleted his statement.
After announcing their split, the two were also seen together during the ABS-CBN Christmas Special and the Asia Artist Awards in December 2023.
Their recent sighting was on January 6, when the ex-couple attended the wedding of Robi Domingo and Maiqui Pineda.
Since the breakup, Padilla has been linked to several actresses, including Andrea Brillantes and Gillian Vicencio. In December 2023, Vicencio denied involvement in Padilla and Bernardo’s split. Padilla has yet to address these rumors.
Bernardo and Padilla first worked together in the youth-oriented series Growing Up in 2011. Since then, the two have been on multiple blockbuster projects, including She’s Dating the Gangster, The Hows of Us, 2 Good 2 Be True, among others. – Rappler.com
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Charter change-related? Comelec’s 2024 budget for plebiscites surged by P12 billion
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Dwight de Leon
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10/01/2024 19:39
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The Commission on Elections (Comelec) does not have a dozen of plebiscites planned this year, yet Congress gave the poll body a budget of P14.2 billion for such electoral exercises for 2024.
That’s a whopping increase of nearly P12 billion, from around P2.5 billion that the Comelec requested.
What gives? Is this related to charter change?
Opposition lawmaker Edcel Lagman certainly believes he has the right to flag the massive increase in the budget allotted to the Comelec for these activities.
He said that P14.2 billion – which is only for one line item in the Comelec’s 2024 budget – is higher than the entire funding of some government agencies this year, such as the Department of Migrant Workers (P9.8 billion), Department of Trade and Industry (P8.6 billion), Department of Tourism (P3.4 billion), and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (P3.3 billion).
It is the House of Representatives which appears to be aggressively pushing for charter change through a constituent assembly, although how exactly, is quite unconventional.
A constituent assembly is one of the methods prescribed by the 1987 Constitution to amend or revise the current charter. But for that to materialize, three-fourths of the members of the House and the Senate must vote in favor of convening themselves into a Con-Ass. (READ: What you need to know about Charter Change)
The 1987 Constitution is silent on whether the chambers must vote jointly or separately. The 24 senators will definitely be outnumbered by the 300-plus members of the House, and an impasse on the manner of voting had essentially killed Con-Ass efforts in the past.
But this time around, the House has decided to pursue a people’s initiative – getting enough signatures that would basically force the minuscule Senate into voting jointly with the House when a constituent assembly is called.
Two lawmakers whom Rappler spoke with – Palawan 3rd District Representative Jose Alvarez and Surigao del Sur 2nd District Representative Johnny Pimentel – confirmed that signature campaigns were underway in their districts, and expressed confidence that the minimum number of signatures has already been met.
The two said the signatures will be submitted to the local Comelec office from January 13 to 16.
“[The Constitution says] only 3% of the voting population is required to sign. But I am targeting 20% of voters here in my district,” Alvarez said. “We are ready to file.”
“Our goal is to open up the economy by amending the Constitution,” Pimentel told Rappler separately. “Our Constitution is very restrictive.”
Once a constituent assembly is called, lawmakers would be able to introduce amendments to the 1987 Constitution. These changes need to be ratified by Filipino voters through a nationwide plebiscite.
For the record, Comelec sought a budget of P43 billion for 2024, arguing it would be the most preparation-heavy year in the run-up to the 2025 elections. The executive branch, however, only proposed P27 billion to Congress, slashing Comelec’s request by P17 billion.
When the budget proposal hurdled both chambers of Congress, as well as the bicameral conference committee, Comelec’s budget was restored to P40 billion, and included the ballooned plebiscite funds worth P14 billion.
“Comelec Chairman George Garcia personally appealed during the budget hearing in Congress to restore their budget,” House appropriations panel Zaldy Co pointed out.
“This is Comelec’s budget. No other agency, not even Congress, can touch or release even one centavo of it. Is Congressman Lagman saying that Comelec commissioners would use those funds for charter change? If he can’t prove it, then he better shut up,” he added.
But Lagman’s argument is this: the bicameral conference committee gave nearly all of the budget that Comelec originally requested, but inserted it in items not related to the 2025 elections.
“Chairman Zaldy Co must be man enough to admit candidly this furtive and malevolent insertion,” Lagman said. “What was given to Comelec was not requested by it in the form of additional appropriation for the charter change agenda.”
Comelec won’t sugarcoat it: the plebiscite budget worth P14 billion can be used in relation to charter change.
“We have the discretion on where to use it as a constitutional body,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said. “[But when the budget was given], there were no talks on people’s initiative. We only asked that the P17 billion be restored.”
So far, Garcia listed two upcoming plebiscites – both in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
In comparison, the Comelec made do with its P2-billion budget when it held at least six plebiscites in 2023.
The fine print in the budget document raises a lot of questions.
How did the restored budget find its way into the plebiscite category, instead of 2025 election preparatory activities?
Why did the Senate – which makes up half of the bicameral conference committee – allow such an insertion?
What gives? – Rappler.com
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COMELEC Chairman George Garcia can be both honest and lying. He is honest on the matter of using the P14 billion for charter change. But he may be lying when he said that he did not know that it would be used for the People’s Initiative.
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Sarah Lahbati, Richard Gutierrez unfollow each other on Instagram amid breakup rumors
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Ysa Abad
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10/01/2024 16:34
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Richard Gutierrez's Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Eagle-eyed netizens noticed that long-time celebrity couple Sarah Lahbati and Richard Gutierrez are no longer following each other’s Instagram accounts, further fueling speculation that they’ve parted ways.
Sarah was the first to unfollow Richard on Tuesday morning, January 9. Aside from her husband, the Swiss-Filipino actress also no longer followed the accounts of Richard’s mother, Annabelle Rama, and siblings, Ruffa and Raymond. At the time, all of them still followed Sarah’s account.
However, on Wednesday, January 10, Richard, as well as his mother and siblings, have also unfollowed Sarah’s account. While Richard no longer follows Sarah’s official Instagram accounts, he still follows a certain Sarah Lahbati fan page that was last updated in 2013.
The unfollowing on social media came days after reports that Richard was seen at a gastropub with actress Barbie Imperial. The two previously worked together in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.
Speculations that Sarah and Richard’s relationship is on the rocks started making rounds in November 2023 when the model-actress was absent from Annabelle’s birthday celebration. These rumors were further fueled by Sarah’s Instagram display name changes from Sarah Lahbati-Gutierrez, SLG, and finally to Sarah Lahbati.
Prior to this, Sarah appeared in the finale episode of the ABS-CBN teleserye The Iron Heart in October 2023. The series starred her husband.
While neither Sarah nor Richard have made an official statement about the state of their marriage yet, Annabelle revealed in a December 2023 interview with ABS-CBN News that her son Richard has been living with her for a month already. In the same interview, Annabelle refused to confirm or deny if the two had gone their separate ways, only saying that the public will know their status soon.
Meanwhile, Sarah also denied the rumors that she was speaking ill of mother-in-law.
Sarah and Richard welcomed their first child Zion in 2013 when the former was 19 and the latter was 29. They later welcomed their second son Kai in 2018. The couple eventually wed in 2020. – Rappler.com
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Jeremy Lin, New Taipei spoil Carl Tamayo’s breakout game for Ryukyu
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Jasmine Payo
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10/01/2024 23:55
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BIG GUNS. New Taipei's Jeremy Lin dishes the ball behind Ryukyu's Carl Tamayo.
EASL FACEBOOK PAGE
MANILA, Philippines – Carl Tamayo saw his best game in a Ryukyu Golden Kings uniform go to waste as they fell to the New Taipei Kings in a tight one, 67-63, in the East Asia Super League (EASL) at the New Taipei Xinzhuang Gymnasium in Taiwan on Wednesday, January 10.
In a rare starting role for the defending Japan B. League champion Golden Kings, Tamayo showed what he is capable of when given the opportunity, dropping a team-best 16 points, to go along with 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block.
Tamayo, who played a game-high 34 minutes and 52 seconds, knocked down 4 of his 9 attempts from beyond the arc en route to his 16-point output – his highest scoring performance yet as a pro.
He eclipsed his previous career-high of 15 points, which he set in Ryukyu’s 2023-2024 B. League season opener last October.
Despite struggling from the three-point area all game long, former NBA star Jeremy Lin delivered when it mattered the most for New Taipei as he swished his one and only long bomb with 26.6 seconds left to give the Kings a two-possession lead over Ryukyu, 67-63.
Tamayo had a chance to counter Lin’s cold-blooded trey and pull Ryukyu back to just a single point in the next play, but his three-point attempt failed to find the bottom of the net this time.
It was Kenny Manigault who showed the way for New Taipei with a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Lin finished with 15 markers on 5-of-13 shooting, 4 boards, 6 assists, and 1 block.
Keita Imamura backstopped Tamayo with 13 points, while Ryuichi Kishimoto and Jack Cooley added 10 each.
With an unblemished 4-0 record, New Taipei became the second team to advance to the Final Four of the home-and-away tournament, joining B. League powerhouse Chiba Jets.
Ryukyu – which dropped to a 2-3 slate – will get another crack at New Taipei in its final game of the elimination round on January 24 at the Okinawa Arena in Japan. – Rappler.com
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After 12 years, Mary Grace Café in Greenbelt 2 closes, will move to new space in Greenbelt 5
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Steph Arnaldo
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10/01/2024 15:45
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MANILA, Philippines – It’s a sad day for the many loyal patrons of Mary Grace Café’s iconic branch in Greenbelt 2, Makati City – the homegrown brand’s flagship store permanently closed its doors on January 2, 2024, after 12 years of service.
The unfortunate closure was confirmed by Adrian Dimacali – the director of Mary Grace Foods, Inc. and the son of Mary Grace herself – on Facebook on Tuesday, January 9. In his post, he recounted the origin story of Mary Grace’s Greenbelt 2 space, which opened in May 2011. He shared that is was the brand’s first “large format space” then, with a seating capacity of 159 guests and a total leased floor of 303.95 square meters (of which 53.92 was ground floor, 76.50 was mezzanine, and 73.53 was al fresco). It was also Mary Grace’s fourth branch in Ayala Malls and its seventh café overall.
Prior to it being Mary Grace, the space was first occupied by former tenant Pepato, a fine dining concept by Chef Margarita Fores of Cibo fame.
“It was my younger brother Gabby who believed in and fought for signing this space. I told him it was too big and that we should stick to small, efficient spaces. I told him, “If the esteemed Gaita didn’t want that space anymore, why should we?'” Dimacali wrote.
“As it turns out, with a little patience and a lot of faith, Greenbelt 2 became our strongest branch. Even as we opened new cafés that were bigger and more eye-catching, this grand old dame would come out on top year after year,” he added.
Greenbelt 2 is set to undergo redevelopment, and so the logo, signage, equipment, furniture, fixtures, toys, books, spiritual objects, hanging lamps, and mechanical birds of Mary Grace’s branch had to be taken away to be part of new cafés.
“Only a shell remains now. And even that will be gone soon,” Dimacali wrote.
Mary Grace’s Greenbelt branch was his family’s “gold standard,” and what helped them see “what was possible.”
“She was an academy and a proving ground for our managers today. She gave us wings to fly. She pushed us to dream big. She made us believe. Now she is gone, and things will never be the same, at least not for me,” he added.
In a separate Facebook post, the brand reassured patrons that this is just the start of “new beginnings,” and that Mary Grace is relocating to a new space in Greenbelt 5.
“Thank you to everyone who came through our doors in our first flagship. It was an absolute honor having you spend time with us. To our team and to the many leaders who sprung from the challenge of Greenbelt 2, hats off to you and thanks for the many years of friendship,” the post read.
Mary Grace – known for “freshly baked goodness daily” – first rose to fame for its ensaymadas, cheese rolls, and cakes. Matriarch Mary Grace started selling her homemade ensaymadas in bazaars before selling them at her first mall kiosk at Glorietta 4 in 2000. In 2004, the family opened the first Mary Grace café and has been serving other crowd-favorite, best-selling baked goodies since then, as well as hot meals, sandwiches, pasta, and more. They now have several branches in and outside Metro Manila. – Rappler.com
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Jiro Manio sells Gawad Urian trophy for ‘Magnifico’ performance on ‘Pinoy Pawnstars’
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jreyes0314
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04/01/2024 20:20
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TROPHY SOLD. Former child actor Jiro Manio sells his Gawad Urian trophy for his performance in the 2003 film 'Magnifico' to Boss Toyo of the YouTube series 'Pinoy Pawnstars.'
Boss Toyo Production's YouTube page
MANILA, Philippines – Former child actor Jiro Manio sold his Gawad Urian Best Actor Award trophy for his performance in the 2003 film Magnifico.
In an episode of the YouTube series Pinoy Pawnstars on Tuesday, January 2, Manio showed his Gawad Urian trophy to showrunner Boss Toyo to gauge how much he could sell it for.
While Manio had hoped to sell the trophy for P500,000, Boss Toyo explained that if he were to purchase Manio’s trophy for that price, he would have to consider whether any of his buyers would be willing to pay that much for it in the next few years.
Boss Toyo named P50,000 as a starting price, but the two eventually settled on a final price of P75,000.
“No’ng napanood kita, sabi ng utol ko na magtatayo ka raw ng museum. Naisip ko, ‘Sana mapabilang ako do’n sa mga dating artista na nakatanggap ng award,'” Manio told Boss Toyo.
(When I watched your videos, my sibling told me that you plan to establish a museum. I thought, “I hope I can be part of the section of former celebrities who received an award before.”)
Boss Toyo also detailed the respect he holds for Manio, who he believes made significant contributions to the Filipino film industry.
The former child actor took home the Gawad Urian award for Best Actor in 2004 for starring in Magnifico. The film follows an obedient little boy named Magnifico who strives to raise money to fund his dying grandmother’s coffin and his sister’s wheelchair.
Manio also raked in awards from other major award-giving bodies in the country like the FAP Awards and FAMAS for his performances in different films.
Manio last appeared in the GMA series Little Star, which ran until February 2011, and in the film Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To!), which premiered in December 2010.
In 2011, Manio entered rehab for drug use. Four years later, in 2015, he was spotted wandering the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for days as he supposedly had nowhere to go.
He had also expressed that he has no plans of returning to the showbiz industry.
In 2020, Marikina City police filed frustrated homicide charges against Manio for allegedly stabbing a man.
Manio currently works as a volunteer at the Department of Health’s Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Bataan. He has two daughters. – Rappler.com
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[OPINION] Marcos’ disengagement from Duterte sets stage for 2025 showdown
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Glenda Gloria
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03/01/2024 19:00
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The previous year could be summed up, from the perspective of a political junkie, as the year President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. disengaged from the controversial policies of his predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte. Whether by accident or design, the disengagement led to the unravelling of the UniTeam alliance. It also sets the stage for a dramatic clash between Marcos and Duterte forces in the 2025 mid-year elections.
President Marcos Jr. anchored his election on a nostalgic yearning for a make-believe land of peace and shared prosperity, and the perception of being Duterte’s anointed one. His critics painted him as a dictator’s spoiled son bent on rehabilitating his father’s disgraced image while continuing Duterte’s controversial policies. A year and six months after his election, President Marcos Jr. has shown that he is, other than his father’s son, not a polished Duterte clone.
The policy reversals shifted to high gear in 2023.
President Marcos Jr. talked tough on China’s incursions and rekindled strained relations with the United States. He has refused to pursue the drug war using the Duterte template. His shift from “no” to “maybe” on the issue of cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC), currently investigating Duterte for crimes against humanity, confounded and enraged supporters of the former president. And to rub more salt on the wounded political ties, Marcos Jr. announced the likely resumption of the stalled peace talks with remnants of the communist movement.
Disengagement may be too polite a term to describe the methodical knee-capping by attrition of the former president, carried out by the most unlikely coalition allies in the House.
Administration allies moved to weaken Duterte’s political strength by gradually raiding the ranks of the once dominant party, PDP-Laban, an effortless undertaking in reality. A key supporter of Vice President Sara Duterte, former president and Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was a major casualty of the ensuing pogrom.
But last year’s highlight reel was the dramatic and well-orchestrated series of revelations, timed with deliberations on the national budget, that painted the Vice President as a secret fund-obsessed brat with little noteworthy credentials other than a quick temper and a solid punch.
Duterte the father, as expected, responded by ranting on air but on a smaller megaphone, the Sonshine Media Network International. The network, however, was yanked off the air for 30 days by the National Telecommunications Commission, on the prodding of the House, a few days before Christmas. It could very well lose its franchise. To spread the word among his true believers, by now a diminished force in the eyes of administration allies, the former president now relies on a downsized network of equally cantankerous online supporters and a few media personalities.
Strategically, the political disembowelment is aimed at consolidating the administration’s grip on Congress in 2025 and diffusing support for the Vice President in the 2028 presidential elections.
The emasculation of Duterte, father and daughter, can be summed up simply: after the restoration, the disruption. The knee-capping was methodical and ruthless, trademark Marcos.
It would be interesting to see the political realignments this year, as parties and candidates gear up for the 2025 mid-term elections. Senatorial candidates, in particular, would have to make a potentially career-altering choice: Team BBM or Team DDS?
The smart money, for now, is with Team BBM. There are advantages to being a candidate of the siting president, namely resources, access to funders, and a formidable machinery. With the exception of the Arroyo regime, the mid-term elections have always been dominated by administration candidates.
The administration, however, is not without some weak spots. The economy is foremost. It is easier to stage a charm offensive overseas or berate China than deal with a public disaffected by rising prices, or the perception of declining quality of life. The biggest concern for any incumbent is for disaffection to translate to protest votes, resulting in a Senate dominated by the opposition.
Still, it would be foolhardy for Duterte’s allies to prematurely call the mid-terms in their favor. For one, the economy might weather the anticipated effects of El Niño through government intervention. For the administration, the bare minimum is to keep inflation within manageable levels and, if needed, dispense financial aid to vulnerable sectors. The people need to feel their economic situation unchanged, if not improving.
For now, there is sufficient residual goodwill to assure Duterte of victory should he make good his threat to run for senator. But his intention to lead an “opposition” ticket could be problematic. When Duterte said he was toying with the idea of running for a national position, it was in response to the then-recent House decision to deny his daughter confidential funds, and rumors of impeachment. Essentially he would be running to settle a score. And that may not swing voters his way.
Besides, voters have been historically lukewarm to opposition candidates during mid-term elections. The lessons of the “Otso Deretso” senatorial ticket should be instructive, even for Duterte.
This will be an exciting year for politics and political operators. Can we expect knife fights turning into all-out war or will there be a truce for the sake of, you know, unity? And can the holdouts from former vice president Leni Robredo’s failed presidential bid summon the intestinal fortitude, and the resources, to regroup and field their own slate?
Hold on to your hats. It’s going to be wild. – Rappler.com
Joey Salgado is a former journalist, and a government and political communications practitioner. He served as spokesperson for former Vice President Jejomar Binay. This was first published on ourbrew.ph.
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Agree with writer Joey Salgado: 2024 will be an exciting year in Philippine politics. It will be the preparatory year immediately preceding the mid-term election year of 2025. More likely, the political war will increase in intensity and heat while a truce is less likely as disunity has reached its point of no return.
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Retirement of 2 officials sets off DA leadership reshuffle
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Iya Gozum
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04/01/2024 20:54
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MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) welcomed the new year with a major leadership reshuffle, following the retirement of Undersecretaries Domingo Panganiban and Leocadio Sebastian.
In a radio interview on Thursday, January 4, assistant secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said Panganiban’s term ended on December 31.
Meanwhile, De Mesa said, Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian was also leaving by the end of January. Sebastian led the DA’s rice industry development.
Sebastian was appointed by DA chief Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. as a member of the secretary’s Technical Advisory Group through Special Order No. 1.
Panganiban, 84, was agriculture chief himself under former presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He returned to the DA as senior undersecretary while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was concurrent agriculture chief.
Marcos left the post in November last year, when he appointed fishing industry tycoon Francisco Tiu Laurel.
In a statement on Thursday, the DA said agriculture chief Tiu Laurel issued special orders for the changes in leadership “to better harness their talents and vast experience.”
De Mesa clarified in the interview that there were no controversies surrounding Panganiban and Sebastian’s retirement.
Sebastian told Rappler that it was a voluntary retirement for his part after 28 years of government service. Sebastian started working in government back in 1983 for the Philippine Tobacco Research and Training Center. From 1968 to 1988, he worked at the National Tobacco Administration, an attached corporation of the DA. He spent the next ten years at the Philippine Rice Research Institute before working abroad. Upon his return to the Philippines, Sebastian returned to government work in 2021.
In the past year, the two undersecretaries have been prominent in congressional hearings regarding issues in price hikes of agricultural products. Panganiban was one of the officials who signed the controversial Sugar Order No. 6 which authorized the importation of 440,000 metric tons of sugar back in February 2023.
“Sariling decision po nila, opo… Na mag-retire na po,” De Mesa said. (It was their own decision, yes. To retire already.)
“Ano naman po ito mga– ‘yung iba po ay dahil may bago tayong administration so part po ‘yun ng mga kortesiya,” he added.
(These are– others were compelled because of the new administration so that’s part of the courtesies.)
In light of the retirements, Tiu Laurel appointed those in leadership in other positions, with some serving in concurrent capacity to their original roles. Here is a list of the changes:
The changes are already reflected in the DA’s online directory of officials as of Thursday.
“Further changes in the DA leadership are likely given the temporary nature of certain appointments and the additional work load placed on the shoulder of certain officials,” the statement read. – Rappler.com
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The decision to retire is good and practical for both officials. On the part of USEC Domingo Panganiban, he had been DA Secretary himself under two previous Presidents; hence, he could not ask for more. But on the part of USEC Leocadio Sebastian, it is a different matter. While he has the education, experience, competence, and dedication (with I believe – a CESO eligibility), he was still deprived of the highest position in the agency. This is a lesson to other officials in the Government – perhaps it is not good to give 100% of yourself to Government Service – it may not be worth it all in the end.
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FACT CHECK: Roque not only Filipino accredited as ICC counsel
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Lorenz Pasion
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08/01/2024 19:24
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Claim: Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque is the sole Filipino lawyer qualified to serve as counsel in proceedings of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Why we fact-checked this: Multiple videos have recently spread on YouTube describing Roque as the only “certified and qualified” Filipino lawyer in the ICC.
A video uploaded by Showbiz Sports Fanatics on December 30 with the thumbnail, “Roque bilang speaker, ito ang matinding utos ng pangulo! (Roque as speaker, this is the President’s ultimate directive!),” has gained 73,423 views, 1,500 likes, and 215 comments as of writing.
On January 6, YouTube channel Banat Kabayan TV uploaded a similar video which gained 16,764 views, 532 likes, and 71 comments. This was the basis for a reaction video on the TUNAY NA KRITIKO channel, which echoed the same claim on January 7.
The facts: Roque is only one of four lawyers from the Philippines included in the List of Counsel qualified to practice before the ICC as of December 15, 2023.
Aside from Roque, the following Filipino lawyers are part of the list:
According to the ICC website, lawyers included in the list of counsels may practice before the court as defense counsel, legal representatives for victims, duty counsel, or ad hoc counsel.
The ICC sets the criteria to qualify as counsel following Rule 22 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence and Regulation 67 of the Regulations of the Court, which includes “established competence in international or criminal law and procedure” and at least 10 years of relevant experience in criminal proceedings, among other requirements.
Aside from the four lawyers, another Filipino is qualified to practice before the court as Assistant to Counsel: Maria Kristina Conti, secretary-general of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers-National Capital Region, which asked the ICC to investigate the Duterte drug war killings. (READ: Lawyers do dirty groundwork to fight Duterte’s drug war)
Repeat claim: A similar fact-check by FactRakers pointed out that Roque made the same claim in a video on November 27 where he said, “Alam ‘nyo po, hindi sa nagbubuhat ng sariling bangko, pero ako lang po ‘yung Pilipino na admitted doon sa tinatawag na list of counsels ng ICC.” (Not to boast, but I’m the only Filipino admitted to the ICC’s list of counsels.)
At the time the FactRakers article was published on December 4, Roque’s statement was false as he and Butuyan were already part of the ICC list. The number of Filipinos admitted to the List of Counsel has since increased to four, according to the ICC’s updated records.
Roque’s supposed standing as the only Filipino lawyer qualified to practice before the ICC has surfaced in recent months, amid calls for the Philippine government to allow ICC investigators to enter the country for the probe into the Duterte-era drug war killings. Roque served as Duterte’s spokesperson and is now his legal counsel. – Lance Arevada/Rappler.com
Lance Arevada is an Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow for 2023-2024.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through our Viber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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Is there a new Filipino cinema audience?
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gdecastro0289
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08/01/2024 20:11
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QUEUE. Movie-goers line up to buy tickets to the Metro Manila Film Festival 2023 for its supposed last weekend, on January 6, 2023, at the Trinoma Cinemas in Quezon City.
MMFF spokesman Noel Ferrer/IG
MANILA, Philippines – Despite higher cinema ticket prices in 2023, the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 49th edition is on track to set a new record high, indicating a more discerning audience for Philippine movies.
The MMFF announced on January 7, Sunday, that the annual holiday film festival grossed P1 billion in ticket sales, and with the one-week extension for the festival, it will likely set a new box office record.
A closer look at the numbers, however, reveals that despite the higher ticket sales, the actual number of movie-goers in the MMFF has actually declined.
When the MMFF set a record high of P1.06 billion in 2018, ticket prices were around P250 each, which means that roughly 4.24 million watched the MMFF for that edition.
With ticket prices now at around P350 each in 2023 and ticket sales of P1 billion, that means 2.85 million watched the latest iteration of the MMFF, or a decline of 1.39 million viewers.
Film director Jose Javier Reyes said in a blog post last December 23 that ticket prices are now beyond the reach of the Filipino masses.
“Consider the mathematics. The Filipino minimum wage earner takes home P570/day for his hard work – without subtracting the cost of transportation and food. The average cost of a movie ticket nowadays is between P350 to P400. It is quite clear that Aleng Tacing and Mang Juaning together with their offsprings Letlet and Junjun can no longer afford to watch movies,” Reyes, also a juror in the MMFF 2023, said.
The new record that will be set in MMFF 2023 is thus an indication that this new MMFF audience is a more discerning one compared to cinema-goers in pre-pandemic years, or over five years ago.
One clear sign of this is that in MMFF 2023, the celebrities who attracted the biggest number of patrons before – comedians Vice Ganda and Vic Sotto, and action star Coco Matin – have no entries. Their movies, often described as “escapist,” catered to the masses who preferred to watch commercial films as an “escape” from their life situations. These films, however, often got flak from critics.
In 2018, when the record high of P1.06 billion was set, Vice Ganda had Fantastica: The Princess, The Prince and The Perya, produced by Star Cinema and Viva Films. Veteran comedian Vic Sotto and action star Coco Martin had Popoy En Jack: The Pulisincredibles.
In the 2022 MMFF, Vice Ganda had an entry – Partners in Crime – but for the first time, his movie was not the box office winner. It was Deleter, the psychologial thriller of acclaimed young director, Mikhail Red, and produced by Viva Films, which topped the box office.
Reyes said this “already indicated a major change in the preference of the market.”
“The market who spend money for the festival was no longer the masa (masses) who loved a good old traditional comedy but opted for a horror film about technology and the dark web, about call center agents who turn nights into days and the lurking dangers in the computer screen. In other words, this is a completely different audience from what used to be considered as the familiar moviegoer of the past… especially those who feasted on the annual MMFF,” Reyes said.
For MMFF 2023, the 10 participating films have been described by MMFF chairman Romando Artes to be better in quality and well-marketed than in previous editions. The festival’s best picture is Firefly by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs, a not-your-usual fantasy film since it tackles marital abuse.
There’s also historical film, GomBurZa, which has gotten good reviews from critics. It’s also the most awarded movie among the 10 films in the MMFF. As of Sunday, people were still lining up to see the film.
Noel Ferrer, spokesman for the MMFF, said the P1 billion in ticket sales is a clear sign that Filipinos will go to watch good movies in theaters.
“Naabot natin ang [P]1B mark kanina; partida – wala pa riyan ang mga suking Vice Ganda, Vic Sotto at Coco Martin ha. Paano pa kaya kung makakagawa sila ng magagandang obrang may lasting impact sa mga kababayan nating humahanga sa kanila? Ang ganda sana!!!” he said in a post on Sunday.
(We reached the P1 billion mark earlier, and that’s without our regulars Vice Ganda, Vic Sotto, and Coco Martin. What if they can make good films with a lasting impact on their fans? That would be great!)
“Kaya pala nating lumabas at suportahan ang magagandang pelikulang likhang Pinoy … sana magtuluy-tuloy na ito MMFF man o hindi,” he said. “Basta, ang ating panalangin: maging normal na ang pagbabalik sinehan nating mga Pilipino.”
(This shows we can go out and support our quality films made by Pinoys…I hope this continues even after the MMFF. That is my hope: that Filipinos’ cinema-going goes back to normal.)
The Philippine film industry had been battered for a long time by film piracy, followed by the rise of streaming platforms. The local film situation looks even bleaker when compared to what South Korea has done with its Hallyu wave.
Another indication of the higher quality films this year is the fact that for the first time, all 10 entries will be presented in an international Manila film festival that will be held in California, USA from January 29 to February 2.
A post shared by Noel Ferrer (@iamnoelferrer)
Although there are clear signs of change, Amor Aljibe, an independent film producer who teaches special courses on K-drama, told Rappler on Monday that a deeper look into the cinema audience should be done. She said it’s possible that the masses still went to watch the MMFF 2023 but probably saved up for it.
“Puwedeng nagtipid ang mga nanood kaya savings nila ang ginastos for the cinema ticket. Family event ang MMFF-watching kaya madami naghahanda talaga,” she said.
(It’s possible they used their savings to pay for the cinema ticket. The MMFF is a family event so many really prepare to watch.)
In a television interview on Monday, Ferrer said that December 25 used to be the biggest day for the MMFF. For its latest edition, however, he said there were still long lines on January 7, Sunday, an indication that movie-goers first waited for reviews to see which film to watch.
“Ang maganda, napatunayan natin na lalabas at lalabas ‘yung tao kung meron kang magandang content na hinahain sa kanila. It’s noteworthy to see that usually, Christmas Day ‘yung pinakamalaki ‘yung gross sales na araw na para sa mga pelikula, pero ‘yung mga tao, nag-iba ‘yung mga behavior,” Ferrer told One Balita PH.
(What’s nice is that we’ve proven that people will watch in theaters if the content you offer is good. Usually, Christmas Day is the highest gross receipts day for films, but the behavior has changed.)
A post shared by Noel Ferrer (@iamnoelferrer)
“January 2 [ticket sales] was even more than December 25, meaning puwede na maghintay ‘yung mga tao, hindi bulagsak sa pera kung ano lang ‘yung existing diyan na panoorin. Naghinintay sila ng reviews, ng word of mouth, ng magandang recommendation ng mga tao kasi nga parang hinihintay nila na worth it ‘yung papanoorin nila,” Ferrer said.
(January 2 was even more than December 25, meaning people are willing to wait and not spend their money on just what’s out there. They wait for reviews, word of mouth of good recommendations, so they wait for what’s worth watching.)
In a speech in 2021, then-Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chairperson Liza Diño-Seguerra estimated that the local film industry contributed at least P11 billion to the economy. She estimated that cinema admissions in 2017 were only at 51.5 million, which she said, was a “very low number” for a national population of over 105 million.
The fifties and sixties are considered the “golden years” of Philippine cinema, with the local industry producing around 200 films a year and big theaters often getting filled up by patrons. Piracy brought down the industry starting in the eighties, and the number of films produced yearly declined to less than 100. In recent years, even with the downsizing of theaters, local films have not been able to attract patrons, and only a few local producers make money.
Stakeholders in the industry, as well as representatives in Congress, have been trying to come up with solutions to boost the local movie industry, similar to what South Korea has achieved. – Rappler.com
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Charter change-related? Comelec’s 2024 budget for plebiscites surged by P12 billion
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Dwight de Leon
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10/01/2024 19:39
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The Commission on Elections (Comelec) does not have a dozen of plebiscites planned this year, yet Congress gave the poll body a budget of P14.2 billion for such electoral exercises for 2024.
That’s a whopping increase of nearly P12 billion, from around P2.5 billion that the Comelec requested.
What gives? Is this related to charter change?
Opposition lawmaker Edcel Lagman certainly believes he has the right to flag the massive increase in the budget allotted to the Comelec for these activities.
He said that P14.2 billion – which is only for one line item in the Comelec’s 2024 budget – is higher than the entire funding of some government agencies this year, such as the Department of Migrant Workers (P9.8 billion), Department of Trade and Industry (P8.6 billion), Department of Tourism (P3.4 billion), and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (P3.3 billion).
It is the House of Representatives which appears to be aggressively pushing for charter change through a constituent assembly, although how exactly, is quite unconventional.
A constituent assembly is one of the methods prescribed by the 1987 Constitution to amend or revise the current charter. But for that to materialize, three-fourths of the members of the House and the Senate must vote in favor of convening themselves into a Con-Ass. (READ: What you need to know about Charter Change)
The 1987 Constitution is silent on whether the chambers must vote jointly or separately. The 24 senators will definitely be outnumbered by the 300-plus members of the House, and an impasse on the manner of voting had essentially killed Con-Ass efforts in the past.
But this time around, the House has decided to pursue a people’s initiative – getting enough signatures that would basically force the minuscule Senate into voting jointly with the House when a constituent assembly is called.
Two lawmakers whom Rappler spoke with – Palawan 3rd District Representative Jose Alvarez and Surigao del Sur 2nd District Representative Johnny Pimentel – confirmed that signature campaigns were underway in their districts, and expressed confidence that the minimum number of signatures has already been met.
The two said the signatures will be submitted to the local Comelec office from January 13 to 16.
“[The Constitution says] only 3% of the voting population is required to sign. But I am targeting 20% of voters here in my district,” Alvarez said. “We are ready to file.”
“Our goal is to open up the economy by amending the Constitution,” Pimentel told Rappler separately. “Our Constitution is very restrictive.”
Once a constituent assembly is called, lawmakers would be able to introduce amendments to the 1987 Constitution. These changes need to be ratified by Filipino voters through a nationwide plebiscite.
For the record, Comelec sought a budget of P43 billion for 2024, arguing it would be the most preparation-heavy year in the run-up to the 2025 elections. The executive branch, however, only proposed P27 billion to Congress, slashing Comelec’s request by P17 billion.
When the budget proposal hurdled both chambers of Congress, as well as the bicameral conference committee, Comelec’s budget was restored to P40 billion, and included the ballooned plebiscite funds worth P14 billion.
“Comelec Chairman George Garcia personally appealed during the budget hearing in Congress to restore their budget,” House appropriations panel Zaldy Co pointed out.
“This is Comelec’s budget. No other agency, not even Congress, can touch or release even one centavo of it. Is Congressman Lagman saying that Comelec commissioners would use those funds for charter change? If he can’t prove it, then he better shut up,” he added.
But Lagman’s argument is this: the bicameral conference committee gave nearly all of the budget that Comelec originally requested, but inserted it in items not related to the 2025 elections.
“Chairman Zaldy Co must be man enough to admit candidly this furtive and malevolent insertion,” Lagman said. “What was given to Comelec was not requested by it in the form of additional appropriation for the charter change agenda.”
Comelec won’t sugarcoat it: the plebiscite budget worth P14 billion can be used in relation to charter change.
“We have the discretion on where to use it as a constitutional body,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said. “[But when the budget was given], there were no talks on people’s initiative. We only asked that the P17 billion be restored.”
So far, Garcia listed two upcoming plebiscites – both in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
In comparison, the Comelec made do with its P2-billion budget when it held at least six plebiscites in 2023.
The fine print in the budget document raises a lot of questions.
How did the restored budget find its way into the plebiscite category, instead of 2025 election preparatory activities?
Why did the Senate – which makes up half of the bicameral conference committee – allow such an insertion?
What gives? – Rappler.com
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COMELEC Chairman George Garcia can be both honest and lying. He is honest on the matter of using the P14 billion for charter change. But he may be lying when he said that he did not know that it would be used for the People’s Initiative.
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Jeremy Lin, New Taipei spoil Carl Tamayo’s breakout game for Ryukyu
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Jasmine Payo
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10/01/2024 23:55
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BIG GUNS. New Taipei's Jeremy Lin dishes the ball behind Ryukyu's Carl Tamayo.
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MANILA, Philippines – Carl Tamayo saw his best game in a Ryukyu Golden Kings uniform go to waste as they fell to the New Taipei Kings in a tight one, 67-63, in the East Asia Super League (EASL) at the New Taipei Xinzhuang Gymnasium in Taiwan on Wednesday, January 10.
In a rare starting role for the defending Japan B. League champion Golden Kings, Tamayo showed what he is capable of when given the opportunity, dropping a team-best 16 points, to go along with 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block.
Tamayo, who played a game-high 34 minutes and 52 seconds, knocked down 4 of his 9 attempts from beyond the arc en route to his 16-point output – his highest scoring performance yet as a pro.
He eclipsed his previous career-high of 15 points, which he set in Ryukyu’s 2023-2024 B. League season opener last October.
Despite struggling from the three-point area all game long, former NBA star Jeremy Lin delivered when it mattered the most for New Taipei as he swished his one and only long bomb with 26.6 seconds left to give the Kings a two-possession lead over Ryukyu, 67-63.
Tamayo had a chance to counter Lin’s cold-blooded trey and pull Ryukyu back to just a single point in the next play, but his three-point attempt failed to find the bottom of the net this time.
It was Kenny Manigault who showed the way for New Taipei with a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Lin finished with 15 markers on 5-of-13 shooting, 4 boards, 6 assists, and 1 block.
Keita Imamura backstopped Tamayo with 13 points, while Ryuichi Kishimoto and Jack Cooley added 10 each.
With an unblemished 4-0 record, New Taipei became the second team to advance to the Final Four of the home-and-away tournament, joining B. League powerhouse Chiba Jets.
Ryukyu – which dropped to a 2-3 slate – will get another crack at New Taipei in its final game of the elimination round on January 24 at the Okinawa Arena in Japan. – Rappler.com
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https://www.rappler.com/sports/game-results-jeremy-lin-carl-tamayo-east-asia-super-league-new-taipei-ryukyu-january-10-2024/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1IONI_VNJhCYpCutDLz294-NOC9-Z1PI-_AMmGUmI7ITdDW62WejWL2A0_aem_Ofr10B1V3DY6yMAfen-srw
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Twice-to-beat bonus clinched as Phoenix outlasts Meralco
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delfin.dioquino editor
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10/01/2024 19:21
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DEFENSE. Johnathan Williams in action for the Phoenix Fuel Masters in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioners' Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – Phoenix clinched a prized twice-to-beat protection in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals after claiming a 93-83 win over Meralco at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, January 10.
Jason Perkins set the tone and import Johnathan Williams III churned out an all-around effort as the Fuel Masters returned to the winning column and seized solo second place with an 8-2 record behind No. 1 Magnolia (9-2).
Perkins torched the Bolts with a game-high 22 points on top of 8 rebounds, while Williams tallied 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists in the victory that netted Phoenix its first win-once incentive since the 2020 Philippine Cup.
Even if it ends up in a tie with San Miguel (7-2), Barangay Ginebra (7-2), and Meralco (7-3) at the end of the elimination round, the Fuel Masters will finish no lower than fourth place.
Buried by 14 points midway through the fourth quarter, 72-86, the Bolts threatened a comeback when they pulled within 83-88 off an 11-2 run sparked and capped by a Cliff Hodge triple and a Shonn Miller slam dunk.
A pair of turnovers seemed to have doomed Phoenix, but Meralco failed to capitalize and witnessed Fuel Masters captain RJ Jazul drain a back-breaking three-point under 1:20 minutes to go.
Jazul tallied 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Tyler Tio fired 15 points as Phoenix won seven of its last eight games.
Perkins and Tio scored 8 and 7 points, respectively, in the opening quarter, where the Fuel Masters propped up their biggest lead of the game at 31-16.
Miller put up 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 steals in the losing effort for the Bolts, who were unable to build on the momentum of their feisty 85-80 win over the league-leading Hotshots in Iloilo City last Saturday.
To make the top four and secure a playoff bonus, Meralco has to win its last game against Terrafirma on Friday, January 12, and needs either San Miguel or Ginebra to drop its final assignment.
Chris Banchero contributed 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists for the Bolts, while Chris Newsome had 13 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals.
Phoenix 93 – Perkins 22, Williams 19, Tio 15, Jazul 13, Tuffin 6, Mocon 5, Rivero 5, Alejandro 4, Verano 2, Manganti 2, Camacho 0, Siyud 0, Garcia 0.
Meralco 83 – Miller 19, Banchero 15, Newsome 13, Quinto 10, Black 8, Almazan 8, Rios 5, Hodge 5, Pascual 0, Maliksi 0, Bates 0, Caram 0.
Quarters: 31-19, 54-47, 78-66, 93-83.
– Rappler.com
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Villasencio, sibling acts rule in Davao junior golf
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Jasmine Payo
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10/01/2024 19:04
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YOUNG CHAMPS. Winners of the JGFP Mindanao Junior Open pose with their trophies at the Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao City.
JGFP
MANILA, Philippines – Nino Villasencio won the 15-18 boys category, while Nicole and Stephanie Gaisano-Gan ruled in their respective divisions, even as Ralph Batican and sister Rafella won in their categories in the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP) Mindanao Junior Open last week at the Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao City.
The 18-year-old Villasencio fired a final round 76 as he edged Simon Wahing by seven strokes. His total score of 219 also gave him the title in the same division for the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) event.
The part-time caddie, who figured in a scooter accident the night before the final round, made two birdies in the last four holes to complete the 36 holes on 147.
Nicole Gaisano-Gan, meanwhile, became the youngest at 12 years old to win the girls’ WAGR event. She shot a 78 to finish the WAGR event at 232, six shots ahead of Crista Minoza, who had an 82.
Her 156 gave her the girls’ 13-14 division title, seven shots ahead of Asara Sawhney of Singapore who closed with an 84.
Stephanie Gaisano-Gan, on the other hand, ruled the girls’ 8-and-under with a come-from-behind victory.
Gan had a six-shot lead on Soleil Molde but a 10 on the sixth hole changed everything. She was three strokes behind going into the last two holes but managed to force a sudden-death playoff against Molde.
Gan, 6, found the green on her third shot and two-putted for par, while Molde’s approach landed on the bunker made a poor blast and was on in four before holing out with three putts.
The Batican siblings – Ralph and Rafella – claimed the titles in their respective divisions.
Ralph bagged the boys’ 11-12 as he carded a 74 to beat Jared Saban by four shots to finish with 154 as Saban closed out with an 83, while Rafella, had a 72 to win the girls’ 9-10 division. – Rappler.com
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FACT CHECK: Video report by TV anchors on ‘free’ necklace is fake, AI manipulated
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jpcruz0306
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10/01/2024 23:37
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CLAIM: The Basilica de Santa Maria is giving away free “Mama Mary” necklaces from the Vatican, according to news anchors of GMA Integrated News’ 24 Oras.
Why we fact-checked this: The video bearing the claim was made on December 16 by a Facebook page named “Brother Eduard” which has 440 followers. As of writing, the video has gained 1.9 million views, 57,000 reactions, 11,000 comments, and 875 shares.
The supposed news report shows GMA news anchor Ivan Mayrina, while another clip features host Susan Enriquez, both supposedly promoting a necklace that reportedly originated from the “Mama Mary shrine” and was blessed by Vatican priests.
In the video, a certain “Father Eduardo” from the “Basilica De Santa Maria” claims they began distributing necklaces during a church anniversary celebration.
The facts: The voices of the GMA anchors were “fake and possibly AI-generated,” the network said in a report aired on Tuesday, January 4.
While the voices mimicked those of the news anchors, the movement of the mouth seen in the videos did not match the words, GMA said. The network added that neither its social media team nor the 24 Oras news team used the large fonts seen in the video’s graphics. (READ: Beware of this ‘Mama Mary necklace from the Vatican’)
AI-generated: Sensity, a web-based tool for detecting AI, found the video featuring Mayrina as “suspicious” with a 93.8% confidence level. The video featuring Enriquez was also flagged as “suspicious” with an 82.9% confidence level.
“High confidence indicates that the detector has found definite signals of AI generation or manipulation. Minimum confidence for this detector is 50%,” Sensity noted.
Founded in 2018, Netherlands-based company Sensity specializes in detecting “deepfakes and other forms of malicious visual media.”
Dubious details: A reverse image search also showed that the church featured in the video is the church complex of Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish in Calape, Bohol, and not the “Basilica De Santa Maria.”
Meanwhile, the image of Mary in the video is similar to the 71-foot statue of Regina Rica in Tanay, Rizal.
In the video featuring Mayrina, the news ticker shows: “At si Julie Ann San Jose flinex ang kanyang skill sa pagkanta ng Japanese.” (And Julie Ann San Jose showcased her singing skills in Japanese.) This news item aired on March 31, 2023, at which time, Mayrina was not one of the main anchors of 24 Oras.
AI disinformation: Overseas, AI-generated news anchors have been used for spreading disinformation like in the case of Venezuela, where fake “American” hosts are seen in videos on state-run TV.
In its 2023 report, human rights advocacy group Freedom House flagged AI-powered disinformation as a significant threat.
As AI tools become more affordable and easy to use, the report said that disinformation networks are expected to “increase their reliance on AI-based tools that can create text, audio, images, and video en masse.” (READ: Disinformation in 2023: Growing AI reliance, X’s reckoning, tech guardrails still absent)
Online publication Cut the Saas also pointed out that AI detection tools “aren’t foolproof,” particularly due to the difficulty of distinguishing between human-generated and AI-generated content, especially when the two are combined. This complexity makes it challenging for detection tools designed to identify specific AI patterns and structures to work. – James Patrick Cruz/Rappler.com
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through our Viber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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Senators grill NGCP; consumer group calls for reforms in power management
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jsitchon0312
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10/01/2024 22:14
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POWER LINES. Multiple transmission line projects have been delayed due to right-of-way issues and construction complications.
Shutterstock
CEBU, Philippines – While the Senate energy committee during a hearing on Wednesday, January 10, unraveled the lapses of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in dealing with the Western Visayas power outage, a consumer group also heaped the blame on the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the Department of Energy (DOE).
The National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms, Inc. (NASECORE), in a statement sent to Rappler, cited poor regulation and an outdated power infrastructure as the primary causes of the region-wide blackout.
“NASECORE’s president Pete Ilagan faults the ERC’s regulatory failures stemming from its sluggishness in deliberating and approving power supply contracts, which results in bureaucratic logjam that delays critical projects and discourages further investments in the power sector,” said the statement.
The consumer group also cited the DOE’s failure to push the NGCP to finish grid connection projects, leaving the entire island of Panay solely “reliant on geothermal energy from Leyte”.
During the Senate energy committee’s public hearing on Wednesday afternoon, it was revealed that the ERC had delivered show cause orders and penalized the NGCP for the delays of multiple projects.
These delayed projects included three stages of the Cebu-Negros-Panay Transmission Line Project—an interconnection project which would have served as the “backbone” to prevent power blackouts in Panay.
The delays, according to the ERC and NGCP, were due to alleged complications in construction, right-of-way issues, and the acquisition of permits from concerned local government units.
“Kung natapos po sana etong mga projects na eto (If only these projects were completed), the Panay blackout could have been avoided,” National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) President Fortunato Leynes said during the public hearing.
Citing data from the planning offices of Iloilo province and Iloilo City, Senator Win Gatchalian said that the local governments suffered an estimated P5.7 billion in economic losses due to the power outage at the start of the new year.
To recall, a total of six power plants were felled with unscheduled maintenance shutdowns that occurred after the initial tripping of the Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) Unit 1 power plant at around 12 noon on January 2.
According to NGCP, “internal issues” caused the unplanned shutdown of PEDC Unit 1.
Between 12:06 pm to 2:19 pm on January 2, the NGCP saw that the plant’s voltage and frequency outputs were within normal range and required only the normal routine dispatch protocols, which they performed.
Leynes said that NGCP did not issue a significant incident notice regarding the tripping.
“According to the Philippine Grid Code, tripping of a large generating unit whether it resulted in automatic load dropping or manual load dropping, is considered a significant incident,” The TransCo president added.
Robinson Descanzo, chief operating officer of the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP), said that the notice should have come from the NGCP in order to alert utility companies and prevent a system collapse.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. previously weighed in on the issue in a video on January 5, stating that the power corporation failed to resort to manual load dropping during the two-hour window from PEDC Unit 1’s tripping, resulting in a four-day blackout.
Angered by what was presented, Senator Raffy Tulfo, who leads the Senate committee on energy, said during the hearing that there were “enough grounds” to support the revocation of the NGCP’s franchise.
"Here we are again, same problem, same people, and quite possibly the same issues…Hiyang-hiya ako sa mga kabayan natin sa Panay Island," Tulfo said in his opening statement. @rapplerdotcom
Recently, Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) president and CEO Rafael Consing Jr. expressed his support for Speaker Martin Romualdez’s proposition to invest funds into the NGCP.
NASECORE said that before MIC officials invest in NGCP, the power agency should first solve problems affecting the energy industry, starting with the ERC’s bureaucratic structure.
“The ERC’s current structure and processes are inadequate for the fast-paced, complex decisions required in today’s energy landscape,” NASECORE said in its statement.
NASECORE also demanded that the DOE should be more aggressive in developing alternate sources of energy like solar and wind power that would help reduce reliance on traditional energy sources.
Ilagan urged Marcos to consider appointing credible individuals who would prioritize consumer interests over “monopolist utilities” and that there should be an independent investigation by third-party experts who could provide the president with effective solutions to the power crisis.
“Unless these systemic problems are addressed, the investment of the Maharlika Fund would most likely be wasted and that will come at a steep political price to the leadership,” the statement concluded. – Rappler.com
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Sara Duterte is ‘my president,’ says retired soldier. His Matikas ‘mistahs’ are annoyed.
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Glenda Gloria
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05/01/2024 11:27
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MANILA, Philippines – So it’s come to this. Saying this was his holiday “gift” to Filipinos, a long-retired, little-known military officer went on YouTube during the break to announce two things: that there’s a move to withdraw support from the current administration, and that the purveyors want Vice President Sara Duterte to “save the boat, save the country.”
“You are the president now, as far as I’m concerned,” declared retired Army captain Clemente Enrique, referring to Vice President Duterte. Enrique graduated in 1983 at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) as the baron of the Matikas class – which meant he was the most ranking cadet of the corps at the time. But he left the service early, so that those who were fed his video in various chat groups had to Google his name and check whether the face wearing a beret looked familiar. It didn’t. This is Enrique’s first front act in military politics – and we don’t know where he’s coming from. (Editor’s note: We misspelled Enrique’s family name in an earlier version of this story. We regret the error.)
His incendiary spiel was interrupted by another graying soldier who, before talking about the “anger” of many retired soldiers towards the Marcos government, sipped hot chocolate and – for real! – displayed a phone number where one can order.
It would have been comical if not tragic. These are, after all, men who were trained by taxpayers’ money to serve the public, not strut around with pathetic antics and market their choco business.
The irony is, some of Enrique’s PMA classmates (or mistahs in military parlance) are in the echelons of power. To name a few, there’s National Security Adviser Eduardo Año and retired police general Roman “Popong” Felix, the presidential adviser on police and military affairs.
Class officers sent Rappler a brief statement disowning Enrique’s claims. “Mr. Clemente Enrique is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1983. Mr. Enrique’s statements in his VLOG of Pinoy Survivor, in the exercise of his right to freedom of expression, are his own personal views and opinions alone and do not in any way reflect that of PMA Class 1983 or of the individual members.”
The uploading of the video followed the release of a “Manifesto ng Taong Bayan Para Sagipin ang Inang Bayan (Manifesto of the People to Save the Mother Land)” which essentially described President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. as incompetent, greedy, indolent, cruel; declared withdrawal of support from him; and recognized “VP Inday Sara Zimmerman Duterte as the President of the Republic of the Philippines by way of succession.”
On Thursday, January 4, Armed Forces chief General Romeo Brawner, Jr. issued a statement titled, “On the emerging challenges of 2024.” Feel free to read between the lines: “The Armed Forces of the Philippines stands firm in its unwavering loyalty to the Constitution and its solemn commitment to fulfill its mandate. The men and women of the AFP remain steadfast in their role as the guardians of our nation’s sovereignty and defender of democratic principles.”
In November, Brawner admitted that he had spoken with disgruntled retired officers and warned them against recruiting active-duty soldiers to their destabilization efforts. “Some of them [are] former officers of the AFP, and nakausap ko ‘yung iba sa kanila (I’ve spoken with some of them),” Brawner said at the turnover of command of the Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City. His public information officer had to do damage control later, saying his boss had been “misquoted.”
What’s the context? The breakup of the Marcos-Duterte coalition and the cascade of that quarrel down to the loyalists of both factions in the armed services.
The issues compounding that are the Marcos government’s decision to reform the generous military pension system; its recent announcement resuming the stalled peace negotiations with the communist guerrillas; and the President’s distance from military generals – which is very much in contrast to Rodrigo Duterte’s feudal, personal ties with them.
Power, pension, communism – potent ingredients for agitation even to amateurs in military rebellion. But Filipinos had seen smarter days of past mutinies and actual withdrawal of institutional support from the commander-in-chief. Those days appear to be gone – gauging from the performance of these sloppy copycats.
Will these theatrical acts turn into something more serious? Depends on whether the Marcos government has the ability to separate noise from real threat – and the skills to handle them differently. – Rappler.com
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I agree with Ms. Glenda Gloria: “Power, pension, communism – potent ingredients for agitation even to amateurs in military rebellion.” And also: “Will these theatrical acts turn into something more serious?” Perhaps, more likely not. Why? By way of how these “copycats” act, they indeed act in a “sloppy” manner. The mastermind behind them is, most likely, former President Digong Duterte, who is noted for his brave and death-threatening words but “sloppy” moves.
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Why CHED is halting the senior high school program in SUCs, LUCs
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Bonz Magsambol
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04/01/2024 13:26
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CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera III attends the budget hearing of the Commission on Higher Education for fiscal year 2023 at the senate on October 13, 2022. Angie de Silva/Rappler
Rappler.com
MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has ordered state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) to discontinue offering the senior high school program beginning next school year as “there was no legal basis to fund it.”
In a CHED memorandum dated December 18, 2023, the commission said that its engagement with the Department of Education on the implementation of senior high school programs in SUCs and LUCs should only be limited to the K to 12 transition period which was only from school year 2016 to 2017 to school year 2020 to 2021.
“Considering the foregoing, SUC presidents/OICs are directed to bring their respective SUC board of regents and board of trustees the discontinuance of senior high school in SUCs because there is no legal basis to fund the same,” the memorandum read.
Based on DepEd data, some 17,751 grade 11 students are currently enrolled in SUCs and LUCs.
In a Bagong Pilipinas interview on Wednesday, January 3, CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III said that in the past two years, the commission had been telling public universities to “wind down their senior high [enrollment] because there is no more legal basis for their offering of high school [education].”
“Tapos na ang transition period. Puno na ang state universities and colleges. Kailangan na nilang gamitin ang mga kuwarto at mga teacher. Kaya’t wala ng basehan para mag-offer sila ng senior high school,” he said.
(The transition period is over. State universities and colleges are full. They need to use the classrooms and teachers. That’s why there’s no more basis for them to offer senior high school.)
He noted that SUCs should only offer degree courses. De Vera said that SUCs that have “laboratory schools” can still offer the senior high school program since they have been doing this even prior to K to 12. Laboratory schools are those under SUCs that are being used by those pursuing an education degree.
Meanwhile, there are some 2,030,451 grade 12 students currently enrolled in SUCs and LUCs. De Vera said that universities and colleges “should let them finish the academic year.”
“The Department of Education has already issued a notice, through Private Education Assistance Committee, that beginning SY 2023-2024, there should be no more Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education and Teachers in Private Education beneficiaries from SUCs/LUCs, except those who will be entering Grade 12 in SY 2023-2024 to finish their basic education and that SUCS and LUCs with laboratory school can accept enrolled but will no longer receive vouchers,” the CHED memorandum read.
DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said that those who might be displaced have two options next school year: enroll in public schools or enroll in private schools and avail of the voucher program.
– Rappler.com
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[OPINION] Cutting trees in our Ateneo backyard
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Marguerite de Leon
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10/01/2024 16:01
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Alejandro Edoria/Rappler
I have been a teacher in Ateneo de Manila University for several decades, since 1983. My service to the university was broken only when I taught full time at the University of the Philippines College of Law and when I did an overseas stint in the United States. But since 2006, I have taught continuously at the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG), Ateneo Law School, and in the Departments of Philosophy, Political Science, and Environmental Science in what used to be called the Loyola Schools).
In the last two decades, I have also held office in two locations in the Katipunan campus of Ateneo – in the Pacifico Ortiz Hall where ASoG is located and the Manila Observatory where I am Associate Director and director of the Klima Center.
It would be correct to say that the Ateneo campus is my backyard, shared with many others. And that is why I care, like many others, about the cutting of trees. Usually, the NIMBY (anywhere but not in my own backyard) phenomenon is not a practice to be emulated.
It is wrong to care only about your backyard. One should always be concerned about what happens in the bigger society, indeed for environmental issues, in all things that affect the planet.
This is why I care about what happens to trees on the Ateneo campus. This is not about my university. This is about all green spaces in this country – in universities, in public places, and even in private lands with many trees, in watersheds, and in protected areas – which are threatened by development aggression.
Some might think that the protesters to the expansion of a parking lot, which is the reason for cutting the trees, are making a mountain out of a molehill. But as the papal encyclical Laudato Si’ explains vey well, everything is interconnected; it’s like dominoes, we make this fall and every domino will fall. And we will mirror everything unsustainable in our society.
The broader question here is whether we want an Ateneo de Manila that is transformed by an unsustainable society or one that transforms society by being an example to other institutions, a beacon of Laudato Si’, praising God through its beauty.
I phrase it this way: do we want a Fortress Ateneo or a Garden Ateneo that welcomes even outsiders and is hospitable to all (people and species) of parks and green spaces and not parking lots? The same question could be asked about our world itself. As Pope Francis laments in Laudato Si’:
“Nowadays, for example, we are conscious of the disproportionate and unruly growth of many cities, which have become unhealthy to live in, not only because of pollution caused by toxic emissions but also as a result of urban chaos, poor transportation, and visual pollution and noise. Many cities are huge, inefficient structures, excessively wasteful of energy and water. Neighborhoods, even those recently built, are congested, chaotic, and lacking in sufficient green space. We were not meant to be inundated by cement, asphalt, glass, and metal, and deprived of physical contact with nature.”
This is not about cutting invasive trees for safety and other reasons. That is a diversion. Of course, theoretically, we can do that as that is justified by science, but we know that is not the reason why the trees are being cut. The trees are being cut to expand a parking lot and to accommodate more cars.
Knowing this, it is appropriate to say that we are cutting trees for cars. We are exchanging dirt and mud, which has environmental and biodiversity value, for pavement, for concrete, and for more pollution.
As a colleague who also teaches and works on sustainability issues in Ateneo told me, a tree, invasive or not, is still a tree.
It is also not right to condone the Department of Environment and policy of replacing grown trees with seedlings that rarely grow to mature trees, because they are not planted in the right places and not protected. Planting seedlings is profitable, but is not managing or protecting them to become forests, which is difficult and expensive.
This is why the National Greening Program is a big failure even after billions spent. Replacing grown trees with seedlings is a practice for corporations who want to cut trees for malls, mines, resorts, subdivisions, etc. This is corporate greenwashing, which a Laudato Si’ university should not emulate.
The answer is obvious. A garden, of course, a small park, with maybe a well-designed bike rack. In fact, the campus will lose nothing if we give up the existing car slots. The lesser cars the campus can accommodate in its parking lots and roads the better for us.
The solution to our car problem in the campus, in fact in all of Metro Manila, is to adopt the principles of inclusive mobility. Ironically, there are many of us in Ateneo that are experts in this approach, which is also consistent with a vision of a garden world.
MyyASoG colleague Dr. Segundo Romero way back in 2015 identified key principles of that approach. I emphasize a few of that below:
When there are environmental conflicts, whether it is reclamation or mining projects or the cutting of trees to give way to malls, resorts, or parking spaces, I turn to the papal encyclical Laudato Si’.
I teach the encylcial in many Catholic schools and lecture about it frequently because Pope Francis’ reminders about our relationship with nature is good guidance in decision-making. Catholic universities must particularly mainstream this thinking in their actions.
Here are some excerpts from Laudato Si’ that are relevant to the cutting of trees to expand a parking lot:
We can do no wrong if we heed these wise words of Pope Francis. – Rappler.com
Tony La Viña teaches constitutional law at the University of the Philippines and several Mindanao law schools. He is former dean of the Ateneo School of Government.
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NLEX stays in playoff hunt as new import, rookie impress vs Converge
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delfin.dioquino editor
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10/01/2024 22:45
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DRIVE. DeAndre Williams-Baldwin in action for the NLEX Road Warriors in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner's Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – NLEX breathe new life into its playoff hopes in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup after scraping past a Converge side looking to play spoiler in a 107-103 win at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, January 10.
New import DeAndre Williams-Baldwin showed the way in his PBA debut, while the rest of the locals followed suit as the Road Warriors improved to 4-6 to boost its chances of advancing to the quarterfinals.
A player fresh out of college, Williams-Baldwin turned in all-around numbers of 22 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals to help NLEX remain in control of its playoff fate.
Tied with TNT at eighth as they vie for the last quarterfinal berth, the Road Warriors will directly qualify for the playoffs if they beat Ginebra, and the Tropang Giga lose to Phoenix in their final elimination-round assignments.
If both NLEX and TNT lose, they will dispute the No. 8 seed in the playoffs in a sudden death.
Rookie Enoch Valdez led all of the Road Warriors’ locals with 19 points and 9 rebounds, while Richie Rodger and Sean Anthony added 14 points each as NLEX won back-to-back games for the first time this conference.
The Road Warriors put to waste a sensational effort by FiberXers import Jamil Wilson, who fired 50 points on top of 14 rebounds in the loss that dropped Converge to 1-9.
NLEX 107 – Williams-Baldwin 22, Valdez 19, Bolick 15, Anthony 14, Rodger 14, Nermal 12, Miranda 6, Herndon 5, Salado 0, Fajardo 0, Semerad 0.
Converge 103 – Wilson 50, Arana 19, Fornilos 8, Melecio 5, Nieto 5, Stockton 4, Fleming 4, Wong 4, Winston 2, Maagdenberg 2, Ambohot 0, Delos Santos 0, Santos 0.
Quarters: 25-22, 51-43, 80-81, 107-103.
– Rappler.com
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SC suspends lawyer in Yanson family feud in Bacolod
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Herbie G
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08/01/2024 11:55
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ALLIES. Ginette Yanson Dumancas and brother Leo Rey Yanson flank family matriarch Olivia during her 89th birthday celebration on January 23, 2023.
Dindo Danao
BACOLOD, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) has suspended one of the lawyers in the controversial Yanson family feud in Bacolod City for gross misconduct.
The High Tribunal suspended lawyer Jun Maxwell Orlina from the practice of law for one year, showed a decision issued and signed by SC Deputy Division Clerk of Court and acting SC 1st Division Clerk of Court Maria Teresa Sibulo.
The ruling was made on August 9, 2023 but posted on SC website only on December 18, 2023.
Orlina serves as one of the legal counsels of what has been dubbed in Bacolod as the Yanson 2 or Y2, which is composed of siblings Leo Ray and Ginnette Yanson Dumancas.
In August 2023, their mother, billionaire Olivia Villaflores Yanson secured a legal approval from a regional court for the probate of her will, designating only two of her six children – Leo Ray and Ginnette – as rightful heirs to the vast family business empire.
The Yanson Group, owner of one of Asia’s largest bus fleets comprising nearly 5,000 units, has a workforce of about 18,000 employees.
After the family’s patriarch, Ricardo Yanson, passed away on October 28, 2015, the family has been involved in a turbulent feud, including a physical struggle for control of their company.
The Bacolod City Regional Trial Court Branch 44, in its August 31, 2023 ruling, affirmed that Olivia was in sound mental capacity when she freely executed her will.
Dismissing allegations of undue influence put forth by her disinherited children Roy, Emily, Celina and Ricardo Jr. – also known as the Yanson 4 or Y4 – the court upheld the validity of the testament, solidifying Leo Ray and Ginnette’s claim to the significant Yanson business legacy.
Earlier that month, however, the SC found Orlina guilty of violating the lawyer’s oath, Section 1 of Canon II and Section 2 of Canon III of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA).
“He (Orlina) is directed to report the date of his receipt of Resolution to enable this Court to determine when the penalties shall take effect,” a portion of the August 9 decision read.
Neither Orlina nor the Y2 faction has issued a statement as of this posting. Rappler will update this story once they do.
The SC decision was based on a 2019 complaint by Roy and Emily Yanson against Orlina. The complaint accused Orlina of falsely certifying a quorum in a special stockholders’ meeting of the Vallacar Transit Incorporated (VTI), conducted by Leo Ray, Ginette, and Olivia, on August 19, 2019. The complaint alleged that Orlina knew the meeting was in violation of the Revised Corporation Code and the company’s By-laws.
The complaint was referred by the SC to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Commission on Bar Discipline (IBP-CBD) for investigation.
On November 12, 2022, the IBP-CBD issued a resolution suspending Orlina from practicing law and providing notarial services for one year after it found the lawyer to have “purposely made false statements regarding the shareholdings of VTI and falsely certified to the existence of a quorum in a Special Stockholders’ meeting of VTI conducted by his clients.”
In the resolution, the IBP stated that documents showed that the Y4 faction “collectively own the majority shares of stocks in VTI,” equivalent to 61% of the firm’s outstanding capital stock.
“That special board meeting on July 7, 2019 wherein the board of directors (BOD) of VTI removed respondent’s client, Leo Ray as VTI president for loss of trust and confidence, and the designation of Roy as president of the company was a valid exercise of corporate powers as the Board present (that time) constituted a quorum, as reflected in the General Information Sheet (GIS) of VTI,” a portion of the IBP-CBD’s resolution read.
In that meeting, Orlina was named corporate secretary of VTI.
The IBP-CBD, however, stated that the special stockholders’ meeting called by Leo Ray on August 19, 2019 had no effect.
“That meeting,” the IBP-CBD stated, “did not meet the required quorum under Section 51 of RCC to conduct business.”
In the August 9, 2023 ruling, the SC adopted the IBP findings, report, and recommendation.
The SC said Orlina “participated in the August 19, 2019 Special Stockholders’ meeting and was designated as Acting Corporate Secretary despite knowing that it was being conducted in violation of the RCC and the By-Laws of VTI.”
The SC also noted that Orlina participated in a press conference held immediately after the meeting just to announce the outcome of the 2019 meeting.
The SC stated that Orlina “violated the lawyer’s oath, and failed to exhibit the proper conduct in accordance with Section 1, Canon II of the CPRA, and similarly, fell short of his duty to be a responsible and accountable lawyer in accordance with Section 2, Canon III of the CPRA.”
“Atty. Orlina’s participation in the illegal acts amounts to gross misconduct,” the SC stated as it warned that a repetition of a similar violation would be dealt with more severely. – Rappler.com
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[WATCH] Mary Jane Veloso’s mother pleads Marcos, Jokowi anew: Free my daughter
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Chito de la Vega
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10/01/2024 18:15
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MANILA, Philippines – As outgoing Indonesian President Joko Widodo kicked off his three-day official visit to Manila, the parents of Filipino death row inmate Mary Jane Veloso pleaded with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to seek clemency anew for their daughter incarcerated in Indonesia.
The Indonesian leader’s visit coincided with Mary Jane’s 39th birthday on Wednesday, January 10. She has spent over a decade imprisoned in Indonesia over drug trafficking, though she, her family, and her supporters maintain that she was a victim of human trafficking.
“Iyan na po ibigay ninyong regalo sa kanyang kaarawan ngayon – ang kanyang kalayaan (This is the gift you can give her on her birthday – her freedom),” said Celia Veloso, Mary Jane’s mother, in a picket in Mendiola on Wednesday.
Celia and her husband Cesar wanted to hand over the letter to Malacañang personally, but police told their lawyer Katherine Panguban that only a lawyer would be allowed inside the Palace to deliver the letter. Law enforcement personnel escorted Panguban, and the Palace officially received the appeal.
Mary Jane was arrested in 2010 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia for bringing with her a suitcase packed with over 2.6 kilograms of heroin. It was her recruiters, Maria Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao, who gave her the suitcase. (READ: The story of Mary Jane Veloso, in her own words)
Within months of her arrest, an Indonesian court sentenced her to death. But she was granted a stay in her execution in 2015 following the surrender of her recruiters to Philippine police. In 2020, the Sergio and Lacanilao were found guilty of large-scale illegal recruitment in a case separate from Mary Jane’s.
In May 2023, on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, Marcos asked the Indonesian president, more popularly known as Jokowi, to reexamine Mary Jane’s case.
Mary Jane has yet to give her testimony in her human trafficking case against her recruiters in a Nueva Ecija Regional Trial Court.
In a statement on Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro said during Jokowi’s visit that “the legal interrogatories required from the Philippine Regional Trial Court on the case of Mary Jane Veloso have been sent to Jakarta for Ms. Veloso to answer, as part of her testimony on the pending case that she filed against her illegal recruiters.”
Lazaro said President Marcos hoped that the progression of the case will merit her clemency at an appropriate time.
“The Philippine government will continuously exhaust all efforts to assist Ms. Veloso and her family,” added Lazaro.
Mary Jane’s parents and sons were able to spend Christmas with her in Indonesia last month through assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Jokowi, who decided to delay Mary Jane’s execution in 2015, is set to end his term in October. – Michelle Abad/Rappler.com
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Mikey Williams no-show irks Strong Group ahead of Dubai tourney
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Jasmine Payo
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10/01/2024 20:01
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STAR GUARD. Mikey Williams in action for the TNT Tropang Giga in the 2023 PBA Governors' Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines — Strong Group team manager Jacob Lao blasted embattled guard Mikey Williams for reneging on his commitment to join the squad as it prepares for the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship.
Expected to join practice at the Urdaneta Village in Makati on Wednesday, January 10, Williams was a no-show, prompting a lengthy rant from the team official.
“At first, he agreed to the price. Then he asked for a specific time frame for his arrival. However, he just didn’t show up at our practice when everybody was expecting him to, including former NBA stars and starters,” Lao said in a statement released to the media.
“Now, he is not even answering our calls. We have no choice but to look for other options,” he added.
According to head coach Charles Tiu, the shifty scorer was his first choice as he assembled the team that will play in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship, which is now bannered by former NBA star Dwight Howard.
Williams will be replaced by another guard, former Gilas Pilipinas player Jordan Heading, who is set to join practice on Thursday, January 11.
The Fil-Am guard has been at an impasse with the Tropang Giga since the franchise terminated his contract last November.
Williams, who was the fourth overall pick in 2021, led TNT to a championship and ended up runner-up to Scottie Thompson to the PBA Most Valuable Player race during his rookie season.
He then signed a three-year extension and helped lead TNT to its first Governors’ Cup title in franchise history, earning Finals MVP along the way.
Lao, who is also the team manager of the Converge FiberXers, added that this is his first instance of non-commitment from a player.
“Now, I understand the management of the team he played for before.”
Along with eight-time NBA All-Star Howard, the Strong Group team is led by former Gilas Pilipinas naturalized center Andray Blatche and ex-Oklahoma City Thunder guard Andre Roberson.
Other local talent include UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao, UP guard JD Cagulangan, and Mackenzie Moore, among others.
Tiu earlier told media that Williams was working on a clearance from TNT.
“So we just decided to move on… but it is what it is, you know, we’ll find ways to win without him,” said Tiu.
“But you know, he would have been a great addition for it.” — Rappler.com
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Newsbreak Chats: Martin Romualdez’s expanding power
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Jodesz Gavilan
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10/01/2024 15:01
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Bookmark this page to catch the discussion live on Thursday, January 11, at 4 pm!
MANILA, Philippines – Martin Romualdez is making big moves, and not just in the political sphere.
A two-part Rappler investigative series found that companies allegedly linked to Romualdez, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, are now becoming more active compared to previous years. Big businesses are also cozying up to him in an attempt to gain favors.
These developments are all happening as Romualdez plays a bigger role in the administration of his cousin, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
On Thursday, January 11, Rappler investigative editor Chay Hofileña speaks with the writer of the series, business and economic reporter Ralf Rivas, to discuss the ever expanding power and influence of Romualdez. They will be joined by Rappler multimedia reporter Kaycee Valmonte, who follows the House of Representatives.
What are the signs that show the increasing stature of Romualdez in the present administration? How will all of these play out as the 2025 elections near and amid the ongoing rift between the Marcos and Duterte factions?
Watch Newsbreak Chats on Thursday, January 11, at 4 pm to catch the discussion live.
Read the two reports below.
– Rappler.com
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Demonizing EDSA? Cha-Cha ad surprises public during primetime TV
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Kaycee
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10/01/2024 15:48
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EDSA-PWERA? Television ad surprised audiences on Tuesday, January 9, during primetime TV.
Screengrab of TV ad
MANILA, Philippines – Filipinos tuned into primetime evening newscasts on Tuesday, January 9, saw a paid advertisement on the supposed “failures” of the 1987 Constitution to highlight the need for charter change.
“Pangako nila pagsulong pero sa pagbuo ng 1987 Constitution, na-Edsa-pwera tayo (They promised us progress but in forming the 1987 Constitution, we were left out),” the commercial’s narrator said, in a word play on EDSA – a reference to the 1986 People Power Revolution that toppled the dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos – and etsapuwera, the Filipino term for being excluded or cast aside.
The ad was aired amid questions about the integrity of a fresh charter change bid through people’s initiative. Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman bared over the weekend an alleged plan to bribe voters to sign the petition calling for charter change, while similar campaigns were noted by Senator Imee Marcos and Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte, among others.
Lawmakers from the House of Representatives have been keen on amending the Constitution, saying they would focus on its economic provisions.
The Cha-Cha ad focuses on the alleged losses the country suffered under the provisions of the 1987 Constitution – from business and economic opportunities to missing out on having quality education.
“Ang pinayaman ng Konstitusyon, mamamakyaw at negosyante (The Constitution enriched wholesalers and businessmen),” the ad claimed, without citing facts or other resources to support this allegation.
Over on X (formerly Twitter), the public who were tuning in to newscasts noted that the ad was aired across ABS-CBN, TV5, and GMA.
It is still unclear which advertising firm is behind the commercial or if it was produced in-house.
One of the commercials aired featured a text saying it was paid for by Gana Atienza Avisado Law Offices. Their clientele includes former Senator Panfilo Lacson, Leyte 4th District Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez, and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, a cousin of Speaker Martin Romualdez and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In an interview on Thursday, January 11, with ANC News Channel, the firm’s managing partner, Evaristo Gana, said the ad was meant to spur public discussion on constitutional amendments.
The Ad Standards Council oversees the self-regulation of advertising stakeholders. Its Code of Ethics specifically states that advertisements “shall not contain messages that deride or otherwise discredit the law and its enforcement.”
Lagman linked the ad to the Marcos family.
“The ‘EDSA-pwera’ charter change ad campaign is part of the Marcos family’s continuing demonization of the EDSA People’s Power Revolution which ousted the Marcos dictatorship and helped install the ‘Cory Constitution’ or the present 1987 Philippine Constitution,” he said in a statement on Wednesday, January 10
“The ad is crudely crafted and there is nothing substantial conveyed in the message,” he added.
Former senator Leila de Lima echoed Lagman, adding that the “trash” ad is “a subtle continued attempt at historical revisionism.”
“This is once again an attempt to muddle facts with relentless lies and false content just to pursue their selfish interests and political agenda. Malinaw ang pakay: Lalo pang lasunin ang diwa ng EDSA habang isinusulong ang charter change (The goal is clear: To further poison the spirit of EDSA while pursuing charter change),” she said in a statement on Thursday.
She said in Filpino that the ad casts doubt on the integrity of the charter change bid, as the argument the ad presents is “based on a defamation, deception, and lies.”
De Lima said that all Filipinos who are conscious of the truth would know who had been cast aside after the EDSA Revolution: “Ang diktador at ang kanyang pamahalaang tadtad ng katiwalian at pang-aabuso (The dictator and his government marked by corruption and abuses).”
De Lima said that the 1987 Constitution was crafted to prevent abuses, especially of those who wish to cling to power.
Kabataan Partylist also slammed the ad and connected it to the Marcos family.
“The TV ad is a pro-dictatorship and Marcos rehabilitation propaganda video packaged as advocacy. In reality, sinusulong lang nito ang pro-oligarch agenda: 100% foreign ownership ng assets, term extensions, at iba pang self-serving revisions (it is pushing for the pro-oligarch agenda: 100% foreign ownership ng assets, term extensions, and other self-serving revisions),” Kabataan said in a statement on Thursday.
The group called the ad “OA” for claiming that the country’s poverty problem is rooted in the Constitution.
“Limang konstitusyon na ang pinagdaanan natin pero di naman niresolba ng bawat Cha-Cha ang dati nang mga suliranin tulad ng kawalan ng lupa, trabaho, industriya, at pati na rin ang laganap na inhustisya, katiwalian, at pagpapakatuta sa dayuhan,” Kabataan said.
(We have gone through five constitutions but Cha-Cha did not solve the problems on land, jobs, industries, as well as widespread injustice, corruption, and subservience to foreigners.)
“Hindi sa EDSA o sa isang dokumento nagmula ang ating mga problema. Matindi na ang krisis sa ekonomya bago pa mag-EDSA People Power. Baon tayo sa utang noon at hanggang ngayon. Hindi pa rin nalulutas ang mga ugat ng rebelyon. Para umunlad ang bansa, hindi Konstitusyon ang bara, kaya hindi rin Cha-Cha ang sagot,” it added.
(Our problems did not sprout from EDSA or any single document. The economic crisis was already severe before before the EDSA People Power. We had been mired in debt long before until now. The roots of teh rebellion had yet to be addressed. The Constiution is not a hindrance to national development, and therefore, Cha-Cha, is also not the answer.)
Akbayan Partylist said in a statement on Thursday that constitutional amendments are not needed for “crucial actions” that the people want.
Akbayan said the people want “their government to impartially enforce all existing laws, tackle inflation, combat corruption, appoint capable officials – especially a competent education secretary – dismantle political dynasties, and hold all extrajudicial killers and plunderers accountable, starting with the Dutertes.”
“Amending the Constitution will not cure the problem of corruption and poverty,” said human rights lawyer and Martial Law victim Neri Colmenares. – With reports from Reuters/Rappler.com
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If I am allowed to revise Cong. Lagman’s statement: “The ad is crudely crafted and there is nothing substantial conveyed in the message” – to: The ad is “rudely” crafted, it is assumed to be substantially paid and it carries a dangerous message. More likely, it is designed by the Marcos-Romualdez Disinformation Machinery.
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FACT CHECK: DSWD’s Unconditional Cash Transfer program ended in 2020
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Ailla Dela Cruz
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10/01/2024 18:53
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Claim: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will provide monthly payouts as part of its Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) program.
Why we fact-checked this: The claim was found in a post on the Facebook group “4ps Nationwide updates,” which has over 270,000 members. The post shared on January 5 has garnered over 293 reactions, 48 comments, and 25 shares as of writing.
The Facebook post claims that payouts under the UCT program will run from January 5 to 29, and includes a supposed link to the payout schedules. It also claims that a budget of P1 billion was approved for the program.
The facts: In an email to Rappler, the DSWD-Agency Operations Service confirmed that the UCT program has already ended, contrary to the claim.
“Para po sa pangkalahatang impormasyon, ang UCT ay ipinatupad noong taong 2018 at nagtapos noong taong 2020 sa ilalim ng RA 10963 o TRAIN Law at ng DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 03, series of 2018 o Implementing Guidelines for the Unconditional Cash Transfer Program,” DSWD said.
(For general information, the UCT was implemented in 2018 and concluded in 2020 under Republic Act 10963 or the TRAIN Law and DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 03, series of 2018, or the Implementing Guidelines for the Unconditional Cash Transfer Program.)
UCT program: The UCT program provided cash grants to poor households and individuals to help them cope with the adverse economic impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. Qualified beneficiaries received cash grants of P200 per month for the first year of implementation and P300 per month for succeeding years.
Under the DSWD’s implementing guidelines, qualified beneficiaries for the cash grants included households in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), beneficiaries of the social pension program, and other poor households in the database of the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction.
Not in the 2024 budget: Contrary to the claim, the 2024 budget of the DSWD does not include allocations for the UCT program. The 2024 General Appropriations Act includes appropriations for the government’s conditional cash transfer program 4Ps, which has an allocated budget of P106.3 billion.
Fact-checked: A closer look at the link included in the Facebook post also shows that it redirects to a blog site unrelated to the DSWD’s official website. Similar links can be found in previous fact check articles published by Rappler debunking financial aid schemes supposedly from the DSWD:
Official accounts: For official updates on DSWD programs and services, refer to its official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube accounts. – Marie Flor Cabarrubias/Rappler.com
Marie Flor Cabarrubias is a Rappler intern. She is a fourth year Communication Research student at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Sta. Mesa Manila.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to#FactsFirstPH tipline by messagingRappler on Facebook orNewsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through ourViber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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Dwight Howard asks PBA to reconsider height limit
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Jasmine Payo
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10/01/2024 15:43
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STAR POWER. Former NBA star Dwight Howard in a practice session with Strong Group.
Strong Group Athletics
MANILA, Philippines – Three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard said he is not closing the door on the PBA, only if it reconsiders its height limit on imports.
“I’m eligible for the PBA. So, I think they gotta change the height requirements because I’m 6’9” without shoes,” Howard told reporters during Strong Group’s practice at Urdaneta Village in Makati on Wednesday, January 10.
“I hope they do that so guys like Dray can come back here and play as well, you know we want to play in the PBA,” the former NBA star added, referring to the 6-foot-11 Andray Blatche, who’s also a Gilas naturalized player.
“If they change the height requirements, maybe we’ll see twin towers in the Philippines.”
Currently, Asia’s oldest pro basketball league allows a maximum height of 6-foot-9 without shoes for the Commissioner’s Cup and 6-foot-6 for the Governors’ Cup.
Howard, along with former Oklahoma City Thunder defensive stalwart Andre Roberson, Mackenzie Moore, and Blatche, were present in the practice session as the team gears up for the 2024 Dubai International Basketball Championship on January 19 to 28.
Other attendees were UAAP Season 86 Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao, La Salle teammate Francis Escandor, and UP’s JD Cagulangan.
Rounding out the 11 were MPBL MVP Justine Baltazar, and the College of St. Benilde (CSB) trio of Allen Liwag, Justine Sanchez, and Tony Ynot.
Former Gilas Pilipinas player Jordan Heading is expected to join the team on Thursday, January 11, to complete the 12-man roster.
Howard, a key member of the 2020 NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, raved about representing the basketball-crazed nation for the first time.
“We’ve been really focused on what our mission is, and why I’m here, so everybody’s locked in and I really love the energy from all the guys, everybody’s focused,” said Howard.
“They all understand how important this tournament is, not just for us to win but for their future career in basketball,” he said of the pocket tournament featuring some of the top teams in the Middle East.
“It’s been a great opportunity and I’m super happy that I got a chance to be a part of it.”
The loaded team, coached by CSB mentor Charles Tiu, is expected to leave for Dubai on January 17. — Rappler.com
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Caracut earns PBA Player of the Week honors as Rain or Shine resurgence continues
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delfin.dioquino editor
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10/01/2024 17:13
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SHOT. Andrei Caracut in action for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner's Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – Andrei Caracut has been a steady figure for a reinvigorated Rain or Shine side that has turned its fortunes around in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Caracut earned the PBA Press Corps Player of the Week honors for the period of January 5 to 7 as the Elasto Painters surprisingly advanced to the playoffs despite a woeful 0-5 start to the conference.
The Elasto Painters locked up the seventh quarterfinal berth after hacking out a 119-112 win over TNT on Friday, January 5, a game where the 5-foot-11 guard led all Rain or Shine locals with 23 points.
Caracut added 4 assists and 2 rebounds and scattered 8 points of his output in the pivotal fourth quarter as the Elasto Painters stretched their winning streak to five games.
The La Salle product has been the most consistent local for head coach Yeng Guiao, averaging 16.4 points, 5.1 assists, and 2.7 rebounds.
He also erupted for a career-high 32 points this conference.
Caracut edged Meralco star Chris Newsome for the weekly citation following a tight voting among the men and women regularly covering the PBA.
Newsome contended for the award after delivering 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists as the Bolts claimed a gritty 85-80 win over league-leading Magnolia in Iloilo City on Saturday. – Rappler.com
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Sarah Lahbati, Richard Gutierrez unfollow each other on Instagram amid breakup rumors
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Ysa Abad
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10/01/2024 16:34
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Richard Gutierrez's Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Eagle-eyed netizens noticed that long-time celebrity couple Sarah Lahbati and Richard Gutierrez are no longer following each other’s Instagram accounts, further fueling speculation that they’ve parted ways.
Sarah was the first to unfollow Richard on Tuesday morning, January 9. Aside from her husband, the Swiss-Filipino actress also no longer followed the accounts of Richard’s mother, Annabelle Rama, and siblings, Ruffa and Raymond. At the time, all of them still followed Sarah’s account.
However, on Wednesday, January 10, Richard, as well as his mother and siblings, have also unfollowed Sarah’s account. While Richard no longer follows Sarah’s official Instagram accounts, he still follows a certain Sarah Lahbati fan page that was last updated in 2013.
The unfollowing on social media came days after reports that Richard was seen at a gastropub with actress Barbie Imperial. The two previously worked together in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.
Speculations that Sarah and Richard’s relationship is on the rocks started making rounds in November 2023 when the model-actress was absent from Annabelle’s birthday celebration. These rumors were further fueled by Sarah’s Instagram display name changes from Sarah Lahbati-Gutierrez, SLG, and finally to Sarah Lahbati.
Prior to this, Sarah appeared in the finale episode of the ABS-CBN teleserye The Iron Heart in October 2023. The series starred her husband.
While neither Sarah nor Richard have made an official statement about the state of their marriage yet, Annabelle revealed in a December 2023 interview with ABS-CBN News that her son Richard has been living with her for a month already. In the same interview, Annabelle refused to confirm or deny if the two had gone their separate ways, only saying that the public will know their status soon.
Meanwhile, Sarah also denied the rumors that she was speaking ill of mother-in-law.
Sarah and Richard welcomed their first child Zion in 2013 when the former was 19 and the latter was 29. They later welcomed their second son Kai in 2018. The couple eventually wed in 2020. – Rappler.com
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Gastroenteritis outbreak declared in Baguio
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Mia Gonzalez
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10/01/2024 17:51
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HEALTH EMERGENCY. Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong holds a press briefing with other local officials on January 10, 2024.
Mia Magdalena Fokno
BAGUIO, Philippines – Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong declared a gastroenteritis outbreak in the city on Wednesday, January 10.
Magalong announced this during a press briefing, where he outlined a series of actions to mitigate the outbreak.
“To the citizens and visitors of Baguio City, rest assured that we are doing everything to control the outbreak. Magtiwala lang po kayo sa amin. Hindi po kami natutulog (Trust us. We will not rest),” he said.
Magalong said authorities will determine the source of the outbreak to address the problem in coordination with other local government units, especially in the BLISTT (Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, Tublay) area.
Magalong ordered a comprehensive testing of water sources, including those of water delivery companies and deep wells.
The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) will assist the City Health Service Office and the Baguio Water District in an expedited data gathering and water testing operation.
As of 4 pm on Wednesday, the City Health Services Office (CHSO) recorded 1,761 self-reported cases of gastroenteritis. Dr. Donabel Tubera-Panes of the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit said that 20% of these cases have sought medical consultation. The City’s QR code system facilitated the self-reporting process.
The outbreak has affected 218 establishments and 80 households. Eighty of the establishments are located in SM Baguio, 134 in other Baguio establishments, and 4 in La Trinidad.
Tourists have also been affected, with some requiring hospitalization, city officials said.
Magalong assured the public of the city’s readiness to provide medical assistance in coordination with the Baguio General Hospital.
As a preventive measure, food establishments have been advised against serving tap and filtered water, and to serve purified water instead. Households have been instructed to use either purified or boiled tap water.
Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, the acting City Health Services Officer, emphasized the importance of recognizing gastroenteritis symptoms, which include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and pain, diarrhea, and in some cases, bloody stools.
Brillantes also stressed the significance of proper hand hygiene, recommending washing hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
The outbreak is not confined to Baguio City, with reports also emerging from La Trinidad and Itogon in Benguet. Magalong has indicated plans for consultations with the LISTT (La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, Tublay) to address the broader impact of the outbreak.
In a statement, SM City Baguio outlined its commitment to safety and sanitation, highlighting its collaboration with the local City Health Office for comprehensive water testing and its temporary shift to serving mineral or bottled water.
Magalong convened an emergency health team to craft a strategic response. This includes rapid testing using Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) testers among the affected establishments and households, followed by confirmatory microbial analyses for positive cases.
The Baguio Water District is also conducting tests on its 67 water sources.
Sanitary orders have been issued to the most affected establishments, mandating extensive clean-up and retesting before resuming operations. All food establishments, regardless of reported cases, have been directed to serve only purified water.
The Department of Health said on Thursday, January 11, that it will with with the Baguio City Government to address the outbreak.
The Department of Health said it will be working with the Baguio City Government to address the gastroenteritis outbreak in the city. The DOH noted the spike in diarrhea cases reported from December 21 to January 7, and 11 of these have been admitted to hospitals.
– With reports from Kaycee Valmonte/Rappler.com
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Fishers file complaint before LLDA vs reclamation in Laguna Lake
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Iya Gozum
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10/01/2024 15:31
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Groups protest outside the office of the Laguna Lake Development Authority on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, to demand the suspension of reclamation activities in Laguna Lake.
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice
MANILA, Philippines – Fisherfolk, led by the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (FARMC) in Rizal, filed a complaint before the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) on Wednesday, January 10, asking for the suspension of reclamation activities in Laguna Lake.
Joining the fisherfolk during the protest outside LLDA’s national office were groups Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, Sanlakas Rizal, and the Alliance of Unified People’s Organization in Lupang Arenda (APOLA).
Fisherfolk are on the losing end if reclamation activities for the development projects in Laguna Lake continue, said Sonny San Jose, chairperson of Rizal FARMC, in a statement.
“Sa pagliit ng espasyo na puwede naming pangisdaan, lumiliit din ang aming kabuhayan,” San Jose said. (As the space where we can fish diminishes, our livelihood is curtailed.)
Signing the complaint alongside San Jose were members of FARMC in Tanay, Taytay, Angono, Binangonan, Morong, Baras, Jala-Jala, and Pililia. Vicente Barlos, president of APOLA, and Jose Tagle, president of Federation Binangonan, were also signatories.
In the complaint, they urged the LLDA to order a suspension of activities pending investigation, and to start the rehabilitation of affected areas.
The LLDA can receive complaints as a quasi-judicial agency. The body could issue a decision and/or take official action after its investigation. Decisions released by quasi-judicial agencies are usually brought to courts.
Barlos told Rappler in a phone interview that a staff from the LLDA met with them when they filed the complaint and said the office promised to hold a dialogue with them after a week. Barlos said the LLDA clarified that what’s happening in the area was not reclamation but land recovery.
“Sa totoo, kaliwa’t kanan ang ginagawa nilang reclamation,” said Barlos. (In truth, they’re doing reclamation left and right.)
Among the projects slated in the area are large-scale ones, including the government’s Laguna Lakeshore Road Network and San Miguel Corporation’s Southeast Metro Manila Expressway.
Laguna Lake is the largest inland lake in the country, connected to Manila Bay through the Pasig River. It is surrounded by Metro Manila and the provinces of Rizal and Laguna.
The complainants said they conducted a fluvial inspection of Laguna Lake in November 2023 and observed reclamation activities in Taytay, Angono, and Binangonan.
According to them, no consultations were conducted with residents and other affected sectors about the nature and purpose of the projects.
They have since tried to seek clarifications from concerned agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Philippine Reclamation Authority, to no avail.
Thus, they said, they were invoking the authority of the LLDA to investigate the matter.
“[This] complaint is the next step in our search for answers and solutions,” the document read.
Under the law, the LLDA is tasked to protect the lake and regulate development and livelihood activities. The body can “pass upon and approve or disapprove” proposed projects from the government and private sector. – Rappler.com
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DA says oversupply not to blame for drop in Cordillera vegetable prices
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Herbie G
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10/01/2024 16:07
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BUSY LANE. The decades-old La Trinidad Trading Center, situated in the capital town of Benguet, continues to be the prime hub for highland vegetables in the Cordillera. It typically trades 1.7 million kilograms daily before the products make their way to the major markets in Luzon.
Sherwin De Vera/Rappler
BAGUIO, Philippines – Agriculture officials in the Cordillera said on Tuesday, January 9, that oversupply did not lead to a drop in highland vegetable prices in the region.
In a statement released on Wednesday, January 9, the Department of Agriculture in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) said the abnormal trading activities causing the plummet in prices resulted from the lack of buyers from December 28 to January 3.
During a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the DA-CAR on Tuesday, officials showed data about a 6.8% decline in cabbage production and a mere 1.10% growth in the Chinese cabbage harvest during the same period.
“The unsold vegetables that were brought to the trading posts on January 1 to 3 due to the lesser number of buyers eventually deteriorated in quality, and this was the reason they were being either given free or sold at a lower price,” DA-CAR said.
DA-CAR Information Officer Aida Pagtan explained that the events of the first three days of January were ‘unusual, not something the buyers were accustomed to.’
For years, groups like the League of Associations at La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Areas Incorporated (LTVTA) have blamed importation and smuggling for flooding the domestic market with cheaper vegetables.
Pagtan said importation had nothing to do with the current predicament, especially in the case of cabbage. She noted that information provided by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) on imported agricultural products last year did not include cabbage.
“We have only a few carrots from the US and Australia. For potatoes, it is the big food companies that have import requests… even cauliflower and broccoli are small in volume,” she said.
According to the list of allowable fresh fruits and vegetable imports from the National Plant Quarantine Services Division, an office under the BPI, only the US can export cabbage to the country.
Domestic traders may also import highland vegetables like lettuce, carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower from Australia, New Zealand, and the US.
Based on the office’s online database, there are at least 76 and 45 licensed importers of carrots and cabbage, respectively.
However, Pagtan admitted that they have not tracked those entering the local market illegally, a concern raised by LTVTA as a reason for the farmers’ woes.
In its 2023 midyear accomplishment report, the Bureau of Customs (BoC) said it confiscated smuggled agricultural products worth P2.9 billion, higher than the P2 billion worth of seizures in 2022.
DA-CAR has initiated measures to salvage the harvested vegetables, particularly cabbage. As of January 9, the office has facilitated the sale of 29.4 metric tons of cabbage, including those delivered in NCR and other Cordillera provinces through the efforts of the Anglican church.
The DA is planning to set up Kadiwa outlets in towns that are not planting highland vegetables. The office is also looking to work with the local governments for ordinances on vegetable dumping, crop production zoning, and marketing partnerships with farmers.
It said it was considering a proposal to set up trading centers in the Mountain Province and Region 3, and the improvement of the post-harvest processing capacity of the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC).
On Tuesday, LTVTA spokesperson Agot Balanoy acknowledged the efforts of DA-CAR, saying they have been coordinating with the office to address their concerns.
“The DA region is very responsive, but if there’s something that cannot be addressed locally, it is endorsed to the national office,” she said.
Balanoy, however, said the DA and local governments could do better by setting aside “emergency funds” in their annual budgets to buy excess vegetable supplies in the future.
“They could purchase unsold vegetables from farmers, at least covering the production cost, and sell them to other LGUs (local government units) or coordinate within the regions,” she said.
Balanoy also urged the national government to form the anti-smuggling task force again, which they worked with during the Duterte administration.
Lastly, Balanoy said, officials should rein in imports, adding, “It is not the right solution to lower the prices of vegetables.”
“If you look at the flow, the farmgate prices are low. If you allow imports to enter to lower the price but the farmgate remains the same, you are not solving the problem. What this will do is kill the farmers,” she said.
Balanoy added, “The reason why the prices of our vegetables are high is because of the layers of middlemen in Manila before the vegetables reach the consumers.”
Instead of focusing on imports, Balanoy said authorities should help farmers in lowering their production and transportation expenses. – Rappler.com
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NLEX taps import DeAndre Williams-Baldwin fresh out of college
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delfin.dioquino editor
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10/01/2024 18:22
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DUNK. DeAndre Williams-Baldwin of the Memphis Tigers.
Memphis Tigers Basketball Twitter page
MANILA, Philippines – NLEX is taking a different route with hopes of salvaging its campaign in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The Road Warriors tapped DeAndre Williams-Baldwin, a player fresh out of college, to be their new import as they hope to win their last two games of the elimination round to stay in the playoff hunt.
Williams-Baldwin replaces Stokley Chaffee Jr., whose five-game run with NLEX resulted in just one win.
Coming in as a replacement for former NBA player Thomas Robinson, Chaffee averaged solid numbers of 22.8 points, 13 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1 block, but victories have eluded the Road Warriors.
NLEX sits at ninth place with a 3-6 record and needs to win its last two matches to either force a sudden death for the last quarterfinal berth or secure an outright playoff spot.
Williams-Baldwin played four seasons in the US NCAA, first with the Evansville Purple Aces and then his last three years with the Memphis Tigers.
In his final season for Memphis last year, the 6-foot-9 Williams-Baldwin averaged 17.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.5 steals.
He debuts for the Road Warriors on Wednesday, January 10, against struggling Converge at the Araneta Coliseum. – Rappler.com
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Church leaders oppose copper mining project in Negros Occidental
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Herbie G
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10/01/2024 14:58
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DRILLING. Celsius Resources Limited, a subsidiary of Tambuli Mining Company Incorporated, starts drilling operations in Sagay City.
Celsius Resources Limited
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – Leaders of the Catholic Church in Negros Occidental under the Diocese of San Carlos issued a collective statement strongly opposing the chalcocite copper deposit mining project in Barangay Lopez Jaena in Sagay City.
“We express deep concern over Tambuli Mining Company Incorporated’s (TMCI) failure to address vital issues raised, particularly the potential impacts on soil, air, water, and the overall community well-being,” a portion of the statement released by the group read.
The statement was signed by the Reverend Father Julius Tormis, director of the Lunhaw Ecology Ministry; Reverend Father Joferson Garces, parish priest of the Saint Joseph Church in Sagay; Reverend Father Ricky Beboso, director of the Diocesan Social Action Center; and San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza.
The church leaders also pointed out the proximity of the proposed mining project to the Tan-ao and Himogaan rivers, which play an essential role in the lives of the people living in the area who rely on fishing, vegetable gardening, irrigation, and fishponds.
Aside from the two rivers, they said, the project also poses harm to the Sagay Marine Reserve, which receives the discharge of water from the communities near the proposed project site.
“To date, the company’s inability to provide satisfactory responses underscores the urgent need for a thorough examination of potential impacts on the community’s natural resources. The burden of addressing these concerns responsibly and comprehensively, prioritizing the community’s well-being and environmental preservation rests on Tambuli Mining Company Inc.,” the statement added.
Local church leaders also highlighted the cultural importance of the Himogaan River. They said it is where the annual Adlaw sa Suba (River Day) is being held aimed at raising appreciation and love for the river.
In a document submitted to the Environment Management Bureau (EMB), it was learned that TMCI was organized in 2008 as a company handling mining projects and exploration in the country. Since then, TMCI has engaged in different projects, including copper mining in Sagay City, which aims to generate 8.4 million tons of Chalcocite.
In Sagay, TMCI has an area of 4,584 hectares covered by an exploration permit.
The first phase of its geological exploration work was conducted by Freeport-MacMoRan in June-December 2008, which included geological mapping, gridlines preparations, soil and rock sampling, and geophysical surveys consisting of induced polarization, resistivity, and ground magnetics.
Based on the project brief of the TMCI, the drilling program started in 2012 at Sherman Hill and later at Nabiga-a Hill – all in Sagay City.
As of 2016, a total of 31 drill holes were completed with an aggregate meterage of 25,076.20 meters.
“Several mineralization styles were observed in the entire exploration area, but most of the drilling activities were focused in Nabiga-a Hill, with significant intercepts of porphyry copper-gold mineralization,” the brief read in part.
The proposed Chalcocite Copper mining project covers just 60 hectares out of the 4,584 hectares determined by the exploration permit granted to TMCI by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
According to TMCI, the project will have a mining capacity of 2.5 million metric tons (MT) of ore and waste, and a processing capacity of 900,000 MT per year, or 130,000 tons per month, using surface mining techniques.
The Chalcocite deposit in Sagay is estimated by TMCI to be 8.4 million tons in November 2022, which they claim to be sufficient to establish a sustainable and financially viable operation to meet the growing demand for copper worldwide, which is fueled by its critical role in the electronics, construction, renewable energy, and transportation industries.
With all the cited benefits of the project, Negros church leaders insisted that development should be integral and should cover all aspects of humanity and not just economically and politically-centered.
Thus, they urged all political leaders and policy-makers to be pro-poor, pro-people, and pro-environment, reflecting a commitment to justice, compassion, and sustainability. – Rappler.com
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Dwight Howard asks PBA to reconsider height limit
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Jasmine Payo
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10/01/2024 15:43
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STAR POWER. Former NBA star Dwight Howard in a practice session with Strong Group.
Strong Group Athletics
MANILA, Philippines – Three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard said he is not closing the door on the PBA, only if it reconsiders its height limit on imports.
“I’m eligible for the PBA. So, I think they gotta change the height requirements because I’m 6’9” without shoes,” Howard told reporters during Strong Group’s practice at Urdaneta Village in Makati on Wednesday, January 10.
“I hope they do that so guys like Dray can come back here and play as well, you know we want to play in the PBA,” the former NBA star added, referring to the 6-foot-11 Andray Blatche, who’s also a Gilas naturalized player.
“If they change the height requirements, maybe we’ll see twin towers in the Philippines.”
Currently, Asia’s oldest pro basketball league allows a maximum height of 6-foot-9 without shoes for the Commissioner’s Cup and 6-foot-6 for the Governors’ Cup.
Howard, along with former Oklahoma City Thunder defensive stalwart Andre Roberson, Mackenzie Moore, and Blatche, were present in the practice session as the team gears up for the 2024 Dubai International Basketball Championship on January 19 to 28.
Other attendees were UAAP Season 86 Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao, La Salle teammate Francis Escandor, and UP’s JD Cagulangan.
Rounding out the 11 were MPBL MVP Justine Baltazar, and the College of St. Benilde (CSB) trio of Allen Liwag, Justine Sanchez, and Tony Ynot.
Former Gilas Pilipinas player Jordan Heading is expected to join the team on Thursday, January 11, to complete the 12-man roster.
Howard, a key member of the 2020 NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, raved about representing the basketball-crazed nation for the first time.
“We’ve been really focused on what our mission is, and why I’m here, so everybody’s locked in and I really love the energy from all the guys, everybody’s focused,” said Howard.
“They all understand how important this tournament is, not just for us to win but for their future career in basketball,” he said of the pocket tournament featuring some of the top teams in the Middle East.
“It’s been a great opportunity and I’m super happy that I got a chance to be a part of it.”
The loaded team, coached by CSB mentor Charles Tiu, is expected to leave for Dubai on January 17. — Rappler.com
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FACT CHECK: Kai Sotto has not signed $3-billion NBA contract
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Lorenz Pasion
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10/01/2024 14:44
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Claim: Filipino basketball star Kai Sotto has signed a $3-billion contract with the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Why we fact-checked this: The claim can be found in the title of a YouTube video posted on January 8 by an account with 14,400 subscribers. As of writing, it has garnered 875 views, 15 likes, and 13 comments.
The title of the video says: “Kai Sotto $3B Contract sa NBA – Finally Confirmed na Congratulations!”
The bottom line: There are no official reports from reputable sources confirming Sotto’s signing with an NBA team. The video also does not provide any details about the supposed contract or which team Sotto allegedly joined.
Sotto himself has not made any such announcements on his official and verified Instagram account.
As of writing, Sotto is on loan from the Hiroshima Dragonflies and is playing with the Yokohama B-Corsairs in the Japan B. League. Yokohama made the announcement on its official and verified Instagram account. In a statement released on December 28, the Hiroshima Dragonflies said Sotto’s transfer to Yokohama will run until May 31, 2024.
Sotto said of the transfer: “I would like to thank everyone involved in the Yokohama B-Corsairs club for believing in me and signing me to play for the team despite my recovery from injury.”
The Filipino basketball star had suffered a back injury in his short stint with the Orlando Magic’s NBA Summer League team.
Rappler has previously published fact checks debunking claims related to Sotto:
– Katarina Ruflo/Rappler.com
Katarina Ruflo is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/kai-sotto-not-signed-billion-nba-contract/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2IU1Ujm2TsW4kg4FmWQmxvU2sN-xVgJghnA5OKnf3zJLc7Az-u_mD7L9w_aem_z7WNk-7hPzE4e5bidmdOFQ
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FACT CHECK: PH, US did not attack Chinese warships in West PH Sea
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Lorenz Pasion
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10/01/2024 14:57
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Claim: The Philippines and the United States attacked two suspicious Chinese warships during a joint patrol in the West Philippine Sea.
Why we fact-checked this: The YouTube video bearing the claim has 43,759 views, 826 likes, and 27 comments as of writing. It was posted on January 6 by a channel notorious for dubious claims about maritime activities in the South China Sea.
The video’s title bears the claim: “Tension Rises! U.S., Philippine Navy hit Chinese Warships Eavesdrop in South China Sea.”
The bottom line: Two Chinese vessels were indeed seen shadowing Philippine and US ships during the two-day joint maritime patrol held from January 3 to 4, but neither side engaged in any offensive action. Patrol vessel BRP Ramon Alcaraz only issued a radio challenge to the Chinese vessels but received no response.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also confirmed the shadowing and said there were no untoward incidents during the maritime activity.
Maritime patrols: The joint Philippine-US patrols were underway when China’s military announced it would be conducting its “routine patrols” with its navy and air forces in the South China Sea, but did not give specific details.
The maritime cooperative activity between the AFP and the United States Indo-Pacific Command was the second in less than two months in the West Philippine Sea, Manila’s term for waters in the South China Sea that fall within its exclusive economic zone.
China continues to assert sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, ignoring a tribunal ruling invalidating its claims, as tensions rise between Manila and Beijing. In 2023, the two countries traded accusations over several collisions and standoffs. (READ: Philippines ‘wargaming’ Chinese hostilities as sea standoffs intensify)
Unrelated ships: Aside from claiming that the Philippines was “uncovering Chinese warships’ suspicious activity” in the South China Sea, the misleading video did not provide much detail about the supposed encounter during the maritime patrols.
Instead, footage from unrelated vessels was shown while the narrator explained geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea. A video of artillery fire from the USS Harry S. Truman from April 2022 and Italian destroyer Andrea Doria (D-553) were included in the video for no reason.
Rappler has already published several fact-checks on false claims related to military activities:
– Kyle Marcelino/Rappler.com
Kyle Marcelino is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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FACT CHECK: Kai Sotto has not signed $3-billion NBA contract
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Lorenz Pasion
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10/01/2024 14:44
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Claim: Filipino basketball star Kai Sotto has signed a $3-billion contract with the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Why we fact-checked this: The claim can be found in the title of a YouTube video posted on January 8 by an account with 14,400 subscribers. As of writing, it has garnered 875 views, 15 likes, and 13 comments.
The title of the video says: “Kai Sotto $3B Contract sa NBA – Finally Confirmed na Congratulations!”
The bottom line: There are no official reports from reputable sources confirming Sotto’s signing with an NBA team. The video also does not provide any details about the supposed contract or which team Sotto allegedly joined.
Sotto himself has not made any such announcements on his official and verified Instagram account.
As of writing, Sotto is on loan from the Hiroshima Dragonflies and is playing with the Yokohama B-Corsairs in the Japan B. League. Yokohama made the announcement on its official and verified Instagram account. In a statement released on December 28, the Hiroshima Dragonflies said Sotto’s transfer to Yokohama will run until May 31, 2024.
Sotto said of the transfer: “I would like to thank everyone involved in the Yokohama B-Corsairs club for believing in me and signing me to play for the team despite my recovery from injury.”
The Filipino basketball star had suffered a back injury in his short stint with the Orlando Magic’s NBA Summer League team.
Rappler has previously published fact checks debunking claims related to Sotto:
– Katarina Ruflo/Rappler.com
Katarina Ruflo is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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Indonesia, Philippines discuss South China Sea developments – Marcos
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Victor Barreiro Jr.
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10/01/2024 13:29
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MARCOS AND JOKOWI. Indonesian President Joko Widodo, with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., gestures during his visit at the Malacanang Palace, in Manila, Philippines, January 10, 2024.
Ezra Acayan/Pool via Reuters
MANILA, Philippines – The leaders of the Philippines and Indonesia met on Wednesday, January 10, to discuss a range of regional issues including developments in the South China Sea and closer cooperation among member states of the Southeast Asian bloc.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hosted his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo for talks in Manila.
“President Widodo and I had a fruitful and honest discussion on regional events of mutual interests such as the developments in the South China Sea and ASEAN cooperation and initiatives,” he said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Jokowi added in a joint press conference after the meeting that the two countries had agreed to strengthen defense cooperation and existing agreements on border cooperation.
“We agreed to…expedite revision of joint border patrol and crossing agreements, also to strengthen the defense cooperation including on military hardware.” – Rappler.com
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Driver linked to missing beauty queen Catherine Camilon’s case surrenders to police
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Ysa Abad
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10/01/2024 11:59
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Catherine Camilon's Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – A suspect in the disappearance of beauty queen Catherine Camilon surrendered to the Balayan Municipal Police Station in Batangas on Tuesday, January 9.
In a press release, the Police Regional Office 4A identified the suspect as Jeffrey Ariola Magpantay.
According to authorities, the 33-year-old resident of Barangay San Roque, Rosario, Batangas personally appeared at the station to voluntarily submit himself. He was accompanied by his live-in partner.
Magpantay is believed to be the driver of Police Major Allan de Castro, the main suspect in Camilon’s case. De Castro earlier admitted that he had a relationship with the beauty queen.
Magpantay was among the four suspects that were charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
Authorities added that Magpantay is determined to cooperate with the legal process by submitting a waiver of detention signed by his legal counsel.
Camilon was first reported missing on October 12. Her mother Rose Camilon said that she last had a conversation with her daughter around 8 pm of October 12, wherein she was told that the 26-year-old high school teacher was at a gasoline station in Bauan and was going to a meeting in Batangas City.
Two witnesses claimed that they saw a bloodied, unconscious Camilon being transferred by three men from her gray Nissan Juke to a red Honda CRV in Bauan town on the night of October 12. The witnesses added that the men carrying Camilon saw them, and that one pointed a gun at them.
On November 8, the vehicle was found in a vacant lot at Barangay Dumuclay, Batangas City. The PNP Forensic Group reported that 17 hair strands, fingerprints, and 12 swabs of blood samples were found inside.
On November 20, authorities confirmed that the DNA evidence collected from the abandoned vehicle had matched with her relatives’ own DNA.
Camilon, who represented Tuy, Batangas in the Miss Grand Philippines 2023 pageant in July, was last seen alive at a mall in Lemery town. – Rappler.com
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Will you sell your soul for P100? Allegations vs charter change bid via people’s initiative
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Kaycee
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09/01/2024 16:22
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LOWER HOUSE. The House of Representatives opens its second regular session on Monday morning, July 24, 2023.
Dwight de Leon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – In the final stretch of 2023, House leaders said that amending the 1987 Constitution would be among their priorities in the new year.
Just a week into 2024, however, corruption allegations hounded a public petition calling for charter change.
Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman alleged that some mayors in his province had received “mobilization funds” for a people’s initiative for charter change. It was allegedly given by Ako Bicol party-list coordinators in a supposed bid to spur public support for the petition, at least in his province.
Ako Bicol Representative Jil Bongalon and Raymond Adrian Salceda, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Albay Chapter, both denied that funds were distributed during a meeting last week.
Changes in the constitution can be done through Congress, a constitutional convention, or via a people’s initiative.
Involving the public entails two things:
With over 65.7 million registered voters as of August 2022, Rappler estimates that at least 7.884 million registered voters are needed to kickstart charter change through people’s initiative.
According to Lagman, Albay’s League of Mayors called for a general meeting on Friday, January 5, without telling the mayors about the specific agenda. It was held at Ellis Hotel, which is allegedly owned by Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co, in Legazpi City.
“Voters who would sign the petition or people’s initiative will be given P100 each,” Lagman said in a statement on January 6.
He claimed that coordinators of Ako Bicol had already distributed half of the funds to the municipal mayors and coordinators who were in attendance. Three of Lagman’s constituent mayors planned to return the money, the opposition lawmaker said.
Vote buying is against the country’s Omnibus Election Code.
While Bongalon’s statement on Monday confirmed that he met with Albay mayors last week, he denied the “vote-buying” allegations.
In a separate statement, Salceda dismissed the allegation as “false and utterly ridiculous.”
“We pledged to help gather as much signatures in support of charter amendments, especially after learning from experts how the Constitution’s restrictive provisions hampered our progress as a nation,” Salcedo said, adding that they invited Bongalon and former congressman Alfredo Garbin as resource persons for the meeting.
The rumor surrounding the January 5 Albay meeting is not the only one that alleged vote-buying to bolster charter change via people’s initiative.
Kabataan Partylist said they had also received reports that a “template form” was being used to collect signatures at the barangay level.
“No clear organization claims the petition drive,” the partylist said in a statement on Sunday, January 7.
Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos cited other supposed activities related to the charter change bid, some allegedly done in the guise of financial assistance from government agencies.
“P20 million total kada distrito ang inaalok, meron pa akong narinig ‘nung malalaking siyudad na pinapromise-an din ng ganoon at ang sabi magproduce kayo ng 20,000 signatures by January 13,” Marcos said on Monday, January 8.
(Districts were offered P20 million each, and I also heard that bigger cities were also promised the exact same amount and were told to produce 20,000 signatures by January 13.)
On Tuesday night, January 9, Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte said in a statement posted on his Facebook page that the bid for charter change via people’s initiative has reached his city. He said he does not support it as “it is not the people’s voice but the voice of a few who wanted to perpetuate themselves in power.”
He said he was told that PBA Representative Margarita Nograles was supposedly spearheading the move in Davao City.
“To all Dabawenyos, do not sell your soul for a mere P100 or 10,000 in exchange for your signature. If you want to follow the MINIONS of the person DREAMING TO BE GREAT in Congress to perdition that is your choice,” the congressman said.
Based on a Facebook post, Nograles is currently in the United States where she said she “met with US law enforcement and Filipino-American advocacy groups to discuss possible areas of cooperation in the fight against child pornography and livelihood generation for women in the Davao region.”
Nograles has yet to address her House colleague’s statement.
In March 2023, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution to call for a constitutional convention.
Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda, who also chairs to House committee on ways and means, noted that there is a “need for urgent revisions in the constitution, particularly on the economic front.”
“The House has tried several times in the past to initiate charter change,” Salceda said on Monday.
“Such attempts have languished in the Senate,” he added. “Being nationally elected representatives of the people, it should be more encouraging to senators to heed the electorate’s call via people’s initiative.”
Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares warned against the renewed attempts to amend the Constitution.
“The people can kiss good-bye any semblance of checks and balance, as well as healthy debates and deliberations in the ConAss as it grants the House an overwhelming superiority to impose its will,” Colmenares said.
“This will have disastrous consequences on our Constitution,” he added.
Should the petition succeed, or if the nearly 8 million signatures of registered voters are collected from at least 3% of every legislative district, voting for changes in the Constitution would be done by lawmakers in a constituent assembly. This would include members of both houses of Congress.
In this scenario, with over 300 House members and just 24 senators, the votes of House members would easily sway decisions on amendments. In past discussions on a constituent assembly, senators pushed for the House and the Senate to vote separately. – Rappler.com
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Charter Change at a P100 per signature? The reason: “need for urgent revisions in the constitution, particularly on the economic front.” The overt emphasis is on the “economic front” but the hidden agenda is political. If the “paid” signature campaign wins, we can call the next Philippine Constitution a “bought” one.
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Cagayan de Oro sees Traslacion devotee turnout plummet by 84%
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Herbie G
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09/01/2024 14:22
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CAGAYAN DE ORO'S TRASLACION. Thousands of Catholic devotees join an early morning procession from the Saint Augustine Cathedral to the Jesus Nazareno Church during Cagayan de Oro's version of the Traslacion on January 9, 2024.
courtesy of Isabelle Czarina Soriano
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – The annual Traslacion in Cagayan de Oro on Tuesday, January 9, had a relatively low turnout, with the number of Catholic devotees dropping by around 84% compared to the previous year.
After attracting a crowd of at least 110,000 in 2023, the annual religious event saw a significant reduction, with only about 18,000 faithful participating in the religious procession.
Cagayan de Oro staged the Traslacion a month after extremists carried out a bomb attack, killing four people and injuring several dozen others attending a Catholic Mass at the state-run Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City, more than 100 kilometers away.
Despite serious security concerns, thousands of devotees braved the relatively chilly morning weather to join the annual Black Nazarene procession in the city.
Although fewer compared to past years, thousands of religious devotees chanted “Viva Nazareno!” as a gesture of veneration to the life-size statue of a dark-hued Jesus Christ carrying the cross, as it was being brought to its home, the Jesus Nazareno Church in Barangay Lapasan.
Colonel Evan Viñas, spokesperson of the Cagayan de Oro Police Office (COCPO), said some 18,000 Catholic devotees joined the annual procession from the Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral, where it had been brought the night before the event.
“The crowd is smaller this year compared to last year’s Traslacion, which drew more than 110,000 people,” Viñas said.
He attributed the low turnout to the non-declaration of a special non-working day in Cagayan de Oro, which, he said, would have allowed thousands of government workers in the predominantly Catholic city to join Cagayan de Oro’s version of Quiapo’s Traslacion.
Last week, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared January 9 as a special non-working day in Manila in time for the Traslacion.
The police in Northern Mindanao had expected 150,000 devotees to attend Cagayan de Oro’s Traslacion and had set up an elaborate security plan, deploying 1,000 policemen and soldiers to secure the procession.
The security preparation even included a bomb drill on Sunday, January 8, and the measures implemented during the procession included the jamming of all mobile communication signals for at least four hours.
Police said the security preparations were made with the December 3, 2023 Marawi bombing in mind.
“I am not scared of these bomb threats. My devotion to the Black Nazarene will protect me,” said 51-year-old Luz Torralba, who came from Panglao, Bohol, to take part in Cagayan de Oro’s Traslacion.
Torralba, a devotee since 2009, has been coming to Cagayan de Oro with her small Black Nazarene figurine and plans to join the Traslacion again next year. – Rappler.com
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Anti-poor? How gov’t defends PUV modernization, why jeepney stakeholders oppose it
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lkyu0285
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10/01/2024 7:15
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DR CASTUCIANO
MANILA, Philippines – Sticking to its hard deadline for public utility vehicle (PUV) operators to consolidate, the government has been quick to defend the PUV modernization program as “effective.” But for some whose livelihoods revolve around jeepneys, they risk losing it all.
Currently, about 73.96% of jeepneys nationwide have consolidated, as of the latest count by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). In Metro Manila, that rate drops to just 51.34% of jeepney units. (READ: Gov’t denies job loss, higher fares even as only half of jeepneys in NCR consolidate)
What does this number say about the program? If you ask Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, it’s an indication that the consolidation deadline was “effective.”
“It is effective. It will be effective. We will make it effective,” he said along the sidelines of an event on January 5.
At this stage of the program, Bautista said the primary goal is to consolidate the industry, which would – ideally – make transport fleets more efficient and pool the resources of operators to be able to afford better jeepneys.
“Kailangan maging efficient ‘yung operations. Kung hindi tayo magko-konsolidate, we will continue to operate the way we operate: kanya-kanya, nag-aaway-away tayo sa kalye, hindi maayos, ‘yung walang standards ng operations, walang standards ng safety,” the transportation secretary said.
(We have to make operations more efficient. If we don’t consolidate, we will continue to operate the way we operate: every man for himself, fighting each other on the road, without any operational or safety standards.)
Several transportation officials have insisted that the number of jeepneys consolidated now will be “sufficient” to prevent any transport crisis from occurring.
“In DOTr’s study, we don’t need to get 100% consolidated. A 65% consolidation rate will be sufficient. That’s why the 70% nationwide rate that we’re seeing now, based on that, we’ll have to implement the program – but slowly,” Bautista said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Transportation Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development TJ Batan likewise defended the success of the consolidation deadline, saying that “more than a substantial majority” of PUV operators around the country consolidated.
“Since we were firm with the December 31 deadline, we think that, that contributed to that surge in applications catching up the consolidation,” Batan said on January 5.
As per the President’s directive, there will be no more extensions given to operators who didn’t consolidate by December 31, 2023. This means that as soon as February 1, 2024, tens of thousands of public utility vehicles could soon be off the road because of their failure to consolidate.
“Ang nag-uutos ng walang extension (The one that ordered no extension) is not me. It’s the President,” said Bautista. “Wala na (It’s done). The LTFRB and LTO will do the enforcement. Lalabas colorum sila, and ang colorum, ang laki ng penalty (They’ll effectively be colorum, and those labeled colorum will face big penalties).”
The government maintains that the program will professionalize and uplift those whose livelihoods center around jeepneys. Consolidation – which involves operators banding together into either a cooperative or corporation – is the first step in the program. Once consolidated, routes will supposedly be “rationalized,” allowing for jeepneys to be deployed more efficiently, rather than drivers having to compete with each other for passengers.
“This is not an anti-poor program. In fact, with the implementation of the PUV Modernization Program, we will improve the lives of the drivers,” Bautista said.
Meanwhile, drivers affected by the consolidation requirement will not lose their livelihood because they can be absorbed by other cooperatives or corporations, who will “badly need” more manpower to serve their new routes – or at least that’s the plan.
“We were assured by the cooperatives na sila po ay tatanggap ng mga drivers doon sa operators na hindi po nag-consolidate (that they will accept drivers from operators that were unable to consolidate),” Office of Transportation Cooperatives Chairman Jesus Ferdinand Ortega said on January 5.
The plan is also for operators in consolidated entities to pool their money, share overhead costs, and get better terms on loans to buy new vehicles.
That’s important because down the line, operators will eventually have to upgrade their fleets into “modern jeepneys,” whose prices range above P2 million on average.
“Access to financing will be better if you are a consolidated entity. Your purchasing power will be better. Your negotiating power will be better in terms of acquisition of new vehicles,” Transportation Secretary Bautista said.
He also clarified that the government was in no rush to upgrade jeepneys, which could take anywhere from five to eight years to complete.
“Bakit ang kinakatakot ‘nyo ay kailangan mag-operate kaagad tayo ng modern jeep? Hindi naman eh,” he said. “Palagi namin inuulit na ‘yung modern jeep ay dadating ‘yan as there is fund to pay for it.”
(Why are they fearing that we’ll need to operate modern jeeps at once? That’s not how it’ll work. We always repeat that the modern jeep will come as there is fund to pay for it.)
But if you ask some operators, drivers, and jeepney manufacturers, the PUV modernization program risks “phasing out” the iconic king of the road – and countless jobs along with it.
“Hit the pause button,” Elmer Francisco, chairman and chief executive officer of local jeepney manufacturer eFrancisco Motor Corporation, told Rappler. “You’re pushing the backs of the operators and drivers to the wall. They will fight for their lives.”
Francisco and his family have spent their entire lives building jeepneys decade after decade. But with the fear and uncertainty that the PUV modernization program brings, he’s seen firsthand how jeepney operators, drivers, and even his own workers have all lost their jobs.
“’Yung mga operators, mawawalan ng kabuhayan, ‘yung mga drivers nila mawawalan ng trabaho. Karamihan niyan, babalik sa probinsiya, magsasaka,” he said in an interview on Monday, January 8.
(Operators will lose their livelihoods, and drivers will lose their jobs. Most will go back to the provinces and turn to farming.)
“Ang daming nawalan ng trabaho. Ang daming trabahador ni Sarao na nawalan ng trabaho. Ang daming trabahador ni Francisco Motors na nawalan ng trabaho,” he added.
(So many lost their jobs. So many workers from Sarao lost their jobs. So many workers from Francisco Motors lost their jobs.)
Backyard assemblers, who may not have the capital to research and develop modern jeepneys, have been hit hard too: Melford, Armak, Wild Country, Hayag, and Morales Motors.
“Wala na, sarado na sila lahat. Wala na silang kabuhayan. ‘Yung mga trabahador nila, wala nang trabaho,” Francisco told Rappler.
(They’re all closed down. They have no more livelihood. Their workers, they have no more jobs either.)
Francisco also warned that not all cooperatives play fair. Some were dominated by “kingpins” who could demand up to P30,000 just for a driver – not an operator – to join the cooperative.
There’s the issue of ownership of units too. Upon joining a cooperative or corporation, the individual operator will no longer own his jeepney; instead, it is placed under the name of the entity. For Romeo, a jeepney driver along the Taytay-Shaw route, that was a dealbreaker. He told Rappler that he had no intention of joining a cooperative because he didn’t want to lose control over his jeepney.
“Paano ‘pag nalugi? Paano ‘pag hindi magaling ‘yung humahawak? Malugi ‘yung korporasyon? Talo ka,” he said back in February 2023, when talk of an impending consolidation deadline first began.
(What if they lose money? What if the ones handling us aren’t good, and the corporation goes bankrupt? You lose.)
Since then, some transport groups – led by Manibela and PISTON – have repeatedly taken to the streets, raising concerns about the difficulties of being “forced” into consolidated entities, as well as the high cost of modern jeepneys.
Regarding the latter issue, Francisco has already been working on an electric jeepney that could roll out as soon as the second quarter of 2024. More importantly, the first 1,000 units will cost just P985,000 – less than half of the average price of similar PUVs in the market.
Still, Francisco said that the government should dedicate a bigger budget to subsidize the cost of modern jeepneys if it expects operators to upgrade their fleets.
“Gusto mong palit jeepney. Pero ang budget mo is P1.2 billion. Kung P280,000 ang equity subsidy for each unit, that’s only 4,200 units. Tapos gusto mong palit ang 250,000 jeepneys?” Francisco told Rappler.
(You want to change jeepneys. But your budget is just P1.2 billion. If your equity subsidy per unit is P280,000, that’s only 4,200 units. And then you want to change 250,000 jeepneys?)
Amid the controversies surrounding the PUV modernization program, the House of Representatives is set to hold an inquiry into the program’s implementation on Wednesday, January 10.
This comes after House Speaker Martin Romualdez instructed the House’s transportation committee to investigate the “corrupt practices that may have tainted the conceptualization and planned implementation” of the modernization program.
In a statement, Romualdez said that current transportation officials were “in cahoots with previous officials in negotiating for the imported modern jeepney units that will replace the old units.”
The House Speaker also appealed to the Department of Transportation to review the program and “extend the period of its implementation,” although he did not specifically refer to the consolidation deadline.
The Francisco Motors head also echoed this sentiment. In fact, when Romualdez approached him to ask for advice on how to deal with the program’s problems, he said to give it more time.
“Hit the pause button. ‘Yun ‘yung sinasabi ko kay Speaker Romualdez. Kung ayaw ng Department of Transportation, ayaw ng ganyan – kausapin mo na lang ‘yung pinsan mo (That’s what I told Speaker Romualdez. If the Department of Transportation doesn’t like it, or that one doesn’t like it – well, just talk to your cousin),” Francisco said, alluding to President Marcos. – Rappler.com
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Boeing CEO admits error, says mid-air blowout ‘can never happen again’
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Victor Barreiro Jr.
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10/01/2024 9:16
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FUSELAGE. National Transportation Safety Board investigators examine the fuselage plug area of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Boeing 737-9 MAX, which was jettisoned and forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing, at a property where it was recovered in Portland, Oregon, U.S. January 8, 2024.
NTSB/Handout via Reuters
WASHINGTON, DC, USA – Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun on Tuesday, January 9, addressed Friday’s mid-air panel blowout from an Alaska Airlines jet, acknowledging the planemaker made a mistake and telling staff it would work with regulators to make sure it “can never happen again.”
The statements were Boeing’s first public acknowledgment of error since the incident on Friday left the 737 MAX 9 plane with a gaping hole.
Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, the two US carriers that use the temporarily grounded planes, have found loose parts on similar aircraft, raising fears such an incident could have happened again.
In a separate meeting, Boeing told staff that findings of loose bolts in airplanes were being treated as a “quality control issue” and checks were under way at Boeing and supplier Spirit Aerosystems, sources familiar with the matter said.
Boeing has ordered its plants and those of its suppliers to ensure such problems are addressed and to carry out broader checks of systems and processes, they said.
“We’re going to approach this, number one, acknowledging our mistake,” Calhoun told employees, according to an excerpt released by Boeing. “We’re going to approach it with 100% and complete transparency every step of the way.”
Boeing shares fell 1.4% Tuesday as United canceled 225 daily flights, or 8% of its total, while Alaska canceled 109, or 18%. Similar cancellations were expected on Wednesday.
Calhoun also told Boeing employees the company will “ensure every next airplane that moves into the sky is in fact safe.”
He praised the Alaska Airlines crew that swiftly moved to land the 737 MAX 9 plane with only minor injuries to the 171 passengers and six crew.
Calhoun, who was a Boeing board member when all MAX jets were grounded worldwide in 2019, paid tribute to Alaska Airlines for quickly grounding its 737 MAX 9 jets, adding he knew “how hard it is to ground planes, much less the fleet,” the sources said.
Calhoun said the accident had shaken Boeing customers and “shook me to the bone,” the sources quoting him saying.
Boeing has suffered numerous production issues since the full-blown grounding of the 737 MAX family in March 2019 that lasted 20 months, following a pair of crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed nearly 350 people.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded 171 planes after Saturday’s incident, causing numerous flight cancellations. The panel that blew off Alaska Air Flight 1282 replaces an optional exit door on 737 MAX 9 planes used by airlines that have denser seating configurations.
Boeing has checked the service records of earlier Boeing 737-900ER aircraft that had a similar door plug, but all have undergone extensive maintenance since being delivered and none has shown a sign of similar problems, the sources said.
On Monday, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines both said they had found loose parts on multiple grounded aircraft during preliminary checks, raising new concerns about how Boeing’s best-selling jet family is built and its approval process.
The airlines have not yet started official inspections of their grounded aircraft. Boeing was still working out inspection guidelines to ensure safety lapses are fixed.
The FAA said Tuesday that Boeing was revising its instructions for inspections and maintenance, which the FAA must still approve before checks can begin on the 171 grounded planes. The FAA said it “will conduct a thorough review” and public safety will “determine the timeline” for returning the MAX to service.
Calhoun said Boeing had had a “very anxious moment with customers” and would have to “deal with that reality,” one source said.
Boeing did not comment on any of his remarks beyond the extract issued by statement.
Boeing met delivery targets but ended 2023 in second place behind rival Airbus for the fifth year running, according to Boeing data and industry sources.
Boeing delivered 528 jets. Airbus will announce 735 deliveries for 2023 later this week, sources have said.
Boeing booked 1,314 net new orders, up 70%. However, the company faces an aggressive timetable for production.
The FAA could also take a harder line on certifying designs for other models, including required changes to the MAX 7. Boeing has sought an exemption to allow certification before the design changes that analysts say is much less likely now.
Two senior industry sources said they expected the plane eagerly awaited by Southwest Airlines could face another six-month delay.
FAA head Mike Whitaker, who took the job in October, will testify before Congress next month, according to sources, and could face questions about approval of the 737 MAX planes. The hearing was in the works before the incident on the Alaska Airlines flight.
The FAA said it continues to inspect each new 737 MAX before an “airworthiness certificate is issued and cleared for delivery,” when it typically delegates the final sign-off on individual airplanes to the manufacturer.
The FAA did not directly answer questions about how it typically inspects those bolts before approving delivery.
Probes will also include Spirit AeroSystems SPR.N, which makes the fuselage for Boeing BA.N 737 planes. Spirit has a technical team working with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board on the investigation, a source told Reuters.
U.S.-based crisis communications expert Paul Oestreicher, who critiqued Boeing in 2019 for taking weeks to acknowledge its mistake following two fatal crashes involving the MAX, said this time Calhoun was “acting with much more speed, acknowledging the importance of transparency, expresses some empathy, and commits to a fix.” – Rappler.com
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The return of ancient Cotabato limestone urns to the PH, the return of dignity to Filipino heritage
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Marguerite de Leon
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09/01/2024 13:18
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Earl John C. Hernandez/Southeast Asian Archaeology Lab UCLA
The narrative of a single jar, bought from an antique shop in 1977, bound Sally von dem Hagen to the legacy of the Manobo. To her, these jars were not mere vessels; they were sacred archives of an age long past, for which she became a devoted custodian. Her collection, soon numbering over 60, transformed into a sanctuary of history spanning centuries.
Sally von dem Hagen’s affinity for the Philippines transcended personal journey, heralding a collective awareness to the importance of heritage and cultural repatriation. As her collection of Cotabato limestone urns prepares for return to Philippine soil after nearly four decades in California, the unfolding narrative celebrates the power of collaboration across borders and generations. Sally’s children, Peter, Stephanie, and Antoinette von dem Hagen, have initiated the repatriation of their mother’s collection, hoping to highlight Sally’s contributions to Philippine heritage conservation.
When Sally departed the Philippines, her collection also crossed the Pacific, its once-local whispers reverberating through the silence of a San Francisco storage. Her personal story precedes a broader conversation on cultural heritage repatriation, underscoring the ethics of cultural possession and heeding history’s often-muted pleas.
The ethics of collecting archaeological and cultural resources is a subject of profound importance and sensitivity. At its core, this practice must balance the preservation of history and respect for the cultural significance of such items against the scholarly value and public interest in them. The acquisition of these items often treads a fine line between conservation and exploitation. Ethical collecting requires adherence to legal frameworks that protect cultural heritage and obtaining informed consent from the communities to whom the heritage belongs. It calls for transparency in the provenance of items and an acknowledgment of the potential harm that can come from removing artifacts from their original context. Collecting should not be merely for private satisfaction or commercial gain but should aim to enhance understanding, ensure preservation, and respect the cultural narratives and sovereignty of Indigenous and local populations. To this end, repatriation of items to their countries or communities of origin has become a critical aspect of contemporary ethical standards, recognizing that cultural resources are not just artifacts of the past but living embodiments of a people’s heritage and identity.
As such, the preservation of cultural heritage today demands a new path, one that honors the past’s importance while enriching source communities. The ancient Cotabato limestone urns, now silent, were under the stewardship of the Manobo. Insufficient research has been conducted to definitively link the current Manobo groups to the people who carved and used these urns. However, the caves where these urns were deposited are located within the Manobo ancestral domains. Their return marks progress toward a shared history.
The limestone burial urns from Cotabato were likely carved between 2,800 and 1,000 years ago, serving as a traditional form of interment in various terrains including coastal areas, caves, and hills. Unlike the more common earthenware jar burials found across the Philippines, these unique limestone urns are predominantly discovered in Cotabato. They were used for secondary burials, meaning they were not the initial resting place for the deceased but were used for reburial. Over time, natural disasters and human interference have caused some damage and displacement to the urns and their matching covers.
These urns, which vary in shape from squared to rounded and are adorned with geometric patterns, were originally equipped with lids featuring human-like figures. The covers, often intricately carved with distinct facial features and expressions, are believed to represent the identities of the deceased. Many of these urns, discovered in the 1970s with human remains inside, reflect a deep connection to the individuals they were intended for. Archaeological research in Maguindanao and Cotabato, started in the 1960s, revealing numerous such anthropomorphic vessels, often accompanied by smaller jars containing personal items like bracelets and iron plates.
These artifacts offer not just a spectacle but a learning moment. They are bridges to cultures and histories, transforming the urns’ journey from private collection to public exhibit into a narrative of reconnection and a reminder of our custodial duty to a shared human story.
The heritage education programs emerging from this dialogue are critical, connecting the Filipino diaspora to their roots. The exhibition of the Cotabato Burial Urns at the Filipino-American Services Group, Inc’s (FASGI) office transcends antiquities display, acting as a channel for cultural transmission and heritage pride among Filipinos far from their ancestral lands. We thank FASGI and its board of directors, led by Celina Duffy, for working with us on this endeavor.
Through the efforts of Yey Coronel and Ethel Rubio, and with the support of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, represented by Consul General Edgar Badajos and Vice Consul Alnee Gamble, the exhibition becomes a cultural cornerstone for engagement and learning. The exhibit was developed by UCLA Undergraduate students taking a Fiat Lux seminar on community engaged research, with supervision by Maddie Yakal, Earl John Hernandez, and Aidan Choi.
This collaboration has spawned heritage education programs fostering dialogue and a deeper understanding of Filipino history, showcasing the diaspora’s dedication to preserving cultural heritage.
As the FASGI exhibit concludes, we anticipate the Von Dem Hagen Collection’s return to the Philippines — a restoration of ties long-stretched across the Pacific. This homecoming symbolizes the triumph of cultural diplomacy and the enduring connection among Filipinos globally.
The artifacts’ imminent repatriation to the National Museum of the Philippines is a pivotal moment, signifying more than a transfer — it represents the return of dignity to Filipino heritage. The museum’s role, and ours, is unequivocal: to support repatriation, acknowledge our history, and preserve it. The National Museum of the Philippines stands not only as a heritage guardian but as a custodian of our collective identity. The Archaeology Division of the National Museum of the Philippines, tasked with conducting research on our nation’s deep past, will undertake an in-depth study of these artifacts to enrich the narrative of our history. We extend our gratitude to NMP Director General Jeremy Barns for his leadership in safeguarding these treasures as symbols of our national heritage.
We call on the Philippine government and international partners to ensure that cultural resources (archaeological and ethnological) that have been taken out of the country are returned to their source communities. Each reclaimed piece is a fragment of our history, a dot connected in the vast picture of our national identity.
In addition, we must persist in engaging with the diaspora, championing educational programs and exhibitions that inform and inspire. The FASGI-led initiative is an example, strengthening the links of the immigrant youth to the homeland. These initiatives, from community archaeology to the noble act of repatriation, are not just about looking at old stuff. They are about ensuring our youth do not have to Google “Filipino culture” to understand who they are.
With the Von Dem Hagen Collection’s return, it carries a nation’s hopes and aspirations, symbolizing the Philippines’ cultural richness — a treasure trove returning home, poised to educate and inspire future generations about Filipino heritage’s depth and diversity.
Let us unite globally to celebrate our past as a vibrant, living narrative. This is not just an appeal but a call to action for all Filipinos and the international community to contribute to bringing our history home. – Rappler.com
Stephen Acabado is professor of anthropology at the University of California-Los Angeles. He directs the Ifugao and Bicol Archaeological Projects, research programs that engage community stakeholders. He grew up in Tinambac, Camarines Sur. Follow him on IG @s.b.acabado.
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Coming in hot! Hotpot chain Haidilao now open in Metro Manila
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Steph Arnaldo
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09/01/2024 17:23
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Haidilao PH's Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – “The wait is finally over!” famous hotpot chain Haidilao announced on social media on Monday, January 8, confirming the opening of its first Philippine branch located at Level 1, Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City.
The excitement for Haidilao’s “world of flavor and warmth” has been “simmering” since May 2022, when the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) first announced the arrival of the world-famous hotpot chain from China. Haidilao Philippines only began posting on social media in December 2023.
DTI said that Haidilao would be opening more than one Philippine branch. The brand aims to provide a “superior dining experience” to Filipinos at reasonable prices, which will “fuse the Filipino taste” into the menu and highlight “Filipino core values” in the service.
Haidilao is known for its Sichuan-inspired spicy broths and hearty soups using a variety of real Sichuan pepper, spices, and Asian ingredients. The hotpot experience involves bubbling broths served at the center of the table, used to cook different vegetables, meats, and seafood in. The cooked meats and veggies are typically eaten with dipping sauces, which you can make yourself at the restaurant.
Haidilao opened its first hot pot branch in 1994 at Jianyang, Sichuan, and continued to expand to other provinces and cities in China. Its first international branch opened in Singapore in 2012, and since then, it has branched out to Los Angeles, Seoul, Taiwan, China, Japan, United Kingdom, Thailand, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Macau, and more. The brand now has over 1,000 restaurants globally. – Rappler.com
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‘Bittersweet’: Robi Domingo reveals that his grandmother passed on his wedding day
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jreyes0314
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09/01/2024 17:56
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'BITTERSWEET.' Robi Domingo reveals his grandmother passed away on the morning of his wedding.
Robi Domingo's Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Robi Domingo revealed in an Instagram post on Tuesday, January 9, that his grandmother had passed away on the morning of his wedding on January 6.
Domingo shared an old photo of himself with his grandmother, and one where he and his now-wife Maiqui Pineda are praying over his grandmother’s casket at her wake.
A post shared by Robi Domingo (@iamrobidomingo)
“Bittersweet. January 6 was the happiest day of my life. My heart was filled with immense gratitude – from preps in the morning, to the ceremony, to the reception which lasted until dawn,” he wrote.
Domingo explained that his family chose not to immediately inform him of his grandmother’s death so he and Pineda could focus on their “magical day.”
“As I was about to leave the place, my mom was sobbing as she tried to tell me that my Lola passed away that same morning,” Domingo continued.
Domingo added that his grandmother, who he would call “Ina,” took care of him when he was a child.
The actor-host also left a comment under his own post saying that he and Pineda had intended to thank everyone at their wedding, but were unable to do so as they were busy the past few days.
“Our hearts are happy, but we apologize for the delay. We’ll just take a breather from all the happenings,” Domingo said.
Domingo and Pineda tied the knot on January 6 at the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of San Isidro Labrador in Pulilan, Bulacan. The couple got engaged in November 2022 after almost four years of dating. – Rappler.com
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‘Police drones,’ command posts, routes ready for Sinulog, Fiesta Señor 2024
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jsitchon0312
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09/01/2024 16:32
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TRASLACION. Devotees gather outside the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu to witness the Traslacion on January 13, 2023.
Jacqueline Hernandez/Rappler
CEBU, Philippines – Cebu cops are amping up safety and security preparations for the Sinulog and Fiesta Señor 2024 celebration which begins on January 11 and culminates on January 21.
Deputy City Director for Operations Lieutenant Colonel Janette Rafter of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said in a media forum on Tuesday, January 9, that they have established a multi-agency coordination center with volunteers, emergency responders, and local government agencies to address safety and security needs.
According to Rafter, drone enthusiasts offered to provide their services to the police to improve real-time surveillance and response during the celebration.
The police official added that there were also volunteers who would be monitoring social media platforms for reports of suspicious activities in the city when the festivities commence.
For this year, police are set to deploy around 5,000 security personnel for the solemn processions. In the previous year, around 19,000 security forces were deployed for the same.
Rafter said that they are expecting more augmentation forces from the military, disaster response units, and other agencies in the days leading up to the celebration and will be configuring deployments based on the length of the procession routes and the size of the event.
Besides augmentation, Rafter said that the police have also crafted a “sector” system to properly oversee Fiesta Señor and Sinulog activities in multiple areas in the city.
According to her, each sector is equipped with an incident command post where first-aid responders and police can assist residents, especially those joining the processions.
In December 2023, the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu posted the official procession routes of the Fiesta Señor 2024 Walk with Jesus, Walk with Mary, and Solemn Foot Procession.
Father John Ion Miranda, the head of Safety, Security, Peace and Order, and secretariat for the Fiesta Señor 2024, reminded the public to be vigilant and practice common safety tips during the celebrations held at the Basilica.
“We’re expecting hotter temperatures so please always stay hydrated,” the Augustinian friar said during the Tuesday media forum.
Like every year, the church is anticipating large numbers of devotees who will be visiting the Basilica. At present, the Basilica can accommodate 5,000 people.
According to Miranda, the church has allocated at least two areas for senior citizens and persons with disabilities participating in the novena masses held there.
The friar recommended devotees to bring their own small chairs if they want to attend the masses and avoid carrying large bags and backpacks as these are not allowed inside the Basilica. – Rappler.com
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Could Maharlika Fund’s investment in a jeepney manufacturer save PUV modernization?
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lkyu0285
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09/01/2024 21:31
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Alejandro Edoria/Rappler
Elmer Francisco, heir to the Francisco Motors legacy that built a generation of jeepneys, has a lot to say about the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program – and not all of them are good.
One glaring problem, Francisco told Rappler, is the government’s lack of planning and funding. Under the ambitious program to upgrade PUVs nationwide, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) wants operators to eventually buy fleets of modern jeepneys, the average price of which soars up to P2.48 million, to be offset only by a government subsidy of P280,000.
“It’s like a cartel. Parang sila-sila nag-uusap ‘yung mga foreign manufacturers na dapat ganito presyo natin (It’s like those foreign manufacturers talking among themselves and agreeing on a price),” Francisco told Rappler.
“Kung papansinin mo, ‘yung presyo nila halos pare-pareho (If you notice, their prices are almost all the same). That’s impossible,” he added. “Within their own costing, it shouldn’t be that high.”
Jeepney operators and drivers have taken to the streets in protest repeatedly, spotlighting the prohibitive costs of modern jeepneys, along with the issue of industry consolidation.
But Francisco Motors plans to challenge the notion of modern jeepneys being pricey by selling electric jeepneys for just P985,000 a unit. And the Maharlika Investment Corporation is listening.
In an interview, Francisco told Rappler that he had been in talks with Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) president and chief executive officer Joel Consing and Camarines Norte Governor Dong Padilla.
“Just recently, last week, nag-meeting kami (we had a meeting). I presented the plan together with Governor Dong Padilla,” the Francisco Motors chairman and chief executive officer said on Monday, January 8.
“Ang own words ni Mr. Consing is we check all of the boxes sa mga gustong investan ng Maharlika Investment Corporation (In Mr. Consing’s own words, we checked all of the boxes of the type of investments that Maharlika Investment Corporation wants to make),” he added.
The MIC, with its approved capitalization scheme of P125 billion, is currently on the lookout for high-impact projects that contribute to nation-building. Infrastructure, power, and transportation are among the priority investment sectors identified.
“Public transportation – MIC is big on that. Kaya meron kaming next meeting. Kung hindi sila interesado, wala nang next meeting niya (That’s why we have a next meeting. If they’re not interested, there won’t be a next meeting),” Francisco told Rappler.
The next meeting – which will happen on Thursday, January 11, and will include MIC investment committee chairperson Andrew Gan – will run through the financial details of a potential investment.
“Pag-aaralan namin kung paano magandang pumasok ‘yung Maharlika (We’ll study what would be a good way for Maharlika to enter),” Francisco said. “Will it be an equity infusion? Or would it be a joint venture? I don’t know. We’ll see.”
The MIC itself has been a subject of much controversy, as critics of the country’s first sovereign fund point to concerns in its sources of capital and the risk that funds could be misused. (READ: Amid ‘potential risks,’ Maharlika’s success will depend on management – AMRO)
Perhaps for this reason, Francisco has been careful to be transparent about his company’s dealings with Maharlika.
“Pinost ko rin ‘yun sa Facebook para transparent. Kita na lang ng tao na nag-usap kami. Walang corruption, walang nanghihingi ng lagay, walang anything,” he told Rappler.
(I posted it on Facebook too so that it’s transparent. Everyone can see that we had a meeting. No corruption, no bribes, nothing.)
Aside from its modern electric jeepney, which could roll out by the second quarter of 2024, Francisco Motors also has big plans to expand its business. Currently, it has its eyes on setting up an “integrated manufacturing facility” in an economic zone in Camarines Norte.
“’Yung ilaw, gulong, upholstery, shock absorbers, glass, windshield, windows – lahat ‘yan industry in itself. Lahat ‘yan ini-invite namin mag-locate doon sa economic zone (The lights, tires, upholstery, shock absorbers, glass, windshield, windows – all that is an industry in itself. All of them will be invited to locate in our economic zone),” he said.
His company also plans to manufacture the lithium-ion batteries for its electric jeepneys in the economic zone. Meanwhile, to support the rollout of its modern jeepneys, Francisco Motors will set up charging infrastructure in local government units and at least one terminal per province, which can service vehicles and provide spare parts.
Currently, there are no details yet on how a possible investment by Maharlika could play into his company’s plans, although Francisco said these could be discussed on Thursday. But whether or not the MIC’s interest in the jeepney manufacturer pushes through, Francisco Motors will pursue its plans.
“Our project is a go. We are not relying on Maharlika to do this,” Francisco told Rappler. “Of course, if our government is willing to help us, it’s more than welcome. But, with or without them, we will do this.” – Rappler.com
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Will you sell your soul for P100? Allegations vs charter change bid via people’s initiative
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Kaycee
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09/01/2024 16:22
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LOWER HOUSE. The House of Representatives opens its second regular session on Monday morning, July 24, 2023.
Dwight de Leon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – In the final stretch of 2023, House leaders said that amending the 1987 Constitution would be among their priorities in the new year.
Just a week into 2024, however, corruption allegations hounded a public petition calling for charter change.
Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman alleged that some mayors in his province had received “mobilization funds” for a people’s initiative for charter change. It was allegedly given by Ako Bicol party-list coordinators in a supposed bid to spur public support for the petition, at least in his province.
Ako Bicol Representative Jil Bongalon and Raymond Adrian Salceda, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Albay Chapter, both denied that funds were distributed during a meeting last week.
Changes in the constitution can be done through Congress, a constitutional convention, or via a people’s initiative.
Involving the public entails two things:
With over 65.7 million registered voters as of August 2022, Rappler estimates that at least 7.884 million registered voters are needed to kickstart charter change through people’s initiative.
According to Lagman, Albay’s League of Mayors called for a general meeting on Friday, January 5, without telling the mayors about the specific agenda. It was held at Ellis Hotel, which is allegedly owned by Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co, in Legazpi City.
“Voters who would sign the petition or people’s initiative will be given P100 each,” Lagman said in a statement on January 6.
He claimed that coordinators of Ako Bicol had already distributed half of the funds to the municipal mayors and coordinators who were in attendance. Three of Lagman’s constituent mayors planned to return the money, the opposition lawmaker said.
Vote buying is against the country’s Omnibus Election Code.
While Bongalon’s statement on Monday confirmed that he met with Albay mayors last week, he denied the “vote-buying” allegations.
In a separate statement, Salceda dismissed the allegation as “false and utterly ridiculous.”
“We pledged to help gather as much signatures in support of charter amendments, especially after learning from experts how the Constitution’s restrictive provisions hampered our progress as a nation,” Salcedo said, adding that they invited Bongalon and former congressman Alfredo Garbin as resource persons for the meeting.
The rumor surrounding the January 5 Albay meeting is not the only one that alleged vote-buying to bolster charter change via people’s initiative.
Kabataan Partylist said they had also received reports that a “template form” was being used to collect signatures at the barangay level.
“No clear organization claims the petition drive,” the partylist said in a statement on Sunday, January 7.
Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos cited other supposed activities related to the charter change bid, some allegedly done in the guise of financial assistance from government agencies.
“P20 million total kada distrito ang inaalok, meron pa akong narinig ‘nung malalaking siyudad na pinapromise-an din ng ganoon at ang sabi magproduce kayo ng 20,000 signatures by January 13,” Marcos said on Monday, January 8.
(Districts were offered P20 million each, and I also heard that bigger cities were also promised the exact same amount and were told to produce 20,000 signatures by January 13.)
On Tuesday night, January 9, Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte said in a statement posted on his Facebook page that the bid for charter change via people’s initiative has reached his city. He said he does not support it as “it is not the people’s voice but the voice of a few who wanted to perpetuate themselves in power.”
He said he was told that PBA Representative Margarita Nograles was supposedly spearheading the move in Davao City.
“To all Dabawenyos, do not sell your soul for a mere P100 or 10,000 in exchange for your signature. If you want to follow the MINIONS of the person DREAMING TO BE GREAT in Congress to perdition that is your choice,” the congressman said.
Based on a Facebook post, Nograles is currently in the United States where she said she “met with US law enforcement and Filipino-American advocacy groups to discuss possible areas of cooperation in the fight against child pornography and livelihood generation for women in the Davao region.”
Nograles has yet to address her House colleague’s statement.
In March 2023, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution to call for a constitutional convention.
Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda, who also chairs to House committee on ways and means, noted that there is a “need for urgent revisions in the constitution, particularly on the economic front.”
“The House has tried several times in the past to initiate charter change,” Salceda said on Monday.
“Such attempts have languished in the Senate,” he added. “Being nationally elected representatives of the people, it should be more encouraging to senators to heed the electorate’s call via people’s initiative.”
Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares warned against the renewed attempts to amend the Constitution.
“The people can kiss good-bye any semblance of checks and balance, as well as healthy debates and deliberations in the ConAss as it grants the House an overwhelming superiority to impose its will,” Colmenares said.
“This will have disastrous consequences on our Constitution,” he added.
Should the petition succeed, or if the nearly 8 million signatures of registered voters are collected from at least 3% of every legislative district, voting for changes in the Constitution would be done by lawmakers in a constituent assembly. This would include members of both houses of Congress.
In this scenario, with over 300 House members and just 24 senators, the votes of House members would easily sway decisions on amendments. In past discussions on a constituent assembly, senators pushed for the House and the Senate to vote separately. – Rappler.com
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Charter Change at a P100 per signature? The reason: “need for urgent revisions in the constitution, particularly on the economic front.” The overt emphasis is on the “economic front” but the hidden agenda is political. If the “paid” signature campaign wins, we can call the next Philippine Constitution a “bought” one.
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Rappler Recap: Traslacion 2024 and a heated discussion in the Rappler chat app
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Nina Liu
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09/01/2024 23:32
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MANILA, Philippines – Devotion or fanaticism?
Rappler followers, chatting on our new Rappler Community app, discussed this perennial question in live chat sessions on Tuesday, January 9.
Rappler’s Paterno Esmaquel, field reporter for Traslacion 2024, gives a recap of this heated discussion on our new chat app.
In front of the iconic Quiapo Church, he also talks about three changes in the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene.
Watch the recap here. – video by Franz Lopez/Rappler.com
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Could Maharlika Fund’s investment in a jeepney manufacturer save PUV modernization?
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lkyu0285
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09/01/2024 21:31
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Alejandro Edoria/Rappler
Elmer Francisco, heir to the Francisco Motors legacy that built a generation of jeepneys, has a lot to say about the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program – and not all of them are good.
One glaring problem, Francisco told Rappler, is the government’s lack of planning and funding. Under the ambitious program to upgrade PUVs nationwide, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) wants operators to eventually buy fleets of modern jeepneys, the average price of which soars up to P2.48 million, to be offset only by a government subsidy of P280,000.
“It’s like a cartel. Parang sila-sila nag-uusap ‘yung mga foreign manufacturers na dapat ganito presyo natin (It’s like those foreign manufacturers talking among themselves and agreeing on a price),” Francisco told Rappler.
“Kung papansinin mo, ‘yung presyo nila halos pare-pareho (If you notice, their prices are almost all the same). That’s impossible,” he added. “Within their own costing, it shouldn’t be that high.”
Jeepney operators and drivers have taken to the streets in protest repeatedly, spotlighting the prohibitive costs of modern jeepneys, along with the issue of industry consolidation.
But Francisco Motors plans to challenge the notion of modern jeepneys being pricey by selling electric jeepneys for just P985,000 a unit. And the Maharlika Investment Corporation is listening.
In an interview, Francisco told Rappler that he had been in talks with Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) president and chief executive officer Joel Consing and Camarines Norte Governor Dong Padilla.
“Just recently, last week, nag-meeting kami (we had a meeting). I presented the plan together with Governor Dong Padilla,” the Francisco Motors chairman and chief executive officer said on Monday, January 8.
“Ang own words ni Mr. Consing is we check all of the boxes sa mga gustong investan ng Maharlika Investment Corporation (In Mr. Consing’s own words, we checked all of the boxes of the type of investments that Maharlika Investment Corporation wants to make),” he added.
The MIC, with its approved capitalization scheme of P125 billion, is currently on the lookout for high-impact projects that contribute to nation-building. Infrastructure, power, and transportation are among the priority investment sectors identified.
“Public transportation – MIC is big on that. Kaya meron kaming next meeting. Kung hindi sila interesado, wala nang next meeting niya (That’s why we have a next meeting. If they’re not interested, there won’t be a next meeting),” Francisco told Rappler.
The next meeting – which will happen on Thursday, January 11, and will include MIC investment committee chairperson Andrew Gan – will run through the financial details of a potential investment.
“Pag-aaralan namin kung paano magandang pumasok ‘yung Maharlika (We’ll study what would be a good way for Maharlika to enter),” Francisco said. “Will it be an equity infusion? Or would it be a joint venture? I don’t know. We’ll see.”
The MIC itself has been a subject of much controversy, as critics of the country’s first sovereign fund point to concerns in its sources of capital and the risk that funds could be misused. (READ: Amid ‘potential risks,’ Maharlika’s success will depend on management – AMRO)
Perhaps for this reason, Francisco has been careful to be transparent about his company’s dealings with Maharlika.
“Pinost ko rin ‘yun sa Facebook para transparent. Kita na lang ng tao na nag-usap kami. Walang corruption, walang nanghihingi ng lagay, walang anything,” he told Rappler.
(I posted it on Facebook too so that it’s transparent. Everyone can see that we had a meeting. No corruption, no bribes, nothing.)
Aside from its modern electric jeepney, which could roll out by the second quarter of 2024, Francisco Motors also has big plans to expand its business. Currently, it has its eyes on setting up an “integrated manufacturing facility” in an economic zone in Camarines Norte.
“’Yung ilaw, gulong, upholstery, shock absorbers, glass, windshield, windows – lahat ‘yan industry in itself. Lahat ‘yan ini-invite namin mag-locate doon sa economic zone (The lights, tires, upholstery, shock absorbers, glass, windshield, windows – all that is an industry in itself. All of them will be invited to locate in our economic zone),” he said.
His company also plans to manufacture the lithium-ion batteries for its electric jeepneys in the economic zone. Meanwhile, to support the rollout of its modern jeepneys, Francisco Motors will set up charging infrastructure in local government units and at least one terminal per province, which can service vehicles and provide spare parts.
Currently, there are no details yet on how a possible investment by Maharlika could play into his company’s plans, although Francisco said these could be discussed on Thursday. But whether or not the MIC’s interest in the jeepney manufacturer pushes through, Francisco Motors will pursue its plans.
“Our project is a go. We are not relying on Maharlika to do this,” Francisco told Rappler. “Of course, if our government is willing to help us, it’s more than welcome. But, with or without them, we will do this.” – Rappler.com
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Jorick Bautista raring to lead FEU back to contention after L-Jay Gonzales exit
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jisaga0269
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09/01/2024 19:42
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NEXT MAN UP. FEU guard Jorick Bautista reacts in the UAAP Season 86 men's basketball tournament
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – Building up on a promising UAAP Season 86, FEU gunslinger Jorick Bautista vows to deliver once more for the Tamaraws next year.
“I’m happy and pressured at the same time, since it’s going to be a big responsibility,” Bautista said during a media availability organized by global sports brand PUMA.
“I will help my teammates to help improve the team, we need it, and I will be there to guide them,” added the PUMA Philippines Hoops Squad member, joined by UP’s Malick Diouf and Chicco Briones, NU’s Jolo Manansala and Patrick Yu, UE’s Jack Cruz-Dumont and Gjerard Wilson, and teammate Xyrus Torres.
Despite chalking up just three wins in Season 86, the Tamaraws claimed two at the expense of defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles.
The second-leading scorer of the team behind graduating L-Jay Gonzales, Bautista normed 12.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.
Bautista also emerged as the league’s deadliest three-point shooter, knocking down the most at 2.7 triples per game at the most accurate clip of 43.2%.
One of the much-needed points of improvement, according to Bautista, is the team’s crunch time offense, as five of the team’s 11 losses came within 10 points or fewer.
“We lack late-game execution, we always fall short,” lamented Bautista.
“We will do our best this offseason, we will work on this,” he added.
Among the new recruits FEU scored for next year include homegrown player Janrey Pasaol, Fil-Am John Godinez, and foreign student athlete Mohamed Konateh.
This, Bautista hopes, would be enough for a return to the playoff picture, as FEU missed the Final Four for the second straight season.
“I’m happy because I’m already seeing glimpses of the team, and I think we could contend, but we just fall short [in the clutch.]” – Rappler.com
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‘Bittersweet’: Robi Domingo reveals that his grandmother passed on his wedding day
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jreyes0314
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09/01/2024 17:56
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'BITTERSWEET.' Robi Domingo reveals his grandmother passed away on the morning of his wedding.
Robi Domingo's Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Robi Domingo revealed in an Instagram post on Tuesday, January 9, that his grandmother had passed away on the morning of his wedding on January 6.
Domingo shared an old photo of himself with his grandmother, and one where he and his now-wife Maiqui Pineda are praying over his grandmother’s casket at her wake.
A post shared by Robi Domingo (@iamrobidomingo)
“Bittersweet. January 6 was the happiest day of my life. My heart was filled with immense gratitude – from preps in the morning, to the ceremony, to the reception which lasted until dawn,” he wrote.
Domingo explained that his family chose not to immediately inform him of his grandmother’s death so he and Pineda could focus on their “magical day.”
“As I was about to leave the place, my mom was sobbing as she tried to tell me that my Lola passed away that same morning,” Domingo continued.
Domingo added that his grandmother, who he would call “Ina,” took care of him when he was a child.
The actor-host also left a comment under his own post saying that he and Pineda had intended to thank everyone at their wedding, but were unable to do so as they were busy the past few days.
“Our hearts are happy, but we apologize for the delay. We’ll just take a breather from all the happenings,” Domingo said.
Domingo and Pineda tied the knot on January 6 at the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of San Isidro Labrador in Pulilan, Bulacan. The couple got engaged in November 2022 after almost four years of dating. – Rappler.com
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Millions of Filipino Catholics join Black Nazarene procession
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Mia Gonzalez
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09/01/2024 11:32
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TRASLACION. Devotees join the annual Catholic procession of the Black Nazarene as is crosses Ayala bridge.
Lisa Marie David/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – More than six million Catholic devotees in the Philippines turned up for this year’s procession to honor the Black Nazarene, turning the streets of the capital into a sea of maroon and yellow, in a grand display of religious devotion.
The centuries-old tradition of paying homage to the black wooden statue of Jesus Christ, believed to have healing powers, drew massive numbers of Catholics to take part in the procession, which in the last three years was cancelled because of COVID-19.
“I am very pleased the old system is back and we get to do this again,” said Jonathan Rancho, 52 who travelled with his wife and two children from Bulacan province to Manila to join the procession.
“I prayed that hopefully this year our livelihoods will get better, I hope that my work would be a success and we be given a prosperous life so I may fulfil my obligations to my family,” Rancho added.
An early morning estimate by police put the crowd at more than 830,000 people, which later swelled to 6.5 million along the procession’s 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) route, according to an official of the Quiapo church, home of the black statue.
Thousands of police were deployed to ensure order as many of the barefoot devotees tried to climb aboard the carriage holding the statue, which depicts Jesus shouldering a heavy cross.
It is not known why the statue, which was carved in Mexico and brought to the Philippines in the early 17th century, turned black. But a Philippine priest, Msgr. Sabino Vengco, claimed the image is dark through its core because it is made of mesquite wood.
About 80% of the country’s 110 million people identify as Roman Catholic, a legacy of hundreds of years as a Spanish colony.
The procession, which lasted 15 hours, was generally peaceful, although the Philippine Red Cross said hundreds needed medical attention due to injuries.
– Rappler.com
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‘Buhay ang pelikulang Pilipino’: Enchong Dee expresses gratitude over success of ‘GomBurZa’
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jreyes0314
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09/01/2024 14:59
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'BUHAY ANG PELIKULANG PILIPINO.' 'GomBurZa' star Enchong Dee says he is 'in awe' of the film's reception.
Enchong Dee's Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Enchong Dee expressed in an Instagram post on Monday, January 8, his gratitude over the success of the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry GomBurZa.
Enchong’s post includes a series of behind-the-scenes shots during the film’s production, along with photos from its promotion period.
A post shared by Enchong Dee (@mr_enchongdee)
“For days now, [I’ve been] in so much awe! Still trying to comprehend ‘yung pagmamahal ninyo sa [GomBurZa] (Your love for GomBurZa). Hindi pa [siya] nag-register sa utak ko (It hasn’t registered in my mind yet),” Enchong wrote.
Enchong, who starred as Father Jacinto Zamora in GomBurza, shared that he had the opportunity to work with a “respectful, dedicated, and hardworking team” all throughout the culmination of the film.
“The entire journey reminded me how much I love my job as an actor. I know that this film will go beyond my life and for that, I’m eternally grateful,” the 35-year-old actor wrote.
Enchong also thanked moviegoers who lined up just to catch the film, as well as those who even organized block screenings.
“Ang sarap sa pakiramdam (It feels good) to see people rallying behind a film because of the effect it gave them after watching. So to the people who lined up, organized a block screening, and shared our film to their loved ones…taos pusong pasasalamat (thank you from the bottom of my heart),” he continued.
This comes just after the MMFF’s theatrical run was extended to January 14 after public clamor from Filipino moviegoers.
“On our third blockbuster week, alam ko malayo pa ang lalakbayin ng [GomBurZa] dahil kuwento nating lahat ito. Basta’t andyan kayo BUHAY ang Pelikulang Pilipino!” Enchong continued.
(On our third blockbuster week, I know GomBurZa will go even farther as this is everyone’s story. As long as everyone is here, Filipino film lives on!)
Enchong’s co-star Cedrick Juan, who played Father José Burgos, also left comments of support under the actor’s post.
“Let’s go Chong! Para sa bayan (For the country)!” Cedrick wrote.
Meanwhile, GomBurZa director Pepe Diokno thanked Enchong for his portrayal of Father Zamora in the film.
GomBurZa garnered the highest number of accolades during the MMFF Gabi ng Parangal on December 27, 2023, raking in a total of seven awards. The film was named the 2nd Best Picture, trailing behind the Zig Dulay-directed Firefly.
The historical film tells the story of Mariano Gomez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora – collectively known as GomBurZa – the three Catholic priests that were executed via garrote by the Spanish during Spain’s colonial period in the Philippines.
GomBurZa also stars Dante Rivero, Jaime Fabregas, Piolo Pascual, Epy Quizon, Elijah Canlas, Khalil Ramos, Ketchup Eusebio, and Neil Ryan Sese. – Rappler.com
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FACT CHECK: No discount codes for Dior bags at Ayala Center Cebu
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Lorenz Pasion
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09/01/2024 17:22
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Claim: Ayala Center Cebu is currently offering 66% discount codes for Lady Dior My ABCDior bags. Interested buyers can purchase the products through a link to Dior’s online store provided in a Facebook post.
Why we fact-checked this: A Facebook post containing the claim has garnered 830 reactions, 170 comments, and 94 shares as of writing. Based on the comments in the post, some individuals believe the promotional sale is legitimate.
Several users have tagged their Facebook friends and contacts, presumably to make them aware of the promo. There are also comments from suspicious dummy accounts, which seem to be from foreigners, mentioning other contacts.
The post is styled as an apology letter from Ayala Center Cebu for a supposed “overload phenomenon” at its Dior store, where customers allegedly queued for two hours but were unable to avail themselves of the promo.
The post claims that the discount codes for the Dior bags may be redeemed by 300 customers. It also included a link to the purported Dior online shop, along with photos of the Dior store at Ayala Center Cebu and the discounted bag priced at P4,599.
The program is supposedly applicable throughout Malaysia until January 12.
The facts: Jeanette Japzon, corporate communications and digital manager at Ayala Land Inc., confirmed to Rappler in a text message that the announcement for the supposed promotion did not come from Ayala Center Cebu.
Fake page: The misleading post came from a fake account posing as the Ayala Center Cebu shopping mall.
The fake account only has 55 likes and 70 followers, whereas the official Ayala Center Cebu Facebook page has 294,000 likes and 305,000 followers. The official page also contains a link to the Ayala Malls website.
Japzon said they have already reported the fake page to Meta, Facebook’s parent company.
Dubious details: The Facebook post advertising the supposed sale also contains several dubious details. While it claims the promotion was posted by Ayala Center Cebu and included photos of the Dior bag priced in Philippine pesos, it said that the sale was applicable in Malaysia, not the Philippines.
The supposed link to the online store does not lead to the official Dior website but to a different page that slightly altered the website address to make it look legitimate. The order page asks for sensitive information, likely as a phishing attempt. (READ: Phishing 101: How to spot and avoid phishing)
It is also highly unlikely that the discounted bag retails for only P4,599. In the US store, the price for the small Lady Dior My ABCDior bag starts at $6,000 (around P334,000).
Similar posts: Rappler has previously published several articles on supposed promotional sales from fake pages:
– Wenilyn Sabalo/Rappler.com
Wenilyn Sabalo is an Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow for 2023-2024.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through our Viber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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Mother of Diego Loyzaga’s daughter claims actor kicked them out for another woman
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Ysa Abad
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09/01/2024 16:01
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MANILA, Philippines — Yoga teacher and model Alexis Suapengco came forward as the mother of Diego Loyzaga’s daughter, also claiming that the actor had kicked them out of his house to accommodate another woman.
In a series of Instagram stories on Sunday, January 7, Suapengco shared the profile of a certain Cecile Mendoza with the caption: “So my baby daddy [Diego Loyzaga] decided to kick me out and his baby out of his house so this girl can come over.”
She also shared a clip of Loyzaga’s past interview with Toni Gonzaga, wherein the actor opened up about doing rehab in 2018 for over a year.
“Yes he’s aware but he’s never sober,” she wrote.
In a separate story, Suapengco also claimed that Loyzaga had threatened to stop providing financial support for their child if she wouldn’t delete her post.
“@diegoloyzaga said if I don’t take down the post, he won’t provide for my daughter daw. ok boy bye,” she wrote.
As of writing, Loyzaga has yet to address Suapengco’s claims.
This is the first time Suapengco talked openly about her relationship with Loyzaga, though in an Instagram post dated December 29, 2023, she had shared a photo of herself with the actor during her birthday celebration. Loyzaga’s sisters Angelina, Cheska, and Sam Cruz were also present at Suapengco’s celebration.
In a September 2023 interview with PEP.ph, Loyzaga said that he and the mother of his daughter mutually decided to keep their relationship private.
“She’s not in showbiz.… We just want to have a quiet and peaceful life,” the actor said.
He also added that they were “raising the kid together.”
It was in June 2023 when Loyzaga revealed that he had become a father. – Rappler.com
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How Korean firm Miru became front-runner in search for 2025 PH election provider
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Dwight de Leon
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09/01/2024 8:28
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Marian Hukom/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – A South Korean company has inched significantly closer to winning the most important contract for the 2025 Philippine elections.
Miru Systems has overcome a major hurdle in the procurement process, after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) accepted its bid of P17.9 billion for the Philippines’ ambitious automated election reform project in the upcoming midterms.
So how did Miru achieve its front-runner status? The short answer is that there’s no competition.
On Monday, January 8, the Comelec held its second round of bidding for the project called full automation system, with the transparency audit count, or FASTrAC, for short.
Prior to D-Day, six firms expressed interest in the project by purchasing bidding documents. These companies were:
Of the six, only Miru submitted a bidding proposal that was accepted by the Comelec.
In December and in January, Smartmatic attempted to make a submission, but was turned down both times by the Comelec due to a disqualification order rooted in its alleged involvement in a 2016 bribery scheme. (READ: Smartmatic decries ‘unfair disqualification’ in future Philippine elections)
Just because Miru was the only company to throw its hat in the ring does not automatically mean it has won the contract.
In fact, the Korean firm was also the lone bidder in December, but insufficient documents at the first step of the bidding process resulted in the Comelec’s declaration of a failure of bidding.
This time around, Miru was able to fully comply with the documentary requirements, passing the eligibility check.
Afterwards, the Comelec opened Miru’s financial envelope, which contained the company’s bid for the project.
For every project, the procuring entity has an approved budget for the contract, and bidders must not go beyond that amount. Miru tendered a bid of P17.988 billion for the FASTrAC project, which has a maximum budget of P18.827 billion.
After manually computing Miru’s numbers, the Comelec declared Miru’s proposal the “single, calculated bid,” paving the way for its post-qualification evaluation.
Miru’s documents will be evaluated beyond face value, and the company’s capability to comply with the technical requirements will be assessed.
According to Comelec spokesman Rex Laudiangco, Miru – within five days upon receipt of the notice of post-qualification evaluation – has up to 30 days to submit an original copy of its mayor’s permit, audited financial statements, and PhilGEPS (Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System) registration, among other documents.
“We can also go to government offices to validate their submissions,” Laudiangco said.
Miru Systems began in South Korea in the late 1990s, and has since provided election technology to its home country, as well as governments with struggling democracies, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kyrgyzstan, and Iraq.
Its machines have been reported to be at the center of fraud allegations overseas, although Miru has shrugged off these claims.
Miru can still be post-disqualified if it fails to meet procurement guidelines and criteria being adhered to by the Comelec’s special bids and awards committees.
Companies have been post-disqualified in the past. It happened in 2021, when Pivot International outbid Smartmatic and advanced to the post-qualification evaluation stage for a machine refurbishment contract, only to be ultimately rejected by the poll body due to SD cards that were found to be incompatible during testing.
If Miru hurdles the post-qualification stage, it will be awarded the whopping contract. If it does not, the Comelec, said Laudiangco, has the option to either conduct a third round of competitive bidding or go through a negotiated procurement. – Rappler.com
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Israeli strike kills 2 Palestinian journalists in Gaza, officials say
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Chito de la Vega
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08/01/2024 21:56
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Al Jazeera journalist Wael Al-Dahdouh hugs his daughter as they attend the funeral of his son, Palestinian journalist Hamza Al-Dahdouh, after Hamza was killed in an Israeli strike, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, January 7, 2024.
REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
CAIRO, Egypt – An Israeli air strike on a car near Rafah in southern Gaza on Sunday killed two Palestinian journalists who were reporting, according to health officials in Gaza and the journalists’ union there.
Hamza Al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya were both freelancers. Al-Dahdouh had done freelance work for Al Jazeera and was the son of the Qatar-based TV station’s chief correspondent in Gaza, Wael Al-Dahdouh. A third freelancer, Hazem Rajab, was wounded.
Al Jazeera Media Network condemned the killing of the two and said it had been a deliberate attack.
“We urge the International Criminal Court, the governments and human rights organizations, and the United Nations to hold Israel accountable for its heinous crimes and demand an end to the targeting and killing of journalists,” the network said in a statement.
A statement from the Israeli military said that “an IDF aircraft identified and struck a terrorist who operated an aircraft that posed a threat to IDF troops.”
“We are aware of the reports that during the strike, two other suspects who were in the same vehicle as the terrorist were also hit,” the statement said.
In a statement on December 16, in response to the death of another Al Jazeera journalist in Gaza, the Israeli army, said “the IDF has never, and will never, deliberately target journalists”.
The Israel-Hamas war that started on October 7 has been deadly for journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international watchdog, said that as of Saturday, 77 journalists and media workers had been killed – 70 Palestinians, four Israelis and three Lebanese.
The Hamas-run Gaza government’s media office said the two new deaths raised its own tally of journalists killed by the Israeli offensive to 109.
A video posted on an Al Jazeera-linked YouTube channel showed Wael Al-Dahdouh crying next to his son’s body and holding his hand. Later, after his son’s burial, he said in televised remarks that journalists in Gaza would keep doing their job.
“All the world needs to see what is happening here,” he said.
Wael Al-Dahdouh is particularly well known to viewers across the Middle East after he learned during a live broadcast last month that his wife, another son, daughter and grandson had been killed in an Israeli air strike.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday’s killings were an “unimaginable tragedy” and that he was “deeply deeply sorry” for the Al-Dahdouh family’s loss.
“One (journalist killed) is far too many” Blinken said at a press conference in Doha, the Qatari capital.
Another journalist who died covering the conflict was Reuters visuals journalist Issam Abdallah. A Lebanese citizen, he was killed on October 13 by an Israeli tank crew while filming cross-border shelling in Lebanon, a Reuters investigation found.
– Rappler.com
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Outgoing UP star Malick Diouf says he gave it all while playing in PH
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delfin.dioquino editor
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08/01/2024 21:20
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STALWART. Malick Diouf in action for the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 86 men's basketball tournament.
UAAP
MANILA, Philippines – Looking back at his collegiate career, former UP Fighting Maroons star center Malick Diouf said he tried to serve as an inspiration for the next generation of Filipino hoopers.
“For me, the legacy is just like giving my best the whole time I was playing in this country,” the Senegalese told Rappler during a media event organized by global sports brand Puma, which introduced him as one of its brand ambassadors.
“I gave my teams love, because a lot of kids are watching us. So that’s being a good inspiration, [also] giving respect to the other players and coaches, the fans who are watching the games,” he added.
Although hampered by a hairline fracture in his right wrist, an injury he shared publicly only during the interview, Diouf delivered for the Maroons to the tune of 12.1 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in the UAAP Season 86 finals, where they lost in three games to La Salle.
Diouf, the UAAP Season 85 Most Valuable Player, played three seasons for UP and helped the school net its first men’s basketball title since 1986 at the expense of the dynastic Ateneo Blue Eagles in Season 84.
UP reached the finals in all of Diouf’s three seasons there, falling short twice – first to Ateneo in Season 85 then to La Salle in Season 86.
Diouf also bared that he has pending offers to play basketball elsewhere, but has not made any decision as he continues to recover from a surgery he underwent in late December.
Although Diouf and team captain CJ Cansino are leaving, the Maroons remain one of the better teams for the next season.
Diouf sees JD Cagulangan and Harold Alarcon stepping up as the team’s new leaders in a season that promises to be competitive.
“All the teams are preparing well. They have a long preparation time also,” said Diouf.
“Players are coming in. Hopefully, there will be no injuries like this season. I think it will be an exciting season.” – Rappler.com
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Choco Mucho picks up Alba, Mendrez, General ahead of next PVL season
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delfin.dioquino editor
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08/01/2024 19:20
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NEW PLAYERS. Mars Alba, Mean Mendrez, and Bia General join the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
Choco Mucho Flying Titans' Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – Choco Mucho continued its roster revamp after announcing the acquisition of Mars Alba, Mean Mendrez, and Bia General on Monday, January 8, ahead of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League season.
The addition of the trio came just days after the Flying Titans parted ways with standouts Bea de Leon, Denden Lazaro-Revilla, and Caitlyn Viray.
Alba became the latest player from the disbanded F2 Logistics crew to sign elsewhere as her former Cargo Movers teammates like Kianna Dy (PLDT), Myla Pablo (Petro Gazz), and Ivy Lacsina (NxLed) found new homes.
Other F2 Logistics players who will suit up for new teams next season include Majoy Baron and Kim Fajardo (PLDT), Dawn Macandili-Catindig and Jov Fernandez (Cignal), and Aby Maraño and Ara Galang (Chery Tiggo).
Alba bolsters the Flying Titans’ setter rotation, which includes Deanna Wong and Jem Ferrer, and joins her fellow La Salle products Des Cheng and Aduke Ogunsanya.
Meanwhile, it did not take long for Mendrez and General to land new squads after being released by their former teams PLDT and Cignal, respectively.
General is expected to fill the void left by libero Revilla, while Mendrez adds firepower to the wing position.
Choco Mucho hopes to build on its gains after reaching the finals for the first time. It had bowed to sister team Creamline in the duel for the Second All-Filipino Conference crown in December. – Rappler.com
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Outgoing UP star Malick Diouf says he gave it all while playing in PH
|
delfin.dioquino editor
|
08/01/2024 21:20
|
STALWART. Malick Diouf in action for the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 86 men's basketball tournament.
UAAP
MANILA, Philippines – Looking back at his collegiate career, former UP Fighting Maroons star center Malick Diouf said he tried to serve as an inspiration for the next generation of Filipino hoopers.
“For me, the legacy is just like giving my best the whole time I was playing in this country,” the Senegalese told Rappler during a media event organized by global sports brand Puma, which introduced him as one of its brand ambassadors.
“I gave my teams love, because a lot of kids are watching us. So that’s being a good inspiration, [also] giving respect to the other players and coaches, the fans who are watching the games,” he added.
Although hampered by a hairline fracture in his right wrist, an injury he shared publicly only during the interview, Diouf delivered for the Maroons to the tune of 12.1 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in the UAAP Season 86 finals, where they lost in three games to La Salle.
Diouf, the UAAP Season 85 Most Valuable Player, played three seasons for UP and helped the school net its first men’s basketball title since 1986 at the expense of the dynastic Ateneo Blue Eagles in Season 84.
UP reached the finals in all of Diouf’s three seasons there, falling short twice – first to Ateneo in Season 85 then to La Salle in Season 86.
Diouf also bared that he has pending offers to play basketball elsewhere, but has not made any decision as he continues to recover from a surgery he underwent in late December.
Although Diouf and team captain CJ Cansino are leaving, the Maroons remain one of the better teams for the next season.
Diouf sees JD Cagulangan and Harold Alarcon stepping up as the team’s new leaders in a season that promises to be competitive.
“All the teams are preparing well. They have a long preparation time also,” said Diouf.
“Players are coming in. Hopefully, there will be no injuries like this season. I think it will be an exciting season.” – Rappler.com
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1
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Choco Mucho picks up Alba, Mendrez, General ahead of next PVL season
|
delfin.dioquino editor
|
08/01/2024 19:20
|
NEW PLAYERS. Mars Alba, Mean Mendrez, and Bia General join the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
Choco Mucho Flying Titans' Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – Choco Mucho continued its roster revamp after announcing the acquisition of Mars Alba, Mean Mendrez, and Bia General on Monday, January 8, ahead of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League season.
The addition of the trio came just days after the Flying Titans parted ways with standouts Bea de Leon, Denden Lazaro-Revilla, and Caitlyn Viray.
Alba became the latest player from the disbanded F2 Logistics crew to sign elsewhere as her former Cargo Movers teammates like Kianna Dy (PLDT), Myla Pablo (Petro Gazz), and Ivy Lacsina (NxLed) found new homes.
Other F2 Logistics players who will suit up for new teams next season include Majoy Baron and Kim Fajardo (PLDT), Dawn Macandili-Catindig and Jov Fernandez (Cignal), and Aby Maraño and Ara Galang (Chery Tiggo).
Alba bolsters the Flying Titans’ setter rotation, which includes Deanna Wong and Jem Ferrer, and joins her fellow La Salle products Des Cheng and Aduke Ogunsanya.
Meanwhile, it did not take long for Mendrez and General to land new squads after being released by their former teams PLDT and Cignal, respectively.
General is expected to fill the void left by libero Revilla, while Mendrez adds firepower to the wing position.
Choco Mucho hopes to build on its gains after reaching the finals for the first time. It had bowed to sister team Creamline in the duel for the Second All-Filipino Conference crown in December. – Rappler.com
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