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What can the Philippines learn from how AI was used in Indonesia’s 2024 election?
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Gaby Baizas
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27/02/2024 12:24
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CARTOON PRABOWO. A supporter holds a picture of a cartoon version of Indonesia's Defense Minister and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, at their campaign rally in Jakarta, Indonesia February 10, 2024.
Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
MANILA, Philippines – Earlier this month, on Wednesday, February 14, Indonesia elected Prabowo Subianto as their next president. For older Indonesians, they remember Prabowo for his human rights abuses under the brutal Suharto dictatorship, which ended only 25 years ago.
But for younger Indonesian voters, they know Prabowo as a “cuddly grandpa.”
For his 2024 campaign, Prabowo greatly benefited from a major rebrand, thanks to generative AI (genAI). A cute, chubby-cheeked cartoon version of Prabowo, generated using text-to-image genAI tool Midjourney, is often shown dancing in viral videos across social media. These videos often used the word “gemoy,” which is Indonesian slang for cute and cuddly.
This isn’t Prabowo’s first presidential election – he ran in Indonesia’s 2014 and 2019 elections, losing to incumbent President Joko Widodo both times. In his first two presidential bids, he portrayed himself as a fierce nationalist. But he’s since ditched the nationalist branding, and it’s his “gemoy,” AI-fueled reputation that finally won him the presidential seat.
Third time’s the charm for Prabowo, who made the most out of newer technologies and social media platforms like TikTok. The election results also proved that Prabowo successfully catered to the country’s young voter base – majority of whom are millennial and Gen Z Indonesians.
Indonesian journalist Ika Ningtyas, fact-checking coordinator for Tempo Media and secretary-general of the The Alliance of Independent Journalists, said the country’s 2024 election is vastly different from previous elections.
In an interview with Rappler, Ningtyas said previous Indonesian elections were mainly marked by disinformation and hate speech – and while these were still present in the country’s 2024 polls, these were overshadowed by how candidates were more focused on portraying themselves as “tolerant leaders.”
“[I think] the use of [cartoons] with AI generative facilities is a form of information manipulation that [has not happened] before,” she said.
Apart from Prabowo’s viral AI-generated cartoon, there were also deepfake videos of the late dictator Suharto circulating on social media ahead of Indonesia’s election day.
Nadia Naffi, assistant professor at Université Laval in Quebec, Canada, said academics like herself who research digital disinformation had anticipated how generative AI could harm democratic processes like elections. Naffi admitted, however, that the recent incident in Indonesia’s election was “surprising in its scale and immediacy.”
“This incident…underscores the growing concern among researchers about the potential misuse of deepfakes and AI-generated content…. Although the specific use of generative AI in the Indonesian election wasn’t predicted in exact terms, the trend towards its misuse in political contexts was anticipated,” Naffi said in an interview with Rappler.
Ningtyas also noted that apart from the abuse of technology and disinformation present in the 2024 elections, Prabowo also benefited from the ways incumbent President Jokowi “[abused] his power” to make his son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, win the vice presidential seat.
Gibran was Prabowo’s 2024 running mate, and has faced criticism from how nepotism propelled his political career. Gibran is currently 36, which would have made him ineligible to run for vice president, as candidates are required to be at least 40 years old. But Indonesia’s court lifted the ban to make an exception for Gibran, which led to accusations that Jokowi was building his own political dynasty.
Ningtyas also attributed Prabowo’s election victory to the insufficient political and historical education on his past human rights abuses, allowing him to rebrand more easily.
“With the help of generative AI, the [Prabowo-Gibran campaign] produced animations or cartoons that transformed Prabowo’s figure to be much younger…and [to] look more [like a] funny grandpa. [It’s] a strategy to shift the public’s focus from Prabowo’s past human rights abuses and cover the issue of nepotism,” she said.
This year’s election is also not the first time social media saw sketchy campaigns supporting Prabowo. In 2019, Facebook announced that they took down a fake network of Indonesian pages, accounts, and groups that engaged in coordinated inauthentic behavior to promote pro-Prabowo propaganda.
Naffi’s previous research on generative AI consistently focused on its “dual nature” – while she recognizes its “capacity for innovation and democratization,” she had always underscored “the risks [AI poses] to the integrity of information.”
When it comes to elections, Naffi said AI can be especially harmful not just because of its ability to create misleading content, but also its ability to “[hyper-personalize] messages that exploit individual vulnerabilities,” which can “[deepen] societal divisions.” (READ: Rapid AI proliferation is a threat to democracy, experts say)
“There’s also the danger of fabricating entirely false audiovisual content that can undermine trust in public figures and institutions,” she said.
Ningtyas also explained that Indonesia has “problematic laws” that are weaponized to crack down on criticism instead of addressing disinformation.
“Indonesia does not have a policy [that tackles] disinformation that is based on a human rights approach. Instead, they use a number of articles from problematic laws to silence criticism under the pretext of fighting disinformation,” she said.
For instance, media groups and legal experts sounded the alarm over the country’s Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, as it has the potential to “undermine freedom of expression and freedom of the press.”
“Under the [ITE Law], there are articles on defamation and consumer false news, but they are misused to criminalize those who have an opinion… their criticism [is labeled] as hoaxes,” Ningtyas explained.
The same has been said of libel in the Philippines. Government officials and bodies, press freedom advocates, and activists in the Philippines have tackled the possibility of decriminalizing libel, as it stifles dissent and threatens the free press. (Criminalizing ‘fake news’: Why it won’t work)
When it comes to mitigating harms brought about by AI and other tech, Naffi strongly advocated for a comprehensive strategy that not only covers technological solutions, but focuses on education and digital literacy.
“From the incident in Indonesia, the Philippines and other nations can learn the importance of proactive digital literacy and the crafting of adaptable regulatory frameworks to counter the rapid evolution of AI technologies,” she said.
Naffi emphasized the importance of educating individuals, particularly the youth, on how to navigate emerging technologies and digital disinformation. She also stressed the need to include vulnerable groups in these initiatives, to ensure all segments of society are equipped to critically engage with tech and new forms of digital manipulation.
In an article published earlier in February, Naffi wrote and researched about how human intervention through education can empower the youth to engage critically with deepfakes. She explained that legal systems and governments are struggling to keep up in combating new forms of digital manipulation, and stressed the importance of integrating deepfake education into existing curricula.
“The human element, particularly the role of education, is indispensable in the fight against deepfakes. We cannot rely solely on technology and legal fixes,” she wrote.
Beyond education, Naffi also highlighted the need for international cooperation in “establishing ethical standards for AI use in political campaigning.”
“Such preparedness is essential for safeguarding against digital disinformation, ensuring that technological advancements serve to support, rather than undermine, democratic values and processes,” Naffi said.
AI companies have made efforts to prevent their tools from being abused. Midjourney’s Terms of Service explicitly prohibit generating images for political campaigns, and OpenAI is working on preventing political abuse in the lead-up to elections across the globe.
Some social media companies, such as Meta, have also worked on banning political advertising using AI tools. However, journalists like Ningtyas and other watchdogs have criticized social media platforms for being too slow to take action.
“Social media platforms are also very late in [taking] action…. [They] fail to anticipate or take quick action when generative AI is used as a gimmick campaign,” Ningtyas said.
Ningtyas also explained how Indonesia’s recent election can serve as a reminder for citizens and watchdogs to keep an eye out for campaigns that may distract voters from critical issues.
“Indonesia can be an important lesson, that the current development of generative AI…is very powerful for gimmick campaign strategies that can cover important issues [surrounding] candidates that can endanger democracy,” she said. – Rappler.com
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One Cebu and Duterte’s prayer rally: ‘Where is everybody?’
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jsitchon0312
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27/02/2024 12:30
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RALLY. Rain or shine, supporters of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte attended the Sunday Cebu Prayer Rally at the South Road Properties on Sunday, February 25.
Only one Cebuano official got the spotlight during the Cebu Duterte Prayer Rally at the South Road Properties (SRP) on Sunday, February 25, and his name is Mike.
With his signature flat cap, Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama sang praises to his allies from the Duterte faction and expressed his opposition to people’s initiative as a means to amend the constitution.
“It is not a people’s initiative. It has become a congressional initiative…We are not for sale,” Rama said in his speech.
The prayer rally was organized by Duterte supporters who felt that it was their duty to demand accountability and transparency from the current Marcos administration amid claims of “signature-buying” and manipulating citizens to support charter change.
The mayor attending the rally called for some form of ceasefire between the now warring clans and reminded them of how they managed to bag “one of the biggest” election rally crowds through the power of “unity”.
Speaking of unity, where exactly were the rest of Cebu’s esteemed high-ranking officials, and whatever happened to One Cebu?
As early as Tuesday, February 20, organizers of the Cebu prayer rally announced that top political figures would be present during the event.
The list included Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Malolos City Mayor Christian Natividad, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, and even comedian Willie Revillame.
Organizers added that there would be invitations sent to religious leaders and that the event was “open” to public officials, including the President.
However, it appeared that Cebu’s top officials had other commitments that were far more important than the former president’s rally, which would have been a great show of force for the ex-president.
There were no signs of Duterte-related activities or meet-and-greets on the official social media pages of Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, Talisay City Mayor Samsam Gullas, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan, or even Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia and the provinces’ media arm Sugbo News.
All of them were absent despite all being endorsed by the Davao strongman in the previous election.
Only Cebu City’s teleradio portal Sugbuanon Channel covered the prayer rally and published Rama’s speech with an emphasis on the mayor telling the President and Vice President “to do their jobs.”
Close to two years ago, the mayors and Garcia did not miss photo opportunities with then-candidates Sara Duterte and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the UniTeam and One Cebu Island festival rally on April 18, 2022.
So what’s changed?
Vice President Sara Duterte joked, in a speech posted by Radyo Pilipinas Cebu in February, about how Garcia told her that the governor supported Cebu City’s bid to host Palarong Pambansa 2024, but not its mayor.
There was also discomfort between Rama and Garcia who argued over the conduct of Cebu’s biggest festival, the Sinulog, at the SRP in Cebu City in January 2023.
To recall, Rama pushed through with the Sinulog at the SRP, despite the governor’s advice to stick to the traditional venues like the Cebu City Sports Center in consideration of the festival participants’ safety and weather conditions.
Their feud continued through their press statements, and eventually, Garcia, along with the city mayors of Mandaue, Talisay, and Lapu-Lapu, pulled out their contingents for what was supposed to be the “One Cebu Island” Sinulog 2023 festival.
Garcia tried to dispel rumors that there was conflict between the province and the Cebu City government over the venues of the Sinulog festival in January 2024, but claims of a rift in alliances still spread across social media.
It seems that much like the Sinulog, Garcia and the mayors also pulled out of the Cebu Duterte Prayer Rally without so much as a Facebook post with Rodrigo Duterte himself. – Rappler.com
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RUNNING LIST: President Marcos’ foreign trips in 2024
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Dwight de Leon
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22/01/2024 15:00
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TRAVEL. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos fly to Malaysia for a state visit in July 2023.
Presidential Communications Office
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has established himself as a frequent flyer, does not intend to slow down in 2024.
For this year, the Office of the President (OP) has been provided a budget of P1.4 billion for missions and state visits, as well as P1.1 billion for traveling expenses.
The amounts are a significant increase from what the OP had in its budget for traveling purposes in 2023.
Rappler tracks the countries that the President will visit in 2024.
Updated as of Apri 22, 2024
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) announced on January 24 that President Marcos will be the keynote speaker at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, dubbed as Asia’s premier defense summit, on May 31.
As per the IISS, he will join an esteemed list of heads of state who delivered a speech at the summit in the past, such as Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Malacañang has yet to confirm Marcos’ visits to the following countries. The list is based on international gatherings usually attended by the President, invitations that Malacañang received, and other statements that Philippine officials made in the past.
President Marcos and First Lazy Liza attended the royal wedding of Prince Abdul Mateen, the 10th child of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and businesswoman Yang Mulia Dayang Anisha Rosnah Binti Adam.
Marcos flew to Vietnam for a state visit upon the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Vo Van Thuong.
There, Marcos reiterated the agreements between Manila and Vietnam’s coast guards, and the two nation’s “cooperation and coordination” in the South China Sea. The two countries also inked an agreement on rice trade.
Marcos was in Canberra, Australia on February 28 to 29. As a guest of the government, he addressed the Australian Parliament, zeroing in on security issues. He also witnessed the signing of agreements on maritime domain, cyberspace, and antitrust between the Philippines and Australia.
The President returned to Australia on March 3, just a few days after his state visit to the country, to take part in the special summit in Melbourne between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia from March 4 to 6.
President Marcos was in Berlin in March for a working visit, meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The two countries signed agreements to strengthen cooperation on maritime issues and the upskilling of Filipino skilled workers.
After his trip to Germany, Marcos wrapped up his Central Europe tour with a state visit to the Czech Republic, where he met with President Petr Pavel, Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Senate President Miloš Vystrčil, and President of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová.
President Marcos flew to Washington on April 10 to take part in the first-ever trilateral summit between the Philippines, the United States, and Japan on April 11. It was a meeting that ultimately zeroed in on the growing threat posed by China in the West Philippine Sea. – Rappler.com
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Surf’s up: Siargao’s tourism rides high with 323% surge
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Herbie G
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27/02/2024 12:27
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BOARDWALK STROLL. Surfers stroll down a boardwalk after catching some early morning waves at Cloud 9, General Luna in Siargao.
Ivy Marie Mangadlao/Rappler
BUTUAN, Philippines – The country’s premier surfing capital, Siargao, saw a rebound in 2023 with a 323.56% growth in tourist arrivals, a far cry from the period of the slumps recorded in the previous years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Super Typhoon Odette that devastated the island.
Department of Tourism-Caraga data showed that Siargao Island alone recorded a total of 529,822 tourist arrivals in 2023, an increase from the 125,088 tourists logged in 2022.
Out of these tourists, 476,074 were domestic, and 53,748 were foreign. The most significant growth rate was observed in the foreign arrivals, with a 511.89% increase from 8,784 in 2022.
DOT-Caraga confirmed that tourist arrivals in Siargao for 2023 have already surpassed the pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, before the effects of COVID-19 became pronounced, the island recorded 257,900 tourist arrivals.
DOT-Caraga Director Ivonnie Dumadag said Siargao’s improved accessibility was a key factor contributing to the rise in tourist arrivals.
“The department is working hard to advance tourism in various aspects, including skills development, enforcement of standards, and marketing, both domestically and internationally,” she said.
Dumadag noted the importance of accrediting tourism-related enterprises to prevent past issues, as negative experiences in Siargao can quickly spread on social media.
“What we really want to do is to sustain our credibility and reputation in Siargao as a paradise destination because if we keep promoting, and our service providers lack skills and training and are not accredited, it won’t be effective,” she added.
In 2023, Siargao ranked 10th among Asia’s best Islands in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards.
With the massive increase in tourists, Dumadag said they were preparing as they anticipate an even larger influx for 2024.
Surigao del Norte 1st District Representative Francisco Jose “Bingo” Matugas II said preparations were also underway for the island’s hosting of the Siargao International Surfing Cup in 2024, featuring an upgraded 5,000 Qualifying Series (QS), an increase from the 3,000 QS in 2023.
“This event is not only about sports but also about tourism; it will draw more tourists to witness the event,” Matugas said.
The 5,000 QS for the Siargao International Surfing Cup, sanctioned by the World Surf League, aims to attract the best surfers from around the world to participate in the competition due to its higher prize money and the increased number of points.
For the overall Caraga region, there were a total of 1.44 million tourists, reflecting a growth rate of 98.83% from 725,266 in 2022.
In terms of tourism receipts, they amounted to a total of P17.304 billion, representing the revenue generated from various tourism-related activities and services in the region.
Dumadag said the DOT has customized its approach for each province in the Caraga based on each area’s unique tourism offerings.
In the case of Dinagat Island, there is a heightened focus on promotion, with the provincial government currently formulating appropriate policies, she said.In Agusan del Sur, the emphasis is on adventure tourism, targeting a specific audience interested in trekking. – Rappler.com
Ivy Marie Mangadlao is a community journalist writing for Mindanews and an Aries Rufo Journalism fellow for 2023-2024.
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Navotas cops get lighter penalties for ‘mistaken’ killing of Jemboy Baltazar
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Jairo Bolledo
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27/02/2024 10:39
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LIGHT PENALTIES. Policemen involved in the killing Jemboy Baltazar leave the Navotas Regional Trial Court after the promulgation of the case.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Police officers of Navotas were meted with lighter penalties after a Navotas court on Tuesday, February 27, found only one cop guilty of the lesser crime of homicide for the “mistaken” killing of 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar whom police pursued and shot dead in August 2023.
The charge filed against the six cops of Navotas involved in the botched operation was murder. But Navotas City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 286 convicted only one, Police Staff Sergeant Gerry Maliban, not of murder but of homicide. While murder has the penalty of reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years in prison, Maliban was sentenced to only 4 to 6 years in prison. He was also ordered to pay P50,000 for moral and civil damages.
Four others – Police Staff Sergeant Niko Pines Esquilon, Police Executive Master Sergeant Roberto Balais Jr., Police Corporal Edmard Jake Blanco, Patrolman Benedict Mangada – were convicted of illegal discharge of firearm and sentenced to 4 months in prison.
Police Staff Sergeant Antonio Bugayong Jr. was acquitted.
In explaining why Maliban was convicted of homicide instead of murder, Navotas RTC Branch 286 Clerk of Court Anne Kathryn Diaz read a portion of the decision: “Police Staff Sergeant Maliban cannot be said to have employed means, methods, or forms in the execution of the crime.”
Diaz said this simply meant that it was not proven that Maliban planned the method of executing the crime.
“Sabi po rito, ‘This is because the urge to shoot the victim materialized only when the victim attempted to escape.’ So ‘yung pagputok niya ng baril, ginawa lamang niya no’ng nakita niyang mag-eescape na ho ‘yung biktimang si Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar,” she added.
(As stated here, “This is because the urge to shoot the victim materialized only when the victim attempted to escape.” So Maliban only fired his gun when the victim, Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar, attempted to escape.)
Even though Maliban was originally charged with murder, he can be convicted of a lesser offense. This in in line with section 5, rule 120 of the revised rules of criminal procedure, which states that a person can be convicted of a lesser crime in the crime he/she was originally charged with.
As to the four cops convicted of illegal discharge of firearms, the court directed the authorities of Metro Manila District Jail Annex 2 to credit their preventive imprisonment. After crediting the earlier imprisonment and the accused will be found to have served the sentence, they could be released from detention.
The four have been detained since October 5, 2023, so they could be released since more than four months had already passed since the day of the arrest.
As to Bugayong, who was acquitted by the court, the decision said the cop was acquitted on the ground of reasonable doubt.
In explaining the cop’s acquittal, the court said it applied the rule that “if the inculpatory facts and circumstances are capable of two or more explanations, one of which is consistent with the innocence of the accused and the other consistent with his guilt, then the evidence does not fulfill the test of moral certainty and is not sufficient to support a conviction.”
Diaz added that there was no admission and it was not proven in court that Bugayong fired his gun during the operation where Baltazar was killed.
Baltazar was shot and killed by the local cops on August 2, 2023, which the then-local city police chief later admitted as a lapse in protocol because there was no warning before firing at a person who later turned out to be a mistaken target. Charges were filed against the six cops within the same month or on August 28, 2023.
Baltazar’s case reached a verdict faster than the case of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos, which remains to be the Philippine government’s trophy case as it projects to the international community that the local justice system is working. Delos Santos was 17 years old when he was killed like Baltazar, and his case resulted in a conviction of three local police after a year and three months on trial.
While the verdict was quick for Baltazar, the cases of killings of two other young men who were connected to him remain unsolved. Baltazar’s friends Daniel Soria, 20, was killed in September 2023, and John Rey Basie, 18, in October 2023.
Soria was killed by identified assailants in Malabon on September 2. When Soria was killed, Basie was with him but escaped death at the time after he hid underneath a vehicle. Basie was the target of the chase that killed Baltazar.
But a month later, Basie was also found dead only a few kilometers where Baltazar was killed by the police. Basie sustained a gunshot wound in his head – a bullet pierced through the back of his head, and exited his chin, according to the police report.
Baltazar’s killing reignited scrutiny of police conduct, which was at the center of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs that is now being investigated at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Although President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. promised an overhaul in law enforcement operations, Baltazar’s killing tainted that promise because of the details that emerged. For one, although police procedures are very clear that the use of megaphones is prescribed to warn a suspect, police instead fired warning shots which is strictly prohibited.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun, who has examined the remains of drug war victims, also probed Baltazar’s corpse and found that the teen’s cause of death even had drowning as a “contributory cause.” Baltazar’s family said the then teen fell into the water after he was shot, and they only retrieved the body three hours later because the police prohibited them.
A Senate hearing led by opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed that a cop allegedly asked a witness to lie and say that Baltazar had illegal drugs.
The PNP initially said a reckless imprudence resulting in homicide complaint was filed against the six cops. However, upon checking by the Baltazar family and their counsel, no such complaint was filed against the cops. The family and their lawyers later pushed for a murder complaint, which was the subject of the Navotas court’s ruling. (READ: Why the PNP recommended dismissal of 8 cops in Jemboy Baltazar’s killing)
– Rappler.com
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BARMM approves cash rewards for aging, ailing MILF, MNLF fighters
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Herbie G
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27/02/2024 11:38
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IN SESSION. Members of the Bangsamoro parliament during a session.
Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament
COTABATO, Philippines – Aging and ailing members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who bravely fought for their causes will soon receive substantial support from the Bangsamoro regional government.
In an unprecedented move, the regional parliament approved a measure on Monday, February 26, authorizing Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Chief Minister Ahod Balawang “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim to set aside an initial fund of P500 million for a still undetermined number of former Moro combatants.
As part of this support, senior citizens and persons with disabilities, who once fought for the Moro causes, will each receive a lump sum benefit of P84,000 along with a monthly allowance of P7,000 from the regional government.
Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Bill No. 44, which received a majority of 41 affirmative votes, established the Office of the Bangsamoro Mujahideen Under Special Circumstance (OBMUSC) to effectively oversee the implementation of the program. Notably, there were no objections or abstentions during the voting process.
The affirmative votes constituted 51% of the 80-member BARMM parliament.
Jamaleah Benito, BTA information officer, said the regional parliament did not specify the number of would-be beneficiaries.
“‘Pag pasok ka sa criteria, qualified ka to get financial assistance,” Benito told Rappler on Tuesday, February 27.
(When you meet the criteria, you are qualified to receive financial assistance.)
Baileng Mantawil, a BARMM parliament member, said the regional government has yet to determine exactly how many would qualify for the program. He said many of the former MILF and MNLF fighters have already died.
Eligibility criteria outlined in the measure require the region’s mujahideen who participated in the struggle for the Bangsamoro people’s right to self-determination between 1969 and 2014 for a minimum of 20 years. Those eligible, based on the regional law, must also belong to the underprivileged sector.
BTA Member Aida Silongan, chairperson of the parliament’s committee on social services and development, said the measure was meant to reciprocate the region’s mujahideen and acknowledge their sacrifices.
“A lot of mujahideen sacrificed their time, and many lives were lost for the sake of Bangsamoro welfare,” Silongan said.
Silongan said the benefits to be granted are lifetime and non-transferable, aligning with the BARMM’s priority agenda.
Mantawil said the measure was a “tangible expression of our gratitude, a gesture of solidarity with the families who bore the brunt of our collective struggle.”
The newly established OBMUSC was given powers and functions, including extending assistance to qualified beneficiaries, maintaining an updated list of beneficiaries, and conducting periodic reviews of the fund’s sufficiency.
Officials who pushed for the approval of the measure said a technical working group will be formed to coordinate with the MILF and MNLF central committees on the list of qualified recipients.
They also said public consultations were held before the bill’s approval, gathering inputs from various stakeholders, including veterans, internally displaced persons, local leaders, and civil society organizations. – Rappler.com
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FACT CHECK: No nationwide free housing program for all Filipinos
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jpcruz0306
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27/02/2024 12:22
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CLAIM: The Philippine government has a free housing program for all Filipinos.
Why we fact-checked this: Several Facebook accounts shared a post claiming that Filipinos can avail themselves of free housing.
The post features a picture of bungalow-type houses accompanied by text that says: “Libreng pabahay buong Pilipinas. Libre walang babayaran kahit piso. Pag nabasa mo ‘to mag-message agad sa amin.” (Free housing nationwide. Absolutely free, no payment required, not even a peso. If you read this, message us immediately.)
One of these claims was posted on a Facebook page with 101,800 members. As of writing, the post has gained 4,100 reactions, 6,700 comments, and 160 shares.
The facts: No reports confirm the existence of any nationwide free housing program for all Filipinos.
The National Housing Authority (NHA), the government agency responsible for public housing for low-income families, also does not have a nationwide free housing program.
According to its website, the agency offers the following resettlement and low-cost housing programs:
Each of these programs has specific qualifications and requirements for eligibility.
There is also no free housing program run by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) or its attached agencies and key shelter agencies such as the Home Development Mutual Fund, Social Housing Finance Corporation, and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation.
While the DHSUD is the lead implementer of the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program, the department has previously clarified that it does not provide housing at no cost. (FACT CHECK: Marcos admin’s housing project is not free)
Unreliable source: The Facebook post also failed to identify which government agency or private sector entity would be responsible for the supposed program.
Moreover, the post did not originate from any legitimate government or non-government organization account. Social media users who interact with the account to apply for the supposed free housing may be at risk of having their personal information stolen. (READ: Phishing 101: How to spot and avoid phishing)
Official news: For official updates, refer to the National Housing Authority’s website and its official accounts on Facebook and YouTube.
Rappler has also fact-checked a similar claim about the supposed free nationwide housing program. – James Patrick Cruz/Rappler.comKeep 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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Not so ‘Batang Gilas’ anymore: Kai Sotto relishes growth beside Quiambao, Tamayo, Edu
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jisaga0269
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26/02/2024 0:07
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BOX OUT. Gilas star Kai Sotto (center) battles for rebounding position against Chinese Taipei players.
FIBA
MANILA, Philippines – At one point, the Philippines had its greatest collection of basketball prospects playing for the Gilas Youth division.
Then called Batang Gilas in the late 2010s, the national team’s under-18 pool featured extremely promising stalwarts clearly holding the keys to the future and got fans and coaches salivating at the idea of what would come next.
Fast forward to the present, and the world has since seen glimpses of what highs Gilas’ next few years truly hold as talented big men Kai Sotto, Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, and AJ Edu continue to feature prominently in the national team’s seniors ranks.
Now that they’ve emerged as key figures in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, Sotto fondly looked back on how far their skills and chemistry have gone since their first forays into international competitions.
“I feel like we’ve already shared a really good bond ever since we were younger. It really helps us, when we get to the court, we no longer have a feeling-out process,” he said after Gilas destroyed Chinese Taipei, 106-53, on home turf at the PhilSports Arena on Sunday, February 25.
“We already have a lot of trust in one another. Carl, AJ, KQ, and I have been together from Batang Gilas until now, so I’m very happy that our progress has continued.”
True enough, the progress has been continuous, and to summarize in one word, stratospheric.
Sotto, coming off stops in the Australian National Basketball League and the NBA Summer League, is now honing his craft further in his second season in the Japan B. League alongside Edu, who unfortunately has been sidelined this Gilas window due to injury.
Tamayo, a UAAP champion with the UP Maroons, already has hardware to show in the pro league after winning a B. League title in just his rookie season with the Ryukyu Golden Kings before both sides mutually parted ways.
Quiambao, meanwhile, has evolved to history-making levels while still at the college level, catapulting himself to MVP status in the UAAP and leading the La Salle Green Archers to their first championship in seven years.
To top it all off, not a single person in that quartet has turned 25.
Fans continue to closely watch just how much farther this group will go in the near future, with imposing expectations matching their ever-growing structures.
Sotto, however, is just taking each day in stride. He always has and always will.
“I’m just so happy for everybody who contributed from the start until now,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to the things we will continue to do in the future.” – Rappler.com
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TNT boosts title quest in PH Cup with addition of Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser
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delfin.dioquino editor
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26/02/2024 16:15
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CONTESTED. Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser in action for the NLEX Road Warriors in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner's Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – TNT beefed up its frontline to boost its title quest in the upcoming PBA Philippine Cup after acquiring big man Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser through a three-team trade involving NLEX and Blackwater.
The PBA on Monday, February 26, approved the deal that sent the former No. 1 overall pick to the Tropang Giga – his third team since he joined the league in 2022.
Initially, the Road Warriors shipped Ganuelas-Rosser back to the Bossing – the team that drafted him – in exchange for Ato Ular, Yousef Taha, and a future first-round pick.
Blackwater then dealt the 6-foot-6 stalwart to TNT for Jaydee Tungcab, Justin Chua, and a future first-round selection.
“His time as a Road Warrior will forever be cherished and we wish him the best of luck with his next team. Brandon will always hold a special place in the NLEX family,” said team governor Ronald Dulatre.
Ganuelas-Rosser owns career averages of 12.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks through four conferences in the league – three with the Road Warriors and one with the Bossing.
He will reunite with Tropang Giga head coach Chot Reyes, who called the shots when Ganuelas-Rosser and Gilas Pilipinas reclaimed the gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in May.
The All-Filipino conference will come off the wraps on Wednesday, February 28. – Rappler.com
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Malacañang fires assistant solicitor general for sexual harassment
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Lian Buan
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27/02/2024 11:07
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OSG. A bus of the Office of the Solicitor General parked in Mile Long, Makati.
LeAnne Jazul/Rappler
An assistant solicitor general (ASG) with a spotty record of sexual harassment has been fired by Malacañang, and while the decision has been appealed, Rappler learned that an officer-in-charge (OIC) has already been appointed to the vacated division in the Office of the Solicitor General.
ASG Derek Puertollano, who is a career official, was dismissed from service over three administrative charges of sexual harassment prompted by a complaint from his legal interns.
“These harrowing incidents left complainants traumatized, scarring them both for life,” said Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin in his decision dated February 20. He found Puertollano administratively liable for the grave offense of sexual harassment through unwanted touching of private part of the body, and the less grave offenses of sexual harassment through unwanted touching or brushing against a victim’s body, and through surreptiously looking at a person’s private part.
Rappler has learned that Puertollano is appealing the decision, but Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra has already appointed an OIC to the vacated legal division. Rappler has sent an email to Puertollano seeking his statement. We will update this story once he responds.
Puertollano was involved in a separate sexual abuse case in 2016, according to reports from Manila Standard and Philippine Star. Based on the reports, he was charged in the US with intent to sexually abuse a minor, an incident that happened during official business when he was attending a seminar on international arbitration.
Evidently, Puertollano was able to keep his job.
The present charges stemmed from the complaint of two male legal interns of the OSG who went with Puertollano in an out-of-town business trip mid-year 2022.
According to the documents, Puertollano maneuvered the hotel room assignments so he could be in the same room as his two interns. One of them complained about Puertollano taking a shower in his full view with the door ajar. When it was the victim taking a shower, Puertollano went to the bathroom despite his protestation and the victim said he felt his boss’ “hand brush my butt cheek.”
The other complained about inappropriate remarks while the ASG looked at his crotch, while following him to the urinal, and while sleeping in separate beds that were pushed together by Puertollano. The ASG was accused of “touching [the victim’s] feet under the covers with own feet” and “placing [his] hand on [the victim’s] outer thigh.”
“All of which was unwelcome and pervasive, and which thereby created an intimidating, uncomfortable and insecure environment,” read the charges.
In his defense, Puertollano said all of the incidents were not malicious. But in the OSG’s internal investigation, Guevarra recommended dismissal from service and referred the case to Malacañang.
“[Victims] were his subordinates or interns whom he exercised control and supervision as supervising ASG. He took advantage of his position and, instead of acting in loco parentis, he was even the one who preyed on them, taking advantage of his superior position,” said Bersamin.
“This Office emphasizes that bare denials of Puertollano cannot withstand the positive declarations and detailed recounts of the harrowing incidents experienced by [the victims] under his hands,” the executive secretary said. – Rappler.com
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Navotas cops get lighter penalties for ‘mistaken’ killing of Jemboy Baltazar
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Jairo Bolledo
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27/02/2024 10:39
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LIGHT PENALTIES. Policemen involved in the killing Jemboy Baltazar leave the Navotas Regional Trial Court after the promulgation of the case.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Police officers of Navotas were meted with lighter penalties after a Navotas court on Tuesday, February 27, found only one cop guilty of the lesser crime of homicide for the “mistaken” killing of 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar whom police pursued and shot dead in August 2023.
The charge filed against the six cops of Navotas involved in the botched operation was murder. But Navotas City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 286 convicted only one, Police Staff Sergeant Gerry Maliban, not of murder but of homicide. While murder has the penalty of reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years in prison, Maliban was sentenced to only 4 to 6 years in prison. He was also ordered to pay P50,000 for moral and civil damages.
Four others – Police Staff Sergeant Niko Pines Esquilon, Police Executive Master Sergeant Roberto Balais Jr., Police Corporal Edmard Jake Blanco, Patrolman Benedict Mangada – were convicted of illegal discharge of firearm and sentenced to 4 months in prison.
Police Staff Sergeant Antonio Bugayong Jr. was acquitted.
In explaining why Maliban was convicted of homicide instead of murder, Navotas RTC Branch 286 Clerk of Court Anne Kathryn Diaz read a portion of the decision: “Police Staff Sergeant Maliban cannot be said to have employed means, methods, or forms in the execution of the crime.”
Diaz said this simply meant that it was not proven that Maliban planned the method of executing the crime.
“Sabi po rito, ‘This is because the urge to shoot the victim materialized only when the victim attempted to escape.’ So ‘yung pagputok niya ng baril, ginawa lamang niya no’ng nakita niyang mag-eescape na ho ‘yung biktimang si Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar,” she added.
(As stated here, “This is because the urge to shoot the victim materialized only when the victim attempted to escape.” So Maliban only fired his gun when the victim, Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar, attempted to escape.)
Even though Maliban was originally charged with murder, he can be convicted of a lesser offense. This in in line with section 5, rule 120 of the revised rules of criminal procedure, which states that a person can be convicted of a lesser crime in the crime he/she was originally charged with.
As to the four cops convicted of illegal discharge of firearms, the court directed the authorities of Metro Manila District Jail Annex 2 to credit their preventive imprisonment. After crediting the earlier imprisonment and the accused will be found to have served the sentence, they could be released from detention.
The four have been detained since October 5, 2023, so they could be released since more than four months had already passed since the day of the arrest.
As to Bugayong, who was acquitted by the court, the decision said the cop was acquitted on the ground of reasonable doubt.
In explaining the cop’s acquittal, the court said it applied the rule that “if the inculpatory facts and circumstances are capable of two or more explanations, one of which is consistent with the innocence of the accused and the other consistent with his guilt, then the evidence does not fulfill the test of moral certainty and is not sufficient to support a conviction.”
Diaz added that there was no admission and it was not proven in court that Bugayong fired his gun during the operation where Baltazar was killed.
Baltazar was shot and killed by the local cops on August 2, 2023, which the then-local city police chief later admitted as a lapse in protocol because there was no warning before firing at a person who later turned out to be a mistaken target. Charges were filed against the six cops within the same month or on August 28, 2023.
Baltazar’s case reached a verdict faster than the case of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos, which remains to be the Philippine government’s trophy case as it projects to the international community that the local justice system is working. Delos Santos was 17 years old when he was killed like Baltazar, and his case resulted in a conviction of three local police after a year and three months on trial.
While the verdict was quick for Baltazar, the cases of killings of two other young men who were connected to him remain unsolved. Baltazar’s friends Daniel Soria, 20, was killed in September 2023, and John Rey Basie, 18, in October 2023.
Soria was killed by identified assailants in Malabon on September 2. When Soria was killed, Basie was with him but escaped death at the time after he hid underneath a vehicle. Basie was the target of the chase that killed Baltazar.
But a month later, Basie was also found dead only a few kilometers where Baltazar was killed by the police. Basie sustained a gunshot wound in his head – a bullet pierced through the back of his head, and exited his chin, according to the police report.
Baltazar’s killing reignited scrutiny of police conduct, which was at the center of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs that is now being investigated at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Although President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. promised an overhaul in law enforcement operations, Baltazar’s killing tainted that promise because of the details that emerged. For one, although police procedures are very clear that the use of megaphones is prescribed to warn a suspect, police instead fired warning shots which is strictly prohibited.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun, who has examined the remains of drug war victims, also probed Baltazar’s corpse and found that the teen’s cause of death even had drowning as a “contributory cause.” Baltazar’s family said the then teen fell into the water after he was shot, and they only retrieved the body three hours later because the police prohibited them.
A Senate hearing led by opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed that a cop allegedly asked a witness to lie and say that Baltazar had illegal drugs.
The PNP initially said a reckless imprudence resulting in homicide complaint was filed against the six cops. However, upon checking by the Baltazar family and their counsel, no such complaint was filed against the cops. The family and their lawyers later pushed for a murder complaint, which was the subject of the Navotas court’s ruling. (READ: Why the PNP recommended dismissal of 8 cops in Jemboy Baltazar’s killing)
– Rappler.com
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End of an era as Ricardo Ratliffe retires from Korean national team
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delfin.dioquino editor
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26/02/2024 21:30
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THUMBS UP. Ricardo Ratliffe in action for South Korea in the 2024 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
FIBA
MANILA, Philippines – South Korean basketball marked the end of an era as naturalized player Ricardo Ratliffe announced his retirement from the national team.
Ratliffe said he suited up for Korea for the final time when he powered the squad to a 96-62 win over Thailand to wrap up the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers on Sunday, February 25.
His decision to hang it up brought to a close a six-year run as naturalized player for Korea.
“I would like to say thank you so much for making me the first foreign player to represent this great country on the international level,” the American-born Ratliffe wrote on Instagram.
“It’s so crazy to me that it has already been six years that I’ve been a member of this team.”
Given the Korean name Ra Guna, Ratliffe started representing the East Asian country in 2018 and went on to become one of the continent’s best big men.
Ratliffe, 35, helped Korea capture a pair of bronze medals in the 2018 Asian Games and 2018 Williams Jones Cup.
He starred for Korea in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, where he finished as tournament leader in scoring and rebounding with averages of 23 points and 12.8 rebounds.
In the current Asia Cup Qualifiers, Ratliffe averaged 18.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks as Korea ended the first window with a 1-1 record in Group A.
Ratliffe, a former PBA import, will continue to play for the Busan KCC Egis in the Korean Basketball League, although he said his contract will expire by the end of the season.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me since I’m a free agent at the end of this season, but I just wanted to let it be known that I’m forever grateful for this opportunity,” he said.
“Ra Guna out.” – Rappler.com
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New era as PFF retires Azkals moniker, brings in Belgian coach for men’s team
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delfin.dioquino editor
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26/02/2024 20:25
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MENTOR. The Philippine Football Federation introduces new men's team head coach Tom Saintfiet.
Philip Matel/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) ushered in a new era for the men’s national team with a new coach, and soon, a new name.
The squad nicknamed the Azkals will be called that no more under the tutelage of Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet, whom the PFF introduced on Monday, February 26.
Saintfiet, who boasts 26 years’ worth of managing experience, succeeded Hans Michael Weiss, who was recently brought back to call the shots for the men’s crew before his second removal from the post.
“I was in need of a new task, an ambitious task…. I was needed and [I was] in need of a project,” Saintfiet told reporters.
“And I’m very thrilled to be very happy and very proud to be part of this ambitious project. And I’m sure, we, all together, can help us succeed in our dreams [of making the FIFA World Cup],” he added.
Saintfiet made a name for himself coaching in Africa, where he most recently led Gambia to consecutive appearances in the Africa Cup of Nations.
He resigned just last January after Gambia exited the Africa Cup of Nations, where they finished last.
The 50-year-old former player also had stints in Malta, Trinidad and Tobago, Bangladesh, Togo, Malawi, Yemen, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Qatar, whose national U17 team he guided to the FIFA U17 World Championship in 2005.
His immediate concern is the Philippines’ current campaign in the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, where they will face Iraq on March 22 and 26.
“We are looking at dynamic young people who can use our team as a jumping place to reach higher goals,” said Saintfiet.
“Players, maybe who are not yet there where they want to be on club level, can benefit from being in an ambitious, a well-organized national team, to achieve [their] goals in winning games with the national team going to the Asia Cup…. Every player that can play anywhere can benefit off that on the club level. So it’s a win-win situation.”
The team also quietly retired the Azkals moniker earlier in February, coinciding with new management and coaching.
Former national team player Freddy Gonzalez was appointed as the team’s new manager in January, succeeding longtime patron Dan Palami, who held the role from 2009 to 2024.
“Right now, we’ll just call the team the Philippine men’s national [football] team…. We feel that while the Azkals name was great, it has served its purpose,” Gonzalez told reporters.
“We feel like we’re going into the next step of Philippine football. So that’s something that we’re not really thinking about but will eventually come to play at some point, whether by us or by the fans.”
Gonzalez denied allegations surfacing online that the move to drop the Azkals name was due to Palami owning the trademark, which makes it hard for the PFF to use.
He added that Palami was very gracious to hand the trademark over, but the PFF opted for a change to eliminate stereotypes that come with the name.
“With this administration, we don’t distinguish anymore between half-Filipinos and [full-blooded] Filipinos,” said Gonzalez.
“Therefore, the Azkals name has no relevancy anymore in the team. We’re all Filipinos. There’s no more half-half.”
The term “askal,” a portmanteau of aso and kalye, meaning “street dog,” refers to mixed-breed dogs which roam outside and often have no owners.
As the Azkals, the national men’s team had drawn flak for signing and fielding more foreign-based mixed-race Filipinos than pure-blooded ones.
Under Palami’s watch, the country experienced its best showing of football this century, a rise that began in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, where the team upset defending champion Vietnam in what was dubbed the “Miracle of Hanoi.”
Players like Phil and James Younghusband, Neil Etheridge, Manny and Mike Ott, Patrick Reichelt, Misagh Bahadoran, and many more starred for the better part of the past decade, bringing the basketball-crazed country to greater heights.
The team rose to its best-ever FIFA ranking of 111 in 2018, much higher than the current placement of 139. – Rappler.com
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SM to open 5 new malls in 2024 as PH retail rebounds big
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gdecastro0289
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27/02/2024 8:15
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MALLING. SM Prime will open 5 new malls in 2024, three in Luzon, one in Visayas, and one in Mindanao.
SM handouts/J Center Mall X/Rappler file
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ retail king SM Group is opening five new malls in the Philippines in 2024, two of them in Ilocos, the home region of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
SM Supermalls president Steven Tan said on Monday, February 26, that they would be opening the following:
“We will be opening in La Union [province], Laoag [City] as well. Zamboanga, we opened Zamboanga a couple of years ago [in December 2020]. It grew to be very, very successful, so we’re very bullish with the Zamboanga market. We’re opening a bigger one,” he told the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC).
A post shared by SM City Mindpro (@smcitymindpro)
SM broke ground for its second mall in the Zamboanga Peninsula in February 2023.
The malls in Laoag City and in La Union province will be the first SM malls in these areas. A change.org petition in 2016 asked that SM build a mall in La Union.
Some of these malls will “blend with the [local] community,” such as the SM in the Philippines’ surfing capital in northern Luzon, La Union, which will have more “timber” and “beige” in its design, he said.
“La Union would also be great because there will also be an area where you would create that same vibe as the surfing capital of the Philippines,” Tan said.
The new one that will be near Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna, will be a “premier mall with a one hectare, enclosed, airconditioned garden in the middle of the mall, where all the shops and restaurants will be looking into,” he said.
SM bought the J Center Mall in Mandaue City in 2023 and is currently renovating it. A J Tower residences is also being built at the back of the mall.
With a grateful heart, thank you so much! This is J Centre Mall. Your home, our home where we belong, forever. pic.twitter.com/ORL5HR6M69
The retail industry in the Philippines has rebounded big from the pandemic, with most retail businesses seeing high growth.
“Immediately after the pandemic, people went back to the mall, flocked to the mall. Last year was a testament of that – we’re very happy with the numbers because we weren’t expecting it to be that good. We were expecting growth, definitely, but the result is very humbling, it really blew me,” Tan said.
SM Prime Holdings had a net income of P40 billion in 2023, 33% higher than the P30 billion in 2022. Its mall business generated 56% of the company’s consolidated revenues. Mall rental income went up 24% to P61.3 billion in 2023 from P49.7 billion the year prior.
“The favorable result we achieved in 2023 reflects the strong support and trust from our tenants and customers despite the economic challenges encountered in 2023. We continue to see this growth momentum this year as we pursue our expansion plans in our key businesses, and explore new opportunities to expand our businesses,” SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim said on February 19.
As of October 2023, SM had 85 malls: 24 in Metro Manila, 47 in the rest of Luzon, 7 in the Visayas, and 7 in Mindanao. These malls had an average daily pedestrian count of 3.5 million.
SM has other retail outlets such as SM Hypermarket, Savemore, Waltermart, Alfamart, and MindPro.
SM’s mall expansion is now outside Metro Manila as regional growth in Luzon (excluding Metro Manila) and the Visayas in 2022 was faster than in the National Capital Region.
Other Philippine retail giants are Robinsons Retail Holdings Incorporated and Puregold Price Club Incorporated.
According to the newly released Global Retail Development Index (GRDI) 2023 report by Kearney, a global management consulting firm, “a growing middle class, increasing urbanization, a young demographic, strong consumer demand, an attractive labor market, and increasing remittances make the Philippines one of the most dynamic economies” in the Asia Pacific.
It noted that the Philippines’ poverty incidence declined from 23% in 2015 to 18% in 2021, and economic growth was at 7.6% in 2022.
The GRDI said the Philippines’ retail market was worth $203 billion in 2022, and was projected to grow by 5% from 2017 to 2022 and reach $286 billion in 2027.
The report said both the low-end retail enterprises, such as sari-sari (general merchandise) stores, as well as luxury brands are cashing in on the retail rebound.
“Traditional Philippine stores, known as sari-sari stores, located at every street corner and deeply rooted in the nation’s culture, continue to increase, providing access to smaller packs and essential goods in residential areas,” the GRDI 2023 said.
Both government and private business are using various ways to help small retailers. Government, for instance, provides low-interest loans to small enterprises.
“In November 2023, President Marcos asked TikTok to help mom-and-pop stores promote their products to millions of users, especially in rural areas,” the GRDI said.
Billionaire Lucio Co’s supermarket chain Puregold’s Tindahan ni Aling Puring was cited in the report as one of the ways by which big business is assisting small retailers with big discounts.
The GRDI said Philippine supermarkets have also “shown good growth and continue to be a leading retail channel.”
“Major players such as Puregold Price Clubs, Robinson Retail, and SM Retail are expanding their footprint. Supermarkets are also strengthening their offerings through innovation. AllDay Supermarkets, for example, introduced ‘smart carts,’ which are equipped with digital display ads,” the report said.
Philippine retailers have also adapted to the rise of ecommerce by offering “seamless shopping experience through a balance of physical and online sales.”
“Robinsons Department Store makes its items available on its GoCart online platform and engages Lazada and Shopee to increase its reach. Hypermarket operator SM Retail offers its omnichannel experience through its ShopSM online platform,” it said.
Many retailers have also adopted the Buy Now Pay Later or BNPL, and this is also “driving demand in retail.”
A post shared by Atome PH (@atome.ph)
“Atome, a BNPL vendor in the country, launched in 2022, provides three-month interest-free payment options without a credit card. Such vendors have popped up and are partnering with leading retail players such as SM Retail and Zalora,” the GRDI said.
The report noted that Malaysia’s home improvement retailer Mr. DIY has already opened multiple outlets throughout the country. Mr. DIY opened its 500th store in Panglao, Bohol, last February 16.
Mr. DIY offers a wide selection of low-priced goods in categories such as hardware, household and furnishing, electrical, stationary, sports, toys, etc. It’s motto is “Always Low Prices.”
The GRDI report said local retailers SM Retail, Puregold, and Robinsons Retail are also “planning to expand with multiple new outlets throughout the country.”
With the Philippines’ rising per capita income and increasing number of “affluent Filipino consumers,” the GRDI report said more luxury brands have opened “multi-concept stores and luxury flagships.”
“In December 2023, Prada announced a joint venture with Store Specialists Inc., which is involved in the retailing of leading luxury brands such as Hermes. Ayala, the Philippines’ premier mall chain, is enjoying a resurgence of luxury store openings, including Gucci, Tiffany & Co, and Cartier,” it said.
In addition, the GRDI report said “iconic global retailers such as Ikea, Bath & Body Works, Foot Locker, and Hugo Boss have entered the market and set up new stores,” while “other international retailers are on an expansion spree, with Levi’s opening its biggest store to date in July 2023.” – Rappler.com
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Jamie Malonzo admits involvement in viral fight video
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delfin.dioquino editor
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26/02/2024 15:10
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ATTACK. Jamie Malonzo in action for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
FIBA
MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas and Barangay Ginebra forward Jamie Malonzo admitted being the man seen getting beaten up in a video that has made the rounds on social media.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial on Monday, February 26, said Malonzo apologized to the league and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) after he got caught on video being pummeled by an unidentified man in a restaurant.
“We talked and he said, it was a miscommunication and he did not do well. ‘[I] apologize to you, to the PBA, to the Ginebra fans, to Gilas, and SBP,'” said Marcial in a mix of Filipino and English.
The video surfaced after Malonzo sat out the Philippines’ 106-53 romp of visiting Chinese Taipei at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Sunday, February 25, that allowed the Filipinos to sweep the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
In the video, Malonzo – who appeared disoriented – absorbed a barrage of punches from a shorter man before he got floored with a head shot.
Gilas head coach Tim Cone on Sunday said Malonzo missed action after falling ill following their away game in Hong Kong last Thursday, February 22.
Malonzo finished with 11 points in their 94-64 demolition of Hong Kong. – Rappler.com
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Tim Cone confident Kai Sotto bound to dominate Asia
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delfin.dioquino editor
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26/02/2024 23:58
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SKY HIGH. Kai Sotto in action for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2024 FIBA Asian Cup Qualifiers.
FIBA
MANILA, Philippines – The way Kai Sotto performed in the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers has Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone convinced that his young ward is capable of dominating the continent.
Cone gave Sotto rave reviews after the 7-foot-3 big man turned in a pair of double-double performances to help the Filipinos sweep the first window with back-to-back blowout victories over Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei.
“He is going to absolutely dominate Asia. I’ve always felt that. If you get him in the right spots, he can absolutely dominate Asia,” said Cone.
Sotto, the youngest in the team at 21 years old, shone as he stepped up in the absence of injured big men June Mar Fajardo (calf) and AJ Edu (knee).
He finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks in an emphatic 106-53 home drubbing of visiting Chinese Taipei at the PhilSports Arena on Sunday, February 25.
It was an impressive follow-up to his 13-point, 15-rebound, 2-block outing in the Philippines’ 94-64 road rout of Hong Kong last February 22.
Cone said the goal is to aid Sotto – who plays professionally for the Yokohama B-Corsairs in the Japan B. League – in his bid to reach greater heights.
“For him, the next part is to get up to the European level and the NBA level. We’re hoping that we could help him get into that level,” said Cone.
“There may be a time where we might lose Kai, he may not be able to join windows because he might be in the NBA. And we’ll be very, very proud of that.”
A cornerstone of the program Cone has mapped out for the next four years, Sotto said his confidence is at “sky-high” knowing that the veteran mentor has huge plans for him.
That brimming confidence has translated into his fine play.
“Even if he does not tell me personally, I know that coach Tim has a lot of trust in me and I have a lot of trust in him as well,” said Sotto. – Rappler.com
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Lea Salonga to perform with US’ Tabernacle Choir at Mall of Asia Arena
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jbaluyot0292
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26/02/2024 18:13
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This is a press release from The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Acclaimed Broadway singer and actress Lea Salonga will be the featured guest artist on the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square’s tour to the Philippines. This is the second stop on the choir’s Hope world tour and the choir’s first visit to the Philippines.
Lea Salonga is a multiple award-winning actor and singer renowned across the world for her powerful voice and perfect pitch. She is best known for her Tony Award-winning role in Miss Saigon. In addition to the Tony, she has won the Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World Awards in the field of musical theater.
Many fans of all ages recognize Lea as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine from Aladdin and Fa Mulan from Mulan and Mulan II. Lea served as a judge on the Philippines’ hit version of The Voice and The Voice Kids.
Under the direction of Mack Wilberg, music director of the choir, and Ryan Murphy, associate music director, the Hope concerts will be held February 20-29 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena and feature Salonga and the choir performing a repertoire that reflects, in part, the musicality of the country.
Lea first performed with the Tabernacle Choir in December 2022 during the Season of Light: Christmas show with The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, and Wilberg said he is looking forward to working with her again.
“It was a delight to have Lea Salonga share her extraordinary talents at our Christmas concert last year in Salt Lake City. It is an honor for the choir to go to Lea’s home country to perform with her again and experience the kindness of the Filipino people,” he said.
In addition to Lea as a guest artist, Ysabelle Cuevas, a celebrated singer-songwriter from the Philippines will also be joining the choir in their performances. In 2018, Ysabelle’s original song “Daunted,” released through Warner Music Philippines, marked a significant milestone in her career, resonating with fans across East Asia and North America. Her passion for cultural connections extends beyond her original work. Ysabelle has gained worldwide acclaim for her covers, winning music contests and earning features in major publications. Her adept translations of Korean songs into Filipino and English demonstrate her unique ability to merge diverse musical traditions and appeal to a global audience.
Finally, the choir will also be joined by husband and wife duo, Paolo Abrera and Suzie Entrata-Abrera who will act as narrators during the performances. Suzie and Paolo are both tv personalities and news anchors who are well known in the Philippines.
Over the next four years, the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra will travel twice a year to different parts of the world. Choir president Michael O. Leavitt said, “Our goal is to magnify the Choir’s impact throughout the world by helping people feel God’s love for His children.”
“Our performances will be free. Many will be live streamed so local congregations in the regions we visit can invite their friends and communities to participate,” he concluded.
For more information about the Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square please visit: www.thetabernaclechoir.org. – Rappler.com
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Rodrigo Duterte changes tone towards Marcos | The wRap
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Cara Angeline Oliver
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26/02/2024 23:31
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Today on Rappler – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
Former president Rodrigo Duterte softens his tone towards President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a prayer rally in Cebu City saying compared to him, Marcos is ‘a dignified man.’
Neither President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. nor Malacañang issue a statement to recognize the anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on Sunday, February 25.
The Centenarians Act of 2016 is amended to provide monetary perks not only to senior citizens aged 100, but also those who are 80 years old and above.
Film and television reunions steal the show at the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, February 25 in Los Angeles, California.
TV host Mariel Rodriguez apologizes for her controversial “gluta” photo inside the office of her husband, Senator Robin Padilla. — Rappler.com
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End of an era as Ricardo Ratliffe retires from Korean national team
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delfin.dioquino editor
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26/02/2024 21:30
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THUMBS UP. Ricardo Ratliffe in action for South Korea in the 2024 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
FIBA
MANILA, Philippines – South Korean basketball marked the end of an era as naturalized player Ricardo Ratliffe announced his retirement from the national team.
Ratliffe said he suited up for Korea for the final time when he powered the squad to a 96-62 win over Thailand to wrap up the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers on Sunday, February 25.
His decision to hang it up brought to a close a six-year run as naturalized player for Korea.
“I would like to say thank you so much for making me the first foreign player to represent this great country on the international level,” the American-born Ratliffe wrote on Instagram.
“It’s so crazy to me that it has already been six years that I’ve been a member of this team.”
Given the Korean name Ra Guna, Ratliffe started representing the East Asian country in 2018 and went on to become one of the continent’s best big men.
Ratliffe, 35, helped Korea capture a pair of bronze medals in the 2018 Asian Games and 2018 Williams Jones Cup.
He starred for Korea in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, where he finished as tournament leader in scoring and rebounding with averages of 23 points and 12.8 rebounds.
In the current Asia Cup Qualifiers, Ratliffe averaged 18.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks as Korea ended the first window with a 1-1 record in Group A.
Ratliffe, a former PBA import, will continue to play for the Busan KCC Egis in the Korean Basketball League, although he said his contract will expire by the end of the season.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me since I’m a free agent at the end of this season, but I just wanted to let it be known that I’m forever grateful for this opportunity,” he said.
“Ra Guna out.” – Rappler.com
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New era as PFF retires Azkals moniker, brings in Belgian coach for men’s team
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delfin.dioquino editor
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26/02/2024 20:25
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MENTOR. The Philippine Football Federation introduces new men's team head coach Tom Saintfiet.
Philip Matel/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) ushered in a new era for the men’s national team with a new coach, and soon, a new name.
The squad nicknamed the Azkals will be called that no more under the tutelage of Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet, whom the PFF introduced on Monday, February 26.
Saintfiet, who boasts 26 years’ worth of managing experience, succeeded Hans Michael Weiss, who was recently brought back to call the shots for the men’s crew before his second removal from the post.
“I was in need of a new task, an ambitious task…. I was needed and [I was] in need of a project,” Saintfiet told reporters.
“And I’m very thrilled to be very happy and very proud to be part of this ambitious project. And I’m sure, we, all together, can help us succeed in our dreams [of making the FIFA World Cup],” he added.
Saintfiet made a name for himself coaching in Africa, where he most recently led Gambia to consecutive appearances in the Africa Cup of Nations.
He resigned just last January after Gambia exited the Africa Cup of Nations, where they finished last.
The 50-year-old former player also had stints in Malta, Trinidad and Tobago, Bangladesh, Togo, Malawi, Yemen, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Qatar, whose national U17 team he guided to the FIFA U17 World Championship in 2005.
His immediate concern is the Philippines’ current campaign in the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, where they will face Iraq on March 22 and 26.
“We are looking at dynamic young people who can use our team as a jumping place to reach higher goals,” said Saintfiet.
“Players, maybe who are not yet there where they want to be on club level, can benefit from being in an ambitious, a well-organized national team, to achieve [their] goals in winning games with the national team going to the Asia Cup…. Every player that can play anywhere can benefit off that on the club level. So it’s a win-win situation.”
The team also quietly retired the Azkals moniker earlier in February, coinciding with new management and coaching.
Former national team player Freddy Gonzalez was appointed as the team’s new manager in January, succeeding longtime patron Dan Palami, who held the role from 2009 to 2024.
“Right now, we’ll just call the team the Philippine men’s national [football] team…. We feel that while the Azkals name was great, it has served its purpose,” Gonzalez told reporters.
“We feel like we’re going into the next step of Philippine football. So that’s something that we’re not really thinking about but will eventually come to play at some point, whether by us or by the fans.”
Gonzalez denied allegations surfacing online that the move to drop the Azkals name was due to Palami owning the trademark, which makes it hard for the PFF to use.
He added that Palami was very gracious to hand the trademark over, but the PFF opted for a change to eliminate stereotypes that come with the name.
“With this administration, we don’t distinguish anymore between half-Filipinos and [full-blooded] Filipinos,” said Gonzalez.
“Therefore, the Azkals name has no relevancy anymore in the team. We’re all Filipinos. There’s no more half-half.”
The term “askal,” a portmanteau of aso and kalye, meaning “street dog,” refers to mixed-breed dogs which roam outside and often have no owners.
As the Azkals, the national men’s team had drawn flak for signing and fielding more foreign-based mixed-race Filipinos than pure-blooded ones.
Under Palami’s watch, the country experienced its best showing of football this century, a rise that began in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, where the team upset defending champion Vietnam in what was dubbed the “Miracle of Hanoi.”
Players like Phil and James Younghusband, Neil Etheridge, Manny and Mike Ott, Patrick Reichelt, Misagh Bahadoran, and many more starred for the better part of the past decade, bringing the basketball-crazed country to greater heights.
The team rose to its best-ever FIFA ranking of 111 in 2018, much higher than the current placement of 139. – Rappler.com
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Aguilar selects Standhardinger, Barroca chooses Fajardo as top picks in PBA All-Star Draft
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delfin.dioquino editor
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26/02/2024 22:51
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TOUGH SHOT. Christian Standhardinger in action for Barangay Ginebra in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner's Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – Japeth Aguilar assembled a squad composed mostly of his Barangay Ginebra teammates that will face the team formed by Mark Barroca in the PBA All-Star Game in Bacolod City in March.
Aguilar selected Christian Standhardinger as the top pick in the All-Star Draft held on Monday, February 26, and chose four of his other teammates to bolster his 14-man crew set to be mentored by Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
Standhardinger, a two-time Best Player of the Conference, went No. 1 for back-to-back years since the PBA adopted the format of having the top two vote-getters serve as opposing captains and draft their respective teams.
Aguilar received the most votes from fans for the second straight season followed by Barroca.
Barroca used his first pick on seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo and chose three of his Magnolia teammates for his 15-man team that has San Miguel tactician Jorge Gallent as its coach.
Putting a premium on familiarity, Aguilar – with some advice from Cone – added his Ginebra teammates Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Maverick Ahanmisi, and Stanley Pringle to his squad.
Magnolia’s Paul Lee, TNT’s Calvin Oftana, Meralco’s Chris Newsome, San Miguel’s Don Trollano, Marcio Lassiter, and Terrence Romeo, NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino, and Phoenix’s Tyler Tio completed Team Japeth.
“I like our balance and versatility. We can show different lineups,” said Cone.
Meanwhile, Barroca tapped his Magnolia teammates Jio Jalalon, Ian Sangalang, and Calvin Abueva for his crew, which included his former Purefoods teammate James Yap, who is now with Blackwater.
Phoenix’s Jayson Perkins and Ricci Rivero, San Miguel’s CJ Perez, NLEX’s Robert Bolick, TNT’s Jayson Castro, Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood, Meralco’s Cliff Hodge, and Terrafirma’s Juami Tiongson also went to Team Mark.
Nards Pinto, the only Ginebra player not picked by Team Japeth, rounded out Team Mark as the last selection.
“It is a team that can shoot, run, and defend,” said Gallent.
The All-Star festivities also feature the Rookies, Sophomores, and Juniors Games, and side events like Three-Point Shootout, Slam Dunk Contest, and Obstacle Challenge. – Rappler.com
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View from Manila: Beijing bristles at media presence in Bajo de Masinloc
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Bea Cupin
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26/02/2024 20:14
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22 1549H February 2024,(1) RHIB -3105 boarded by five (5) Chinese coastguard personnel shadowing BFAR rubber boat.
Philippine Coast Guard
MANILA, Philippines – Shadowing and blocking maneuvers by China in the West Philippine Sea are nothing new for personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), nor for Philippine journalists who are practically regulars in missions to those waters as part of the government’s “transparency initiative.”
But what is new in February 2024 is where those maneuvers are taking place: in Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, a feature over 100 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales that’s also the new focus of the much spoken-about initiative.
On February 22, and again on the 23rd, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship BRP Datu Sanday entered the shoal’s territorial sea for a rotational deployment alongside the PCG. During these missions, the BFAR distributes to Filipino fisherfolk in the area essentials to survive longer time out at sea: groceries, supplies, and, most crucially, fuel.
In a release on February 25, the PCG said they monitored at least three shadowing incidents and four “dangerous maneuvers” or blocking incidents by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels.
“Blocking” by Chinese ships happens when a ship or several ships – up to three at a time on February 22 – sail across a Philippine vessel’s path. When more than one ship is involved in this at-sea shenanigan, two or three Chinese boats surround a Philippine ship, forcing it to stop in its tracks.
These “gray zone” tactics are often used in Ayungin Shoal during resupply missions to the military outpost BRP Sierra Madre. Now, it seems, China has finally gotten the memo – “transparency” is now the policy in Bajo de Masinloc, too.
In a tweet on February 24, a day before the PCG released videos and photos to show proof of Chinese harassment in the shoal, China’s state-run Global Times said in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “Photos released by the China Coast Guard (CCG) on Saturday show that several journalists were onboard the Philippine vessel 3002 near China’s Huangyan Island on Thursday to take pictures and shoot videos in an attempt to smear and hype the CCG’s operation.”
The post included a grainy photo of at least two cameramen, one photographer, and what looked to be two PCG personnel with cameras on board the BFAR ship. Another less zoomed in photo showed several people, including cameramen and a reporter right outside the deck of the ship.
Embedding is certainly a welcome opportunity for Philippine journalists – in the past, it had not been easy (or possible) to access parts of the West Philippine Sea, much more government-led operations in those waters. The only downside is that your movements are dictated – but not restricted – by government plans and schedules.
The PCG certainly tries to accommodate media requests. A summary of the February 22 mission to Bajo de Masinloc that was released to the media indicates that rubber boats were deployed first so BFAR personnel could document what the CCG was doing in the shoal, and then so Philippine news crews could interview the fisherfolk near the shoal.
I’ve yet to join a mission to Bajo de Masinloc, but I was able to join the November 2023 resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal. While that mission was a huge success – it was the closest the PCG had ever come to the BRP Sierra Madre in a long time – it was still as tense as it could get.
“Thrilling” is not the word to describe the experience of being embedded on a PCG ship during these missions. “Tense” does not suffice either. I’ve settled with “overwhelmed.”
Overwhelming is really the only word that comes close to the experience of being surrounded by CCG and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) ships in the West Philippine Sea, and then spotting the rusty but glorious BRP Sierra Madre in a span of just a few hours. I’d admit, however, that certain moments in the mission felt more nakalulula (dizzying) or makalipong (nauseating) – both metaphorically and literally.
It’s interesting that in the first prominent media embed in Bajo de Masinloc, the CCG is quite to react – and oh so dramatically. In their eyes, Philippine journalists are there to “attempt to smear and hype the CCG’s operation.”
Just as interesting and concerning is a new assertion by the PCG: that China seems to be blocking the BFAR ship’s automatic identification system (AIS) signal.
“We noticed that even if our AIS are turned on, there are instances that our vessels cannot transmit their AIS signal. We also noticed this occurrence during the last deployment of BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Datu Tamblot,” said PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela.
“We assume that they do the jamming every time they release their statements that they repelled our vessels. Through such jamming, any commercial AIS monitoring cannot also disprove such statements because they may not be able to find our vessels,” he added.
The PCG did not provide proof of the suspected jamming, as of posting.
The AIS is a system through which other ships find out what other vessels are in an area (aside from physical tracking, of course). Chinese ships – the CCG, and CMM – have been known to “go dark” in parts of the West Philippine Sea, which means they’ve turned off their AIS signals.
The PCG also monitored gray ships – or vessels of the Chinese Navy – during the mission. But Tarriela was also quick to note that they were far from the shoal and “did not approach the territorial sea limits.”
Bajo de Masinloc is a high-tide elevation that’s well within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. Since bits of the shoal are visible even during high tide, it generates a territorial sea of its own.
China claims almost all of the South China Sea, including the shoal, as its own – even if a 2016 arbitral ruling said their claim was wrong.
The Philippine Air Force is also making (more) public its efforts to monitor other parts of the Philippines’ coast. In a February 26 release, the PAF said it provided aerial support during the Northern Luzon Command’s Maritime Air Patrol in the Nothern Luzon Seaboard.
“Executing the mission with a C-295 aircraft, the PAF covered key areas, including Itbayat, Sabtang, and Babuyan Islands. No significant activities or sightings were reported during the monitoring of these areas,” said the PAF in a statement.
The statement comes weeks after Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro ordered the military to boost its presence in the northernmost islands of the country that face Taiwan.
Washington DC and Manila are most definitely serious about upping their defense ties. In the third week of February 2024, their air forces held a joint patrol as a continuation of the third Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) that started earlier in the month.
As the cliche goes, the activity is likely to upset Beijing. And upset, China was. Its military said the Philippines was “stirring up trouble” by engaging in joint air patrols with “extraterritorial countries” then “hyping it up.”
Beijing’s assertions prompted National Security Adviser Eduardo Año to speak up. He said in a February 21 statement: “The Philippines rejects China’s assertion that joint patrols with US forces in the West Philippine Sea constitute stirring up trouble. Our engagements with the United States are well within our rights as a sovereign and independent nation, aimed at promoting maritime security and upholding international law.”
He added: “The joint air patrol with the US is part of our longstanding defense cooperation. We will continue to work closely with our friends, allies, and partners to ensure a secure and prosperous future for all nations in the Indo-Pacific region.”
By the way things are going, it wouldn’t be surprising to see another MCA in March. – Rappler.com
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This is psychological and media warfare between Communist China and our country. I hope that this will not escalate to the use of force. Or is it just a matter of time?
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Will Ka Luring Franco, a Taguig catechist, be the next Filipino saint?
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Paterno Esmaquel II
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26/02/2024 16:53
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FILIPINO SAINT? The late Laureana 'Ka Luring' Franco of Hagonoy, Taguig City, is being pushed as a candidate for Catholic sainthood.
Diocese of Pasig
MANILA, Philippines – In 1969, Laureana “Ka Luring” Franco did the unthinkable: quit her government job to become a full-time catechist without a salary.
“They thought I was crazy to give up a well-paying and secure job back in the ‘60s and spend all my separation pay to enroll for a catechist’s training course,” Franco said in a feature by Catholic news outlet UCAN in 1995. “They couldn’t understand it when I explained I was happiest teaching catechism to children.”
After leaving her job as telephone switchboard operator and accounting clerk at the Philippine Air Force, Franco became known for her work as catechist – a teacher of the faith – in Taguig. She also became the first female lay minister of the Archdiocese of Manila, which covered Taguig before the city became part of the Diocese of Pasig in 2003.
In 1990, Franco received one of the highest papal honors, the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice award, for her work as catechist, upon the recommendation of Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin and the approval of Pope John Paul II. In 2002 came another honor for Franco – the Mother Teresa Award – named in honor of a famous nun, now a saint, who served the poor in India.
Born to a poor family in Hagonoy, Taguig City, Franco died of cancer at the age of 75 on October 17, 2011.
Now, the Diocese of Pasig aims to give Franco the highest of honors – elevation to the Catholic Church’s roster of saints – by pushing that she be beatified (or declared a “blessed,” one major step away from sainthood) and later canonized (or included in the Catholic Church’s “canon” of exemplary Catholics believed to be now in heaven).
The Diocese of Pasig on Saturday, February 24, posted on its Facebook page the banns or the public announcement that it is proposing Franco as a candidate for sainthood and that it is inviting Catholics to provide “helpful information” about the lay catechist.
“With this circular letter, I invite all the People of God in the Diocese of Pasig to participate in the tedious process of bringing to light the life and heroic virtues of a legendary catechist to sainthood,” wrote Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara in a directive dated Thursday, February 22.
The directive came with a separate document, called an edict, also dated February 22.
“With the publication of the edict, herewith attached, is the start of the process as required by the Dicastery for the Causes of the Saints,” said Vergara, referring to the Vatican department in charge of screening candidates for sainthood.
“There are many stages in the process,” explained Vergara, who is also vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. “As we work on this process, may the Holy Spirit guide us and may the blessings of God be upon us.”
The February 22 edict states that Erickson Javier has been named postulator, the person in charge of the cause for the beatification and canonization of Franco.
In this edict, Vergara said Javier wrote him a petition letter “asking for the opening of the cause” of Franco, and an investigation into her life to see if she is worthy to be beatified and canonized.
Vergara said Catholics with helpful information about Franco could share these with the chancellor of the Diocese of Pasig, Father Joeffrey Brian Catuiran, at the diocese’s chancery office at Tahanan ng Mabuting Pastol, Caniogan, Pasig City.
The push for Franco’s beatification and canonization is part of a bigger effort by the Catholic Church to introduce modern-day saints for the 21st century. One of the new candidates for sainthood in the Philippines is Niña Ruiz Abad, a 13-year-old girl from Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, who died of an incurable heart disease in 1993.
Sainthood is a tedious, expensive, and at times political process within the Vatican bureaucracy, and it takes years or even decades to declare a person a saint – a model of faith and an intercessor in heaven. Despite having had many sainthood candidates, the Philippines has only had two saints so far – Lorenzo Ruiz of Manila and Pedro Calungsod of Cebu.
Father Bernie Carpio of the Diocese of Pasig, in a documentary on Franco’s life, explained that Franco’s holiness can be seen in her day-to-day life. “Sa simple’t ordinaryong buhay, isa lang ang pakay ni Ka Luring: ano ba ang kalooban ng Diyos (In a simple and ordinary life, Ka Luring had one goal: what is the will of God)?” Carpio said.
The 1995 UCAN feature on Franco talked about her “greatest trial” at that time, when another religious group tried to recruit her – offering her an envelope containing $10,000 on her birthday – at a time when her mother “was dying of cancer and our bills were piling up for her treatment.”
Her recruiters said “that if Franco agreed to be their catechist, they would leave the money and provide her that same amount monthly to fund a catechetical program for them and to help finance her mother’s treatment,” UCAN reported.
Refusing this offer, Franco told them: “I can fool myself and I can fool you into believing I have changed my faith and give catechesis for you, just for the salary. But I can never fool God, he will know the truth.”
In the documentary posted by the Diocese of Pasig, Franco also spoke of the difficulties of being a catechist in Metro Manila, lamenting how distractions from media make it difficult to teach catechism even in private schools.
Franco, however, emphasized the responsibility of parents in rearing their children. “Ang magulang din dapat ang magpapaliwanag tungkol sa Panginoong Diyos (Parents should also be the ones explaining about the Lord God),” Franco said. – Rappler.com
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[Bodymind] Juan Ponce Enrile’s hundred years of happiness
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Marguerite de Leon
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26/02/2024 16:31
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Guia Abogado/Rappler
Chief Legal Adviser Juan Ponce Enrile (JPE) turned 100 this month, and many publications had an article or two about this. One article had the following headline: “Enrile: Serving 2 Marcoses were my happiest moments,” quoting JPE at a lunch celebrating his 100th year.
It is all right, of course, to quote a person on his birthday, but one would think that, given what the writers know (or should know) about how the senior President Ferdinand Marcos probably made JPE happy, did it not occur to them to balance his rather sycophantic statement with some facts?
For example, President Marcos repaid JPE’s loyalty by putting him in charge of logging during Martial Law and tasked him to issue certificates to logging companies. Because JPE owned logging companies – Ameco in Bukidnon, Pan Oriental in Cebu and Butuan, to name a few – it is plausible that JPE was happy with this appointment. The rest of the Philippines, not so much. It was also during that time that the forest cover of the Philippines had shrunk until only 8% remained. It beggars belief that JPE did not earn from this or was not happy he did.
President Ferdinand Marcos also showed his trust in JPE by appointing him president of the Philippine Coconut Authority, thus establishing control over the copra industry, together with Danding Cojuangco. The Coco Levy Fund, supposed to be used to improve the country’s copra industry, was used instead by corrupt officials. Again, one would think a man like JPE would have been happy with such a windfall..…at least happier than serving Marcos…although, granted, he would not have earned so much had he not served Marcos as faithfully…at least then.
Happiness is a constant theme in JPE’s life; in fact, this was part of his campaign pitch in the 2019 senatorial election. I wonder, if he had remembered his wish to make us happy, would he still have been one of the first five senators alleged to have participated in the PDAF scam? Might he instead perhaps have diverted some of the approximately P641.65M of his PDAF funds into transportation, so that Filipinos did not have to wait for hours for a ride to and from work, or into education for better classrooms and higher teachers’ salaries?
It may not necessarily have made commuters, students, and teachers caps-over-the-windmills-happy, but it might have alleviated some of the daily grind of life. In the article reporting that JPE received the mandated P100,000 cash gift for centenarians, its writers coyly added: “There was no word yet from Enrile on how he would spend the incentive.” Chump change for a man used to thinking in millions of pesos.
The last part of these articles celebrating JPE’s hundredth year considered highlights of his career: justice secretary, defense minister (appointed twice), representative for the first district of Cagayan, and then a senator re-elected four terms.
For me, however, the pinnacle of JPE’s long service was in 1986, when despite being one of President Marcos’ trusted confidantes, he was one of two men in government who broke away, helping to set off the events that propelled Cory Aquino to her presidency.
Of course, JPE quickly turned against President Aquino also, accusing her government of being tainted by corruption and other nefarious acts, as though his own governance had been innocent of such.
Rappler’s Feb 19 editorial “Juan Ponce Enrile: 100-year-old chameleon” brilliantly discusses JPE’s propensity to switch sides to save himself (no matter how many Filipinos got hurt in the process).
Others may conveniently forget what he did to President Ferdinand Marcos, not to mention what he might do as the current President Marcos’s legal adviser. After all, if serving the late president was, indeed, JPE’s first “happiest moment,” look what he did despite that supposed gratitude!
This centenarian must look back on many things that have given him happiness: the knowledge that he helped change the trajectory of Philippine independence, that his actions hastened People Power, even that he was able to hoodwink people about his motives and his goals for so long.
Then there is his family. It is very possible that JPE experienced many peak happy experiences that involved his family relationships: his still glamorous and ever supportive wife, his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
That JPE considers serving a dictator and the current president as “the happiest experiences of his life” would thus be mind-boggling, were it not for the fact that virtually his entire life has been one of misdirection. – Rappler.com
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I agree: “… virtually his entire life has been one of misdirection.” His misdirection was about his political loyalties, but despite that – he has one constant direction – personal happiness based on vested interest.
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[EDITORIAL] Pikon ang NTF-ELCAC matapos mabuking ang fake surrender
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Lilibeth Frondoso
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26/02/2024 14:17
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Nico Villarete
Ano’ng tawag sa tao o grupong nagsampa ng kaso matapos itong mabigong palabasin na sumurender ang dalawang aktibista? ‘Di ba, pikon?
Backgrounder: Inireport na missing sina Jhed Tamano at Jonila Castro noong Setyembre 2, 2023. Ang dalawa ay aktibo sa kampanya laban sa reclamation projects sa Bataan at naghahanda para sa isang relief operation nang sila’y damputin ng isang van. Tsinelas at sandals na lang ang naiwang bakas ng mga aktibista. Makalipas ang 13 araw, naglabas ng pahayag ang militar na “sumuko” raw ang dalawang aktibista at sila’y “safe and sound.”
Sabi ni National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya, “Hindi sila in-abduct. Umalis sila sa kilusan.”
Pero mabuti na lang at buo ang loob ng dalawang aktibista. Sa presscon na ipinatawag ng militar, matapang na idineklara ng mga dating estudyante ng Bulacan State University ang ginawa sa kanila: una, dinukot sila, at pangalawa, ipinapalabas na sumuko sila. (Salamat nga pala sa pag-o-organize ng presscon, mga ginoo!)
Sabi ni Lian Buan sa kanyang report, may lumilitaw na pattern ng “fake surrender” kung saan ang dinukot ay pinapag-execute ng affidavit na nagsasaad ng kanyang pagtatakwil sa kilusang kaliwa. Pagkatapos nito’y ginagamit siyang asset, o di kaya’y patatahimikin na lang nang malayo sa mga dating kasama sa pakikibaka. (BASAHIN: In pattern of ‘fake surrenders,’ 1 case links abduction to military intel service)
Sabi ni Tamano, “Hindi lang kami ‘yung mga nawawala.” Maraming dokumentadong kaso ng forced surrenders. Sina Armand Dayoha at Dyan Gumanao ay dinukot sa Cebu noong Enero 2023. Ang kaso nina Dayoha at Gumano, at Tamano at Castro ang ika-labintatlo at ika-labing-apat na forced surrenders sa bansa. Maituturing na “masuwerte” sila dahil nakabalik pa sila sa mundo nang buhay. Mula 1986, halos 2,000 aktibista na ang desaparecidos.
Last time we checked, ang abduction ay may karampatang parusang reclusion perpetua to death kapag tumagal ito nang higit sa limang araw. Hindi bababa sa 13 araw – at maaari pa ngang ituring na umabot nang 17 days – ang itinagal ng kidnapping ng dalawang kabataan.
Bakit patuloy ang impunity ng National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) na magsagawa ng mga abduction? Bakit nagpapatuloy ang isang grupong binuo ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na maghasik ng lagim at magsagawa ng criminal acts – kahit nangako ang kasalukuyang Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na tatalima ang kanyang administrasyon sa rule of law?
Napapanahon nang i-abolish ang NTF-ELCAC, at isang United Nations rapporteur na mismo ang nagrekomenda nito.
Sabi ni UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion Irene Khan, ang NTF-ELCAC daw ay “no longer applicable in the current context.”
Sa madaling salita, obsolete. Sa totoo lang, marami pang mas compelling na argumento kaysa diyan. Walang puwang sa gobyerno ang isang sangay na lantarang sumusuway sa batas. Walang puwang sa lipunan ang task force na ito maliban sa fentanyl-driven delusions ni Duterte. Walang puwang ang isang NTF-ELCAC sa panahon ni Marcos na nais ibalik ang Pilipinas sa mapa ng mga sibilisadong bansang walang dugong umaagos sa lansangan.
Bigyan ng katarungan ang mga dinukot at desaparecidos – pero ang unang hakbang ay buwagin ang makinaryang patuloy na dumudukot sa mga aktibista. Itigil na ang kahibangan.
Itigil na rin ang harassment lawsuits laban sa mga aktibista dahil ito’y napahiya at naglagay sa military “in a bad light” – ayon na rin sa sarili nitong pag-amin. Kudos na lang sa Commission on Human Rights na nag-iimbestiga sa kaso at nagbuo ng quick response operations sa kasagsagan ng pagkawala ng dalawa. Kudos sa Korte Suprema na mabilis na natantong nasa panganib ang mga laya nang aktibista at ginawaran sila ng dalawang writ para sa kanilang proteksiyon.
Ang kaso, narito naman ang Office of the Solicitor General na pinamumunuan ng dating Duterte justice secretary na si Menardo Guevarra. HIndi pa raw tapos ang laban at pinare-recall niya sa Korte Suprema ang temporary protection sa dalawa. Haaay, malakas talaga ang kapit ng Duterte network sa gobyerno!
Itigil na ang tirang pikon. Lalo lang nahuhubaran ang kainutilan at jurassic na pag-iisip ng NTF-ELCAC. Lalo lang lumilinaw na invested ang military sa pananatili ng imahe nito, pero hindi sa pagtatanggol ng karapatang-pantao. I-abolish na ang NTF-ELCAC. – Rappler
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Marcos holds back, delays signing of Magna Carta for Seafarers into law
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Dwight de Leon
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26/02/2024 11:13
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UNDER FURTHER REVIEW. The bill seeks to assert seafarers' rights to just terms and conditions of work, standardize their employment contracts, and establish guidelines to ensure quality training for them.
Joachim Affeldt/Shutterstock
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was scheduled to sign into law a measure that codifies the rights of Filipino seafarers, but appeared to have backed out at the last minute.
Publicity materials that appeared on state broadcaster RTVM included the Magna Carta for Seafarers on the list of three bills that the President was supposed to approve on Monday, February 26, but he instead only signed the other two: the Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Filipino) Act, and amendments to the Centenarian Act.
The Department of Migrant Workers had already handed out press kits during the ceremonial signing on Monday, and DMW Officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac was already in the venue.
Sought for clarification, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said the bill was “under further review.”
The bill seeks to assert seafarers’ rights to just terms and conditions of work, standardize their employment contracts, and establish guidelines to ensure quality training for them.
Marcos certified the bill as urgent in September 2023, saying the legislation would guarantee to the international community “that the Philippines will comply with its obligations of ensuring that Filipino seafarers’ training, facilities, and equipment are at par with the international standards and those set by relevant international conventions.”
It came on the heels of challenges faced by seafarers in their accreditation with the European market.
Some seafarer groups and militant organizations flagged the approved House version of the bill, calling it watered-down and an insult to seafarers, due to the exclusion of fisherfolk from the measure, and the lack of a security of tenure provision for employees who have provided at least one year of cumulative service.
They also opposed the proposal to put compensation won by seafarers against their employers on escrow, which means that the complainants won’t have access to the payment in full while the employer appeals the decision.
It is unclear if these contentious provisions were removed in the bicameral version of the measure.
Filipino seafarers are the backbone of the global maritime industry, with the Philippines sending 400,000 workers overseas every year from 2017 up until the COVID-19 pandemic.
House lawmakers on Monday afternoon adopted Concurrent Resolution 23, which withdraws Senate Bill 2221 and House Bill 7325 from being submitted to the Office of the President.
The resolution, however, failed to explain why both houses of Congress were withdrawing the bills that provide for the Magna Carta for Seafarers in the first place.
It took prodding from Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez before Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Loreto Garin bared that the bicameral committee report submitted featured a provision that could lead to problems on jurisdiction.
“I think we have to be clear on why there is [a bill],” Rodriguez said. “I was informed that this particular enrolled bill, contrary to our bill in the House, would transfer jurisdiction on disputes on seafarers from the DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) to the International Labor Organization…a diminution of our rights to be able to decide on cases.”
Lawmakers did not elaborate on how a provision viewed as a “diminution of sovereignty” made it past the bicameral committee. Garin said lawmakers would again sit down to correct the error in the bill. – with Kaycee Valmonte/Rappler.com
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FACT CHECK: Tulfo not suspended from Senate
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Lorenz Pasion
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26/02/2024 18:25
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Claim: Senator Raffy Tulfo was suspended from office.
Why we fact-checked this: The video bearing the claim was posted by a YouTube channel with over 115,000 subscribers. As of writing, the video has garnered 23,452 views, 353 likes, and 76 comments.
The title and thumbnail of the video bears the claim, with text on the thumbnail saying: “Tulfo suspended na” (Tulfo already suspended.)
The facts: Tulfo has not been suspended from office, and he remains a sitting senator. There are no reports or official announcements from Tulfo’s verified Facebook page or the Senate of the Philippines about any suspension order against him.
The misleading video lacks any credible evidence to support its claim. It merely cited Tulfo’s proposal back in September 2023 to allocate confidential funds for the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the 2024 national budget. During budget deliberations, Tulfo, chair of the Senate’s migrant workers committee, proposed to allocate confidential funds of P20 million to P50 million for the DMW to curb the illegal recruitment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)
The video’s narrator criticized Tulfo for the proposal, pointing out that the DMW itself was not requesting confidential funds. The narrator also claimed that this was Tulfo’s thinly veiled attempt to attack Vice President Sara Duterte and her bid to request P650 million in confidential funds, which she later dropped. During the hearing, Tulfo had said: “[‘Yung] iba nga diyan, daan-daang milyon, ‘di ako kumikibo. Kailangan siguro para maging patas tayo sa lahat, bigyan din natin ‘tong DMW.”
(Others ask for hundreds of millions, and I haven’t said a thing. To be fair to everyone, we should also allocate some to the DMW.)
The misleading video was posted about a month after Duterte and Tulfo topped the list of presidential bets for the 2028 elections, according to research firm WR Numero’s “Philippine Public Opinion Monitor” released in January. The two were also the presidential front-runners in a Social Weather Stations survey conducted in April 2023.
Senate suspension: Article VI, Section 16 of the Philippine Constitution explains the process for disciplinary measures, including suspension and expulsion, that can be imposed on members of the Senate: “Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly behavior, and with the concurrence of two-thirds of all its Members, suspend or expel a Member. A penalty of suspension, when imposed, shall not exceed sixty days.”
The Senate has the discretion to determine what constitutes disorderly behavior.
Active presence: Tulfo remains prominent as a senator and public figure. He participated in the Senate plenary session on February 21 and presided over a public hearing of the Games and Amusement subcommittee. He also continues to engage with the public through his regular radio and online programs “Raffy Tulfo in Action” and “Wanted sa Radyo.”
False claim: Rappler has debunked false claims related to the senator:
– Marie Flor Cabarrubias/Rappler.com
Marie Flor Cabarrubias 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: Tulfo not suspended from Senate
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Lorenz Pasion
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26/02/2024 18:25
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Claim: Senator Raffy Tulfo was suspended from office.
Why we fact-checked this: The video bearing the claim was posted by a YouTube channel with over 115,000 subscribers. As of writing, the video has garnered 23,452 views, 353 likes, and 76 comments.
The title and thumbnail of the video bears the claim, with text on the thumbnail saying: “Tulfo suspended na” (Tulfo already suspended.)
The facts: Tulfo has not been suspended from office, and he remains a sitting senator. There are no reports or official announcements from Tulfo’s verified Facebook page or the Senate of the Philippines about any suspension order against him.
The misleading video lacks any credible evidence to support its claim. It merely cited Tulfo’s proposal back in September 2023 to allocate confidential funds for the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the 2024 national budget. During budget deliberations, Tulfo, chair of the Senate’s migrant workers committee, proposed to allocate confidential funds of P20 million to P50 million for the DMW to curb the illegal recruitment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)
The video’s narrator criticized Tulfo for the proposal, pointing out that the DMW itself was not requesting confidential funds. The narrator also claimed that this was Tulfo’s thinly veiled attempt to attack Vice President Sara Duterte and her bid to request P650 million in confidential funds, which she later dropped. During the hearing, Tulfo had said: “[‘Yung] iba nga diyan, daan-daang milyon, ‘di ako kumikibo. Kailangan siguro para maging patas tayo sa lahat, bigyan din natin ‘tong DMW.”
(Others ask for hundreds of millions, and I haven’t said a thing. To be fair to everyone, we should also allocate some to the DMW.)
The misleading video was posted about a month after Duterte and Tulfo topped the list of presidential bets for the 2028 elections, according to research firm WR Numero’s “Philippine Public Opinion Monitor” released in January. The two were also the presidential front-runners in a Social Weather Stations survey conducted in April 2023.
Senate suspension: Article VI, Section 16 of the Philippine Constitution explains the process for disciplinary measures, including suspension and expulsion, that can be imposed on members of the Senate: “Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly behavior, and with the concurrence of two-thirds of all its Members, suspend or expel a Member. A penalty of suspension, when imposed, shall not exceed sixty days.”
The Senate has the discretion to determine what constitutes disorderly behavior.
Active presence: Tulfo remains prominent as a senator and public figure. He participated in the Senate plenary session on February 21 and presided over a public hearing of the Games and Amusement subcommittee. He also continues to engage with the public through his regular radio and online programs “Raffy Tulfo in Action” and “Wanted sa Radyo.”
False claim: Rappler has debunked false claims related to the senator:
– Marie Flor Cabarrubias/Rappler.com
Marie Flor Cabarrubias 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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Converge, Sky Cable say they’re open to talks after failed PLDT sale
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Ralf Rivas
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26/02/2024 17:47
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MANILA, Philippines – Internet provider Converge and Sky Cable confirmed that they are open to partnerships and investment opportunities following the latter’s failed sale to Manny Pangilinan’s PLDT Incorporated.
In separate disclosures to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on Monday, February 26, Converge and Sky Cable parent ABS-CBN responded to reports that they are in talks for a possible business deal.
Converge did not confirm nor deny reports, but noted that it will disclose additional information to the PSE once definitive decisions have been made.
“The Company wishes to clarify that it has always been exploring more ways to deliver differentiated and better experiences for its customers. From time to time, the Company may be presented with potential business development, partnership, or investment opportunities and, as part of its duties to its stakeholders, the Company will always look at those opportunities,” Converge said.
ABS-CBN issued a similar statement, noting that it “will always explore opportunities to serve our subscribers, employees, and stakeholders.”
Meanwhile, ABS-CBN addressed reports that the deal with PLDT supposedly fell through after the latter found Sky Cable’s debt to be heftier than anticipated.
“Sky Cable fully disclosed all financial information related to the deal over the due diligence review, but the parties were unable to agree on the commercial terms,” ABS-CBN said. – Rappler.com
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Jamie Malonzo admits involvement in viral fight video
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delfin.dioquino editor
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26/02/2024 15:10
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ATTACK. Jamie Malonzo in action for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
FIBA
MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas and Barangay Ginebra forward Jamie Malonzo admitted being the man seen getting beaten up in a video that has made the rounds on social media.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial on Monday, February 26, said Malonzo apologized to the league and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) after he got caught on video being pummeled by an unidentified man in a restaurant.
“We talked and he said, it was a miscommunication and he did not do well. ‘[I] apologize to you, to the PBA, to the Ginebra fans, to Gilas, and SBP,'” said Marcial in a mix of Filipino and English.
The video surfaced after Malonzo sat out the Philippines’ 106-53 romp of visiting Chinese Taipei at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Sunday, February 25, that allowed the Filipinos to sweep the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
In the video, Malonzo – who appeared disoriented – absorbed a barrage of punches from a shorter man before he got floored with a head shot.
Gilas head coach Tim Cone on Sunday said Malonzo missed action after falling ill following their away game in Hong Kong last Thursday, February 22.
Malonzo finished with 11 points in their 94-64 demolition of Hong Kong. – Rappler.com
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TNT boosts title quest in PH Cup with addition of Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser
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delfin.dioquino editor
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26/02/2024 16:15
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CONTESTED. Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser in action for the NLEX Road Warriors in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner's Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – TNT beefed up its frontline to boost its title quest in the upcoming PBA Philippine Cup after acquiring big man Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser through a three-team trade involving NLEX and Blackwater.
The PBA on Monday, February 26, approved the deal that sent the former No. 1 overall pick to the Tropang Giga – his third team since he joined the league in 2022.
Initially, the Road Warriors shipped Ganuelas-Rosser back to the Bossing – the team that drafted him – in exchange for Ato Ular, Yousef Taha, and a future first-round pick.
Blackwater then dealt the 6-foot-6 stalwart to TNT for Jaydee Tungcab, Justin Chua, and a future first-round selection.
“His time as a Road Warrior will forever be cherished and we wish him the best of luck with his next team. Brandon will always hold a special place in the NLEX family,” said team governor Ronald Dulatre.
Ganuelas-Rosser owns career averages of 12.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks through four conferences in the league – three with the Road Warriors and one with the Bossing.
He will reunite with Tropang Giga head coach Chot Reyes, who called the shots when Ganuelas-Rosser and Gilas Pilipinas reclaimed the gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in May.
The All-Filipino conference will come off the wraps on Wednesday, February 28. – Rappler.com
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Converge, Sky Cable say they’re open to talks after failed PLDT sale
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Ralf Rivas
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26/02/2024 17:47
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MANILA, Philippines – Internet provider Converge and Sky Cable confirmed that they are open to partnerships and investment opportunities following the latter’s failed sale to Manny Pangilinan’s PLDT Incorporated.
In separate disclosures to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on Monday, February 26, Converge and Sky Cable parent ABS-CBN responded to reports that they are in talks for a possible business deal.
Converge did not confirm nor deny reports, but noted that it will disclose additional information to the PSE once definitive decisions have been made.
“The Company wishes to clarify that it has always been exploring more ways to deliver differentiated and better experiences for its customers. From time to time, the Company may be presented with potential business development, partnership, or investment opportunities and, as part of its duties to its stakeholders, the Company will always look at those opportunities,” Converge said.
ABS-CBN issued a similar statement, noting that it “will always explore opportunities to serve our subscribers, employees, and stakeholders.”
Meanwhile, ABS-CBN addressed reports that the deal with PLDT supposedly fell through after the latter found Sky Cable’s debt to be heftier than anticipated.
“Sky Cable fully disclosed all financial information related to the deal over the due diligence review, but the parties were unable to agree on the commercial terms,” ABS-CBN said. – Rappler.com
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Families of 8 missing in Davao de Oro landslide seek retrieval resumption
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Herbie G
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26/02/2024 16:54
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Rescuers carry a body bag as search and rescue operations continue in the landslide-hit village of Masara, Maco, Davao de Oro, Philippines, February 8, 2024.
Mark Navales/Reuters
DAVAO ORIENTAL, Philippines – The families of eight people who are still missing after the devastating February 6 landslide in the mining village of Masara in Davao de Oro province called on the government to resume its search and retrieval operations.
“What about us? Our loved ones have remained buried under the rubble. We don’t know who to ask for help from the government,” Judy Ann Pepito, a sister of one of the missing persons.
Her brother, Junjun Romeo Pepito Jr., is one of the eight people reported missing after the landslide.
The families of the missing landslide victims have mobilized, reaching out to radio stations in Davao de Oro and various popular social media platforms such as “De Oro Today,” urging the government to resume retrieval operations in Barangay Masara, Maco town.
Maco Mayor Volter Rimando announced the termination of search and retrieval operations effective February 22, following half a month of efforts to locate survivors and recover bodies from the landslide site.
According to a statement from the local government of Maco, the 15-day operation resulted in the recovery of 98 bodies, with eight people still unaccounted for.
Rimando said the local incident management team had completed retrieval and debris clearing at ground zero, covering the entire landslide area down to its base.
Ednar Dayanghirang, the regional director of the Office of Civil Defense in the Davao Region, told Rapper on Monday, February 26, that government forensic experts were still working to identify the over a dozen bodies retrieved from the landslide rubble. He said body parts were also found in the area.
“We are still awaiting DNA results because it’s possible that the eight missing individuals could be among the unidentified,” said Dayanghirang.
He said there were 14 unidentified bodies and body parts which could potentially belong to the missing people. – Rappler.com
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[Bodymind] Juan Ponce Enrile’s hundred years of happiness
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Marguerite de Leon
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26/02/2024 16:31
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Guia Abogado/Rappler
Chief Legal Adviser Juan Ponce Enrile (JPE) turned 100 this month, and many publications had an article or two about this. One article had the following headline: “Enrile: Serving 2 Marcoses were my happiest moments,” quoting JPE at a lunch celebrating his 100th year.
It is all right, of course, to quote a person on his birthday, but one would think that, given what the writers know (or should know) about how the senior President Ferdinand Marcos probably made JPE happy, did it not occur to them to balance his rather sycophantic statement with some facts?
For example, President Marcos repaid JPE’s loyalty by putting him in charge of logging during Martial Law and tasked him to issue certificates to logging companies. Because JPE owned logging companies – Ameco in Bukidnon, Pan Oriental in Cebu and Butuan, to name a few – it is plausible that JPE was happy with this appointment. The rest of the Philippines, not so much. It was also during that time that the forest cover of the Philippines had shrunk until only 8% remained. It beggars belief that JPE did not earn from this or was not happy he did.
President Ferdinand Marcos also showed his trust in JPE by appointing him president of the Philippine Coconut Authority, thus establishing control over the copra industry, together with Danding Cojuangco. The Coco Levy Fund, supposed to be used to improve the country’s copra industry, was used instead by corrupt officials. Again, one would think a man like JPE would have been happy with such a windfall..…at least happier than serving Marcos…although, granted, he would not have earned so much had he not served Marcos as faithfully…at least then.
Happiness is a constant theme in JPE’s life; in fact, this was part of his campaign pitch in the 2019 senatorial election. I wonder, if he had remembered his wish to make us happy, would he still have been one of the first five senators alleged to have participated in the PDAF scam? Might he instead perhaps have diverted some of the approximately P641.65M of his PDAF funds into transportation, so that Filipinos did not have to wait for hours for a ride to and from work, or into education for better classrooms and higher teachers’ salaries?
It may not necessarily have made commuters, students, and teachers caps-over-the-windmills-happy, but it might have alleviated some of the daily grind of life. In the article reporting that JPE received the mandated P100,000 cash gift for centenarians, its writers coyly added: “There was no word yet from Enrile on how he would spend the incentive.” Chump change for a man used to thinking in millions of pesos.
The last part of these articles celebrating JPE’s hundredth year considered highlights of his career: justice secretary, defense minister (appointed twice), representative for the first district of Cagayan, and then a senator re-elected four terms.
For me, however, the pinnacle of JPE’s long service was in 1986, when despite being one of President Marcos’ trusted confidantes, he was one of two men in government who broke away, helping to set off the events that propelled Cory Aquino to her presidency.
Of course, JPE quickly turned against President Aquino also, accusing her government of being tainted by corruption and other nefarious acts, as though his own governance had been innocent of such.
Rappler’s Feb 19 editorial “Juan Ponce Enrile: 100-year-old chameleon” brilliantly discusses JPE’s propensity to switch sides to save himself (no matter how many Filipinos got hurt in the process).
Others may conveniently forget what he did to President Ferdinand Marcos, not to mention what he might do as the current President Marcos’s legal adviser. After all, if serving the late president was, indeed, JPE’s first “happiest moment,” look what he did despite that supposed gratitude!
This centenarian must look back on many things that have given him happiness: the knowledge that he helped change the trajectory of Philippine independence, that his actions hastened People Power, even that he was able to hoodwink people about his motives and his goals for so long.
Then there is his family. It is very possible that JPE experienced many peak happy experiences that involved his family relationships: his still glamorous and ever supportive wife, his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
That JPE considers serving a dictator and the current president as “the happiest experiences of his life” would thus be mind-boggling, were it not for the fact that virtually his entire life has been one of misdirection. – Rappler.com
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I agree: “… virtually his entire life has been one of misdirection.” His misdirection was about his political loyalties, but despite that – he has one constant direction – personal happiness based on vested interest.
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Taste the difference: Where to buy the ‘best’ dried fish in Aklan
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Ralf Rivas
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26/02/2024 15:58
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DRIED FISH. Limelyn Fernandez sundries freshly caught anchovies in Barangay Jawili, Tangalan, Aklan to ensure the finest quality dried fish, in February 2024.
Jed Nykolle Harme/Rappler
AKLAN, Philippines – Jawili Beach in Tangalan, Aklan, around an hour and a half away from Boracay Island, is known for its long stretch of white sand beach with shallow waters. While it has become a destination away from the crowds, it is in this village where tourists can find the best dried fish pasalubong (souvenir).
Dried fish in Jawili has a taste that sets it apart from other dried fish products in nearby provinces, according to locals. Their bestseller, dilis, is not too salty. This is because they only use fresh seawater for washing and refrain from adding extra salt, making it the perfect pasalubong in town.
“Hinahanap-hanap ‘yan ng mga turista dito sa Aklan, kasi hindi maalat ang mga tuyo namin dito. Masarap daw, kumpara sa iba,” said Myrlyn Cidar, a seasoned dried fish seller in Jawili.
(That’s what tourists are looking for here in Aklan, because our dried fish here isn’t salty. They say it’s delicious, compared to others.)
They sell various dried products, including fish, shrimp, and squid, each with different flavors. Prices range from P50 to P1,200 per kilo, depending on the buyer’s preference.
Small fishing boats and bamboo nets dot the shores of this village, where fishing serves as the primary livelihood for many fishermen and their families.
Antonio Fernandez, 48, has been a fisherman in Tangalan for almost 40 years now. He started really young, when his parents were struggling to earn enough money to support the needs of the family.
As the only male among four siblings, he has had to struggle to survive too, including facing danger at sea. “Pitong beses eon ako naeunod una sa eawod. Ro pinakaulihi hay ku Disyembre, tumakeob ang baroto sa kabaskog it humbak, haanod man ako sa pampang it Jawili pagkatapos it pilang oras,” he said.
(I almost drowned in the sea seven times. The most recent incident was in December last year when my boat sank due to a surge of waves. I was later found at Jawili beach after a few hours.)
Antonio told Rappler he has no choice but to live off the coasts, even if it wasn’t the life he dreamed of. “Unga pat-ang gasunod sa eawod kato, hay di ka man kapili sing pwede ubrahon,” he said. “Kinahang-ean magbulig ka sing ginakanan. Kung indi, uwa kami it kan-on.”
(I was still young when I had to go to the sea to catch fish, because I had no other option. I had to help my parents, because if not, we couldn’t eat.)
Antonio, along with other fisherfolk in Tangalan, use small motorized boats to go fishing. They usually start at 4 pm and come back around 7 am the next day. A good catch, he said, is around 50 kilograms of anchovy for 15 hours of work.
He also used to venture into the waters of Romblon or Mindoro from Aklan to catch tuna. However, many of his friends lost their lives in the process, so he chose not to continue with it.
“Malisod ro kabuhi iya. Uwa ako naila nga raya ro madangatan sa akong mga unga man sa ulihi. Kaya bisan delikado, gahutuhot kami sang asawa nga mapatapos sanda tanan, agud indi sanda matugpa iya eang sa baybay,” Antonio said.
(Life is so tough here. I don’t want my children to experience the same hardship. That’s why, despite dangers, my wife and I work tirelessly to ensure they earn their degrees, so that their future will not be anchored to the sea.)
Limelyn Fernandez, 48, a mother of four, has been assisting her husband Antonio for 21 years. It is Limelyn who dries the fish and sells it to make ends meet.
She shared with Rappler that they once left life at sea after they got married in 1997. Both of them worked in a shoe factory in Laguna. However, they had to return to Jawili in 2003 because their jobs couldn’t support their needs. It was then that they realized that life closer to the nation’s capital was more challenging than life at sea.
Limelyn said that for every 50 kilograms of anchovy, they can make up to 13 kilograms of dilis after 2 to 3 days of sun drying. It is there where they can make a profit of P500 to P600. Not enough to support the needs of her children.
“Minsan, may mga kasama pa akong tumutulong ding magbilad ng dilis. Kaya yung P500 na kita, paghahatian pa namin,” she said.
(Sometimes, I also have companions who help with drying fish, so if we make P500 profit, we will divide it among us.)
“Nalulugi kami kasi yung buyers yung nagbibigay ng presyo sa paninda namin. Kami yung nagbibilad pero sila yung kumikita ng malaki. Wala naman kaming magawa kasi, ganoon talaga rito eh,” she added.
(We often incur losses because the buyers are the ones who set the prices for our goods. We are the ones who dry the fish, but they are the ones who profit greatly. We can’t do anything about it because that’s just how it is here.)
Limelyn said that during rainy season, instead of drying the fish, they are forced to sell fresh anchovy for a very cheap price to earn money. If not, she make ginamos (fermented fish made from anchovies), where the process takes one to two weeks to ferment.
“Mas lugi kami tuwing tag-ulan, lalo na sa ginamos, kasi kami pa bibili ng asin. Halos wala nang kita. Matagal ang proseso, kaya matagal din ang balik ng pera,” she said.
(We don’t earn so much when it’s rainy season, especially since we’re the ones who buy the salt. We almost don’t earn at all. The process takes long, so the returns take a long time as well.)
To survive, Limelyn does other side jobs: planting pechay (cabbage), raising free-range chicken, and selling fish balls to support the education of her children.
Despite the challenges, Antonio and Limelyn have been able to send all of their children to school. Two of them are now in college and the youngest in senior high school. They also managed to see their first born earn her degree in Information Technology.
“Nangungutang kaming mag-asawa para sa pag-aaral ng mga anak namin, kasi ayaw kong magaya sila sa amin. Hindi kami titigil na mangisda, hindi kami mapapagod magbilad sa araw kahit mahirap, hangga’t hindi sila nakapagtapos,” Limelyn said.
(We borrow money for our children’s education, because I don’t want them to end up like us. We won’t stop fishing, we will not be tired of sun drying, even though it’s hard, until they finish their studies.) – Rappler.com
Jed Nykolle Harme is an associate editor at Eamigas Publication, and is an Aries Rufo Journalism fellow for 2023-2024.
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Senior citizens aged 80 and up get cash gifts too under expanded law
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Dwight de Leon
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26/02/2024 15:35
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LIMITED DOSES. Senior citizens stay at an observation area after receiving their first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, at a covered court in Manila, March 29, 2021.
Lisa Marie David/Reuters
MANILA, Philippines – The Centenarians Act of 2016 has been amended to provide monetary perks not only to senior citizens aged 100, but also those who are 80 years old and above.
Republic Act (RA) No. 11982, signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, February 26, compels the government to hand out P10,000 in cash to Filipinos who have reached the age of 80, and every five years thereafter, until they reach 95.
Once they cross the 100-year mark, the cash gift balloons to P100,000, a provision from the 2016 law that remains untouched.
“But they deserve more than cash in an envelope. What they should get is a support infrastructure that every society owes to its graying population,” Marcos said in a speech after he signed the measure.
The new law also creates an Elderly Data Management System, according to a press release from House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s office.
A copy of RA 11982 has yet to be uploaded on the website of the Official Gazette.
The measure’s main sponsors in Congress were Senior Citizens Representative Rodolfo Ordanes and Senator Imee Marcos. Dozens of lawmakers were also listed as authors or co-authors. – Rappler.com
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Marcos replaces head of Local Water Utilities Administration
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Dwight de Leon
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26/02/2024 13:40
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LWUA. The facade of the Local Water Utilities Administration building.
LWUA's Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has named lawyer Jose Moises Salonga as the new head of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), Malacañang confirmed on Monday, February 26.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Salonga’s credentials include working for the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force of the Philippine National Police, the National Power Corporation, Land Bank of the Philippines, First Farmers’ Rural Bank of Batangas, Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation, Office of the Executive Secretary, and PNOC Renewables Corporation.
The PCO added that he has a bachelor’s degree in economics and a law degree from the Ateneo de Manila University, and a master’s degree in public safety administration from the Philippine Public Safety College.
Salonga replaces Vicente Homer Revil, a former vice governor of Masbate who served as LWUA chief for a year.
The reason for Revil’s exit from the agency is unclear, but news of his removal already circulated over the weekend in Cebu City, after Mayor Mike Rama expressed hopes that Salonga, as new LWUA administrator, would help resolve the leadership row at the Metro Cebu Water District, which has two boards.
Presidential Decree No. 198, signed in 1973, created the LWUA, a government-owned and -controlled corporation which is tasked to oversee the development of water supply systems outside the capital region. – Rappler.com
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Pangasinan poet, heritage torchbearer Santiago Villafania dies
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Herbie G
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26/02/2024 16:16
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DEATH OF A POET. The late Pangasinan poet and literary awardee Santiago Villafania.
Santiago Villafania Facebook page
PANGASINAN, Philippines – Multi-awarded poet Santiago “Santi” Villafania died in a Dagupan City hospital on Monday, February 26. He was 53 years old.
The confirmation was posted on his Facebook profile, written by his daughter Wenna Louise.
“Dear friends and family, it’s [with a heavy] heart that we write this post. My father Santiago B. Villafania passed away at 1 am this morning at Nazareth Hospital,” Wenna wrote.
She said her father’s remains would be brought to their home in Buenlag, Mangaldan.
Prior to this, Wenna posted an update that Villafania was fighting for his life in Nazareth General Hospital.
The grim news of the poet’s death came two hours after.
Villafania was a true-blue Pangasinense, being born in Santa Barbara town on January 31, 1971. He was a champion of Pangasinan heritage.
As a poet and writer, Villafania authored six books containing anlong (Pangasinan term for poetry), sonnets, haikus, and other literary pieces written in Pangasinan and English:
He served as the vice president of the the Philippine Center of International PEN, a group of writers promoting cooperation between writers, literature development, and freedom of expression. He was also the national head of its Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee.
His literary contributions and focus on Pangasinan earned him the province’s highest honors – he was a 2010 Asna (Salt) Awardee for Literature, one of the first awards given.
Below is a piece translated by Villafania in his 2016 book As I Tango:
A Night Piece (from a Pangasinan serenade entitled “Malinak Lay Labi”)
The night is calm, my love / and time is fleeting stillThe wind is breathing low / kissed by the evening dew How sweet it is to dream / that I have to wake for youYour fair attemper face / I shall always caressO when the night is come / and you, my love, I see the sadness all is gone / buried deeply in my soul Whenever I recall / loving ways you are wont to I shall not forget you / until I am laid to rest.
In a statement, the PEN Philippines said that while mourning Villafania’s passing, it would also “remember his tremendous presence and celebrate his life and his vital work,” which had had “a global impact.”
“He was a champion of the language of his native Pangasinan, and his deep love for his tongue and his culture was felt not only among his fellow Filipinos, but across the world, through poems that have been translated into several languages and read in many global settings,” the organization said. – Rappler.com
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Mission accomplished as Brownlee thrills fans with rousing home performance
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delfin.dioquino editor
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25/02/2024 23:32
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SLAM. Justin Brownlee in action for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2024 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
FIBA
MANILA, Philippines – Justin Brownlee wanted nothing but to make the fans happy in his first game in the country in nearly a year.
And he showed that through his fine play as he steered Gilas Pilipinas to a 106-53 home rout of Chinese Taipei on Sunday, February 25, that allowed the Filipinos to sweep the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
The beloved naturalized player finished with team-highs of 26 points and 13 rebounds on top 5 assists and 2 blocks for a rousing homecoming performance at the jam-packed PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
“I missed it. I missed the fans more than anything. I just missed seeing their smiles and just being able to make them cheer and just seeing their passion for the game,” Brownlee said.
Brownlee last played in the Philippines in April when he and Barangay Ginebra bowed to TNT in the PBA Governors’ Cup finals last season.
The Gin Kings tapped Brownlee for what would have been his 11th straight import conference with the franchise, but he missed PBA action for the first time since 2016 after he failed a doping test in the Asian Games in October.
Brownlee opted to serve a voluntary suspension that started in November before FIBA gave the go signal for his return this February.
Eager to repay the fans’ love as they waited four months for his hardcourt comeback, Brownlee erupted for 11 points in the opening quarter to set the tone in the 53-point blowout.
“They definitely came in with some energy and it made me want to be more aggressive. Just to hear that crowd roar, just to put a smile on their face or make them cheer and be happy,” he said.
And it is not just on the court where fans invigorated Brownlee but also off it.
“I got to be honest, I was a little down coming here, but coming here and seeing these fans and stuff like that, showing great support, it definitely has cheered me up,” said Brownlee.
“I’m on that high again as far as being excited. It just feels great.” – Rappler.com
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WATCH: Why should we commemorate the People Power Revolution?
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Cara Angeline Oliver
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25/02/2024 20:43
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MANILA, Philippines – In 2024, February 25 – the anniversary of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s ouster from power – is neither a holiday nor a special non-working day. It is a Sunday.
At least, that’s his son, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s logic, in deciding not to make the anniversary of the revolution that toppled the dictatorship a special day.
The People Power Spirit is alive – the numbers say as much. But why does it stay alive and why should it stay alive? – Rappler.com
Reporter: Bea CupinProducer: Cara Angeline OliverVideographers: Franz Lopez, Jeff DigmaVideo editor: Emerald HidalgoGraphics: Alejandro Edoria, Raffy De Guzman, Guia AbogadoSupervising producer: Beth Frondoso
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Q&A: Comic artist Josel Nicolas on ‘Windmills: Bearings,’ the 1st graphic novel published by UST
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Marguerite de Leon
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25/02/2024 17:45
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MANILA, Philippines – Since 2006, artist Josel Nicolas has been making comics. From the beloved “Doc Brick” series on K-Zone magazine, to children’s comics anthology PIKO, to the 41st National Book Awardee Death be Damned, the 36-year-old Nicolas’ work is testament to the creativity and perseverance of today’s komikero.
His first book, Windmills: Bearings, is a compilation of the first six issues of his series Windmills, which he describes as a “slice-of-life autobiographical literary furry komik.” It also happens to be the first-ever graphic novel published by the University of Sto. Tomas Publishing House, and came out in late 2023.
In this Rappler interview, Nicolas shares his origin story as a comic book artist, the trials of getting his work published, and what budding comic artists should know before getting into the industry.
First thing’s first – for the uninitiated, is there a difference between komiks and comics?
I think it’s my close friend and constant collaborator, Adam David, who started using “komiks” recently, and I just kinda piggybacked on it since we travel pretty much in the same circles. Personally I’m a huge fan of the ’70s underground comix movement started by Robert Crumb and Harvey Pekar and other American comix stalwarts, so using the Pinoy “k” to denote PH komiks and komix just seems like a natural progression, but as far as any real delineation of what qualifies one’s work to be called komiks/komix, I’d say just comics produced for a Pinoy audience. Komiks with a “k” was already the norm back in the golden day of komiks. Even though the margins of what is mainstream and not mainstream here in the Philippine context is razor-thin, I think it’s just fun branding. Seems like that is something that one should be wary of in this day and age, to market and sell yourself in as few words as possible.
How did you first get into doing comics?
My brother-in-law lent me Watchmen and Dark Knight as a high school freshman, which led me to read more comics. He was graduating as a med student so I bought him Gerry Alanguilan’s Wasted, which was my introduction to making komiks in a local setting. There was this interview in the back where he talked about how when he was reading an interview of Whilce Portacio (X-men artist) and he found out that Whilce was Filipino, it made him think that he could also make comics. Which made me think, oh Gerry is also Filipino, I’m Filipino, I can also make comics. There’s a repeated recursiveness in how things pan out in my life, which does entertain me a lot. I’m Filipino, I can also make comics.
The ethos of just doing, with the skills that you had at the time because you had an emotion and a story that you needed to get out, has carried me through pretty much through my high school, college, young adult, and adult years. This led me to find other personal works, like Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home, and Oliver Pulumbarit’s Lexy, Nance, and Argus (a seminal queer Filipino work, also serialized in Pulp Magazine). But apart from that, it was reading Sir Gerry’s blog and joining Komikon.
I want to encourage people to express themselves and not worry about if it’s any good or not, at least in the trial period where you are just starting. The idea of just doing regardless of audience has always appealed to me, but even as I try to reach more people right now with Windmills: Bearings, I want to keep some of that one-on-one personal connection with anybody who would care to buy my work.
The title of your book is “Windmills: Bearings.” Could you tell us the story behind this title?
Windmills as a whole, is a reference to Don Quixote. I have not read the actual novel, but I did grow up remembering a specifically terrifying public domain cartoon that was shown on IBC 13. Don Quixote is also a street next to where I lived in UST, that had a karinderya that I would eat at as a UST student. As I understand it, Don Quixote mistook windmills as giants to be slain, and it is the general idea of mistaking something mundane and common for something not just fantastical, but is out to hurt you, and so you run at it at full speed with your lance and trip and fall. Nearly every Windmills strip is just about me working from an assumption and proving that assumption to be wrong, and quieting down.
Bearings, is because it’s another pun, which I used a lot in this book. To be honest, I think it’s the only one that really works, as it’s about finding where you are on your map.
You describe “Windmills” as a “slice-of-life autobiographical literary furry komik.” This definitely sounds different from the typical superhero-type comics known in the mainstream. Was getting an audience a challenge given that this kind of comic is not what Filipinos are used to?
I made Windmills because I was making esoteric drug freak-out comix inspired by the underground movement. The comix were about Rico Yan and Kurt Cobain and the 27 Club, and John Wilkes Booth in a dreamscape. I decided that I wanted more of an audience, so I started drawing cute animals. With that said, none of the early strips scream marketable. Who knew existential dread and confusion would limit my reach! Walls of text and anxiety is a lot to ask of a young comic audience.
What was the best part of creating this book? What was the worst?
The best part was creating the book and the worst part is selling the book. It was originally published in 2015 and had been turned down by publishers before. If it wasn’t for the efforts of Professor Nerisa Guevara, I wouldn’t have gotten even a meeting with the publisher. There are so many people who will tell you your work deserves to be read and seen, but only a few will go to actual lengths to help you. She is one of those people. I am lucky to have her in my corner.
The book is old and it holds all of the thoughts of a younger me. I didn’t think this new edition would get a publisher; I really had given up on it. In truth I gave this to my publisher because it was the only book I knew I had complete ownership of. The story of the making of this edition is in the intro of the book, so you can read that. A lot of people helped me in proofreading the stories and seeing if they work, but I know that they are my stories; they happened to me for better or worse.
I think the best part is realizing that the me from 15 years ago is saving the me from now. That no matter how old and possibly outdated this book might be for the market, it’s still there. I’ve been trying to advocate for myself more, because it isn’t enough to just draw and write; you have to get yourself out there in a way that gets you your audience.
You are also a stand-up comic. Does this inform how you make comics, and the other way around?
Well, Windmills was always supposed to be a comedy. It is a comedy to the people I originally made read (Mimi Johnson, a huge influence on me starting out as a writer and artist). At the very end of the book, during the break-up sequence, I do draw myself as doing stand-up comedy, but I hadn’t started then. I didn’t even know there was a stand-up scene here. It’s really something that in the years after doing the first edition of the book, I ended up just trying so hard to get away from making comics by being a shitty stand-up comic. The fact that I thought Windmills was ever a comedy says so much about how not a good stand-up comedian I am. Haha. Mid. But in a funny way, after the pandemic, when I started drawing visual aids onstage, it solidified my act. Trying to get away from being a comic book artist hampered my own comedy, and accepting it as a vital part of me actually unlocked my potential as a stand-up comedian.
What’s your advice to someone who wants to get into comics?
– Rappler.com
Windmills is available on the University of Sto. Tomas Publishing House’s Shopee page. Nicolas will be part of stand-up comedy show Leapin’ Laughs at Vault Greenhills on February 29.
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Taulava, NLEX Road Warriors give back to provincial fans in ‘Dayo’
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Jasmine Payo
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25/02/2024 18:23
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COMMUNITY. PBA icon Asi Taulava with young fans in Burgos, Ilocos Sur.
NLEX
MANILA, Philippines – PBA legend Asi Taulava and the NLEX Road Warriors recently reached out to communities in the north, hoping to bring people together through their love for basketball.
The Road Warriors launched their “Dayo” program earlier this month with the inaugural leg held in Burgos, Ilocos Sur, which coincided with the town fiesta celebrations where the players and team officials gamely interacted with the local community.
With “Dayo,” the Filipino word for “visit,” NLEX hopes to show its commitment to community development and promote a positive impact beyond basketball.
“This is our way of giving back to the community,” said NLEX president and general manager J. Luigi L. Bautista. “We believe in the power of sports to unite, inspire and make a positive impact in the communities we visit.”
In Burgos, Mayor Nathaniel “Boy” Escobar warmly welcomed the Road Warriors led by Taulava and team governor Ronald Dulatre.
“Dayo aims to foster connections and cultivate stronger relationships with the diverse communities and provinces of North Luzon,” said Bautista. “We are also positive that this will inspire the youth, now that we are bringing the NLEX Road Warriors closer to them.” – Rappler.com
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Brownlee shines in homecoming game as Gilas Pilipinas blasts Chinese Taipei by 53
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delfin.dioquino editor
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25/02/2024 21:18
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HOMECOMING. Justin Brownlee in action for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2024 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
FIBA
MANILA, Philippines – Tim Cone promised a better showing from Gilas Pilipinas after a tentative start to their FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers debut.
His charges did not disappoint as the Philippines claimed a wire-to-wire 106-53 win over the visiting Chinese Taipei to sweep the first window at the PhilSports Arena on Sunday, February 25.
Playing his first game in the country in 10 months, Justin Brownlee imposed his will early and finished with 26 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal to propel the Filipinos to a 2-0 record in Group B.
Brownlee showed how much he missed playing at home, scattering 11 points in the first quarter as the Philippines opened the floodgates early en route to the 53-point blowout.
“I have not played in front of a Philippines home crowd in a while. It feels great,” said Brownlee. “Unbelievable energy they came in with. You see all the jerseys and [hear] the non-stop cheering. It just feels great.”
Unlike their 94-64 rout of Hong Kong where they led by just two possessions at halftime, the Filipinos built a double-digit lead at the end of the opening quarter and never looked back.
The home squad held a 13-11 edge before closing out the first period on a blazing 13-2 run highlighted by 4 points each from young stars Kai Sotto and Dwight Ramos.
Sotto churned out 18 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks to backstop Brownlee as the two combined for 27 first-half points to help the Philippines mount a commanding 52-27 lead at halftime.
His offense taking a backseat in the second quarter, Brownlee took over again in the third period and erupted for 11 points in a span of 5:30 minutes, much to the delight of the mammoth crowd at the 10,000-seater venue.
“It feels great hearing the cheers and the energy they always bring. Of course, the passion is just unbelievable,” said Brownlee.
Gilas Pilipinas’ lead breached the 40-point mark when Kevin Quiambao ran off 8 unanswered points late in the third frame for an 80-38 cushion.
Quiambao put up 10 points and 6 rebounds, Calvin Oftana tallied 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals, while Carl Tamayo chimed in 11 points and 6 rebounds.
Ramos added 12 points on top of 3 rebounds and 2 steals as six players scored in double figures for a balanced attack by the hosts.
“I really liked the way we worked tonight. We just really worked hard on both sides of the floor and did that for the whole game of 48 minutes,” said head coach Tim Cone.
Liu Cheng wound up as the only Taiwanese player in twin-digit scoring with 13 points as the Philippines contained Chinese Taipei to a measly 29.6% clip and forcing the visitors to commit more turnovers (16) than assists (11).
It was a lopsided win not even Cone expected, especially after Chinese Taipei gave world No. 21 New Zealand a challenge before absorbing an 89-69 loss in their Asia Cup Qualifiers opener.
“We played the same team and these guys just worked their tails off and made [Chinese Taipei] look bad. And they’re not that bad, they’re a really talented team,” said Cone.
Although tied with New Zealand with identical 2-0 cards, Gilas Pilipinas owns the top spot in Group B with an accumulated winning margin of a whopping 83 points.
Philippines 106 – Brownlee 26, Sotto 18, Oftana 13, Ramos 12, Tamayo 11, Quiambao 10, Aguilar 8, Perez 4, Newsome 2, Thompson 2.
Chinese Taipei 53 – Liu 13, S. Lin 8, Z. Hsieh 6, Wang 6, Chang 4, B. Lin 3, C. C. Lin 3, Chen 2, C. Lin 2, Gao 2, Yu 2, Y. Hsieh 2.
Quarters: 26-13, 52-27, 82-41, 106-53.
– Rappler.com
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Record-setting UE rookie Dongallo hopes to turn big numbers to wins
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Jasmine Payo
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25/02/2024 18:37
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SUPER ROOKIE. UE's Casiey Dongallo continues to impress in her UAAP volleyball debut.
UAAP
MANILA, Philippines — Casiey Dongallo, UE’s star recruit, has been on a scoring tear to start her maiden UAAP volleyball campaign.
After dropping 27 points in the Lady Warriors’ opening-day victory against Ateneo last February 17, the wing spiker poured in 23 points in a loss against UST last February 21.
But there’s still no stopping Dongallo as the super rookie set a new league record, erupting for 30 points in the Lady Warriors’ 22-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-27, 15-11 loss against the FEU Lady Tamaraws on Sunday, February 25, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Dongallo’ 30, the most for a rookie in modern league history, eclipsed the 28 points set by reigning Most Valuable Player Angel Canino in La Salle’s 25-17, 25-27, 23-25, 25-23, 15-9 victory against Adamson in April 2023.
The rising UE star’s longtime teammate, Kizzie Madriaga, provided some great playmaking with 16 excellent sets, setting up some timely hits for Dongallo.
“We all know that our partnership goes back to high school as Casiey served as my hitter, and we always went to her when we needed to score at a crucial time,” Madriaga, the team’s rookie team captain, said after the game.
Expectations are now growing by the day for Dongallo, who admits feeling the outside pressure, with the Lady Warriors falling to a 1-2 slate.
“Pressure has not wavered every game, I’m just thankful that my coaches are there to support me” said Dongallo. “Kizzie had been telling me to just play my game, and once I enjoy it, the pressure lessens.”
Dongallo has always been a heralded player even before playing her first collegiate game, leading California Precision Sports to the top of the PNVF Champions League and the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League.
When UE got the commitment of Dongallo, Madriaga, Jelai Gajero, and Shamel Fernandez in July 2023, they were seen as rookies who could quickly turn the fortunes of a volleyball program needing a massive revival.
Despite the early pressure and spotlight, Dongallo vows to stay even keeled and help UE secure more wins, and eventually, to its first Final Four appearance since UAAP Season 69 in 2007.
Dongallo understands the need to be patient. On Sunday, amid her scoring explosion, the Lady Warriors still bowed to the Lady Tamaraws, who had Gerzel Petallo and Faida Bakanke picking up the scoring cudgels in the deciding set, with the duo finishing with a combined 32 points.
Leading 23-21 late in the fourth set, FEU allowed the California Academy product to score 5 successive attack points to force the decider, 27-25.
In the fifth, with renewed vigor, the Lady Tamaraws quickly piled up points against the young Lady Warriors squad, going up 8-3 courtesy of some key attacks from Chenie Tagaod.
“Our composure didn’t hold [in the fourth set], we focused too much on emotions, and probably that’s why [UE] claimed [the set],” FEU head coach Manolo Refugia said.
Bakanke, the Congolese rookie, scored the game-winning cross-court attack, ending up with 14 points for the contest, with Petallo adding a game-high 18 markers.
“Going to the fifth set, we changed our mindset since we changed what was needed, so we got what we wanted,” added Refugia as FEU improved to 2-1.
For Dongallo, it’s another opportunity to learn. But while she’s getting ready for more scoring explosions, down the line, she aims to translate more of her big numbers to much-needed wins. — Rappler.com
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After 6 years, Boracay beach parties are back
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Dwight de Leon
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25/02/2024 21:39
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AKLAN, Philippines – The municipal government of Malay in Aklan province has officially revived beach parties in the resort island of Boracay, in hopes to attract more young tourists.
The move comes six years after the Duterte administration prohibited parties on the beach, as part of the rehabilitation project in the island in 2018.
Felix Delos Santos Jr., chief of the Malay Tourism Office, said a beach party was held at the Greenyard Bulabog Beach on Saturday night, February 24.
That beach on the eastern side of Boracay island is known as a sea sports destination, and is popular among kite surfers.
“The beach party Saturday night was filled with electrifying music, vibrant cocktails, mouthwatering beachside bites, and a vibrant energy of the crowd,” Delos Santos said.
Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista added that the local tourism office has been planning the revival of the beach party for almost a year now.
When Boracay reopened in October 2018 after a six-month rehabilitation project, parties have been confined to establishments. – Rappler.com
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WATCH: Why should we commemorate the People Power Revolution?
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Cara Angeline Oliver
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25/02/2024 20:43
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MANILA, Philippines – In 2024, February 25 – the anniversary of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s ouster from power – is neither a holiday nor a special non-working day. It is a Sunday.
At least, that’s his son, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s logic, in deciding not to make the anniversary of the revolution that toppled the dictatorship a special day.
The People Power Spirit is alive – the numbers say as much. But why does it stay alive and why should it stay alive? – Rappler.com
Reporter: Bea CupinProducer: Cara Angeline OliverVideographers: Franz Lopez, Jeff DigmaVideo editor: Emerald HidalgoGraphics: Alejandro Edoria, Raffy De Guzman, Guia AbogadoSupervising producer: Beth Frondoso
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Brownlee shines in homecoming game as Gilas Pilipinas blasts Chinese Taipei by 53
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delfin.dioquino editor
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25/02/2024 21:18
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HOMECOMING. Justin Brownlee in action for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2024 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
FIBA
MANILA, Philippines – Tim Cone promised a better showing from Gilas Pilipinas after a tentative start to their FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers debut.
His charges did not disappoint as the Philippines claimed a wire-to-wire 106-53 win over the visiting Chinese Taipei to sweep the first window at the PhilSports Arena on Sunday, February 25.
Playing his first game in the country in 10 months, Justin Brownlee imposed his will early and finished with 26 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal to propel the Filipinos to a 2-0 record in Group B.
Brownlee showed how much he missed playing at home, scattering 11 points in the first quarter as the Philippines opened the floodgates early en route to the 53-point blowout.
“I have not played in front of a Philippines home crowd in a while. It feels great,” said Brownlee. “Unbelievable energy they came in with. You see all the jerseys and [hear] the non-stop cheering. It just feels great.”
Unlike their 94-64 rout of Hong Kong where they led by just two possessions at halftime, the Filipinos built a double-digit lead at the end of the opening quarter and never looked back.
The home squad held a 13-11 edge before closing out the first period on a blazing 13-2 run highlighted by 4 points each from young stars Kai Sotto and Dwight Ramos.
Sotto churned out 18 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks to backstop Brownlee as the two combined for 27 first-half points to help the Philippines mount a commanding 52-27 lead at halftime.
His offense taking a backseat in the second quarter, Brownlee took over again in the third period and erupted for 11 points in a span of 5:30 minutes, much to the delight of the mammoth crowd at the 10,000-seater venue.
“It feels great hearing the cheers and the energy they always bring. Of course, the passion is just unbelievable,” said Brownlee.
Gilas Pilipinas’ lead breached the 40-point mark when Kevin Quiambao ran off 8 unanswered points late in the third frame for an 80-38 cushion.
Quiambao put up 10 points and 6 rebounds, Calvin Oftana tallied 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals, while Carl Tamayo chimed in 11 points and 6 rebounds.
Ramos added 12 points on top of 3 rebounds and 2 steals as six players scored in double figures for a balanced attack by the hosts.
“I really liked the way we worked tonight. We just really worked hard on both sides of the floor and did that for the whole game of 48 minutes,” said head coach Tim Cone.
Liu Cheng wound up as the only Taiwanese player in twin-digit scoring with 13 points as the Philippines contained Chinese Taipei to a measly 29.6% clip and forcing the visitors to commit more turnovers (16) than assists (11).
It was a lopsided win not even Cone expected, especially after Chinese Taipei gave world No. 21 New Zealand a challenge before absorbing an 89-69 loss in their Asia Cup Qualifiers opener.
“We played the same team and these guys just worked their tails off and made [Chinese Taipei] look bad. And they’re not that bad, they’re a really talented team,” said Cone.
Although tied with New Zealand with identical 2-0 cards, Gilas Pilipinas owns the top spot in Group B with an accumulated winning margin of a whopping 83 points.
Philippines 106 – Brownlee 26, Sotto 18, Oftana 13, Ramos 12, Tamayo 11, Quiambao 10, Aguilar 8, Perez 4, Newsome 2, Thompson 2.
Chinese Taipei 53 – Liu 13, S. Lin 8, Z. Hsieh 6, Wang 6, Chang 4, B. Lin 3, C. C. Lin 3, Chen 2, C. Lin 2, Gao 2, Yu 2, Y. Hsieh 2.
Quarters: 26-13, 52-27, 82-41, 106-53.
– Rappler.com
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Marcos gov’t offers muted celebration of EDSA People Power’s 38th anniversary
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Dwight de Leon
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25/02/2024 19:23
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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his trip to Hawaii in November 2023.
PCOO
It’s the second year that the EDSA People Power Revolution is being commemorated under the administration of President and dictator’s son Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and Malacañang appears unwilling to give it the time of day.
As of past 7 pm on Sunday, February 25, neither Marcos Jr. nor the Palace has issued a statement recognizing the anniversary of the uprising that kicked the elder Marcos and his family out of Malacañang in 1986.
This day is obviously awkward for the President. In the past, he described the aftermath of the 1986 EDSA uprising – including his family’s exile in Hawaii – as among the darkest days of their lives.
But Marcos Jr. at least made an effort last year to acknowledge the anniversary of the revolt, saying he was “one with the nation in remembering” the historic day.
“I once again offer my hand of reconciliation to those with different political persuasions to come together as one in forging a better society – one that will pursue progress and peace and a better life for all Filipinos,” he also said on this day in 2023.
This year, Marcos did not declare the anniversary of the uprising a holiday, upsetting democracy advocates who believe the move was meant to diminish the legacy of the People Power revolution.
There was, however, an official government commemoration this year, through the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, which, in its own words, held a “simple” ceremony on Sunday morning at the People Power monument.
“The EDSA People Power Revolution was a series of demonstrations from 22 to 25 February 1986. It was a civil resistance campaign against the regime of violence and electoral fraud. The peaceful revolution led to the departure of former President Ferdinand Marcos ending 20 years of dictatorship and restoring democracy in the country,” the NHCP, which is the chair of the EDSA People Power Commission, posted on its Facebook page.
The Marcos Sr. regime itself was considered among the darkest chapters in Philippine history. Human rights groups say 70,000 people were imprisoned, 34,000 people were tortured, and over 3,000 people were killed under the dictator’s rule.
While anti-Marcos groups were holding various events across the Philippines to commemorate the brutal dictatorship years, many members of the political family had their own get-together.
On Instagram, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos posted a group photo of the clan on the dinner table, with a caption that read, “Happy Sunday everyone.”
In the photo are her husband Marcos Jr., former first lady Imelda Marcos, the President’s sister Irene Marcos, and Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc, the son of Senator Imee Marcos.
Interestingly, the President posted a YouTube vlog on Sunday, reacting to various letters sent to him. In that video, he offered advice to a humanities student who expressed interest in politics and history.
“Your interest in history is very, very, very important, because we have much to learn from history,” he started.
“Problem is, now with the technology we have, mahirap talagang makatingin ano ang fake news, ano ang totoo (it’s really difficult to determine which is the truth and which is ‘fake news’). It’s up to you. Huwag kayong magbabasa isa lang bagay. Basahin ‘nyo lahat (Don’t read just one source. Read everything),” he added.
A series of investigative pieces from Rappler in 2019 documented how the Marcoses took advantage of social media to rehabilitate the family’s image over the years.
Fact checkers from Tsek.PH and Vera Files also found that Marcos Jr. benefited the most from election-related disinformation in the run-up to the 2022 presidential election, which he won via a landslide victory.
So isn’t that comment on history a bit rich coming from him? – Rappler.com
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Well, at least, there was “an official government commemoration this year, through the National Historical Commission of the Philippines” through a “simple ceremony.” This is consistent with his “unity” image even though it has a “plasticity”. What will happen in the years ahead during his administration is worth noting. In fairness to President Marcos Jr., he deserves a “muted” thank you, too.
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Results, team standings: UAAP Season 86 volleyball
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Jasmine Payo
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05/05/2024 21:02
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ROARING. NU's Bella Belen (left) and Alyssa Solomon react in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball finals
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournaments reach a tipping point with the men’s and women’s finals!
LOOK: UAAP volleyball championship schedule
Here are the results in the men’s and women’s divisions:
MAY 15
May 11
MAY 8
MAY 5
MAY 4
MAY 8
MAY 5
MAY 4
** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated
APRIL 27
APRIL 24
APRIL 21
APRIL 20
APRIL 17
APRIL 14
APRIL 13
APRIL 10
APRIL 9
APRIL 4
APRIL 3
MARCH 24
MARCH 23
MARCH 20
First round
MARCH 17
MARCH 16
MARCH 13
MARCH 10
MARCH 9
MARCH 6
MARCH 3
MARCH 2
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 25
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 21
FEBRUARY 18
FEBRUARY 17
** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated
APRIL 27
APRIL 24
APRIL 21
APRIL 20
APRIL 17
APRIL 14
APRIL 13
APRIL 10
APRIL 9
APRIL 4
APRIL 3
MARCH 24
MARCH 23
MARCH 20
First round
MARCH 17
MARCH 16
MARCH 13
MARCH 10
MARCH 9
MARCH 6
MARCH 3
MARCH 2
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 25
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 21
FEBRUARY 18
FEBRUARY 17
– Rappler.com
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IN PHOTOS: On 38th People Power anniversary, groups oppose charter change
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Bonz Magsambol
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25/02/2024 15:35
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NO TO CHA-CHA. Militant groups say no to charter change as the Philippines commemorate the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.
Carlo de Vela/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Across the Philippines, youth and progressive groups took to the streets on Sunday, February 25, to commemorate the 38th EDSA People Power Revolution that toppled the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, with one unified messaging: no to charter change.
In Cebu City, activists marched along Osmeña Boulevard opposing the revision of the 1987 Constitution and the jeepney modernization program, among other things.
Below are the scenes from their protest action.
In Metro Manila, over a hundred cyclists, skaters, and joggers gathered along Ayala Avenue in Makati City on Sunday for an “Edsa Freedom Ride,” commemorating the 38th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution.
The event began with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Senator Ninoy Aquino monument. Bicyclists, clad in yellow and white shirts, decorated their bikes with yellow ribbons and flaglets containing the message: “Buhay ang EDSA (EDSA is alive)! Cancel Cha-cha!”
Below are some scenes from the Makati protest.
Various groups also gathered around EDSA Shrine to mount a mobilization on the anniversary of the uprising.
– Rappler.com
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GenSan’s Kalilangan festival: A vibrant tapestry of history, culture, and heritage
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Ralf Rivas
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25/02/2024 19:51
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CELEBRATION. Dancers representing the Christian, Blaan, and Maguindanaon communities come together in harmony, showcasing the vibrant and jubilant spirit of GenSan's Kalilangan Festival. Photo by the Office of GenSan City Mayor Hon. Lorelie Pacquiao
GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines – While General Santos City is known for its Tuna Festival, the city also flourishes with the Kalilangan Festival, held annually in February. This vibrant celebration commemorates the city’s founding anniversary, weaving together cultural threads to highlight the rich tapestry of GenSan.
Kalilangan is derived from the Maguindanaon term “kalilang,” which means celebration. Kalilang could be a wedding, merrymaking, or even the enthronement of traditional leaders.
According to the City Government of General Santos City, the festival honors the arrival of the first 62 Christian settlers, led by General Paulino Santos, in Dadiangas (GenSan’s former name) on February 27, 1939, on the shores of Sarangani Bay. These settlers were welcomed by the Blaan and Maguindanaon communities, laying the foundation for harmonious coexistence among Christians, Blaans, and Maguindanaons.
When did it start?
Through the years, the Kalilangan Festival has become one of the largest events in the city. This year’s theme, “Sa Kultura at Saya Tayo ay Sama-sama” (Together in Culture and Joy), marks the 35th Kalilangan Festival and the 85th Founding Anniversary of the city. The festivities began on February 23 and will conclude on February 27, 2024.
According to Gandhi Kinjiyo, Community Affairs Assistant of the Integrated Cultural Communities Affairs Division of GenSan, the inaugural Kalilangan Festival took place in 1989 during the administration of former Mayor Rosalita T. Nunez (currently the city Vice Mayor).
“The festival’s name was coined by the late Bae Labi Janena Tito, who served as the education secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and vice-chancellor of Mindanao State University-GenSan,” added Kinjiyo.
Since then, this significant event has celebrated the city’s unique cultural tapestry, forged through generations.
Cultural significance
One of the highlights of the festival is the installation of the Tribal Village, which features traditional costumes, traditional food, musical instruments, and dances of the Indigenous Peoples and the Muslim community of the city.
Further, Kinjiyo underscores the significance of celebrating the Kalilangan festival for the people of GenSan.
“For us, the Kalilangan Festival is important because it promotes an understanding of the culture and traditions of the indigenous cultural communities,” he expressed.
“When we understand one another’s socio-cultural differences, it can build harmonious relationships among us,” he added.
Ammar Lambac, 21, also expressed how this festival honors his ancestors, who were among the first settlers of GenSan.
“Kalilangan Festival honors the rich history and cultural diversity of my beloved city. As half Maguindanaon and Blaan, who were the first settlers of the city, it feels great that we are recognized as part of GenSan’s history,” Lambac said.
“Kalilangan Festival has been a tradition of the Generals (as residents of GenSan call themselves). It brings joy, pride, and a sense of belonging and appreciation for one’s cultural traditions and heritage,” he added.
The Kalilangan Festival is more than just a celebration; it is a testament to GenSan’s unique cultural identity. It brings people from various communities together to share their cultural heritage and foster a sense of unity. – Rappler.com
Brian Jay Baybayan is a campus journalist from the Mindanao State University-General Santos City. Editor-in-chief of The Papyrus, he is also an Aries Rufo Journalism fellow of Rappler for 2023-2024.
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HIGHLIGHTS: Philippines vs Chinese Taipei – FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers
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delfin.dioquino editor
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25/02/2024 19:00
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FIBA
MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas reasserted its might over its pool assignments in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
The Philippines decimated Chinese Taipei, 106-53, to complete a two-game sweep of the first window, with Kai Sotto and Justin Brownlee fueling a strong start on Sunday, February 25, at the PhilSports Arena.
Vintage Japeth in the building 💪 #AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/3OhqDfGvWT
Carl Tamayo getting a little mean in Pasig 😳 #AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/eCyTBsC2oi
This Kai pass fake and dime is *chef's kiss* 👨🍳 #AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/4ZoMsWaVgq
The Kai x Justin connection is immaculate 🤝#AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/PNs0ssTZFu
Kai out here doing his best Hakeem and Dikembe impression 😮💨#AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/yh28tRX6aW
Kai swat. Dwight jam. Gilas Pilipinas get it done on both ends 😤#AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/JeTqIP5AO3
It cannot be denied that Gilas Pilipinas gives Filipino fans so much joy every time it wins games.
And the Nationals hope to provide the same feeling as they shoot for a successful homestand against Chinese Taipei at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Sunday, February 25, to wrap up the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Fans are expected to pack the venue with a chance to witness the national team play at home for the first time in five months since the Philippines defended its turf against China to conclude the FIBA World Cup in September.
The battle against the Taiwanese also marks the homecoming game of beloved naturalized player Justin Brownlee, who missed action for the last four months since he led the squad to the Asian Games gold medal in October.
Despite his lengthy hiatus, Brownlee took charge for the Philippines in its 94-64 demolition of Hong Kong last February 22 with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals.
Count on Brownlee to put on a show for Gilas Pilipinas and Barangay Ginebra fans alike.
“We’re happy that he is back and we think he’ll play better against Taiwan and as we go forward,” said head coach Tim Cone.
Aside from Brownlee, the Nationals rely on the likes Kai Sotto to sustain his solid play as big men June Mar Fajardo (calf) and AJ Edu (knee) continue to sit out due to their respective injuries.
The 7-foot-3 Sotto frolicked inside the paint against Hong Kong, putting up a double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds with 2 blocks.
For the visitors, Liu Cheng is expected to show the way after netting 20 points and 4 steals in an 89-69 loss to New Zealand in their Asia Cup Qualifiers opener.
Game time is 7:30 pm. – Rappler.com
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Record-setting UE rookie Dongallo hopes to turn big numbers to wins
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Jasmine Payo
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25/02/2024 18:37
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SUPER ROOKIE. UE's Casiey Dongallo continues to impress in her UAAP volleyball debut.
UAAP
MANILA, Philippines — Casiey Dongallo, UE’s star recruit, has been on a scoring tear to start her maiden UAAP volleyball campaign.
After dropping 27 points in the Lady Warriors’ opening-day victory against Ateneo last February 17, the wing spiker poured in 23 points in a loss against UST last February 21.
But there’s still no stopping Dongallo as the super rookie set a new league record, erupting for 30 points in the Lady Warriors’ 22-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-27, 15-11 loss against the FEU Lady Tamaraws on Sunday, February 25, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Dongallo’ 30, the most for a rookie in modern league history, eclipsed the 28 points set by reigning Most Valuable Player Angel Canino in La Salle’s 25-17, 25-27, 23-25, 25-23, 15-9 victory against Adamson in April 2023.
The rising UE star’s longtime teammate, Kizzie Madriaga, provided some great playmaking with 16 excellent sets, setting up some timely hits for Dongallo.
“We all know that our partnership goes back to high school as Casiey served as my hitter, and we always went to her when we needed to score at a crucial time,” Madriaga, the team’s rookie team captain, said after the game.
Expectations are now growing by the day for Dongallo, who admits feeling the outside pressure, with the Lady Warriors falling to a 1-2 slate.
“Pressure has not wavered every game, I’m just thankful that my coaches are there to support me” said Dongallo. “Kizzie had been telling me to just play my game, and once I enjoy it, the pressure lessens.”
Dongallo has always been a heralded player even before playing her first collegiate game, leading California Precision Sports to the top of the PNVF Champions League and the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League.
When UE got the commitment of Dongallo, Madriaga, Jelai Gajero, and Shamel Fernandez in July 2023, they were seen as rookies who could quickly turn the fortunes of a volleyball program needing a massive revival.
Despite the early pressure and spotlight, Dongallo vows to stay even keeled and help UE secure more wins, and eventually, to its first Final Four appearance since UAAP Season 69 in 2007.
Dongallo understands the need to be patient. On Sunday, amid her scoring explosion, the Lady Warriors still bowed to the Lady Tamaraws, who had Gerzel Petallo and Faida Bakanke picking up the scoring cudgels in the deciding set, with the duo finishing with a combined 32 points.
Leading 23-21 late in the fourth set, FEU allowed the California Academy product to score 5 successive attack points to force the decider, 27-25.
In the fifth, with renewed vigor, the Lady Tamaraws quickly piled up points against the young Lady Warriors squad, going up 8-3 courtesy of some key attacks from Chenie Tagaod.
“Our composure didn’t hold [in the fourth set], we focused too much on emotions, and probably that’s why [UE] claimed [the set],” FEU head coach Manolo Refugia said.
Bakanke, the Congolese rookie, scored the game-winning cross-court attack, ending up with 14 points for the contest, with Petallo adding a game-high 18 markers.
“Going to the fifth set, we changed our mindset since we changed what was needed, so we got what we wanted,” added Refugia as FEU improved to 2-1.
For Dongallo, it’s another opportunity to learn. But while she’s getting ready for more scoring explosions, down the line, she aims to translate more of her big numbers to much-needed wins. — Rappler.com
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[OPINION] What’s the right thing to do?
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Marguerite de Leon
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25/02/2024 12:23
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While having breakfast on a Saturday morning, I saw a news story on national TV which disgusted me. It was about the discovery of a newborn baby boy, in a gas station toilet, left by a woman. The police officers whose station was nearby made the discovery. To make matters worse, a piece of tissue paper was found inside the child’s mouth. It was truly disgusting.
The immediate presumption was that the woman who left the child was the mother. I thought, “Who else could it have been?” After having recently read about cognitive reflection, I wanted to give this woman the benefit of the doubt. So I reflected and asked myself: Who is this woman? Why did she do it? What is her problem? What drives her to leave her helpless child in a dirty place? How can she be so heartless? Certainly, she must have reasons, right?
Regardless of whether the woman is the mother or not, she will be facing criminal charges. It is a criminal offense to abandon a minor, let alone a newborn. What defense might she reasonably offer? I imagine her saying that she has no money and is incapable of rearing the child, hence the abandonment. But of all places, why leave the child in a filthy toilet? I imagine her claiming that the child’s father abandoned her, causing emotional distress or that she did not know who the father was. Again, why blame it all on a child by disposing of him like a piece of garbage?
I also imagine the backlash and bashing from the public: “You are a heartless human being,” or “You could have gone to an orphanage or some institution where the child can have a better place to live.” You could have had the child adopted” or “You enjoyed the pleasure but discarded the innocent child. Shame on you.” “That’s what you get for being irresponsible. You should have done the right thing. You should rot in jail.” These are some of the thoughts that I could envision from the public.
But really, what is the right thing to do? I’ve heard stories of newborn babies whose identities are fabricated through agreement between the birth mother and the prospective parents, often involving monetary transactions. The child is given directly to the adoptive parents without following legal adoption procedures. The parties involved justify this practice by arguing that the child, unaware of the implications, will at least have the chance of a better life. There have also been stories of a hopeless mother or irresponsible father opting to end the life of a child because, in their minds, caring for that child would interfere in enjoying and pursuing their respective dreams and goals in life. In short, they are not ready. Nothing is more disgusting than treating a human being like a disposable object, tossing them aside when you are done with them.
But why did the mother, or whoever she was, choose that toilet? If the intention really was to discard that child permanently, why not end his life immediately? Why not place the child in a dark alley where passing motorists would unknowingly ensure his immediate demise? Why not throw that child in a sewer or a nearby river? These are difficult questions whose answers are somehow essential to the understanding of the motives of the woman.
It is often difficult to know what the right answers are because moral decisions can involve conflicting principles and complex situations, which brings to mind the famous trolley experiment. The trolley experiment presents a moral dilemma involving a runaway trolley. In this scenario, a person is positioned near a switch that can divert the trolley onto a different track, veering it away from a group of people who are in its path. However, by diverting the trolley, the person would cause it to collide with another individual who is on the alternative track. What is the right thing to do? Is it better to divert the trolley and kill one individual rather than killing a group of people?
Likewise, consider the transplant experiment where a doctor has the ability to save five patients in need of organ transplants by harvesting organs from one healthy individual. Or, recall the lifeboat experiment, where there is a need to throw someone overboard to ensure the survival of the remaining passengers, otherwise the boat may risk sinking due to overcrowding. In any and every one of these scenarios, one has to make a difficult choice. Either way, that choice will cause harm to a human being.
Circling back to the news story where a woman abandoned a child in a gas station toilet, does it justify her decision not to kill the child but instead leave it in a filthy place? Does it justify her decision not to throw the child in a polluted river, but instead leave it somewhere where discovery is more likely? But why put tissue paper in the child’s mouth making it impossible for him to voice his cry?
There are more questions than there are answers. Just like with any other dilemma, we do not want to think through complexities. Studies show that our brain is designed to think simply, while any complexities are frowned upon. We prefer mental shortcuts. We form opinions based on incomplete information. It’s part of being human; otherwise, we couldn’t function as expected. In our daily lives, however, decision-making is not always straightforward, and even well-intentioned decisions and actions can have unintended consequences. Emotions can cloud judgment. Our feelings of guilt, fear, empathy, or disgust may impact our ability to objectively assess a situation and make a rational decision. We are not immune to biases. We seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs, leading them to dismiss or overlook alternative perspectives that challenge our views. For example, supposed that we’ve concluded that the woman is irresponsible and must be punished, it only takes seconds to formulate who that woman could be – a deranged, unthinking slut. We tend to make snap judgments without taking the time to understand individual differences or unique circumstances. Why should we? It’s exhausting.
But in a fast-changing world where even the boundaries of truth and fiction appear to be blurrier than ever, the least we could do is to pause and reflect. This applies to you, me, and that woman who abandoned a child. What I am driving at here is that in some instances, no matter how outrageous a situation, no matter how utterly disgusting, no matter how impossibly beyond imaginings, we may need to zoom out or practice distancing. This helps to give us some perspective so that we could ask questions such as: “What is really happening here? What am I looking at here? Am I missing important details?” This proves to be challenging because it is not our default approach. Perhaps we can try? – Rappler.com
Winston Pagador, 36 years old, lives in General Santos City and works as a lawyer.
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Taulava, NLEX Road Warriors give back to provincial fans in ‘Dayo’
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Jasmine Payo
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25/02/2024 18:23
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COMMUNITY. PBA icon Asi Taulava with young fans in Burgos, Ilocos Sur.
NLEX
MANILA, Philippines – PBA legend Asi Taulava and the NLEX Road Warriors recently reached out to communities in the north, hoping to bring people together through their love for basketball.
The Road Warriors launched their “Dayo” program earlier this month with the inaugural leg held in Burgos, Ilocos Sur, which coincided with the town fiesta celebrations where the players and team officials gamely interacted with the local community.
With “Dayo,” the Filipino word for “visit,” NLEX hopes to show its commitment to community development and promote a positive impact beyond basketball.
“This is our way of giving back to the community,” said NLEX president and general manager J. Luigi L. Bautista. “We believe in the power of sports to unite, inspire and make a positive impact in the communities we visit.”
In Burgos, Mayor Nathaniel “Boy” Escobar warmly welcomed the Road Warriors led by Taulava and team governor Ronald Dulatre.
“Dayo aims to foster connections and cultivate stronger relationships with the diverse communities and provinces of North Luzon,” said Bautista. “We are also positive that this will inspire the youth, now that we are bringing the NLEX Road Warriors closer to them.” – Rappler.com
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AboitizPower shows love as it powers and empowers communities
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gbarrientos0280
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14/02/2024 8:00
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In this journey called life, we encounter different kinds of love, and for AboitizPower, it’s one that’s directed towards the community and the Philippines.
AP shows its love to the community by empowering the homes of Filipinos, with its purpose to “Transform Energy for a Better World.” For decades, the company has provided stable, affordable, and sustainable energy while playing its part in responding to the country’s rising power demand and supporting economic growth.
While we strive for a balanced energy mix, we also pursue a brighter tomorrow for our host communities by contributing to local taxes and employment and providing them with livelihood, training, and aid packages.
Among our initiatives is a partnership with DORECO, where we turned over medical equipment for the communities of Davao Oriental to promote proactive health monitoring and support emergency response. The supplies include blood pressure monitoring devices, medical manikins, and spineboards.
Meanwhile, AP subsidiary Therma Visayas marked the 7th year of its Carbon Sink Management Program with 770,000 trees planted en route to achieving a 10-year one million trees target through 2027. Under the program, some 277 tree farm partners earn from payments to their seedlings, maintenance services, fruits, and trees.
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, the company reiterates its devotion to uplifting the lives of every Filipino, with its main agenda to provide reliable power for the good of the people and the world. – Rappler.com
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IN PHOTOS: PH celebs stun at Milan Fashion Week
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Ysa Abad
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25/02/2024 13:06
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MANILA, Philippines – Filipino celebrities continue to make waves in the international fashion scene and their presence at prestigious annual fashion shows are proof of that.
Kicking off this year’s stylish events are the Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter shows, which will run from February 20 to 26. Renowned fashion houses in the industry, such as Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Giorgio Armani have showcased the newest pieces in their collection.
And several of the Philippines’ biggest names in the fashion industry graced the event.
Sofia is the latest Filipino celebrity to make her fashion week debut! The actress was invited to attend Onitsuka Tiger’s show where she donned a chic all-black ensemble. Her whole look was completed with a sleek updo.
On Instagram, Sofia shared photos from the event, where she was seen posing with other Filipino personalities such as Heart Evangelista, Pia Wurtzbach, Camille Co, Bryan Boy, and Tim Yap.
“Stepping into the world of fashion with my fabulous friends & fashion icons by my side, soaking in all the glamor and style at my first ever fashion week,” she wrote.
After making a huge impact on her fashion week debut in Europe last year, Pia is back to dazzle the fashion world anew. To recall, the Miss Universe 2015 titleholder made her first appearance at the Milan and Paris fashion weeks in 2023.
According to reports, the beauty queen even became one of the top-ranked international guests during Milan Fashion Week 2023, wherein she garnered a total of $3.4 million (or around P192 million) in media impact value. She placed second to K-pop boy group’s ENHYPEN.
For this year, Pia delighted her fans with show-stopping looks as she attend various fashion events.
One of the many shows she went to was Onistuka Tiger, where she wore a black see-through long-sleeved top with a black bra underneath.
“Kicked off things with a roar,” she wrote.
For the brand Fendi, Pia looked regal in a blue silk dress. Meanwhile, she went for a more comfortable and laid-back but still stylish ensemble for the Max Mara show by donning a brown knitted mini-dress.
She strutted in a dark red blazer and skirts ensemble for Gucci and switched it up with a clean all-white look for Genny.
Sharing a compilation of clips from her Milan fashion week experience, Pia wrote: “Fashion’s absolutely rocking my world. It’s fun to play dress up.”
In the video, she also disclosed that she already received several invitations for Paris Fashion Week — which means more OOTDs to watch out for from the beauty queen!
Of course, a fashion list won’t be complete without style icon Heart! The socialite has been one of the first Filipino celebrities to make a name in the international fashion scene and she hasn’t stopped dominating it since!
Proving that she’s indeed a fashion veteran, Heart don’t only simply post photos of her look but most ensembles get their own fashion videos.
For Onitsuka Tiger, Heart looked chic in a floral printed dress with side cut-outs and black ribbons. She also looked sleek in Roberto Cavalli ‘fit — printed pants, brown jacket, and red scarf.
Heart was oozing with freshness when she graced the Fendi show in her strapless nude dress accentuated by aqua and yellow-colored blocks.
A fan-favorite included a white Alberta Ferretti dress, which Heart paired with a white bag that also had the same flowing straps as her outfit.
Switching it up, Heart went for an all-black ensemble for Max Mara. Her whole look consists of a sleeveless turtleneck dress with a high slit and a wool coat.
One of her latest looks is from Prada where she donned a baby blue silk with sheer side cut-outs.
Which of their looks are your favorites? – Rappler.com
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Humble Beginnings: How this QC café formed a meaningful community
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jreyes0314
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25/02/2024 17:16
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MANILA, Philippines – When Humble Beginnings Café and Giftshop was first established in October 2022, it took nearly a year for it to start getting people through its doors. But Joel, one of its owners, had a habit of buying chairs for the place whenever he could, even though they didn’t actually have the customers to occupy the ever-growing number of seats yet.
“Bakit ka ba bili nang bili ng upuan? Ang gawin mo, hanapin mo ‘yung mga uupo (Why do you keep buying chairs? What you should do is find people to sit on them),” his wife and co-owner Lexine would tell him.
Joel, however, continued to buy more chairs, reassuring his wife that he was just preparing for the day they would witness their café filled with people. Close to a year later, this dream scenario had finally become a regular sight for the couple.
In the present, Humble Beginnings is now known on social media for its cozy and Instagrammable interiors. While this is what initially draws many of its new customers in, what truly makes Humble Beginnings special is its unique ability to make you feel like you’re at home. And, no, it isn’t just a cliché.
Humble Beginnings had really just started out as a personal project for Joel, who wanted to try running a café for at least a month. Little did he know, however, that one month would eventually turn into more than a year and counting. Now, the café has turned into an outlet for meaningful advocacies to be championed.
Humble Beginnings’ current location was a production site for Love Hope Faith Group, a watch business Joel established to help raise funds for a family member’s cancer treatment.
“One cancer patient lang siya before and then ngayon more than 2,000 cancer patients na ang natulungan namin. From a small idea, nag-grow na siya nang ganyan. And I think doon ko na rin nakuha ‘yung confidence na mag-open ng business kasi naging successful [‘yung Love Hope Faith Group],” Joel shared.
(It was just one cancer patient before and now the number of patients we’ve helped has grown to more than 2,000. From a small idea, it grew this big. And I think that’s where I got my confidence to open this business, because [Love Hope Faith Group] became successful.)
Love Hope Faith Group’s products are now displayed in the café’s gift shop area, along with the couple’s other businesses that were born out of partnerships with individuals who have causes they hold close to their hearts, like environmental conservation, mental health awareness, and financial freedom, among others.
Humble Beginnings’ people-centric ways are also evident in their menu. A quick browse through the café’s menu will show you that many of its dishes are attributed to real-life people. Take Lucille’s Homemade Pork Siomai, for example. It was one of the highlights of Lexine’s childhood, which she thought to share with the customers of Humble Beginnings. The steamed siomai comes with a pile of crunchy garlic on the side, perfectly complementing the saltiness of the dipping soy sauce.
Even the key ingredient in all of the café’s beverages was a staple from Lexine’s childhood: pamana sugar. Made from tubo, the sugar spans generations across Lexine’s family, so it only felt right to use it as the main sweetener in Humble Beginnings’ drinks – from the Pamana Latte to the Matcha Latte. The sweet yet almost earthy taste of the sugar does its job of balancing out the bitter taste of coffee.
Humble Beginnings also partners up with individuals who have a knack for whipping up delicious home-cooked meals to put on their menu. For instance, Bai – the person behind Bai’s Lumpiang Shanghai – is Joel’s uncle, who just needed a platform to start sharing his delicious recipes, and Humble Beginnings happened to be just that.
Now, Bai’s Lumpiang Shanghai is a mainstay in the café’s menu, proudly sitting alongside the dishes conceptualized by other passionate individuals to give Humble Beginnings’ customers a taste of home.
“Nag-iinvite kami ng people to start (We invite people to start). Kaya nga siya Humble Beginnings e (That’s why it’s called Humble Beginnings)…. Every product, may kaakibat na advocacy (Every product is attached to an advocacy),” Lexine explained.
Beyond the individuals Humble Beginnings partners with for its café menu and gift shop, the establishment’s owners also make sure that they can give back to their customers in any way they can – like letting them stay for long hours even if they just bought one drink.
While many cafés tend to frown upon customers who “overstay their welcome,” that isn’t the case at all for Joel and Lexine. The couple actually appreciates and even encourages people coming to Humble Beginnings to do their work. After all, there are more than enough chairs to accommodate the customers entering throughout the day.
“Kahit magstay sila diyan the whole day, kahit punong puno, nagwo-work, kahit isa lang kape, sobrang saya ko kasi alam kong kung mga studies nila yan o business nila yan, at least nakakapagbigay ako [in some way]. So parang ‘yun ‘yung giving back namin,” Joel told Rappler.
(Even if they stay the whole day and the café is full, but they’re working, even if they just have one cup of coffee, I get really happy because I know if they’re studying or working on their business, at least I get to give them something in some way. So that’s kind of like our way of giving back.)
Interestingly enough, several of the students who would regularly come to study at Humble Beginnings had actually passed the board exams they were studying for. These students would come to the café’s Study Room almost every day just to review for hours on end.
“Hala, nakapagtapos ulit tayo (Wow, we helped some students graduate again),” Lexine said, beaming with pride when she saw the “special mention” the café got when the students announced passing their board exams on social media.
For Joel and Lexine, having Humble Beginnings stand as a second home for these customers is the least they could do to repay the support they’ve been receiving ever since their café began going viral on social media in late 2023.
“‘Pag may nakita kaming customer, madalas sabihin na dapat maramdaman nila na grateful tayo sa kanila kasi hindi talaga namin akalain na magiging something big ‘yung café,” Joel shared.
(When we see a customer, we always say that they should feel how grateful we are to them because we really didn’t think our café would turn into something big.)
As the café-slash-gift shop continues to foster a vibrant community within its four walls, Joel and Lexine also hope to expand the Humble Beginnings experience to other places across the country. Kamias Road – where the café is situated – wasn’t as lively as other famed Quezon City streets like Maginhawa, so Joel and Lexine hope to bring a sense of community to more places in the future just as it did with its original location.
Because when people walk through the doors of the café, it isn’t really the aesthetics people will remember as they go along their way; it’s the experience.
“‘Yun ‘yung hindi ko makakalimutan. ‘Yung design ng café, makakalimutan ko ‘yun, pero ‘yung kindness [na pinakita sa’yo], madadala mo ‘yan sa ibang lugar,” Joel said, emphasizing the value they put into ensuring their customers know how grateful the café is to them.
(That’s what I won’t forget. The design of the café, I’ll forget that eventually, but the kindness you were shown, you can bring that with you to other places.)
Sure enough, people often come to Humble Beginnings for the beautifully designed interiors, but they end up staying because of the meaningful experience they get during their visit. – Rappler.com
Humble Beginnings Café and Giftshop is located on the Ground Level of Topaz Building along Kamias Road in Quezon City, Metro Manila. It is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm.
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Jeremy Miado out to prove he’s hungrier for bounce-back win
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Jasmine Payo
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25/02/2024 16:38
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ON TOP. Jeremy Miado has transformed into one of the most promising strawweight fighters in ONE Championship.
ONE CHAMPIONSHIP
MANILA, Philippines – Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado expects the toughest of strawweight MMA fights in his return to the ONE Championship Circle.
Miado faces Keito “Pocket Monk” Yamakita at ONE 166: Qatar inside Lusail Sports Arena on March 1, and he knows that he’s going to face a highly motivated fighter this time around since the Japanese man is coming off the first loss of his career just last month.
“I expect him to come out fiery during [the fight] as he experienced his first loss,” Miado said.
“That’s the first loss of his career, and I expect a hungry fighter who wants to prove something to the world. I know he’s coming out strong in this fight, but I’m ready with whatever he wants to show.”
But if Yamakita is motivated to bounce back, Miado is much more eager.
It wasn’t too long ago when Miado was knocking on the doors of strawweight contendership, having won three straight bouts in impressive fashion.
But the Filipino stumbled, losing to quality opposition after getting submitted by No. 5-ranked Mansur Malachiev and the revitalized Lito Adiwang.
While he missed out on his breakthrough, “The Jaguar” still believes that he’s a world champion in the making, and it starts by beating Yamakita.
“I have the same mindset. My eyes are solely on my goal to get the world title,” he said.
“That’s why I accepted this fight, to prove that Jeremy Miado is still here and is still coming for that belt. I believe this fight is a way for me to get back into contention.”
And with an impressive performance, he knows that his stock will skyrocket once again – that’s why he’s pushing to finish the tough Japanese wrestler within the first half of the fight.
“In each fight, I always look for the finish. I don’t like leaving it to the judges. I always try to take control of my fights,” he said.
“In this fight, I look to finish him in under eight minutes, via KO or TKO.” – Rappler.com
Read more from ONE Championship:
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Baddie Vanie: Cignal rising star Gandler wins 1st 2024 PVL Player of the Week
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jisaga0269
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25/02/2024 13:07
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ALL SMILES. Cignal spiker Vanie Gandler (5) reacts with teammate Ria Meneses in the 2023 PVL Second All-Filipino Conference
PVL Images
MANILA, Philippines – Vanie Gandler proved her stellar rookie season in the Premier Volleyball League was no mere fluke.
In Cignal’s first game of the 2024 All-Filipino Conference on Saturday, February 24, the former Ateneo star spiker picked up right where she left off, tallying a game-high 19 points on 17 attacks, an ace, and a block to help the HD Spikers edge the reloaded Akari Chargers in four sets.
In a team bannered by steely veterans like former PVL Most Valuable Player Ces Molina and top off-season recruit Dawn Macandili-Catindig, it was the young Gandler who quickly proved her worth from the get-go, despite being rested in the game’s waning moments.
“It feels good, of course, because our preparation time was very short, but I’m happy that the team was able to come together,” said the Cignal rising star after their 21-25, 25-18, 25-12, 25-18 victory over Akari at the Araneta Coliseum.
“After the first set, it’s normal first-game jitters. But I could see how much we all want it.”
For her standout performance, Gandler was awarded by the newly formed PVL Press Corps as the 2024 season’s first Player of the Week for the period of February 20 to 24.
She edged out Creamline’s Tots Carlos, PLDT’s Savie Davison, Chery Tiggo’s Mylene Paat, Petro Gazz’s Nicole Tiamzon, and Choco Mucho’s Mars Alba for the weekly award deliberated upon by reporters regularly covering the PVL beat.
Carrying a mindset rivaling seasoned veterans, the 23-year-old Gandler already knows that her rise to stardom won’t come as easily moving forward, and she is very much ready for bigger challenges in the path ahead.
“Personally for me, now that I’ve played two conferences, I know that the teams are going to really scout me more, so I really have to think outside the box and level up from here,” she continued.
“As a team, I’m sure teams are also gonna scout us. That’s a challenge, of course. We’re just 14 awesome, so, you know, [we need to] stay healthy. It’s everyone’s biggest obstacle.” – Rappler.com
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Results, team standings: UAAP Season 86 volleyball
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Jasmine Payo
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05/05/2024 21:02
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ROARING. NU's Bella Belen (left) and Alyssa Solomon react in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball finals
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournaments reach a tipping point with the men’s and women’s finals!
LOOK: UAAP volleyball championship schedule
Here are the results in the men’s and women’s divisions:
MAY 15
May 11
MAY 8
MAY 5
MAY 4
MAY 8
MAY 5
MAY 4
** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated
APRIL 27
APRIL 24
APRIL 21
APRIL 20
APRIL 17
APRIL 14
APRIL 13
APRIL 10
APRIL 9
APRIL 4
APRIL 3
MARCH 24
MARCH 23
MARCH 20
First round
MARCH 17
MARCH 16
MARCH 13
MARCH 10
MARCH 9
MARCH 6
MARCH 3
MARCH 2
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 25
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 21
FEBRUARY 18
FEBRUARY 17
** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated
APRIL 27
APRIL 24
APRIL 21
APRIL 20
APRIL 17
APRIL 14
APRIL 13
APRIL 10
APRIL 9
APRIL 4
APRIL 3
MARCH 24
MARCH 23
MARCH 20
First round
MARCH 17
MARCH 16
MARCH 13
MARCH 10
MARCH 9
MARCH 6
MARCH 3
MARCH 2
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 25
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 21
FEBRUARY 18
FEBRUARY 17
– Rappler.com
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[OPINION] Symbols of Pinoy greatness: The Philippines’ tallest statues
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gdecastro0289
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25/02/2024 12:29
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TALLEST. The Philippines' tallest statues are The Victor in Bridgetowne, Pasig City, and the Mother of All Asia Tower of Peace in Montemaria, Batangas province.
Composite photo (left) by Isagani de Castro, Jr/Rappler and Mother of All Asia Tower of Peace Facebook
The nation celebrates today what was considered in 1986 an act of Filipino greatness: the triumph of a peaceful uprising over a dictatorship. The historic event, said to be the first People Power revolution, would not have happened if Filipinos did not think the unthinkable – that it was possible to bring down the regime of Ferdinand E. Marcos.
As many people now say that it wasn’t really a great act after all, what with poverty still widespread and thousands still leaving the country for better opportunities, perhaps it’s time for us to think big again, to dream big.
Two symbols of greatness come to mind that are related to what the Filipino people achieved in 1986, two pieces of Philippine architecture, engineering, and design. These are the tallest statues in the Philippines, and are among the tallest in the world: The Victor in Pasig City and The Mother of All Asia in Montemaria, Batangas. They are reminders that the Filipino can be among the best in the world – or even better.
The Victor is a 55-meter art installation in Robinsons Land Corporation’s (RLC) Bridgetowne estate, which straddles both Quezon City and Pasig City. The Victor is on the Pasig side of the estate. It was designed by Filipino visual artist Jefre Manuel-Figueras.
When I first saw this statue after it was launched in August 2023, I thought it was a structure that communist North Korea would come up with. It was colossal and looked like it was created by hard labor. But like many pieces of art, it’s only after you learn more about it that you come to appreciate it.
If you look at The Victor closely, especially from the back, its right arm, with fist clenched, appears to be moving up. As RLC says, “its all-conquering pose, with a raised fist thrust in the air, is meant to ignite and inspire.” For me, The Victor is saying, “we did it, we finally did it.”
From the front and side, the meaning of The Victor’s pose may not be apparent, but it’s clear when you look at it from the back, as in this photo below which I took.
The Victor was inspired by the rags-to-riches story of the late Filipino billionaire John Gokongwei. Many people now know the story of “Mr. John.” When he was only 13 years old, his father died, leaving him with the responsibility of taking care of his mother and his siblings. Like many of the street vendors we see today, Mr. John sold fried peanuts cooked in garlic. His dream was to be able to earn enough money so that he could bring back all his siblings from China and be a complete family in the Philippines.
When he died on November 10, 2019, he was among the richest Filipino billionaires. Today, Mr. John’s conglomerate is among the biggest in the Philippines employing over 70,000 people. Aside from RLC, the Gokongwei group includes the Philippines’ biggest budget airline, Cebu Pacific, food and beverage manufacturer Universal Robina Corporation, and petrochemical firm JG Summit Olefins Corporation.
But The Victor isn’t just about Mr. John, it’s also about “global Filipinos” who have done something important.
“The Victor also pays homage to trailblazing Global Filipinos who have made their mark and achieved greatness, both within and beyond their homeland. Whether they are celebrated legends revered icons, emerging talents, or everyday heroes, these individuals embody the tenacity to challenge the status quo, chart new territories, and ignite the flames of the winning spirit,” the company said in a press release when the statue was unveiled in 2023.
The Victor is faceless and nameless because it can be any one of us: a student who passes the UP College Entrance Test or a law student who tops the Bar exams; a Filipino who has finally been given a working visa in America; Filipino athletes like Hidilyn Diaz and EJ Obiena who have become the best in the world; Filipino scientists who get recognized for trailblazing research; a Filipino winning a Pulitzer; a Filipino co-sharing the Nobel Peace Prize.
Why did RLC make it a colossal statue? Why not make a lifesize statue of Mr. John?
Mybelle Aragon-GoBio, senior vice president and business unit general manager of RLC, said it would have been out of character. “Mr. John kasi hindi ganun eh (he wasn’t like that) they (the Gokongweis) don’t want to announce themselves,” she told Rappler. “We wanted something that was associated with the Philippines.”
She said artist Manuel-Figueras presented several options for the statue as well as its pose, such as this one below that looked like a standing mummy whose arm didn’t have the right angle they wanted.
There’s also another reason why The Victor is big: RLC wanted it to stand out in a vast 32-hectare estate and become iconic.
When Rappler visited the statue on February 15, construction workers were busy with its base. Including the platform, this privately built public art is 60 meters high or around 20 stories high.
The Victor weighs 330 tons or 660,000 pounds. At night, it is lit up for a few hours. RLC says The Victor is “vying to be one of the tallest art installations with lighting projection in the world.”
The Victor is made of perforated stainless steel, which means it’s not fully solid. The perforations or holes are meant to let the wind pass through, which helps it withstand strong winds.
According to RLC, The Victor, minus the base, is taller than the 48-meter-high Statue of Liberty in Liberty Island, in New York, USA. Including the Statue of Liberty’s platform, however, the American monument is taller at 92.9 meters.
The Victor is a symbol of the Filipino dreaming big, of being among the best in the world.
The People Power revolution would not have succeeded were it not for the clergy, the brave priests, nuns, and church workers who stood up against tanks and called on the people to join the uprising.
Aside from the Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace or the EDSA Shrine, there is a Philippine landmark that symbolizes the role of the Catholic Church in the uprising and of Filipino greatness – the Mother of All Asia Tower of Peace in Barangay Pagkilatan, Montemaria, Batangas.
At 63 meters, it’s the tallest statue in the Philippines and the tallest statue of the Virgin Mary on earth. Including its base, the whole structure is 98.15 meters.
According to its official website, The Mother of All Asia Tower of Peace is even taller than Brazil’s iconic Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, which stands at 30 meters high or 38 meters, including its base.
The Mother of All Asia’s height is roughly the same as a 33-story building, and people can go inside the structure.
“A person has to climb a total of 420 steps from the ground level to reach the crown but that is if the person opted not to use any of the 3 elevators inside the monument,” reads a description of the structure by its proponent, the non-profit organization, Montemaria Asia Pilgrims Incorporated (MAPI).
“It is also the only livable statue in the world with a gross floor area of 12,000 square meters or 1.2 hectares, more or less. The crown has 12 stars that represents the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ,” MAPI adds. Masses are held inside the structure.
It was commissioned to the late national artist Ed Castrillo, the same sculptor behind the People Power Monument on EDSA, Quezon City.
Castrillo started working on The Mother of All Asia in 2008. The whole monument is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and was completed in 2021 in time for the celebration of 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines.
The name “Mother of All Asia” is taken from a prayer of Pope Benedict in 2017 to Our Lady of Sheshan, Mother of the Church in China and All Asia, its website adds. It is a “symbol of unity and peace in Asia and the whole world.”
A post shared by Monumento a la Paz 🇻🇪 (@thevirginofpeace)
The Mother of All Asia statue surpasses the 46.7-meter Monumento a la Virgen de la Paz or Statue of Our Lady of Peace in Trujillo, Venezuela as the world’s tallest statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
GCatholic.org, a non-profit website on information about the Catholic Church worldwide, lists The Mother of All Asia as the tallest statue of the Virgin Mary. The Philippines has two on the list – the other is the 21.6-meter Statue of Our Lady Regina Rosarii in Tanay, Rizal.
The Mother of All Asia Tower of Peace is in an eight-hectare tourism destination project of MAPI. The Montemaria International Pilgrimage and Conference Center is a “faith-based tourism destination and a legacy project” of Batangas Governor Hermilando “Dodo” Mandanas, founding chairman of MAPI.
A listing on Wikipedia on The World’s Tallest Statues (cement and/or steel) that are at least 50 meters has the Mother of All Asia Tower of Peace as the 7th of the 49 structures on the list, and The Victor as 42nd. The list could not be independently verified, however.
Although our problems as a nation often dwarf our achievements, in times like the People Power anniversary, it’s good to think about the great things that Filipinos have accomplished, as well as the many things we can do as a people – only if we dream big. – Rappler.com
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Leila de Lima, a free woman who won’t forget her causes
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Jairo Bolledo
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25/02/2024 14:22
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THANKSGIVING. Former senator Leila de Lima attends a thanksgiving Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Quezon City on February 24, 2024, marking the seventh anniversary of her arrest and incarceration in Camp Crame.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – For the first time in seven years, former senator Leila de Lima commemorated the anniversary of her arrest outside the four corners of her detention center.
The Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Quezon City was the chosen site of the thanksgiving Mass for De Lima on Saturday, February 24. Activist-priest Robert Reyes dedicated the celebration to De Lima, who has been enjoying provisional liberty since she was allowed by the court to post bail in November 2023.
As De Lima entered the church, supporters greeted and took photos with her. The former senator’s family – her brother, Vicboy, cousins, nephews, and nieces – joined her in the Mass. De Lima’s cousin, Father Manny de Lima Serranilla, also concelebrated the Mass.
Reyes took time to share his story about De Lima. Before he was assigned to the Quezon City parish, Reyes used to head what he called “Parokya ni Leila” (Leila’s parish). This “parish” was a makeshift room in De Lima’s detention center in Camp Crame, Quezon City where they used to celebrate Mass when De Lima was still detained. This small space became their “church” for years, where visitors even from other parts of the world, came to show solidarity with De Lima.
“But now, we are happy. Leila is not in jail. We’re celebrating her seventh anniversary of imprisonment not in jail, but outside jail, and soon walking as a free person once the case is dropped. And we pray and we offer this Mass that soon and soon, very soon, that the last case will finally be dismissed,” Reyes said.
The commemoration of De Lima’s arrest coincided with many things. It was a day before the celebration of the peaceful EDSA People Power revolution and Reyes’ 69th birthday.
As Reyes celebrated his own special day, he shared his wish for his dear friend: “I wish [that] the last case be dismissed.”
During his homily, Reyes, who has always been vocal against the war on drugs and other pressing issues, also shared this thoughts about the importance of De Lima’s perseverance.
“The Lord tested me: You better live your life according to how I wish it lived. Live it dangerously. Associate with dangerous people like Leila de Lima, whose dangerous advocacy lands her in jail. And I am not afraid to be jailed, nor I am afraid to die in jail or outside jail the way Leila has lived her life,” he said.
De Lima was detained for exactly six years, eight months, and 21 days. She was arrested over drug charges that stemmed from the accusation that she allegedly enabled the drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison when she was justice secretary, supposedly to fund her 2016 senatorial campaign. Under former president Rodrigo Duterte, three drug charges were filed against her.
The first drug charge was junked in 2021, while the other was dismissed last May. The third and last drug charge is still pending before Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206, but is expected to be decided on this year. De Lima enjoys temporary liberty after Muntinlupa City RTC Branch 206 Presiding Judge Gener Gito granted her bail petition on November 13, 2023.
After the Mass, De Lima reminisced about her painful journey from arrest to detention.
The former lawmaker said she was at home when she heard about her looming arrest. She was in a hurry, she recalled, not to escape but to make sure she won’t be arrested in her home because she said it would have been painful for her.
She was prepared to be arrested. De Lima packed her things, including her luggage, to be brought to the place of her arrest – within the Senate premises, the place where she spent only less than a year as a sitting senator.
“Of course, that was a most memorable, painful, and revolting day for me. An overwhelming feeling of disbelief and indignation swept over me. Hindi ko maisip, hindi ko matanggap no’ng una na gagawin nila sa ‘kin ‘yon kahit alam naman nila na wala akong kasalanan (I couldn’t believe it, I couldn’t accept at first that they would do that to me even though they know I’m innocent),” De Lima said during her speech.
De Lima recalled how she spent the last seven years inside the PNP’s five-by-eight detention cell.
She lived with minor amenities: a single bed, small table where she wrote and read, a bookshelf that was later filled with books from her friends and supporters. She had no television, no radio, no mobile phone, no internet access – because these devices were prohibited inside.
Shortly after her bail was granted, she came back to her cell to say her goodbyes. At that moment, De Lima said she felt an “indescribable feeling of realization of [her] strength.” De Lima said her detention allowed her to be more introspective, and made her realize the things she is capable of.
“And I pray, I ask for more prayers so permanent freedom can be achieved. I pray for truth, I pray for justice, I pray for accountability, I pray for full vindication,” De Lima said.
Three months after her release, De Lima said she already adjusted to the outside world after her nearly seven-year seclusion.
During the first few weeks after her release, De Lima said she struggled to familiarize herself with technology and devices. She had a hard time using a mobile phone, computer, or even navigating the internet. Fortunately she was quick to adapt.
But aside from reconnecting to material things, her release also allowed her to spend more time with her family. De Lima said she was not only robbed of her freedom, but also of the time she should have spent with her loved ones.
Another thing that keeps her busy is her responsibility as the new spokesperson of the once-ruling Liberal Party. The party of late former presidents Corazon Aquino and Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III designated De Lima in December as its new spokesperson.
“So ngayon (Now), I’m also becoming visible precisely because of my status as my position as spokesperson of the Liberal Party…So I’ve been extremely busy catching up and then relinking to people that I used to be with and I used to coordinate and interact with,” De Lima told reporters.
But even if De Lima gradually gets her life back and remains in the public eye, the former senator said she will not run in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections. “I have no such plans. Mahihirapan pa ako mag-decide on that (I will have a hard time deciding on that).”
De Lima won a Senate seat during her first try in 2016. She ranked 12th and garnered total votes of 14,144,070. However, she failed in her reelection bid in 2022 and ranked 23rd overall. She campaigned while detained.
De Lima has been consistent in her advocacy for human rights, and she made sure this would not be sidelined during her anniversary.
In a statement, which she also read after the thanksgiving Mass, De Lima paid tribute to victims of the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs, noting that injustice continues to persist.
“Injustice continues to cast a long shadow over our nation, its darkness deepened by the countless Filipinos who perished in the brutal war on drugs. Their stories cry out for justice, yet accountability remains an elusive dream. Those responsible walk free, shielded by impunity, while families mourn and communities bear the scars of a senseless tragedy,” De Lima said. “This cannot be our reality.”
De Lima added that her temporary freedom, while cherished, is not the end of the struggle.
“I am a symbol of past injustice, hoping for a future where accountability reigns. My fight for justice does not end with my release. It continues, fueled by the memory of the innocent lost and the yearning for a nation where human rights are respected, power is wielded responsibly, and justice prevails,” she said.
The former senator was not a staunch Duterte critic for no reason.
As a senator, she headed a probe into Duterte’s drug war, which took the lives of at least 6,000 people – 30,000, if vigilante-style killings are included, according to human rights groups. She even presented during a Senate probe self-confessed Davao Death Squad member Edgar Matobato, who confirmed they took orders from Duterte.
After her release in late 2023, De Lima said her priority was to assist the International Criminal Court (ICC) that is probing the killings under Duterte, and help get justice for drug war victims. De Lima said she will help the ICC probe in whatever capacity.
Duterte, the man believed to be behind De Lima’s incarceration, has been making waves again amid speculations about a forthcoming ICC arrest warrant and open clashes with his successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Well, dapat talaga mangamba siya. Dapat talaga. Isipan na niya (Well, he should really be worried. He should really be worried and start thinking about it). He has to look into himself and be remorseful about what he did. You know, those are crimes against humanity. Hindi puwedeng hindi niya talaga pananagutan ‘yon. Hindi puwedeng walang accountability (He cannot walk away from accountability, there should be accountability),” De Lima told reporters.
“The day of reckoning, he must confront that.” – Rappler.com
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What former senator Leila De Lima expected of former President Digong Duterte about the latter’s forthcoming ICC arrest warrant: “He has to look into himself and be remorseful about what he did.” More likely, he would look for a place where he could hide and relish whatever he felt when he ordered the killing of “drug war victims” during his mayorship and Presidency.
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Lawyers’ group: Bar passer, CPP comrades captured and tortured in Bohol
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Lian Buan
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25/02/2024 15:25
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NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – The Cebu chapter of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) claimed there was no encounter in the killing of a young Bar passer and four of her fellow communist rebels, contrary to the claim of the Philippine army that an encounter happened.
“Several accounts support that no encounter has transpired. Instead, the five individuals were ordered to vacate the house where they were staying. The four men were forced to strip off their shirts,” NUPL-Cebu said in a statement on Sunday, February 25.
The killing happened in Sitio Matin-ao 2, Barangay Campagao, Bilar, Bohol, on Friday, February 23, which the military and the police described as an encounter with the New Peoples’ Army (NPA).
NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which has sustained the longest-running communist insurgency in Asia, and among the world’s most prominent, albeit it is dwindling in numbers if the Philippine military is to be believed.
The CPP has claimed that the five people killed are indeed armed combatants, among them is Hannah Jay Cesista who passed the 2022 Bar Examinations but did not take her lawyers’ oath which is why she is not listed in the Supreme Court roll.
“It poses a question on what exactly could have pushed this young Bar passer to choose the ultimate action,” Edre Olalia, chairperson of the NUPL, told Rappler.
According to the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID), the Bohol Provincial Police and the 47th Infantry Battalion launched a joint enhanced military-police operation (JEMPO) against who they believed were members of the NPA’s Bohol party committee.
3rd ID spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel J-Jay Javines told Rappler on Saturday, February 24, that the target of their operation was Domingo Compoc, whom they allege to be a high-ranking NPA leader. Compoc was among the five killed, including Cesista, Parlito Segovia, Marlon Omosura and an alias Juaning.
A cop, Police Corporal Gilbert Amper, died; while another, Patrolman Gerard Rollon, was wounded but is now in stable condition.
However, according to NUPL-Cebu, what happened was not an encounter but a killing.
“Initial reports received by NUPL Cebu show significant discrepancies and expose their possible commission of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) violations.” said the group.
The IHL is the Philippines’ law that established rules in wartime and armed conflict. So far, the IHL has been successful in convicting state-declared enemies, but not the state itself when abuses are alleged by the other side.
“Along with Cesista, they were forced to roll in the mud. The witnesses narrated that they were pleading with state forces to stop their inhumane acts but to no avail,” said NUPL-Cebu.
The security forces recovered six high and low-powered firearms, including one M653 assault rifle, one R4 assault rifle, one M16 rifle, and three Cal. .45 pistols.
Cesista obtained her political science undergraduate degree from the University of the Philippines (UP) in Cebu. She obtained her law degree at the ranking law school of University of San Carlos (USC) in the same province.
Cesista was a member of NUPL-Cebu as a law student, and helped establish the students’ arm of the group’s Cebu chapter.
“During her law school days, Hannah volunteered at NUPL Cebu and was instrumental in forming the law students’ arm of the Cebu Chapter,” said NUPL-Cebu.
“She was always the first person to volunteer when lawyers needed assistance in the countless legal work of the organization. She joined community visits for paralegal training and discussions on human rights despite the demands of law school,” said the group.
Because Cesista was not a fully-fledged lawyer, she would not be included in the running tally of lawyers killed in the Philippines, which stands at 160 – spanning eight presidencies across more than four decades from the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr to the government of his son, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“[It’s] a grey area, but in any case she will not be listed in NUPL monitor because she was reportedly killed not in the exercise of her profession, even prima facie,” Olalia told Rappler.
“Let us carry on their legacies and make their lives and sacrifices as driving forces to serve the people in the best way we know how,” said Olalia, adding that the NUPL also recently lost another member due to stroke. “We just lost two gallant fighters with their boots on under different circumstances,” he said. – with reports from John Sitchon and Lian Buan/Rappler.com
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Baguio’s blooms on parade at Panagbenga 2024
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Victor Barreiro Jr.
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25/02/2024 13:20
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Mia Magdalena Fokno
Baguio City, known as the Summer Capital of the Philippines, was enveloped in a spectacle of color, creativity, and cultural pride during the Grand Float Parade, a cornerstone event of the Panagbenga 2024 Festival, on Sunday, February 25.
Drawing an estimated crowd of 32,000 spectators, according to the Cordillera police, the parade showcased an impressive fusion of tradition and innovation, aligning with this year’s theme, “Celebrating Traditions, Embracing Innovation.”
Mayor Benjie Magalong shared his vision for the festival, emphasizing its role in uniting the community through beauty and resilience: “Today we come together to celebrate not only the vibrant colors and breathtaking spectacle before us but also the spirit of unity, resilience, and the enduring beauty of our culture.”
Baguio Congressman Mark Go expanded on the festival’s significance, highlighting its impact beyond mere entertainment: “The Panagbenga is about community, about the farmers, artisans, and countless others who contribute to this festival. It empowers them, fosters sustainable tourism, and reminds us that our culture is a living tapestry, continually evolving.”
Among the parade’s highlights was the BCDA and JHMC float, a tribute to Camp John Hay’s historical significance and the festival’s spirit. The float, adorned with the festival’s official emblem, the sunflower, and a replica of the Bell Amphitheater Gazebo, symbolized the heritage of Camp John Hay and the resilience and unity of the festival.
The Binggrae float brought the world of Melona ice cream to life, with oversized replicas of the treat aiming to evoke nostalgia and encourage onlookers to embrace life’s simple pleasures.
Meanwhile, GMA 7’s float showcased the network’s values and the rich, diverse Filipino culture through vibrant floral arrangements and design elements representing the essence of Pinoy culture.
A standout entry was the SM City Baguio float, which not only captivated the audience with its innovative design but also underscored SM’s commitment to environmental sustainability. The float featured a mix of recycled materials and fresh, locally sourced flowers, emphasizing the company’s dedication to supporting local communities and promoting green practices. With its dynamic and eco-friendly presentation, the SM float exemplified the festival’s theme, showcasing how tradition can coexist with innovation for a sustainable future.
Despite the celebration, the event faced challenges, including three incidents of theft or pickpocketing during the Grand Street Parade on February 24. The incident were promptly resolved by authorities.
The parade also highlighted the community’s dedication to environmental stewardship, with many floats incorporating recycled materials and locally sourced flowers, including chrysanthemums, anthuriums, and roses, among others. This approach not only added to the visual appeal of the parade but also reinforced the festival’s commitment to sustainability.
Festival authorities also announced its winners for the Grand Street Dancing Parade, celebrating the ingenuity and creativity of participants.
The competition was fierce, with entries judged on their adherence to the theme, environmental consciousness, and artistic expression.
Notable winners and participants included:
The festivities are far from over, with the eagerly anticipated Session Road in Bloom event up next, transforming Baguio’s iconic street into a pedestrian paradise filled with flowers, food, and artisanal crafts, inviting everyone to continue the celebration of culture, creativity, and community. – Rappler.com
Photos by Mia Magdalena Fokno
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Leila de Lima, a free woman who won’t forget her causes
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Jairo Bolledo
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25/02/2024 14:22
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THANKSGIVING. Former senator Leila de Lima attends a thanksgiving Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Quezon City on February 24, 2024, marking the seventh anniversary of her arrest and incarceration in Camp Crame.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – For the first time in seven years, former senator Leila de Lima commemorated the anniversary of her arrest outside the four corners of her detention center.
The Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Quezon City was the chosen site of the thanksgiving Mass for De Lima on Saturday, February 24. Activist-priest Robert Reyes dedicated the celebration to De Lima, who has been enjoying provisional liberty since she was allowed by the court to post bail in November 2023.
As De Lima entered the church, supporters greeted and took photos with her. The former senator’s family – her brother, Vicboy, cousins, nephews, and nieces – joined her in the Mass. De Lima’s cousin, Father Manny de Lima Serranilla, also concelebrated the Mass.
Reyes took time to share his story about De Lima. Before he was assigned to the Quezon City parish, Reyes used to head what he called “Parokya ni Leila” (Leila’s parish). This “parish” was a makeshift room in De Lima’s detention center in Camp Crame, Quezon City where they used to celebrate Mass when De Lima was still detained. This small space became their “church” for years, where visitors even from other parts of the world, came to show solidarity with De Lima.
“But now, we are happy. Leila is not in jail. We’re celebrating her seventh anniversary of imprisonment not in jail, but outside jail, and soon walking as a free person once the case is dropped. And we pray and we offer this Mass that soon and soon, very soon, that the last case will finally be dismissed,” Reyes said.
The commemoration of De Lima’s arrest coincided with many things. It was a day before the celebration of the peaceful EDSA People Power revolution and Reyes’ 69th birthday.
As Reyes celebrated his own special day, he shared his wish for his dear friend: “I wish [that] the last case be dismissed.”
During his homily, Reyes, who has always been vocal against the war on drugs and other pressing issues, also shared this thoughts about the importance of De Lima’s perseverance.
“The Lord tested me: You better live your life according to how I wish it lived. Live it dangerously. Associate with dangerous people like Leila de Lima, whose dangerous advocacy lands her in jail. And I am not afraid to be jailed, nor I am afraid to die in jail or outside jail the way Leila has lived her life,” he said.
De Lima was detained for exactly six years, eight months, and 21 days. She was arrested over drug charges that stemmed from the accusation that she allegedly enabled the drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison when she was justice secretary, supposedly to fund her 2016 senatorial campaign. Under former president Rodrigo Duterte, three drug charges were filed against her.
The first drug charge was junked in 2021, while the other was dismissed last May. The third and last drug charge is still pending before Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206, but is expected to be decided on this year. De Lima enjoys temporary liberty after Muntinlupa City RTC Branch 206 Presiding Judge Gener Gito granted her bail petition on November 13, 2023.
After the Mass, De Lima reminisced about her painful journey from arrest to detention.
The former lawmaker said she was at home when she heard about her looming arrest. She was in a hurry, she recalled, not to escape but to make sure she won’t be arrested in her home because she said it would have been painful for her.
She was prepared to be arrested. De Lima packed her things, including her luggage, to be brought to the place of her arrest – within the Senate premises, the place where she spent only less than a year as a sitting senator.
“Of course, that was a most memorable, painful, and revolting day for me. An overwhelming feeling of disbelief and indignation swept over me. Hindi ko maisip, hindi ko matanggap no’ng una na gagawin nila sa ‘kin ‘yon kahit alam naman nila na wala akong kasalanan (I couldn’t believe it, I couldn’t accept at first that they would do that to me even though they know I’m innocent),” De Lima said during her speech.
De Lima recalled how she spent the last seven years inside the PNP’s five-by-eight detention cell.
She lived with minor amenities: a single bed, small table where she wrote and read, a bookshelf that was later filled with books from her friends and supporters. She had no television, no radio, no mobile phone, no internet access – because these devices were prohibited inside.
Shortly after her bail was granted, she came back to her cell to say her goodbyes. At that moment, De Lima said she felt an “indescribable feeling of realization of [her] strength.” De Lima said her detention allowed her to be more introspective, and made her realize the things she is capable of.
“And I pray, I ask for more prayers so permanent freedom can be achieved. I pray for truth, I pray for justice, I pray for accountability, I pray for full vindication,” De Lima said.
Three months after her release, De Lima said she already adjusted to the outside world after her nearly seven-year seclusion.
During the first few weeks after her release, De Lima said she struggled to familiarize herself with technology and devices. She had a hard time using a mobile phone, computer, or even navigating the internet. Fortunately she was quick to adapt.
But aside from reconnecting to material things, her release also allowed her to spend more time with her family. De Lima said she was not only robbed of her freedom, but also of the time she should have spent with her loved ones.
Another thing that keeps her busy is her responsibility as the new spokesperson of the once-ruling Liberal Party. The party of late former presidents Corazon Aquino and Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III designated De Lima in December as its new spokesperson.
“So ngayon (Now), I’m also becoming visible precisely because of my status as my position as spokesperson of the Liberal Party…So I’ve been extremely busy catching up and then relinking to people that I used to be with and I used to coordinate and interact with,” De Lima told reporters.
But even if De Lima gradually gets her life back and remains in the public eye, the former senator said she will not run in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections. “I have no such plans. Mahihirapan pa ako mag-decide on that (I will have a hard time deciding on that).”
De Lima won a Senate seat during her first try in 2016. She ranked 12th and garnered total votes of 14,144,070. However, she failed in her reelection bid in 2022 and ranked 23rd overall. She campaigned while detained.
De Lima has been consistent in her advocacy for human rights, and she made sure this would not be sidelined during her anniversary.
In a statement, which she also read after the thanksgiving Mass, De Lima paid tribute to victims of the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs, noting that injustice continues to persist.
“Injustice continues to cast a long shadow over our nation, its darkness deepened by the countless Filipinos who perished in the brutal war on drugs. Their stories cry out for justice, yet accountability remains an elusive dream. Those responsible walk free, shielded by impunity, while families mourn and communities bear the scars of a senseless tragedy,” De Lima said. “This cannot be our reality.”
De Lima added that her temporary freedom, while cherished, is not the end of the struggle.
“I am a symbol of past injustice, hoping for a future where accountability reigns. My fight for justice does not end with my release. It continues, fueled by the memory of the innocent lost and the yearning for a nation where human rights are respected, power is wielded responsibly, and justice prevails,” she said.
The former senator was not a staunch Duterte critic for no reason.
As a senator, she headed a probe into Duterte’s drug war, which took the lives of at least 6,000 people – 30,000, if vigilante-style killings are included, according to human rights groups. She even presented during a Senate probe self-confessed Davao Death Squad member Edgar Matobato, who confirmed they took orders from Duterte.
After her release in late 2023, De Lima said her priority was to assist the International Criminal Court (ICC) that is probing the killings under Duterte, and help get justice for drug war victims. De Lima said she will help the ICC probe in whatever capacity.
Duterte, the man believed to be behind De Lima’s incarceration, has been making waves again amid speculations about a forthcoming ICC arrest warrant and open clashes with his successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Well, dapat talaga mangamba siya. Dapat talaga. Isipan na niya (Well, he should really be worried. He should really be worried and start thinking about it). He has to look into himself and be remorseful about what he did. You know, those are crimes against humanity. Hindi puwedeng hindi niya talaga pananagutan ‘yon. Hindi puwedeng walang accountability (He cannot walk away from accountability, there should be accountability),” De Lima told reporters.
“The day of reckoning, he must confront that.” – Rappler.com
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What former senator Leila De Lima expected of former President Digong Duterte about the latter’s forthcoming ICC arrest warrant: “He has to look into himself and be remorseful about what he did.” More likely, he would look for a place where he could hide and relish whatever he felt when he ordered the killing of “drug war victims” during his mayorship and Presidency.
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HIGHLIGHTS: Philippines vs Chinese Taipei – FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers
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delfin.dioquino editor
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25/02/2024 19:00
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FIBA
MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas reasserted its might over its pool assignments in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
The Philippines decimated Chinese Taipei, 106-53, to complete a two-game sweep of the first window, with Kai Sotto and Justin Brownlee fueling a strong start on Sunday, February 25, at the PhilSports Arena.
Vintage Japeth in the building 💪 #AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/3OhqDfGvWT
Carl Tamayo getting a little mean in Pasig 😳 #AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/eCyTBsC2oi
This Kai pass fake and dime is *chef's kiss* 👨🍳 #AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/4ZoMsWaVgq
The Kai x Justin connection is immaculate 🤝#AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/PNs0ssTZFu
Kai out here doing his best Hakeem and Dikembe impression 😮💨#AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/yh28tRX6aW
Kai swat. Dwight jam. Gilas Pilipinas get it done on both ends 😤#AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/JeTqIP5AO3
It cannot be denied that Gilas Pilipinas gives Filipino fans so much joy every time it wins games.
And the Nationals hope to provide the same feeling as they shoot for a successful homestand against Chinese Taipei at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Sunday, February 25, to wrap up the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Fans are expected to pack the venue with a chance to witness the national team play at home for the first time in five months since the Philippines defended its turf against China to conclude the FIBA World Cup in September.
The battle against the Taiwanese also marks the homecoming game of beloved naturalized player Justin Brownlee, who missed action for the last four months since he led the squad to the Asian Games gold medal in October.
Despite his lengthy hiatus, Brownlee took charge for the Philippines in its 94-64 demolition of Hong Kong last February 22 with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals.
Count on Brownlee to put on a show for Gilas Pilipinas and Barangay Ginebra fans alike.
“We’re happy that he is back and we think he’ll play better against Taiwan and as we go forward,” said head coach Tim Cone.
Aside from Brownlee, the Nationals rely on the likes Kai Sotto to sustain his solid play as big men June Mar Fajardo (calf) and AJ Edu (knee) continue to sit out due to their respective injuries.
The 7-foot-3 Sotto frolicked inside the paint against Hong Kong, putting up a double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds with 2 blocks.
For the visitors, Liu Cheng is expected to show the way after netting 20 points and 4 steals in an 89-69 loss to New Zealand in their Asia Cup Qualifiers opener.
Game time is 7:30 pm. – Rappler.com
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[The Slingshot] No, no, no, National Museum! The Boljoon artifacts do not belong to you!
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Marguerite de Leon
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25/02/2024 12:35
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Raffy de Guzman/Rappler
One of the very first things one reads on the website of the National Museum of the Philippines is this requisite line – that it is “A trust of the Government.” That signifies that it is charged with a position of responsibility to the public for whom it must act rightly and fairly; that it is entrusted with care and custody for the interest of the public. Because of that intrinsic nature of its job, it must listen to the people it represents and care for. It does not lord it over them.
A basic question arises: can the Filipino public rely on the National Museum with confidence? Like its destruction of the Relief Map of the Philippines by sculptor Jose Mendoza, a presumed heritage structure because it satisfied the legal criteria of 50 years of age, the National Museum of the Philippines is again treading on dangerous grounds inimical to the public interest it serves.
This time, it has acquired by donation some stolen artifacts. Announcing its exhibition of the artifacts on its Facebook page as “A Gift to the Nation,” it said the objects “trace its provenance from the pulpit of the Patrocinio de Maria Santisima Parish Church in Boljoon, Cebu.”
After it raised outcries that they return the objects to Boljoon, it published a carefully worded clarification that omitted mentioning the provenance of the object. This is where it created more questions than answers. Instead, it made a veiled reference to how the objects came from the Boljoon church in a very indirect way – “our donors procured these specific panels through legitimate means.” Was the previous procurement BEFORE the donors illegitimate? That is what it implies.
When the couple Edwin and Aileen Bautista donated the artifacts (Mr. Bautista is CEO of UnionBank), the first commitment the museum should have made was to return it to its original owner. As a “trust of government,” the first thing it should have done is to right a wrong. Why? Because that is the morally correct thing to do. It is a basic property law universal to all that what was stolen or looted or sold illegally should be returned to its original owner. The NMP failed its first due diligence.
The parameters of repatriation – the return of stolen or looted cultural materials – are easy to understand. As a state museum, we would have expected the NMP to be abreast with current worldwide trends of repatriation. It appears it does not.
The first principle of repatriation can thus be easily answered. Who is the rightful owner of the Boljoon artifacts? The NMP statement already answers that – it is the parish church of Patrocinio de Maria Santisima in Boljoon, Cebu which is part of the Archdiocese of Cebu. The legal personality who presides over that entity at the present time is Archbishop Jose Palma and he has already spoken that they want the objects back. The parish church is a decreed and consecrated Archdiocesan Shrine. There should be no doubt that the Archdiocese of Cebu has the first right of assertion over the return of the objects. The NMP does not enjoy that right. If it does, that is a usurpation of right.
Even if the Bautista couple acquired the objects through legitimate means, it was not so prior to the period it reached their hands. The objects were stolen, period. That is a fact that the people of Boljoon confirm. The NMP’s attitude towards collecting the cultural objects should reflect that. But it does not. A museum is expected to do the full history of any object in its collection accession catalogues. It failed its second due diligence.
The NMP must have, what German museologist Udo Göesswald (president, International Council on Museums [ICOM] Europe) says is an “active questing ethical consciousness to translate their consolidated possessions and bountiful representation into real conversations and proactive relationships with those who have vital interests, through undeniable historical association, with what they hold.”
Instead, the NMP’s second statement seems to suggest that the Boljoon parish church does not have the adequate capability to conserve the objects, and hence that these are safer in the hands of the NMP. But this is self-defeating. In fact, the parish church complex of Boljoon was declared by the NMP as a National Cultural Treasure in 2001. Prior to that, in 1999, the National Historical Institute declared it a National Historical Landmark.
It is thus the duty of the NMP to equip and empower parish or archdiocesan personnel in conservation work. Equipping local personnel will be a sustainable approach because it empowers them to protect their own heritage. The NMP has the training tools for such. Why can’t it do that instead?
The other parameter of repatriation is what is called source community. There is no scintilla of doubt that the source community of the objects is the town of Boljoon. The NMP has a new branch museum in Cebu city. But even if it exhibits it there, that would not be the source community. There is no other source community – it is the town of Boljoon. Cultural preservation is achieved when the objects are returned to Boljoon because the associated activities connected with the objects can only be found there, not within the four walls of any NMP museum.
Experts of museum repatriation know what associated activities mean when objects socialize the community: “their return to the place of origin where the intangible aspects of heritage provide meaning and where the objects themselves may stimulate renewed activities of the intangible aspects of culture.” That intangible heritage can take place only in Boljoon, not in a National Museum gallery or exhibition hall.
Another parameter is cultural context. It is in this respect that the statement of Archbishop Palma falls under. Palma said the objects are considered sacred because they are part of the Church’s missionary work. Moreover, and he expounds it very well, “these panels are considered in the ecclesial rite as tools of evangelization.” If the NMP exhibits them, they would only be mere artworks. Any exhibition in any museum of the NMP cannot achieve the sacral role of the objects. That would be very dishonest on their part.
Let us make it clear: the Bautista couple is not the looter of the artifacts. Their donation is noteworthy. But in donating the objects to the NMP, they were aware that these objects were once stolen from the Church of Patrocinio de Maria Santisima in Boljoon, Cebu. The NMP saying that the objects trace their provenance to Boljoon is an admission that they were once taken surreptitiously from there.
Only the return of the artifacts can put into effect the renewal of the cultural heritage of the people of Boljoon. That is why repatriation is restorative justice. Absent that, Moira Simpson of the University of South Australia warns us: “To ignore, dismiss, or reject requests from indigenous peoples who seek the return of cultural objects that they require to assist in the processes of cultural renewal would suggest that museum professionals are more concerned with preserving artefacts than supporting communities in their efforts to perpetuate the distinct cultures, beliefs, and practices that led to the creation of the artefacts.”
If the NMP insists on keeping the objects as part of its collection, they will act like the colonial looters of yore. That would make them a very bad museum that does not act like the “educational, scientific, and cultural institution” it claims to be. – Rappler.com
Antonio Montalvan II is an anthropologist who has worked as a museum professional curating museums. He was once the head of the National Committee of Museums of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts. He is currently part of a research group of the University of Barcelona aiming to repatriate Filipino objects in museums in Catalunia, Spain back to their source communities in the Philippines.
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What was once the property of the Church has now become the property of the State?
I strongly agree with Antonio Montalvan II: “If the NMP insists on keeping the objects as part of its collection, they will act like the colonial looters of yore. That would make them a very bad museum that does not act like the ‘educational, scientific, and cultural institution’ it claims to be.” And perhaps, if I am allowed to add, an evil neocolonial and elitist institution.
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Cast, show dates: What you should know about ‘Bar Boys: A New Musical’
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Ysa Abad
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25/02/2024 12:03
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Barefoot Theater Collaborative's Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Meet the future lawyers! Barefoot Theater Collaborative introduced on Saturday, February 23, the cast members for Bar Boys: A New Musical.
It was in April 2023 when Barefoot Theater Collaborative announced that they were adapting Kip Oebanda’s 2017 film into a theatrical musical. Pat Valera, who also served as the director and playwright of the musical Mula sa Buwan, is set to write the production.
To recall, the comedy-drama film follows a group of four young men as they navigate life’s challenges while trying to pursue their dreams of being professional lawyers. It starred Enzo Pineda as Chris, Carlo Aquino as Erik, Rocco Nacino as Torran, and Kean Cipriano as Josh.
In Bar Boys: A New Musical, Alex Diaz will play the role of Chris, Benedix Ramos will take over the role of Erik, Jerom Canlas will portray Torran, and Omar Uddin will be Josh.
Meanwhile, Sheila Francisco will portray Justice Hernandez, who was originally played by Gawad Urian winner Odette Khan in the film.
Other cast members include Juliene Mendoza, Nor Domingo, Topper Fabregas, Kakki Teodoro, Carlon Matobato, and Gimbey Dele Cruz. Also part of the show’s company are Diego Aranda, Edrei Tan, Joshua Ade Valenzona, Jannah Baniasia, Meg Ruiz, Anne Cortez, and Uzziel Delamide.
Bar Boys: A New Musical will be staged for three weeks only from May 3 to 19 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater, Circuit Makati.
Tickets are priced P2,200 for Silver, P2,800 for Gold, and P3,000 for VIP and are available via bit.ly/barboystickets. – Rappler.com
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Results, team standings: UAAP Season 86 volleyball
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Jasmine Payo
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05/05/2024 21:02
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ROARING. NU's Bella Belen (left) and Alyssa Solomon react in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball finals
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournaments reach a tipping point with the men’s and women’s finals!
LOOK: UAAP volleyball championship schedule
Here are the results in the men’s and women’s divisions:
MAY 15
May 11
MAY 8
MAY 5
MAY 4
MAY 8
MAY 5
MAY 4
** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated
APRIL 27
APRIL 24
APRIL 21
APRIL 20
APRIL 17
APRIL 14
APRIL 13
APRIL 10
APRIL 9
APRIL 4
APRIL 3
MARCH 24
MARCH 23
MARCH 20
First round
MARCH 17
MARCH 16
MARCH 13
MARCH 10
MARCH 9
MARCH 6
MARCH 3
MARCH 2
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 25
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 21
FEBRUARY 18
FEBRUARY 17
** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated
APRIL 27
APRIL 24
APRIL 21
APRIL 20
APRIL 17
APRIL 14
APRIL 13
APRIL 10
APRIL 9
APRIL 4
APRIL 3
MARCH 24
MARCH 23
MARCH 20
First round
MARCH 17
MARCH 16
MARCH 13
MARCH 10
MARCH 9
MARCH 6
MARCH 3
MARCH 2
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 25
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 21
FEBRUARY 18
FEBRUARY 17
– Rappler.com
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Baddie Vanie: Cignal rising star Gandler wins 1st 2024 PVL Player of the Week
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jisaga0269
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25/02/2024 13:07
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ALL SMILES. Cignal spiker Vanie Gandler (5) reacts with teammate Ria Meneses in the 2023 PVL Second All-Filipino Conference
PVL Images
MANILA, Philippines – Vanie Gandler proved her stellar rookie season in the Premier Volleyball League was no mere fluke.
In Cignal’s first game of the 2024 All-Filipino Conference on Saturday, February 24, the former Ateneo star spiker picked up right where she left off, tallying a game-high 19 points on 17 attacks, an ace, and a block to help the HD Spikers edge the reloaded Akari Chargers in four sets.
In a team bannered by steely veterans like former PVL Most Valuable Player Ces Molina and top off-season recruit Dawn Macandili-Catindig, it was the young Gandler who quickly proved her worth from the get-go, despite being rested in the game’s waning moments.
“It feels good, of course, because our preparation time was very short, but I’m happy that the team was able to come together,” said the Cignal rising star after their 21-25, 25-18, 25-12, 25-18 victory over Akari at the Araneta Coliseum.
“After the first set, it’s normal first-game jitters. But I could see how much we all want it.”
For her standout performance, Gandler was awarded by the newly formed PVL Press Corps as the 2024 season’s first Player of the Week for the period of February 20 to 24.
She edged out Creamline’s Tots Carlos, PLDT’s Savie Davison, Chery Tiggo’s Mylene Paat, Petro Gazz’s Nicole Tiamzon, and Choco Mucho’s Mars Alba for the weekly award deliberated upon by reporters regularly covering the PVL beat.
Carrying a mindset rivaling seasoned veterans, the 23-year-old Gandler already knows that her rise to stardom won’t come as easily moving forward, and she is very much ready for bigger challenges in the path ahead.
“Personally for me, now that I’ve played two conferences, I know that the teams are going to really scout me more, so I really have to think outside the box and level up from here,” she continued.
“As a team, I’m sure teams are also gonna scout us. That’s a challenge, of course. We’re just 14 awesome, so, you know, [we need to] stay healthy. It’s everyone’s biggest obstacle.” – Rappler.com
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[REFLECTION] EDSA and a God of freedom
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Paterno Esmaquel II
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25/02/2024 10:00
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Opposition leaders, personalities and members of Akbayan partylist gather at the EDSA Shrine to attend a holy mass commemorating the 38th anniversary of the 1986 People Power revolution, on February 23, 2024.
Alecs Ongcal/Rappler
Below is the full text of the homily delivered by Father Emmanuel Alfonso, executive director of Jesuit Communications, during a Mass at the EDSA Shrine on Friday, February 23, for the 38th anniversary of the People Power Revolution.
Malaya na nga ba tayo? Are we really free?
Mga kapatid, ‘yan po ang tema ng mensahe ni Pope Francis sa panahong ito ng Kuwaresma. “Through the desert, God leads us to freedom.” Mula o sa pamamagitan ng disyerto, inaakay tayo ng Diyos tungo sa kalayaan. ‘Yan po ang kumpletong pamagat ng sulat-pastoral ng ating Santo Papa. At maaaring akalain natin na ang sulat na ‘yan ay sinulat niya para sa ating mga Pilipino at sa karanasan natin ng EDSA.
May nahalaw po akong tatlong maiikling punto mula rito.
Una, ang laging layunin daw po ng Diyos sa atin ay kalayaan, freedom. Kung naaalala daw po natin ang unang pagtatagpo ng mga Israelita kay Yahweh sa kasaysayan ay sa pamamagitan ni Moises. Tinawag ni Yahweh sa tinatawag nating “burning bush” si Moises at ang unang sabi nito ay, “Narinig ko ang panaghoy ng Israel, nais kong palayain sila.”
Sa Bagong Tipan naman, si Hesus mismo, sa pagsisimula ng kanyang misyon, ‘yan ang sinabi, ako’y naparito upang bigyan ng paningin ang mga bulag, palakarin ang mga lumpo, at PALAYAIN ang mga bihag at api. ‘Yan po ang ating Diyos. ‘Yan ang kanyang layunin at biyaya sa atin. Kalayaan, lalo na sa kasalanan. Hindi siya ang Diyos ng kaunlaran, kayamanan, o kaginhawahan. Siya ay Diyos ng kalayaan. Gaano nga ba natin pinahahalagahan ang kalayaang handog niya sa atin?
Nakakagulat minsan, pagkatapos nating matamo ang kalayaan noong 1986, may mga nagsasabing ‘di raw bagay sa atin ang demokrasya dahil masyado itong malaya. Mas mainam daw ang kamay na bakal, ang awtoritaryanismo o otokrasya. Kailangan daw ng disiplina ng Pinoy. Pasensya na po, ayaw ng Diyos ng tau-tauhan o alipin lang. “God doesn’t need subjects, but sons and daughters,” ani pope Francis. Nais at tanging hangad nya sa atin ay kalayaan.
Ikalawang punto ng Santo Papa sa kanyang sulat-pastoral para sa Kuwaresma ngayong taon, madalas hindi raw natin nakikita, namamalayan, na tayo ay bihag, nakakulong, o ‘di malaya. ‘Yung mga Israelita raw ani Pope Francis, matagal na alipin sa Ehipto: 430 taon! Parang ‘di man lang naghangad ng kalayaan. Ito’y kagagawan na rin daw ng mga paraon: binulag nila ang mga Israelita. Ani Pope Francis, “Pharaoh stifles dreams, blocks the view of heaven, makes it appear that this world, in which human dignity is trampled upon and authentic bonds are denied, can never change.”
Naaalala ko tuloy kung paanong naging kasangkapan ng Batas Militar noon ang media, sining, at entertainment upang ipakitang nasa golden age daw tayo. At ngayon marami pa rin ang naniniwala sa nagkalat na mga kasinungalingan sa social media. Paano nga ba natin matutulungang makita ng marami nating kababayan ang mga tunay na pangyayari sa ating kasaysayan?
Ang Mabuting Balita, ani Pope Francis, mabait si Yahweh. Kahit ‘di nakikita ng Israel na sila ay bihag, si Yahweh na ang nagkusa na palayain sila. God took the initiative. Pinalaya sila sa tulong ni Moises. Subalit ang malungkot, noong malaya na sila, dahil sa kaunting hirap na naranasan sa disyerto, nais nilang bumalik sa Ehipto, sa pagkakaalipin kay Paraon. Nabulag uli. Piniling mabulag muli. (Mukhang nakaka-relate tayo; pagkatapos paalisin, aba, binalik uli.)
Pero napakaganda po ng punto ni Pope Francis: Hindi natin nakikita ang sarili nating pagkakaalipin o kaya ginugusto nating manatiling alipin. Kaya hingin po natin ang tulong ng Diyos. Buksan niya nawa ang ating mga mata at pag-alabin ang ating mga puso upang muli’t muli nating hangarin ang ating kalayaan.
Ikatlong punto, ang daan tungo sa kalayaan ay mapaghamon. Mahirap. Hindi madali. It entails a struggle, sabi po ni Pope Francis.
Aniya, “The call to freedom is a demanding one. It is not answered straightaway; it has to mature as part of a journey. Just as Israel in the desert still clung to Egypt – often longing for the past and grumbling against the Lord and Moses – today too, God’s people can cling to an oppressive bondage that it is called to leave behind. We realize how true this is at those moments when we feel hopeless, wandering through life like a desert and lacking a promised land as our destination. Lent is the season of grace in which the desert can become once more – in the words of the prophet Hosea – the place of our first love. God shapes his people, he enables us to leave our slavery behind and experience a Passover from death to life.”
Napakalinaw marahil ng puntong ito sa atin. Na ang daan tungo sa kalayaan ay mahirap. Heto, 38 taon na ang nakalilipas, pakiramdam natin malayo pa ang Promised Land o Lupang Pangako. Hindi pa rin tayo nagkakaisa. At marami sa ating kababayan hirap at hikahos pa rin sa buhay. 47 porsyento raw ng mga Pilipino ang nagsasabing MAHIRAP sila, ayon sa huling SWS survey.
Kung tutuusin matagal daw ang nilagi ng mga Israelita sa disyerto bago sila sumapit sa Lupang Pangako: 40 taon! (O may dalawang taon na lang po pala tayo!) Sabi ng mga iskolar, matagal silang palaboy-laboy sa disyerto dahil kailangan nilang purgahin, linisin, o pakinisin pa ang kanilang pananalig at pag-ibig kay Yahweh. Sa bundok ng Sinai, naroon ngang nagsamba pa sila kay Baal, sa mga huwad na diyos, false gods.
‘Yan din po siguro ang kailangang mangyari sa atin. Marami pa tayong kailangang linisin, purgahin sa ating pananampalataya, sa ating demokrasya. Sa Ebanghelyo ngayon, tinutuligsa ni Hesus ang mga Pariseo. Kailangan daw nating higitan ang kanilang kabanalan, dahil ito’y pawang pakitang-tao lang, panlabas lang. Ang tunay aniyang pananalig sa Diyos ay tagos-puso. Hindi ka nga pumapatay pero puno ka ng galit. O panay mura o paninira ka sa ‘yong kapwa. Pareho lang ‘yon kay Hesus. Mababaw.
Baka iyon nga po ang hamon sa atin. Baka mababaw ang ating pananampalataya, ang ating pag-ibig sa bayan. (Natalo lang ang kandidato, gusto nang mag-migrate. Akala ko ba walang iwanan?) Mababaw na pag-ibig. Hindi tagos-buto, tagos-kaluluwa, tagos-puso. May nagtanong nga, are we poor because we are a Catholic country? Nakakatuwa na noong nakaraang eleksyon, marami ang nakakita, ang problema raw kasi, hanggang kampanyahan lang, hanggang eleksyon lang ang pagtulong at pagdamay natin sa mahihirap samantalang ang turo ni Hesus, ‘yan ay nasa pusod, sentro ng ating pananampalataya. Mahirap ang daan tungo sa kalayaan. Dahil marami itong hinihingi. Kailangang maglinis ng sarili, kailangang lumalim. Kailangang magpakatotoo.
Mga kaibigan, ‘yan po ang tatlong punto ni Pope Francis sa kanyang liham pastoral para sa Kuwaresma ngayong taon. Na parang hagip din sa karanasan natin at pagdiriwang ng EDSA People Power Revolution. Una, kalayaan ang pinakahandog ng Diyos sa atin. Kahit pa, ikalawang punto, madalas hindi natin ito hangad o pinipili. At ikatlo, mahirap at mapaghamon ang daang ito. Sa pagtatapos, sa kabila daw ng hirap ng paglalakbay ng Israel, nakarating pa rin sila sa Lupang Pangako. At ito ay dahil kay Yahweh. Sa katapatan ni Yahweh sa kabila ng katigasan ng kanilang puso. God has not grown weary of us, ani Pope Francis. ‘Yan at tanging ‘yan lang ang pagmumulan ng ating pag-asa. Ang Diyos.
Sabi nga ng awitin ni Father Manoling, “In him alone is our hope.” Subalit, may dagdag si Pope Francis: alalahanin ding may kasama tayo sa ating paglalakbay. Katuwang natin ang isa’t isa. Ang tinatawag niyang synodal church. Hindi tayo nag-iisa. Labing limang milyon and counting ika nga ng iba. Kaya halina mga kapwa Pilipino, sa tulong at patnubay ng Dios at hawak kamay ang isat isa, tunguhin na natin, tahakin na natin ang landas tungo sa kalayaan. Amen. – Rappler.com
Father Emmanuel Alfonso is the executive director of Jesuit Communications.
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‘It’s so good to be back!’: A fan recap of The Jonas Brothers 2024 Manila concert
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Ysa Abad
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25/02/2024 11:53
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The Jonas Brothers waving goodbye to their Filipino fans. Photo by Cheska Lingad/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The stage was burnin’ up at the Mall of Asia Arena as the Jonas Brothers treated fans to performances of their top hits from their five studio albums on Thursday, February 22.
For the first time since their last visit in 2012, Joe, Nick, and Kevin Jonas returned to the Philippines for their worldwide tour The Tour, which celebrates their five albums – self-titled debut record Jonas Brothers, sophomore album A Little Bit Longer, their last studio album Lines, Vines and Trying Times before the announcement of their hiatus in 2013, the comeback record Happiness Begins from 2019, and their latest release The Album.
Manila. pic.twitter.com/dnsuXTmkZ7
Organized by Ovation Productions, the concert in Manila opened the international tour for the band of brothers in 2024 as it was the first stop of the year.
It was 8:38 pm when the lights dimmed, the backing band settled into their spots with their instruments, and the show finally began. Alongside everyone else at the arena, making sure not to miss a moment, I held my phone up high to record as the Jonas Brothers took center stage and set off with a performance of “What a Man Gotta Do.”
WATCH: The crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena goes wild as the Jonas Brothers take the stage with a performance of “What a Man Gotta Do” during their concert on Thursday, February 22. #JonasBrothersInManila #TheTourInManilahttps://t.co/eNLZLhzgQW pic.twitter.com/xo0yGbo6Wd
Like any other concert, the show started later than the scheduled kick-off at 8 pm. Even if I have been a fan of theirs since the first Camp Rock movie came out in 2008, this was my first time watching the Jonas Brothers live. Admittedly, with all my excitement, I was getting a little impatient, but once I saw Joe, Nick, and Kevin enter the stage, the wait didn’t seem so long anymore.
They immediately followed their opening number with their 2007 hit single “S.O.S.” The crowd’s energy was nothing like anything I’ve experienced before. I could barely hear myself singing with everyone else extremely ecstatic over this performance, but who could blame them? It was a childhood anthem.
Before the JoBros played “Hold On” and “Goodnight and Goodbye,” Nick told us that they would try to perform as many songs from their discography as they could.
“It’s so good to be back!” he said. “We’re here to celebrate five albums!”
The brothers then took their places on the catwalk to sing “That’s Just the Way We Roll” with Joe hyping up the crowd.
“Sing it out!” he yelled the first time, and as if not satisfied enough with the volume of our screams (and trust me, we were belting our hearts out), he exclaimed once more, “I said ‘sing!’” and the crowd went wild.
They continued on to the next round of songs from their first album, starting out with “Still In Love With You,” followed by “Australia,” “Hollywood,” “Just Friends,” and “Games.”
Pausing the performances for a bit, the former Disney stars shared their experiences riding jeepneys and exploring Manila.
“[We] did some exploring, had some great food,” Joe shared.
“We have to come back sooner,” he continued, and I really hope they do! While the atmosphere was nothing short of crazy and loud, it felt so comforting to share this moment with my childhood idols.
They also fondly recalled hearing “When You Look Me in the Eyes” – one of their most well-loved songs – being played by a pianist in their hotel lobby earlier that day. Joe even pointed out to a fan in the crowd, asking if it had been them on the piano playing the tune, before launching into a soulful rendition of the song. A sea of yellow and blue lights also shone from the crowd during the performance as part of a fan project by Filipino Jonatics, elevating the intimate atmosphere the song naturally created.
WATCH: Filipino Jonatics shine their flashlights as part of a fan project while the Jonas Brothers perform "When You Look Me In The Eyes" during their Manila concert on Thursday, February 22. #JonasBrothersInManila #TheTourInManila https://t.co/UCYSte6a6Q pic.twitter.com/9jRsmLnp4e
Ushering in a new wave of excitement, the Jonas Brothers then proceeded to play “Year 3000.” I thought that the crowd couldn’t get any louder than when “S.O.S.” was performed, but I was so wrong. This song had everyone singing, screaming, dancing, and jumping! It may have just been the rush of energy I felt in that moment, but I think I felt the ground shaking a little.
They followed this up with charming performances of “Summer Baby” and “Vacation Eyes” that left me feeling all kinds of kilig, mostly because Joe took his sweet time singing on the catwalk, right in front of where I was standing.
My favorite part of the concert was when the soundtracks of the Disney film series Camp Rock were played. Joe started out with “Gotta Find You” from the first movie, followed by Nick with “Introducing Me” from the sequel. All three brothers then jammed out with the fans to “Play My Music.”
I grew up watching this film series so the nostalgia I felt was extreme. I also couldn’t believe I was hearing these songs live, and not to mention, singing along with Joe, Nick, and Kevin.
The Camp Rock setlist was cut short by a medley of electric tracks from their sophomore album, including “BB Good,” “Shelf,” “Got Me Going Crazy,” “Video Girl,” “One Man Show,” “Pushin’ Me Away,” and “Tonight.”
They also performed their romantic, pop ballad “Lovebug” and “Burnin’ Up,” the lead single from their third album. Both of which left fans – including myself – speechless, over the edge, and just breathless!
Back at the catwalk, the Jonas Brothers performed newest hits “Waffle House” and “Montana Sky” from their latest album. Personally, I think these two songs set the tone for their newer music: more mature yet still playful and fun!
Still with a lot of energy, Nick introduced the next part of the concert as an ode to their third studio album. “This is Lines, Vines and Trying Times,” he announced, and they launched into singing “Fly With Me,” “Hey Baby,” “Poison Ivy,” “World War III,” “Don’t Speak,” and “What Did I Do to Your Heart,” taking turns going to each corner of the stage.
When they performed “Much Better,” Joe switched up a few lyrics to “Everything I’d ever need is right here in Manila with me” which had everyone erupting in cheers.
Mr. Perfectly Fine especially seemed to be having a blast at the concert, even taking a fan’s camera to take pictures of Nick and Kevin while they were performing “Paranoid.”
Joe followed his younger brother’s suave solo performance of hit single “Jealous” by showing off his dance moves to a rendition of “Cake by the Ocean” originally sung by his former band, DNCE. What made the production even better was the fact that he was joined by DNCE bandmate JinJoo Lee, who plays the guitar for them on tour.
Giving the fans a chance to catch their breath with a more laid-back and mellow tune, the Jonas Brothers went back to their spots on the main stage and sang “Walls” before diving into tracks from their fourth album, Happiness Begins.
They rocked out to famous hits “Sucker,” and “Cool,” as well as “Come Back,” “Rollercoaster,” “Strangers,” and “I Believe.” They even prepared a short but cute choreography for the chorus of “Only Human,” and concluded their performances with a fun yet relaxed version of “Leave Before You Love Me.”
After waving goodbye to fans, and with “Remember This” being played by their backing band, the Jonas Brothers took their final bows together at the catwalk and wrapped up the night.
This is definitely a show that I’ll never forget, and I think the final song’s lyrics couldn’t have summed it up any better: “Baby, we’re gonna wanna remember this.”
Manila… You were LOUD last night!! What a way to kick-off the international leg of #THETOUR. Couldn’t have asked for a better first night back ❤️ Thank you for having us! pic.twitter.com/LVsz3PglKg
The Jonas Brothers first performed in the Philippines in 2012. They announced their hiatus in 2013 and confirmed their reunion six years later in 2019. – Rappler.com
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UP to honor 3 national artists in ‘Tanghal Tertulia’
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gdecastro0289
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25/02/2024 11:44
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UP Media and Public Relations Office
The following is a press release from the UP Media and Public Relations Office
For National Arts Month, the University of the Philippines (UP) will hold a “Tanghal Tertulia” to honor three of its living National Artists on the occasion of their birthdays – Ramon P. Santos, Gemino H. Abad, and Virgilio S. Almario – on February 26, Monday, from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Amphitheater of the UP Executive House.
Tanghal Tertulia, intended to celebrate the lives and works of the artists, also showcases UP’s pride in its role in the history and evolution of Philippine arts and culture. Indeed, the University has produced 44 out of the country’s 81 National Artists, and the Order of National Artists, or Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining, is the highest national recognition given to Filipinos who have significantly contributed to the development of Philippine arts.
University Professor Emeritus Abad became a National Artist for Literature in 2022; Professor Almario (better known by his pen name “Rio Alma”) was awarded for Literature in 2003; and Professor Emeritus Santos was awarded for Music in 2014. All three are widely recognized for their prolific contributions to the fields of education, art and literature, criticism, and cultural work.
The event, with a title inspired by the Spanish concept of tertulia as a term for artistic or literary gatherings, also includes performances from other notable figures in UP’s cultural scene, including: Jose Dalisay Jr., Isabela Banzon, Michael Coroza, Vim Nadera, and Olive Nieto as readers; and Noel Cabangon, Eman Jamisolamin, Mika Lastrilla, Raul Navarro, and Hannah Osorio as musicians. There will also be presentations and performances by Dr. Verne De la Pena, the UP Concert Chorus, and Katubo, as well as the National Artists themselves.
UP President Angelo Jimenez, who will give opening remarks for the evening, has expressed full support for Tanghal Tertulia as a tribute to UP’s commitment to strengthening, preserving, and enriching the country’s rich artistic heritage and vibrant, living cultural landscape.
The event is organized by the Office of the President together with Likhaan: the UP Institute of Creative Writing, the College of Music and College of Arts and Letters in UP Diliman, the Office of the Vice-President for Public Affairs (OVPPA), and TVUP.
Tanghal Tertulia will be available for online viewing at the TVUP links: YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@TVUPph; Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TVUP.ph/
For the cross posting in online platforms, contact 0917 869 3718 (Claudette) for the link.
Limited slots due to limited seating capacity are available for UP faculty, students, staff and alumni. RSVP on a first come, first served basis at https://forms.gle/JQdriexw2VJJ8qbU6. Present a valid ID at the registration table at the event site.
For media inquiries, contact Ms. Jingjing Romero, Contact Numbers: 0917 853 2415 / 0918 904 2415
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38 years after EDSA People Power Revolt: Marcos political dynasty is well-entrenched
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jpcruz0306
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25/02/2024 11:28
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FIRST FAMILY, AGAIN. Former first lady Imelda Marcos joins son, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s oath-taking ceremony, at the National Museum of Fine Arts on June 30, 2022.
Alecs Ongcal/Rappler
The Marcos dynasty isn’t just reclaiming the Palace. It is spreading its influence far beyond.
Thirty-eight years after the historic EDSA People Power Revolution, which ousted the dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, his son and namesake stands at the helm once more. But this return to the presidency is merely the tip of the iceberg insofar as Marcos supremacy is concerned.
Rappler’s research shows that at least 16 elected officials who are related to the Marcos family – through blood and marriage – are in the chambers of the Senate and House of Representatives down to the grassroots level of barangays.
A series of studies showed that the years of online propaganda and disinformation campaigns that sought to rehabilitate the family’s image catapulted Marcos Jr. to the presidency.
In the Senate, presidential sister Imee Marcos commands multiple committee chairmanships, boasting of the highest count alongside Senator Pia Cayetano.
Imee is the chairperson of the following committees:
The House mirrors this influence, with seven Marcos-related lawmakers, and the President’s first-degree cousin Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez at the helm.
Martin is the son of former Leyte governor Benjamin “Kokoy” Romualdez, younger brother of former first lady Imelda Marcos. (She has five other siblings besides Kokoy: Alita, Alfredo, Armando, and Concepcion.)
When Imelda was first lady, Kokoy was appointed ambassador to plum posts China, Saudi Arabia, and the US. The Presidential Commission on Good Government listed at least 61 corporations where Kokoy allegedly acquired shares of stock illegally.
Meanwhile, Martin’s wife Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt Romualdez, a former beauty queen and a registered nurse, sits as Tingog representative.
She heads the committee on accounts, which deals with the “internal budget of the House including budget preparation, submission and approval, disbursements; accounting, and financial operations.”
Yedda’s influence stretches further through her own relatives holding seats in the House: her uncle, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines Representative Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza; and cousin, North Cotabato 3rd District Representative Ma. Alana Samantha Santos.
The President’s eldest son, Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos, was elected senior deputy majority leader despite being a neophyte lawmaker.
A senior deputy speaker, the second highest-ranking official in the lower chamber, assumes the role of presider in plenary sessions in the absence of the House speaker. The official rules of the House, however, do not explicitly outline any additional duties that may be assigned to a senior deputy speaker, if such responsibilities exist.
Before Sandro’s election as a lawmaker, he was mentored by his uncle Martin, who, at the time, was House Majority Leader, and served as a member of his legislative staff. In early 2023, Sandro’s brother Vincent “Vinny” Marcos started his internship under Martin’s office.
Sandro is also serving as vice chair of the committee on rules, which sets the agenda and priorities of the House.
Another cousin of the President who is also in the lower chamber is Ilocos Norte 2nd District Representative Eugenio Angelo Marcos-Barba. He is the son of Fortuna Marcos-Barba, youngest sister of the late president Marcos.
Angelo is the chairman of the committee on the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle, which is responsible for “policies and programs concerning the development of municipalities, cities, provinces, and other local communities in the northwest Luzon area.”
Part of the committee’s role is also “to promote growth and expand avenues of economic cooperation” with nearby areas. He is also one of the vice chairpersons of the committee on accounts.
The Marcoses also have ties with the Tiangcos of Navotas. The country’s fishing capital is represented by Tobias “Toby” M. Tiangco in the House of Representatives.
Toby is married to Michelle Romualdez Yap, cousin of the President. Michelle is the daughter of Concepcion Romualdez Yap, the sister of Imelda.
Toby is the chairperson of the House committee on information and communications technology committee and vice chairperson of the committees on appropriations and aquaculture and fisheries resources.
Another Tiangco in Navotas is Mayor John Rey, Toby’s brother.
A post shared by Liza Marcos (@lizamarcos)
Beyond the national arena, alliances extend to key provinces and cities, too.
In Marcos’ bailiwick of Ilocos Norte, Matthew Manotoc, son of Senator Imee, governs alongside his aunt Cecile Araneta-Marcos as vice governor. Cecile Araneta-Marcos is the wife of Mariano “Nonong” V. Marcos II, the President’s cousin.
In Laoag City, Michael Keon, the President’s cousin, serves as the local chief executive. He is the son of Michael James Keon who is married to Marcos Sr.’s sister, Elizabeth. (Editor’s Note: In an earlier version of this story, we said Michael Keon is the President’s uncle. This has been corrected. He is the cousin of the President.)
A crack, however, seems to have developed in the relationship between the Marcoses and Michael Keon. During the 2022 elections, the local “Team Marcos” led by Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc endorsed Keon’s opponent, Vicentito “Tito” Lazo.
However, the Marcoses claimed that it was Michael who dropped them after filing his certificate of candidacy as an independent candidate, while the rest of the Marcos clan ran under the Nacionalista Party.
The Marcos influence persists in areas like Cotabato, where Yedda’s aunt Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza serves as governor. During the 2022 elections, Emmylou, a long-time politician, endorsed the Marcos-Duterte Uniteam.
The President also has a cousin in Tacloban serving as mayor, Alfred S. Romualdez, who is married to former actress and former mayor Cristina Gonzalez. Alfred is the son of Alfredo “Bejo” T. Romualdez, Imelda’s brother.
According to Ricardo Manapat’s book, Some are Smarter Than Others, Bejo, a former Navy official, took control of the Bataan Shipyard and Engineering Co. and Philippine Dockyard Corporation during the time of the elder Marcos.
Under Marcos Sr.’s policies favoring Bejo, the company dominated the shipbuilding and ship-repair industry. Bejo was implicated in strings of ill-gotten wealth cases which were later junked by the anti-graft court.
Down to the barangay (village) level, the incumbent president has a relative in power. His nephew and Alfred’s son, Raymund, is the chairman of Barangay 88 San Jose in Tacloban City. The 35-year-old politician is also the city’s Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) president or the Liga ng mga Barangay.
The ABC president serves as ex-officio municipal or city councilor, allowing him to vote when the town or city council passes ordinances and resolutions.
Raymund ran for a barangay position in 2023 after losing his bid in a tight vice-mayoral race in 2022.
The Marcoses’ web of influence is not confined to elected positions.
Phividec Industrial Authority Administrator and CEO Joseph Donato J. Bernedo is the President’s brother-in-law. Bernedo, a lawyer who used to work with SGV and Company, and the Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & De los Angeles Law Office, is the husband of presidential sister Aimee Marcos.
Phividec, a government-owned and government-controlled corporation created under the administration of Marcos Sr., is “mandated to identify and develop sites in the country as prospective industrial areas.”
The Philippine ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel “Babe” del Gallego Romualdez is also related to the Marcos family. Babe, who is the son of Alberto Z. Romualdez and Covadonga del Gallego Romualdez, is the President’s second cousin.
Alberto – first cousin of the former first lady – is the son of Miguel Lopez Romualdez, brother of Imelda’s father Vicente.
ALSO ON RAPPLER
After the Marcos dictatorship, the 1987 Constitution provided for a clause “prohibiting” political dynasties.
Article II, Section 26 of the Constitution says that “the state shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law. ”
The definition of dynasties, however, and how they are to be prohibited have yet to be defined by Congress, which has been dominated through the years by members of political dynasties.
After almost four decades, the presence of the Marcoses in Philippine politics, alongside other dynasties, continues to grow, with new generations assuming roles in government.
As the 2025 midterm elections near, will the Marcos dynasty continue to consolidate its power? – Rappler.com
Read the other stories in our Political Dynasties 2022 series:
Luzon
Visayas
Mindanao
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38 years after EDSA People Power Revolt: Marcos political dynasty is well-entrenched
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jpcruz0306
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25/02/2024 11:28
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FIRST FAMILY, AGAIN. Former first lady Imelda Marcos joins son, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s oath-taking ceremony, at the National Museum of Fine Arts on June 30, 2022.
Alecs Ongcal/Rappler
The Marcos dynasty isn’t just reclaiming the Palace. It is spreading its influence far beyond.
Thirty-eight years after the historic EDSA People Power Revolution, which ousted the dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, his son and namesake stands at the helm once more. But this return to the presidency is merely the tip of the iceberg insofar as Marcos supremacy is concerned.
Rappler’s research shows that at least 16 elected officials who are related to the Marcos family – through blood and marriage – are in the chambers of the Senate and House of Representatives down to the grassroots level of barangays.
A series of studies showed that the years of online propaganda and disinformation campaigns that sought to rehabilitate the family’s image catapulted Marcos Jr. to the presidency.
In the Senate, presidential sister Imee Marcos commands multiple committee chairmanships, boasting of the highest count alongside Senator Pia Cayetano.
Imee is the chairperson of the following committees:
The House mirrors this influence, with seven Marcos-related lawmakers, and the President’s first-degree cousin Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez at the helm.
Martin is the son of former Leyte governor Benjamin “Kokoy” Romualdez, younger brother of former first lady Imelda Marcos. (She has five other siblings besides Kokoy: Alita, Alfredo, Armando, and Concepcion.)
When Imelda was first lady, Kokoy was appointed ambassador to plum posts China, Saudi Arabia, and the US. The Presidential Commission on Good Government listed at least 61 corporations where Kokoy allegedly acquired shares of stock illegally.
Meanwhile, Martin’s wife Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt Romualdez, a former beauty queen and a registered nurse, sits as Tingog representative.
She heads the committee on accounts, which deals with the “internal budget of the House including budget preparation, submission and approval, disbursements; accounting, and financial operations.”
Yedda’s influence stretches further through her own relatives holding seats in the House: her uncle, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines Representative Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza; and cousin, North Cotabato 3rd District Representative Ma. Alana Samantha Santos.
The President’s eldest son, Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos, was elected senior deputy majority leader despite being a neophyte lawmaker.
A senior deputy speaker, the second highest-ranking official in the lower chamber, assumes the role of presider in plenary sessions in the absence of the House speaker. The official rules of the House, however, do not explicitly outline any additional duties that may be assigned to a senior deputy speaker, if such responsibilities exist.
Before Sandro’s election as a lawmaker, he was mentored by his uncle Martin, who, at the time, was House Majority Leader, and served as a member of his legislative staff. In early 2023, Sandro’s brother Vincent “Vinny” Marcos started his internship under Martin’s office.
Sandro is also serving as vice chair of the committee on rules, which sets the agenda and priorities of the House.
Another cousin of the President who is also in the lower chamber is Ilocos Norte 2nd District Representative Eugenio Angelo Marcos-Barba. He is the son of Fortuna Marcos-Barba, youngest sister of the late president Marcos.
Angelo is the chairman of the committee on the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle, which is responsible for “policies and programs concerning the development of municipalities, cities, provinces, and other local communities in the northwest Luzon area.”
Part of the committee’s role is also “to promote growth and expand avenues of economic cooperation” with nearby areas. He is also one of the vice chairpersons of the committee on accounts.
The Marcoses also have ties with the Tiangcos of Navotas. The country’s fishing capital is represented by Tobias “Toby” M. Tiangco in the House of Representatives.
Toby is married to Michelle Romualdez Yap, cousin of the President. Michelle is the daughter of Concepcion Romualdez Yap, the sister of Imelda.
Toby is the chairperson of the House committee on information and communications technology committee and vice chairperson of the committees on appropriations and aquaculture and fisheries resources.
Another Tiangco in Navotas is Mayor John Rey, Toby’s brother.
A post shared by Liza Marcos (@lizamarcos)
Beyond the national arena, alliances extend to key provinces and cities, too.
In Marcos’ bailiwick of Ilocos Norte, Matthew Manotoc, son of Senator Imee, governs alongside his aunt Cecile Araneta-Marcos as vice governor. Cecile Araneta-Marcos is the wife of Mariano “Nonong” V. Marcos II, the President’s cousin.
In Laoag City, Michael Keon, the President’s cousin, serves as the local chief executive. He is the son of Michael James Keon who is married to Marcos Sr.’s sister, Elizabeth. (Editor’s Note: In an earlier version of this story, we said Michael Keon is the President’s uncle. This has been corrected. He is the cousin of the President.)
A crack, however, seems to have developed in the relationship between the Marcoses and Michael Keon. During the 2022 elections, the local “Team Marcos” led by Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc endorsed Keon’s opponent, Vicentito “Tito” Lazo.
However, the Marcoses claimed that it was Michael who dropped them after filing his certificate of candidacy as an independent candidate, while the rest of the Marcos clan ran under the Nacionalista Party.
The Marcos influence persists in areas like Cotabato, where Yedda’s aunt Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza serves as governor. During the 2022 elections, Emmylou, a long-time politician, endorsed the Marcos-Duterte Uniteam.
The President also has a cousin in Tacloban serving as mayor, Alfred S. Romualdez, who is married to former actress and former mayor Cristina Gonzalez. Alfred is the son of Alfredo “Bejo” T. Romualdez, Imelda’s brother.
According to Ricardo Manapat’s book, Some are Smarter Than Others, Bejo, a former Navy official, took control of the Bataan Shipyard and Engineering Co. and Philippine Dockyard Corporation during the time of the elder Marcos.
Under Marcos Sr.’s policies favoring Bejo, the company dominated the shipbuilding and ship-repair industry. Bejo was implicated in strings of ill-gotten wealth cases which were later junked by the anti-graft court.
Down to the barangay (village) level, the incumbent president has a relative in power. His nephew and Alfred’s son, Raymund, is the chairman of Barangay 88 San Jose in Tacloban City. The 35-year-old politician is also the city’s Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) president or the Liga ng mga Barangay.
The ABC president serves as ex-officio municipal or city councilor, allowing him to vote when the town or city council passes ordinances and resolutions.
Raymund ran for a barangay position in 2023 after losing his bid in a tight vice-mayoral race in 2022.
The Marcoses’ web of influence is not confined to elected positions.
Phividec Industrial Authority Administrator and CEO Joseph Donato J. Bernedo is the President’s brother-in-law. Bernedo, a lawyer who used to work with SGV and Company, and the Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & De los Angeles Law Office, is the husband of presidential sister Aimee Marcos.
Phividec, a government-owned and government-controlled corporation created under the administration of Marcos Sr., is “mandated to identify and develop sites in the country as prospective industrial areas.”
The Philippine ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel “Babe” del Gallego Romualdez is also related to the Marcos family. Babe, who is the son of Alberto Z. Romualdez and Covadonga del Gallego Romualdez, is the President’s second cousin.
Alberto – first cousin of the former first lady – is the son of Miguel Lopez Romualdez, brother of Imelda’s father Vicente.
ALSO ON RAPPLER
After the Marcos dictatorship, the 1987 Constitution provided for a clause “prohibiting” political dynasties.
Article II, Section 26 of the Constitution says that “the state shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law. ”
The definition of dynasties, however, and how they are to be prohibited have yet to be defined by Congress, which has been dominated through the years by members of political dynasties.
After almost four decades, the presence of the Marcoses in Philippine politics, alongside other dynasties, continues to grow, with new generations assuming roles in government.
As the 2025 midterm elections near, will the Marcos dynasty continue to consolidate its power? – Rappler.com
Read the other stories in our Political Dynasties 2022 series:
Luzon
Visayas
Mindanao
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Cone banks on home support to help Gilas get job done vs visiting Taiwanese
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delfin.dioquino editor
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24/02/2024 23:41
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TEAM. Gilas Pilipinas in action in the 2024 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
FIBA
MANILA, Philippines – Tim Cone hopes a mammoth crowd turns up as Gilas Pilipinas plays the first home game of its four-year journey.
The Philippines hosts Chinese Taipei at the PhilSports Arena on Sunday, February 25, to close out the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers and Cone wants to bank on their legion of fans to help the team get the job done.
“It would be awesome if we could sell it out and really have everybody come support us,” said Cone before the qualifiers came off the wraps.
“We’re going to need every support we can get, because we’re still searching for ourselves. We have not found ourselves by any means and we do not expect to at this point.”
Building for the next four years with Cone at the helm, the Nationals got off to a rousing start as they coasted to a 30-point road rout of lowly Hong Kong on February 22.
The expectation is for the Philippines to also beat Chinese Taipei convincingly, owing to the disparity in their world rankings, with the Filipinos sitting at No. 38 and the Taiwanese far behind at No. 78.
But Cone is wary of the visitors.
“I’ve been hearing around that we’re such heavy favorites against Taiwan and I’m watching their video and wow, this team is really strong,” said Cone.
“They got good size, they shoot the ball extremely well, they play with pace, and they’ve been together for a long time.”
Chinese Taipei absorbed an 89-69 beating at the hands of New Zealand to open the qualifiers, but not without giving the highly favored Tall Blacks an early scare as the Taiwanese trailed by just a single point at halftime.
One man the Filipinos have to worry about is Liu Cheng, a veteran guard of the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association who scored 20 points with 4 steals against New Zealand.
“It is a team that we’re going to have to really reckon with,” said Cone. – Rappler.com
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[REFLECTION] EDSA and a God of freedom
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Paterno Esmaquel II
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25/02/2024 10:00
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Opposition leaders, personalities and members of Akbayan partylist gather at the EDSA Shrine to attend a holy mass commemorating the 38th anniversary of the 1986 People Power revolution, on February 23, 2024.
Alecs Ongcal/Rappler
Below is the full text of the homily delivered by Father Emmanuel Alfonso, executive director of Jesuit Communications, during a Mass at the EDSA Shrine on Friday, February 23, for the 38th anniversary of the People Power Revolution.
Malaya na nga ba tayo? Are we really free?
Mga kapatid, ‘yan po ang tema ng mensahe ni Pope Francis sa panahong ito ng Kuwaresma. “Through the desert, God leads us to freedom.” Mula o sa pamamagitan ng disyerto, inaakay tayo ng Diyos tungo sa kalayaan. ‘Yan po ang kumpletong pamagat ng sulat-pastoral ng ating Santo Papa. At maaaring akalain natin na ang sulat na ‘yan ay sinulat niya para sa ating mga Pilipino at sa karanasan natin ng EDSA.
May nahalaw po akong tatlong maiikling punto mula rito.
Una, ang laging layunin daw po ng Diyos sa atin ay kalayaan, freedom. Kung naaalala daw po natin ang unang pagtatagpo ng mga Israelita kay Yahweh sa kasaysayan ay sa pamamagitan ni Moises. Tinawag ni Yahweh sa tinatawag nating “burning bush” si Moises at ang unang sabi nito ay, “Narinig ko ang panaghoy ng Israel, nais kong palayain sila.”
Sa Bagong Tipan naman, si Hesus mismo, sa pagsisimula ng kanyang misyon, ‘yan ang sinabi, ako’y naparito upang bigyan ng paningin ang mga bulag, palakarin ang mga lumpo, at PALAYAIN ang mga bihag at api. ‘Yan po ang ating Diyos. ‘Yan ang kanyang layunin at biyaya sa atin. Kalayaan, lalo na sa kasalanan. Hindi siya ang Diyos ng kaunlaran, kayamanan, o kaginhawahan. Siya ay Diyos ng kalayaan. Gaano nga ba natin pinahahalagahan ang kalayaang handog niya sa atin?
Nakakagulat minsan, pagkatapos nating matamo ang kalayaan noong 1986, may mga nagsasabing ‘di raw bagay sa atin ang demokrasya dahil masyado itong malaya. Mas mainam daw ang kamay na bakal, ang awtoritaryanismo o otokrasya. Kailangan daw ng disiplina ng Pinoy. Pasensya na po, ayaw ng Diyos ng tau-tauhan o alipin lang. “God doesn’t need subjects, but sons and daughters,” ani pope Francis. Nais at tanging hangad nya sa atin ay kalayaan.
Ikalawang punto ng Santo Papa sa kanyang sulat-pastoral para sa Kuwaresma ngayong taon, madalas hindi raw natin nakikita, namamalayan, na tayo ay bihag, nakakulong, o ‘di malaya. ‘Yung mga Israelita raw ani Pope Francis, matagal na alipin sa Ehipto: 430 taon! Parang ‘di man lang naghangad ng kalayaan. Ito’y kagagawan na rin daw ng mga paraon: binulag nila ang mga Israelita. Ani Pope Francis, “Pharaoh stifles dreams, blocks the view of heaven, makes it appear that this world, in which human dignity is trampled upon and authentic bonds are denied, can never change.”
Naaalala ko tuloy kung paanong naging kasangkapan ng Batas Militar noon ang media, sining, at entertainment upang ipakitang nasa golden age daw tayo. At ngayon marami pa rin ang naniniwala sa nagkalat na mga kasinungalingan sa social media. Paano nga ba natin matutulungang makita ng marami nating kababayan ang mga tunay na pangyayari sa ating kasaysayan?
Ang Mabuting Balita, ani Pope Francis, mabait si Yahweh. Kahit ‘di nakikita ng Israel na sila ay bihag, si Yahweh na ang nagkusa na palayain sila. God took the initiative. Pinalaya sila sa tulong ni Moises. Subalit ang malungkot, noong malaya na sila, dahil sa kaunting hirap na naranasan sa disyerto, nais nilang bumalik sa Ehipto, sa pagkakaalipin kay Paraon. Nabulag uli. Piniling mabulag muli. (Mukhang nakaka-relate tayo; pagkatapos paalisin, aba, binalik uli.)
Pero napakaganda po ng punto ni Pope Francis: Hindi natin nakikita ang sarili nating pagkakaalipin o kaya ginugusto nating manatiling alipin. Kaya hingin po natin ang tulong ng Diyos. Buksan niya nawa ang ating mga mata at pag-alabin ang ating mga puso upang muli’t muli nating hangarin ang ating kalayaan.
Ikatlong punto, ang daan tungo sa kalayaan ay mapaghamon. Mahirap. Hindi madali. It entails a struggle, sabi po ni Pope Francis.
Aniya, “The call to freedom is a demanding one. It is not answered straightaway; it has to mature as part of a journey. Just as Israel in the desert still clung to Egypt – often longing for the past and grumbling against the Lord and Moses – today too, God’s people can cling to an oppressive bondage that it is called to leave behind. We realize how true this is at those moments when we feel hopeless, wandering through life like a desert and lacking a promised land as our destination. Lent is the season of grace in which the desert can become once more – in the words of the prophet Hosea – the place of our first love. God shapes his people, he enables us to leave our slavery behind and experience a Passover from death to life.”
Napakalinaw marahil ng puntong ito sa atin. Na ang daan tungo sa kalayaan ay mahirap. Heto, 38 taon na ang nakalilipas, pakiramdam natin malayo pa ang Promised Land o Lupang Pangako. Hindi pa rin tayo nagkakaisa. At marami sa ating kababayan hirap at hikahos pa rin sa buhay. 47 porsyento raw ng mga Pilipino ang nagsasabing MAHIRAP sila, ayon sa huling SWS survey.
Kung tutuusin matagal daw ang nilagi ng mga Israelita sa disyerto bago sila sumapit sa Lupang Pangako: 40 taon! (O may dalawang taon na lang po pala tayo!) Sabi ng mga iskolar, matagal silang palaboy-laboy sa disyerto dahil kailangan nilang purgahin, linisin, o pakinisin pa ang kanilang pananalig at pag-ibig kay Yahweh. Sa bundok ng Sinai, naroon ngang nagsamba pa sila kay Baal, sa mga huwad na diyos, false gods.
‘Yan din po siguro ang kailangang mangyari sa atin. Marami pa tayong kailangang linisin, purgahin sa ating pananampalataya, sa ating demokrasya. Sa Ebanghelyo ngayon, tinutuligsa ni Hesus ang mga Pariseo. Kailangan daw nating higitan ang kanilang kabanalan, dahil ito’y pawang pakitang-tao lang, panlabas lang. Ang tunay aniyang pananalig sa Diyos ay tagos-puso. Hindi ka nga pumapatay pero puno ka ng galit. O panay mura o paninira ka sa ‘yong kapwa. Pareho lang ‘yon kay Hesus. Mababaw.
Baka iyon nga po ang hamon sa atin. Baka mababaw ang ating pananampalataya, ang ating pag-ibig sa bayan. (Natalo lang ang kandidato, gusto nang mag-migrate. Akala ko ba walang iwanan?) Mababaw na pag-ibig. Hindi tagos-buto, tagos-kaluluwa, tagos-puso. May nagtanong nga, are we poor because we are a Catholic country? Nakakatuwa na noong nakaraang eleksyon, marami ang nakakita, ang problema raw kasi, hanggang kampanyahan lang, hanggang eleksyon lang ang pagtulong at pagdamay natin sa mahihirap samantalang ang turo ni Hesus, ‘yan ay nasa pusod, sentro ng ating pananampalataya. Mahirap ang daan tungo sa kalayaan. Dahil marami itong hinihingi. Kailangang maglinis ng sarili, kailangang lumalim. Kailangang magpakatotoo.
Mga kaibigan, ‘yan po ang tatlong punto ni Pope Francis sa kanyang liham pastoral para sa Kuwaresma ngayong taon. Na parang hagip din sa karanasan natin at pagdiriwang ng EDSA People Power Revolution. Una, kalayaan ang pinakahandog ng Diyos sa atin. Kahit pa, ikalawang punto, madalas hindi natin ito hangad o pinipili. At ikatlo, mahirap at mapaghamon ang daang ito. Sa pagtatapos, sa kabila daw ng hirap ng paglalakbay ng Israel, nakarating pa rin sila sa Lupang Pangako. At ito ay dahil kay Yahweh. Sa katapatan ni Yahweh sa kabila ng katigasan ng kanilang puso. God has not grown weary of us, ani Pope Francis. ‘Yan at tanging ‘yan lang ang pagmumulan ng ating pag-asa. Ang Diyos.
Sabi nga ng awitin ni Father Manoling, “In him alone is our hope.” Subalit, may dagdag si Pope Francis: alalahanin ding may kasama tayo sa ating paglalakbay. Katuwang natin ang isa’t isa. Ang tinatawag niyang synodal church. Hindi tayo nag-iisa. Labing limang milyon and counting ika nga ng iba. Kaya halina mga kapwa Pilipino, sa tulong at patnubay ng Dios at hawak kamay ang isat isa, tunguhin na natin, tahakin na natin ang landas tungo sa kalayaan. Amen. – Rappler.com
Father Emmanuel Alfonso is the executive director of Jesuit Communications.
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GAME SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball
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jisaga0269
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08/05/2024 20:35
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It’s down to the last two teams standing as the University of Santo Tomas and National University battle for the UAAP volleyball championship in both the women’s and men’s divisions!
The league’s best separate themselves from the pack as the Final Four showdown kicks off! Here’s the schedule:
UAAP Season 86 volleyball action intensifies as the second round of the men’s and women’s divisions begins on Wednesday, March 20.
The contenders will separate themselves from the pack, with each game determining which teams will make the Final Four. Here’s the schedule:
Volleyball action is back in the UAAP!
Stars from both men’s and women’s divisions are set to ply their growing skill sets once again in front of thousands of fans, beginning on Saturday, February 17 and Sunday, February 18, both at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Here are the first-round schedules for both divisions:
*The March 13 games will be played at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Notable matches include women’s champion La Salle’s debut against contending Adamson on Saturday, 4 pm, at MOA, while men’s three-time defending titlist NU rolls into an immediate finals rematch with UST on Sunday, 12 pm, also at the same venue.
La Salle and NU – finalists in the last two women’s tournaments with one title won each – will wrap up their first-round schedule on March 16, 2 pm at Araneta. – Rappler.com
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World title bid crushed as Ancajas falls to Inoue in 9th round
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delfin.dioquino editor
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24/02/2024 21:32
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FIGHT. Jerwin Ancajas in action against Takuma Inoue in their bout for the WBA bantamweight title.
Wendell Alinea/MP Promotions
TOKYO, Japan – Hoping to regain his world championship status, Jerwin Ancajas instead got stopped for the first time in his career.
Ancajas saw his bid to wrest the World Boxing Association bantamweight title from Takuma Inoue crushed as he suffered a ninth-round knockout loss at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday, February 24.
Regarded as the lighter puncher of the two, Inoue landed a perfect body shot that floored the Filipino challenger.
“It (knockout) was a big surprise. I was ready to go the full route,” said Inoue, who regards Ancajas as the best fighter he has ever faced.
Engaging the Japanese champion to a slugfest, the Filipino fell on his knees with a minute left in the ninth round, unable to withstand a string of brutal body shots from Inoue.
The loss marked the third in four fights for Ancajas, who failed to regain lost glory after giving up the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight belt he owned for six years when he bowed to Fernando Martinez in 2022.
Ancajas fell to a 34-4-2 win-loss-draw card, while Inoue hiked his record to 19-1 as he picked up just his fifth knockout victory.
The younger brother of undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya, Inoue successfully defended his WBA title for the first time despite his own concerns.
“I knew coming in tonight that my opponent was going to be the best ever. I was really worried until today,” said Inoue. “I did not really know what to expect and I did not want to bore the audience going into full rounds.”
Inoue proved to be faster than the former IBF super flyweight champion and was ahead on all three scorecards when the fight was stopped with 44 seconds to go in the ninth round.
Ancajas said it was the first time, including sparring, that he got felled by a body shot.
“I couldn’t breathe. It was perfectly timed,” said Ancajas, who bared that he can still feel the pain at the dugout.
Earlier on Saturday, Filipino veteran Jonas Sultan also sustained a stoppage loss as he fell prey to Japanese Riku Masuda in a surprising first-round knockout. – with a report from Delfin Dioquino/Rappler.com
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Greggy Araneta’s son is new president of Araneta Properties
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gdecastro0289
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23/02/2024 10:23
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ARA. From left: Araneta Properties Inc. (ARA) chairman Gregorio "Greggy" Araneta III, ARA President Crisanto Roy Alcid, and ARA Treasurer Luis Marcos Araneta.
Cropped screenshot of Ayala Land Inc. handout
MANILA, Philippines – How difficult is it to work for the companies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s brother-in-law, Gregorio “Greggy” Araneta III?
Apparently, one needs to have a lot of stamina and energy to be able to cope with the work load.
In one of those rare instances that a publicly listed company disclosed the reason for the resignation of its high-ranking executives, Araneta Properties Incorporated told the Philippine Stock Exchange on Thursday, February 22, that its president Crisanto Roy Alcid, had resigned.
The reason? Too much work.
“We wish to inform you that due to the vast amount of work associated with Gregorio Araneta, Inc. and the Gregorio Araneta III group of companies, Mr. Crisanto Roy Alcid has tendered his resignation as the president of Araneta Properties Inc. (the “Corporation”) which the Board of Directors has accepted. The resignation shall take effect the end of business day on February 21, 2024,” Araneta Properties said in its disclosure.
Most corporate disclosures on changes in high-ranking officials often just say “personal” or “retirement” under the column on Reason for resignation/cessation, so this particular disclosure is uncommon.
As of December 2022, Araneta Properties had 30 employees: 7 executives and managers; 5 consultants, and 18 rank-and-file plus supervisors.
Luis Marcos Araneta, treasurer of Araneta Properties, was elected president replacing Alcid effective Thursday. Luis is the youngest son of Greggy and Irene Marcos Araneta, the President’s younger sister.
Luis, who is in his late 30s, is married to television and event host Alexandra Rocha Araneta.
A post shared by Alexandra Rocha Araneta (@xandrarocha)
Alcid, however, will stay with the company after he was elected treasurer vice Luis Araneta.
Luis has a Business Administration in Management degree from the private school, Pace University, in New York City. He was elected director of Araneta Properties in 2012 and has served as business development manager of the real estate company.
His younger brother is Alfonso Araneta, an executive in various companies of the Gregorio Araneta III group of companies.
Alcid, who is in his mid-50s, has a Bachelor of Science in Management Engineering from Ateneo de Manila University and completed the General Management Program at Harvard Business School. He was previously connected with Ayala Land, Asiatrust Development Bank, and Citibank NA.
One the major projects of Araneta Properties is the high-end subdivision Colinas Verdes Residential Estates in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. This is a joint venture with Sta. Lucia Land, Incorporated.
As landowner, Araneta Properties gets 40% of net proceeds from sale of real properties while Sta. Lucia, which is responsible for the subdivision development of Colinas Verdes, gets 60%.
The three phases of Colinas Verdes have been completed, and 78 subdivided lots have been sold. Colinas, however, was still operating at a loss as of third quarter of 2023.
The company is hoping that the completion of the MRT-7 rail project connecting Quezon City to Norzagaray, Bulacan, will boost the real estate business in the area.
In 2022, Araneta Properties formed a joint venture with Ayala Land Incorporated (ALI) – Altaraza Development Corporation(ADC) – to develop 600 hectares of land in San Jose del Monte. Altaraza will invest P20 billion for this development, which includes expanding ALI’s Altaraza, a mixed-used 40-hectare estate launched by ALI in 2014.
Most of Araneta Properties’ land assets are in Bulacan, and in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, the home province of the Marcoses.
Araneta Properties accumulated its land bank in San Jose del Monte through the years from various entities, including Rodolfo Cuenca (50,094 square meters); Insular Life Assurance Company (580,154 sqm); BDO Strategic Holdings Incorporated (926,550 sqm); and Don Manuel Corporation (410,377 sqm).
Not to be confused with Araneta Properties is Araneta City in Cubao, which is under the Araneta Group of companies led by its CEO/President/Chairman Jorge L. Araneta with Judy Araneta Roxas as vice-chairman.
Aside from being chairman/CEO/director of Araneta Properties, Greggy Araneta held the following posts as of December 2022:
Greggy is a certified Blue Eagle. He has an economics degree from the Ateneo de Manila University. He also studied at the University of San Francisco. – Rappler.com
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New feat as EJ Obiena resets Asian indoor record in Germany tilt
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delfin.dioquino editor
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24/02/2024 14:05
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SOAR. The Philippines' Ernest John Obiena in action during the men's pole vault final in the 2023 World Athletics Championships.
Marton Monus/REUTERS
MANILA, Philippines – Both the Asian indoor and outdoor pole vault records now belong to EJ Obiena.
Obiena continued his stellar start to the year as he picked up his second straight gold medal after ruling the ISTAF Indoor Berlin in Germany on Friday, February 23 (Saturday, February 24, Manila time).
Dominating the nine-man field, Obiena cleared 5.93m to shatter the previous Asian indoor record of 5.92m set by Kazakhstan’s Igor Potapovich in 1998 and his own national indoor record of 5.91m he notched in 2022.
It was also Potapovich’s record that Obiena broke when the Filipino star reset the Asian record – indoor or outdoor – with a 5.93m clearance in the Golden Roof Challenge in 2021.
Obiena has smashed that Asian record multiple times as it now stands at 6.00m.
The USA’s Olen Tray Oates finished a far second with 5.75m as he failed to challenge Obiena, while Poland’s Robert Sobera placed third with 5.66m, edging Germany’s Torben Blech for the bronze via countback.
Needing just a single attempt in each of the last three heights, Oates hit a snag after committing a foul on his first crack at 5.82m – a height that Obiena easily surpassed in just one try.
Oates upped the ante by moving up to 5.88m but to no avail as he exhausted his last two attempts.
Although already secured of his second crown in the Berlin meet in four years, Obiena raised the bar and successfully cleared 5.93m after two tries.
Obiena last ruled the Berlin tilt in 2021 before he settled for fourth place in 2022 and a runner-up finish to world record holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden in 2023.
It has been a promising buildup for the Paris Olympics as Obiena also topped his first event of the year, the Memorial Josip Gasparac in Osijek, Croatia, three days prior.
Obiena heads to Glasgow, Scotland, for the World Indoor Championships on March 3. – Rappler.com
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Motivated NU puts nightmarish start behind
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Jasmine Payo
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24/02/2024 23:05
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LAST LAUGH. The NU Lady Bulldogs react in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines — Following a nightmarish start to the UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournament, National University picked up much-needed rebound wins in both the men’s and women’s divisions on Saturday, February 24, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
While the defending champion NU Bulldogs made quick work of the Ateneo Blue Eagles in straight sets, 25-23, 26-24, 25-19, in men’s action, the Lady Bulldogs needed all five sets to down their Ateneo foes, 25-17, 24-26, 26-28, 25-19, 15-7, in the women’s nightcap.
“One of our biggest motivations was our loss to UST,” said NU star Bella Belen as the perennial finalists recovered from a shock straight-set loss to the Tigresses, 25-23, 26-24, 25-19, in last week’s opener.
“We’re going through a tough time, but I’m really happy because everyone was fielded. We saw out potential, especially the new ones, and saw what we can still apply in our next game.”
Belen, the UAAP rookie MVP two seasons ago, delivered excellent all-around numbers of 21 points, 24 excellent digs, and 10 excellent receptions.
And the Lady Bulldogs, last year’s runners-up, needed all of those numbers after lagging two sets to one off a pedestrian showing in the third, where NU committed 10 errors to fall in the extended set, 28-26.
“Maybe from this, we need to look at where we need to improve, what our lapses were, and return to training,” said Belen.
The Lady Bulldogs took control of the fourth set to force the deciding fifth, where Belen showcased her wares and took over, scoring four in the one-sided frame.
NU’s Minierva Maaya struck the dagger when she denied a Lyann de Guzman attack at the net for the final tally.
Returning NU head coach Norman Miguel thinks fatigue may have been a factor as the Lady Bulldogs just came from a busy stretch – a title romp in the UniGames in Dipolog and practice games with top club teams on top of their regular training.
“I think this is unpopular to everybody, but for me, I think we’re just starting to recover from [our hectic schedule],” said Miguel.
In the men’s side, the Bulldogs knew they needed to shake off the complacency they showed in their first game – a 25-23, 26-24, 25-19 defeat to UST in a finals rematch last February 18.
Nico Almendras unleashed 18 points in NU’s quick win against Ateneo, as they look to start a new winning streak.
“We told ourselves not to lose again since we’re the defending champions,” noted Almendras.
“As coach (Dante Alinsunurin) said, we cannot let our opponents catch up, we should remain No. 1.”
Prior to the defeat to the UST Golden Spikers, the Bulldogs rode on a 34-game win streak, and in between those victories were two straight championships.
In the third and final set, the trio of Almendras, Leo Aringo, and rookie Jade Disquitado joined hands to pull away against Ateneo.
Disquitado scored 17 points on 15 attacks and 2 rejections to help NU improve to an even 1-1 record.
“Of course, it’s true, we had a hard time playing since we were expected to play perfectly,” said Alinsunrin.
“We just reminded ourselves that we have another goal, which is to achieve the four-peat.” — Rappler.com
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ABS-CBN, PLDT didn’t tell banks why they scrapped Sky Cable deal
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Ralf Rivas
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23/02/2024 18:30
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If you’re wondering why the sale of Sky Cable by ABS-CBN to PLDT fell through, you’re not alone.
Creditors of ABS-CBN were also curious.
The Lopezes were selling Sky Cable for P6.75 billion to extinguish some loan obligations as a result of financial stress caused by former president Rodrigo Duterte’s tirades and Congress denying it a franchise renewal.
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) president and CEO TG Limcaoco told Rappler that details of the fallout were not disclosed to them, no explanations, whatsoever.
“We were informed of the news the evening of February 21, the same time the press release was given out. They didn’t explain why,” Limcaoco said at the sidelines of a BPI event on Thursday, February 22.
Limcaoco, however, did not express concern over the matter and just reiterated the publicly available facts, noting that it was business as usual for both BPI and ABS-CBN.
“Our exposure to ABS-CBN remains. It remains to be the same company three, six months ago, so for us, it’s business as usual as well,” Limcaoco said.
Rappler also reached out to Unionbank executives, but they could not comment on the matter “at this time,” as both PLDT and ABS-CBN also did not disclose details of why the deal failed.
Based on ABS-CBN’s latest financial statement, ABS-CBN’s loans totaled P17.4 billion, bulk of which, or P16.2 billion, are non-current loans or are not due soon.
The financial statement mentions other banks, including Security Bank, Philippine National Bank, and BDO, but these loans have either been settled or have longer tenors. Borrowings from Unionbank and BPI are the most recent ones and comprise bulk of the borrowings.
Of ABS-CBN’s total loans, P4.5 billion is Sky Cable’s borrowings.
In 2021, ABS-CBN was able to arrange a debt standstill deal with creditors by putting up some assets for collateral.
According to ABS-CBN’s financial statement, the company paid BPI and Unionbank a total of P6.5 billion between 2020 to 2022.
How will ABS-CBN pay up now with the sale getting canceled? This is the question banks are asking.
Media observers and financial analysts whom Rappler sought for comment also expressed surprise over the scrapping of the deal since it came late in the acquisition stage – even more so since regulators had just approved it last January. Some of them are wondering whether there was a renegotiation of the deal related to Sky Cable’s debts that prompted both to back out.
ABS-CBN has been clear that it is no longer seeking a broadcast franchise and is instead pushing for more digital offerings and deals with other networks and streaming services.
As of the first nine months of 2023, ABS-CBN incurred a net loss of P1.1 billion, lower than the P3.3 billion bleeding during the same period a year ago.
Meanwhile, revenues reached P4.7 billion, a 65% dip abetted by the absence of political ads during the period.
So far, PLDT has issued just a one-sentence statement regarding the matter, as opposed to ABS-CBN’s press release which basically told Sky Cable subscribers not to cut the cord just yet. Both companies, however, said that it was a mutual decision. – Rappler.com
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Sultan suffers shock KO loss to Japanese prospect
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Jasmine Payo
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24/02/2024 18:40
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STUNNED. Filipino boxer Jonas Sultan writhes in pain after a shock loss to Japanese Riku Masuda.
WENDELL ALINEA/MP PROMOTIONS
TOKYO, Japan – Jonas Sultan got caught by a perfect body shot and suffered a shocking first-round knockout loss to Japanese prospect Riku Masuda on Saturday night, February 24, at the Kokugikan Arena here.
As Sultan threw a right, Masuda sneaked in a wicked left straight to the liver that sent the Filipino down for the first time in his career.
Although writhing in pain, Sultan tried to get up, but failed to beat the count and dropped to 19-7 with 11 knockouts.
“I tried to shake it off, but I really can’t breathe. Masakit talaga (It really hurts),” said Sultan, a two-time world title challenger who admitted that he got confident as he was in great shape.
Masuda only had four fights and a 3-1 record before their bantamweight 8-rounder in the undercard of the Takuma Inoue-Jerwin Ancajas battle for the World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight crown.
According to Sultan, he did not get jet-lagged despite arriving from the United States only late Thursday with Brendan Gibbons.
Junnie Navarro, Sultan’s manager who flew in from Manila to lend his support consoled his distraught ward.
“It was a lucky shot. It happened and it’s about bouncing back,” said Navarro, who promised to arrange a comeback fight for Sultan in Zamboanga in August. – Rappler.com
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New Dawn: Cignal’s Catindig flexes defense; Creamline sits recruits in win over Farm Fresh
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jisaga0269
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24/02/2024 22:36
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WINNING START. Creamline spiker Alyssa Valdez (left) and Cignal libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig react in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
PVL Images
MANILA, Philippines – The Cignal HD Spikers are entering a new era with nothing but gold in sight in the PVL.
Already four-time bronze medalists since joining the league in 2021, the perennial contenders kicked off another title-contention bid in style with a four-set win over fellow reloaded squad Akari Chargers, 21-25, 25-18, 25-12, 25-18, on Saturday, February 24, at the Araneta Coliseum.
Longtime F2 star libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig quickly proved a system shift hardly fazed her elite defensive instincts as she carried the Cignal defense with 22 excellent digs and 11 excellent receptions in just her first official game.
Rising star spiker Vanie Gandler, meanwhile, led a balanced scoring effort with 19 points, as the likes of Roselyn Doria (16 points), Ces Molina (16 points), and Ria Meneses (13 points) also stood out.
In the main event, the defending champion Creamline Cool Smashers withstood a stunning, extended first-set loss and prevailed in four against the gutsy Farm Fresh Foxies, 34-36, 25-23, 25-22, 25-15, to kick off their title defense bid in character-building fashion.
Three-time MVP Tots Carlos led the way with 19 points on 17 attacks and 2 blocks, same as Farm Fresh’s Trisha Tubu, while Jema Galanza scored 15 to go with 13 excellent receptions and 6 excellent digs.
Middle blocker Pangs Panaga added 12 points with a game-high 5 blocks as the Cool Smashers patiently await the arrival of new net defender Bea de Leon, libero Denden Lazaro-Revilla, and beach volleyball standout Dij Rodriguez.
Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses explained that the trio are in the final stages of their conditioning process and will debut next Thursday, February 29, against Akari and former Cool Smashers star Celine Domingo.
Domingo, fresh off a title-winning import stint with Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima, played sparingly in Akari’s loss to Cignal after only having one day’s worth of practice.
The Chargers’ other star recruit, former V-League MVP Grethcel Soltones, tallied 14 points, 13 excellent receptions, and 12 excellent digs.
In the opening game of the day’s triple-header, the Chery Tiggo Crossovers schooled Strong Group Athletics, 25-12, 25-17, 25-19, to rise to a 2-0 record.
Former league MVP Mylene Paat led the way with 10 points as five others scored at least 5, thanks to the playmaking of Joyme Cagande. – Rappler.com
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After NAIA, Laguindingan Airport modernization coming as Swiss challenge underway
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lkyu0285
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23/02/2024 12:50
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PRE-PANDEMIC TIMES. The Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental in pre-COVID-19 times.
Froilan Gallardo/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Just days after it named a winning bidder for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport rehabilitation project, the government is busy drumming up interest in the modernization and expansion of another airport: the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is now inviting bidders from the private sector to submit comparative proposals for the “upgrade, expansion, operations, and maintenance” of the Laguindingan Airport.
In a process called a “Swiss challenge,” these submitted proposals will go head-to-head with the deal offered by Aboitiz InfraCapital, which has original proponent status over the project. A Swiss challenge allows other companies to submit proposals for a project to compete with the one submitted by the original proponent, who will then have the right to present an even better deal.
The modernization of the Laguindingan Airport is one of the infrastructure flagship projects of the government. According to bid documents, the airport developer is expected to do the following over a 30-year concession period:
The National Economic and Development Authority Board approved the negotiated parameters, terms, and conditions for the P12.75-billion Laguindingan Airport project just a month ago in January 2024. Meanwhile, Aboitiz InfraCapital gained original proponent status in 2019 when it submitted a P42.7-billion unsolicited proposal to upgrade, expand, maintain, and operate the airport for 35 years.
Laguindingan Airport is a relatively new airport that started operations in 2013. It handles mostly domestic flights and serves as a major gateway to the Northern Mindanao region. It has a design capacity of about 1.6 million passengers per year. – Rappler.com
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Good, bad news as Alex Eala crashes out of W75 Porto quarters
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Jasmine Payo
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24/02/2024 16:45
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HIT. Alex Eala goes for a forehand in singles action.
ALEX EALA FACEBOOK PAGE
MANILA, Philippines – The good news is that Alex Eala showed she has improved tremendously since she last faced former world No. 50 Anna Bondar.
The bad news is that Eala’s improvement is still not enough to overcome the 26-year-old Hungarian.
Eala fell anew to Bondar, this time in three sets, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1, on Friday, February 23, in the quarterfinals of the ITF W75 Porto in Portugal.
Two years ago, Bondar handed the Filipina teen the worst loss of her pro career – a double bagel, 6-0, 6-0 – in the WTA Madrid qualifiers.
Eala had her chances against the second-seeded Bondar, but the Hungarian’s experience and composure carried her through against the 18-year-old Filipina.
The first set was a seesaw battle with Bondar drawing first blood and racing ahead to 2-0. Eala finally got herself going when she swept the next three games to take a 3-2 advantage.
Bondar, however, reestablished her control of the match and regained the lead at 4-3. Although Eala managed to even the count at 4-4, Bondar broke Eala a third time and ended the set in the 10th game.
The second set appeared like a sequel of the opening set with Bondar once again gaining a 2-0 lead, then Eala fighting back to surge ahead at 3-2.
After the world No. 188 Filipina extended her lead to 4-2, Bondar bounced back to retake the lead at 5-4 and 6-5.
But Eala showed a lot of heart and forced a tiebreak where she dominated and jumped to 5-1, a lead which was too much for Bondar to overcome as the match extended to a deciding third set.
The fight back in the second set turned out to be Eala’s final stand.
Bondar, owner of one WTA singles title who has played in all the Grand Slam events, showed she had some gas left in the tank in the third set, dominating a fading Eala, who seemingly expended all her energy in winning the previous set.
The seasoned Bondar erected a 4-0 cushion before Eala finally got to the scoreboard in the fifth game.
That was the only time Bondar allowed her to score. The Hungarian finally ended the match in the seventh game after two hours and 17 minutes.
Eala will have little time to lick her wounds as she is slated to see action on February 26 in the ITF W50 1st Empire Women’s Indoor 2024 in Trnva, Slovakia. – Rappler.com
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DOH, FDA advise against gluta IV drip for skin whitening
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Kaycee
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24/02/2024 21:14
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Shutterstock
MANILA, Philippines – After photos of Mariel Rodriguez’s glutathione drip session at the Senate made rounds online, Senator Robinhood Padilla shrugged off critics of his wife saying she just “loves to promote good looks and good health.”
But the Philippines has not approved any glutathione products or injectables for cosmetic purposes.
Injectable glutathione, however, is used as a supplementary treatment for patients diagnosed with certain types of cancer, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“The Department of Health (DOH) does not support the use of glutathione for skin whitening,” the department said in a statement on Saturday, February 24 – days after Rodriguez’s post went viral.
A 2019 advisory from the FDA also warned the public against using glutathione as a beauty product since there are no available guidelines on its use. The DOH reiterated on Saturday that there are no clinical studies to prove that injectable glutathione can help with skin whitening.
“Avoid buying injectable products online and from being lured to a promising effect of medicines as beauty products,” FDA Advisory No. 2019-182 read.
In a now-deleted Instagram post, Rodriguez noted that the treatment “helps in [so] many ways,” from whitening to affecting one’s immunity.
However, the FDA has cited possible negative side effects that may result from using glutathione, especially when combined with injectable vitamin C, such as possibly getting skin cancer, the formation of kidney stones if the person’s urine is acidic, and hemodialysis for those with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.
“Other potential risks include transmission of infectious agents, such as HIV, hepatitis C and B. This is of particular concern when non-medical practitioner administers this treatment or done in a non-sterile facility,” the 2019 FDA advisory read.
Senator Nancy Binay, who chairs the upper chamber’s ethics and privileges committee, raised the alarm on Friday, February 23, since the showbiz personality and her clinic did not notify the Senate that she planned on conducting the IV drip session inside the government building.
The senator also noted that it was done “without the proper medical advice from a licensed health professional.”
Senator Nancy Binay on gluta drip session of Mariel Rodriguez at the Senate. “As public figures, sana aware din tayo sa responsabilidad natin sa publiko… Isipin din natin may kasamang kapanagutan ang pagiging artista, lalo na kung senador ang asawa mo.” @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/RM3bvG05Or
Rappler has reached out to Rodriguez’s IV drip provider – Luxe in Drip PH – via phone call on Saturday morning, but they said the management will reach out soon. We will update this story once they do.
IV drips have gained popularity in the Philippines, with several clinics offering a variety of glutathione IV drip procedures. The DOH called on those who experience negative side effects from injectables, including those involving glutathione procedures, to report their experience to the FDA and seek legal help on top of medical attention, should it be needed. – with reports from Bonz Magsambol/Rappler.com
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Mutya ng Dabaw updates rules: No height requirement, mothers welcome to join
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Jairo Bolledo
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24/02/2024 20:42
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MISS DAVAO CITY. Logo of Mutya ng Dabaw.
Mutya ng Dabaw's Facebook page
DAVAO ORIENTAL, Philippines – The Mutya ng Dabaw beauty pageant followed the latest trends in the world of pageantry as it lifted the height requirement for its applicants and opened the competition to mothers – whether married or single moms.
“We want the Mutya ng Dabaw beauty pageant to evolve into a pageant, which is not only about beauty as we are looking for an ambassadress of Davao,” said Jennifer Romero, the organizer of the beauty contest.
Romero said that unlike with the previous editions of Mutya ng Dabaw, they have decided to scrap the 5’4″ height requirement “so everybody can join the beauty contest regardless of their height.”
The trend of abolishing the height requirement for candidates and allowing mothers to join the pageant started with the Miss Universe, one of the most prestigious pageants in the world. The local franchise holder of the Miss Universe, Miss Universe Philippines, followed suit shortly.
The pageant’s finals night will be held on March 15 at the University of Southeastern Philippines’ gymnasium. This year’s edition also has fewer candidates. The winners will be picked from just 30 candidates – much less than last year’s 50 candidates.
Aside from the sashing ceremony, the organizers also held an orientation for the candidates last February 11. They also had a workshop that focused on “personality development and the proper manner in which a beauty queen will look.” Romero said the candidates will showcase their talents on March 5.
She also said that she was amazed by the “beauty and wit” of this year’s beauty contestants: “They are knowledgeable about all the things they are talking about. I would say that this set of 2024 Mutya ng Dabaw contestants are all competitive.”
The Mutya ng Dabaw beauty contest is part of a series of events organized by the city government of Davao for its 87th founding anniversary celebration on March 1. On February 16, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Proclamation No. 467, declaring March 1 a special non-working day in Davao City. – Rappler.com
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LIST: Winners of the 41st National Book Awards
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jreyes0314
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24/02/2024 19:46
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Screenshot from National Book Development Board's Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – The Manila Critics Circle (MCC), together with the National Book Development Board (NBDB), held the 41st National Book Awards at the Areté at the Ateneo de Manila University on Saturday, February 24.
Since 2008, the MCC and NBDB have been giving Filipino authors across the country recognition for their craft through the prestigious literary awards ceremony. For its 41st edition, a total of 35 titles were awarded across the literary and non-literary divisions.
The Ateneo de Manila University Press was also named the Publisher of the Year for the sixth year in a row.
Here is the full list of winners of the 41st National Book Awards:
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Congratulations to all the winners. So why was President Marcos Jr. not present during the awarding ceremony?
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‘This cannot be our reality’: De Lima honors drug war victims on 7th arrest anniversary
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Jairo Bolledo
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24/02/2024 18:43
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FREE AT LAST. Former senator Leila de Lima attends a thanksgiving Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Quezon City on February 24, 2024, marking the seventh anniversary of her arrest and incarceration at Camp Crame.
Jire Carreon/ Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – On the seventh anniversary of her arrest, former senator Leila de Lima paid tribute to victims of the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs, noting that injustice continues to persist.
De Lima, who’s commemorating her arrest for the first time as a free woman, said her temporary freedom, while cherished, is not the end of the struggle.
“Injustice continues to cast a long shadow over our nation, its darkness deepened by the countless Filipinos who perished in the brutal war on drugs. Their stories cry out for justice, yet accountability remains an elusive dream. Those responsible walk free, shielded by impunity, while families mourn and communities bear the scars of a senseless tragedy. This cannot be our reality,” the former lawmaker said in a statement on Saturday, February 24.
De Lima said her fight for justice continues and doesn’t end with her release. She said the memory of the innocent victims of injustices and the yearning of the people for a nation that respects human rights fuel her dedication.
“I call upon all Filipinos to join me in this fight. Let us use our voices, our votes, and our collective action to build a nation where freedom is not a privilege but a birthright, and justice is not a distant dream but a lived reality,” De Lima added.
On Saturday, De Lima attended a Mass in Quezon City presided by activist-priest Robert Reyes. The priest said he was glad De Lima was able to attend his Mass outside of detention since they held Mass inside her detention facility in the last six years.
“But now, we are happy. Leila is not in jail. We’re celebrating her seventh anniversary of imprisonment not in jail, but outside jail, and soon, walking as a free person once the case is dropped. And we pray and offer this Mass that soon and soon, very soon, that the last case will finally be dismissed,” the priest said during the start of the Holy Mass.
The former opposition lawmaker was a staunch critic of former president Rodrigo Duterte and his drug war. As a senator, De Lima headed the probe into Duterte’s drug war, which took the lives of at least 6,000 people – 30,000, if vigilante-style killings are included, according to human rights groups. De Lima even presented during the Senate probe self-confessed Davao Death Squad (DDS) member Edgar Matobato, who confirmed they took orders from Duterte.
But the tension between De Lima and Duterte did not just start there. When De Lima was still the chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, she also probed the killings of the so-called DDS. Whistleblowers from the said group alleged they carried out kill orders from Duterte himself.
Under Duterte, three drug charges were filed against De Lima. The cases stemmed from the accusation that she allegedly enabled the drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison when she was justice secretary, supposedly to fund her 2016 senatorial campaign.
Seven years ago, on the morning of February 24, 2017, De Lima was arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and was detained at the PNP Custodial Center inside Camp Crame.
While detained, De Lima saw the dismissal of two of her drug cases. The first drug charge was junked in 2021, while the other was dismissed last May. The third and last drug charge is still pending before the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206 but is expected to reach a decision this year.
For the duration of De Lima’s trial, at least 13 witnesses have so far recanted their allegations against De Lima. This includes alleged Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, who said he was “coerced, pressured, intimidated, and seriously threatened,” and former corrections chief Rafael Ragos, the prosecution’s star witness.
Muntinlupa City RTC Branch 206 Presiding Judge Gener Gito granted De Lima’s bail petition on November 13, 2023, paving the way for the former lawmaker’s temporary freedom. The judge said in his decision that De Lima and her co-accused should be allowed to post bail “as the prosecution was not able to discharge its burden of establishing that the guilt of the said accused is strong.”
At present, De Lima serves as spokesperson of the Liberal Party after her appointment in December 2023. – Rappler.com
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This is a very inspiring statement from Former Senator Leila De Lima: “I call upon all Filipinos to join me in this fight. Let us use our voices, our votes, and our collective action to build a nation where freedom is not a privilege but a birthright, and justice is not a distant dream but a lived reality.” But who would lead the Filipino People? Will the former Senator lead them?
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Remembering Butz Aquino, leader of the August Twenty-One Movement that defied Marcos Sr.
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lkyu0285
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24/02/2024 18:13
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MARTYRDOM. Family members, former government officials, and supporters celebrate a mass led by Bishop Socrates Villegas to commemorate the 40th year of the death of former senator Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino Jr. at the Sto Domingo Church in Quezon City on August 21, 2023.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – “He was really willing to die for the country.”
That was how veterans of the August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) described their leader, Butz Aquino, the brother of democracy icon Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and the one who galvanized the nation in the wake of Ninoy’s assassination.
On Saturday, February 24, ATOM members – some of whom marched at the frontlines of the EDSA revolution – gathered at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani. Their mission: to keep the memory of their fight against the dictator alive, especially now that another Marcos walks the halls of Malacañang.
They spoke of the day Ninoy was shot dead. They spoke of the confusion and anger and snap election that followed. But most of all, they spoke of Butz.
“We did not stop [after] the assassination of Ninoy. It took Butz Aquino to carry the torch, to continue the struggle, and to openly defy the Marcos dictatorship,” said Archie Ventosa.
Butz Aquino wasn’t always an opposition figure. He even showed a distaste for politics, which he called “a ballgame of the rich.” Before he led marches against Ferdinand E. Marcos, Butz was part of Mofire, a company that made fiberglass products. But after his brother Ninoy was assassinated, he gathered his closest associates to try to piece together who was behind the killing.
From there, ATOM was born.
ATOM veterans recalled the many protests that Butz led, the most massive and difficult of which was the “Tarlac to Tarmac” run. An estimated 500,000 people marched from Ninoy’s home province of Tarlac all the way to the international airport in Manila, where he was shot on the tarmac – a grueling 120-kilometer stretch.
At Meycauayan, Bulacan, the military blocked the path, and a tense standoff between protesters and stern-faced soldiers ensued. Carla, an ATOM member who joined the march, explained how Butz turned to the protesters and asked whether they’d be ready to stand with him until the military men let them pass.
“Siyempre naman, nagtapang-tapangan kami,” Carla said. “‘Kung nasaan ka, Butz, nandoon din kami!‘”
(Of course, we acted tough. ‘We’ll stand with you, Butz, wherever you are!’)
As ATOM’s head, Butz was undauntable, something he seemed to inspire in those around him.
“‘Pag hindi takot ang tatay ko, hindi rin ako matatakot, plus ‘pag magkasama tayong lahat, nawawala ‘yung takot (When my father isn’t scared, I don’t feel fear either, plus when you’re with everyone, that fear disappears),” Jackie Aquino, Butz’ daughter, said. “Naisip ko, ready na ako (I thought I was ready) to die for my country. Really, I was at that time.”
Two years later, on February 22, 1986, Butz Aquino would again play a part in a protest against Marcos Sr. – except this one would spark the bloodless revolution that ousted the dictator.
Butz and several ATOM members were at a dinner party to celebrate the birthday of another member, Mildred Juan, when rumors broke out that Juan Ponce Enrile and Fidel Ramos had rebelled against Marcos. Butz scrambled to get a landline connection in his Mofire office to verify the news.
“We went to [the office], all 10 of us. We never had dessert,” Juan said, jokingly.
After Butz had confirmed the defection of Marcos’ top men with then Supreme Court justice Cecila Muñoz-Palma, he went straight to Camp Aguinaldo.
History often credits the late Manila archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin for being the first public figure to call upon the people to gather in EDSA, but according to ATOM members, Butz Aquino was the first to galvanize the public. On air, Butz told all ATOM members and Filipinos to gather at the Isetann department store in Cubao.
“Si Butz ang unang nagtawag sa EDSA,” Juan said. “Ayaw namin mapalitan ang history na ‘yun.”
(It was Butz who first made the call to head to EDSA. We don’t want that part of history to be revised.)
Minutes later, Cardinal Sin also called upon the masses to gather near Camp Aguinaldo to protect Enrile and Ramos. The rest, as they say, is history. Over the next three days, more than 2 million Filipinos flooded EDSA, kicking off the People Power Revolution that toppled the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
But as the years stretched into decades, and the memories of Martial Law horrors faded, members of ATOM pleaded to keep Butz Aquino’s spirit alive. (READ: For them in 2024, there’s no forgetting the EDSA revolution)
“It doesn’t have to stop with Butz Aquino. It doesn’t have to stop with Cory Aquino. It doesn’t have to stop with us, the veterans of ATOM,” said Ventosa.
“Let the torch be passed from generation to generation,” he said. “Continue carrying the torch. Continue the struggle. Continue the fight. Because we should continue telling the truth. – Rappler.com
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Agree: “Let the torch be passed from generation to generation.” But who would lead the EDSA movement under the realm of Marcos Jr.? Would it result in another Marcos hastily leaving Malacañang? Or would it rather be a Duterte?
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Stolen pulpit panels controversy revives unrelated theft allegations vs late Cebu priest
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Chito de la Vega
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24/02/2024 17:00
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BOLJOON CHURCH. The Boljoon church or the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santisima taken in 2015.
max limpag/rappler
CEBU, Philippines – The recent resurfacing of pulpit panels that were stolen from the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santisima in Boljoon, Cebu, has revived unrelated theft claims against its former parish priest.
The late Father Miguel Ortega, who served as Boljoon parish priest from 1976 to 1982, was charged with estafa and qualified theft for allegedly stealing millions of pesos worth of rare church antiques. The cases did not prosper as the Parish Pastoral Council asked the court to dismiss the charges.
Adjusting for inflation and without considering the increase in value of antiques through time, the amount involved is estimated at P81.62 million in 2022, according to an online Philippine inflation calculator tool that uses Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data.
Ortega’ contentious term in Boljoon parish was again put in the spotlight after the controversy over wooden relief panels stolen from the pulpit of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santisima. Those panels, however, were lost long after Ortega left the town.
According to the book The History of Boljoon by Ruel Rigor published as part of the history books project of the Cebu provincial government, civil disobedience broke out in the town in 1977.
“Boljo-anons revered their priests and the priesthood. The events of 1977 showed just how much they revered the sacred treasures of their church as well. A band of parishioners rose up against the parish priest and demanded for his ouster,” Rigor wrote. “They accused the cura parroco of selling the antiques and gold relics of the church.”
Archdiocese of Cebu officials, however, “demanded proof and challenged the accusers to bring the case to court.”
Several Boljoon residents recalled that the townsfolk ostracized Ortega and attended masses in nearby Caceres.
“That’s really a distinct memory for many people in our hometown. That time, we went to Caceres,” said heritage lawyer Kay Malilong. She said people would crowd a repurposed truck to travel from Boljoon to Caceres.
“I remember one Mass we, the children, were all bundled up in my aunt’s pickup and we left before dawn so we could make it to the early mass at Caceres,” she said in a mix of English and Cebuano.
Several Boljoon residents interviewed by Rappler said that matters came to a head when members of a church group, the cursillistas, were detained after being sued for slander over their accusations against Ortega. Retired police Archimedes Villanueva, 79, said he was the one who detained the cursillistas because he was on duty at that time.
He said a large crowd accompanied the detainees, who even managed to “laugh” at their situation. Villanueva said then-Cebu Governor Eduardo Gullas had to go to the town to pacify the people. The detained parishioners were released the next day but their anger simmered for years. When Rappler tried to reach out to a few, including a couple who left the church, they declined to be interviewed.
Ortega was eventually “relieved of his duties sometime on August 17, 1982,” the late Monsignor Constantino Batoctoy said in his affidavit to support the charges against the priest.
In the affidavit retrieved from Boljoon court records, Batoctoy enumerated the following items as having been taken away by Ortega: (These are 1982 price estimates.)
Batoctoy said Ortega did not show up for a scheduled ocular inspection by Archbishop Manuel Salvador to do an inventory of the museum in preparation for the turnover to the new parish priest.
Ortega “left hurriedly in a huff after he secretly delivered the key to the museum to the new parish priest, Reverend Father Faustino Cortes.” Cortes recently became controversial because it was in his term that the pulpit panels were lost, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said in his statement.
Batoctoy said that upon inspection, they found imitations and poor copies in place of the church antiques. Except for the painting of Our Lady on canvas, none of the items were recovered, said Batoctoy.
Batoctoy also recovered a sketch of the altar that was used as reference to copy it using inferior materials such as aluminum. The replica was then switched with the antique, he said.
In his paper Reading Boljoon, National Commission for Culture and the Arts Chairman Victorino Mapa Manalo noted that there are three sets of inventories in the parish that date back to 1795 and updated through the years. An 1837 update mentioned the painting of St. Augustine for the baptistry. The inventory also mentioned the missals, ciborium, and other items.
“There is one object whose presence in the inventories makes its absence in the museum even more palpable: the Niño Dormido of ivory and its silver bed,” Manalo wrote.
Monsignor Cayetano Gelbolingo, a relative of Ortega who was one of those asked to look into reports of the disappearance of church antiques in Boljoon, confirmed that many items went missing.
“Many items were lost,” Gelbolingo said in Cebuano during an interview on Thursday. He couldn’t give a number but said he discovered many antiques were missing when he checked the room where they were kept.
Gelbolingo, who is now 89, said he was also accused of stealing church antiques during his time in southern Cebu. He denied to Rappler that he stole them, switching the blame to people who accused him of theft But in Ortega’s case, he said the latter was to blame for the loss.
In Monday’s press conference to announce that the Capitol was asking for the return of the pulpit panels from the National Museum, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said she would like to compare the inventory reports, especially during turnover of priests. She said the Capitol would work to protect and recover the items but said focus should first be on the pulpit panels.
“I’d like to compare the inventories to narrow down who is responsible. I am not saying it was stolen but if it is under your watch then you are responsible. The buck stops with you. You’re responsible for its protection,” Garcia said.
“But let’s not preempt the whole thing. We lose focus. We’ll first start with the four panels,” she added.
The charges against Ortega were dismissed, according to Rigor’s book, when the “Parish Pastoral Council of Boljoon, with Parish priest Rev. Fr. Apolonio Jumawan, issued a resolution asking the court to dismiss the case.” Batoctoy, who shared the information on how the case was dismissed, told Rigor he “was not informed of such a resolution.”
In an interview with MyTV Cebu in his house in Boljoon while on vacation from his parish duties in Danao City, Jumawan denied issuing such a resolution.
Asked about Father Ortega, his relative Argao Vice Mayor Orvi Ortega told Rappler that he was too young to remember the incident, and that his family left for Manila when he was 10.
The vice mayor said Ortega officiated Mass at Santo Rosario Parish in his old age, and that he died in the mid-1990s. – Rappler.com
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Motivated NU puts nightmarish start behind
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Jasmine Payo
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24/02/2024 23:05
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LAST LAUGH. The NU Lady Bulldogs react in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines — Following a nightmarish start to the UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournament, National University picked up much-needed rebound wins in both the men’s and women’s divisions on Saturday, February 24, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
While the defending champion NU Bulldogs made quick work of the Ateneo Blue Eagles in straight sets, 25-23, 26-24, 25-19, in men’s action, the Lady Bulldogs needed all five sets to down their Ateneo foes, 25-17, 24-26, 26-28, 25-19, 15-7, in the women’s nightcap.
“One of our biggest motivations was our loss to UST,” said NU star Bella Belen as the perennial finalists recovered from a shock straight-set loss to the Tigresses, 25-23, 26-24, 25-19, in last week’s opener.
“We’re going through a tough time, but I’m really happy because everyone was fielded. We saw out potential, especially the new ones, and saw what we can still apply in our next game.”
Belen, the UAAP rookie MVP two seasons ago, delivered excellent all-around numbers of 21 points, 24 excellent digs, and 10 excellent receptions.
And the Lady Bulldogs, last year’s runners-up, needed all of those numbers after lagging two sets to one off a pedestrian showing in the third, where NU committed 10 errors to fall in the extended set, 28-26.
“Maybe from this, we need to look at where we need to improve, what our lapses were, and return to training,” said Belen.
The Lady Bulldogs took control of the fourth set to force the deciding fifth, where Belen showcased her wares and took over, scoring four in the one-sided frame.
NU’s Minierva Maaya struck the dagger when she denied a Lyann de Guzman attack at the net for the final tally.
Returning NU head coach Norman Miguel thinks fatigue may have been a factor as the Lady Bulldogs just came from a busy stretch – a title romp in the UniGames in Dipolog and practice games with top club teams on top of their regular training.
“I think this is unpopular to everybody, but for me, I think we’re just starting to recover from [our hectic schedule],” said Miguel.
In the men’s side, the Bulldogs knew they needed to shake off the complacency they showed in their first game – a 25-23, 26-24, 25-19 defeat to UST in a finals rematch last February 18.
Nico Almendras unleashed 18 points in NU’s quick win against Ateneo, as they look to start a new winning streak.
“We told ourselves not to lose again since we’re the defending champions,” noted Almendras.
“As coach (Dante Alinsunurin) said, we cannot let our opponents catch up, we should remain No. 1.”
Prior to the defeat to the UST Golden Spikers, the Bulldogs rode on a 34-game win streak, and in between those victories were two straight championships.
In the third and final set, the trio of Almendras, Leo Aringo, and rookie Jade Disquitado joined hands to pull away against Ateneo.
Disquitado scored 17 points on 15 attacks and 2 rejections to help NU improve to an even 1-1 record.
“Of course, it’s true, we had a hard time playing since we were expected to play perfectly,” said Alinsunrin.
“We just reminded ourselves that we have another goal, which is to achieve the four-peat.” — Rappler.com
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New Dawn: Cignal’s Catindig flexes defense; Creamline sits recruits in win over Farm Fresh
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jisaga0269
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24/02/2024 22:36
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WINNING START. Creamline spiker Alyssa Valdez (left) and Cignal libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig react in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
PVL Images
MANILA, Philippines – The Cignal HD Spikers are entering a new era with nothing but gold in sight in the PVL.
Already four-time bronze medalists since joining the league in 2021, the perennial contenders kicked off another title-contention bid in style with a four-set win over fellow reloaded squad Akari Chargers, 21-25, 25-18, 25-12, 25-18, on Saturday, February 24, at the Araneta Coliseum.
Longtime F2 star libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig quickly proved a system shift hardly fazed her elite defensive instincts as she carried the Cignal defense with 22 excellent digs and 11 excellent receptions in just her first official game.
Rising star spiker Vanie Gandler, meanwhile, led a balanced scoring effort with 19 points, as the likes of Roselyn Doria (16 points), Ces Molina (16 points), and Ria Meneses (13 points) also stood out.
In the main event, the defending champion Creamline Cool Smashers withstood a stunning, extended first-set loss and prevailed in four against the gutsy Farm Fresh Foxies, 34-36, 25-23, 25-22, 25-15, to kick off their title defense bid in character-building fashion.
Three-time MVP Tots Carlos led the way with 19 points on 17 attacks and 2 blocks, same as Farm Fresh’s Trisha Tubu, while Jema Galanza scored 15 to go with 13 excellent receptions and 6 excellent digs.
Middle blocker Pangs Panaga added 12 points with a game-high 5 blocks as the Cool Smashers patiently await the arrival of new net defender Bea de Leon, libero Denden Lazaro-Revilla, and beach volleyball standout Dij Rodriguez.
Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses explained that the trio are in the final stages of their conditioning process and will debut next Thursday, February 29, against Akari and former Cool Smashers star Celine Domingo.
Domingo, fresh off a title-winning import stint with Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima, played sparingly in Akari’s loss to Cignal after only having one day’s worth of practice.
The Chargers’ other star recruit, former V-League MVP Grethcel Soltones, tallied 14 points, 13 excellent receptions, and 12 excellent digs.
In the opening game of the day’s triple-header, the Chery Tiggo Crossovers schooled Strong Group Athletics, 25-12, 25-17, 25-19, to rise to a 2-0 record.
Former league MVP Mylene Paat led the way with 10 points as five others scored at least 5, thanks to the playmaking of Joyme Cagande. – Rappler.com
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World title bid crushed as Ancajas falls to Inoue in 9th round
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delfin.dioquino editor
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24/02/2024 21:32
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FIGHT. Jerwin Ancajas in action against Takuma Inoue in their bout for the WBA bantamweight title.
Wendell Alinea/MP Promotions
TOKYO, Japan – Hoping to regain his world championship status, Jerwin Ancajas instead got stopped for the first time in his career.
Ancajas saw his bid to wrest the World Boxing Association bantamweight title from Takuma Inoue crushed as he suffered a ninth-round knockout loss at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday, February 24.
Regarded as the lighter puncher of the two, Inoue landed a perfect body shot that floored the Filipino challenger.
“It (knockout) was a big surprise. I was ready to go the full route,” said Inoue, who regards Ancajas as the best fighter he has ever faced.
Engaging the Japanese champion to a slugfest, the Filipino fell on his knees with a minute left in the ninth round, unable to withstand a string of brutal body shots from Inoue.
The loss marked the third in four fights for Ancajas, who failed to regain lost glory after giving up the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight belt he owned for six years when he bowed to Fernando Martinez in 2022.
Ancajas fell to a 34-4-2 win-loss-draw card, while Inoue hiked his record to 19-1 as he picked up just his fifth knockout victory.
The younger brother of undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya, Inoue successfully defended his WBA title for the first time despite his own concerns.
“I knew coming in tonight that my opponent was going to be the best ever. I was really worried until today,” said Inoue. “I did not really know what to expect and I did not want to bore the audience going into full rounds.”
Inoue proved to be faster than the former IBF super flyweight champion and was ahead on all three scorecards when the fight was stopped with 44 seconds to go in the ninth round.
Ancajas said it was the first time, including sparring, that he got felled by a body shot.
“I couldn’t breathe. It was perfectly timed,” said Ancajas, who bared that he can still feel the pain at the dugout.
Earlier on Saturday, Filipino veteran Jonas Sultan also sustained a stoppage loss as he fell prey to Japanese Riku Masuda in a surprising first-round knockout. – with a report from Delfin Dioquino/Rappler.com
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Cone banks on home support to help Gilas get job done vs visiting Taiwanese
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delfin.dioquino editor
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24/02/2024 23:41
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TEAM. Gilas Pilipinas in action in the 2024 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
FIBA
MANILA, Philippines – Tim Cone hopes a mammoth crowd turns up as Gilas Pilipinas plays the first home game of its four-year journey.
The Philippines hosts Chinese Taipei at the PhilSports Arena on Sunday, February 25, to close out the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers and Cone wants to bank on their legion of fans to help the team get the job done.
“It would be awesome if we could sell it out and really have everybody come support us,” said Cone before the qualifiers came off the wraps.
“We’re going to need every support we can get, because we’re still searching for ourselves. We have not found ourselves by any means and we do not expect to at this point.”
Building for the next four years with Cone at the helm, the Nationals got off to a rousing start as they coasted to a 30-point road rout of lowly Hong Kong on February 22.
The expectation is for the Philippines to also beat Chinese Taipei convincingly, owing to the disparity in their world rankings, with the Filipinos sitting at No. 38 and the Taiwanese far behind at No. 78.
But Cone is wary of the visitors.
“I’ve been hearing around that we’re such heavy favorites against Taiwan and I’m watching their video and wow, this team is really strong,” said Cone.
“They got good size, they shoot the ball extremely well, they play with pace, and they’ve been together for a long time.”
Chinese Taipei absorbed an 89-69 beating at the hands of New Zealand to open the qualifiers, but not without giving the highly favored Tall Blacks an early scare as the Taiwanese trailed by just a single point at halftime.
One man the Filipinos have to worry about is Liu Cheng, a veteran guard of the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association who scored 20 points with 4 steals against New Zealand.
“It is a team that we’re going to have to really reckon with,” said Cone. – Rappler.com
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‘Person with this ability’: PWDs in Aklan town earn from making Nito products
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Mia Gonzalez
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24/02/2024 14:36
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LIVELIHOOD. PWD Balete Association displays the various hand woven Nito products of their members. Jed Nykolle Harme/Rappler
Jed Nykolle Harme
AKLAN, Philippines – About 20 kilometers away from the capital of Aklan is the municipality of Balete where artisans with disabilities (PWDs) have been earning through weaving Nito products.
The PWD Balete Association, with its 735 members, started its operations in Nito crafting before the pandemic to give a source of income for its members.
The association’s focal person, Woody Francisco, told Rappler that the operations started after they conducted data gathering in their town to check the potential of PWDs in the area.
“Rikato ta namon nakita nga abo gali sa among sector ro artistic ag mayad maubra it facemasks, gantsilyo, ag kantigo mag ubra it Nito products,” he said.
(There, we saw that most of our members are artistic, and can sew facemasks, crochet, and can weave Nito products.)
Francisco said that the association had an initial capital of P6,000, drawn from the P50-fee of the members. Since then, they have ventured into fashion, home decor, and Nito products which have become the source of income for their members. As of now, they have P300,000 in revenues from Nito products alone.
Francisco said that the association’s mission is to give the PWD sector in their municipality a sustainable source of livelihood. “Kami mismo gabakae kanda, kasi kalisod kanda makausoy it trabaho. Kaya kami mismo ro gausoy kung alin do pwede namong maubra para kanda,” said Francisco.
(The association itself buys their products, because it is hard for them to find a job. We ensure that we are the ones who give them opportunities and find ways what we can do for them.)
Ron Martesano, a 46-year-old PWD, has been weaving Nito products for 25 years. He said he started to get interested in the craft to help his family make ends meet.
“Gusto ko eang makabulig sa akong ginikanan kato, agud indi ako maging pabug-at kanda. Hay syempre, makara eon ako, dapat magkantiguhan ako bisan papaalin agud makakaon kami,” he said.
(I just want to help my parents at that time, so that I will not be a burden to them. I felt that I am already a PWD, I should acquire some skills to survive.)
He said crafting Nito products requires endurance, patience, and creativity, as it took him an hour to create one handwoven plate. Someones, he spends a week to finish one customized handicraft.
When asked about the challenges, he shared that sometimes, he finds Nito ferns himself in the mountainous areas in Balete. “
Habang gaubra ako kara, akong gaoy, pamatyag ko lugi ako, ako pa gausoy it Nito ag kalisod mag-usoy karon. Pero kapag nakakabaligya ako ag nailaan ron ko akong customers, gaugan akong pamatyag,” he said.
(Sometimes when I make Nito crafts, I feel like it’s a loss, because I find my own Nito ferns. And it’s so hard to find them. But when I finally make a profit, and my customers like it, I can say my efforts are worth it.)
Martesano also shared that he feels insulted when he encounters people who question a P50-product, and would even try to ask for a discount or bargain, not realizing how hard it is to produce one. On good days, he earns P1,400 per week or P5,600 per month.
Former association president Emer Robin Dalida told Rappler that during the pandemic, he was chosen as a mentee in the online Kapatid Mentor ME-Money Market Enterprise (KMME) of the Department of Trade Industry-Aklan. This 10-month program paved the way for the association to upgrade its products, from processing to marketing.
“From that, we started to have linkages and platforms. We attend various local and regional trade fairs where we display our products,” Dalida said.
Trade fairs helped them find their international market. They currently supply to international clients in South Korea and to some hotels in Boracay Island. Local government units and balikbayans also buy their products for tokens and pasalubong.
“It’s not about the disability that people should look at, but the ability of the people that are beneficial to the community,” Dalida said. – Rappler.com
Jed Nykolle Harme is an associate editor at Eamigas Publication, and is an Aries Rufo Journalism fellow for 2023-2024.
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‘Katapusan na’: This 80-year-old nun thought she would die at EDSA
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Paterno Esmaquel II
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24/02/2024 21:49
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MANILA, Philippines – What will you do if you see military choppers about to bomb you?
In this video interview, 80-year-old nun Sister Cho Borromeo recounts her experience facing imminent death during the People Power Revolution from February 22 to 25, 1986.
“We were crying because the end was near. So we all knelt and waited to be bombed,” Borromeo tells Rappler senior multimedia reporter Paterno Esmaquel II as the nation marks the 38th anniversary of the bloodless revolt.
Borromeo, who belongs to the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, believes that “EDSA was an act of God” – and admits she is “agitated” at attempts to revise the history of People Power. “Those who do the revising, they were not even alive at that time. How dare they?”
Click the YouTube link at the topmost part of this page to watch the full interview with Borromeo. – Rappler.com
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