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Makati’s Crosta Pizzeria is 2nd Best Pizzeria in Asia-Pacific for 2024
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Steph Arnaldo
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05/03/2024 12:49
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Crosta's Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – In pizza news we knead to know – The Philippines makes it on another 50 Top Pizza list!
Makati City’s Crosta Pizzeria has been ranked second among the 50 best pizzerias in the Asia-Pacific area for 2024, following its September 2023 inclusion among the 100 best pizzerias in the world, where it ranked 54th place, alongside Amado Fores’ a mano in 96th place.
Crosta was co-founded in 2017 by Ingga Cabangon Chua and Thomas Woudwyk, and is currently directed by head chef Yuichi Ito, who bagged 2024’s special award of Pizza Maker of the Year 2024 – Ferrarelle Award.
The Italy-based pizza guidebook awarded the best pizzeria spot to The Pizza Bar on 38th in Tokyo, Japan, which is known as the smallest pizzeria in the world with a seating capacity of only eight. In third place after Crosta is Tokyo’s RistoPizza.
The Pizza of the Year is the Provola e Pepe at Fiata by Salvatore Fiata in Hong Kong, while Performance of the Year 2024 – Robo Award goes to Spacca Napoli in Seoul, in South Korea, directed by Giulio Lee.
The first 13 winners in the 50 Top Pizza Asia – Pacific 2024 list are automatically in the running for this year’s top 100 Best Pizzerias in the World, which will be announced in Naples on September 10.
Makati’s a mano also received a special award this year: the Best Pasta Proposal 2024 Pastificio Di Martino Award.
In May, Crosta Pizzeria and a mano, along with Wild Flour Italian, booked spots in 10th, 15th, and 35th place, respectively, for 50 Top Pizza’s list of the best pizzerias in the Asia-Pacific for 2023. Chef Yuichi’s Cherry Culatella Pizza was awarded The Best Pizza award then.
These three Metro Manila establishments were also part of the 2022 edition of the same list, with Crosta Pizzeria in 32nd place, Wild Flour Italian in 38th place, and a mano in 48th place. – Rappler.com
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Senate panel holds Quiboloy in contempt, Padilla objects
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Herbie G
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05/03/2024 14:32
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PROTEST. Members of the Kingdom Jesus Christ (KOJC) and supporters of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy gather outside the Senate to protest the hearing on the alleged abuses inside the KOJC, on March 5, 2024.
Angie de Silva/Rappler
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – The Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality cited on Tuesday, March 5, embattled preacher Apollo Quiboloy in contempt as the panel resumed its investigation into the alleged exploitation, torture, sexual abuse, and other offenses committed against former workers of the Davao-based religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
The committee also asked Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri to have Quiboloy arrested so he could be brought before the panel to testify.
As the hearing was ongoing, Quiboloy’s followers gathered outside the Senate to protest what they called injustice against their leader, whom they believed to be divine. Quiboloy has styled himself as the “appointed son of God,” openly claiming that there is no salvation without him.
The committee’s chairperson, Senator Risa Hontiveros, ruled to hold Quiboloy in contempt after the Davao City-based preacher failed to appear before the Senate panel despite a subpoena served by the Senate sergeant-at-arms through one of his lawyers, Marie Dinah Tolentino-Fuentes, on February 22.
Hontiveros had earlier warned that she would be forced to have Quiboloy arrested if he continued to defy the Senate’s summons.
“This committee requests the Senate President to order his arrest so that he may be brought to testify,” she said.
The hearing was briefly suspended shortly after Senator Robinhood Padilla arrived to join Senators Hontiveros and Aquilino Pimentel Jr. When it resumed, Padilla, without providing a clear reason, placed on record his objection to Hontiveros’ ruling to hold the controversial pastor in contempt .
Hontiveros said Senate rules provide that a majority of the members of the Senate committee, in this case eight, has seven days to overturn the contempt ruling.
The committee’s members include Senator Nancy Binay, who serves as the vice chairperson, and senators Pia Cayetano, Cynthia Villar, Grace Poe, Imee Marcos, Raffy Tulfo, Christopher Lawrence Go, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Mark Villar, and Padilla.
The committee also has ex officio members: senators Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva, and Pimentel.
Quiboloy’s whereabouts have remained unclear but in a previous statement, he said he was in hiding, claiming that he was marked for assassination by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
The US embassy in Manila has not directly responded to the preacher’s claim that there was a plot to kill him, but its February 21 statement read: “For more than a decade, Apollo Quiboloy engaged in serious human rights abuses, including a pattern of systemic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11 years old, and he is currently on the FBI’s Most Wanted List. We are confident that Quiboloy will face justice for his heinous crimes.”
Citing jurisprudence, Hontiveros maintained that it is within the Senate’s jurisdiction to hold accountable anyone who disregarded its authority to conduct investigations in aid of legislation, including failing to attend despite a valid subpoena.
She referenced a case involving the Senate blue ribbon committee, where the Supreme Court (SC) upheld the due process rights of witnesses who attended the hearing, affirming the Senate’s authority to investigate and cite people in contempt.
“It is very simple,” Hontiveros said. “The power of the Senate to conduct investigations in aid of legislation has long been settled by the Supreme Court.”
She added, “Hindi po mapapakulong ng Senado si Quiboloy para sa mga paratang sa kanya, dahil hindi kami huwes…. Pero kapangyarihan ng Senado ang panagutin ang sinuman na hindi kumilala ng kapangyarihan ng Senate na maglunsad ng mga imbestigasyon. Kasama ang hindi pagdalo sa imbestigasyon despite a valid subpoena.”
(The Senate cannot jail Quiboloy for the accusations against him, because we are not judges… However, it is within the Senate’s power to hold accountable anyone who does not recognize the authority of the Senate to conduct investigations. This includes failure to attend an investigation despite a valid subpoena.)
Hontiveros said the Senate committee was examining the inner workings of Quiboloy’s church to determine whether improvements to the country’s laws were necessary regarding rape vis à vis the concept of consent, labor conditions for religious volunteers, occupational safety and labor standards, and the human trafficking law concerning acts of forced begging and servitude under the guise of religious freedom.
She said there was also a need for Congress to consider a separate law specifically addressing religious violence and other abuses. – with a report from Angie de Silva/Rappler.com
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A year after Pamplona massacre, Janice Degamo says ‘justice is coming’
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jsitchon0312
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04/03/2024 21:35
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WIDOW. Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo attends the senate public inquiry on the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and other political assassinations in various areas of the country, on April 17, 2023.
Senate PRIB
Hundreds of residents in Barangay Bonawon in Siaton town, Negros Oriental, on Monday, March 4, paid their respects to their departed governor Roel Demago and nine others who were killed with him exactly a year ago.
In the late the governor’s hometown, they renewed calls for justice and their commitment to fighting impunity.
Degamo and nine others were killed in a brazen attack at his property in Pamplona town, where his wife Janice is mayor, during an aid distribution activity on March 4, 2023. The incident has since been referred to as the Pamplona Massacre.
“Justice is coming,” Janice Degamo said on her husband’s first death anniversary – the same words she posted on social media last February 29.
Her social media post came a day after the Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that the Interpol had issued a Red Notice against expelled Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., the alleged mastermind of the assassination.
“When their attempts to fool the voters and make a mockery of our electoral process in order to defeat Roel were unsuccessful, they began to plot his murder…. Let us never forget what we are fighting for – for justice, for democracy, for peace, for our very existence,” Janice said on Sunday, March 3.
The mayor was joined by relatives and political allies, who announced their support for her candidacy as Negros Oriental 3rd District representative – Teves’ former post.
To the surprise of many, Negros Oriental 2nd District Representative Manuel “Chiquiting” Sagarbarria announced his full support for Janice’s bid for the congressional seat in 2025.
His son, Negros Oriental Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria, used to be allied with Teves and his younger brother and former governor Pryde Henry Teves under the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
Henry attempted to run for his brother’s position as Negros Oriental 3rd District representative before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) called off the special elections in November 2023.
“To have a complete and absolute justice in the third district, it has been decided that no other than the wife of the late governor, Janice Degamo, will run for congresswoman,” the older Sagarbarria said on Monday.
Members of the community and religious organizations sought a clear resolution to the Degamo case, especially since Teves allegedly remains at large in Timor-Leste.
“Yes, some of the suspects may have been arrested, cases may have been filed, and several decisions have been made. But the resolution is not yet in sight,” Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes said in a statement on Monday.
Cortes, citing Miroslav Volf’s The End of Memory: Remembering Rightly in a Violent World, argued that true peace and reconciliation requires an acknowledgement of the harm done, and a commitment to addressing the underlying issues of society.
“It cannot be achieved through superficial and insincere gestures,” the bishop said.
On August 16, 2023, Teves was kicked out of the House of Representatives. Prior to this, the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) designated the Teves brothers and 11 others as terrorists.
The designation was intended to prompt United Nations member states to repatriate Teves back to the Philippines if he is found within their jurisdiction.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla in a press conference on February 28 said they were planning to send a team to Timor-Leste to bring Teves back to the Philippines.
“We will send in the NBI to serve the warrant,” Remulla said. – with reports from Erwin Delilan/Rappler.com
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FACT CHECK: Jessica Soho’s weight loss pill ‘report’ is AI-manipulated
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jpcruz0306
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04/03/2024 12:41
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Claim: GMA news anchor Jessica Soho vouches for the legitimacy of the weight loss supplement EcoFit.
Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook reel bearing the claim has garnered 370 likes, 141 comments, and 13 shares as of writing.
It was shared by a Facebook page named “Herbalist Hub,” which describes itself as a “health and wellness website.”
The video shows Soho seemingly reporting on the supposed proven weight loss effect of the product. The GMA logo is seen in the video.
The post is also accompanied by a caption listing the alleged health benefits of the product, a link to an online store, and text that claims EcoFit is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The facts: The supposed news report is AI-manipulated. Sensity, a web-based tool for detecting AI, found the video “suspicious” with an 88.2% confidence level.
“High confidence indicates that the detector has found definite signals of AI generation or manipulation. Minimum confidence for this detector is 50%,” Sensity noted.
Founded in 2018, the Netherlands-based company specializes in detecting “deepfakes and other forms of malicious visual media.”
The supposed news report on the weight loss supplement also cannot be found on the GMA Public Affairs YouTube channel, which carries Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.
An Agence France-Presse fact check also cited Lee Joseph Castel, assistant vice president of GMA Public Affairs, saying the video was fake.
Unregistered: Contrary to its claim, EcoFit is not on the FDA’s list of approved food and drug products.
Deepfakes: AI tools are increasingly being used to generate deepfakes featuring prominent individuals to spread disinformation. According to human rights advocacy group Freedom House, the use of such tools threatens to “supercharge online disinformation campaigns.” (READ: Disinformation in 2023: Growing AI reliance, X’s reckoning, tech guardrails still absent)
In February, a deepfake video of Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa promoting cryptocurrency also circulated online. An investigation by Swedish digital forensic group Qurium Media found that there was “solid indication” that the network circulating the video originated from Russia.
Rappler has also debunked a couple of false claims that use AI-manipulated videos of news anchors:
– James Patrick Cruz/Rappler.com
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through our Viber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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9 months after Tito, Vic, Joey leave TAPE, Jalosjos axes noon show
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gdecastro0289
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04/03/2024 12:17
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BYE. Tahanang Pinakamasaya hosts Isko Moreno and Paolo Contis bid goodbye to television viewers on March 2, 2024.
TAPE's Tahanang Pinakamasaya YouTube
MANILA, Philippines – Nine months after comedians Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon (TVJ) left Television and Production Exponents Incorporated (TAPE), the Jalosjos-led firm axed its noon show that had been renamed Tahanang Pinakamasaya (Home of the Happiest) only two months ago.
On its official YouTube account, a video of the show’s closing on Saturday, March 2 has the title, “Paalam mga Kapuso! Hanggang sa muli.” (Goodbye Kapuso! Until next time)
Ex-convict Romeo Jalosjos Sr., owner of TAPE, has a blocktime agreement with GMA to air a noon show on GMA-7 until December 2024.
In closing remarks during Tahanang Pinakamasaya’s episode on Saturday, March 2, the show’s hosts Isko Moreno and Paolo Contis appeared to have bid goodbye as they thanked advertisers and viewers on behalf of TAPE.
“Maraming, maraming salamat po. Isa na namang Sabadong hindi natin malilimutan. Ang lahat ng ito ay alay namin para sa inyo mula sa pamilya ng TAPE Inc., ang taga hatid ng tulong, saya, at unli sorpresa mula pa ng 1979 sa pamamagitan ng Eat Bulaga hanggang ngayon sa Tahanang Pinakamasaya,” Moreno said.
(Thank you very much. Another Saturday that we cannot forget. All of these are for you, from the family of TAPE Inc. which has been giving help, fun, and unlimited surprises since 1979 via Eat Bulaga until Tahanang Pinakamasaya.)
TAPE’s Facebook page went offline after the Saturday episode. As of writing, its Facebook official account led to a “This content isn’t available right now” page.
On Monday, a new video of Tahanang Pinakamasaya‘s last moments backstage was uploaded on its official YouTube account saying that Saturday’s show was its “Farewell Episode.” The 10-minute clip shows some of the hosts and other people in the studio crying.
On Sunday, Moreno, a former Manila City mayor who lost badly in the 2022 presidential elections, posted a Saturday photo of him with his wife in the APT Studio in Cainta, Rizal, where Tahanang Pinakamasaya’s live show was held.
“Today, I have a special audience in #TahananangPinakamasaya Studio. Thank you so much for always being in my gedli! Mapa-wakali, kodli, o nanka man ‘yan. Lagi kang nandyan para suportahan ako sa bawat field of undertaking na aking pinapasok,” he said in his post.
(Today, I have a special audience in Tahanang Pinakamasaya Studio. Thank you so much for always being on my side. Whether left, back or wherever, you’re always there supporting me in every field I undertake.)
This was followed by a related post, an art card quoting Moreno which reads: “Ang buhay maraming pagsubok. Minsan kapag may nagsasarang pintuan, may nagbubukas na bintana… Sa bawat pagsubok sa buhay, minsan pinagtitibay lang tayo ‘yan. Dahil mayroon pa tayong kahaharapin na mas mabigat pagdating ng araw.”
(Life has many challenges. Sometimes, when a door closes, a window opens. In every challenge in life, sometimes it makes us stronger. Because we still have stronger challenges to face.)
On Instagram, Chariz Solomon, one of the mainstays of Tahanang Pinakamasaya, confirmed the show’s closure in response to a question from a netizen.
“Sadly, opo (yes),” when netizen joelcruz464 asked her whether Saturday was their last show. “But praying for best days ahead. Mababait po ang mga kasamahan namin dyan, at napakagagaling na tao. They work wholeheartedly, at grabe po ang prinsipyo sa buhay. Kaya po ipagdarasal ko na mabigyan sila agad ng trabaho, para sa kanilang pamilya.”
(Praying for best days ahead. Our colleagues there are all good and highly skilled people. They work wholeheartedly, and very principled in life. That’s why I will pray that they be given work right away, for the sake of their family.)
TV host Boy Abunda, on his GMA show Fast Talk with Boy Abunda on Monday, said TAPE and GMA would be issuing a joint statement in the next few days.
TAPE was the producer of the Philippines’ longest running noon show, Eat Bulaga, which started in 1979 or 45 years ago. But the Jalosjos family had a bitter falling out with TVJ over how to run the show, which prompted the trio to leave TAPE on May 31, 2023.
They then put up a new noon show on tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan’s TV5, initially named E.A.T., which started on July 1, 2023 on the Kapatid channel.
Last January, a Marikina court ordered TAPE to stop using Eat Bulaga after it lost a trademark dispute in December 2023 with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.
TAPE then renamed its show, Tahanang Pinakamasaya, and TVJ adopted E.A.T. Bulaga on TV5.
De Leon coined Eat Bulaga for the noon show in 1979, but it was Jalosjos who chose it from list of names given to him.
Tahanang Pinakamasaya’s ratings declined in recent weeks vis-a-vis the ratings of ABS-CBN’s It’s Showtime and E.A.T. Bulaga, based on unofficial television ratings data. The number of ads aired during the show also dropped after TVJ left TAPE.
Two weeks ago, De Leon posted on his Instagram Nielsen ratings which had Tahanang Pinakamasaya trailing E.A.T. Bulaga and It’s Showtime.
A post shared by Joey de Leon (@angpoetnyo)
In June 2023, GMA signed a landmark deal with ABS-CBN to air its noon show, It’s Showtime, on its other free TV channel, GTV, in what its then-CEO Felipe Gozon declared as the end of their TV war. The transfer effectively boosted It’s Showtime’s reach.
TAPE was reportedly having a hard time keeping up with its payments to GMA.
Entertainment website pep.ph, which is partly owned by GMA Network, reported on Sunday that only replays of Tahanang Pinakamasaya would be aired from Monday until Thursday this week.
On Monday, a replay of Tahanang Pinakamasaya’s February 3 episode with the Dancing Duo Double Double Grand Finals was aired on Channel 7.
TAPE can put up a new show or GMA can air another show if TAPE is unable to provide one for the noon time slot on Channel 7.
GMA has the variety show TiktoClock on Channel 7 which it can tap to replace Tahanang Pinakamasaya, or it can move It’s Showtime to Channel 7 from sister station GTV. – Rappler.com
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Ateneo pushes through with car park renovation project amid backlash
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Dwight de Leon
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04/03/2024 21:14
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SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS SPACES NOW. Student and faculty members walk through the renovation site of the North Carpark on December 27, 2023 to personally observe the project’s progress before its suspension on January 11, 2024.
Charles Perez/Matanglawin
MANILA, Philippines – The Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) has decided to push through with its plans to upgrade its North Carpark inside the Loyola Heights campus, with changes in its plan to avoid cutting down native trees, despite backlash from its community.
“We shall proceed with the North Carpark Upgrade Project in order to enhance safety and improve drainage in the area. There will be modifications to the original plan so that no native trees will be cut down. The University shall adjust the design of the car park to save trees,” university president Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ said in a memorandum released on Monday, March 4.
Under the North Carpark project, which was first announced in December 2023, a total of 82 trees – mostly considered as invasive species – will be cut to upgrade facilities, improve pedestrian access, and increase parking slots, but the plan sparked outcry among Ateneans.
Yap said on Monday that only the mahogany and gmelina trees, comprising 62 out of 82 affected trees according to university officials, will be cut down for the project in accordance with ADMU’s sustainability guidelines.
“Apart from providing seedlings to DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) as required by law for each tree to be removed in the parking area, the University will replace the mahogany and gmelina trees by planting native trees in the non-buildable areas of the campus,” he added.
Following adjustments in its plans, Yap said that activities for the car park upgrade project will now continue on March 11.
The university president also announced the creation of a “Campus Mobility Forum,” composed of officials, faculty, and students, to help the administration craft “innovative solutions and sustainable campus mobility strategies” in Ateneo.
“The forum conveners will document ideas exchanged and prepare a report outlining a vision for mobility on campus between now and 2030. The Forum will consider, among others, policies and practices that will promote innovative strategies that will improve campus mobility consistent with long-term sustainability,” Yap said.
This latest move comes weeks after students, faculty members, and alumni who opposed the car park renovation project urged for greater transparency in the university’s decision-making processes during a forum mounted by campus officials.
Yap suspended the project in January to pave the way for consultations on the planned upgrade.
He also apologized for the lack of dialogues prior to the announcement of the project.
Since late December, over 1,200 students, faculty members, and alumni have signed an open letter to Yap, calling for the suspension of the car park project.
“Amidst the climate and transportation crisis happening in our country and all over the world, we cannot continue preaching sustainability and climate justice while we continue to undertake projects that only contribute to the worsening of the problem,” the letter read. – Rappler.com
Lance Arevada is an Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow for 2023-2024.
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Marcos: China, US can’t treat world as arena for competition
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Bea Cupin
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04/03/2024 19:46
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File photo of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Noel Pabalate/PPA Pool
MELBOURNE, Australia – In an impassioned speech delivered days after describing the Philippines as a country on the frontlines of “threats” in the Indo-Pacific, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the future of the region should not be “shaped not by one or two, but by many actors.”
“There are those who continue to see regional developments solely from the narrow prism of great power rivalries. There are those who reduce these developments for a regional regression towards outdated Cold War paradigms,” said Marcos in a speech on Monday, March 4, before a crowd gathered by the Lowy Institute at the Victoria State Library.
“The future of this region will be shaped not by one or two, but by many actors, and they will each demand that their voices be heard, individually and collectively, as indeed they should be. Thus, the Philippines begins any conversation regarding great power competition with a strong rejection of any subordination of our distinct national interests and denial of our sovereignty and strategic agency,” he added.
Marcos is in Melbourne to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Australia Summit from March 4 to 6, 2024.
That Marcos explicitly rejected the framing of regional security only through the lens of US and China’s superpower competition is nothing new. Speaking at the September 2023 ASEAN Summit in Indonesia, Marcos said the Philippines rejected “misleading narratives that frame the disputes in the South China Sea solely through the lens of strategic competition between two powerful countries.”
He doubled down on that idea months later in Melbourne.
“We, in the Indo-Pacific, must ensure that great powers do not treat the world as an arena for their competition. The pursuit of the great powers’ respective strategic goals must never come at the expense of the interests of smaller states, nor of regional and international peace,” said the President, in a speech almost interrupted by a short coughing fit.
The Indo-Pacific’s security and stability has been a major topic of discussions in Melbourne, as Australia tries to solidify its position as an integral partner to ASEAN.
The region is a flashpoint of geopolitical tensions in the great Indo-Pacific, with the Philippines squarely in the middle. There’s tensions in the West Philippine Sea, or parts of the South China Sea where the Philippines has sovereign rights. There’s also the issue of Taiwan, and China’s insistence of reunification of the democratically-run island.
The US-China rivalry, said Marcos, is not the biggest problem humanity faces, after all.
“We are also confronted with uncertainties posed by transformative technologies and the existential threat of climate change, even as persistent inequities and inequalities within and among our nations remain unresolved, he said.
The Philippines has seen a dramatic shift in foreign policy from the previous Rodrigo Duetrte administration to the current one led by Marcos. Under Duterte, Manila seemed to turn away from its treaty-ally Washington, while inching closer to Beijing.
The complete opposite is happening under Marcos’ watch. Ties with the US have warmed, particularly in the arena of security and defense. His administration, meanwhile, has made it a policy to “expose” China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea through its “transparency initiative.”
“Our independent foreign policy compels us to cooperate with [China] on matters where our interests align, to respectfully disagree on areas where our views differ, and to push back when our sworn principles, such as our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and our jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea — are questioned or ignored,” said Marcos in a short Q&A after the speech
Australia and the Philippines are both middle powers that are treaty-allies of the US. Australia is also the only other country, aside from the US, that the Philippines has a Visiting Forces Agreement with.
“We acknowledge the undeniable importance of the People’s Republic of China and the United States of America to the security situation and the economic evolution of this region and of the world. We must deal with both of them constructively,” said Marcos.
Australia and the US are just two of several countries that have made explicit and public their support of the Philippine position on the West Philippine Sea, including the recognition of a 2016 Arbitral Award that deemed as invalid China’s sweeping claim of the South China Sea. – Rappler.com
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Despite drought, Negros Occidental city holds out from declaring ‘state of calamity’
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Chito de la Vega
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04/03/2024 18:58
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FARM LANDS. An aerial image in 2021 showing some of the farm lands in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
Kabankalan City Planning and Development Office
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – Despite a crippling drought taking a heavy toll on its more than 500 rice farmers, the city government of Kabankalan is holding out on declaring a state of calamity until after it has completed validating and assessing all affected villages.
It was Kabankalan Mayor Benjie Miranda who told media that he was considering declaring a state of calamity in the city after seeing the El Nino’s detrimental impact on their agricultural sector.
However, acting city agriculturist Ricky Muscosa said it was still premature to declare a state of calamity in the city as they were still validating and consolidating the data they gathered on the ground.
Once the data has been verified, they would evaluate the situation and determine whether there is a need to raise the state of calamity in the city. This will be followed by a meeting with the mayor, along with different concerned agencies, including the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management team, Muscosa said.
Muscosa said, of Negros Occidental’s 32 towns and cities, Kabankalan is considered prone to crop damage during droughts because most of its croplands are rain-fed or heavily dependent on rain.
Muscosa said that even though Kabankalan is not the province’s largest rice producer, the lack of irrigation infrastructure is the reason rice farmers have insufficient water during dry season. The city has over 5,000 hectares of agricultural land.
Data from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist revealed that as of February 26, at least 75 villages in Negros Occidental were already affected by the drought, which resulted in initial agricultural losses amounting to P55.4 million.
Kabankalan City was the worst-hit city among the local government units of Negros Occidental, the Philippines’ fourth largest province. Of the 32 barangays of Kabankalan, 13 were reeling from the drought, which has now damaged 431.6 hectares of rice farms, affecting more than 500 farmers, and resulted in losses of over P22 million.
Muscosa said they are now planning to install a solar-powered irrigation system, which may be advantageous for rice growers, particularly during the extended dry season.
In addition to setting up solar-powered water systems, farmers are also encouraged to cultivate alternative crops, such as vegetables, which the city provides free of charge. The objective is to diversify the sources of sustenance of the families of farmers.
“Mag single crop kita, kung hinali gani mag epekto ang malawig nga init, maapektuhan gid yah ang aton pananum, so kun rice lang gid, wala na kita yah sang iban nga produkto nga ma harvest,” he said.
(If we just have one crop, our yield may be impacted by a prolonged dry spell. As a result, if our only crop is rice, we have no other crops to harvest.) – Rappler.com
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Man files complaint for evidence planting vs 5 Nueva Ecija cops
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Herbie G
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04/03/2024 15:08
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Not the actual photo / Shutterstock
MANILA, Philippines – A man, arrested and detained for alleged possession of a grenade, and subsequently cleared by prosecutors, has filed criminal and administrative complaints against two police officials and their three subordinates for allegedly planting evidence against him in Nueva Ecija in February.
The complainant, Noel Montano, has accused the law enforcers – Major Shariel Paulino, Captain Sherwin Veloria, Staff Sergeant Joy Kristine Villar, and corporals Arvin Rove Velasco and Jorden Talavera – of grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of police officers, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, among other violations.
In his criminal and administrative complaints filed on March 1 with the Office of the Ombudsman, Montano alleged that the police planted a grenade as evidence when they served an arrest warrant against him in Cabiao town, Nueva Ecija on February 21.
Montano accused the police of violating a clause in the law on illegal firearms, ammunition, and explosives, which provides a punishment of reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years of imprisonment for those who plant evidence.
The Office of the Nueva Ecija Provincial Prosecutor’s Office has cleared Montano and dismissed the complaint against him because the grenade supposedly found in his possession was not among the items listed in a search warrant.
Senior Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Susan Apolonio said the grenade was inadmissible as evidence in the complaint against Montano.
“The actuations of herein respondents of flagrantly violating the law has eroded people’s trust and confidence in public officials,” read part of Montano’s complaint.
He said the alleged planting of evidence was “a highly improper act.”
In his complaint, Montano said he was merely looking after his bed-ridden mother who had just undergone surgery when the police went to his home in Barangay San Fernando Norte, Cabiao town, and served a search warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Gapan City.
He said he agreed to the search on condition that he be allowed to ask several barangay officials first to witness the search.
He said he went to the barangay hall and returned with two village councilors, only to learn that another group of police officers had allegedly dropped in and left while he was gone.
Montano claimed that the police read him the warrant and then searched his home, and he was surprised when the law enforcers found a grenade supposedly hidden under the pillow of his ailing mother.
For that, Montano was arrested and held overnight in detention at the Cabiao town police station.
Montano said he included Major Paulino in his complaint because he supposedly overheard the police official berating a subordinate after the prosecutor’s office dismissed the complaint against him. – Rappler.com
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Rappler Talk: Migs Nograles on using Tiktok to help explain the law
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Kaycee
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04/03/2024 16:01
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MANILA, Philippines — Social media platforms are powerful tools when used for good.
Experts – from those working in the medical field to historians – have been utilizing Tiktok to help make big topics digestible for the greater public. Filipino professionals have done the same.
In this Rappler Talk episode, reporter Kaycee Valmonte sits down with PBA Representative Margarita Nograles, known by her over 400,000 social media followers as “Attorney Migs.” She directly responds to those who have legal queries and tries to simplify the law for her audience.
Catch the interview with Nograles on Monday, March 4 at 4 pm. – Rappler.com
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Malakas: AP.Bren sweeps Games of the Future Russia tourney
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jisaga0269
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04/03/2024 14:55
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CHAMPIONS. AP.Bren lifts the MPL Philippines Season 12 trophy.
Richard Esguerra/MPL Philippines
MANILA, Philippines – The lore continues to grow for the mighty AP.Bren.
The Philippine esports team again flexed its might in international competition after sweeping the Games of the Future 2024 tournament, capped with a 3-1 championship round win over Indonesia’s Onic Esports last Sunday, March 3, in Kazan, Russia.
This is the third championship snagged by the Bernard Chong-founded squad after their captivating year-end heist of the 2023 M5 World Championship.
AP.Bren, composed of Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano, David “FlapTzy” Canon, Michael “KyleTzy” Sayson, Angelo “Pheww” Arcangel, and Rowgien “Owgen” Unigo, collectively brought home $350,000 (P19 million) in the A-tier tournament, which featured a 5-0 sweep.
The Philippine side set the tone early with a 2-0 start in the final round before the Indonesians woke up in a Game 3 bounce-back, refusing to be swept.
AP.Bren then put Onic out of its misery in an 11-1 blowout masterclass in Game 4, bannered by a strong Beatrix outing from Requitano, who tallied a 7-0-3 kills-deaths-assists line to lead the way.
The Filipinos also made quick work of its Group B elimination round opponents, namely Malaysia’s HomeBois and Saudi Arabia’s Twisted Minds. They again beat the HomeBois in the quarterfinals before needing to survive a do-or-die semis Game 3 against Indonesia’s RRQ Hoshi to arrange the final bout. – Rappler.com
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Negros Occcidental film fest by the sea continues promoting local heritage after 5 years
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Chito de la Vega
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04/03/2024 14:18
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MOVIES. The scene during the 5th Margaha Film Festival live showing and judging by the sea on February 27 at the Margaha Beach Resort, Barangay Old Sagay.
Sagay City Information and Tourism Office
BACOLOD, Philippines – Seven films produced mostly by homegrown talents showcased this year’s 5th Margaha Film Festival (MFF), the trailblazing cinema event by the sea, which concluded on February 28, in Sagay City in Negros Occidental.
Aside from its venue by the shore of Margaha Beach Resort in Purok Bougainvillea, Barangay Old Sagay, 80.1 kilometers north of Bacolod City, what makes MFF unique is that the featured films tackle stories with elements of Sagay’s cultural heritage.
This “twist,” so to speak, has hailed the MFF “as one of the best local government-sanctioned ‘artsy’ initiatives in the country.”
Helen Cutillar, Sagay’s information and tourism officer and, MFF director, as well, said the entries were produced, directed, and starred by 70% Sagaynons and 30% Negrosanons from the nearby localities on Negros Island.
This year’s MFF, themed “Sine Singko,” raised its curtains on February 26 with entries shown by the sea shore for the two-day jurors’ screening.
The awarding ceremony was on Wednesday, held fittingly during the culmination of Arts Month.
Trini Garcia’s “Taga-Taga,” (praying mantis) was declared this year’s champion and pocketed the P30,000 top prize. Garcia opus tells the story of a girl who faces moral dilemma after having a romantic encounter with a “playboy,” who later ushered her to other boys.
Mery Grace Rama-Mission’s “Mananguete,” and Thirdy Macam’s “Bang, Bang, Bang Patay Kana, Patay Kana” were first and second runners-up, respectively.
“Mananguete” (tuba gatherer) tells the story of a father who struggles, racing against time just to carve out a brighter future for his son by collecting tuba every day. It won P20,000.
“Bang, Bang, Bang Patay Ka Na, Patay Kana,” which took home P15,000, is the tale of a child who was fascinated by a glimpse of a Tagalog action film that slowly devoured him from reality.
The MFF judges were National Commission on Culture for the Arts (NCCA) head of National Committee on Cinema Butch Ibañez, anthropologist and FDCP chair for the Manunuri ng Pelikula Tito Valiente, film maker-and-director Arden Rod Cortez and international actress Chai Fonacier, with two local panelists – Rod Florentino and Kenneth Ian Rivera .
MFF’S seven film entries are being showing until March 8, Friday, on Film Development Council of the Philippines channel: Juanflix.
Artist, film critic, and sitting Negros Museum director Tanya Lopez on Saturday lauded Sagay for having an anual MFF which, she said, “contributes to the development of the film literacy and encourages (local) film makers to keep on improving their crafts in different areas of film productions.”
Lopez, also the “power” behind “Sine Negrense,” an annual film festival by the Negros Museum, told Rappler that, “Filmmaking is an effective way of preserving local stories and that the MFF highlights the culture and creativity of Sagaynons.”
Cutillar, on the other hand, said MFF is Sagay’s “utang na loob” to its homegrown visual artist, the legendary Nunelucio Alvarado, known here as “The Maestro”.
MFF, Cutillar sais, is Alvarado’s “brainchild” aimed at celebrating one of the seven disciplines of arts, which Sagay is “weak” – and that’s film.
Alvarado, said Cutillar, really wants MFF to be a powerful tool in promoting Sagay thru films by way of raising awareness about the city’s culture and heritage.
Likewise, Alvarado, wished to empower the grassroots by embracing the “magnificient power” of arts.Sagay, billed as Negros’ champion on environmental protection and preservation with its world-renowned 32,000-hectare Sagay Marine Reserve (SMR), is the only local government unit in Negros Occidental that has a film festival by the seas duly supported by both NCCA and FDCP. – Rappler.com
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NGCP not culprit in Panay, Negros Occidental blackout – Bacolod chamber
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Herbie G
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04/03/2024 11:52
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BLACKOUT. Residents and workers do their tasks under candlelight after a massive blackout hits Iloilo City on January 2.
Arnold Almacen/Iloilo City Mayor's Office
BACOLOD, Philippines – The Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) on Sunday, March 3, called on local officials and power consumers to go slow on the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) following the March 1 blackout in Panay Island and parts of Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City.
Frank Carbon, MBCCI chief executive officer, said on Sunday, March 3, that the Friday blackout was not a transmission problem.
“It’s the generation or the supplies that failed, not NGCP. How misinformed can we be?” said Carbon, who also serves as co-chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (PCCI) committee on energy and power in the Visayas.
Carbon came to the NGCP’s defense after local officials and consumers blamed the NGCP for the March 1 blackout, which happened two months after the region suffered two weeks of power outages during the first two weeks of 2024.
“Let’s not turn the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines into a chopping board because of the unscheduled blackout that hit Panay Island and portions of Negros Occidental on March 1,” he said.
The NGCP has repeatedly denied that the problem was caused by its transmission facilities.
The Department of Energy (DOE), in a public advisory on Saturday, March 2, said the power outage was caused by three power generators at the coal-fired Iloilo City-based Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) malfunctioning.
According to the DOE, PEDC went into shutdown, resulting in a partial blackout of the Panay sub-grid and some parts of Negros starting at 6:59 pm on Friday.
One of the PEDC power generating units came back online around 9:53 pm on Friday, followed by another unit at 11:22 pm, and the third at 8:55 am on Saturday, March 2, said the energy department.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas called for an investigation into the recurring power supply problem in Panay and Negros, saying the NGCP was not off the hook yet.
“This shouldn’t be allowed to go on. Our people are all affected. The power situation should be addressed,” Treñas said.
He said he would meet with all the energy stakeholders in Western Visayas to discuss the power situation in the region this week.
Local officials in Iloilo City said a civil case was being prepared against NGCP.
Panay Island gets its power supply from four large coal-fired power plants with a total capacity of 451 megawatts, along with nine smaller diesel-powered and other plants generating 220.3 MW.
The large coal-fired plants include three units of PEDC and one unit of Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC).
The DOE said that in addition to the large generators on the island, 180 MW are being transmitted from Negros to Panay through a submarine cable. The total power demand for Panay Island is below 400 MW.
Currently, one of the large coal power plants, PCPC, is undergoing regular maintenance shutdown until March 30, according to the DOE.
Carbon said it wouldn’t be fair for officials and power consumers in Panay and Negros to pin the blame on NGCP alone.
He said that PCCI would take a more aggressive role in carrying out an information and education campaign so that local power consumers would know and understand the roles of the DOE, NGCP, the National Power Corporation (Napocor), and independent power producers. – Rappler.com
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In Australia, Philippines picks up $1.5 billion in investment deals
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Dwight de Leon
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04/03/2024 13:05
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AUSTRALIA VISIT. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrives in Melbourne on March 3, 2024, to attend a special summit between Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations from March 4 to 6.
Presidential Communications Office
MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang said the government secured $1.53 billion in investment agreements during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s trip to Australia.
The agreements, which amount to P85.7 billion when converted, are in the areas of renewable energy, recycling, and health, among others.
A press release from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Monday, March 4, said the deals include 10 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) between Filipino and Australian business leaders, namely:
The PCO added that some Australian businesspeople also sent letters of intent for the following projects:
“These agreements signify our unwavering commitment to excellence and fruitful partnerships spanning diverse sectors,” Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said, as quoted by the PCO.
In December 2023, the government said Marcos’ trips abroad have brought home $72.18 billion in foreign investments, but only a small fraction could be considered realized investments.
Marcos flew to Melbourne on Sunday, March 3, to attend a special summit between Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Australia – as its foreign affairs department pointed out – considers ASEAN a key trading partner. Its two-way trade with countries in the Southeast Asian bloc reached $178 billion in 2022, higher than two-way trade with the United States, Japan, and the European Union.
It is Marcos’ second trip to the Land Down Under in the past seven days, as he was just in Canberra from February 28 to 29, addressing the Australian Parliament.
He is scheduled to fly home on Wednesday, March 6. – Rappler.com
$1 = P56.015
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FACT CHECK: No SC order stopping Senate probe into Quiboloy activities
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Lorenz Pasion
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04/03/2024 13:59
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Claim: The Supreme Court (SC) suspended the ongoing Senate inquiry on the alleged abuses committed by the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) led by Davao-based preacher and Duterte ally Apollo Quiboloy.
Why we fact-checked this: Multiple videos targeting Senator Risa Hontiveros, the opposition senator leading the investigation in the upper chamber, have been uploaded by the YouTube channel SAGAM TV with 178,000 subscribers.
On February 26, the channel uploaded a video with the title, “Hontivirus sumusobra na! Pinatahimik na ni Quiboloy! Korte Suprema umaksyon laban kay Hontivirus! (Hontivirus Is getting out of hand! Quiboloy has silenced her! Supreme Court takes action against Hontivirus!). As of writing, it has reached 40,625 views, 1,800 likes, and 274 comments.
The moniker “Hontivirus” has been used by pro-Duterte bloggers to refer to Hontiveros, as shown by the inclusion of the senator’s image in the video thumbnail.
Of the 23 videos released by the channel from February 25 to 29, about 13 are linked to Hontiveros and Quiboloy. Some of these videos allege that the senator has paid witnesses and released a shoot-to-kill order for the embattled pastor.
The facts: The Supreme Court, as a separate and co-equal branch of government, has not been involved in the current investigations of the Senate on the alleged human rights abuses of KOJC and its media arm, Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).
The Court has just been mentioned once in relation to the Senate committee hearing during a radio interview with lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, Quiboloy’s counsel, on February 26.
“Our Senate, particularly Senator Hontiveros, should already learn to listen to the pronouncements of our Supreme Court and not continue to abuse their power,” he said in Filipino.
Topacio was referring to a 2023 SC ruling on the Senate blue ribbon committee’s “grave abuse of discretion” over its contempt and arrest order against its resource persons during the 2021 Pharmally hearings.
Meanwhile, in January, SMNI media workers went to the Supreme Court to challenge the National Telecommunications Commission’s cease and desist order suspending the network’s operations indefinitely.
Aside from these developments, the Court has not been brought up in the ongoing probes into Quiboloy and his affiliates.
Unrelated: The video does not provide evidence for its claim, instead reviving a repeatedly debunked claim that Hontiveros was named in a 2022 SC ruling on anomalies in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth), where Hontiveros previously served as a board member.
Human rights abuses: As head of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality, Hontiveros has led the hearings on allegations of human trafficking, sexual abuse, and violence supposedly committed by Quiboloy and KOJC.
One of the witnesses, “Rene,” alleged that he was sexually abused by male staff with the preacher’s approval and that he was forced to work as a researcher at SMNI without pay. He also claimed to have seen former president Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte receiving various firearms from Quiboloy.
The Senate panel has issued a subpoena to Quiboloy after he snubbed three of its hearings since January. Hontiveros has warned that she would hold Quiboloy in contempt and order him arrested unless he attends the next hearing on March 5.
The pastor, who styles himself as the “appointed son of God,” remains defiant and in hiding as he claims that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has a kill order for him and his church leaders. In response, Marcos advised Quiboloy to come out of hiding and face the allegations against him in Congress. – Rappler.com
Lance Arevada is a campus journalist at the Ateneo de Manila University. The managing editor of Matanglawin Ateneo, he is also an Aries Rufo Journalism fellow of Rappler for 2023-2024.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through our Viber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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PRIMER: Investigations, cases against Apollo Quiboloy
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Herbie G
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27/02/2024 18:35
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CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday, February 27, once again called on doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy to face his accusers and address the serious allegations raised against him in an ongoing investigation.
Hontiveros made the call just one week before the fourth hearing set by her committee regarding the alleged abuses committed by the Davao-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) against its former workers and members.
The senator earlier warned that she would cite Quiboloy in contempt and have him arrested unless he showed up at the March 5 hearing of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Hontiveros said the committee, as it investigates matters in aid of legislation, “has the power to compel the attendance of witnesses, no matter how well-connected they are.”
She said Quiboloy, who styles himself as the “appointed son of God,” is not above the law and the country’s institutions.
“In the past, Cabinet officials, lawmakers, an incumbent Senate president, and even a former president have submitted to Senate subpoenas and appeared as witnesses. His (Quiboloy’s) constitutional rights, like all witnesses, are respected. Pero hindi siya mataas pa sa presidente, sa Senado, at sa batas (But he is not higher than the President, the Senate, and the law),” she said in a statement recorded on video.
Quiboloy has wielded much influence as a religious figure in the country. He has maintained a close friendship and unwavering support for former president Rodrigo Duterte, with their ties dating back to Duterte’s time as mayor of Davao City. Throughout Duterte’s presidency, Quiboloy served as his “spiritual adviser,” cementing their long-standing relationship.
Hontiveros also noted that Quiboloy and his followers called the witnesses who appeared before the Senate committee as cowards for not showing their faces in public, yet the KOJC leader himself declared his intention to disregard the Senate subpoena.
She pointed out that Quiboloy’s accusers have executed affidavits against the preacher and his church associates.
Addressing Quiboloy, Hontiveros said, “Bukas po ang Senado para sa panig ‘nyo. Hinihintay namin kayo (The Senate is open to your side. We are waiting for you).”
The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Office served the subpoena to Quiboloy, through his lawyer Marie Dinah Tolentino-Fuentes, on February 22, after the preacher ignored invitations to attend three previous hearings at the Senate.
Hontiveros’ committee has been tasked by the Senate to look into allegations of human trafficking, sexual abuse, violence, and other misconduct involving the preacher and his organization.
She can, according to Section 17 of the Senate rules governing the conduct of committee investigations. The authority of Senate committees includes the “power to summon witnesses and take their testimony and to issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum, signed by its Chairman, or in his absence by the Acting Chairman, and approved by the President.”
“Within Metro Manila, such process shall be served by the Sergeant-at-Arms or his assistant. Outside of Metro Manila, service may be made by the police of a municipality or city, upon request of the Secretary,” reads a clause in the Senate rules.
Section 18 of the Senate rules on panel investigations provides that a “contempt of the Committee shall be deemed a contempt of the Senate.”
The rules also provide that “such witness may be ordered by the Committee to be detained in such place as it may designate under the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms until he/she agrees to produce the required documents, or to be sworn or to testify, or otherwise purge himself/herself of that contempt.”
Former KOJC members have testified on the alleged abuses of Quiboloy and his church associates before Hontiveros’ committee since the panel started the hearings on January 23.
Their narratives – including that of two Ukrainian women who alleged that Quiboloy sexually abused them in the name of religion – have been consistent with and corroborated by the allegations made also by former KOJC members in the United States against the Davao-based preacher.
Quiboloy and eight of his associates were indicted by a federal grand jury in a US District Court in Santa Ana, California, in 2021.
The 74-page indictment document shows that the preacher and the other accused have been charged with the following crimes:
The indictment papers enumerate 94 overt acts of the preacher and his associates.
The US court ordered Quiboloy and his associates arrested on November 10, 2021. Except for Quiboloy and two others, Teresita Dandan and Helen Panilag, the others either surrendered or were arrested by US authorities, and subsequently bailed out.
The others who have been indicted along with Quiboloy are the following:
At least one of those accused has subsequently agreed to turn state witness against Quiboloy’s group.
On January 31, 2022, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) included Quiboloy, Dandan, and Panilag, among several other fugitives from Mexico and China, in its most wanted list, and published their separate wanted posters on its website.
The FBI’s “most wanted” poster on the KOJC leader reads, “Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, the founder of a Philippines-based church, is wanted for his alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members to the United States, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders.”
On November 3, 2022, Judge Terry Hatter Jr. of the US District Court-Central District of California reset the trial of Quiboloy and his co-accused in Los Angeles from March 21, 2023, to March 19, 2024. Subsequently, in late 2023, the trial was again moved to November 2024.
In the 2022 order, Hatter granted the request of five of the defendants – Salinas, Cabactulan, Duenas, Estopare, and Roces – to be given more time to prepare their defense, based on the US Speedy Trial Act.
Based on the US-Philippines extradition treaty, an extradition request must be made through diplomatic channels.
But nearly three years after the indictment of Quiboloy and his associates, the US has yet to submit a formal extradition request for the preacher, Dandan, and Panilag, according to the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ).
In late 2022, the US announced sanctions against the KOJC leader through its treasury and state departments, a move that coincided with International Anti-Corruption Day and on the eve of International Human Rights Day.
The sanctions include the following:
– Rappler.com
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139 NFA officials, staff suspended over ‘improper’ sale of rice buffer stocks
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Iya Gozum
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04/03/2024 13:35
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Rappler.com
MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman suspended 139 officials and employees of the National Food Authority (NFA) on Monday, March 4, over “the controversial sale of rice buffer stocks.”
Suspended officials include administrator Roderico Bioco, assistant administrator for operations John Robert Hermano, 12 regional managers, 27 branch managers, and 98 warehouse supervisors.
“We intend to dig deep as far as 2019 at least and welcome those who would come forward to assist us in cleansing the NFA,” said Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. in a statement on Monday.
Tiu Laurel will temporarily lead the NFA after the suspension of Bioco and Piolito Santos, NFA assistant administrator for finance and administration.
The NFA Council previously appointed Santos as administrator on March 6.
An official accusing several executives “improperly disposing buffer stocks without bidding and at a price allegedly disadvantageous to government” spurred the investigation. Tiu Laurel has since urged concerned officials to take a leave of absence to give way to the probe.
“Rice is the main food staple of tens of millions of Filipinos, particularly the poor,” Tiu Laurel said.
“We cannot allow those who have been entrusted this noble task to bilk the NFA, enriching themselves at the expense of millions who struggle every day for a chance [to] feed their families.”
The investigation, conducted jointly by the Office of the Ombudsman and the agriculture department, is still ongoing. The DA said more information will be released to the public once results are out.
Bioco had already filed a leave of absence before the suspension, “to allow investigators a freehand to undertake the probe, which we expect will go beyond this controversy.”
Under the Rice Tariffication Law, the NFA is mandated to keep the country’s rice buffer stock at optimal level of 15-30 days of national rice consumption, factoring in emergency and disaster situations. The NFA can dispose of stocks before rice quality deteriorates or becomes unsafe for consumption.
Meanwhile, former senator Francis Pangilinan lauded Tiu Laurel’s efforts in suspending the NFA officials.
Pangilinan, former chair of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, said in a statement on Wednesday, March 6, that the agriculture secretary should go further and blacklist billionaire traders and disqualify them from future dealings with the DA.
“Billionaire traders, whose unmatched greed knows no limit in partnership with corrupt DA officials, [are] the biggest stumbling block to modernizing our agriculture and fisheries sector, increasing our farmers’ income, improving their productivity, and bringing down food prices,” he said.
He said the issue only shows that good governance is necessary if farmers’ and fisherfolks’ lives are to be improved.
“There is no rice or sugar or onion ‘cartel’ for government to point a finger at because the government agriculture bureaucracy and the cartel are one,” Pangilinan said. “The enemy isn’t at the gate, the enemy is in the fortress.” – Rappler.com
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Rhenz Abando ready for EASL playoffs after winning KBL injury return
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Jasmine Payo
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03/03/2024 21:42
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KEY COG. Anyang's Rhenz Abando goes for a shot against Goyang in KBL action.
Anyang Jung Kwan Jang
MANILA, Philippines — Rhenz Abando will not be a mere spectator in the East Asia Super League (EASL) Final Four to be held in Cebu this weekend after getting the green light to play.
The high-flying Abando will suit up for the Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters in the continental league after a successful return on Sunday, March 3, in the Korean Basketball League.
In his first game back since suffering a spinal injury last December, Abando powered his way to 17 points in 28 minutes, on top of 4 rebounds and 3 assists in Anyang’s 92-87 win against Goyang Sono.
The former NCAA Most Valuable Player, however, said his injury recovery is around “85-90 percent,” admitting to still feeling pain when bending his body.
Abando’s game was well-attended by Filipino fans in South Korea, including Philippine ambassador Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega.
“The support of the Filipino fans is a great help. The embassy people came, so I think I’m even happier that we won the game,” Abando, who was named Player of the Game, said after the contest.
“I am happy that I was able to win on my comeback match. The team still has some room to improve, but I am happy that we won,” he added.
Abando’s return was coincidentally with the same team he played against when he suffered the gruesome injury.
Chinanu Onuaku collided with Abando while he was in mid-air, leading to an awkward fall for the Filipino.
He and Onuaku met before the game, with the latter apologizing for the mishap, per Abando.
The EASL Final Four, set to be held at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City, will feature Anyang against rival Seoul SK Knights in the semifinals on March 8, 5 pm.
The winner of that matchup will face off with the victor of the Chiba Jets-New Taipei Kings tussle in the second semifinal game at 8 pm.
The gold- and bronze-medal matches will be on Sunday, March 10, at the same venue. — Rappler.com
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Expect heavier rainfall, increased risk of landslides, floods in Mindanao – scientists
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Iya Gozum
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04/03/2024 11:19
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Aerial view of the landslide at the mining village of Masara in Maco town in Davao de Oro province.
Photo courtesy of the Civil Defense Davao Region
MANILA, Philippines – Rainfall in Mindanao surged by 50%, compared to pre-industrial climate, a team of scientists from the World Weather Attribution found in a recent study.
Researchers from the UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) and the Manila Observatory, along with those from the United Kingdom, Netherlands, United States, and Switzerland, assessed the 5-day maximum rainfall during December to February.
On February 6, a landslide occurred in barangay Masara in the gold mining town of Maco, Davao de Oro, killing at least 98 people and devastating homes of residents. Before the landslide happened, rainfall persisted from January 28 to February 2.
“We find that in today’s climate, a heavy rainfall spell like this is expected with a 10% chance in any given year,” the study read.
Because of climate change, a warmer air can hold more moisture that gets released as rainfall.
“This result is in line with what’s expected from basic climate science. With increasing greenhouse gas emissions, the atmosphere is becoming warmer and able to accumulate more water,” said Sjoukje Philip, researcher at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute.
It is also important to note that the Philippines is now experiencing strong El Niño, which should mean drier conditions. “Had it not been an El Niño year, we would have expected the rainfall to be more extreme,” scientists said in the study.
Aside from the 50% increase in rainfall, disasters in Mindanao are exacerbated by loss of nature, poverty, and reliance on climate sensitive livelihoods such as logging and mining, scientists said.
“Increasing people’s exposure and vulnerability to natural hazards such as flooding and landslides, while limiting coping capacity, these factors are likely to have worsened the impacts of the heavy rainfall.”
Maco had been tagged as highly susceptible to landslides according to government’s geohazard maps. Relocation has not yet happened since a similar disaster happened 16 years ago, even when the area was declared a no-build zone. A community remained and a gold mine continued to operate.
Likha Minimo, a geologist who studied the interplay between development and disasters in Mindanao, said that many areas in Mindanao are high-risk and people are usually left with no choice but to stay where they are despite knowing their vulnerability.
“They have nowhere to go within the local government, or no one can offer them a suitable relocation area,” Minimo said in Filipino during a Rappler Talk interview. “When you say suitable, there’s no risk, [and] they also have a livelihood.”
Minimo is the director for knowledge sharing at UPRI.
The geologist said that logging and mining are usually conducted in high-risk locations: in steep slopes, volcanic areas where metals are concentrated, or near fault lines.
The study noted that deforestation from logging, mining, and conversion of agricultural lands in the Davao and Caraga regions have intensified since the 1950s. “Deforestation negatively impacts natural water cycles and soil stability, which can increase surface runoff, ultimately aggravating the risk of landslides and floods.”
In interactions with locals and officials in Mindanao for a separate study they conducted in 2018, Minimo said they found there was a lack of prioritizing land-use planning. This is a glaring problem, as the land-use plan is the basis for the zoning ordinance, which will then guide people where they can or cannot build homes.
Another problem is that some zoning ordinances are not updated to adhere to guidelines for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
“Not all zoning ordinances, if they exist, are responsive to multi-hazards,” said Minimo. “The plan and the legislation are probably outdated. [W]e saw that as one of the main problems in Mindanao.”
The authors of the study recommended the maintenance of a working early warning system that could help leaders make sound decisions.
If only the available rain gauges and automated weather stations in the region were working, more information would have been available to decision makers to enforce preemptive evacuations,” the study said.
“It is critical that both early warning systems and assessment of landslide-prone areas are improved to avoid similar disasters in the future,” said Richard Ybañez, UPRI chief science research specialist.
Aside from the necessary technology, governments should invest in people with the technical expertise, said Minimo.
“We need to invest in people,” said Minimo. “On people who will interpret the data, on people who will reach out to the communities to explain the risks as well.” – Rappler.com
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‘One of my dreams’: Carlo Biado bags elusive world 10-ball crown
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Jasmine Payo
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03/03/2024 19:35
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CHAMPION. Filipino billiards star Carlo Biado celebrates his latest triumph in world 10-ball.
PREDATOR PRO BILLARD SERIES
MANILA, Philippines — Carlo Biado ticked off another item from his bucket list after securing the 2024 WPA Predator World 10-Ball Championship at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, March 2 (Sunday, March 3, Manila time).
Nicknamed the “Black Tiger,” Biado knocked out Japan’s Naoyuki Oi in the finals, 3-1, in sets to secure his first 10-ball world title after falling short in the 2015 edition.
Aside from bagging the US $75,000 (P4.2 million) prize, Biado added the crown to his stellar collection that also includes the 2017 world 9-ball championship and the 2021 US Open crown.
He, along with Rubilen Amit and Johann Chua, also won the WPA World Mixed Teams 10-Ball Championship in Austria in 2022.
Biado said in his personal YouTube account right after his semifinal win that clinching the elusive 10-ball title is one of his targets.
“[This] is one of my dreams, the world 10-ball (championship), I’ve been trying for a long time to win this,” said Biado, adding that the world 8-ball crown is also on his wish list.
Biado took the first game, 4-1, before Oi clapped back with a 4-3 decision to tie the contest at 1-all.
The lone Filipino out of 64 participants went ahead in the third game, 4-2, before taking the final set, 4-1, knocking in a clean shot to win the title.
“It’s overwhelming. I’m very happy that I won this match. I finally got the world 10-ball championship,” Biado said after the championship round.
“When I heard that national anthem, it felt like [shedding] tears of joy. I finally won the championship,” he continued.
Biado emerged victorious against Russia’s Fedor Gorst in the semifinals, after eliminating Taiwan’s Ko-Ping Chun in the quarterfinals. — Rappler.com
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Actress Jaclyn Jose dies at 60
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Marguerite de Leon
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03/03/2024 23:46
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Shutterstock
MANILA, Philippines – Actress Jaclyn Jose died on Saturday, March 2, her talent agency announced early Monday morning. She was 60.
PPL Entertainment Incorporated announced on March 4 her passing in a social media post.
“It saddens us to inform everyone of the untimely passing of Miss Jaclyn Jose (real name Mary Jane Guck,” the company said.
“The Guck and Eigenmann families are requesting for everyone to please pray for the eternal repose of Miss Jaclyn Jose and for them to be allowed the respect and privacy to mourn her passing, and navigate these difficult times,” it added.
In a press conference on Monday afternoon, actress Andi Eigenmann confirmed that her mother Jaclyn passed away due to myocardial infarction or heart attack on the morning of March 2.
She also asked the public to give them respect and privacy as their family grieves. Eigenmann hoped that their statement would put speculations regarding the late actress’ passing to rest.
“Her undeniable legacy will definitely forever live on through her work, through her children, through her grandchildren, and the many lives she’s touched. She herself, her life itself, was her greatest obra maestra,” Eigenmann added.
Born Mary Jane Santa Ana Guck, Jose was a renowned dramatic film and television actress with multiple acting awards under her belt.
She was the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to win best actress at the Cannes Film Festival, for her leading turn as a matriarch and meth dealer in Brillante Mendoza’s Ma’ Rosa. She also had three Gawad Urian best actress nods for her roles in Takaw Tukso (1987), Itanong Mo Sa Buwan (1989), and Sarong Banggi (2006).
She debuted in 1984 with William Pascual’s Chicas and Chito Roño’s Private Show, and had gone on to star in acclaimed films such as The Flor Contemplacion Story, Patay na si Hesus, and Kalel, 15. She also featured in shows such as Maalaala Mo Kaya, Valiente, and Marimar. Her last role was as Chief Dolores Espinas in the series FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.
She was in a relationship with actor Mark Gil. She is survived by their child together, Andi Eigenmann, and a son from another relationship, Gwen Garimond. – Rappler.com
(Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story misreported Jose’s age.)
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Weekend water crisis leaves thousands thirsty, dry in Cagayan de Oro
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Herbie G
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04/03/2024 9:37
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WATER CRISIS. Residents line up to fetch treated water from a tanker dispatched to bring water to their village in Cagayan de Oro.
Cagayan de Oro Water District
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Thousands of families in Cagayan de Oro and some parts of Misamis Oriental spent the entire weekend without a supply of tap water as the city’s biggest supplier of treated water relocated major valves due to an ongoing flood-control project by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The relocation work near the Emmanuel Pelaez Bridge in Taguanao, Barangay Indahag, started at 9 am on Saturday morning, March 2, and was scheduled to be completed at 3 pm on the same day. However, complications resulting from the discovery of pipe leakages prompted the Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water Incorporated (COBI) to make major repairs until the wee hours of Monday, March 4.
Initially expected to affect only the villages of Macasandig, Camaman-an, Lapasan, and Gusa, the water supply interruption expanded to at least 16 more barangays, many in the western parts of Cagayan de Oro up to neighboring Opol town in Misamis Oriental, where many families complained of being left with little or no water for days.
COBI, a company controlled by business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan’s Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, holds the biggest bulk water supply contract with the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD).
Engineer Antonio Young, COWD general manager, explained that the water supply interruption had to be extended because the bulk water supplier needed more time to repair a major pipe leak discovered after completing the valve relocation.
Young said the repairs required draining 10 kilometers of 16-inch thick water pipelines due to welding works.
“There were leakages because of the pressure – over 200 PSI (pounds per square inch). So, that’s very high,” he said.
Although the COWD, citing an assessment report from COBI, had estimated emergency repairs to be completed by 10 pm on Sunday, they lasted until the wee hours of Monday.
While some areas in the city started seeing tap water, many areas remained without a supply as of posting time.
The situation prompted the COWD, city government, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and private groups to dispatch water trucks to the hardest-hit villages, providing treated water to thousands of families.
Young apologized for the inconvenience, explaining that the realignment and subsequent repairs were necessary to facilitate the DPWH’s ongoing flood control project.
Angry consumers took to social media, criticizing the COWD and COBI for undertaking repairs on a weekend when tap water was needed the most and for the delays. Many expressed disappointment because they had expected the water supply to resume on Saturday afternoon as earlier announced. – Rappler.com
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‘Uncalled for,’ ‘lack of due process:’ UE coach Jerry Yee slams season-long ban
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jisaga0269
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03/03/2024 15:14
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IN THE DARK. UE Lady Warriors head coach Jerry Yee reacts in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP rocked the Season 86 women’s volleyball landscape on Sunday, March 3, after it announced a season-long suspension spanning three months on UE Lady Warriors head coach Jerry Yee for “acts that are inconsistent with the purposes of the [UAAP] Association.”
Per a league statement, the complaint was “raised by a member school on account of conduct violative of the purposes of the UAAP – a platform for Member Universities to foster camaraderie and fair play,” concurred by the league Board of Trustees last Thursday, February 29, and handed on Friday, March 1.
Yee, no longer allowed to enter game arenas as set by the suspension’s parameters, met with members of the media in a separate venue to express his disappointment with the verdict.
“I maintain that there was no ethical breach in my decision to accept UE’s head coaching job, because it was a mutual parting of ways for both Adamson and I,” he wrote in a prepared statement.
“It is unfortunate that this career decision of mine has been met with vitriol at the late-onset, borne out of vindictiveness ironically from an institution that prides itself in instilling Catholic virtues and teachings,” he continued, insinuating that the complaint came from Adamson’s side.
Assistant coach Dr. Obet Vital will take over the Lady Warriors for the duration of suspension, or until a favorable decision is met on Yee’s appeal – scheduled for filing on Monday, March 4.
“I met again with Adamson and [sponsor] Akari around the first week of June 2023 to discuss a mutual termination of agreement, and thereafter on June 7, 2023, the school issued a “statement of release” effectively terminating my services as head coach of the Lady Falcons,” Yee’s statement continued.
“While focusing on my teams in the NCAA (CSB) and PVL (Farm Fresh), UE approached and offered me a head coaching job which I accepted on June 21, 2023.”
League representatives have politely declined in issuing further statements or clarifications on the exact nature of Yee’s offenses out of respect for his incoming appeal.
“My dismay with the UAAP board’s decision is merely secondary to the disappointment that I hold in not being able to fulfill my commitment in coaching and mentoring the UE Lady Warriors,” Yee’s statement continued. “Moreover, this decision also unduly deprives me of the right to obtain other sources of living and providing for my family.”
“I think it’s uncalled for and there was no due process,” he continued in a separate interview. “They did not get my side on this and I was surprised that there was something like this.
Yee now hopes his side will be heard as he maintained he was blindsided by the decision and is still in the dark on what he did wrong.
“If they give me an audience, I can speak up,” he continued. “For now, our practices continue.” – Rappler.com
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Donation docs specify Boljoon panels stay with National Museum
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Dwight de Leon
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04/03/2024 8:00
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ART. The National Museum of the Philippines receives a series of early 19th-century panels depicting the founder of the Augustinian Order from private collectors Edwin and Aileen Bautista.
National Museum of the Philippines
CEBU, Philippines – The deed of donation signed by collectors Edwin and Aileen Bautista and National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) Director General Jeremy Barns stipulated that the four pulpit panels from the heritage church of Boljoon, Cebu should stay with the NMP.
A redacted copy of the deed of donation obtained by Rappler says: “The PANELS shall be accessioned to the permanent collection of the DONEE, which shall maintain possession of the PANELS in perpetuity and shall not dispose of them, individually or collectively, in any way.”
The agreement, which was signed on January 16, 2024, also specified that the NMP should put the panels on exhibit and “ensure their accessibility.”
The document also showed that all the parties and signatories knew when they were signing the agreement that the panels came from the “Church of the Roman Catholic Parish of Patrocinio de Maria Santisima in Boljoon, Cebu.”
The document identified the Bautistas as the “legal owner” of the panels, which officials and church people in Cebu insist are “stolen.”
Various leaders in the government, church, and heritage circles in Cebu are calling for the immediate repatriation of the panels to the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santisima in Boljoon.
Father Brian Brigoli, who heads the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church, said the panels are considered stolen whether they were carted away by thieves or sold by the parish priest.
The deed of donation was signed several weeks after some in the archdiocesan commission reached out to the Bautistas, telling them that the panels were from Boljoon.
Several sources have described the Bautistas as “good faith” buyers who wanted “to do the right thing” after their discovery that the panels came from the pulpit of the Boljoon church.
NMP Board of Trustees chairperson Andoni Aboitiz signed the document as one of the witnesses. Edwin Bautista is the president and CEO of Union Bank of the Philippines, a company under the Aboitiz Group.
Lawyer Benjamin Cabrido Jr., a consultant of the Cebu provincial government, said the NMP can secure a waiver from the Bautistas to avoid violating the agreement if the agency intends to return the panels to Boljoon.
“Otherwise, the rightholders of these items may sue both in order to get a judicial order to return,” he said.
Cabrido claimed that it is clear from the text of the deed of donation that they were trying to preclude removal of the panels from the NMP.
“But remember, in order for contracts to be valid, it must not be contrary to law, morals, good customs, public order, or public policy,” he said. “Keeping it with NMP is contrary to PD 1612 (Anti-Fencing Law). Retaining it despite the overwhelming evidence that these were stolen is contrary to good morals.”
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma eariler said the panels were never authorized to be taken away from the church.
“The Archdiocese of Cebu hereby asserts its ownership of these panels and requests their immediate return to Boljoon at the pulpit where they were surreptitiously removed,” Palma said.
“They should never have been treated, then or now, as mere artworks for exhibition in museums, much less for private appreciation by the collectors who purchased them. For these panels are considered in the ecclesial rite as tools of evangelization,” he added.
When asked about the valuation of the panels, the NMP said “the donor did not seek a tax reduction so it was not valuated.”
The deed of donation identified the figure in all four panels as St. Augustine of Hippo. “The Pueblo of Bolhoon,” a book published by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, identified the panels as depicting “Agustin de Hippo, San Cirilo de Alexandria, and San Ambrosio de Milan.”
The document said the Bautistas were donating the panels “out of pure liberality, benevolence, generosity and concern for the preservation and promotion of the artistic and cultural heritage and patrimony of the Philippines.”
The document added that the donation will be acknowledged by the NMP as “the gift of Edwin and Aileen Bautista to the Filipino people.”
Aboitiz said he had a “constructive” dialogue with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on February 27, but capitol sources claimed that during the meeting, Garcia stood firm on her assertion that the panels be repatriated to Boljoon.
On Monday, March 4, the municipal council of Boljoon is scheduled to pass several resolutions asking the members of the NMP Board of Trustees to support the repatriation of the panels.
The resolutions are individually addressed to:
The four panels were part of the six installed on the pulpit of the Boljoon church. They were lost in the 1980s and Boljoon residents had thought them gone for good until they reemerged at the “Gift to the Nation” exhibit in the NMP on February 13.
Only one panel is left, which is now on display in the parish museum. One panel remains missing. The parish installed copies of the panel on the pulpit. A heritage official said the panels will be reinstalled on the pulpit when it is repatriated. – Rappler.com
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‘Mentally down’: Dongallo shakes off Yee suspension, focuses on improving UE fortunes
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jisaga0269
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03/03/2024 20:56
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FOR COACH JERRY. UE spiker Casiey Dongallo wears a wristband to show support for coach Jerry Yee.
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP certainly picked a bad time, at least for the UE Lady Warriors, to hand out their season-long suspension to head coach Jerry Yee.
Mere hours before UE took on Yee’s former team Adamson Lady Falcons, the league officially handed down its stunning decision while Yee himself was in a separate venue outside the Mall of Asia Arena talking to reporters about the development.
Although the players and the remaining coaching staff were already given a heads-up, the side effects of the off-court development were still evident on the taraflex, as Adamson rolled over UE with back-to-back 25-19 routs and eventually prevailing in an extended fourth frame, 29-27.
For Lady Warriors super rookie Casiey Dongallo, the announcement certainly played a part in her team’s lethargic start.
“As [interim coach] Doc [Obet Vital] pointed out, we were mentally down in the first and second set. That was certainly one big added burden in our minds,” she lamented in Filipino.
“But as the game flowed, the coaches did not lack in reminders for us to set that aside. We just had to play our game especially in the third and fourth sets, where we were able to do just that. Still, we fell short.”
To the Lady Warriors’ credit, they indeed stepped up in the latter frames, stealing a 28-26 decision to stay alive in the third, before almost pulling off a fifth-set decider in a thrilling finish, 25-19, 25-19, 26-28, 29-27.
Also catching fans’ attention were the UE players’ accessories during the game – an assortment of armbands, muscle tapes, and wrist guards that have “Coach Jerry” scribbled on them.
Dongallo, far and away the league’s leading scorer with a 27 points per game average, added 26 more to her fast-growing tally as a small silver lining to UE dropping its third straight close game.
Moving forward, given the fact that Yee may still lead practices away from game arenas, Dongallo hopes that she and her teammates could break out of this slump soon – both standings-wise and mentally speaking.
“It’s not like we can just forget what happened this game, but I think we just have to move forward, give it all in training, fix what needs to be fixed, especially our mental state,” she continued.
“We really need to get our minds back in the game, as it was clear that we were affected with what happened to coach Jerry.” – Rappler.com
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Cellar dwellers on top: Terrafirma stuns NLEX, shares PH Cup lead with Blackwater
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Jasmine Payo
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03/03/2024 20:21
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LEADER. Terrafirma guard Juami Tiongson in action against NLEX.
PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines –A longtime league cellar dweller, the Terrafirma Dyip are starting to turn heads in the PBA Philippine Cup.
For the first time since the 2016 Governors’ Cup, Terrafirma is off to a 2-0 start in the conference after gutting out a 99-95 win over the NLEX Road Warriors at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, March 3.
After erupting for 30 points in their opening assignment last Friday, March 2, high-scoring guard Juami Tiongson was on a mission for the Dyip anew as he dropped a team-best 21 points in the come-from-behind triumph.
Javi Gomez de Liaño backstopped Tiongson with 18 points, while top rookie Stephen Holt, who scored a PBA career-high of 27 points two days ago, filled up the stat sheet with 17 markers, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals.
“We have two wins now, but I told my players we have to win every game,” said Terrafirma head coach Johnedel Cardel as the Dyip joined the Blackwater Bossing as the surprise leaders early in the conference.
“We’re not thinking of our two wins because we might relax.”
“Every game, our mindset should be 1-0, 1-0, until we reach our goal, which is to enter the quarterfinals,” added Cardel as Terrafirma, formerly known as Mahindra, aims to duplicate its 2016 Governors’ Cup run, which was the only time the franchise advanced to the next round.
With NLEX leading by double figures at halftime, 57-47, Terrafirma came out with guns blazing from the break and opened the third quarter on a 14-4 run to overtake the Road Warriors, 61-60.
It was a nip-and-tuck battle between both teams throughout the second half, and with Terrafirma up by just 2, 95-93, with over a minute left to play, Sean Anthony had a chance to tie the game for NLEX, but his wide-open layup clanked off the rim.
Isaac Go then drilled two free throws for the Dyip to extend their lead to two possessions, 97-93, before Dave Marcelo quickly responded with a layup on the other end.
A turnover by NLEX star Robert Bolick with 25 ticks left led to two clutch free throws by JP Calvo to re-establish Terrafirma’s 4-point cushion, 99-95.
NLEX had two opportunities to make it a single possession game in the next play, but Anthony Semerad’s three-point attempt and another easy layup by Anthony failed to hit the target once again.
Terrafirma spoiled the huge performance of Bolick, who came up with a game-high 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Rookie Jhan Nermal was the other Road Warrior in double-figures in the loss with 15 points.
NLEX slipped to a 1-1 card – tied with the TNT Tropang Giga and the Meralco Bolts.
Terrafirma 99 – Tiongson 21, Gomez de Liaño 18, Holt 17, Calvo 16, Alolino 9, Sangalang 8, Go 7, Ramos 3, Cahilig 0, Camson 0, Mina 0.
NLEX 95 – Bolick 29, Nermal 15, Valdez 9, Miranda 7, Ular 7, Anthony 6, Semerad 6, Nieto 6, Marcelo 4, Pascual 4, Herndon 2.
Quarters: 21-26, 47-57, 70-73, 99-95.
– Rappler.com
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LISTEN: On My Playlist – February 2024
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Cara Angeline Oliver
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03/03/2024 20:27
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On My Playlist is a monthly playlist of songs from Rappler’s Live Jam artists.
This month’s playlist include song recommendations from Josh Cullen, PABLO & Josue, Apoc The Death Architect, Jikamarie, and Jason Dhakal.
PABLO carries many roles to his talented solo name – singer, rapper, dancer, songwriter, and producer – and he is also the vocalist, creative director, and leader of global P-pop sensation SB19. The P-pop star also performs with his brother JOSUE under the duo RADKIDZ.
PABLO performs his solo debut single “La Luna,” a song he wrote and produced about embracing oneself fully and tuning out society’s unrealistic standards. He and JOSUE performs “Determinado,” which they co-produced. “Akala” is also on the queue, which is a track PABLO said is “easy to listen to and sing along to, just like how it is when friends gather and sing together.”
Having been in the underground rap industry for two decades, Apoc solidified his position as one of the most iconic overall emcees yet. From starting in rap group Heavenly Host and briefly working with indie label AMPON, Apoc began making his own name with Kampo Teroritmo, a collective with Batas.
The rapper-songwriter and producer known for his aggressive delivery and punchlines joined Uprising in 2016. Apoc’s debut LP Loob ng Kabaong was released in 2017, followed by his second full-length second album Kampilan that came out last November.
Breakout OPM artist Jikamarie recently opened for Coldplay’s Philippine Arena concert last January. She is behind the viral, chart-topping R&B hit “lutang,” and singles “Hinahanap-Hanap,” “Lito,” and “Halimaw.”
She just released her debut EP L0VER G!RL in early 2024, which touches on the joys and pains of love, all while showcasing her favorite genres of R&B, alternative pop, and dream-pop. Through her dreamy music, she wishes to convey the sentiments of one’s varying encounters with love, mental and emotional challenges, and the challenges of youth.
Widely known for his R&B sound, contemporary queer singer-songwriter Jason Dhakal made his debut in 2018 with the six-track EP Night In alongside artist-producer dot.jaime. In 2020, he also co-produced his album Lovesound with local composer LUSTBASS.
Since then, the singer-songwriter has come to be celebrated for hits like “Body & Soul,” “Lifetime (Dimension)” with Indonesian artist Kara Chenoa, as well as his now-viral rendition of Sitti’s hit song “Para Sa Akin.”
You can watch their Live Jam performances here.
Follow Rappler on Spotify to listen to more song recommendations from your favorite Live Jam artists. – Rappler.com
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Senate panel holds Quiboloy in contempt, Padilla objects
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Herbie G
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05/03/2024 14:32
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PROTEST. Members of the Kingdom Jesus Christ (KOJC) and supporters of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy gather outside the Senate to protest the hearing on the alleged abuses inside the KOJC, on March 5, 2024.
Angie de Silva/Rappler
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – The Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality cited on Tuesday, March 5, embattled preacher Apollo Quiboloy in contempt as the panel resumed its investigation into the alleged exploitation, torture, sexual abuse, and other offenses committed against former workers of the Davao-based religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
The committee also asked Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri to have Quiboloy arrested so he could be brought before the panel to testify.
As the hearing was ongoing, Quiboloy’s followers gathered outside the Senate to protest what they called injustice against their leader, whom they believed to be divine. Quiboloy has styled himself as the “appointed son of God,” openly claiming that there is no salvation without him.
The committee’s chairperson, Senator Risa Hontiveros, ruled to hold Quiboloy in contempt after the Davao City-based preacher failed to appear before the Senate panel despite a subpoena served by the Senate sergeant-at-arms through one of his lawyers, Marie Dinah Tolentino-Fuentes, on February 22.
Hontiveros had earlier warned that she would be forced to have Quiboloy arrested if he continued to defy the Senate’s summons.
“This committee requests the Senate President to order his arrest so that he may be brought to testify,” she said.
The hearing was briefly suspended shortly after Senator Robinhood Padilla arrived to join Senators Hontiveros and Aquilino Pimentel Jr. When it resumed, Padilla, without providing a clear reason, placed on record his objection to Hontiveros’ ruling to hold the controversial pastor in contempt .
Hontiveros said Senate rules provide that a majority of the members of the Senate committee, in this case eight, has seven days to overturn the contempt ruling.
The committee’s members include Senator Nancy Binay, who serves as the vice chairperson, and senators Pia Cayetano, Cynthia Villar, Grace Poe, Imee Marcos, Raffy Tulfo, Christopher Lawrence Go, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Mark Villar, and Padilla.
The committee also has ex officio members: senators Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva, and Pimentel.
Quiboloy’s whereabouts have remained unclear but in a previous statement, he said he was in hiding, claiming that he was marked for assassination by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
The US embassy in Manila has not directly responded to the preacher’s claim that there was a plot to kill him, but its February 21 statement read: “For more than a decade, Apollo Quiboloy engaged in serious human rights abuses, including a pattern of systemic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11 years old, and he is currently on the FBI’s Most Wanted List. We are confident that Quiboloy will face justice for his heinous crimes.”
Citing jurisprudence, Hontiveros maintained that it is within the Senate’s jurisdiction to hold accountable anyone who disregarded its authority to conduct investigations in aid of legislation, including failing to attend despite a valid subpoena.
She referenced a case involving the Senate blue ribbon committee, where the Supreme Court (SC) upheld the due process rights of witnesses who attended the hearing, affirming the Senate’s authority to investigate and cite people in contempt.
“It is very simple,” Hontiveros said. “The power of the Senate to conduct investigations in aid of legislation has long been settled by the Supreme Court.”
She added, “Hindi po mapapakulong ng Senado si Quiboloy para sa mga paratang sa kanya, dahil hindi kami huwes…. Pero kapangyarihan ng Senado ang panagutin ang sinuman na hindi kumilala ng kapangyarihan ng Senate na maglunsad ng mga imbestigasyon. Kasama ang hindi pagdalo sa imbestigasyon despite a valid subpoena.”
(The Senate cannot jail Quiboloy for the accusations against him, because we are not judges… However, it is within the Senate’s power to hold accountable anyone who does not recognize the authority of the Senate to conduct investigations. This includes failure to attend an investigation despite a valid subpoena.)
Hontiveros said the Senate committee was examining the inner workings of Quiboloy’s church to determine whether improvements to the country’s laws were necessary regarding rape vis à vis the concept of consent, labor conditions for religious volunteers, occupational safety and labor standards, and the human trafficking law concerning acts of forced begging and servitude under the guise of religious freedom.
She said there was also a need for Congress to consider a separate law specifically addressing religious violence and other abuses. – with a report from Angie de Silva/Rappler.com
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After rats, surot in NAIA, airport head threatens to blacklist pest control provider
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lkyu0285
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05/03/2024 20:53
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Nico Villarete/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – With pest after pest plaguing the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), its general manager tells its housekeeping and pest control providers to “shape up or suffer getting blacklisted.”
Eric Ines, head of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), has begun to crack down on its sanitation service contractors after his “disappointment over recent sightings of pests and insects in Terminals 2 and 3.”
Ines has tasked terminal administration groups to monitor contractors and evaluate whether the current housekeeping and pest control standard operating procedures were enough, given the number of passengers in each terminal.
Contractors must submit weekly and monthly commitments regarding their work. MIAA will also hike the penalties for liquidated damages when it comes to its service contracts.
MIAA stated that most of its housekeeping and pest control contracts are due to expire in 2024.
“Mag-eexpire na ang kontrata niyo. Hindi ko lang hindi iri-renew, iblablacklist ko pa kayo (Your contracts are expiring. I won’t just not renew your contract; I’ll also blacklist you),” Ines said in a press release on Tuesday, March 5.
Hello NAIA, una surot, ngayon naman may daga sa international departure? Yung totoo?!?! pic.twitter.com/7FQvkGkBab
Last week, on February 28, MIAA issued a public apology over reports that passengers had been bitten by bed bugs in Terminals 2 and 3. The airport’s operator then quickly removed the rattan chairs where the pests hid in. (READ: NAIA’s surot-infested rattan chairs, once its pride, are now gone)
But just days later, a passenger in Terminal 3 uploaded a video of a big rat scurrying along the airport’s ceiling lights.
Here are the changes that the contractors have committed to, according to MIAA:
Contractors also said that they periodically change the chemicals that they use for deep disinfection since pests can develop immunity to the chemicals over time. These chemicals are approved and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, according to the contractors.
MIAA’s senior assistant general manager, Beng Reyes, will head an inter-agency coordinating committee which will conduct monthly meetings between private and public sector participants. The committee is expected to generate recommendations for MIAA management to follow.
However, there’s also the question of how long MIAA has left to actually manage the airport.
NAIA will soon be turned over to the consortium led by San Miguel, which recently won the bid to rehabilitate the airport. San Miguel’s group is expected to assume operation by around September 2024.
San Miguel will need hefty loans to pursue NAIA’s long-overdue upgrade, but Ramon Ang has found a willing backer in BDO. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista told Rappler that BDO chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson has guaranteed to fund Ang’s group. BDO also recently confirmed that its subsidiary, BDO Capital, will serve as the financial arranger for the rehabilitation project, with BDO itself and other banks invited to act as lenders. – Rappler.com
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Phivolcs lowers Mayon Volcano to Alert Level 1
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Iya Gozum
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05/03/2024 18:43
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Mayon Volcano in Albay on November 12, 2023.
Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Mayon Volcano on Tuesday, March 5, has been downgraded from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1, indicating a low level of unrest.
This means that the likelihood of Mayon Volcano erupting in the immediate future has diminished, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in a bulletin at 5:30 pm on Tuesday.
“However, the lowering of the alert status should not be interpreted that unrest has completely ceased,” Phivolcs cautioned.
The possibility of reverting back to Alert Level 2 was not yet ruled out.
In particular, the agency observed the following:
Back on June 8, 2023, Phivolcs raised the status of Mayon Volcano to Alert Level 3, which meant an “increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption.” It was later downgraded to Alert Level 2 on December 8, 2023.
Phivolcs still reminded the public to avoid entry into the permanent danger zone and to cover their noses and mouths in case of ashfall events. – Rappler.com
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Philippines tells China: ‘Leave the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal immediately’
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Bea Cupin
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05/03/2024 17:50
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WATER CANNONS IN AYUNGIN. Two China Coast Guard ships train their water cannons onto the Unaizah May 4 (between the two Chinese ships), a wooden boat used to bring supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre. Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos was on board the Unaizah May during this mission.
Screenshot from PCG video
MELBOURNE, Australia – The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday, March 5, demanded that “Chinese vessels leave the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal immediately” as it summoned one of Beijing’s envoys to Manila.
The DFA, represented by Deputy Assistant Secretary Raphael Hermoso, summoned Beijing’s Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong after Chinese ships harassed, collided with, and used water cannons against Philippine ships on a mission to bring supplies and troops to a military outpost in Ayungin Shoal.
“The Philippines demands that Chinese vessels leave the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal immediately,” said the DFA in a statement.
DFA said the Chinese envoy was summoned “to convey the Philippines’ protest against the aggressive actions undertaken by the China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia” during the mission to Ayungin Shoal.
As of posting, it remains unclear why it was only China’s deputy chief of mission and not Ambassador Huang Xilian, Beijing’s top envoy in Manila, who faced the DFA for the summon.
Two Philippine Navy-contracted civilian ships accompanied by two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels were harassed by China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) ships earlier on Tuesday while they were trying to reach the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II ship that was purposefully run aground in 1999 and now serves as a military outpost in Ayungin Shoal.
The Philippines’ National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea earlier confirmed that four Filipinos on board the Unaizah May 4 were injured after two CCG ships used their water cannons on the much smaller wooden vessel. The wind shield of the Unaizah May 4 shattered from the force of the water cannons, the task force said. There was also a “minor collision” with a CCG ship.
The PCG, meanwhile, earlier said that the BRP Sindangan collided with a CCG ship as the latter was trying to block it during the mission. The Sindangan, a 44-meter vessel, sustained “superficial structural damage” to its hull.
“During the meeting, the Philippines stressed, among others, that China’s interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its own exclusive economic zone is unacceptable. China’s actions in Ayungin Shoal infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction,” said the DFA.
Rotation and resupply missions (ROREs), happen monthly and as much as possible, via sea.
Through ROREs, the Philippine Navy is able to bring essential supplies to the handful of soldiers stationed at the Sierra Madre for months at a time. It’s also through that RORE that personnel are rotated.
China insists, mistakenly, that most of the South China Sea is its territory – including the West Philippine Sea, or parts of the South China Sea within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Beijing insists these waters are there, in defiance of a 2016 arbitral award that deemed the claim invalid.
“Ayungin Shoal is a low-tide elevation within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. In accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award, it cannot be appropriated for sovereignty claims. International law affirms that the Philippines exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the feature,” the DFA reminded Beijing.
The incident in Ayungin Shoal happened as leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations were welcomed in Melbourne for a special summit hosted by Australia, the first external partner of the bloc.
Australia is keen on strengthening its ties with the bloc, amid threats to Indo-Pacific security and growth.
Australian Ambassador to Manila HK Yu said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that “Australia shares Philippines’ concerns about dangerous actions by China’s vessels at Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal today.”
Yu, who is also in Melbourne for the summit, added, “We call for restraint and respect for international law, particularly UNCLOS.” Maritime cooperation is among the major issues that host Australia has highlighted for the special summit.
In a statement posted late Tuesday evening, the Chinese embassy in Manila “expressed strong protest” over what it called the “illegal trespassing” on Ren’ai Jiao, China’s term for Ayungin Shoal.
“Over the past few months, China and the Philippines maintained communication on properly managing the situation on the Ren’ai Jiao. The Philippines has once again reneged on its commitments to China, provoked incidents in the waters off the Ren’ai Jiao, and seriously violated China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” said the embassy, without specifying what those supposed “commitments” were.
The embassy in Manila said of the use of water cannons and blocking maneuvers: “China Coast Guard took necessary regulatory actions on the Philippine vessels in accordance with the law. The response of China Coast Guard was professional, restrained, reasonable and lawful.” – Rappler.com
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Philippines, US to hold military drills in islands facing South China Sea, Taiwan
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Chito de la Vega
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05/03/2024 16:46
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A Filipino soldier fires a Javelin anti-tank weapon system during a live exercise as part of the annual US-Philippines joint military exercises called "Balikatan" at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija province, Philippines, April 13, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and the United States will carry out annual military exercises next month in key locations including Philippine islands facing the South China Sea and Taiwan, as tensions with China in the region continue to simmer.
The exercises, called Balikatan or “shoulder-to-shoulder”, will move away from sprawling military camps in the countryside to locations in northern and western regions, Philippine army colonel Michael Logico told a briefing on Tuesday, March 5.
The move is consistent with the shift in the country’s focus from internal to external defense.
This year’s exercises, which a Philippine diplomat previously said could be larger than last year’s 17,000-strong drills, will also focus on cybersecurity training and “information warfare”.
Batanes, the island province closest to Taiwan, could again be one of this year’s exercise venues, Logico said, but he stressed the activities will not focus on the democratically governed island.
“It is natural for us to exercise in those areas because if it’s part of Philippine territory, it is where we wave our flag, these are the areas where we defend,” Logico said.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory despite the island’s rejection and routinely stages air and naval military operations near the island.
The exercises will also include areas in Palawan province in the South China Sea where frequent maritime run-ins between Manila and Beijing have occurred over the past year.
“These are locations that we can adequately perform joint operations,” Logico said.
The Philippines on Tuesday accused China’s coast guard of carrying out “dangerous maneuvers” that led to a collision between its coast guard ship and a Chinese vessel during a resupply mission for Philippine troops in the South China Sea.
Like last year, Logico said militaries from both countries will conduct a ship sinking exercise.
Ties between Washington and Manila have warmed under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who last year almost doubled the bases American troops can access under a defense pact.
Australian troops will also join the exercises while the French navy are participating for the first time, Logico said. France and the Philippines are both seeking authority to negotiate a military agreement.
Philippine armed forces spokesperson Francel Margareth Padilla said the exercises will be from the third week of April to the first week of May.
– Rappler.com
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Imelda Marcos hospitalized over suspected pneumonia
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Kaycee
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05/03/2024 16:22
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Rappler.com
MANILA, Philippines – Former first lady Imelda Marcos is in the hospital for suspected pneumonia, Senator Imee Marcos said on Tuesday, March 5.
Imee told reporters that her mother, aged 94, was brought to the hospital after bouts of coughs and feverishness. Imee said the family would prefer to “take precautions.”
“In-ospital na namin for close monitoring (We brought her to the hospital for close monitoring),” the senator said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is currently in Melbourne for the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, said he spoke with Imelda’s doctors and confirmed that she had a “slight pneumonia.” The update came hours after news broke that his mother was in the hospital.
“She is in good spirits, has no difficulty in breathing and is resting well,” the president said in a statement, which he also posted on X.
He added Imelda also had a fever, but noted that doctors had given assurance that the prescribed antibiotics would help.
In May 2023, Imelda had a “successful angioplastly.” The Marcos matriarch had also previously cited “multiple organ infirmities” when she skipped the promulgation of her graft case in November 2018, noting that she had the following illnesses:
Imelda had been subject of death rumors for years, with the latest being in 2023. First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos had to post a selfie online to prove that her mother-in-law was still alive. – with a report from Bonz Magsambol/Rappler.com
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Former Quiboloy foundation director links KOJC to 100 fake marriages in Canada
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Herbie G
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05/03/2024 18:17
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TESTIFY. Former followers of embattled Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Reynita Fernandez and Dindo Maquiling, testify online during a Senate committee hearing on the alleged abuses of the Davao-based preacher and his group on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.
Screenshots
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Two new witnesses faced a Senate panel on Tuesday, March 5, with one alleging a link between the religious group led by embattled preacher Apollo Quiboloy and around 100 fraudulent marriages in Canada alone.
The marriages were purportedly designed to go around Canada’s immigration laws and give legal status in that country to fundraising workers of the Davao-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), according to former KOJC member Dindo Maquiling, who once served as executive director for Canada and Australia of the Quiboloy group’s Children’s Joy Foundation (CFJ).
Maquiling, testifying online during the Senate panel’s inquiry into alleged abuses by Quiboloy and KOJC, revealed that he participated in a fraudulent marriage in 2013. He admitted to marrying another church worker solely because her visa was nearing expiration.
He said he was a victim and only agreed to the fraudulent marriage due to his sense of indebtedness, and concern for his two children who were in Davao City. Maquiling said he was already a Canadian citizen and divorced at the time.
“Hindi lang po ako ang biktima. Meron po’ng kulang-kulang na isang-daan na kasalan po dito sa ‘Kingdom’ ni Pastor Quiboloy na puro peke, dito lang ho sa Canada,” Maquiling said when asked by Senator Risa Hontiveros to elaborate on the alleged scam.
(I’m not the only victim. There were about a hundred marriages in Pastor Quiboloy’s ‘Kingdom’ that were all fake in Canada alone.)
Maquiling also alleged that he discovered that the funds raised by the Quiboloy’s foundation did not go to needy children.
In his narrative, Maquiling said he became a KOJC volunteer worker following the devastation brought by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013, to help Quiboloy’s group raise funds for victims of one of the most powerful tropical cyclones to ever hit the country in recent history. He said he used his connections in Canada where he worked as a store manager to help Quiboloy’s group.
In 2016, when he was appointed as the CJF-Canada executive director, Maquiling said he had a chance to go back to the Philippines and visit the CFJ shelter for the foundation’s supposed beneficiaries. That was the time, he said, when he found out that the children in the CFJ shelter were mostly young KOJC full-time workers, some of whom were then brought to other countries to become part of the church’s fundraising teams.
Although some of the foundation’s funds were spent to support needy children, these were merely a fraction of what the group has raised, he said.
“In fact, their claim was that thousands of children were being fed. Noong ako’y nandoon, wala pa nga’ng halos 300 na bata (When I was there, there were barely even 300 children),” he said.
That, he said, made him raise questions because he found out that much of the funds raised for the foundation were used for other purposes.
Maquiling and another former KOJC fundraising worker, Reynita Fernandez who spoke online from Singapore, showed their faces during the hearing. Fernandez, among the first former Quiboloy followers to speak out publicly, spoke to Rappler for a series of investigative reports on the KOJC in late 2021.
Before the committee, she recounted her ordeal during the KOJC’s so-called “month of blessings,” which typically commences in September and lasts until March.
During this period, Fernandez alleged, KOJC’s workers were compelled to intensify various fundraising activities for Quiboloy’s group.
“Mag-loan, mag-solicit, magtinda, everything that earns money. Kahit mag bali-balintong ka basta may money ka na ire-remit sa kanila,” said Fernandez, recalling that she lost her house because of this practice.
(We apply for loans, solicit donations, sell, and do anything just to raise money, even if it means you have to twist and turn, as long as you have money to remit to them.)
Fernandez, who once served as a leader of one of Quiboloy’s groups in Singapore, recalled when she was given a quota of SG$12,000 during the “month of blessings” period.
“They said if you’re in the ‘Kingdom,’ you need to have a thicker face to produce money. Otherwise, you are not a faithful son or daughter of the father,” she said.
She said, in many instances, even the salaries earned from regular work abroad were insufficient to meet the quotas.
Fernandez, however, said they were motivated to work harder because they believed Quiboloy’s promise that their dedication during the “month of blessings” would mean “10 years of blessings” in their and their families’ lives.
The funds, she added, were divided into smaller amounts and remitted to the Philippines through other KOJC members to escape the prying eyes of Singaporean authorities. Each remittance, according to Fernandez, should be less than the ceiling of SG$2,000 a day.
Fernandez also said there were KOJC workers in Singapore who sought fake employers to maintain legal residency in the country. Some, she added, even resorted to paying individuals in Singapore to pose as their employers.
“It’s really their strategy to stay here legally,” Fernandez told the Senate committee.
“Scammer si Apollo Quiboloy (Apollo Quiboloy is a scammer),” Hontiveros said before concluding Tuesday’s Senate panel hearing.
The narratives of the two witnesses were consistent with the cases filed against Quiboloy and several of his associates in the United States. In late 2021, they were indicted by a federal grand jury in California for marriage fraud, fraud and misuse of visas, bulk cash smuggling, and money laundering, among others. – Rappler.com
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Cha-Cha puts urban poor, workers at risk, Cebu church leaders, advocates say
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jsitchon0312
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05/03/2024 19:07
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CHA-CHA. Franciscan priest Allan Arcebuche urged fellow Christians to engage in discussions about the congressional push for amendments to the 1987 Constitution.
John Sitchon/Rappler
CEBU, Philippines – Religious leaders and advocates of civil rights organizations in Cebu are concerned over the latest push for charter change which they feared would greatly affect the lives of the urban poor and laborers.
Franciscan priest Allan Arcebuche, the vice chairperson of the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) in Cebu, told Rappler on Monday, March 4, that they were concerned over the intention of lawmakers to “open the economy” as part of the economic agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
At a forum held at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu on Monday, Arcebuche and fellow members of different religious communities learned about Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6 and 7 which introduced the phrase, “unless otherwise provided by law.”
Under the proposed amendments, the phrase would be inserted in Section 11 of Article XII of the Constitution which currently caps foreign ownership of public utilities at 40%. This means that Congress may pass a law to lift or ease the ownership restriction.
“Ang problema natin dyan ay binibigyan ang Kongreso ng napakalakas na poder para amyendahan ang constitution…batas niya mismo deretsong amyendahan ang constitution, ni walang three-fourths vote, walang plebisito, walang referendum,” Human rights lawyer and Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares told reporters on Tuesday, March 5.
(Our problem with that is how it is going to give Congress immense power to amend the constitution…its laws will directly amend the constitution, without having the need for a three-fourths vote, plebiscite, or referendum.)
The lawyer said that once foreign companies own a majority of public utilities, huge rate hikes on services like electricity and water would be imminent, hitting consumers, especially those in the marginalized sectors.
“Of course, they’re going to want to earn double from their investments here. They’re not just going to the Philippines to invest a dollar and earn only fifty cents from it,” Colmenares said.
In previous years, laws have been passed to open the economy to foreign investors. Under the Public Service Act, foreigners are allowed to fully own companies in the telecommunication, shipping, airline, railway, toll road, and transport network vehicle industries.
Lawmakers who are now pushing for the removal of economic restrictions insist that these would increase foreign direct investments into the country and boost the overall economy.
However, Arcebuche questioned the move, emphasizing the lack of discussions with the public into the specific provisions that would be taken out of the constitution.
The priest feared that legislators might soon opt to remove restrictions in an effort to favor large corporations over local companies and workers.
“Even back then, they wanted to delete the (economic) provisions that supposedly protect the urban poor, farmers, workers and vendors, because large foreign companies don’t want these,” Arcebuche said in a mix of English and Cebuano.
Jaime Paglinawan, the vice president for the Visayas of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) told Rappler on Tuesday that if the clause “unless otherwise provided by law” would be included into amendments, lawmakers would give foreign companies the power to pressure them into signing laws against worker unions through sheer control of major public utilities.
“Security of tenure, right to organize, humane working conditions and livable wages will be targeted,” Paglinawan said in Cebuano. – Rappler.com
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AboitizPower reminds everyone to stay safe from fires this Fire Prevention Month
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Julian Cirineo
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01/03/2024 9:43
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The Philippines observes Fire Prevention Month in March to raise awareness and promote fire safety nationwide.
The Bureau of Fire Protection recorded over 15,000 fire incidents in the Philippines in 2023, a 21% increase from data in 2022. This highlights the need for continued fire safety, especially within our homes.
Here’s what to do to stop or address the causes of most fire incidents in the country:
Fires can devastate lives and homes. AboitizPower, a leading Filipino energy provider, urges everyone to remain alert and implement fire safety practices.
AboitizPower champions fire prevention alongside the rest of the country, urging electrical safety in March and year-round to combat the nation’s leading fire cause: faulty electrical wiring. AboitizPower advocates for safety in its workplaces and power plants to protect its team members and host communities. – Rappler.com
PRESS RELEASE
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4 Filipinos hurt after China uses water cannons vs Ayungin resupply vessel
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Mia Gonzalez
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05/03/2024 11:04
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COLLISION. A Philippine Coast Guard vessel sustains minor damage following a collision with a China Coast Guard vessel in the West Philippine Se aon March 5, 2024.
Courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard
MANILA, Philippines – At least four Filipinos sustained “minor injuries” after two China Coast Guard (CCG) ships used water cannons against a much smaller military-contracted vessel during a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Tuesday, March 5.
The four were on board the Unaizah May 4, one of two civilian vessels that the Philippine Navy tapped to rotate personnel and bring supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre, an intentionally marooned World War II vessel that serves as a military outpost in Ayungin Shoal.
In a statement, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said two CCG ships – vessels 21555 and 21551 – used their water cannons against the Unaizah Mae 4 at the same time, eventually “[shattering] the wind shield” of the boat.
“Once again, China’s latest unprovoked acts of coercion and dangerous maneuvres against a legitimate and routine Philippine rotation and resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal have put the lives of our people at risk and caused actual injury to Filipinos,” said the task force.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) treated the injured personnel aboard the BRP Sindangan, which had also figured in an incident with the CCG.
Prior to the use of water cannons, a CCG vessel 21555 collided with the BRP Sindangan, causing “superficial structural damage.”
“Throughout the operation, the PCG vessels faced dangerous maneuvers and blocking from Chinese Coast Guard vessels and Chinese Maritime Militia. Their reckless and illegal actions led to a collision between MRRV-4407 and China Coast Guard 21555 that resulted to minor structural damage to the PCG vessel,” said PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, March 4.
Footage posted by Tarriela on X showed the two coast guard ships colliding, and PCG personnel scrambling to place a barrier between the two ships as the CCG looked on.
Two PCG ships, the 44-meter BRP Sindangan and BRP Cabra, were deployed to escort military-contracted civilian ships to bring supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre, an intentionally marooned World War II vessel that serves as a military outpost in Ayungin Shoal.
The Unaizah May 1, Philippine Navy spokesperson Commodore Vincent Trinidad earlier confirmed, made it past China’s blocking attempts to bring supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre.
Both Manila and Beijing have tried to bring tensions down, especially in Ayungin, with Shanghai hosting in mid-January a bilateral meeting where both sides agreed to improve communication lines between diplomats and possibly its coast guards, too.
“The systemic and consistent manner in which the People’s Republic of China carries out these illegal and irresponsible actions puts into questions the sincerity of its calls for peaceful dialogue and lessening of tensions,” said the NTF-WPS, a task force that counts members of the security, defense, and diplomatic sectors as its members.
After again asserting that Manila has been consistent in following international law and the 2016 Arbitral Award, the task force said that “peace and stability cannot be achieved without due regard for the legitimate, well-established, and legally settled rights of others.”
“The Philippines will not be deterred from exercising our legal rights over our maritime zones, including Ayungin Shoal which forms part of our Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf. We demand that china demonstrate that it is a responsible and trustworthy member of the international community,” the task force added.
The military conducts mission to Ayungin at least once a month – although the first attempt in 2024 was disrupted by required repairs to a resupply ship, while details of the first successful mission were not made public.
Ayungin is among the flashpoints of tensions in the West Philippine Sea, or part of the South China Sea within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. China, in contradiction to a 2016 arbitral ruling, claims practically the entire South China Sea as its own.
The shoal is among the focuses of the “transparency initiative,” which aims to expose Chinese activities in those waters. Footage from Tarriela and the PCG indicate media were on board the Sindangan when it collided with the CCG vessel.
China is infamous for its aggressive actions in the WPS, which has led to tense encounters between the Philippines and China. Vessels have collided before, while China in the past has used water cannons against Philippine ships.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Manila has filed nine diplomatic protests against China in 2024, as of end-February. Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the Philippines has filed 142 protests to date. – Rappler.com
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Imelda Marcos hospitalized over suspected pneumonia
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Kaycee
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05/03/2024 16:22
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Rappler.com
MANILA, Philippines – Former first lady Imelda Marcos is in the hospital for suspected pneumonia, Senator Imee Marcos said on Tuesday, March 5.
Imee told reporters that her mother, aged 94, was brought to the hospital after bouts of coughs and feverishness. Imee said the family would prefer to “take precautions.”
“In-ospital na namin for close monitoring (We brought her to the hospital for close monitoring),” the senator said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is currently in Melbourne for the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, said he spoke with Imelda’s doctors and confirmed that she had a “slight pneumonia.” The update came hours after news broke that his mother was in the hospital.
“She is in good spirits, has no difficulty in breathing and is resting well,” the president said in a statement, which he also posted on X.
He added Imelda also had a fever, but noted that doctors had given assurance that the prescribed antibiotics would help.
In May 2023, Imelda had a “successful angioplastly.” The Marcos matriarch had also previously cited “multiple organ infirmities” when she skipped the promulgation of her graft case in November 2018, noting that she had the following illnesses:
Imelda had been subject of death rumors for years, with the latest being in 2023. First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos had to post a selfie online to prove that her mother-in-law was still alive. – with a report from Bonz Magsambol/Rappler.com
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Imelda Marcos hospitalized over suspected pneumonia
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Kaycee
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05/03/2024 16:22
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Rappler.com
MANILA, Philippines – Former first lady Imelda Marcos is in the hospital for suspected pneumonia, Senator Imee Marcos said on Tuesday, March 5.
Imee told reporters that her mother, aged 94, was brought to the hospital after bouts of coughs and feverishness. Imee said the family would prefer to “take precautions.”
“In-ospital na namin for close monitoring (We brought her to the hospital for close monitoring),” the senator said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is currently in Melbourne for the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, said he spoke with Imelda’s doctors and confirmed that she had a “slight pneumonia.” The update came hours after news broke that his mother was in the hospital.
“She is in good spirits, has no difficulty in breathing and is resting well,” the president said in a statement, which he also posted on X.
He added Imelda also had a fever, but noted that doctors had given assurance that the prescribed antibiotics would help.
In May 2023, Imelda had a “successful angioplastly.” The Marcos matriarch had also previously cited “multiple organ infirmities” when she skipped the promulgation of her graft case in November 2018, noting that she had the following illnesses:
Imelda had been subject of death rumors for years, with the latest being in 2023. First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos had to post a selfie online to prove that her mother-in-law was still alive. – with a report from Bonz Magsambol/Rappler.com
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Home of the saddest: A life lesson from Isko Moreno
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gdecastro0289
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05/03/2024 12:14
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PEP TALK. Tahanang Pinakamasaya host Isko Moreno speaks before the show’s live audience after the Saturday episode in the APT Studio in Cainta, Rizal on March 2, 2024.
Screenshot/Tahanang Pinakamasaya YouTube
Another year, another setback for former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno.
After losing badly in the 2022 presidential elections, actor-politician Isko Moreno goes through another loss after the Jalosjos family axed its noon show, Tahanang Pinakamasaya (Home of the Happiest), where he was the lead host along with actor Paolo Contis.
The show aired its last episode on Saturday, March 2, after TAPE failed to turn things around for its noon show following the loss of showbiz veterans Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon in May 2023.
Moreno and Contis were taken in as the lead replacements for the three veteran comedians, and they bore the brunt of the flak from fans of Eat Bulaga, who saw them as no different from strikebreakers, or in Filipino, mga eskirol.
Moreno and Contis took on the near-impossible task of making people happy more than how TVJ and Vice Ganda are able to do it in the competing shows, E.A.T. Bulaga on TV5, and on ABS-CBN’s It’s Showtime now shown also on GMA Network’s free TV channel GTV.
I say near-impossible because Moreno isn’t really a comic.
Although he was mentored by the late showman, German “Kuya Germs” Moreno, he really can’t make people laugh the way Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and Vice Ganda are able to. Just from his looks alone, Moreno already has a disadvantage.
Comedians who have imperfections have an edge over those who are guwapo (handsome) or maganda (beautiful) because the latter can always make fun of their looks. Vice Ganda, for instance, occasionally makes light of what he says is his resemblance to a horse. Compare the late Comedy King Dolphy’s funny face to Moreno’s and you’ll get the point.
Since appearing on Tahanang Pinakamasaya in June 2023, Moreno was the giver of cash and prizes to the poor, akin to what Willie Revillame often did on his now-defunct show, Wowowin. In one of the early episodes after he was brought in, he bought all the banana cue that a vendor was selling.
A giver of aid is unlike a natural comedian. The former gives cash and makes one person happy, the latter delivers laughs and makes everybody happy.
None of the co-hosts of Tahanang Pinakamasaya could match the comedic skills of Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and Vice Ganda. None of them could make viewers as “happy” as their competitors are doing, so I’m not surprised that Tahanang Pinakamasaya ratings couldn’t keep up with E.A.T. Bulaga and It’s Showtime.
While this turn of events may seem to be a setback for Moreno, take a look at how he takes it right after the show last Saturday.
A 10-minute video of what happened backstage after Tahanang Pinakamasaya’s last episode in the APT Studio in Cainta, Rizal was uploaded on Monday, March 4.
Watch what Moreno does after closing the show, in this video below starting from 1 minute 10 seconds. He steps onto a ledge and speaks before the live audience while other people start crying and some production crew begin embracing and comforting other people. He stands there for less than a minute, speaks (no audio on this video), turns after giving a message, pats his co-hosts on the back, goes down the stairs, and leaves the studio. Not a teardrop.
Those who don’t know Moreno would probably just dismiss this backstage action.
Not me. There’s something we can all learn from this episode in Yorme’s life: it’s about bouncing back from setbacks.
Those who know Moreno would probably understand the significance of this incident.
Unlike some politicians who claim to have gone through poverty before making it big, Moreno’s life of overcoming poverty is real.
His father was a stevedore who worked in the pier in Manila, and his mother was a laundry woman. They lived in a slum community in Tondo. Below is a Rappler special report on Moreno’s life if you care to read: ISKO MORENO: From the slums of Tondo to Manila’a throne
His father only had work if there were ships, and there was often a queue of people who needed the job. Since they didn’t have enough money, they sometimes ate other people’s leftovers, also called pagpag.
“Di ba, yung mga mayayaman, balat lang. Minsan isang kagat lang. Kinukuha namin yun. Kasi nakasupot na itim yun, e, malinis naman yun. Tapos, piprito namin uli,” he was quoted as having said in an interview.
(Some of the rich, they only eat the skin, sometimes they just take a bite. We get what’s left, it’s clean anyway. Then we fry it again.)
In 1993, a talent manager spotted Moreno when he was just a teenager and he eventually became part of Kuya Germs’ That’s Entertainment show. The rest is history, as they say.
Moreno would go on to become a successful actor, a three-term Manila city councilor and a three-term Manila vice mayor. He failed in his Senate bid in 2016, but went on to upset incumbent Mayor Joseph Estrada in the 2019 elections. His achievements as mayor of Manila became the foundation for a bid for the presidency in 2022.
READ: How Isko Moreno’s promising candidacy petered out
Moreno didn’t finish school, but in 2003, he got a business administration degree from the Makati-based International Academy of Management and Economics. Not content with this, he would go on to take leadership programs in Harvard and Oxford.
Now, what does Moreno say after Tahanang Pinakamasaya is axed?
In a post on his Facebook page on Sunday, he says: “Ang buhay maraming pagsubok. Minsan kapag may nagsasarang pintuan, may nagbubukas na bintana…Sa bawat pagsubok sa buhay, minsan pinagtitibay lang tayo ‘yan. Dahil mayroon pa tayong kahaharapin na mas mabigat pagdating ng araw.”
(Life has many challenges. Sometimes, when a door closes, a window opens. In every challenge in life, sometimes it makes us stronger. Because we still have stronger challenges to face.)
Make no mistake about it, Moreno is made of sterner stuff. What happened to him and Tahanang Pinakamasaya is nothing compared to what he’s been through in life.
Moreno is known for the way he plays with Filipino words, but his stories about how he overcame poverty are what resonate with many people. One that I recall is when he said that like wealth, poverty can also bring “inheritance” because inheriting poverty makes one stronger.
These are lessons that many Filipinos can relate to because we face many difficulties in life – illness, poverty, man-made and natural disasters, injustice – oftentimes with little support except from family.
So, expect Moreno to easily bounce back from this minor setback. I’m sure he also finds comfort in the Japanese proverb “Nana korobi, ya oki” or “Fall down seven times, stand up eight.” – Rappler.com
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SC orders Metro Manila LGUs: Stop own ticketing system, follow MMDA rules
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Jairo Bolledo
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05/03/2024 11:30
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METRO MANILA TRAFFIC. Heavy traffic builds up on the southbound section of EDSA in Quezon City on August 24, 2023.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered Metro Manila local government units (LGUs) to stop issuing their own traffic violation receipts and confiscating driver’s licenses, and instead comply with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) single ticketing system (STS).
The High Tribunal issued a permanent injunction, through its July 11, 2023 decision, that banned the LGUs from issuing such receipts and confiscating licenses through their traffic enforcers. The decision was publicized only this week.
In the decision, the SC scrapped the common provision from the traffic code of 15 Metro Manila LGUs, which are respondents in the SC case. Malabon and Marikina were not part of the original petition. The said provisions allow the issuance of traffic violation tickets or ordinance violation receipts.
“All told, the Court thus declares as invalid the common provision in the said traffic codes or ordinances of the LGUs in Metro Manila empowering each of them to issue OVRs to erring drivers and motorists. The other provisions of the traffic codes or ordinances remain valid and unaffected by this Decision,” the SC explained.
The MMDA’s STS, institutionalized through the establishment of the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023, harmonized the laws governing traffic enforcement and management in Metro Manila. The system standardized the fines and penalties for common traffic violations in the country’s capital region. It also covers the traffic rules on “all major, secondary or other roads and thoroughfares within the jurisdictional bounds of Metro Manila.”
“In this connection, the Court also finds that the autonomy of the LGUs will not be unduly undermined by the ruling in this case, as their interests are amply protected by the very structure of the MMDA as established by the MMDA Law,” the SC added.
The decision penned by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa stemmed from a petition for certiorari – a legal remedy used to review a lower court’s decision – with a prayer for issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction and/or temporary restraining order, assailing the Court of Appeal’s (CA) decision and resolution upholding the LGUs’ ticketing system.
The petition dated December 21, 2006 came from several jeepney drivers’ and operators’ association which sought to challenge the ticketing system of the 15 LGUs before the CA.
According to the petitioners, the traffic code provisions of the LGUs violate sections 29 and 62 of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) law, and section 5(f) of the MMDA law, which allow the agency to establish a single ticketing system. Meanwhile, the LTO law “grants the LTO authority to confiscate driver’s licenses and issue a prescribed receipt for violations of said law or of any regulations issued pursuant thereto or of local traffic rules and regulations.”
In the case, the petitioners also asked for a mandamus to require the MMDA to establish the said single ticketing system. While the petition was still pending, the MMDA issued Resolution No. 12-02, series of 2012, adopting a uniform ticketing system.
Six years later, in 2012, the CA junked the petition for lack of merit. The appellate court, however, did not rule on whether the issuance of tickets by the LGUs violate the MMDA’s single ticketing system, “because, as admitted by the parties, no single ticketing system had at that time been drawn.” The petitioners moved for a reconsideration, but was also later denied by the CA.
The petitioners then brought their case to the High Court. – Rappler.com
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Senate panel holds Quiboloy in contempt, Padilla objects
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Herbie G
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05/03/2024 14:32
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PROTEST. Members of the Kingdom Jesus Christ (KOJC) and supporters of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy gather outside the Senate to protest the hearing on the alleged abuses inside the KOJC, on March 5, 2024.
Angie de Silva/Rappler
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – The Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality cited on Tuesday, March 5, embattled preacher Apollo Quiboloy in contempt as the panel resumed its investigation into the alleged exploitation, torture, sexual abuse, and other offenses committed against former workers of the Davao-based religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
The committee also asked Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri to have Quiboloy arrested so he could be brought before the panel to testify.
As the hearing was ongoing, Quiboloy’s followers gathered outside the Senate to protest what they called injustice against their leader, whom they believed to be divine. Quiboloy has styled himself as the “appointed son of God,” openly claiming that there is no salvation without him.
The committee’s chairperson, Senator Risa Hontiveros, ruled to hold Quiboloy in contempt after the Davao City-based preacher failed to appear before the Senate panel despite a subpoena served by the Senate sergeant-at-arms through one of his lawyers, Marie Dinah Tolentino-Fuentes, on February 22.
Hontiveros had earlier warned that she would be forced to have Quiboloy arrested if he continued to defy the Senate’s summons.
“This committee requests the Senate President to order his arrest so that he may be brought to testify,” she said.
The hearing was briefly suspended shortly after Senator Robinhood Padilla arrived to join Senators Hontiveros and Aquilino Pimentel Jr. When it resumed, Padilla, without providing a clear reason, placed on record his objection to Hontiveros’ ruling to hold the controversial pastor in contempt .
Hontiveros said Senate rules provide that a majority of the members of the Senate committee, in this case eight, has seven days to overturn the contempt ruling.
The committee’s members include Senator Nancy Binay, who serves as the vice chairperson, and senators Pia Cayetano, Cynthia Villar, Grace Poe, Imee Marcos, Raffy Tulfo, Christopher Lawrence Go, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Mark Villar, and Padilla.
The committee also has ex officio members: senators Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva, and Pimentel.
Quiboloy’s whereabouts have remained unclear but in a previous statement, he said he was in hiding, claiming that he was marked for assassination by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
The US embassy in Manila has not directly responded to the preacher’s claim that there was a plot to kill him, but its February 21 statement read: “For more than a decade, Apollo Quiboloy engaged in serious human rights abuses, including a pattern of systemic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11 years old, and he is currently on the FBI’s Most Wanted List. We are confident that Quiboloy will face justice for his heinous crimes.”
Citing jurisprudence, Hontiveros maintained that it is within the Senate’s jurisdiction to hold accountable anyone who disregarded its authority to conduct investigations in aid of legislation, including failing to attend despite a valid subpoena.
She referenced a case involving the Senate blue ribbon committee, where the Supreme Court (SC) upheld the due process rights of witnesses who attended the hearing, affirming the Senate’s authority to investigate and cite people in contempt.
“It is very simple,” Hontiveros said. “The power of the Senate to conduct investigations in aid of legislation has long been settled by the Supreme Court.”
She added, “Hindi po mapapakulong ng Senado si Quiboloy para sa mga paratang sa kanya, dahil hindi kami huwes…. Pero kapangyarihan ng Senado ang panagutin ang sinuman na hindi kumilala ng kapangyarihan ng Senate na maglunsad ng mga imbestigasyon. Kasama ang hindi pagdalo sa imbestigasyon despite a valid subpoena.”
(The Senate cannot jail Quiboloy for the accusations against him, because we are not judges… However, it is within the Senate’s power to hold accountable anyone who does not recognize the authority of the Senate to conduct investigations. This includes failure to attend an investigation despite a valid subpoena.)
Hontiveros said the Senate committee was examining the inner workings of Quiboloy’s church to determine whether improvements to the country’s laws were necessary regarding rape vis à vis the concept of consent, labor conditions for religious volunteers, occupational safety and labor standards, and the human trafficking law concerning acts of forced begging and servitude under the guise of religious freedom.
She said there was also a need for Congress to consider a separate law specifically addressing religious violence and other abuses. – with a report from Angie de Silva/Rappler.com
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GAME SCHEDULE: 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference
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jisaga0269
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27/04/2024 22:53
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PVL Images
The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) heads to another title showdown between the league’s top sister teams!
Defending champion Creamline and sister squad Choco Mucho dispute the PVL All-Filipino championship for the second straight conference in a best-of-three series. Here’s the schedule:
It’s all even again for the top four teams.
The semifinalists of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference battle in a single round-robin, where the top two teams will advance to the best-of-three finals. Here’s the schedule:
Near-daily volleyball is back to satisfy fans’ hunger for action as the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) releases its 2024 All-Filipino Conference schedule, starting on February 20.
The development comes after the UAAP also released its Season 86 men’s and women’s volleyball tournament schedules on a Wednesday-Saturday-Sunday rotation.
The PVL, meanwhile, stays in its usual Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday slate, kicking off Tuesday, February 20, at the PhilSports Arena with a double-header featuring newcomers Strong Group Athletics and Capital1 taking on contenders Petro Gazz and Chery Tiggo, respectively.
Capping off the conference’s first week is an appearance at the Araneta Coliseum, with reloaded Farm Fresh challenging the Creamline dynasty in the 6 pm triple-header main event.
Fans outside NCR, however, will have fewer chances to see their favorite PVL stars live unlike the past conference, as only the Ynares Center in Antipolo, Rizal and the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna are the announced venues away from Metro Manila.
The season-starting All-Filipino Conference is scheduled to run for three months until May 14 at the maximum, unless plans change.
Other notable elimination round matches are Choco Mucho vs. Petro Gazz on February 27, Petro Gazz vs Creamline on April 6, PLDT vs Chery Tiggo featuring multiple former F2 Logistics veterans on April 16, and the Creamline-Choco Mucho finals rematch on April 18.
Here is the entire conference schedule, as of Wednesday, February 14:
– Rappler.com
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Senate panel holds Quiboloy in contempt, Padilla objects
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Herbie G
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05/03/2024 14:32
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PROTEST. Members of the Kingdom Jesus Christ (KOJC) and supporters of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy gather outside the Senate to protest the hearing on the alleged abuses inside the KOJC, on March 5, 2024.
Angie de Silva/Rappler
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – The Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality cited on Tuesday, March 5, embattled preacher Apollo Quiboloy in contempt as the panel resumed its investigation into the alleged exploitation, torture, sexual abuse, and other offenses committed against former workers of the Davao-based religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
The committee also asked Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri to have Quiboloy arrested so he could be brought before the panel to testify.
As the hearing was ongoing, Quiboloy’s followers gathered outside the Senate to protest what they called injustice against their leader, whom they believed to be divine. Quiboloy has styled himself as the “appointed son of God,” openly claiming that there is no salvation without him.
The committee’s chairperson, Senator Risa Hontiveros, ruled to hold Quiboloy in contempt after the Davao City-based preacher failed to appear before the Senate panel despite a subpoena served by the Senate sergeant-at-arms through one of his lawyers, Marie Dinah Tolentino-Fuentes, on February 22.
Hontiveros had earlier warned that she would be forced to have Quiboloy arrested if he continued to defy the Senate’s summons.
“This committee requests the Senate President to order his arrest so that he may be brought to testify,” she said.
The hearing was briefly suspended shortly after Senator Robinhood Padilla arrived to join Senators Hontiveros and Aquilino Pimentel Jr. When it resumed, Padilla, without providing a clear reason, placed on record his objection to Hontiveros’ ruling to hold the controversial pastor in contempt .
Hontiveros said Senate rules provide that a majority of the members of the Senate committee, in this case eight, has seven days to overturn the contempt ruling.
The committee’s members include Senator Nancy Binay, who serves as the vice chairperson, and senators Pia Cayetano, Cynthia Villar, Grace Poe, Imee Marcos, Raffy Tulfo, Christopher Lawrence Go, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Mark Villar, and Padilla.
The committee also has ex officio members: senators Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva, and Pimentel.
Quiboloy’s whereabouts have remained unclear but in a previous statement, he said he was in hiding, claiming that he was marked for assassination by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
The US embassy in Manila has not directly responded to the preacher’s claim that there was a plot to kill him, but its February 21 statement read: “For more than a decade, Apollo Quiboloy engaged in serious human rights abuses, including a pattern of systemic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11 years old, and he is currently on the FBI’s Most Wanted List. We are confident that Quiboloy will face justice for his heinous crimes.”
Citing jurisprudence, Hontiveros maintained that it is within the Senate’s jurisdiction to hold accountable anyone who disregarded its authority to conduct investigations in aid of legislation, including failing to attend despite a valid subpoena.
She referenced a case involving the Senate blue ribbon committee, where the Supreme Court (SC) upheld the due process rights of witnesses who attended the hearing, affirming the Senate’s authority to investigate and cite people in contempt.
“It is very simple,” Hontiveros said. “The power of the Senate to conduct investigations in aid of legislation has long been settled by the Supreme Court.”
She added, “Hindi po mapapakulong ng Senado si Quiboloy para sa mga paratang sa kanya, dahil hindi kami huwes…. Pero kapangyarihan ng Senado ang panagutin ang sinuman na hindi kumilala ng kapangyarihan ng Senate na maglunsad ng mga imbestigasyon. Kasama ang hindi pagdalo sa imbestigasyon despite a valid subpoena.”
(The Senate cannot jail Quiboloy for the accusations against him, because we are not judges… However, it is within the Senate’s power to hold accountable anyone who does not recognize the authority of the Senate to conduct investigations. This includes failure to attend an investigation despite a valid subpoena.)
Hontiveros said the Senate committee was examining the inner workings of Quiboloy’s church to determine whether improvements to the country’s laws were necessary regarding rape vis à vis the concept of consent, labor conditions for religious volunteers, occupational safety and labor standards, and the human trafficking law concerning acts of forced begging and servitude under the guise of religious freedom.
She said there was also a need for Congress to consider a separate law specifically addressing religious violence and other abuses. – with a report from Angie de Silva/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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‘Reality of sports’: Obiena reflects on World Indoor Championships setback
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delfin.dioquino editor
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04/03/2024 19:55
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VAULT. The Philippines' Ernest John Obiena in action during the men's pole vault final in the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships.
Fabrizio Bensch/REUTERS
MANILA, Philippines – A debut in the World Athletics Indoor Championships did not go according to plan for world No. 2 pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
The Filipino star, though, conceded that is simply the way the cookie crumbles for athletes like him.
Obiena fell flat in his bid to capture a medal in the centerpiece event of the indoor season as he finished ninth out of 11 pole vaulters who saw action in Glasgow, Scotland, on Sunday, March 3 (Monday, March 4, Manila time).
“Took my chances, but it did not work out. Clearing one bar in the whole competition and coming in ninth place. The reality of sports sometimes,” Obiena wrote on his social media accounts.
“First world indoor championships are in the books as the 2024 indoor season comes to a conclusion.”
Obiena surpassed just the 5.65m bar as he struggled to hurdle heights he normally clears, with the pride of Tondo soaring past at least 5.80m in each of his previous seven events dating back to 2023.
After two unsuccessful tries at 5.85m, Obiena upped the ante and decided to raise the bar to 5.90m for his final attempt but to no avail.
His performance in Glasgow came on the heels of a pair of golden feats as Obiena topped his first two events of the indoor season.
Obiena leapt past 5.83m to reign supreme in the Memorial Josip Gasparac in Croatia, then shattered the long-standing Asian indoor record with a 5.93m clearance to rule the ISTAF Indoor Berlin in Germany in February.
As expected, Sweden’s Armand Duplantis defended his World Athletics Indoor Championships throne with 6.05m, while the USA’s Sam Kendricks (5.90m) and Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis (5.85m) settled for silver and bronze, respectively.
Obiena will turn his focus to the outdoor season as he continues to build up for the Paris Olympics that will start in July.
“Thank you everyone who came, watch, and screamed their hearts out. I owe you one,” he said. – Rappler.com
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Fudgee Bang?! Fudgee Barr releases limited-edition Korean-inspired flavors – including Dalgona
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Saab Lariosa
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05/03/2024 11:13
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Have you ever imagined eating Dalgona in cake form? How about some Korean tea? Well, our wildest snack dreams have now come true with the limited-edition Fudgee Bang. You read that right.
For the 20th anniversary of our favorite baon through the years, Fudgee Barr has teamed up with the Pambansang Oppa, Ryan Bang, to delight snack and Korean food lovers with three limited-edition flavors: Citron Tea, Blueberry Yoghurt, and Dalgona.
For two decades, Fudgee Barr has been a favorite in Filipino households and lunchboxes, winning our hearts with its moist and delicious cake and unique local flavors like durian, macapuno, chocolate, salted caramel, vanilla, and more. This time, the three new flavors are a refreshing take on the cakes we love.
First is the Citron Tea, a burst of citrusy goodness that adds a zing of Honey Lemon filling and frosting to the classic Fudgee Barr flavor. Meanwhile, Blueberry Yoghurt is a delightful twist that combines creamy yogurt with the tanginess of blueberries. Lastly, the Dalgona flavor promises to take your taste buds on a thrilling adventure with the sweet balance of Dalgona coffee and candy.
These limited-edition flavors are a celebration of Fudgee Barr’s journey of bringing joy through innovative flavors. Not only are the snacks delicious, but they also feature an eye-catching Ryan Bang cartoon on the packaging – you can’t miss it! Join the fun and grab a Fudgee Bang at your nearest supermarket, sari-sari store, or order online through Shopee and Lazada. Don’t miss out on Fudgee Barr’s OBarr sa Saya anniversary activities and updates on Facebook and Instagram. – Rappler.com
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SC orders Metro Manila LGUs: Stop own ticketing system, follow MMDA rules
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Jairo Bolledo
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05/03/2024 11:30
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METRO MANILA TRAFFIC. Heavy traffic builds up on the southbound section of EDSA in Quezon City on August 24, 2023.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered Metro Manila local government units (LGUs) to stop issuing their own traffic violation receipts and confiscating driver’s licenses, and instead comply with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) single ticketing system (STS).
The High Tribunal issued a permanent injunction, through its July 11, 2023 decision, that banned the LGUs from issuing such receipts and confiscating licenses through their traffic enforcers. The decision was publicized only this week.
In the decision, the SC scrapped the common provision from the traffic code of 15 Metro Manila LGUs, which are respondents in the SC case. Malabon and Marikina were not part of the original petition. The said provisions allow the issuance of traffic violation tickets or ordinance violation receipts.
“All told, the Court thus declares as invalid the common provision in the said traffic codes or ordinances of the LGUs in Metro Manila empowering each of them to issue OVRs to erring drivers and motorists. The other provisions of the traffic codes or ordinances remain valid and unaffected by this Decision,” the SC explained.
The MMDA’s STS, institutionalized through the establishment of the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023, harmonized the laws governing traffic enforcement and management in Metro Manila. The system standardized the fines and penalties for common traffic violations in the country’s capital region. It also covers the traffic rules on “all major, secondary or other roads and thoroughfares within the jurisdictional bounds of Metro Manila.”
“In this connection, the Court also finds that the autonomy of the LGUs will not be unduly undermined by the ruling in this case, as their interests are amply protected by the very structure of the MMDA as established by the MMDA Law,” the SC added.
The decision penned by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa stemmed from a petition for certiorari – a legal remedy used to review a lower court’s decision – with a prayer for issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction and/or temporary restraining order, assailing the Court of Appeal’s (CA) decision and resolution upholding the LGUs’ ticketing system.
The petition dated December 21, 2006 came from several jeepney drivers’ and operators’ association which sought to challenge the ticketing system of the 15 LGUs before the CA.
According to the petitioners, the traffic code provisions of the LGUs violate sections 29 and 62 of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) law, and section 5(f) of the MMDA law, which allow the agency to establish a single ticketing system. Meanwhile, the LTO law “grants the LTO authority to confiscate driver’s licenses and issue a prescribed receipt for violations of said law or of any regulations issued pursuant thereto or of local traffic rules and regulations.”
In the case, the petitioners also asked for a mandamus to require the MMDA to establish the said single ticketing system. While the petition was still pending, the MMDA issued Resolution No. 12-02, series of 2012, adopting a uniform ticketing system.
Six years later, in 2012, the CA junked the petition for lack of merit. The appellate court, however, did not rule on whether the issuance of tickets by the LGUs violate the MMDA’s single ticketing system, “because, as admitted by the parties, no single ticketing system had at that time been drawn.” The petitioners moved for a reconsideration, but was also later denied by the CA.
The petitioners then brought their case to the High Court. – Rappler.com
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Rice prices push up inflation to 3.4% in February 2024
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Ralf Rivas
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05/03/2024 9:08
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FOOD INFLATION. Shoppers and vendors are busy at the Paco Public Market in Manila on October 6, 2022.
Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ inflation rate slightly went up to 3.4% in February, as food prices and utility costs inched up during the month.
The latest figure reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority on Tuesday, March 5, is higher than the 2.8% reported in January, but lower than the 8.6% last February 2023.
Rice prices continued to accelerate, jumping by 23.7%, the fastest level in 15 years, according to National Statistician Dennis Mapa. Overall food inflation went up to 4.6% from 3.5%.
Transportation costs also went up by 1.2% from -0.3%.
The February 2024 figure is still within the government target range of 2% to 4%.
This is the first increase in inflation after a downtrend for four straight months.
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) issued a statement shortly after the latest inflation figures were released, noting that the government is intensifying its efforts to mitigate the impact of El Niño on food prices.
“The potential impact of a strong El Niño weather pattern on food prices is a significant concern for our community. Rising transportation costs, electricity rates, and volatile oil markets are putting pressure on household finances…. We must be agile, adaptive, and forward-thinking,” said NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.
Balisacan said that rice prices in the international market have started to ease, while local supply is expected to increase as harvest season begins in March.
Analysts expect that inflation will remain within target range.
Jean Olivia de Castro, head of fixed income at Manulife Investment Management and Trust Corporation said inflation in the first quarter will likely remain within 2% to 4%, but rice prices will continue to put pressure on the overall figure.
“Upside risks to inflation may stem from elevated rice prices and continued increases in global oil prices. Oil prices have increased over 8% during the first two months of the year due to OPEC supply cuts, conflict in the Middle East, and Houthi attacks on shipping lines in the Red Sea in the past few months,” De Castro said.
De Castro noted that while lower tariff rates and an increase in rice imports would help cap the continued rise in prices, export restrictions remain from India, the world’s biggest supplier.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has kept interest rates high at 6.5%.
In a statement on Tuesday, the central bank said it deems it appropriate to keep monetary policy settings unchanged in the near term.
“The risks to the inflation outlook have receded but remain tilted toward the upside,” the BSP said. – Rappler.com
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SC orders Metro Manila LGUs: Stop own ticketing system, follow MMDA rules
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Jairo Bolledo
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05/03/2024 11:30
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METRO MANILA TRAFFIC. Heavy traffic builds up on the southbound section of EDSA in Quezon City on August 24, 2023.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered Metro Manila local government units (LGUs) to stop issuing their own traffic violation receipts and confiscating driver’s licenses, and instead comply with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) single ticketing system (STS).
The High Tribunal issued a permanent injunction, through its July 11, 2023 decision, that banned the LGUs from issuing such receipts and confiscating licenses through their traffic enforcers. The decision was publicized only this week.
In the decision, the SC scrapped the common provision from the traffic code of 15 Metro Manila LGUs, which are respondents in the SC case. Malabon and Marikina were not part of the original petition. The said provisions allow the issuance of traffic violation tickets or ordinance violation receipts.
“All told, the Court thus declares as invalid the common provision in the said traffic codes or ordinances of the LGUs in Metro Manila empowering each of them to issue OVRs to erring drivers and motorists. The other provisions of the traffic codes or ordinances remain valid and unaffected by this Decision,” the SC explained.
The MMDA’s STS, institutionalized through the establishment of the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023, harmonized the laws governing traffic enforcement and management in Metro Manila. The system standardized the fines and penalties for common traffic violations in the country’s capital region. It also covers the traffic rules on “all major, secondary or other roads and thoroughfares within the jurisdictional bounds of Metro Manila.”
“In this connection, the Court also finds that the autonomy of the LGUs will not be unduly undermined by the ruling in this case, as their interests are amply protected by the very structure of the MMDA as established by the MMDA Law,” the SC added.
The decision penned by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa stemmed from a petition for certiorari – a legal remedy used to review a lower court’s decision – with a prayer for issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction and/or temporary restraining order, assailing the Court of Appeal’s (CA) decision and resolution upholding the LGUs’ ticketing system.
The petition dated December 21, 2006 came from several jeepney drivers’ and operators’ association which sought to challenge the ticketing system of the 15 LGUs before the CA.
According to the petitioners, the traffic code provisions of the LGUs violate sections 29 and 62 of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) law, and section 5(f) of the MMDA law, which allow the agency to establish a single ticketing system. Meanwhile, the LTO law “grants the LTO authority to confiscate driver’s licenses and issue a prescribed receipt for violations of said law or of any regulations issued pursuant thereto or of local traffic rules and regulations.”
In the case, the petitioners also asked for a mandamus to require the MMDA to establish the said single ticketing system. While the petition was still pending, the MMDA issued Resolution No. 12-02, series of 2012, adopting a uniform ticketing system.
Six years later, in 2012, the CA junked the petition for lack of merit. The appellate court, however, did not rule on whether the issuance of tickets by the LGUs violate the MMDA’s single ticketing system, “because, as admitted by the parties, no single ticketing system had at that time been drawn.” The petitioners moved for a reconsideration, but was also later denied by the CA.
The petitioners then brought their case to the High Court. – Rappler.com
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‘Mentally down’: Dongallo shakes off Yee suspension, focuses on improving UE fortunes
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jisaga0269
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03/03/2024 20:56
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FOR COACH JERRY. UE spiker Casiey Dongallo wears a wristband to show support for coach Jerry Yee.
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP certainly picked a bad time, at least for the UE Lady Warriors, to hand out their season-long suspension to head coach Jerry Yee.
Mere hours before UE took on Yee’s former team Adamson Lady Falcons, the league officially handed down its stunning decision while Yee himself was in a separate venue outside the Mall of Asia Arena talking to reporters about the development.
Although the players and the remaining coaching staff were already given a heads-up, the side effects of the off-court development were still evident on the taraflex, as Adamson rolled over UE with back-to-back 25-19 routs and eventually prevailing in an extended fourth frame, 29-27.
For Lady Warriors super rookie Casiey Dongallo, the announcement certainly played a part in her team’s lethargic start.
“As [interim coach] Doc [Obet Vital] pointed out, we were mentally down in the first and second set. That was certainly one big added burden in our minds,” she lamented in Filipino.
“But as the game flowed, the coaches did not lack in reminders for us to set that aside. We just had to play our game especially in the third and fourth sets, where we were able to do just that. Still, we fell short.”
To the Lady Warriors’ credit, they indeed stepped up in the latter frames, stealing a 28-26 decision to stay alive in the third, before almost pulling off a fifth-set decider in a thrilling finish, 25-19, 25-19, 26-28, 29-27.
Also catching fans’ attention were the UE players’ accessories during the game – an assortment of armbands, muscle tapes, and wrist guards that have “Coach Jerry” scribbled on them.
Dongallo, far and away the league’s leading scorer with a 27 points per game average, added 26 more to her fast-growing tally as a small silver lining to UE dropping its third straight close game.
Moving forward, given the fact that Yee may still lead practices away from game arenas, Dongallo hopes that she and her teammates could break out of this slump soon – both standings-wise and mentally speaking.
“It’s not like we can just forget what happened this game, but I think we just have to move forward, give it all in training, fix what needs to be fixed, especially our mental state,” she continued.
“We really need to get our minds back in the game, as it was clear that we were affected with what happened to coach Jerry.” – Rappler.com
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Petecio, Ladon off to splendid starts in world qualifier for Olympic boxing
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delfin.dioquino editor
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04/03/2024 18:15
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FIGHTER. Philippine bet Nesthy Petecio in action against Chinese Taipei's Lin Yu Ting in the Asian Games.
POC-PSC Media Pool
MANILA, Philippines – Two Filipino boxers gained ground in their bid to punch a ticket to the Paris Olympics with a pair of rousing wins to start the World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy, on Sunday, March 3 (Monday, March 4, Manila time).
Nesthy Petecio and Rogen Ladon both aced their first tests as they inched closer to joining compatriot Eumir Marcial, who is so far the only Filipino boxer to qualify for the Paris Games.
A silver medalist in the last Tokyo Olympics, Petecio opened her campaign in style with a first-round stoppage of Serbia’s Andela Brankovic in the women’s 57kg preliminaries.
Petecio imposed her will on Brankovic, forcing Moroccan referee Bachir Abbar to halt the fight with a minute left in the opening round.
Needing to reach the final to clinch her Paris berth, Petecio will next tangle with Romania’s Maria Claudia Nechita on Thursday, March 7.
Ladon, meanwhile, moved within three wins of an Olympic return after a 4-1 split decision victory over Italy’s Federico Emilio Serra in the men’s 51kg category.
Seeking to qualify for the Olympics since his last appearance in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, Ladon earned the nod of four judges, with scores of 30-27, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28. The other judge scored it 29-28 in favor of Serra.
Unlike Petecio who must secure a top-two finish for a spot in Paris, Ladon only has to make the semifinals.
Ladon will face Morocco’s Said Mortaji next on Wednesday, March 6.
While two of the Philippines’ 10 bets in Busto Arsizio advanced to the next round, one suffered an early exit as Riza Pasuit fell prey to Venezuela’s Krisandy Rios via unanimous decision in the women’s 60kg division.
Set to see action in the coming days are Carlo Paalam (men’s 57kg), Aira Villegas (women’s 50kg), Mark Ashley Fajardo (men’s 63.5kg), Claudine Veloso (women’s 54kg), Ronald Chavez Jr. (men’s 71kg), Hergie Bacyadan (women’s 75kg), and John Marvin (men’s 92kg).
Ladon, Petecio, Villegas, and Bacyadan all won gold medals in their respective weight classes in the Boxam Elite Tournament in Spain in February.
The Italy tournament serves as one of the last two qualifying events for Paris, with 28 Olympic slots for men and 21 for women up for grabs in Busto Arsizio. – Rappler.com
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LIVESTREAM: Senate hearing on alleged abuses of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy
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Herbie G
|
05/03/2024 10:12
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MANILA, Philippines – The Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality resumes its hearing on the alleged exploitation, torture, sexual, and other abuses committed against former workers of the Davao-based religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) at 10 am on Tuesday, March 5.
The continuing investigation on the KOJC and the alleged abuses its former workers suffered at the hands of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy himself comes a day after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered prosecutors to file separate cases of sexual abuse of a minor and qualified human trafficking in Davao and Pasig cities, respectively, against the KOJC leader and five of his associates.
The doomsday preacher has been summoned by the Senate panel, and its chairperson, Senator Risa Hontiveros, earlier warned that Quiboloy’s failure to face the committee during the Tuesday hearing would mean an order for his arrest.
The Senate panel also sent out invitations to several Quiboloy associates in the KOJC: Jackielyn Roy, Ingrid Canada, Cresente “Enteng” Canada, Tina San Pedro, Jojo Pablo, Gihu Ayang, and Alain Balmes.
Roy and the two Canadas are among the six people, including Quiboloy, whom the Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered to be charged in Davao and Pasig courts.
Two more witnesses – a male and a female – are expected to narrate details of alleged abuse during Tuesday’s investigation in the Senate, alongside former KOJC worker Arlene Caminong-Stone, who initially gave her testimony against Quiboloy and his group during a previous hearing.
Stone, who is now based in Minnesota, United States, is among the most vocal critics of Quiboloy and the KOJC. She, alongside Faith Killion in Kentucky, and Reynita Fernandez in Singapore, were among the first former KOJC workers to go public and expose the inner workings of the KOJC in several interviews for a series of Rappler investigative reports in 2021. – Rappler.com
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Water crisis worsens in Cagayan de Oro as payment dispute threatens city’s supply
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Herbie G
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05/03/2024 9:21
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WATER CRISIS. A man stores treated water brought to a community by a water tanker during a weekend crisis in Cagayan de Oro, which started on Saturday, March 2, 2024.
Cagayan de Oro Water District
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – While water supply in most parts of Cagayan de Oro was restored on Monday, March 4, the crisis is far from over.
The city government confirmed receiving a copy of a letter from Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water Incorporated (COBI) to the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD), the city’s primary water distribution firm, demanding payment of P430 million in unpaid water bills. It served as the second disconnection notice to COWD.
COBI President Christopher Andrew Pangilinan informed COWD that unless the water district paid the bill within 30 days from the day the demand letter was sent on February 29, water supply will be cut off throughout the city.
COBI is the main supplier of treated water to COWD, and the dispute over Cagayan de Oro’s water supply involves these two entities, which have interlocking ownership.
COBI, a joint venture between Metro Pacific Water owned by businessman Manny Pangilinan and COWD, the primary water distribution firm in Cagayan de Oro, was established on August 14, 2017. Metro Pacific Water holds 95% equity, while COWD holds the remaining 5% and is responsible for the distribution and supply of water to the city.
COBI sources its bulk water supply from Rio Verde, another company owned by businessman Pepito Alvarez, which operates a water treatment facility in neighboring Baungon, Bukidnon. The facility has a capacity of processing and supplying 100 million liters a day.
As of December 31, 2022, COWD served a total of 146,630 households and establishments. However, it has hesitated in paying COBI and has urged the local government to intervene and settle the dispute.
Engineer Antonio Young, COWD general manager, said the amount being claimed by COBI represented the rate increase implemented by the bulk water supplier at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic period.
Young asserted that COWD did not agree to the increased rates and never acknowledged the debt, citing the force majeure clause in their contract with COBI.
“The increased rates were not reflected in our books. It was the worst period of the pandemic. As far as COWD is concerned, we have been paying our bills based on the agreed rates on time,” Young said.
Cagayan de Oro Mayor Rolando Uy has formed a task force led by Councilor Edgar Cabanlas to investigate the transaction between COWD and COBI, saying that he had to intervene as the water crisis has already affected thousands of residents.
Uy said that if the investigation showed that residents are being shortchanged in the transaction between COBI and COWD, he would not hesitate to take further action, including seeking legal recourse to rescind the agreement between the two entities.
The city council, led by Councilor Romeo Calizo, chair of public utilities and traffic management, said it would start an investigation this week.
Cabanlas said, “The people are being misled by the two corporations when they claim that last weekend’s issue was due to repairs on the pipes, but the real issue here is the non-payment.”
Last weekend, residents were left without water after COWD cut off the water supply to at least 26 barangays in the city supposedly to relocate and repair a broken pipe distribution system.
Young told reporters the COWD had to suspend the water supply distribution to allow the bulk water supplier to carry out major repairs on a critical pipe in its distribution system.
As a result, firetrucks and water tanks from COWD city hall, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and other private companies brought water to the affected areas. – Rappler.com
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LIVESTREAM: Senate hearing on alleged abuses of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy
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Herbie G
|
05/03/2024 10:12
|
MANILA, Philippines – The Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality resumes its hearing on the alleged exploitation, torture, sexual, and other abuses committed against former workers of the Davao-based religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) at 10 am on Tuesday, March 5.
The continuing investigation on the KOJC and the alleged abuses its former workers suffered at the hands of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy himself comes a day after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered prosecutors to file separate cases of sexual abuse of a minor and qualified human trafficking in Davao and Pasig cities, respectively, against the KOJC leader and five of his associates.
The doomsday preacher has been summoned by the Senate panel, and its chairperson, Senator Risa Hontiveros, earlier warned that Quiboloy’s failure to face the committee during the Tuesday hearing would mean an order for his arrest.
The Senate panel also sent out invitations to several Quiboloy associates in the KOJC: Jackielyn Roy, Ingrid Canada, Cresente “Enteng” Canada, Tina San Pedro, Jojo Pablo, Gihu Ayang, and Alain Balmes.
Roy and the two Canadas are among the six people, including Quiboloy, whom the Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered to be charged in Davao and Pasig courts.
Two more witnesses – a male and a female – are expected to narrate details of alleged abuse during Tuesday’s investigation in the Senate, alongside former KOJC worker Arlene Caminong-Stone, who initially gave her testimony against Quiboloy and his group during a previous hearing.
Stone, who is now based in Minnesota, United States, is among the most vocal critics of Quiboloy and the KOJC. She, alongside Faith Killion in Kentucky, and Reynita Fernandez in Singapore, were among the first former KOJC workers to go public and expose the inner workings of the KOJC in several interviews for a series of Rappler investigative reports in 2021. – Rappler.com
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1
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LIVESTREAM: Senate hearing on alleged abuses of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy
|
Herbie G
|
05/03/2024 10:12
|
MANILA, Philippines – The Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality resumes its hearing on the alleged exploitation, torture, sexual, and other abuses committed against former workers of the Davao-based religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) at 10 am on Tuesday, March 5.
The continuing investigation on the KOJC and the alleged abuses its former workers suffered at the hands of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy himself comes a day after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered prosecutors to file separate cases of sexual abuse of a minor and qualified human trafficking in Davao and Pasig cities, respectively, against the KOJC leader and five of his associates.
The doomsday preacher has been summoned by the Senate panel, and its chairperson, Senator Risa Hontiveros, earlier warned that Quiboloy’s failure to face the committee during the Tuesday hearing would mean an order for his arrest.
The Senate panel also sent out invitations to several Quiboloy associates in the KOJC: Jackielyn Roy, Ingrid Canada, Cresente “Enteng” Canada, Tina San Pedro, Jojo Pablo, Gihu Ayang, and Alain Balmes.
Roy and the two Canadas are among the six people, including Quiboloy, whom the Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered to be charged in Davao and Pasig courts.
Two more witnesses – a male and a female – are expected to narrate details of alleged abuse during Tuesday’s investigation in the Senate, alongside former KOJC worker Arlene Caminong-Stone, who initially gave her testimony against Quiboloy and his group during a previous hearing.
Stone, who is now based in Minnesota, United States, is among the most vocal critics of Quiboloy and the KOJC. She, alongside Faith Killion in Kentucky, and Reynita Fernandez in Singapore, were among the first former KOJC workers to go public and expose the inner workings of the KOJC in several interviews for a series of Rappler investigative reports in 2021. – Rappler.com
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Rappler
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https://www.rappler.com/philippines/video-senate-hearing-alleged-abuses-apollo-quiboloy/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0np2ejI7pmJTqdQs2TNJLK5wJC_KoYdDFiOEFYg7ZOvt6T16jolU0h6ZQ_aem_AuVsxoVTwBgxk0HjKjiB2Q
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1
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LIVESTREAM: Senate hearing on alleged abuses of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy
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Herbie G
|
05/03/2024 10:12
|
MANILA, Philippines – The Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality resumes its hearing on the alleged exploitation, torture, sexual, and other abuses committed against former workers of the Davao-based religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) at 10 am on Tuesday, March 5.
The continuing investigation on the KOJC and the alleged abuses its former workers suffered at the hands of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy himself comes a day after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered prosecutors to file separate cases of sexual abuse of a minor and qualified human trafficking in Davao and Pasig cities, respectively, against the KOJC leader and five of his associates.
The doomsday preacher has been summoned by the Senate panel, and its chairperson, Senator Risa Hontiveros, earlier warned that Quiboloy’s failure to face the committee during the Tuesday hearing would mean an order for his arrest.
The Senate panel also sent out invitations to several Quiboloy associates in the KOJC: Jackielyn Roy, Ingrid Canada, Cresente “Enteng” Canada, Tina San Pedro, Jojo Pablo, Gihu Ayang, and Alain Balmes.
Roy and the two Canadas are among the six people, including Quiboloy, whom the Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered to be charged in Davao and Pasig courts.
Two more witnesses – a male and a female – are expected to narrate details of alleged abuse during Tuesday’s investigation in the Senate, alongside former KOJC worker Arlene Caminong-Stone, who initially gave her testimony against Quiboloy and his group during a previous hearing.
Stone, who is now based in Minnesota, United States, is among the most vocal critics of Quiboloy and the KOJC. She, alongside Faith Killion in Kentucky, and Reynita Fernandez in Singapore, were among the first former KOJC workers to go public and expose the inner workings of the KOJC in several interviews for a series of Rappler investigative reports in 2021. – Rappler.com
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Jaclyn Jose’s relatives, friends pay tribute to actress: ‘Her life itself was her greatest obra maestra’
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Ysa Abad
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04/03/2024 16:14
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MANILA, Philippines – Friends, relatives, and celebrities took to social media to pay their tributes to beloved showbiz icon Jaclyn Jose.
Jose, whose real name is Mary Jane Santa Ana Guck, passed away on Saturday, March 2 due to myocardial infarction or heart attack. Her death was confirmed by her management PPL Entertainment and daughter, actress Andi Eigenmann on Monday, March 4.
In a press conference, Eigenmann praised her late mother, saying that the actress’ “undeniable legacy will definitely forever live on through her work, through her children, through her grandchildren, and the many lives she’s touched.”
“She herself, her life itself, was her greatest obra maestra,” she added.
Other celebrities also took to social media to share kind words about Jose.
Dimples Romana said that the industry had “lost another true icon” with Jose’s passing. She also recalled how the veteran star helped her hone her skills as an actress.
“I remember all the laughter, the lessons you generously taught me as a young actor back when we were shooting this movie in 2001 and for our May Minamahal remake,” she wrote.
Kylie Padilla said that she was “still crying” as she recalled her moments with Jose, whom she worked with in the GMA series Bolera.
“We talked about motherhood, life, and love. I loved your energy…. Thank you for being mom to me but also being a friend to me,” she said.
Alden Richards, who worked with Jose in the 2013 series Mundo Mo’y Akin and the Filipino adaptation of Start-Up, shared that his “heart aches like a son who lost his mom.”
Jake Ejercito, the father of Jose’s granddaughter Ellie, shared a throwback photo of Jose and Ellie.
💔 pic.twitter.com/wpmJXFi31e
Gladys Reyes shared a throwback video with the late Jose, which was taken during the filming of their final movie together, Apag. Reyes added that she has worked with the award-winning actress since she was only nine years old.
“Nabawasan na naman ng isang magaling at de kalibreng aktor ang industriya,” she said.
(The industry has lost another talented actor.)
Liza Diño said that Jose’s death was “heartbreaking” and that she “can’t accept the fact that [Jose] is no longer with us.” The former FDCP chairman shared that Jose had been her mentor and constant source of support and encouragement.
“Philippine Cinema has lost an icon, and we are all mourning your passing as it feels like it happened all too soon,” she added.
Ice Seguerra shared that he was in disbelief with Jose’s sudden passing. “Thank you for your kindness,” his caption read.
Rita Avila penned a message to Jose, saying that she was glad that they were able to work together for the last time. “No more worries and loneliness now, Jane,” she added.
Gardo Versoza also shared a throwback photo with Jose, saying that it was painful to say goodbye to the actress. “Mahal na mahal kita (I love you so much),” he wrote.
Ai-ai delas Alas wrote that the industry had lost another of its greatest stars. “It’s an honor na makasama kita kahit isang beses lang sa Cinemalaya (to have worked with you if only once through a Cinemalaya film).
Ara Mina expressed her shock at Jose’s sudden death, recalling that they had just been talking two weeks ago and were even making plans with each other last week.
“I’ve worked with you since I was 15 mula sa ‘The Flor Contempacion Story,’ ‘Prinsesa ng Banyera’ at itong ginagawa natin na ‘Poon’ movie…. Maraming salamat sa iyong contribution sa industriya. Maraming salamat sa magandang alaala at pakikipagkaibigan mo samin na katrabaho mo,” she wrote.
(I’ve worked with you since I was 15, from The Flor Contempacion Story, Prinsesa ng Banyera, and this film we’re working on, Poon. Thank you for all your contributions to the industry. Thank you for the good memories and the friendship you’ve given your colleagues.)
Jose starred in numerous acclaimed films and television series, including The Flor Contemplacion Story, Patay na si Hesus, and Kalel, 15. In 2016, she made history as the first Filipino and Southeast Asian star to win best actress at the Cannes Film Festival for her leading turn as a matriarch and meth dealer in Brillante Mendoza’s Ma’ Rosa.
She also had three Gawad Urian best actress nods for her roles in Takaw Tukso (1987), Itanong Mo Sa Buwan (1989), and Sarong Banggi (2006). Her last role was as Chief Dolores Espinas in the series FPJ’s Batang Quiapo. – Rappler.com
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PRIMER: Investigations, cases against Apollo Quiboloy
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Herbie G
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27/02/2024 18:35
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CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday, February 27, once again called on doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy to face his accusers and address the serious allegations raised against him in an ongoing investigation.
Hontiveros made the call just one week before the fourth hearing set by her committee regarding the alleged abuses committed by the Davao-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) against its former workers and members.
The senator earlier warned that she would cite Quiboloy in contempt and have him arrested unless he showed up at the March 5 hearing of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Hontiveros said the committee, as it investigates matters in aid of legislation, “has the power to compel the attendance of witnesses, no matter how well-connected they are.”
She said Quiboloy, who styles himself as the “appointed son of God,” is not above the law and the country’s institutions.
“In the past, Cabinet officials, lawmakers, an incumbent Senate president, and even a former president have submitted to Senate subpoenas and appeared as witnesses. His (Quiboloy’s) constitutional rights, like all witnesses, are respected. Pero hindi siya mataas pa sa presidente, sa Senado, at sa batas (But he is not higher than the President, the Senate, and the law),” she said in a statement recorded on video.
Quiboloy has wielded much influence as a religious figure in the country. He has maintained a close friendship and unwavering support for former president Rodrigo Duterte, with their ties dating back to Duterte’s time as mayor of Davao City. Throughout Duterte’s presidency, Quiboloy served as his “spiritual adviser,” cementing their long-standing relationship.
Hontiveros also noted that Quiboloy and his followers called the witnesses who appeared before the Senate committee as cowards for not showing their faces in public, yet the KOJC leader himself declared his intention to disregard the Senate subpoena.
She pointed out that Quiboloy’s accusers have executed affidavits against the preacher and his church associates.
Addressing Quiboloy, Hontiveros said, “Bukas po ang Senado para sa panig ‘nyo. Hinihintay namin kayo (The Senate is open to your side. We are waiting for you).”
The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Office served the subpoena to Quiboloy, through his lawyer Marie Dinah Tolentino-Fuentes, on February 22, after the preacher ignored invitations to attend three previous hearings at the Senate.
Hontiveros’ committee has been tasked by the Senate to look into allegations of human trafficking, sexual abuse, violence, and other misconduct involving the preacher and his organization.
She can, according to Section 17 of the Senate rules governing the conduct of committee investigations. The authority of Senate committees includes the “power to summon witnesses and take their testimony and to issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum, signed by its Chairman, or in his absence by the Acting Chairman, and approved by the President.”
“Within Metro Manila, such process shall be served by the Sergeant-at-Arms or his assistant. Outside of Metro Manila, service may be made by the police of a municipality or city, upon request of the Secretary,” reads a clause in the Senate rules.
Section 18 of the Senate rules on panel investigations provides that a “contempt of the Committee shall be deemed a contempt of the Senate.”
The rules also provide that “such witness may be ordered by the Committee to be detained in such place as it may designate under the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms until he/she agrees to produce the required documents, or to be sworn or to testify, or otherwise purge himself/herself of that contempt.”
Former KOJC members have testified on the alleged abuses of Quiboloy and his church associates before Hontiveros’ committee since the panel started the hearings on January 23.
Their narratives – including that of two Ukrainian women who alleged that Quiboloy sexually abused them in the name of religion – have been consistent with and corroborated by the allegations made also by former KOJC members in the United States against the Davao-based preacher.
Quiboloy and eight of his associates were indicted by a federal grand jury in a US District Court in Santa Ana, California, in 2021.
The 74-page indictment document shows that the preacher and the other accused have been charged with the following crimes:
The indictment papers enumerate 94 overt acts of the preacher and his associates.
The US court ordered Quiboloy and his associates arrested on November 10, 2021. Except for Quiboloy and two others, Teresita Dandan and Helen Panilag, the others either surrendered or were arrested by US authorities, and subsequently bailed out.
The others who have been indicted along with Quiboloy are the following:
At least one of those accused has subsequently agreed to turn state witness against Quiboloy’s group.
On January 31, 2022, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) included Quiboloy, Dandan, and Panilag, among several other fugitives from Mexico and China, in its most wanted list, and published their separate wanted posters on its website.
The FBI’s “most wanted” poster on the KOJC leader reads, “Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, the founder of a Philippines-based church, is wanted for his alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members to the United States, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders.”
On November 3, 2022, Judge Terry Hatter Jr. of the US District Court-Central District of California reset the trial of Quiboloy and his co-accused in Los Angeles from March 21, 2023, to March 19, 2024. Subsequently, in late 2023, the trial was again moved to November 2024.
In the 2022 order, Hatter granted the request of five of the defendants – Salinas, Cabactulan, Duenas, Estopare, and Roces – to be given more time to prepare their defense, based on the US Speedy Trial Act.
Based on the US-Philippines extradition treaty, an extradition request must be made through diplomatic channels.
But nearly three years after the indictment of Quiboloy and his associates, the US has yet to submit a formal extradition request for the preacher, Dandan, and Panilag, according to the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ).
In late 2022, the US announced sanctions against the KOJC leader through its treasury and state departments, a move that coincided with International Anti-Corruption Day and on the eve of International Human Rights Day.
The sanctions include the following:
– Rappler.com
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Rhenz Abando ready for EASL playoffs after winning KBL injury return
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Jasmine Payo
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03/03/2024 21:42
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KEY COG. Anyang's Rhenz Abando goes for a shot against Goyang in KBL action.
Anyang Jung Kwan Jang
MANILA, Philippines — Rhenz Abando will not be a mere spectator in the East Asia Super League (EASL) Final Four to be held in Cebu this weekend after getting the green light to play.
The high-flying Abando will suit up for the Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters in the continental league after a successful return on Sunday, March 3, in the Korean Basketball League.
In his first game back since suffering a spinal injury last December, Abando powered his way to 17 points in 28 minutes, on top of 4 rebounds and 3 assists in Anyang’s 92-87 win against Goyang Sono.
The former NCAA Most Valuable Player, however, said his injury recovery is around “85-90 percent,” admitting to still feeling pain when bending his body.
Abando’s game was well-attended by Filipino fans in South Korea, including Philippine ambassador Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega.
“The support of the Filipino fans is a great help. The embassy people came, so I think I’m even happier that we won the game,” Abando, who was named Player of the Game, said after the contest.
“I am happy that I was able to win on my comeback match. The team still has some room to improve, but I am happy that we won,” he added.
Abando’s return was coincidentally with the same team he played against when he suffered the gruesome injury.
Chinanu Onuaku collided with Abando while he was in mid-air, leading to an awkward fall for the Filipino.
He and Onuaku met before the game, with the latter apologizing for the mishap, per Abando.
The EASL Final Four, set to be held at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City, will feature Anyang against rival Seoul SK Knights in the semifinals on March 8, 5 pm.
The winner of that matchup will face off with the victor of the Chiba Jets-New Taipei Kings tussle in the second semifinal game at 8 pm.
The gold- and bronze-medal matches will be on Sunday, March 10, at the same venue. — 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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‘Mentally down’: Dongallo shakes off Yee suspension, focuses on improving UE fortunes
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jisaga0269
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03/03/2024 20:56
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FOR COACH JERRY. UE spiker Casiey Dongallo wears a wristband to show support for coach Jerry Yee.
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP certainly picked a bad time, at least for the UE Lady Warriors, to hand out their season-long suspension to head coach Jerry Yee.
Mere hours before UE took on Yee’s former team Adamson Lady Falcons, the league officially handed down its stunning decision while Yee himself was in a separate venue outside the Mall of Asia Arena talking to reporters about the development.
Although the players and the remaining coaching staff were already given a heads-up, the side effects of the off-court development were still evident on the taraflex, as Adamson rolled over UE with back-to-back 25-19 routs and eventually prevailing in an extended fourth frame, 29-27.
For Lady Warriors super rookie Casiey Dongallo, the announcement certainly played a part in her team’s lethargic start.
“As [interim coach] Doc [Obet Vital] pointed out, we were mentally down in the first and second set. That was certainly one big added burden in our minds,” she lamented in Filipino.
“But as the game flowed, the coaches did not lack in reminders for us to set that aside. We just had to play our game especially in the third and fourth sets, where we were able to do just that. Still, we fell short.”
To the Lady Warriors’ credit, they indeed stepped up in the latter frames, stealing a 28-26 decision to stay alive in the third, before almost pulling off a fifth-set decider in a thrilling finish, 25-19, 25-19, 26-28, 29-27.
Also catching fans’ attention were the UE players’ accessories during the game – an assortment of armbands, muscle tapes, and wrist guards that have “Coach Jerry” scribbled on them.
Dongallo, far and away the league’s leading scorer with a 27 points per game average, added 26 more to her fast-growing tally as a small silver lining to UE dropping its third straight close game.
Moving forward, given the fact that Yee may still lead practices away from game arenas, Dongallo hopes that she and her teammates could break out of this slump soon – both standings-wise and mentally speaking.
“It’s not like we can just forget what happened this game, but I think we just have to move forward, give it all in training, fix what needs to be fixed, especially our mental state,” she continued.
“We really need to get our minds back in the game, as it was clear that we were affected with what happened to coach Jerry.” – 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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Tourism Secretary Frasco backs return of church panels to Cebu
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Ralf Rivas
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03/03/2024 20:21
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HISTORY. The controversial early 19th-century panels depicting the founder of the Augustinian Order displayed at the National Museum of the Philippines.
National Museum of the Philippines
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco joined Cebuanos in calling for the return of the pulpit panels allegedly stolen from the heritage church of Boljoon.
In a statement sent to Rappler on Sunday, March 3, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Frasco sent a letter to National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) Board of Trustees Chairperson Andoni Aboitiz.
“These panels bear profound significance in Cebuano’s history, serving as a tangible reflection of the rich cultural heritage and religious traditions of the people of Cebu. Moreover, the Boljoon Church is of outstanding cultural value to the Philippines as a National Cultural Treasure and National Historical Landmark, and is on the Philippines’ tentative list as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for Baroque Churches of the Philippines (Extension),” she said in her letter.
Frasco, former mayor of Liloan, Cebu, currently sits on the NMP board as an ex-officio member. She said that cultural heritage has a significant role in the approved National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023-2028.
“[A]s the Department of Tourism supports the protection and conservation of our nation’s religious and cultural treasures and artifacts, it also advocates that the destinations and communities from whence these treasures and artifacts emanate should be proactively sustained and duly respected,” said Frasco.
She also stressed that pilgrimage tourism, which is an important tourism segment in the country, “hinges on destinations like Boljoon Church in attracting tourists and supporting local economies.”
“One of the identified priorities of the Department of Tourism is pilgrimage tourism, wherein tourists visit destinations to pay homage to religious artifacts and sites that are of significance to their faith. Religious artifacts and sites such as the pulpit panels and the Boljoon Church enrich the culture and history of tourism destinations, driving travelers to visit and supporting the local economy by providing tourism-related livelihood and employment,” Frasco said in her letter to Aboitiz.
The four pulpit panels were lost from the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santissima in Boljoon for decades until they resurfaced on February 13 as a “Gift to the Nation” donation by private collectors to the NMP.
Their resurfacing has spurred widespread calls in Cebu, especially in Boljoon, for their return to the church that was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the NMP. – Rappler.com
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I appreciate the action of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco. I hope this will not result in a second “fiasco.” If the National Museum of the Philippines insists otherwise, the right party or parties may file a complaint at the Senate for an investigation. This will be an opportunity for some senators to grandstanding and smart shaming. In fairness, kindly include the House of Representatives, too. If both legislative chambers are too busy for the economic Cha-cha, how about filing it with the Philippine National Police?
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Cellar dwellers on top: Terrafirma stuns NLEX, shares PH Cup lead with Blackwater
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Jasmine Payo
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03/03/2024 20:21
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LEADER. Terrafirma guard Juami Tiongson in action against NLEX.
PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines –A longtime league cellar dweller, the Terrafirma Dyip are starting to turn heads in the PBA Philippine Cup.
For the first time since the 2016 Governors’ Cup, Terrafirma is off to a 2-0 start in the conference after gutting out a 99-95 win over the NLEX Road Warriors at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, March 3.
After erupting for 30 points in their opening assignment last Friday, March 2, high-scoring guard Juami Tiongson was on a mission for the Dyip anew as he dropped a team-best 21 points in the come-from-behind triumph.
Javi Gomez de Liaño backstopped Tiongson with 18 points, while top rookie Stephen Holt, who scored a PBA career-high of 27 points two days ago, filled up the stat sheet with 17 markers, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals.
“We have two wins now, but I told my players we have to win every game,” said Terrafirma head coach Johnedel Cardel as the Dyip joined the Blackwater Bossing as the surprise leaders early in the conference.
“We’re not thinking of our two wins because we might relax.”
“Every game, our mindset should be 1-0, 1-0, until we reach our goal, which is to enter the quarterfinals,” added Cardel as Terrafirma, formerly known as Mahindra, aims to duplicate its 2016 Governors’ Cup run, which was the only time the franchise advanced to the next round.
With NLEX leading by double figures at halftime, 57-47, Terrafirma came out with guns blazing from the break and opened the third quarter on a 14-4 run to overtake the Road Warriors, 61-60.
It was a nip-and-tuck battle between both teams throughout the second half, and with Terrafirma up by just 2, 95-93, with over a minute left to play, Sean Anthony had a chance to tie the game for NLEX, but his wide-open layup clanked off the rim.
Isaac Go then drilled two free throws for the Dyip to extend their lead to two possessions, 97-93, before Dave Marcelo quickly responded with a layup on the other end.
A turnover by NLEX star Robert Bolick with 25 ticks left led to two clutch free throws by JP Calvo to re-establish Terrafirma’s 4-point cushion, 99-95.
NLEX had two opportunities to make it a single possession game in the next play, but Anthony Semerad’s three-point attempt and another easy layup by Anthony failed to hit the target once again.
Terrafirma spoiled the huge performance of Bolick, who came up with a game-high 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Rookie Jhan Nermal was the other Road Warrior in double-figures in the loss with 15 points.
NLEX slipped to a 1-1 card – tied with the TNT Tropang Giga and the Meralco Bolts.
Terrafirma 99 – Tiongson 21, Gomez de Liaño 18, Holt 17, Calvo 16, Alolino 9, Sangalang 8, Go 7, Ramos 3, Cahilig 0, Camson 0, Mina 0.
NLEX 95 – Bolick 29, Nermal 15, Valdez 9, Miranda 7, Ular 7, Anthony 6, Semerad 6, Nieto 6, Marcelo 4, Pascual 4, Herndon 2.
Quarters: 21-26, 47-57, 70-73, 99-95.
– Rappler.com
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Pangilinan, Aboitiz, Ang team up for P185-billion integrated LNG facility
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Ralf Rivas
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03/03/2024 17:34
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MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ richest tycoons are setting aside business rivalry to team up for the country’s first and “most expansive” integrated liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in the province of Batangas valued at $3.3 billion (P185.2 billion).
Manny Pangilinan’s Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGen) and Sabin Aboitiz’s Aboitiz Power will jointly invest in Ramon Ang’s San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corporation’s gas-fired power plants, namely the 1,278-megawatt Ilijan power plant, and a new 1,320-megawatt combined cycle power facility.
The tycoons will likewise invest in almost 100% of the LNG import and regasification terminal owned by Linseed Field Corporation, which are currently owned by the local office of Singaporean LNG firm Atlantic, Gulf & Pacific Co. The facility will be used to receive, store, and process LNG fuel for the two power plants.
“For the first time, three leading power companies are working together to secure our country’s energy needs while transitioning towards cleaner power sources,” Ang said in a statement on Sunday, March 3.
The three said the deal would help boost the country’s energy security, which is “competitively priced and affordable to a broader base of Filipino consumers.”
“This is a pathbreaking venture. Apart from transforming the energy landscape of the Philippines, this symbolizes a milestone alliance among major players in the energy industry towards a more sustainable future,” said Pangilinan. (READ: San Miguel confirms Ramon Ang’s investment in Manny Pangilinan’s MPIC)
Once operational, it would have over 2,500 megawatts of generation supply, backed by “advanced LNG storage and regasification capabilities.”
Natural gas is touted as a “bridge fuel” to aid countries transition to cleaner sources of power. The Department of Energy aimed to boost the share of natural gas in the power generation mix to 26% by 2040.
At least seven LNG terminals are expected to be built along the coasts of Luzon.
A report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism earlier pointed out that most of the proponents have long been in the power industry. – Rappler.com
$1=P56.11
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I appreciate this action by our wealthiest tycoons. I hope this will not end up like the political “Uniteam.” Secondly, I hope the political triumvirate of Corruption, Repression, and Disinformation will not affect this endeavor. Good luck to this wealthiest triumvirate!
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Here’s a rundown of changes to the Miss Universe Philippines pageant since 2020
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Ysa Abad
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03/03/2024 19:22
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In December 2019, Filipino pageant fans and aficionados were surprised when it was announced that the Miss Universe franchise would no longer be under the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc (BPCI) after 55 years.
BPCI, under the leadership of Stella Araneta, had led the search for the Philippines’ representative to the Miss Universe competition since 1964. During those times, it was through the annual Binibining Pilipinas pageant that the Miss Universe Philippines queen was crowned, alongside candidates to at least five more international pageants.
However, with the establishment of the Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) organization came a new team that took charge in choosing the country’s representative to the prestigious international tilt.
As the pageant is set to hold its fifth edition under the Miss Universe Philippines organization this 2024, let’s look back at the notable changes that they’ve introduced in the competition since 2020:
During its 2021 edition, MUPH announced that there’ll be no height requirement for its screening process. Prior to this, the minimum height requirement for interested candidates was 5’4.
Height requirement was also removed in its succeeding editions.
It was also in 2021 when Miss Universe Philippines kicked off the competition with the Top 100 delegates – the biggest number of candidates in the pageant’s history.
These 100 delegates would undergo several online and remote challenges and then get narrowed down to the Top 75 and 50 and eventually 30 based on their performances in the challenges and votes from supporters.
Twenty-seven of the Top 30 for the 2021 edition were chosen by panelists while the three remaining delegates were the ones who garnered the highest number of fan votes. Scores of the Top 30 all went back to zero in the lead-up to the preliminaries and coronation night. Only the Top 30 delegates participated in the in-person pageant activities.
The 2021 competition remains to be the only edition where 100 delegates participated.
In 2022, the Miss Universe Philippines started with 50 delegates. According to MUPH, they’re “narrowing the field to get [them] closer to our Final 30 delegates.” Only 32 finalists from the initial 50 delegates made it to the in-person pageant activities.
Since the Miss Universe Philippines organization introduced a huge number of delegates for their pageants, they’ve been whittling down the participants through a series of online and remote challenges.
In the 2021 edition, the candidates had to participate in the headshot challenge, video introduction challenge, runway challenge, casting video challenge, and virtual interview challenge. Each candidate had to showcase their strengths in these challenges as pageant fans vote for their respective bets. Those who garnered the highest number of fan votes will also have a higher chance of advancing in the competition.
For its succeeding editions, the delegates participated in the photoshoot, swimsuit, and runway challenges. In the 2023 competition, the MUPH organization only announced the Top 5 delegates for each challenge, with the first placer only being disclosed during the finals night. The winner for each of the online challenge also secured a semifinal spot in the competition.
In lieu of the Miss Universe organization’s decision to allow moms and wives in the international competition, the local team also opened the MUPH pageant to women who are married and with children.
In its more than 70-year history, the Miss Universe organization had only allowed single women, aged between 18 and 28, who “must not have ever been married, not had a marriage annulled, nor given birth to, or parented a child” to compete.
Out of the 38 Miss Universe Philippines 2023 delegates, three were mothers.
Notably, MUPH was the first of the local pageants in the Philippines to open the competition to beauty queens of any civil status – married and with children.
Meanwhile, the recently-launched The Miss Philippines pageant followed through with the initiative, also opening their 2023 edition to mothers and wives. The Miss Philippines competition chose the country’s representatives for the Miss Supranational and Miss Charm pageants.
After opening the competition to mothers and wives, the Miss Universe organization became more inclusive as it removed the age restrictions across all of its associated pageants.
Previously, the MUO had only allowed women aged between 18 to 28 to participate in the competition. With the age limit being eliminated, even women aged 29 and above can compete in the pageant.
In the Philippines, 69-year-old fashion designer Jocelyn Cubales was one of the official candidates of the Miss Universe Philippines-Quezon City pageant.
The Miss Universe Philippines 2024 competition is also looking to be an interesting edition as it also introduced another change aside from the removal of age limit.
For the 2024 edition, the delegates for the national competition were chosen through the Accredited Partners Program, wherein only accredited partners approved by the MUPH organization selected the candidates from their respective localities through local pageants or appointments.
According to the MUPH organization, this change in the selection process will make the competition more “streamlined and efficient.” Additionally, having accredited partners select the candidates from their respective areas will also gave MUPH access to a “wider and more diverse pool of potential candidates.”
With this, the 2024 roster also includes candidates representing overseas Filipino communities for the first time. Delegates include representatives from Australia, northern and southern California, Florida, Hawaii, Miami, Sydney, the United Kingdom, Virginia, and Washington.
As the 2024 edition is still underway, pageant fans are still anticipating how these new developments will affect the competition. – Rappler.com
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Cebuana singer Amelyn Pardenilla captivates in American TV series ‘Expats’
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Marguerite de Leon
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03/03/2024 16:44
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Courtesy of Amelyn Pardenilla
They say that zero expectations equal zero disappointment. Hong Kong-based Cebuana singer Amelyn Pardenilla had this philosophy when she auditioned for what she believed was a very small role, walking away without any expectations.
The “very small part” turned out to be an opportunity for her to go from singing on local stages to acting on the global screen.
“I was shocked,” Pardenilla recalls. “When Lulu Wang called to announce the news, she had to repeat it several times on the phone before it sank in.”
Wang is a Hollywood filmmaker, and she called to offer Pardenilla a role in an American TV series starring none other than Nicole Kidman. The character would have speaking parts and a story. And the icing on the cake? The role comes with a soulful solo song number where Pardenilla showcases her singing talent.
Expats is a six-episode limited series on Amazon Prime Video. A Time magazine review touted it as “the first must-see show of 2024.”
The series follows the story of three privileged American expats in Hong Kong. Two of them, Margaret (Nicole Kidman) and Hilary (Sarayu Blue) are wealthy women living in sprawling apartments in Hong Kong’s richest neighborhood. Pardenilla plays Puri, Hilary’s helper. Award-winning Filipina actress Ruby Ruiz plays Essie, the cherished yaya of Margaret’s family.
A post shared by Sarayu Blue (@sarayublue)
The beautifully shot series starts as a whodunnit, slow-burn thriller, set against the pulsing backdrop of Hong Kong. But stay on for the whole ride and you’ll see how Wang uses the show as a platform for much-needed conversations on privilege, the choices (or lack thereof) that modern women have to make, and Hong Kong’s struggle for independence.
Episode 5, titled ”Central,” is an hour and a half long – the length of a feature film. Wang designed “Central” as a standalone episode, and the narrative completely shifts away from the troubles of the American women and into the new land they call home, and to the people who make their daily lives easier: the domestic helpers.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Blue says of episode 5: “That episode is the actual show, in my opinion. You can’t tell the story of Expats without having Essie’s and Puri’s experience,” she said.
Episode 5 opens with the sound of women laughing and speaking Tagalog. The outdoor grounds of Hong Kong’s central business district transform into “Little Manila.” The helpers, on their precious day off, lay out cardboard boxes that serve as makeshift areas for everything from manicures to games and meals. Puri’s voice floats above the joyful din as she sings the opening bars to the pop battle hymn “Roar” by Katy Perry. The voices of other Filipina singers blend in, creating a choir version of the song that is both heartfelt and hopeful.
We know that being a helper abroad isn’t easy. But in Expats, Wang goes even deeper and zeroes in on something that isn’t always talked about: what about the dreams of these women?
Pardenilla has been living and working in Hong Kong for the last 22 years as a professional singer in 5-star luxury hotels like The Peninsula. But in 2021, Hong Kong’s live entertainment industry suffered the aftermath of the pandemic.
“My husband is also a musician, so our incomes were hit. We offered private music lessons, but it wasn’t a stable and reliable source,” she said.
Fortunately, the dry spell didn’t last long. “In May 2021, I heard about the audition from a friend. I didn’t know what the project was about, all I knew was that it was for an acting part. The production was looking for a Filipina in her 40s who knew how to sing,” she recounted.
That she had no prior professional acting experience didn’t stop Pardenilla. “I just thought it would be great exposure for me as a singer,” she said. She sent an audition tape and not long after, she got a callback to do a live audition with a certain Lulu, whom she didn’t realize at the time was the director.
“The audition lasted only around 10 minutes, but Lulu and I ended up talking for a long time after. I was really at ease with her. I never thought the director would handle auditions for bit parts, so I thought she was an assistant,” she recalled laughing.
A post shared by The Asian American Foundation (@taaforg)
Pardenilla’s experience as a real-life overseas Filipino worker (OFW) helped her slip into Puri’s skin easily. According to the Philippine Statistics Office’s latest data, there are 1.96 million OFWs.
The same survey says that 44.4% of these workers are involved in elementary occupations, which includes domestic work. Pardenilla is proud to represent this group of modern heroes. Sadly, there are still people who belittle the job of a helper, but Pardenilla is quick to defend the community.
She reacts to a negative comment she read online. “Katulong na naman daw yung role ng Pinoy (They said the Filipino plays the help yet again). That person also said we only had small parts in the series, so why make a big deal?” she said with disappointment. She added, “But there are no small roles, and there are no small jobs. I have many domestic helper friends here. A job is a job. We all work hard and sacrifice.”
Pardenilla’s enthusiasm for her first acting job was still palpable during the interview. “Some days I barely slept because I still had singing gigs at night, then had to be on set early the next day. But I was always alert and excited as soon as I was in front of the camera,” she said.
When it comes to working with Hollywood stars, Pardenilla admits she got starstruck around her fellow cast members. “There was Brian Tee from The Fast and The Furious. There was also Ate Ruby, a veteran actress. Initially, I wasn’t mingling too much with our American co-actors. But Ate Ruby would ask me to sing on set, and that drew their attention,” she laughs. “It boosted my confidence and helped me relax around them.”
Pardenilla has nothing but praise for the cast and crew. “Lulu was incredibly supportive, especially for a first-timer like me. She was also open to suggestions. Puri was supposed to speak in broken English, but I explained that many Filipino helpers are college-educated. They may not speak with an American accent, but the heavily accented, bad English is a stereotype. She ultimately abandoned the idea,” she said.
And for the question in everyone’s mind: what was it like working with Nicole Kidman? “I never had any scenes with her, and she had a busy schedule, so she wasn’t always on set. I only met her in January at the cast party in New York before the premiere! She is so nice and down to earth. She told me that I did a really good job, and coming from her, that meant a lot,” she said proudly.
Pardenilla is a registered nurse but chose to make music her life’s work. Now, she plans to continue acting as well. As someone who carved a long and fruitful career in entertainment, Pardenilla has some advice for those looking to succeed in a creative industry: “Work hard on your dreams. Do what it takes to get just one foot in the door first, then work as hard as you can. Don’t give up when things get hard. I had many ups and downs too. But I love singing and music, and God has always found a way to provide, even during the hard times,” she said. – Rappler.com
Expats is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
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‘Uncalled for,’ ‘lack of due process:’ UE coach Jerry Yee slams season-long ban
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jisaga0269
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03/03/2024 15:14
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IN THE DARK. UE Lady Warriors head coach Jerry Yee reacts in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP rocked the Season 86 women’s volleyball landscape on Sunday, March 3, after it announced a season-long suspension spanning three months on UE Lady Warriors head coach Jerry Yee for “acts that are inconsistent with the purposes of the [UAAP] Association.”
Per a league statement, the complaint was “raised by a member school on account of conduct violative of the purposes of the UAAP – a platform for Member Universities to foster camaraderie and fair play,” concurred by the league Board of Trustees last Thursday, February 29, and handed on Friday, March 1.
Yee, no longer allowed to enter game arenas as set by the suspension’s parameters, met with members of the media in a separate venue to express his disappointment with the verdict.
“I maintain that there was no ethical breach in my decision to accept UE’s head coaching job, because it was a mutual parting of ways for both Adamson and I,” he wrote in a prepared statement.
“It is unfortunate that this career decision of mine has been met with vitriol at the late-onset, borne out of vindictiveness ironically from an institution that prides itself in instilling Catholic virtues and teachings,” he continued, insinuating that the complaint came from Adamson’s side.
Assistant coach Dr. Obet Vital will take over the Lady Warriors for the duration of suspension, or until a favorable decision is met on Yee’s appeal – scheduled for filing on Monday, March 4.
“I met again with Adamson and [sponsor] Akari around the first week of June 2023 to discuss a mutual termination of agreement, and thereafter on June 7, 2023, the school issued a “statement of release” effectively terminating my services as head coach of the Lady Falcons,” Yee’s statement continued.
“While focusing on my teams in the NCAA (CSB) and PVL (Farm Fresh), UE approached and offered me a head coaching job which I accepted on June 21, 2023.”
League representatives have politely declined in issuing further statements or clarifications on the exact nature of Yee’s offenses out of respect for his incoming appeal.
“My dismay with the UAAP board’s decision is merely secondary to the disappointment that I hold in not being able to fulfill my commitment in coaching and mentoring the UE Lady Warriors,” Yee’s statement continued. “Moreover, this decision also unduly deprives me of the right to obtain other sources of living and providing for my family.”
“I think it’s uncalled for and there was no due process,” he continued in a separate interview. “They did not get my side on this and I was surprised that there was something like this.
Yee now hopes his side will be heard as he maintained he was blindsided by the decision and is still in the dark on what he did wrong.
“If they give me an audience, I can speak up,” he continued. “For now, our practices continue.” – Rappler.com
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Win or lose: Ateneo captain Doromal thanks remaining fans amid lowering attendance
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jisaga0269
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03/03/2024 17:32
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WIN OR LOSE. The Ateneo Blue Eagles huddle after a point in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – Last Saturday, March 2, the La Salle Lady Spikers took on the Ateneo Blue Eagles in their first rivalry showdown of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.
Once a must-see showpiece of top-notch skills, the matchup has turned into a one-sided affair in favor of La Salle, which has won 13 straight times stretching over a near seven-year period over Ateneo, including Saturday’s 25-12, 25-22, 25-19 blowout.
And as the equality of competition between the two schools waned, so apparently has the fans’ interest.
Saturday’s match only saw 6,477 fans, and while the number is low by Ateneo-La Salle standards, what’s more noteworthy is that the Lady Spikers’ fans overwhelmingly outnumbered the Blue Eagles’ supporters – around a 90-10 split by the eye test.
The ear test was even worse, with La Salle’s booming kill blocks triggering massive cheers while Ateneo’s valiant efforts were met with soft, scattered applause.
UAAP | HAPPENING NOW:Dying rivalry?La Salle fans overwhelm Ateneo supporters at the half-empty Mall of Asia Arena as the champion Lady Spikers enter their rivalry bout as big favorites against the young Blue Eagles.#UAAPSeason86 pic.twitter.com/8q200dyGeG
This phenomenon, however, does not faze Blue Eagles’ captain Roma Mae Doromal, as she simply thanked fans who stay through thick and thin.
UAAP | WATCH:"Win or lose, it's the school we choose."Amid lowering fan attendance, Ateneo captain Roma Mae Doromal hopes more supporters return to watch the Blue Eagles play, but she is nonetheless fully grateful for those who stay despite the mounting losses.#UAAPSeason86 pic.twitter.com/3vIAy7o4yb
“Of course, we hope that many more fans support us, but we in our team know that we’re not waiting for support to come,” she said in Filipino after the blowout loss.
“Whatever support we get, we’ll accept it wholeheartedly, and of course, we will keep fighting no matter what level of support we get.”
Fight, Ateneo did, as it even threatened La Salle late into the second and third sets – enough for legendary Lady Spikers head coach Ramil de Jesus to acknowledge the young team’s potential despite their recent lack of winning power.
In Ateneo’s glory days, the lyrics “Win or lose, it’s the school we choose” would audibly rock arenas as thousands of fans belted out the Song for Mary school hymn.
Now more than ever, the Blue Eagles could use more fans choosing to support their cause despite the mounting losses.
“This is the Ateneo way,” after all. – Rappler.com
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[Ilonggo Notes] The foremost Filipino engraver, sadly unremembered, needs to be given his due
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Marguerite de Leon
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03/03/2024 15:50
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MASTER ENGRAVER. Display of the coins Figueroa engraved, along with his portrait, courtesy of UPV OICA and Martin Genodepa.
Vic Salas
Did you know that one of the most recognizable pieces of Philippine art could fit in your pocket, and that its designer was an Ilonggo? I’m referring to the series of coins that were in wide use from 1903 until the ’80s, of various denominations – one peso, and 50, 20, 10, five, and one centavo coins.
The designs, by Melecio Magbanua Figueroa, depict on one side a lady, sometimes called “Filipinas.” She has a hammer, striking an anvil, while Mayon Volcano smolders in the background. The lady appears on coins 10 cents and above, while on the lower denomination ones, a male is shown sitting with an anvil. The “Filipinas” coins were of a silver mix (hence, whitish) compared to the brown guy, where copper was used. When Figueroa was designing, he looked to his only child, Blanca, as a model (she was just 10 years old in 1902) and imagined her as an adult. Unfortunately, he did not live to see the coins in general use, as he died in 1903.
When I was growing up in the ’60s, the silver coins were often referred to as “genuine,” and were favored for use in wedding ceremonies as the “arras” signifying material prosperity while the one and five centavo coins were used as “batano” (tokens or markers) for childhood games. When sparks of Pinoy nationalism hit in the ’70s, designs were replaced with Philippine heroes and heroines. Through the decades, the reverse side of the coins changed – both designs and text, with the American eagle and “United States of America” eventually giving way to “Central Bank of the Philippines.”
Designing these coins alone would have easily made Figueroa’s reputation, but there is more – as revealed by researcher and former Director of Public Affairs of the Limbagang Pinpin Museum, Gerard Wassily Clavecillas, in a lecture given at the UPV Performing arts hall last February 12. The talk was sponsored by the OICA (Office of initiatives for Culture and the Arts) of UP Visayas, and the UP President’s Committee for Culture and the Arts.
Figueroa was born in Arevalo in 1842. His mother, Gabriela Magbanua, died early. His father, Rufo, relocated to Sorsogon, to be with family, who were known artisans. As a child he carved wooden toys. In Manila he studied at an art school founded by Damian Domingo while moonlighting as a watch repairer. In 1871, with the support of a high-ranking Spanish official of the Manila Ayuntamiento (city hall), he was awarded a scholarship to study engraving in Spain. According to the late psychiatrist-historian Luciano PR Santiago, who has written extensively on Figueroa: “Unique in the history of art in the Philippines is the private scholarship to Spain granted in 1871 by Don Francisco Ahujas, to a native artist, Melecio Figueroa…. The only example of a private scholarship abroad offered by a colonialist during the three centuries of Spanish rule in the Philippines…”
Figueroa studied at the Escuela Artes y Officios where, despite late entry, he still won honors for his work. After a year he entered the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid, where he received awards of distinction. The Academia (today known as the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Complutense University in Madrid) is the top school for fine arts in Spain; students there have included Picasso, Dali, and Pinoy notables such as Luna, Hidalgo, and Amorsolo. He was commissioned to make busts and medals for European royals, including that of the Spanish King, Alfonso XII. Unfortunately, his patron Ahujas (who had been appointed to the powerful Council of the Philippines in Madrid) died in 1876; Ahujas’ daughter continued the scholarship until the end of the year, and Figueroa’s colleagues in the Academy also did their share — a caretaker at the academy let him use one of the rooms for his lodging – while the struggling artist did menial jobs and repaired watches to make ends meet.
A year after, with appeals by friends and supporters in the Philippines as well as the Academy, Figueroa was awarded another scholarship, this time from the central government in Manila, for another three years. In 1879 the Academia chose him, after competitive examinations, as its scholar in engraving and was sent to Rome. He was the only Indio Filipino to be so honored by his alma mater. While in Rome, he garnered three more prizes.
Santiago writes that by the time he returned to Madrid, he was a celebrated artist. For the Grand Philippine Exposition at the Spanish Capital in 1887, he was commissioned to design the award medals and appointed a member of the board of judges, the only person from any of the colonies. The Figueroa-designed medals created such a stir that the Queen Regent awarded him another four-year pension in engraving (1888-1892).
Thus, Figueroa was the only Philippine artist during the colonial period to have won a scholarship four times; one private and three government for a combined period of over 15 years. The prizes he won in competition during his time in Spain and Rome surpass those of any other Filipino artist’s, Luna included. Two of the medals he designed are in the collections of the Prado Museum: the medals awarded for the 1887 Exposition and the Victor Balaguer medal – the latter is the only one that Figueroa both designed and personally struck. Interestingly, the Prado also has a Luna portrait of Balaguer featured in its catalogs and website; here it is acknowledged that Luna used the Figueroa medal as the model for the portrait.
In 1888, Figueroa married Enriqueta Romero of Madrid. Three children were born in Madrid but died early. He received another silver medal in engraving at the Barcelona Exposition. In 1891, he received news that his father’s health was declining and he requested to return. His wife was pregnant when they sailed for the Philippines early in 1892. The child, Blanca, was born during the voyage to Manila.
With his credentials, Figueroa took Manila by storm. La Ilustracion Filipina, a prestigious weekly, featured him and his portrait graced the cover of the May 21, 1892 issue. The Manila Escuela de Dibujo, Pintura y Grabado – which was later to become the College of Fine Arts of UP – appointed him professor of engraving. He was its only Filipino Malay member of the faculty. The others were either Peninsulares or Criollos who had trained in Europe. In 1893, he was appointed “Grabador Primero” of the Manila Mint. In 1894-95, in addition to his engraving work, he created bust sculptures and portraits, as mentioned in publications then, but none of these are known to exist today.
In Madrid he was a member of the Circulo Hispano-Filipino and the Associacion Hispano Filipina both of which agitated for reforms in the colony. Certainly he was known to national heroes Jose Rizal, MH del Pilar, and Graciano Lopez Jaena; the latter mentioned Figueroa in a speech he gave at a dinner in honor of Juan Luna and Hidalgo.
After independence from Spain was declared, Figueroa was appointed a member of the Malolos Congress (representing Iloilo) and was one of the signers of the Malolos Constitution that established the First Philippine Republic (1898). However, independence was short-lived, as America took over the reins after purchasing the islands from Spain and winning the Philippine-American war. Nevertheless, he won a 1901 competition to design the coins, which were later known as the “Conant.” The symbolic figure was a thinly clad statuesque young woman – his daughter Blanca, imagined as an adult. Incidentally, Blanca Figueroa Opinion lived until her ’80s, and was present at the opening of the Philippine Central Bank Museum of Money in the 1970s.
Thus, while the coin series is undoubtedly the best known of his works, Clavecillas’ research uncovered the whereabouts of a rare Filipinana treasure: the only work that was designed and personally struck by Figueroa – the Victor Balaguer medal, of which three are extant. The silver one in the Prado, and one each of copper – one in the Victor Balaguer Museum, and the other in a private collection in California.
Art historian and painter Fabian de la Rosa wrote of Figueroa: “He is the only Filipino engraver who had developed the art of engraving from its purely artistic aspect with unsurpassed efficiency and enviable success…”
There is no doubt that Figueroa deserves much more recognition that having a small side street in Arevalo named after him. Perhaps a bust and statue in the public plaza, and a historical plaque from the NHCP would be appropriate. The country’s foremost engraver and a founding father – a signer of the first Constitution – deserves no less.
Those interested to see his coin designs can visit the UPV gallery of contemporary art, where there is a display. Ambeth Ocampo also features the iconic designs in his Cabinet of Curiosities (2023). Furthermore, Figueroa is inextricably linked with two of the more enlightened colonial administrators who made great contributions to Philippine art and culture: Francisco Ahujas and Vicente Balaguer. The latter was a writer, historian and politician, and three-time Minister of the Spanish overseas colonies. During his term the National Museum and the National library were approved. – Rappler.com
Additional information provided by Gerard Wassily Clavecillas and Frank Villanueva.
Vic Salas is a physician and public health specialist by training, and now retired from international consulting work. He is back in Iloilo City, where he spent his first quarter century.
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Russian scam network circulates Maria Ressa deepfake through Facebook, Microsoft’s Bing
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Angelo Gonzales
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03/03/2024 15:53
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MARIA RESSA DEEPFAKE. The journalist's deepfake video spread through mainstream platforms, which begs the question whether platforms are ready for the expected rise in deepfake content
On Tuesday, February 6, 2024, concerned individuals alerted Rappler about a deepfake video which made it appear that Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa said she had been earning from the cryptocurrency Bitcoin.
The deepfake video manipulated a November 2022 interview of Ressa by American talk show host Stephen Colbert in his show.
It was circulated using a newly created Facebook page and an ad on Microsoft’s Bing platform. Microsoft and Facebook have since taken down the post and the ad that circulated the deepfake.
Using digital fingerprints left by the fakers, a follow-up investigation where Rappler collaborated with Swedish digital forensic group Qurium linked the deepfake to a Russian scam network. The investigation also indicated that the campaign specifically targeted Philippine audiences.
The deepfake video was initially spotted on January 25, 2024, on the Facebook page, “Method Business,” which was created just a few days before.
Twenty-one hours after the video was posted, it had already garnered 22,000 views. (See screenshot below.)
Rappler was also later alerted to a webpage, hosted under URL ultimainv.website, which alternately cloned the story pages from the websites of Rappler and CNN Philippines. The impostor site was promoted through an ad served on Microsoft’s Bing platform. (Ad encircled by Rappler in the screenshot below)
Ultimainv.website is a newly registered domain. The first record on its domain history is dated January 10, 2024.
The creators of the deepfake video manipulated a November 2022 interview by Colbert where he asked Ressa questions about her book, How To Stand Up To A Dictator, and the cases filed against her and Rappler upon the instigation of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte.
The manipulated video used a fake voice, generated by AI, which mimicked Ressa’s voice. Most of the time, the fake video showed her speaking in sync with the audio. But there were a number of times that the syncing failed, which was the strongest indication that it was a deepfake video. Watch the video embedded below which compares the original interview with the manipulated video that had the AI-generated audio.
The video may look convincing to a user who isn’t paying attention or isn’t aware of how AI technology can copy voices or how a deepfake video might look. Rappler reported the video to Meta, and it has since been removed, but the page, Method Business, remains active.
More than an effort to scam people into investing in bitcoin, the fake articles published on webpages mimicking Rappler and CNN Philippines also implied that Ressa was involved in the scam.
Both headlined, “Maria Ressa could be sued for her remarks on live TV,” the fake CNN Philippines and Rappler articles both claimed that Ressa’s career “hangs in balance” supposedly following remarks she made on live TV. The ad which promoted the impostor websites used the text: “The end for her?” as lead, implying that Ressa was embroiled in a scandal.
The fake articles also claimed that the live broadcast was supposedly interrupted following demands by leading banks to stop it and erase the recording. (See screenshots of fake articles below.)
The pages where the video and the fake Rappler and CNN Philippines articles were posted were also engineered to be viewed only through Philippine internet service providers (ISPs). Investigators who looked into the deepfake had to employ various techniques to view the impostor sites from their location. This implies that those behind the deepfake were specifically targeting Filipinos.
CNN Philippines’ website had already shut down on February 1, 2024, days before the February 5, 2024 publication date of the fake article.
A follow-up investigation with Swedish digital forensic group Qurium Media discovered later that the clone sites were part of a fraudulent online network that tricks victims into paying for a product that usually ends up as an empty box or a random low quality object when delivered.
The network, according to Qurium, appears to be of Russian origin.
Links found in the network also showed the use of Cyrillic script, and a timezone time stamp of GMT+3 (Moscow, St. Petersburg), which, Qurium said, is “solid indication” but “not conclusive proof” that the network is of Russian origin.
The content on the platform used to set up the fake websites is in Russian language.
Qurium analyzed domain registration and hosting information data of the fake sites, metadata from images and the embedded video on the fake sites, and metadata from the original articles scraped from the original CNN and Rappler websites to create the fake pages.
The campaign was in operation from November 28, 2023 to February 25, 2024.
Qurium’s analysis of the network shows an elaborate scheme that skirts legal accountability by dividing the operation into separate entities, allowing for deniability and anonymity.
The scam network, as discovered by Qurium, uses a multi-role scheme that ensures no one will be held accountable for the scam. These are the roles:
This is the webpage, collecting the names and phone numbers of potential victims to an intermediary, which, in this case, is the “M1 Shop.” Qurium said that on their site, “they make clear that they just advertise goods and they are not responsible for anything related to the merchandise.”
The affiliate advertiser in this case was identified as “TD Globus Contract.” Aside from ultimainv.website, which hosted the fake CNN and Rappler pages, TD Globus Contract was found to have links to more than 40 other websites with ties to the scam network.
The intermediary (M1 Shop) takes the victims’ info from the publisher, and forwards it to the advertiser for a fee. They are responsible for paying the publisher for the information they receive or the clicks the publisher’s webpage generates that send victims to the M1 Shop.
Advertisers create the fraud offerings, which, in this case, have ranged from nutrition goods to cryptocurrency offers.
Qurium explained that the fraud works as the advertisers’ identities are protected by the intermediary, while publishers or webpages are changed “once their reputation has been compromised.”
“Ultimately none takes responsibility for the fraud,” Qurium said. “The websites that promote the products are registered under fake companies, and claim that they do not know the final product vendors, and the advertisement network claims that they do not monitor what is promoted in their platform. Something is guaranteed though, victims get scammed and everyone in their network gets paid for their ‘services.'”
Meanwhile, M1 is playing a “brokering role” in the scam network, hiding the malicious advertisers from scrutiny.
Rappler has already reached out to M1 shop via the Telegram accounts on its website. We will update this story when we receive a response from M1.
Deepfake videos can be convincing and powerfully persuasive, which is why scammers would attempt to use it.
However, there are other potential motivations. In India, politicians have used deepfakes to malign opponents or confuse the electorate. In Taiwan, deepfakes and cheap fakes were spread online ahead of the 2024 presidential elections. In Indonesia, deepfakes had been in use, too, in the lead up to their own presidential elections.
The nature of disinformation is not in the outright lie at times. Oftentimes, it could be merely to plant a seed in the minds of audiences that could later be exploited, Qurium added in its report.
Regardless of the motivation, potentially, deepfakes can be used to sway public opinion, like a very powerful lie, which is especially harmful in situations such as national elections and fast-moving scenarios like situations of violence, for example.
In this specific case, if the intent was to scam people, the scammers may have thought that using a Maria Ressa deepfake could convince some to invest in a product that ultimately doesn’t exist. The fake campaign may have attempted to leverage a journalist’s reputation as an authoritative voice, at her expense.
Other figures of authority can be victimized, too, putting their reputations on the line. While Rappler and Qurium were investigating this specific deepfake, a similar one which involves a Filipino businessman was also circulated through what appears to be the same process. Very recently, deepfakes which used GMA7 Network anchors were used to promote a necklace supposedly coming from the Vatican.
There are other possibilities. What is curious about the Maria Ressa deepfake is that the ads on Bing, which were promoting the impostor CNN Philippines and Rappler sites, did not appear to be promoting a product. They were implying a scandal involving Ressa.
“What’s particularly concerning (about the Ressa deepfake) are the layers of malicious intent behind a single act of digital manipulation and the consequent harms these inflict,” De La Salle University Communications professor Cheryll Soriano told Rappler.
Soriano, who has been doing research on disinformation on platforms like YouTube, was one of those who spotted and alerted Rappler about the deepfake video. She said: “First, it (the deepfake video) attempts to push a scam. Second, it makes the scam appear news-like, pretending as Rappler and CNN Philippines, undermining the credibility of news organizations. Third, it is clearly motivated to discredit Maria Ressa by maligning her reputation.”
Soriano added that the deepfake also “perpetuates a disturbing trend of misogynistic practices, utilizing deep fakes to humiliate women. Even if the scam itself fails, it still exposes and perpetuates the latter three, spreading them across networked publics.”
There is a general consensus about fact check groups and disinformation experts that the deepfake problem will only continue to grow in the future now that generative AI technologies are readily available to ordinary citizens.
This makes nuanced and immediate platform action critical to mitigate their impact.
In various public statements, the platforms used to circulate the Maria Ressa bitcoin deepfake – Facebook and Microsoft – have both been saying they have programs addressing deepfakes.
In a recently released statement, Meta, the owner of Facebook, said it is working with industry partners on common technical standards for identifying AI content, including video and audio. It said it will label images that users post when they detect these industry standard indicators. It also said it has been labeling photorealistic images created using Meta AI since the product was launched.
In an email interview with Rappler, a Microsoft spokesperson said they have closed 520,000 accounts engaging in fraudulent and misleading activity since April 2023, using both automated and manual methods. The company said that they build upon their knowledge base with each incident to help them detect similar ones in the future, and that they have instituted Information Integrity and Misleading Content policies.
The Microsoft spokesperson also said they are investing in technology to detect deepfakes. “AI is also being harnessed to identify deepfakes. Major players like Microsoft are investing heavily in developing technologies to detect these sophisticated forgeries.”
Microsoft is also part of a group of tech companies and news organizations that have been working with Adobe on the Content Integrity Initiative, an effort that promotes the adoption of an open industry standard for content authenticity and provenance.
There are, however, challenges to automated detection of AI-generated fakes.
The Microsoft spokesperson said that bad actors employ sophisticated techniques to elude detection.
“AI technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace, leading to the daily emergence of new platforms worldwide that enable the creation of deepfakes. Ideally, companies producing such content would implement watermarking or similar technologies to facilitate easy detection. However, there are challenges: technology capable of removing watermarks already exists,” the spokesperson said.
Most technologies for creating deepfakes are also open-source, referring to software that is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified by anybody. Microsoft says this allows for modification or deletion of the watermarking code, “complicating detection efforts.”
The practice of making the source code of large language models (LLMs) available for anyone to examine, copy, and modify has played a critical role in accelerating the development of generative AI technologies. In fact, even big tech companies released versions of their own LLMs to the public.
In July 2023, Meta released an open source version of Llama, its artificial intelligence model. More recently, Google also released Gemma, the open source version of Gemini, its proprietary AI model.
While open sourcing the language model may help make them more transparent and auditable, some experts note that the biggest threat in unsecured AI systems lies in ease of misuse, making these systems “particularly dangerous in the hands of sophisticated threat actors.”
Since even the source code of AI models are now accessible to anybody for them to freely modify, having the capability to trace the source of a particular deepfake becomes very important.
As illustrated above, people behind fakes usually leave traces of who they are when they use digital systems. However, much of the data that could trace accountable actors still reside in platforms. “The greatest challenge of disinformation is not the lies, but in the lack of accountability of those that disseminate the fake information,” Qurium said.
The Swedish group also criticized platforms like Meta and others that profit from it, and allow the disinformation to thrive.
The Microsoft spokesperson acknowledged that the use of deepfakes is “a new and emerging threat,” and that platforms need to do more. “We need to do more at Microsoft, and there are roles for all of industry, government, and others.”
The company said that aside from working with law enforcement, and other legal and technical steps, they’ve also recently “helped move forward an industry initiative to combat the use of deepfakes to deceive voters around the world, and we’ve advocated for legislative frameworks to address AI’s misuse.”
A Meta spokesperson told Rappler via email, “Meta’s Community Standards apply to all content and ads on Facebook, regardless of whether it is created by AI or a person, and we will continue to take action against content that violates our policies. We have removed the reported video for violating our Fraud and Deception policies.”
Whether these measures are enough to address the avalanche of deepfakes, that those fighting disinformation are expecting to deal with more and more in the coming months, remains to be seen.
Days after Microsoft took down the ad promoting ultimainv.website, a new ad popped up again on the platform. The ad linked to a site with the same content as the previously mentioned Rappler impostor site, but on another newly-created domain.
The game of whack-a-mole continues. – Rappler.com
Help us spot suspected deepfakes by emailing dubious content you find on social media to factcheck@rappler.com
This special report was produced with support from Internews
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It may be a test run for its application in the coming 2025 Philippine Midterm Elections. It will make such an election advantageous to those who have the money to hire those makers of deepfakes—woe to the candidates who cannot afford to hire them.
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Taguig temporarily closes Makati park, citing permit issue
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Victor Barreiro Jr.
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03/03/2024 15:10
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Taguig City Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – The local government of Taguig on Sunday, March 3, announced it had temporarily closed the Makati Park and Garden for operating without a permit.
“The closure is in line with the LGU’s authority under the Local Government Code, jurisprudence, and local ordinances to regulate any business, trade, or activity within the City of Taguig through issuance of a Mayor’s permit after submission of documents and payment of fees and taxes,” Taguig said in a statement.
“Makati Garden and Park has no permits from Taguig City Hall,” it stressed.
The park, which operated under Taguig’s jurisdiction, had been used by Makati City as a “garage for its heavy equipment and storage for various objects.”
Taguig reiterated that has the “right to possess and administer the same notwithstanding Makati’s unlawful possession.”
In a statement on Sunday, the Makati government meanwhile said it received a closure order for the park for not having a business permit. It added that Taguig padlocked the park “trapping Makati employees inside.”
“Should there be violence, it will be blood on Taguig’s hands,” it added.
This was latest development from Makati-Taguig dispute that started due to a jurisdiction issue.
In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that the EMBO barangays are under Taguig’s jurisdiction.
These 10 barangays are the following:
– 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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Win or lose: Ateneo captain Doromal thanks remaining fans amid lowering attendance
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jisaga0269
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03/03/2024 17:32
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WIN OR LOSE. The Ateneo Blue Eagles huddle after a point in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – Last Saturday, March 2, the La Salle Lady Spikers took on the Ateneo Blue Eagles in their first rivalry showdown of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.
Once a must-see showpiece of top-notch skills, the matchup has turned into a one-sided affair in favor of La Salle, which has won 13 straight times stretching over a near seven-year period over Ateneo, including Saturday’s 25-12, 25-22, 25-19 blowout.
And as the equality of competition between the two schools waned, so apparently has the fans’ interest.
Saturday’s match only saw 6,477 fans, and while the number is low by Ateneo-La Salle standards, what’s more noteworthy is that the Lady Spikers’ fans overwhelmingly outnumbered the Blue Eagles’ supporters – around a 90-10 split by the eye test.
The ear test was even worse, with La Salle’s booming kill blocks triggering massive cheers while Ateneo’s valiant efforts were met with soft, scattered applause.
UAAP | HAPPENING NOW:Dying rivalry?La Salle fans overwhelm Ateneo supporters at the half-empty Mall of Asia Arena as the champion Lady Spikers enter their rivalry bout as big favorites against the young Blue Eagles.#UAAPSeason86 pic.twitter.com/8q200dyGeG
This phenomenon, however, does not faze Blue Eagles’ captain Roma Mae Doromal, as she simply thanked fans who stay through thick and thin.
UAAP | WATCH:"Win or lose, it's the school we choose."Amid lowering fan attendance, Ateneo captain Roma Mae Doromal hopes more supporters return to watch the Blue Eagles play, but she is nonetheless fully grateful for those who stay despite the mounting losses.#UAAPSeason86 pic.twitter.com/3vIAy7o4yb
“Of course, we hope that many more fans support us, but we in our team know that we’re not waiting for support to come,” she said in Filipino after the blowout loss.
“Whatever support we get, we’ll accept it wholeheartedly, and of course, we will keep fighting no matter what level of support we get.”
Fight, Ateneo did, as it even threatened La Salle late into the second and third sets – enough for legendary Lady Spikers head coach Ramil de Jesus to acknowledge the young team’s potential despite their recent lack of winning power.
In Ateneo’s glory days, the lyrics “Win or lose, it’s the school we choose” would audibly rock arenas as thousands of fans belted out the Song for Mary school hymn.
Now more than ever, the Blue Eagles could use more fans choosing to support their cause despite the mounting losses.
“This is the Ateneo way,” after all. – Rappler.com
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[ANALYSIS] How the Philippines should pursue relations with Taiwan under William Lai
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Marguerite de Leon
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03/03/2024 14:59
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FILE PHOTO: Taiwan's then-Vice President William Lai announces his "National Project of Hope" ahead of the upcoming presidential election in Taipei, Taiwan September 6, 2023.
REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
On January 13, 2024, the people of Taiwan elected William Lai Ching-te to serve as their next president, succeeding current President Tsai Ing-wen, who has served two terms in the position. Lai’s election likely marks continuity in Taipei’s assertive approach to China as well as a friendly approach to Southeast Asia, which Tsai had prioritized through the “New Southbound Policy.” The Philippines stands to benefit from the new Lai administration because a pro-China candidate can only strengthen China’s ability to project its power over the Philippines. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos should also foster closer ties with Taiwan because the New Southbound Policy’s investment thrust may serve the Philippine economy well but also a Taiwan conflict may spill over Luzon.
After Lai won the election, Marcos issued a congratulatory statement, “On behalf of the Filipino people, I congratulate President-elect Lai Ching-te on his election as Taiwan’s next President. We look forward to close collaboration, strengthening mutual interests, fostering peace, and ensuring prosperity for our peoples in the years ahead.”
The short congratulations angered Beijing, resulting in Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz getting summoned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to get chastised for Marcos’ statement. Beijing argued that the two sentences violated the so-called “One China Principle.” The Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs refuted Beijing’s claims by reaffirming its One China Principle and stating that the congratulatory remarks was “his way of thanking [Taiwan] for hosting our [Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)] and holding a successful democratic process.”
Manila somewhat stood its ground in the face of Beijing’s ire. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro accused Chinese officials of engaging in “low and gutter-level talk” after Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning advised Marcos to “read more books to properly understand the ins and outs of the Taiwan issue.” Senator Risa Hontiveros even called for Manila to “review this so-called One China Policy. China has done far worse things in our territories compared to a congratulatory message to Taiwan.”
Such remarks are not surprising considering the ongoing tensions between Manila and Beijing over the Ayungin Shoal and the BRP Sierra Madre, which is largely characterized by Chinese overreach and aggression against Philippine assets and personnel. Looking forward to Lai’s inauguration in May 2024, what should the Marcos administration do to strengthen the information relationship between Manila and Taipei?
The first item on the list should be which Philippine government official, if any, should attend Lai’s inauguration. Given restrictions on government-to-government interactions between Manila and Taipei due to the former’s One China Principle, the person will likely not be a high-level cabinet official, whose participation would be particularly controversial. And an official from the Marcos administration is unlikely to attend after Marcos himself tried to appease China’s concerns by stating, “We are not endorsing Taiwanese independence. Taiwan is a province of China but the manner in which they will be brought together again is an internal matter.”
No matter what, Manila should be represented at the inauguration. One candidate should be Secretary Fredrick Go, the new Special Assistant to the President for Investments and Economic Affairs with a rank of Secretary. Secretary Go has been a prominent actor in President Marcos’ numerous foreign trips with heads of state. Another could be Secretary of Tourism Christina Frasco, who also spearheads cultural efforts for tourism. Alternatively, the Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines (NCCA) Victorino Mapa Manalo could be an option. Either of these three officials would fall under the economic and cultural mandate of the unofficial Manila Economic and Cultural Office Philippine Representative Office in Taipei.
If tensions in the disputed seas get worse before May, then Marcos should seriously consider sending a higher-level official whose attendance would carry greater symbolism, such as former foreign secretary and current Special Envoy of the President to the People’s Republic of China for Special Concerns Teddy Locsin Jr. Such an attendee would send a message to Beijing that it does not dictate Philippines-Taiwan relations and that as Manila and Taipei might have more in common when it comes to tensions with China than Beijing is comfortable with.
Lawmakers in Manila should also consider attending. Members of the Senate who have been very vocal against Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea would score additional anti-China points by attending Lai’s inauguration. A top candidate for attendance should be Hontiveros since she visited Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei in May 2023. Senator Raffy Tulfo should also consider attending given his role in criticizing the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines for threatening Overseas Filipino Workers in Taiwan.
It is time for Manila to send a message of support for Taiwan by having a delegation attend Lai’s inauguration. Considering there will be other similar ministers, secretaries, and lawmakers, whoever does attend will not be singled out.
The next thing that Marcos should do is to secure meetings between the head of Manila’s unofficial diplomatic office in Taipei with Lai’s transition team to discuss Taiwan’s economic investments in the Philippines. Such a meeting is regular business for officials in the Taipei office and would not be considered out of the ordinary. Manila should seek clarification on how Lai views the future of Taiwanese investment in the Philippines and his overall economic strategy for engaging with Southeast Asia.
Given the likelihood of continued tensions between Beijing and Taipei under Lai, Marcos should prioritize defense conversations with the Biden administration regarding spillover effects of a Taiwan crisis onto the Philippines. Joint exercises between the two countries’ militaries should seriously practice for related contingencies. Such planning would inform the United States of the capabilities of the Philippines should the worse-case scenario happen in the Taiwan Strait. And such conversations and exercises should be not limited to just engaging with Washington.
With Lai set for the presidency, Manila should fast-track defense arrangements with Tokyo as well as Hanoi, which have already gained momentum. Another four years of the Democratic Progressive Party in power in Taipei and the resulting cross-Strait tensions should further drive Manila and Tokyo together.
These are just a few items for politicians and lawmakers in Manila to consider in coming months before Vice President Lai becomes President Lai. Manila should not fear reprisals from Beijing for engaging with Taipei as the current standoff in the South China Sea has already pitted the two against each other. Instead, Marcos should embrace the new opportunities that a Lai presidency may offer for the Philippines. – Rappler.com
Thomas J. Shattuck is a Senior Program Manager at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perry World House. Thomas Shattuck is a Non-Resident Research Fellow at the Global Taiwan Institute, Non-Resident Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, member of Foreign Policy for America’s NextGen Foreign Policy Initiative, and the Pacific Forum’s Young Leaders Program, where he participated in 2022 US-Philippines Next-Generation Leaders in Security Initiative.
Robin Michael Garcia is president and chief executive officer of WR Advisory Group, an assistant professor in the political economy program at the University of Asia & the Pacific in Manila, Philippines, and a 2023-24 Visiting Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perry World House.
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Thanks to both writers, Professors Thomas Shattuck and Robin Michael Garcia, for their insights. Let us hope that President Marcos Jr. would heed their advice: “Marcos should embrace the new opportunities that a Lai presidency may offer for the Philippines.”
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‘Uncalled for,’ ‘lack of due process:’ UE coach Jerry Yee slams season-long ban
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jisaga0269
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03/03/2024 15:14
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IN THE DARK. UE Lady Warriors head coach Jerry Yee reacts in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP rocked the Season 86 women’s volleyball landscape on Sunday, March 3, after it announced a season-long suspension spanning three months on UE Lady Warriors head coach Jerry Yee for “acts that are inconsistent with the purposes of the [UAAP] Association.”
Per a league statement, the complaint was “raised by a member school on account of conduct violative of the purposes of the UAAP – a platform for Member Universities to foster camaraderie and fair play,” concurred by the league Board of Trustees last Thursday, February 29, and handed on Friday, March 1.
Yee, no longer allowed to enter game arenas as set by the suspension’s parameters, met with members of the media in a separate venue to express his disappointment with the verdict.
“I maintain that there was no ethical breach in my decision to accept UE’s head coaching job, because it was a mutual parting of ways for both Adamson and I,” he wrote in a prepared statement.
“It is unfortunate that this career decision of mine has been met with vitriol at the late-onset, borne out of vindictiveness ironically from an institution that prides itself in instilling Catholic virtues and teachings,” he continued, insinuating that the complaint came from Adamson’s side.
Assistant coach Dr. Obet Vital will take over the Lady Warriors for the duration of suspension, or until a favorable decision is met on Yee’s appeal – scheduled for filing on Monday, March 4.
“I met again with Adamson and [sponsor] Akari around the first week of June 2023 to discuss a mutual termination of agreement, and thereafter on June 7, 2023, the school issued a “statement of release” effectively terminating my services as head coach of the Lady Falcons,” Yee’s statement continued.
“While focusing on my teams in the NCAA (CSB) and PVL (Farm Fresh), UE approached and offered me a head coaching job which I accepted on June 21, 2023.”
League representatives have politely declined in issuing further statements or clarifications on the exact nature of Yee’s offenses out of respect for his incoming appeal.
“My dismay with the UAAP board’s decision is merely secondary to the disappointment that I hold in not being able to fulfill my commitment in coaching and mentoring the UE Lady Warriors,” Yee’s statement continued. “Moreover, this decision also unduly deprives me of the right to obtain other sources of living and providing for my family.”
“I think it’s uncalled for and there was no due process,” he continued in a separate interview. “They did not get my side on this and I was surprised that there was something like this.
Yee now hopes his side will be heard as he maintained he was blindsided by the decision and is still in the dark on what he did wrong.
“If they give me an audience, I can speak up,” he continued. “For now, our practices continue.” – 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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Fifth child of farmer in Negros Occidental assumes responsibilities of slain father
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Victor Barreiro Jr.
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03/03/2024 11:33
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FAMILY PICTURE. A photo shows the Caramihan family weeks before the family's patriarch (left) was killed in an encounter in Escalante City on February 21.
Photo courtesy of Charlene Caramihan
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – Charlene Caramihan, just 23 years old, felt the burden of being a father figure to her younger siblings after her father was killed in an armed encounter in Sitio Mansulao, Barangay Pinapugasan in Escalante City on February 21.
Charlene told Rappler in an interview on Saturday, March 2, that she was still in shock over the untimely passing of her father, whom she described as a kind, caring, and good provider for their family of eight.
She said that following her father’s death, she took on all of his obligations, including caring for her mother, who has heart problems, and her younger sibling, who was admitted to the hospital a month ago.
Charlene added that right after the dreadful killing, they were fearful and left sleepless, believing there might be another encounter that could occur at any moment.
“Wala me tadlong tulog. Wala ko ka skwela og 5 days. Tapos ang pangabuhian namo affected pud kay wala namay mo atiman sa among mga hayop, kag sa among uma,” she said. (We’re unable to sleep. For five days, I was unable to attend school. Our sources of income, such as our farm and the animals my father used to attend to, were also affected.)
Charlene never tried to hide how she felt, saying that even now, she still finds it hard to accept what happened to her father, still asserting that her father became collateral damage of the fighting between the Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion and the New People’s Army (NPA).
Charlene still has faith that justice will be served.
The same pattern of assault occurred in southern Negros Occidental in 2023 when a tricycle driver hired to carry a group of non-combatant rebels was slain in what the military called a legitimate encounter.
Charlene recounted that she had a conversation with her father a few days before his death, in which she counted down the months until she would eventually don academic regalia, symbolizing her college graduation.
“Pa hapit na gd ko graduate pa, gamay na lng makasaka na nka og stage. Eg human pa, mo kuha ko og board exam,” she said. (It’s almost graduation time, Pa. Not too long now, and I get to walk on stage. I’m going to take a board exam after I graduate from college)
Charlene said that when she told her father that he would eventually have a child who would become a teacher, she said that he seemed more delighted than her. She also recalled the moment when her father told her to work harder because she was the family’s only hope.
Even if their current situation was very difficult to deal with, she would look for other means just to realize her promise to her late father – to finish her education look for a decent job, and help her family.
Charlene’s other siblings were no longer in their community as they already had their own families.
When asked if she was frightened to fight for her father’s justice, she said she was more worried about her mother’s and her siblings’ safety, since they might be singled out by those who see their call as a threat.
Even though taking on all of her father’s responsibilities is challenging, she doesn’t see any need to give up; instead, she plans on using her strength to get up and confront what challenges life may bring. – Rappler.com
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How long can you go cashless? Filipinos last for 10 days on average
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lkyu0285
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03/03/2024 10:18
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Shutterstock
MANILA, Philippines – In 2023, the average Filipino still can’t last for two weeks without using physical cash to pay.
Among Filipinos who actually tried to go cashless in 2023, the average number of days that they successfully managed not to use cash was 10 days, according to the findings of the Visa Consumer Payment Attitudes Study 2024.
Most Filipinos believe that they can go at least a week without using physical coins and bills. According to the study, 82% of Filipinos believe they can go cashless for a day, but that number drops to 68% for three days, and just 52% for a week.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise even for those living in the metro. If you’ve ever gone out to buy a snack from a nearby store – only to realize you forgot to bring any cash – you’ll find that you’re left at the mercy of mobile wallets that aren’t always online.
What about for public transportation? For those commuting by jeep, tricycle, or pedicab, it’s practically impossible to use anything other than cold, hard cash.
If you’re using trains, you might have some more luck going cashless. For instance, commuters using the Light Rail Transit Line 1 can buy single journey QR tickets through Maya. Eventually, you might also be able to tap your Mastercard card to pay for your fares in the Metro Rail Transit Line 3, as well as EDSA and Bonifacio Global City buses (READ: You can eventually tap your Mastercard to pay for MRT3, bus fares).
Likewise, Visa country head for the Phililippines Jeff Navarro said that “discussions are in place with the [Department of Transportation] and all other operator-participants” for a similar tap to pay function for Visa cards in transit stations.
Randolph Clet, head of the Department of Transportation’s automatic fare collection system (AFCS), told Rappler that the goal is to go contactless and cashless for transportation “soon” by enabling commuters to pay for fares using bank cards, QR codes, and mobile payments through near-field communications or NFC. For comparison, other Southeast Asian cities, such as Singapore and Bangkok, have had tap-to-pay functions in their trains for several years now.
But although the Philippines may be lagging behind some of its neighbors, Visa’s country head is confident that we’re headed in the right direction.
“[In] Singapore, you can see there that practically everyone is already using mobile pay. Apple Pay is there. Google Pay is there,” Navarro said. “So, they’re very much ahead when it comes to real penetration and usage already.”
“What we’re seeing in Philippines is directionally it’s already going to that place. The momentum is there. We have critical mass in terms of consumers already adopting this new technology,” he added. “We’re really in a good positive place towards going cashless by 2030.”
Filipinos seem optimistic as one in three believe that the Philippines can become cashless by 2030. In fact, plenty are already trying to drop cash. In 2023, 83% of Filipino consumers attempted to go cashless, which actually places the Philippines second in ASEAN. Vietnam (89%) leads the region while Thailand (81%) is third and Malaysia (76%) is fourth. Singapore (67%) places fifth only because many Singaporeans have already fully embraced cashless payments.
The first step to achieving a cashless society would be to have more Filipinos set up transactional accounts that can be used to pay digitally. This could be by bringing them into the formal banking system through bank accounts or by having them set up mobile wallet accounts.
Navarro said that while the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has yet to release official figures, he estimates that close to 70% of Filipinos now have a bank or e-wallet account.
To reach the remaining 30% of “unbanked” Filipinos, the Visa country head said that banks, fintech companies, and even remittance and currency exchange companies must take the lead in creating “products and services that will allow them to be part of that economy.”
There is still the problem of infrastructure. In 2023, the Philippines’ internet penetration rate stood at only 73.1% of the total population, with some geographically-isolated communities having no internet access. The country’s internet speed also trails others in the region (READ: 91% of PH workers believe internet infrastructure needs to improve faster – survey)
“It’s difficult to do a digital payment if there’s no internet, there’s no Wi-Fi, there’s no nothing. So, that has a natural cycle that will fix itself. So, as to when that becomes available, then definitely digital payments becomes part of the community,” Navarro said, adding that Visa is also exploring possible offline payments solutions.
“We’re trying to work with some of our issuers and acquirers to see if we can do something that’s offline. These are very early discussions. There’s still no concrete solution. But it’s really one of those that we want to do because it again supports the national agenda of the government for financial inclusion.”
There is also the problem of digital fraud. Navarro said that over the last five years, Visa as a whole has invested close to $10 billion in terms of improving its fraud, risk, and identity and cybersecurity solutions. That includes having three dedicated cybersecurity centers that monitors transactions 24/7. Visa, along with other financial institutions, have also turned to artificial intelligence in the fight against fraud. (READ: EXPLAINER: What is digital fraud and how do you protect yourself from scams?)
“This has translated to roughly a prevention of $27 – $28 billion in terms of fraud,” Navarro said. “Whatever solutions that we’re implementing [elsewhere] is also the same platform that’s implemented in the Philippines.” – Rappler.com
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Baboy galore! A list of the 300-plus pork dishes that got the Philippines a Guinness World Record
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gdecastro0289
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03/03/2024 12:45
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PRIDE. Guinness World
Records Official Adjudicator Sonia Ushirogochi declares a Philippine record of 313 uniquely prepared pork dishes in one event at the Gateway Mall, Araneta City, Cubao on March 1, 2024.
MANILA, Philippines – Anong ulam? (What’s the viand?)
In the Philippines, chances are the viand for one’s meal is pork or has some pork in it. One of the most popular, of course, is the Philippine dish adobo, which can either be pork adobo or chicken adobo.
Another mouth-watering pork dish, made famous globally by the late Anthony Bourdain, is lechon, which is often served in fiestas and big celebrations.
Pork is so influential in Philippine cuisine that the country made the Guinness World Records for “most varieties of pork dishes on display” in one event. The title was achieved by the National Federation of Hog Farmers Incorporated at the National Hog Festival 2024 held at the Gateway Mall in Araneta City, Quezon City on Friday, March 1. The event seeks to support Filipino hog farmers and highlight Philippine pork cuisine.
“Filipinos are basically pork eaters,” said the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Hog Industry Roadmap 2022 to 2026.
Pork is the Filipino family’s main source of protein, and is generally preferred over other protein sources such as chicken meat, beef, fish, and legumes.
“The Filipino’s love for pork will remain because of the meat’s versatility as a preferred dish for nearly every memorable event with friends and family,” said Pilmico, a food and agribusiness subsidiary of the Aboitiz Group.
The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) of the Department of Science and Technology said swine provides around 60% of total animal meat consumption of Fiipinos. Swine production ranks next to rice in terms of total value of agricultural production, it said in a 2016 article.
On the average, Filipinos eat more pork than the world average. The Philippines’ meat consumption in 2021 was around 15 kilograms (kg) per capita compared to the world average of roughly 11 kg per capita.
FAST FACTS: How much meat does the Filipino consume?
Before African Swine Fever (ASF) severely affected the country’s swine industry starting in July 2019, hogs were the number one livestock produced by the country. In 2018, for instance, the country’s hog production was 2.3 million metric tons (MT) followed by chicken at 1.8 million MT.
Roughly 70% of hogs in the Philippines come from backyard or small producers, and 30% come from commercial farms.
Pigs are sold in markets as live animal or as pork. Pork is processed into food such as ham, bacon, and sausages.
The biggest hog producers are Western Visayas (11.8%), Davao Region (10%), Zamboanga Peninsula (9.7%), and Bicol Region (9.5%). These five regions account for 55.8% of production of backyard/small producers.
Commercial hog producers are concentrated in the CALABARZON or Southern Tagalog Region, led by Batangas province.
The Philippines’ average annual inventory of hogs is 12 million heads. However, due mainly to the ASF, total swine inventory was down to 9.86 million heads in September 2023, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The more than 300 dishes prepared in the National Hog Festival 2024 represent the diversity of Philippine pork cuisine since most of the dishes were local.
Among these are pork sisig, menudo, pochero, pork binagoongan, lechon, pork laing, embotido, pork adobo, pork sinigang, pork kinilaw, bagnet, lechon paksiw, dinuguan, pork tocino, pork morcon, pork dinuguna, pork menudo, pork afritada, picadillo, chicharon, and longganisa.
Among the Chinese pork dishes were siomai, sweet and sour pork, char siew, and dumpling.
Other Asian pork dishes presented were Indonesian Pork Satay, Vietnamese Pork Chop, Thai-style Grilled Pork, and Japan’s Tonkatsu. There were also German pork dishes.
Among the companies, restaurants, and schools that joined the Guinness World Record attempt were: Tunglok Seafood, Chef Laudico Guevarra’s, Mesa, Tim Ho Wan, Pound x Flatterie, Hawker Chan, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Little Chinatown, Perpetual Help College Manila, Robina Farms, Universal Robina, Del Monte, and Cargill Philippines.
A total of 341 dishes were displayed during the Guinness World Record attempt, 28 were disqualified. The total number of pork dishes that made it to the final list is 313.
Rappler obtained a partial list of the over 300 dishes. The list is still incomplete and includes 28 dishes that were disqualified since they were considered duplicates. We will update the list once we get the information. Some of these dishes contain the restaurant’s name.
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– Rappler.com
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PRIMER: Investigations, cases against Apollo Quiboloy
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Herbie G
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27/02/2024 18:35
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CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday, February 27, once again called on doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy to face his accusers and address the serious allegations raised against him in an ongoing investigation.
Hontiveros made the call just one week before the fourth hearing set by her committee regarding the alleged abuses committed by the Davao-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) against its former workers and members.
The senator earlier warned that she would cite Quiboloy in contempt and have him arrested unless he showed up at the March 5 hearing of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Hontiveros said the committee, as it investigates matters in aid of legislation, “has the power to compel the attendance of witnesses, no matter how well-connected they are.”
She said Quiboloy, who styles himself as the “appointed son of God,” is not above the law and the country’s institutions.
“In the past, Cabinet officials, lawmakers, an incumbent Senate president, and even a former president have submitted to Senate subpoenas and appeared as witnesses. His (Quiboloy’s) constitutional rights, like all witnesses, are respected. Pero hindi siya mataas pa sa presidente, sa Senado, at sa batas (But he is not higher than the President, the Senate, and the law),” she said in a statement recorded on video.
Quiboloy has wielded much influence as a religious figure in the country. He has maintained a close friendship and unwavering support for former president Rodrigo Duterte, with their ties dating back to Duterte’s time as mayor of Davao City. Throughout Duterte’s presidency, Quiboloy served as his “spiritual adviser,” cementing their long-standing relationship.
Hontiveros also noted that Quiboloy and his followers called the witnesses who appeared before the Senate committee as cowards for not showing their faces in public, yet the KOJC leader himself declared his intention to disregard the Senate subpoena.
She pointed out that Quiboloy’s accusers have executed affidavits against the preacher and his church associates.
Addressing Quiboloy, Hontiveros said, “Bukas po ang Senado para sa panig ‘nyo. Hinihintay namin kayo (The Senate is open to your side. We are waiting for you).”
The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Office served the subpoena to Quiboloy, through his lawyer Marie Dinah Tolentino-Fuentes, on February 22, after the preacher ignored invitations to attend three previous hearings at the Senate.
Hontiveros’ committee has been tasked by the Senate to look into allegations of human trafficking, sexual abuse, violence, and other misconduct involving the preacher and his organization.
She can, according to Section 17 of the Senate rules governing the conduct of committee investigations. The authority of Senate committees includes the “power to summon witnesses and take their testimony and to issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum, signed by its Chairman, or in his absence by the Acting Chairman, and approved by the President.”
“Within Metro Manila, such process shall be served by the Sergeant-at-Arms or his assistant. Outside of Metro Manila, service may be made by the police of a municipality or city, upon request of the Secretary,” reads a clause in the Senate rules.
Section 18 of the Senate rules on panel investigations provides that a “contempt of the Committee shall be deemed a contempt of the Senate.”
The rules also provide that “such witness may be ordered by the Committee to be detained in such place as it may designate under the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms until he/she agrees to produce the required documents, or to be sworn or to testify, or otherwise purge himself/herself of that contempt.”
Former KOJC members have testified on the alleged abuses of Quiboloy and his church associates before Hontiveros’ committee since the panel started the hearings on January 23.
Their narratives – including that of two Ukrainian women who alleged that Quiboloy sexually abused them in the name of religion – have been consistent with and corroborated by the allegations made also by former KOJC members in the United States against the Davao-based preacher.
Quiboloy and eight of his associates were indicted by a federal grand jury in a US District Court in Santa Ana, California, in 2021.
The 74-page indictment document shows that the preacher and the other accused have been charged with the following crimes:
The indictment papers enumerate 94 overt acts of the preacher and his associates.
The US court ordered Quiboloy and his associates arrested on November 10, 2021. Except for Quiboloy and two others, Teresita Dandan and Helen Panilag, the others either surrendered or were arrested by US authorities, and subsequently bailed out.
The others who have been indicted along with Quiboloy are the following:
At least one of those accused has subsequently agreed to turn state witness against Quiboloy’s group.
On January 31, 2022, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) included Quiboloy, Dandan, and Panilag, among several other fugitives from Mexico and China, in its most wanted list, and published their separate wanted posters on its website.
The FBI’s “most wanted” poster on the KOJC leader reads, “Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, the founder of a Philippines-based church, is wanted for his alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members to the United States, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders.”
On November 3, 2022, Judge Terry Hatter Jr. of the US District Court-Central District of California reset the trial of Quiboloy and his co-accused in Los Angeles from March 21, 2023, to March 19, 2024. Subsequently, in late 2023, the trial was again moved to November 2024.
In the 2022 order, Hatter granted the request of five of the defendants – Salinas, Cabactulan, Duenas, Estopare, and Roces – to be given more time to prepare their defense, based on the US Speedy Trial Act.
Based on the US-Philippines extradition treaty, an extradition request must be made through diplomatic channels.
But nearly three years after the indictment of Quiboloy and his associates, the US has yet to submit a formal extradition request for the preacher, Dandan, and Panilag, according to the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ).
In late 2022, the US announced sanctions against the KOJC leader through its treasury and state departments, a move that coincided with International Anti-Corruption Day and on the eve of International Human Rights Day.
The sanctions include the following:
– Rappler.com
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Baboy galore! A list of the 300-plus pork dishes that got the Philippines a Guinness World Record
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gdecastro0289
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03/03/2024 12:45
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PRIDE. Guinness World
Records Official Adjudicator Sonia Ushirogochi declares a Philippine record of 313 uniquely prepared pork dishes in one event at the Gateway Mall, Araneta City, Cubao on March 1, 2024.
MANILA, Philippines – Anong ulam? (What’s the viand?)
In the Philippines, chances are the viand for one’s meal is pork or has some pork in it. One of the most popular, of course, is the Philippine dish adobo, which can either be pork adobo or chicken adobo.
Another mouth-watering pork dish, made famous globally by the late Anthony Bourdain, is lechon, which is often served in fiestas and big celebrations.
Pork is so influential in Philippine cuisine that the country made the Guinness World Records for “most varieties of pork dishes on display” in one event. The title was achieved by the National Federation of Hog Farmers Incorporated at the National Hog Festival 2024 held at the Gateway Mall in Araneta City, Quezon City on Friday, March 1. The event seeks to support Filipino hog farmers and highlight Philippine pork cuisine.
“Filipinos are basically pork eaters,” said the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Hog Industry Roadmap 2022 to 2026.
Pork is the Filipino family’s main source of protein, and is generally preferred over other protein sources such as chicken meat, beef, fish, and legumes.
“The Filipino’s love for pork will remain because of the meat’s versatility as a preferred dish for nearly every memorable event with friends and family,” said Pilmico, a food and agribusiness subsidiary of the Aboitiz Group.
The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) of the Department of Science and Technology said swine provides around 60% of total animal meat consumption of Fiipinos. Swine production ranks next to rice in terms of total value of agricultural production, it said in a 2016 article.
On the average, Filipinos eat more pork than the world average. The Philippines’ meat consumption in 2021 was around 15 kilograms (kg) per capita compared to the world average of roughly 11 kg per capita.
FAST FACTS: How much meat does the Filipino consume?
Before African Swine Fever (ASF) severely affected the country’s swine industry starting in July 2019, hogs were the number one livestock produced by the country. In 2018, for instance, the country’s hog production was 2.3 million metric tons (MT) followed by chicken at 1.8 million MT.
Roughly 70% of hogs in the Philippines come from backyard or small producers, and 30% come from commercial farms.
Pigs are sold in markets as live animal or as pork. Pork is processed into food such as ham, bacon, and sausages.
The biggest hog producers are Western Visayas (11.8%), Davao Region (10%), Zamboanga Peninsula (9.7%), and Bicol Region (9.5%). These five regions account for 55.8% of production of backyard/small producers.
Commercial hog producers are concentrated in the CALABARZON or Southern Tagalog Region, led by Batangas province.
The Philippines’ average annual inventory of hogs is 12 million heads. However, due mainly to the ASF, total swine inventory was down to 9.86 million heads in September 2023, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The more than 300 dishes prepared in the National Hog Festival 2024 represent the diversity of Philippine pork cuisine since most of the dishes were local.
Among these are pork sisig, menudo, pochero, pork binagoongan, lechon, pork laing, embotido, pork adobo, pork sinigang, pork kinilaw, bagnet, lechon paksiw, dinuguan, pork tocino, pork morcon, pork dinuguna, pork menudo, pork afritada, picadillo, chicharon, and longganisa.
Among the Chinese pork dishes were siomai, sweet and sour pork, char siew, and dumpling.
Other Asian pork dishes presented were Indonesian Pork Satay, Vietnamese Pork Chop, Thai-style Grilled Pork, and Japan’s Tonkatsu. There were also German pork dishes.
Among the companies, restaurants, and schools that joined the Guinness World Record attempt were: Tunglok Seafood, Chef Laudico Guevarra’s, Mesa, Tim Ho Wan, Pound x Flatterie, Hawker Chan, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Little Chinatown, Perpetual Help College Manila, Robina Farms, Universal Robina, Del Monte, and Cargill Philippines.
A total of 341 dishes were displayed during the Guinness World Record attempt, 28 were disqualified. The total number of pork dishes that made it to the final list is 313.
Rappler obtained a partial list of the over 300 dishes. The list is still incomplete and includes 28 dishes that were disqualified since they were considered duplicates. We will update the list once we get the information. Some of these dishes contain the restaurant’s name.
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– Rappler.com
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Why reverting to old academic calendar is just a ‘stopgap’ measure
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Bonz Magsambol
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02/03/2024 9:00
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FILIPINO STUDENTS. Students and teachers go about regular classes at the General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City, on February 21, 2024.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
In 2023, over a hundred students of a public school in Laguna were hospitalized due to dehydration after a surprise fire drill.
The school official said the temperature when the fire drill happened on March 23, 2023 was between 39 and 42°C. It was very hot and humid. In a tropical country like the Philippines, where classrooms are not built to withstand extreme heat, conditions are not conducive to learning.
Classes in the Philippines typically begin on the first Monday of June concluding in March, as mandated by Republic Act 7797. But in 2020, this law was amended to accommodate changes in school opening schedules. Classes should start not later than the last day of August, the new law said.
The country made the adjustment due to the impact of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown in 2020. But even prior to the pandemic, there had been calls to make the academic calendar in the Philippines synchronized with other countries, especially with its Southeast Asian counterparts. Proponents of the shift also said that the months of June and July coincide with the typhoon season, resulting in class disruptions.
Since then, the academic year had shifted to August, meaning, students were now in school from April to May – a time that previously marked their summer vacation in the previous school calendar, and a period when high temperatures were often recorded.
But after a year of full adjustment, public clamor to revert to the old academic calendar intensified. A survey commissioned by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the basic education committee, revealed that 8 in 10 Filipinos want summer breaks back to April and May. This prompted the Department of Education (DepEd) to gradually revert to the old calendar.
“The shift to the school calendar back to the usual April-May break will be gradual. We will end on May 31, but we will open around July 29. And then slowly, we will move it back until we return to the normal April-May break,” DepEd Undersecretary Michael Poa said.
Poa said the decision to revert to the old academic calendar was based on consultations done by DepEd. “This is a decision made by the people,” he added.
The education official said that by school year 2026-2027, schools would open in June and end in April, based on DepEd’s projected timeline. By school year 2027-2028, schools would open in June and end by mid-March.
While the reversal of the academic calendar was welcome news to many, education experts said that it was just another “stopgap” measure. Meanwhile, for critics, it was just another “populist” policy by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte.
“I think it’s more of a stopgap because DepEd couldn’t address the heat problems in the classrooms, which is the main reason why the public school teachers and students had clamored for the revert,” said education psychologist and University of the Philippines professor Lizamarie Olegario.
Olegario noted that Filipino students suffer from extreme heat in their classrooms because school buildings do not have “enough ventilation.” She enumerated the following issues that need to be addressed instead of reverting to the old calendar.
Classroom shortages had been a problem even before the pandemic. In some schools, 75 to 80 students were packed into one classroom meant for only 40. To make up for the lack of classrooms, class shifting had been implemented to accommodate enrollees every year. (READ: Classroom shortages greet teachers, students in opening of classes)
At a Senate hearing in 2023, it was revealed that DepEd would need P397 billion to address the 159,000 classroom backlog nationwide. Gatchalian also noted that the congestion rate in schools was at 32% for Kinder to Grade 6, 41% in Junior High School, and about 50% in Senior High School.
While electric fans are a common appliance in any Filipino household, there are still classrooms that don’t have them.
At a separate Senate inquiry in 2023, Senator Raffy Tulfo blasted the DepEd for soliciting funds from students – through the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) – to buy school supplies and appliances such as electric fans for classroom use, as these should be provided by the agency.
There have been calls to “institutionalize” remote or blended learning in Philippine basic education so class suspensions would be lessened in case of typhoons or any natural disasters.
But doing so is not as easy as ABC because access to technology for both teachers and students remains a problem up to this day. Teachers are also not equipped with adequate know-how on how to use technology for learning.
As if the lack of resources for teachers wasn’t enough, the DepEd even got embroiled in a corruption controversy for purchasing “overpriced and outdated” laptops in 2021.
A separate Rappler investigation also revealed that laptops procured by the agency were being resold in markets.
“Since it has been decided that basic education reverts to the old calendar, during the rainy season, the teachers and the students should be equipped to have automatic online learning. There should be no need to wait for announcements from local officials for cancellation of classes,” Olegario said.
In a statement on February 21, the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) said that with the DepEd’s move to revert to the old academic calendar, the agency should tap local governments to address issues in the education sector, “as many of the concerns can be addressed at the local level.”
“The decision to revert back to the old academic calendar should not be seen as a stopgap measure to address the underlying issues that make the existing school calendar unbearable. To safeguard our children, we need to make sure that classrooms can withstand extreme weather conditions and have transportation support available,” the group said.
In an interview with Rappler on February 28, PBEd executive director Justine Raagas emphasized that the problem in Philippine basic education is not really the academic calendar.
“Regardless of the academic school year, one of the biggest problems is, our classrooms are not conducive for learning. The problem goes beyond the shifting measures. The problem is classrooms can’t withstand typhoons, or classrooms are in very poor conditions that they don’t allow proper ventilation,” Raagas said.
But another issue that cropped up with the reversal to the old academic calendar is the looming long break for senior high school students going to college.
If by school year 2027-2028, basic education in the Philippines would open in June and end in March, that would mean senior high school graduates would have a five-month break before they enter college.
Raagas fears that the long break would result in learning loss, especially since students’ foundational knowledge isn’t strong.
“Learning loss occurs whenever a student is outside the classroom. If you remember in 2020, schools opened late, sometime in October 2020. Even in normal times, where you have two months of summer break, that results in learning loss. That’s why the first few weeks of the start of classes, it’s for catch-up, and review of past lessons,” she noted.
Learning loss, according to the Journal of Education and e-Learning Research, “occurs when students lose knowledge and skills generally or specifically or there is an academic impediment due to prolonged gaps or the discontinuation of the educational process.”
With the recent move by DepEd, should the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) also change its academic calendar? Olegario and Raagas don’t think so.
“For college, it was done because they want to align with international standards and for better partnership. It could stay that way but the basic education should improve,” Raagas said, noting that DepEd should improve its teaching quality so the long break would not result in learning loss.
For Olegario, higher education institutions in the Philippines “do not have problems with ventilation in the classrooms.”
“I’ve never heard of similar issues mentioned by the public school children. I’ve never seen classes that are too cramped, unlike what I saw in some elementary and public high schools,” she added.
CHED has not released any statement yet on the recent move by the DepEd.
The public hopes that the revert to the old academic calendar will benefit students and help in learning recovery.
“If we make the decision, let’s stick to it. It’s not fair that we experiment on schedules at the expense of our students. [Our] children require normalcy and stability in their education,” Raagas said. – Rappler.com
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Golden Sunset: A home for retirees at the foot of Mount Makiling
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Steph Arnaldo
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03/03/2024 10:00
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LAGUNA, Philippines – A multimillion-peso retirement facility at the foot of Mount Makiling is mainly for Filipino expatriates, who have returned home for good and are trying to reestablish themselves in their country of birth.
“It’s an assisted living facility,” says Fe Tolentino-Zosa, chief executive officer of Golden Sunset Elderly Home Care Services, the retirement facility, which a group of retired corporate citizens has put up to cater to Filipino retirees who have immigrated elsewhere but chose to return and retire here.
Zosa’s group operates a half-hectare facility beside the campus of the state-owned University of the Philippines (UP) in Los Baños.
Golden Sunset has a more holistic or community-based approach. Zosa stressed that the facility, being community-oriented, converts the residents into a community for quality and effective living.
Zosa said its community-centered orientation empowers the facility to give the residents what she called “assisted living” that centers on personal care, including preventive care and medication, social events, meals, housekeeping, laundry, and keeping track of their needs and requirements for maintenance medication.
Although the Golden Sunset facility falls under the concept of residential care, it should not be mistaken for a nursing home that provides hospice care for the sick and terminally ill, Zosa said. Elderly care emphasizes the social and personal needs of retirees, who wish to age with dignity and grace while requiring assistance for daily activities and healthcare.
It emphasizes the twin virtues of empathy and compassion to its professional staff of caregivers and other hands who attend to Golden Sunset residents. Zosa said she envisioned setting up the facility in memory of her mother Gregoria Tolentino, who died at 96.
She said her mother became a widow at a young age but did not remarry to raise her six children, of which -Zosa is the second to the youngest. Zosa did not have a course related to social work or medical care for the elderly, but she finished BS Accounting, graduating magna cum laude, at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas (UST).
A CPA, she held various positions related to finance, but established the facility as her way to pay tribute to her mother. She worked in established firms like IBM Phils. And Meralco, where she retired.
Filipinos are known for their devotion to family. Like other Asians, Filipinos generally take care of the elderly in the family. But times are changing. Some families are learning to institutionalize their elderly to the professional care of a nursing home or home for the aged which provides “clinical” or “skilled” care by licensed nurses and therapists.
On the other hand, home care like what Golden Sunset offers provides “non-clinical” or “non-skilled” care by professional caregivers – so the distinction goes, Zosa said.
Zosa said that sometime in early 2000s, she thought of putting up a community-oriented facility for Filipino retirees based abroad, who have decided to return home and settle here for good. It is not easy for them to relocate here even if they have the wherewithal to reestablish themselves back home. When possible, they prefer a community-oriented facility because they can live with their dignity and personal pride intact. Besides, they want to interact with other people.
She cited the cases of returning residents who have chosen to return home for good but their children are based in other countries. These parents do not want to live in the countries where their children live mainly because they could hardly endure the cold weather especially during winter.
She also cited the case of an American national, who has chosen to take residence in the facility, and a Filipino couple who have never been to a foreign country. The facility started operations in 2022 even as it undergoes continued facelift and construction.
Golden Sunset occupies a half-hectare compound. Its uniqueness lies in the extensive vegetation of the area which enables the residents to enjoy a quiet and relaxing environment. Each of its three buildings is subdivided into eight apartment units. The facility has a swimming pool and two gazebos where residents could gather.
One of the structures has a rooftop that can hold bigger social events. The facility also has units where visiting family members can use when stay while there. The cost for the units are not that prohibitive, according to Zosa. Golden Sunset has plans to expand its services as the firm continues to institutionalize its facilities.
The facility employs a number of highly trained caregivers, who have developed the skills to handle senior citizens, including those who seem to be difficult, Zosa said. They are given competitive salaries, which could be a factor why they have chosen to stay in the facility despite the changing dynamics of the caregiving business.
The retirement business, she said, will continue to grow as more retirees of Filipino descent and their partners return to the Philippines to enjoy their retirement here. Moreover, the Filipino culture of hospitality, warmth, and compassion is always a compelling presence.
The lush Mt. Makiling here is proving to be not exclusively for students, artists, academics, and Boy Scout members, but for returning retirees as well. Mt. Makiling is a sanctuary for retirees, who have retreated to the verdant surrounding of this mountain resort to enjoy their twilight years in peace and solitude. – Rappler.com
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How long can you go cashless? Filipinos last for 10 days on average
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lkyu0285
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03/03/2024 10:18
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Shutterstock
MANILA, Philippines – In 2023, the average Filipino still can’t last for two weeks without using physical cash to pay.
Among Filipinos who actually tried to go cashless in 2023, the average number of days that they successfully managed not to use cash was 10 days, according to the findings of the Visa Consumer Payment Attitudes Study 2024.
Most Filipinos believe that they can go at least a week without using physical coins and bills. According to the study, 82% of Filipinos believe they can go cashless for a day, but that number drops to 68% for three days, and just 52% for a week.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise even for those living in the metro. If you’ve ever gone out to buy a snack from a nearby store – only to realize you forgot to bring any cash – you’ll find that you’re left at the mercy of mobile wallets that aren’t always online.
What about for public transportation? For those commuting by jeep, tricycle, or pedicab, it’s practically impossible to use anything other than cold, hard cash.
If you’re using trains, you might have some more luck going cashless. For instance, commuters using the Light Rail Transit Line 1 can buy single journey QR tickets through Maya. Eventually, you might also be able to tap your Mastercard card to pay for your fares in the Metro Rail Transit Line 3, as well as EDSA and Bonifacio Global City buses (READ: You can eventually tap your Mastercard to pay for MRT3, bus fares).
Likewise, Visa country head for the Phililippines Jeff Navarro said that “discussions are in place with the [Department of Transportation] and all other operator-participants” for a similar tap to pay function for Visa cards in transit stations.
Randolph Clet, head of the Department of Transportation’s automatic fare collection system (AFCS), told Rappler that the goal is to go contactless and cashless for transportation “soon” by enabling commuters to pay for fares using bank cards, QR codes, and mobile payments through near-field communications or NFC. For comparison, other Southeast Asian cities, such as Singapore and Bangkok, have had tap-to-pay functions in their trains for several years now.
But although the Philippines may be lagging behind some of its neighbors, Visa’s country head is confident that we’re headed in the right direction.
“[In] Singapore, you can see there that practically everyone is already using mobile pay. Apple Pay is there. Google Pay is there,” Navarro said. “So, they’re very much ahead when it comes to real penetration and usage already.”
“What we’re seeing in Philippines is directionally it’s already going to that place. The momentum is there. We have critical mass in terms of consumers already adopting this new technology,” he added. “We’re really in a good positive place towards going cashless by 2030.”
Filipinos seem optimistic as one in three believe that the Philippines can become cashless by 2030. In fact, plenty are already trying to drop cash. In 2023, 83% of Filipino consumers attempted to go cashless, which actually places the Philippines second in ASEAN. Vietnam (89%) leads the region while Thailand (81%) is third and Malaysia (76%) is fourth. Singapore (67%) places fifth only because many Singaporeans have already fully embraced cashless payments.
The first step to achieving a cashless society would be to have more Filipinos set up transactional accounts that can be used to pay digitally. This could be by bringing them into the formal banking system through bank accounts or by having them set up mobile wallet accounts.
Navarro said that while the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has yet to release official figures, he estimates that close to 70% of Filipinos now have a bank or e-wallet account.
To reach the remaining 30% of “unbanked” Filipinos, the Visa country head said that banks, fintech companies, and even remittance and currency exchange companies must take the lead in creating “products and services that will allow them to be part of that economy.”
There is still the problem of infrastructure. In 2023, the Philippines’ internet penetration rate stood at only 73.1% of the total population, with some geographically-isolated communities having no internet access. The country’s internet speed also trails others in the region (READ: 91% of PH workers believe internet infrastructure needs to improve faster – survey)
“It’s difficult to do a digital payment if there’s no internet, there’s no Wi-Fi, there’s no nothing. So, that has a natural cycle that will fix itself. So, as to when that becomes available, then definitely digital payments becomes part of the community,” Navarro said, adding that Visa is also exploring possible offline payments solutions.
“We’re trying to work with some of our issuers and acquirers to see if we can do something that’s offline. These are very early discussions. There’s still no concrete solution. But it’s really one of those that we want to do because it again supports the national agenda of the government for financial inclusion.”
There is also the problem of digital fraud. Navarro said that over the last five years, Visa as a whole has invested close to $10 billion in terms of improving its fraud, risk, and identity and cybersecurity solutions. That includes having three dedicated cybersecurity centers that monitors transactions 24/7. Visa, along with other financial institutions, have also turned to artificial intelligence in the fight against fraud. (READ: EXPLAINER: What is digital fraud and how do you protect yourself from scams?)
“This has translated to roughly a prevention of $27 – $28 billion in terms of fraud,” Navarro said. “Whatever solutions that we’re implementing [elsewhere] is also the same platform that’s implemented in the Philippines.” – Rappler.com
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Sotto, Ramos crash back to earth as B. League teams suffer blowout losses
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Jasmine Payo
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02/03/2024 21:45
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TEAMWORK. Kai Sotto (center) with his Yokohama teammates in the Japan B. League.
Japan B. League
MANILA, Philippines – After helping Gilas Pilipinas go 2-0 in the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, Kai Sotto and Dwight Ramos were sent crashing back to earth as their respective teams suffered blowout losses in the return of Japan B. League action on Saturday, March 2.
Over at the Kawasaki Todoroki Arena, Sotto scored in double figures for the Yokohama B-Corsairs, but his output wasn’t enough as they absorbed an 83-67 defeat at the hands of the Kawasaki Brave Thunders.
The 7-foot-3 Filipino big man shot 5-of-8 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line to finish with 14 points, together with 8 rebounds in 22 minutes and 10 seconds of play.
Sotto is coming off back-to-back double-double performances for Gilas Pilipinas, putting up 13 points and 15 rebounds against Hong Kong last February 22, followed by an 18-point and 10-rebound showing versus Chinese Taipei last February 25.
Prior to the B. League’s three-week FIBA break, Sotto played the finest game of his young professional career as he exploded for 26 points and 11 rebounds in Yokohama’s 90-85 win over the Chiba Jets.
With the loss to Kawasaki, Sotto and the B-Corsairs dropped their record to 17-23.
Elsewhere, the Saga Ballooners handed Ramos and the Levanga Hokkaido an 81-52 beating at the Hokkai Kita-yale.
Ramos, who averaged 10.5 points in his two outings with Gilas Pilipinas, came up with 8 points on 3-of-8 shooting, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block in the lopsided defeat.
Hokkaido fell to its fourth straight loss and slipped further to 12-28 in the standings.
Like Sotto’s Yokohama and Ramos’ Hokkaido, RJ Abarrientos’ Shinshu Brave Warriors (6-34), Thirdy Ravena’s San-En NeoPhoenix (34-6), and Matthew Wright’s Kyoto Hannaryz (12-28) all dropped their assignments on Saturday.
Abarrientos sizzled for a team-high 20 points on 6-of-12 clip from beyond the arc, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 3 steals in Shinshu’s 94-83 loss to the Fighting Eagles Nagoya at the Nagoya Biwajima Sports Center.
Meanwhile, Ravena registered 14 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block in San-En’s 107-88 defeat to the defending champion Ryukyu Golden Kings at the Toyohashi City Gymnasium.
Finally, Wright was held to just 5 markers on 1-of-5 shooting, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist as the Kyoto Hannaryz bowed to the Sendai 89ers, 85-72, at the Xebio Arena Sendai.
Ray Parks was the lone Filipino import in Division 1 to pick up a victory on Saturday as his Nagoya Diamond Dolphins (27-13) defeated the Akita Northern Happinets, 72-63, at the Dolphins Arena.
Parks tallied 8 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals in the win. – Rappler.com
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Cast members, show dates: What we know so far about the ‘One More Chance’ musical
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Ysa Abad
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29/01/2024 11:40
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MANILA, Philippines – The emotional love story of Popoy and Basha is set to hit the theater stage soon as the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) announced the cast members and show dates for the highly-anticipated theater adaptation of the Filipino classic hugot movie One More Chance.
On Sunday, January 28, PETA unveiled the cast lineup. Sam Concepcion and CJ Navato will alternately play the role of Popoy while Anna Luna and Nicole Omillo will be alternating in the character of Basha.
John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo played the role of Popoy and Basha, respectively, in the 2007 movie.
Joining them are Kiara Takahashi and Sheena Belarmina, who will share the character of Tricia, and Jeff Florez and Jay Gonzaga, who will alternately play Mark.
Other cast members include Ada Tayao and Rica Laguardia as Krissy, Poppert Bernadas and Paji Arceo as Kenneth, Via Antonio and Dippy Arceo as Anj, Johnnie Moran as Chinno, and Jon Abella as JP. Details for each character were listed in the casting brief provided by PETA during their auditions.
The musical, which will also feature music from the OPM folk pop band Ben&Ben, will run from April 12 to June 16 at the PETA Theater Center. Final time slots have yet to be announced.
As of writing, ticket prices and selling dates are still yet to be disclosed.
Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, One More Chance follows college sweethearts Popoy and Basha on the verge of a breakup after five years of being together. The film was released in November 2007, while its sequel A Second Chance was released in November 2015.
It was in October 2023 when PETA first announced that they were adapting the Filipino classic into a musical. The theater adaptation will be the latest of PETA’s stagings, following Rak of Aegis, Three Stars and a Sun, and Walang Aray. – Rappler.com
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‘Not their time yet’: De Jesus keeps Ateneo respect high amid La Salle 13-game win streak
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jisaga0269
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02/03/2024 20:39
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NO SETS OFF. The Ateneo Blue Eagles and La Salle head coach Ramil de Jesus react in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – No lucky breaks, just hard work.
Amid his legendary 27-year career, 12-time UAAP champion coach Ramil de Jesus was never one to underestimate any opponent of his La Salle Lady Spikers, and he is not keen to start now.
After the defending champions imposed their height and skill for the 13th straight time against longtime rival Ateneo on Saturday, March 2, De Jesus maintained that the Blue Eagles are not a team to be disregarded despite lagging near the bottom of the standings to kick off Season 86.
“I’m not looking at the numbers,” the iconic mentor said in Filipino after La Salle hosted a one-sided block party over Ateneo to the tune of a 25-12, 25-22, 25-19 sweep, extending a near seven-year streak dating back to Season 79.
“Whoever comes before us, we’ll prepare for them, whether it’s Ateneo, UST, FEU. All schools are big games for us. If it just so happened that our winning tradition against Ateneo is already that long, maybe it’s just not their time yet to win against us.”
Indeed, the talent difference was quite obvious from the get-go, but La Salle still made it a point to play its best from buzzer to buzzer.
Thea Gagate led the towering Lady Spikers defense as usual with 15 points on 9 attacks, a season-high 5 blocks, and 1 ace, while Shevana Laput bounced back from a long benching against UST with 13 points.
Reigning MVP Angel Canino, following a 28-point effort in the five-set shock loss to the Golden Tigresses, took a backseat with 10 points as she let her teammates shine with 12 blocks against Ateneo.
“Actually, Ateneo is very promising,” De Jesus continued. “You cannot joke around them. You need to prepare every set and give them respect, even though they are young.”
Sure enough, the Blue Eagles have intriguing pieces despite what is currently another losing season.
Lyann De Guzman, who erupted for 24 points, 18 excellent receptions, and 11 excellent digs in a five-set, reverse sweep of UP, followed up with 15 on 13 spikes, 1 block, and 1 ace against La Salle.
Sobe Buena, though limited to 5 points against the Lady Spikers, still showed big promise with 18 in her last outing.
This iteration of the Blue Eagles is no doubt a far cry from the Ateneo’s best rosters in its title-winning glory years, but the talent is still there.
Maybe it will not happen today or in the next few years, but the Eagles will one day soar again. Even their most heated rivals know it. – Rappler.com
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Fresh from pair of blowouts, Gilas Pilipinas climbs 1 spot in FIBA world rankings
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delfin.dioquino editor
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02/03/2024 16:43
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CELEBRATE. Kai Sotto in action for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2024 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
FIBA
MANILA, Philippines – Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio hopes to see the day Gilas Pilipinas becomes a top 20 team in the world.
The Nationals gained ground in that quest as it improved one spot in the latest FIBA world rankings, climbing from 38th to 37th place.
Fresh from a sweep of the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers where it clobbered Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei by a combined 83 points, the Philippines leapfrogged African nation Nigeria for the 37th spot.
Despite the rise, Gilas Pilipinas still remained the eighth-highest ranked team in Asia-Oceania behind No. 5 Australia, No. 21 New Zealand, No. 26 Japan, No. 27 Iran, No. 28 Lebanon, No. 29 China, and No. 32 Jordan.
Only Australia made a movement after ceding the fourth spot to Serbia as the rest stayed at their respective spots.
World No. 1 USA, No. 2 Spain, and No. 3 Germany kept their places, while Latvia enjoyed the biggest jump among the top 10 teams, improving from No. 8 to No. 6 by surpassing Americas powerhouses Canada and Argentina.
Canada and Argentina fell to No. 7 and 8, respectively, followed by No. 9 France and No. 10 Lithuania to round out the top 10.
The Latvians’ ascent spells trouble for the Filipinos ahead of their clash in the Riga, Latvia leg of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in July.
Aside from Latvia, the Philippines will also face Georgia, which remained at No. 23. – Rappler.com
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Channeling intense emotions with Filipina artist Laki Mata
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jreyes0314
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02/03/2024 22:46
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Laki Mata
MANILA, Philippines – During her childhood, Filipina artist Laki Mata was always surrounded by art. Her father – a puppet and mascot maker – would regularly hold art workshops during the summer, and she would sit in and follow along with whatever he was teaching his students. It was only natural, then, that she would later grow up to be an artist herself.
Determined to act on her affinity for art, Laki Mata took up Fine Arts in college. But she found herself unsatisfied with the type of work she was doing in the classroom.
“‘Yung practice doon, mataas ‘yung standards. Kailangan mala-Picasso or realist. Pagdadaanan mo ‘yung steps na ‘yun e, so nagco-comply ako doon. Pero hindi ako satisfied sa mga ginagawa ko, kaya doon nadevelop si Laki Mata,“ she said.
(The standards were high in the [Fine Arts] practice. Your art had to either be similar to Picasso’s or be realist. You’ll be made to go through those steps, so I complied. But I wasn’t satisfied with what I was doing, so that’s how Laki Mata was developed.)
Besides now being her artist name, Laki Mata is known as the big-eyed, nude female character that is always painted with different shades of pink.
The character Laki Mata – which translates to “big eyes” in English – was inspired by the artist’s younger sister named Baburoo.
A post shared by Laki Mata (@_lakimata)
“Kaya gano’n ‘yung art style [ni Laki Mata] kasi [nung] high school ako, nagkaroon ng baby ‘yung mama ko. Bunso namin siya. Ang pangalan niya Baburoo. Nung college ako, ‘yung drawings ko, Baburoo ang tawag nila kasi ‘yung kapatid ko na ‘yun, ang laki-laki ng mata niya!“ Laki Mata explained, smiling as she recalled her character’s origins.
(The reason why Laki Mata’s art style is the way it is is because my mom had a baby when I was in high school. She’s our youngest, and her name is Baburoo. When I was in college, people would call my drawings Baburoo because she had such big eyes!)
Beyond Laki Mata’s remarkably big eyes and notable pink hues, however, the character being fully naked tells a deeper story of its own.
A post shared by Laki Mata (@_lakimata)
“I’m painting a world where emotions, vulnerability, and feelings exist. For me, kaya wala silang damit kasi ‘yun ‘yung nag-ga-ground sa atin sa reality. Paano ba mag-paint ng titser? Naka-uniform. Paano mo ipapakita na bata siya? Naka-baby doll dress ba siya? So, sa akin, hinubaran ko ‘yung character para maipakita ko kung sino talaga siya,“ Laki Mata explained.
(For me, the reason why they’re naked is because clothes are what ground us in reality. How do you paint a teacher? In uniform. How do you show that someone’s a child? Do you put them in a baby doll dress? So, for me, I strip my character of its clothing to show who she really is.)
Being in a conservative country like the Philippines, however, it’s always been a common occurrence for the young artist to receive flak for her work. During her past art market stints, she would even get told that she should not be allowed to sell her work there because her character’s breasts were visible.
Nevertheless, Laki Mata stands her ground. She is well aware of the intentions behind her art anyway, so she merely brushes off these comments whenever they come her way.
Browsing through Laki Mata’s paintings, it’s easy to see that the character channels a wide range of emotions each time – including the ones that are often frowned upon when it’s a woman displaying them.
A post shared by Laki Mata (@_lakimata)
It’s common for women to be made to suppress their emotions out of fear of appearing “unladylike.” And so, when a woman expresses rage or sadness, she is often met with looks of pure judgment.
For Laki Mata, who takes inspiration from strong female creatives like Frida Kahlo and Soraya Chemaly, it’s the same in the realm of art, where the presence of intense emotions in paintings is outwardly looked down upon.
“Sa art scene natin, takot tayong idiscuss ‘yun dahil maaaring masyado siyang focused sa female e. [Sinasabi nila]: ‘Paano ‘yan bibilhin ng iba? Hindi siya pangbenta kasi ‘pag ididisplay ko ‘yan, galit, parang malas,'” Laki Mata shared.
(In our art scene, we’re scared to discuss that because it’s too focused on females. They would say: “How could anyone buy that? This can’t be sold because when it’s displayed, it seems angry, like it’s bad luck.”)
But Laki Mata is here to challenge that. Through her work, she shows that there’s nothing wrong with feeling the way we feel. After all, it is our emotions that make us human.
A post shared by Laki Mata (@_lakimata)
“As females, ‘di ba nahubog tayo sa world na ang mga emosyon natin ay dapat isinasantabi. Kapag nilabas mo ‘yan, magiging uncomfortable ‘yung nasa paligid natin, so dapat tinatago ‘yan. Pero ‘yung totoo, natatakot lang sila at nile-label-an nila ‘yung mga gano’ng bagay to control us,” she said.
(As females, we were born into a world where we are taught to suppress our emotions. When you express them, the people around you will get uncomfortable, so you have to hide them. But in reality, they’re just scared, so they label things like that to control us.)
Laki Mata’s two solo exhibits “Soft Pink Feelings” and “She Rage” are testaments to these sentiments.
“Soft Pink Feelings” takes on her theory that we were once all emotionless celestial beings made to go down to earth to experience all these different emotions in a blip – and it’s up to you if you’ll agree to it. The paintings from this collection depict Laki Mata doing what she can to get through these feelings, like hugging a teddy bear or drinking alcohol throughout her fits of sadness, and wielding a knife as she navigates her anger.
A post shared by Laki Mata (@_lakimata)
“Ikaw na pumayag, ito ‘yung emotions, hindi ka makakapili diyan e – dadaanan mo ‘yan. Pero hindi ikaw ‘yung emotions mo, dumadaan lang siya, kasi ‘yun ‘yung nararamdaman mo,” she explained.
(You agreed, so these are the emotions, but you won’t be able to choose which ones you’ll feel – you’ll go through them. But you aren’t your emotions, they’re just passing by, because that’s what you’re feeling.)
The concept behind “She Rage” then stemmed from Laki Mata’s idea from “Soft Pink Feelings” that we feel certain emotions – like rage – intensely.
“Minsan, sinasabihan tayo na parang monstrous ‘yun at masama ilabas ‘yung gano’ng mga emotion (Sometimes, we’re told that it’s monstrous and bad to express these emotions),” Laki Mata said.
And that’s exactly what the pieces included in “She Rage” attempt to fight against. In these paintings, Laki Mata takes ownership of her rage and acts on it – even if it means being met with disapproval from those around her.
A post shared by Laki Mata (@_lakimata)
And so, while Laki Mata started as a way for the artist to chart her life from girlhood to womanhood, it has aptly transformed into a symbol of comfort for all women.
“Sobrang lawak na ng mundo ni Laki Mata. It represents all girls na. Hindi lang story ko ‘yung nate-tell ko, pati na rin ‘yung mga nakikita ko, mga na-o-observe ko, pati ‘yung mga nakukuwento sa akin (Laki Mata’s world is so big now. It represents all girls already. It is no longer just my story I’m telling now but also those of what I see, what I observe, and what is shared with me),” Laki Mata stated. – Rappler.com
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‘Unselfish’ Meralco nails maiden win in Philippine Cup
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delfin.dioquino editor
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02/03/2024 23:34
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GUNNER. Allein Maliksi in action for the Meralco Bolts in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – Meralco standout Bong Quinto wanted to defer his Best Player of the Game honors to teammate Allein Maliksi.
That is the kind of unselfishness the Bolts are trying to foster as Meralco banked on a balanced attack in its 121-117 overtime victory over Rain or Shine in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, March 2.
Six players finished in twin-digit scoring for the Bolts led by Maliksi, who churned out 26 points and 7 rebounds off the bench.
It was Quinto, though, who bagged the Best Player of the Game award on the back of an all-around performance of 16 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 block, and 1 steal.
“Bong said Allein should have been the Best Player. It just goes to show how unselfish he is,” said Meralco head coach Luigi Trillo.
“That is about us. When we have a lot of guys scoring in double figures, most of the time, you see the unselfishness from these guys.”
Maliksi and Quinto joined hands in overtime as they netted 7 points each in the extra period to tow the Bolts to their first win after their comeback fell short against Blackwater in their conference-opener last February 28.
Setting the tone in overtime, Quinto scored the first 7 points for a 109-104 lead before Maliksi finished it off, sinking the free throw that made it a two-possession lead with under 10 ticks left to keep the Elasto Painters at bay.
Chris Newsome put up 16 points and 11 rebounds before he fouled out late in the fourth quarter, Cliff Hodge posted 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Norbert Torres added 16 points and 9 rebounds in the win.
Anjo Caram gave Meralco an extra scoring punch, scattering 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter.
“Newsome fouled out and the other guys stepped up. Next man up,” said Trillo.
Rookie guard Adrian Nocum took over for Rain or Shine with a season-high 29 points as he almost single-handedly towed his side to another extra period with 13 big points in overtime.
Nocum completed an and-one to cut their deficit to 117-120 with 14 seconds remaining, but the Bolts escaped as Maliksi settled the final score with a foul shot.
Leonard Santillan backstopped Nocum with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Gian Mamuyac recorded 15 points.
The Elasto Painters slipped to 0-2 after bungling a prime chance to win it all in regulation, with Andrei Caracut missing a game-winning reverse layup.
Meralco 121 – Maliksi 26, Newsome 16, Quinto 16, Torres 16, Hodge 16, Caram 13, Black 6, Pascual 5, Mendoza 4, Rios 2, Pasaol 1, Banchero 0, Jose 0.
Rain or Shine 117 – Nocum 29, Santillan 25, Mamuyac 15, Belga 9, Datu 9, Clarito 9, Caracut 8, Norwood 6, Belo 3, Borboran 2, Demusis 2, Ildefonso 0
Quarters: 28-20, 49-42, 80-77, 102-102 (reg.), 121-117 (OT).
– Rappler.com
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William Navarro believes NorthPort capable of reaching PBA finals
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delfin.dioquino editor
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02/03/2024 21:19
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PASS. William Navarro in action for the NorthPort Batang Pier in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – Comebacking NorthPort forward William Navarro believes this current Batang Pier group has what it takes to accomplish what has not been done in franchise history.
Navarro is convinced NorthPort can go all the way to the finals even after the team opened the PBA Philippine Cup with a 107-100 overtime loss to NLEX on Friday, March 1.
The return of Navarro from a knee injury and the entry of rookie Zavier Lucero have provided the Batang Pier additional firepower in their bid to make a splash after failing to make it past the quarterfinals in each of the last seven conferences.
NorthPort made the semifinals just twice in franchise history: the 2015-2016 Philippine Cup and 2019 Governors’ Cup.
“I see great potential in our team. We’re tall and we can all play the running game,” said Navarro in a mix of Filipino and English.
“For me, this team can reach the finals, as long as we can be more sure of what we’re trying to do within our system.”
Back in PBA action after missing the last two conferences, the 6-foot-6 Navarro delivered for the Batang Pier with a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds to go with 2 blocks.
Meanwhile, 6-foot-6 Lucero finished with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks in his debut for NorthPort after also being sidelined by a knee injury.
The two form a dangerous triumvirate of talented forwards alongside 6-foot-5 Arvin Tolentino, who showed the way in the loss with 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
For Navarro, the Batang Pier only have to develop better chemistry and minimize their errors in order to contend with the heavyweights of the league.
“We just need to jell as a team and polish our connection with each other,” said Navarro.
The fact that NorthPort gave the Road Warriors a run for their money by forcing an extra period gives Navarro a sign of good things to come.
“I’m not sad. We fought until the end. You can see that there is something special in this group.” – Rappler.com
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Rondina proud to see ex-UST sidekick Laure grow in pros
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Jasmine Payo
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02/03/2024 22:57
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FACE-OFF. Sisi Rondina (left) and Eya Laure both take the court again, but this time on opposite sides.
PVL IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines — In a showdown of former UST teammates Sisi Rondina and Eya Laure, it was the “Cherry Bomb” who prevailed in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) on Saturday, March 2, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Rondina came out in her usual explosive self, pumping in a game-high 23 points and 13 excellent receptions to power Choco Mucho to a 25-9, 25-23, 20-25, 25-17 triumph against Chery Tiggo for the solo lead.
But Rondina remained humble, even heaping praise to her talented collegiate teammate turned professional foe.
Laure proved to be a key cog despite the loss, firing 13 points, just behind team top scorer Ara Galang’s 14.
“[Laure] has grown professionally as a player, I see in her how she has grown under coach Kung Fu (Reyes), and I am proud of how powerful her hit was (in our game),” Rondina said in Filipino after the game.
“I hope she learns a lot, and I’m praying for her success in volleyball,” she added.
The two donned black and gold at the same time for just one season — UAAP Season 81 in 2019, where Rondina bagged the Most Valuable Player and Laure the Rookie of the Year honors.
With their leadership, UST reached the UAAP finals and even went up 1-0 against Ateneo before Laure suffered an injury as the Tigresses yielded the crown in three games.
After Rondina graduated, Laure played for three more seasons and became the dominant leader of UST, but was never able to replicate the team’s success.
Rondina, though, expects to see more of Laure unleashing the numbers as the PVL season goes along.
While Choco Mucho needed four sets to dispose of Chery TIggo, the Petro Gazz Angels only needed 89 minutes to dispatch the PLDT High Speed Hitters, 25-16, 25-23, 25-21, behind Brooke Van Sickle‘s 23 points.
Van Sickle battled for the first time against Fil-Canadian Savi Davison, who ended up with 19 markers, with the High Speed Hitters losing their first game in three tries.
“I expected her to make points and she’s a fantastic player, she’s very physical, jumps high, hits extremely hard,” Van Sickle said of Davison after the game as her Angels improved to 2-1.
“I thought just even beyond her offensive game, I thought her defensive, even passing, was really well, she had a really good all-around game.”
“So it was it was super fun to play against her. And yeah, like, you know, we’re gonna build that friendship… So I’m super excited for that,” the American hitter added.
In the first game, the Cignal HD Spikers waylaid the Galeries Tower Highrisers in straight sets, 25-14, 25-16, 25-17.
Ces Molina uncorked 14 points as the team remained undefeated at 2-0, while Galeries Tower got bunched up at the tail end of the standings at 0-2. — Rappler.com
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Filipinos nabbed over corpses in Tokyo face ‘murder’ probe
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Jairo Bolledo
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02/03/2024 21:02
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Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The two Filipinos recently arrested over alleged abandonment of corpses in Tokyo, Japan, are facing investigation for alleged murder, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed.
DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega confirmed to Rappler that the two Filipinos earlier identified as Bryan Jefferson Lising dela Cruz, 34, and Hazel Ann Baguisa Morales, 30, were now being investigated for alleged murder.
“We will see in [the] next few weeks what will be the final charges to be filed against them. The embassy is in touch with the authorities. We are ready to continue providing assistance,” the DFA official told Rappler.
Japan Today reported warrants of arrest were served against the two on Friday, March 1. De Vega said the alleged murder was a separate case from the earlier accusations against the two.
The two Filipinos made headlines after they were arrested in late January after they were accused of allegedly abandoning the corpses of a Japanese couple who had gone missing. The corpses of Norihiro Takahashi, 55, and his wife Kimie, 52, were discovered with stab wounds inside their home.
Dela Cruz and Morales were arrested almost a week apart. While Morales denied all her involvement in the alleged crime, Japanese police reported that Dela Cruz “admitted to the allegations” or abandoning the bodies.
Japanese media reported that Morales was in a relationship with the victims’ son. Japan Today reported that Morales and Dela Cruz “likely knew each other” while in the Philippines.
Under Japan’s Penal Code, which punishes criminal offenses, a person who “damages, abandons or unlawfully possesses a corpse, the ashes, or hair of a dead person, or an object placed in a coffin” could be imprisoned for a maximum of three years if found guilty. – with reports from Bea Cupin/Rappler.com
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SC disbars ex-Customs official over ‘fake’ sale of seized vehicle
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Jairo Bolledo
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02/03/2024 17:47
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HIGH COURT. File photo of the Supreme Court in Padre Faura, Manila, taken on December 5, 2023.
Angie de Silva/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) moved to disbar a former official of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) after he was found to have used his influence “in an elaborate scheme of pretending to sell a vehicle confiscated by the Bureau.”
In a decision published this week, the SC said it had disbarred lawyer Jorge Monroy after he was found guilty of violating canon II, sections 1, 2, and 28 of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability – the new code of conduct governing lawyers. The High Court said Monroy “falsely represented” that his position as Director III in the BOC’s financial services unit had the power to sell vehicles confiscated by the bureau.
Disbarment means Monroy can no longer practice law and his name will be removed from the Roll of Attorneys. He was also ordered to pay a P20,000 fine for disobeying the orders of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to respond to the allegations against him in the disbarment case.
The High Court said being a lawyer is a privilege with continuing requirements. If a lawyer cannot sustain the high degree of moral character expected from members of the Bar, the High Court has the power to suspend or withdraw such privilege.
In explaining why Monroy was found guilty, the SC said the BOC official had the transaction inside his office and even used his staff to gain the complainant’s trust. The SC added that the totality of evidence proved that Monroy failed to maintain the high moral standards of lawyers.
“The Court held that Monroy’s blatant violation of the law, as shown by his conviction by the Sandiganbayan, his lack of remorse when complainant repeatedly begged him to return her money, and his futile attempt to use an unknown employee of the BOC as a scapegoat all demonstrate his unfitness to continue in the practice of law,” the SC said.
Almost 24 years ago, in July 2000, Monroy asked Julieta Co, the complainant, to buy a seized Toyota Land Cruiser for P1.4 million. The BOC official said the transaction was legal and that receipts would be issued, so Co trusted Monroy because he was also Co’s family friend.
On July 18 of the same year, Co gave Monroy a check amounting to P150,000. After three days, Monroy said the vehicle was ready for delivery. Later, the complainant prepared a check amounting to P1,250,000 to pay the remaining balance, but the lawyer insisted on receiving the payment in cash. Monroy received the money in his office.
In different occasions, Monroy stalled the delivery of the vehicle and even made an excuse that a person from the Department of Finance has yet to sign the documents before the vehicle could be released. When the complainant returned to Monroy’s office after some time, the then-Customs official said the vehicle could no longer be released to Co because someone allegedly ran off with the money.
Monroy promised to return the money. As Co kept on demanding for her money, the former Customs official kept on avoiding her. This pushed the complainant to file disbarment and criminal complaints against the official.
Co filed two criminal complaints against Monroy: one for violation of section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and another for estafa under the Revised Penal Code. Later on, the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan found Monroy guilty of both criminal charges.
Despite the presence of a warrant of arrest, Monroy remained at large, the SC said. – Rappler.com
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This news made me both happy and angry. Firstly, it made me happy because punishment has been meted out against someone unfit to continue being a lawyer. Secondly, it made me angry because of the duration of the case’s resolution (24 years?). In addition, while a BOC Customs Lawyer was disbarred because of such a “fake sale,” yet nobody looked into the behavior of a former President who is also a lawyer—for example, his death threats, his call for Mindanao’s secession, hiring of a Chinese citizen as Presidential adviser, etc. Because of this, it seems unfair to the disbarred BOC official – just because he was not the President of our country.
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Sotto, Ramos crash back to earth as B. League teams suffer blowout losses
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Jasmine Payo
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02/03/2024 21:45
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TEAMWORK. Kai Sotto (center) with his Yokohama teammates in the Japan B. League.
Japan B. League
MANILA, Philippines – After helping Gilas Pilipinas go 2-0 in the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, Kai Sotto and Dwight Ramos were sent crashing back to earth as their respective teams suffered blowout losses in the return of Japan B. League action on Saturday, March 2.
Over at the Kawasaki Todoroki Arena, Sotto scored in double figures for the Yokohama B-Corsairs, but his output wasn’t enough as they absorbed an 83-67 defeat at the hands of the Kawasaki Brave Thunders.
The 7-foot-3 Filipino big man shot 5-of-8 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line to finish with 14 points, together with 8 rebounds in 22 minutes and 10 seconds of play.
Sotto is coming off back-to-back double-double performances for Gilas Pilipinas, putting up 13 points and 15 rebounds against Hong Kong last February 22, followed by an 18-point and 10-rebound showing versus Chinese Taipei last February 25.
Prior to the B. League’s three-week FIBA break, Sotto played the finest game of his young professional career as he exploded for 26 points and 11 rebounds in Yokohama’s 90-85 win over the Chiba Jets.
With the loss to Kawasaki, Sotto and the B-Corsairs dropped their record to 17-23.
Elsewhere, the Saga Ballooners handed Ramos and the Levanga Hokkaido an 81-52 beating at the Hokkai Kita-yale.
Ramos, who averaged 10.5 points in his two outings with Gilas Pilipinas, came up with 8 points on 3-of-8 shooting, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block in the lopsided defeat.
Hokkaido fell to its fourth straight loss and slipped further to 12-28 in the standings.
Like Sotto’s Yokohama and Ramos’ Hokkaido, RJ Abarrientos’ Shinshu Brave Warriors (6-34), Thirdy Ravena’s San-En NeoPhoenix (34-6), and Matthew Wright’s Kyoto Hannaryz (12-28) all dropped their assignments on Saturday.
Abarrientos sizzled for a team-high 20 points on 6-of-12 clip from beyond the arc, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 3 steals in Shinshu’s 94-83 loss to the Fighting Eagles Nagoya at the Nagoya Biwajima Sports Center.
Meanwhile, Ravena registered 14 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block in San-En’s 107-88 defeat to the defending champion Ryukyu Golden Kings at the Toyohashi City Gymnasium.
Finally, Wright was held to just 5 markers on 1-of-5 shooting, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist as the Kyoto Hannaryz bowed to the Sendai 89ers, 85-72, at the Xebio Arena Sendai.
Ray Parks was the lone Filipino import in Division 1 to pick up a victory on Saturday as his Nagoya Diamond Dolphins (27-13) defeated the Akita Northern Happinets, 72-63, at the Dolphins Arena.
Parks tallied 8 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals in the win. – 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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LOOK: ‘House of Paintings’ in Negros Occidental seen as creative tourism booster
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Mia Gonzalez
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02/03/2024 14:47
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ARTISTS AT WORK. Budding artists work on a mural outside the House of Paintings of the Cadiz City government.
Cadiz City Government
BACOLOD, Philippines – A new art hub in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, is being hailed by tourism officials as a “creative tourism” booster in the province.
Jennylind Cordero, Department of Tourism-Western Visayas chief tourism operations officer, said on Saturday, March 2, lauded the newly-opened art hub dubbed as “House of Paintings” in Cadiz City , 55.7 kilometers north from Bacolod.
“Definitely, this is a boost to DOT’s newest thrust: ‘creative tourism,'” Cordero said.
She described creative tourism as the “spur plug” for a new era in travel, and that the concept dwells on the artistic creations of Filipino artists and their societal impact.
Cordero said Cadiz’s “House of Paintings” is expected to create a multiplier effect that will help transform the community from being famours for dried fish into the next flourishing “tourism haven” in Western Visayas.
The new art hub, which is home to 70 city-owned paintings, was officially opened to the public on February 19, in line with the observance of Arts Month.
Write Ver Pacete, one of the tourism gurus in Negros, commended Cadiz Mayor Salvador “Bading” Escalante, Jr. for coming up with the noble idea of establishing a permanent home for noteworthy art pieces courtesy of artists not only in Cadiz but in Negros Island.
Escalante said that the “House of Paintings” was set up just “by chance.”
The art hub is located in the compound of the Philippine Normal University-Visayas (PNU-V) in Barangay Zone 1, Cadiz, in what used to be the old and dilapidated former headquarters of the Boy Scout of the Philippines (BSP).
When the city government was looking for an alternative event venue, the former BSP headquarters was accidentally spotted, Escalante recalled. He said a study was conducted on repurposing the structure and later on the project proposal was submitted.
The city government spent P5 million for a three-phase renovation completed in five years.
During a walk-through inspection of the building prior to its opening on February 19, the mayor said he found the space “too bare” and he brought some of the paintings from the new city hall.
Not contented, the mayor ordered the immediate migration of more paintings from the city’s stock room until they there were 70 art works housed in the newly-renovated BSP headquarters.
During the opening in February visitors were amazed to see so many beautiful paintings adorning the hall, leading instant baptism of the building as the “House Paintings.”
Pacete said Escalante, through the new art hub, “reawakened” Negros’ passion for the arts. – Rappler.com
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Puerto Princesa authorities to strictly implement 3-month closed season for reef fish in city
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Mia Gonzalez
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02/03/2024 13:22
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FISHERMEN. File photo shows fishermen at Sabang, Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Daibo Taku/Wikimedia Commons
PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines – Ahead of the start of the closed season for three types of reef fish in Puerto Princesa, local authorities reiterated the importance of the policy that would be in place for three months beginning March 1: to help boost the fish population while studying the efficacy of the measure.
The rule covers the sought-after red grouper locally known as “suno,” estuarine or green grouper (loba), and tiger or brown marbled grouper (lapung baboy). These reef fish are considered luxury food items and find their way in big restaurants in the country. But most of the reef fish caught in the Philippines are shipped to Hong Kong, China, and other Asian destinations.
The three fish species are regulated under Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) Administrative Order No. 5. The directive aims to address dwindling reef fish stocks by imposing size restrictions and seasonal control on the fish species. It was adopted to alleviate Palawan’s diminishing catch of the three reef fish species.
The PCSD was established in 1992 under Republic Act 7611 or the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan Act. The SEP law provides the framework on the conservation and development planning and policy formulation designed for Palawan to ensure that its fragile environment is protected, conserved, and utilized and managed effectively.
PCSO AO 5 provides a system that will ensure the sustainability of the reef-fish-for-food industry in Palawan by setting up a comprehensive regulatory mechanism consistent with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. The policy also aims to regulate the catching, trade, transport and export of these reef-fish-for-food and regulate resource extraction to a sustainable level.
Catching and shipping live reef fish is banned from March 1 to May 31 every year in Palawan. But since fisherfolk petitioned for the lifting of the closed fishing season, the provincial government of Palawan lifted the closed fishing season in 23 component municipalities, except for Puerto Princesa.
Trading live reef fish is one of the lucrative industries in Palawan, being an island province consisting of a thousand other islands and islets. Live reef fish traders in Palawan like Sabino Camacho earn P2,500 ($44.6) for every kilo of suno. In a year, they can potentially earn P2.6 million ($46,407).
Live fish traders in Palawan ship their live catch to Manila before they are exported to Hong Kong and China, with exceptions in Puerto Princesa where there is an existing prohibition for trading and shipment of live reef fish.
Fisherfolk opposed the closed fishing season implementation. Fish trader Camacho and other fish traders and fisherfolk trooped to the Puerto Princesa City Hall and raised their concerns to the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s committee on food, agriculture and fisheries chaired by Councilor Elgin Robert Damasco.
Camacho claimed that the closed fishing season would affect their livelihood.
During the meeting, PCSD Project Development Officer IV Ma. Christina Rodriquez defended the move, emphasizing the importance of the closed fishing season to protect reef fish species and for them and other government agencies and institutions to gather data and conduct studies during the period. The study will determine if closed seasons are effective in increasing fish population.
On February 29, a day before the start of the closed fishing season, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO) headed by Carlo Gomez affirmed their office’s stand, consistent with the objectives and intentions of the closed season that the concerned fish species, whether live or lifeless, should be totally banned from entering Puerto Princesa City.
“Transportation of live and dead fish from other municipalities outside of Puerto Princesa City is also covered and provides a window for circumvention of the adopted policy and will possibly defeat the purpose, especially by those unscrupulous individuals,” he explained.
“The implementation of the policy should not provide an exemption that will undermine the objective of the policy,” said Gomez. – Rappler.com
Gerardo C. Reyes Jr. is a community journalist at Palawan Daily News and is an Aries Rufo journalism fellow of Rappler for 2023-2024.
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