title
stringlengths 2
242
⌀ | author
stringclasses 430
values | publication_date
stringlengths 5
253
⌀ | content
stringlengths 1
31.8k
⌀ | news_source
stringclasses 23
values | link
stringlengths 6
766
⌀ | classification
stringclasses 8
values |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[DOCUMENTARY] Biking 120 kilometers in Metro Manila
|
Iya Gozum
|
09/03/2024 20:01
|
MANILA, Philippines – Commuting in Metro Manila is a daily struggle.
Since the pandemic, more people have turned to biking to get around. As a response, the government put up bike lanes across the metro. To find out how bike-friendly Metro Manila is, Rappler rode a loop of 120 kilometers around the capital in January for a documentary. Riding 100 kilometers or more is part of the bucket list of many bikers due to its sheer distance and the challenge it poses.
The loop covered Pasig, Marikina, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Malabon, Caloocan, Manila, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, and Taguig.
To assess bike-friendliness, Rappler drew up criteria evaluating the bike lanes using four factors: lane width, road conditions, obstructions, and segregation.
These are factors that affect a biker’s safety on the road, also take into account the infrastructure the government put in place, and gauge the attitude of other motorists with respect to the lane and the bike commuter.
Only portions of the major roads covered in the loop were measured in the scorecard.
But how safe is Metro Manila for bikers? Rappler’s Iya Gozum biked a 120-kilometer loop in Metro Manila to find out. – Rappler.com
Reporter/writer: Iya GozumProducer/field director: Nina LiuSupervising producer: Beth FrondosoVideo editor: JP San PedroEnvironment editor: Jee GeronimoAnimator: David CastucianoGraphic artists: Raffy de Guzman, Marian Hukom, Nico VillareteDirector of photography: Jeff DigmaSecond camera operator: Errol AlmarioAssistant cameramen: Danny Espina, Ramil Cedeno
Improving active transportation facilities and policies is part of the call of various groups to #MakeManilaLiveable. On Rappler, we have created a dedicated space for stories and reports about liveability in Philippine cities. Learn more about the movement here.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/podcasts-videos/biking-120-kilometers-metro-manila/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1fycWZKh1bumWKyJsR04MCOhZd5vUO02rifThHg4-IitZNBIA4NIygDIo_aem_N8-WEgIISKQbO5kiP-kcLA
|
1
|
LIST: Alternative routes due to EDSA-Kamuning flyover closure starting May 1
|
Miriam Grace Go
|
22/04/2024 19:33
|
FLYOVER. Southbound portion of the EDSA-Kamuning flyover.
Department of Public Works and Highways' Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Monday, April 22, the rerouting scheme that will take effect on May 1 when the southbound lane of the EDSA-Kamuning flyover in Quezon City partially closes.
The MMDA said the partial closure, to give way to the by-phase retrofitting of the structure, will last until October 25.
The schedule it gave didn’t match the earlier announcement by the Department of Public Works and Highways, which said on April 5 that the partial closure of the southbound lane would start on Thursday, April 25, and would likely last for 11 months or until March 2025.
The government is retrofitting the EDSA-Kamuning flyover to strengthen it in case of powerful earthquakes.
“Even though the flyover will be partially closed during the rehabilitation, it will still be passable to public utility buses on the EDSA bus carousel,” MMDA Acting Chairman Don Artes said in a press conference on Monday.
“Although the southbound lane of the Kamuning flyover will not be entirely closed, we are advising the motorists, especially private vehicles, to use the Mabuhay Lanes as alternate routes,” he said.
The MMDA said it would look into the possibility of allowing emergency vehicles to use the busway in the flyover.
Below are the alternative routes that private vehicles can take when the partial closure is implemented. Rappler organized the MMDA list to identify five routes:
Route 1
Route 2
Route 3
Route 4
Route 5
– Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/metro-manila/list-alternative-routes-edsa-kamuning-flyover-closure-starting-may-1-2024/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2oeovpMrV0z1qRA57XOloFK8Rs-_S8JozQZ2BAz9rG5NVMJpRJxGi297I_aem_ymdKLM8HG-Jsuwc1KaqRXw
|
1
|
Quiboloy on the run, but cash keeps coming as gifts for his 74th birthday
|
Herbie G
|
25/04/2024 8:00
|
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Former followers of fugitive preacher Apollo Quiboloy, along with an American aiding victims of alleged abuses within the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) in the United States, claim that the group’s fundraising efforts have continued unabated in the Philippines and across continents, with solicitors brazenly ignoring and circumventing legal restrictions on financial misconduct.
They said KOJC workers raised funds as gifts for Quiboloy, whom they regard as the “appointed son of God,” in time for his 74th birthday. The doomsday preacher marks his birthday on Thursday, April 25, for the first time as a fugitive.
The controversies surrounding Quiboloy show a sobering reality about years of unchecked power, serving as yet another indictment of an insatiable appetite for influence and wealth and the complex power dynamics inherent in the realm of religion.
Quiboloy’s previous birthday celebrations, particularly in Tamayong, Davao City, were marked by opulence and grandiosity. The annual event was often compared to a Disneyland spectacle, featuring elaborate floats, parades, carnival booths, and performances, attracting thousands of attendees, including prominent political figures.
In 2023, among those who attended his birthday party at the KOJC compound in Davao City were his close friend, ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, senators Christopher Lawrence Go, Robinhood Padilla, Ronald dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino, and Mark Villar.
Others guests were Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, former national security adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, former presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, and Greco Belgica, who headed the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) during the Duterte administration.
Despite Quiboloy’s fugitive status and KOJC’s legal troubles, the fundraising activities have remained “relentless,” said Kentucky-based former KOJC worker Faith Killion. She said the practice has become part of a “default mentality” in the group.
“For years, it’s been ingrained in everyone’s minds that whenever it’s his birthday, everyone pitches in because there’s a quota to meet,” Killion told Rappler on Tuesday, April 23.
She said Quiboloy’s group had passed it off as charity for the poor.
This year’s birthday celebration has been toned down, understandably, due to the preacher’s fugitive status. But Killion pointed out that Quiboloy’s birthday, year after year, has become a KOJC tradition and an opportunity for extensive fundraising, “squeezing the life out of members.”
Reynita Fernandez, a former fundraiser for the Quiboloy group, told Rappler that KOJC’s street-level solicitations were ongoing in Singapore, masquerading as charitable endeavors.
Now Singapore-based, Fernandez was among those who testified against Quiboloy’s group during one of the hearings of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality. She testified that KOJC workers were coerced into meeting fundraising quotas, with pressure exerted on individuals to contribute financially to the festivities.
In addition to the US and Singapore, the group’s fundraising operations persist in several other countries. Notable among them are Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Brazil, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates, according to former KOJC workers.
In the KOJC, Quiboloy’s birthday stands as the annual pinnacle event. Months of meticulous preparation precede the April 25 occasion, a day when the gates of the KOJC compound swing open to the public.
Previously, food was abundant all day, but mostly for the children, guests, and the closest of Quiboloy’s church associates and aides.
According to former workers, the preacher’s birthday, as they know it, transcended mere celebration. Before he was declared a fugitive in his own country, it was an extravaganza where members from different places flocked to Davao City for nearly a month of activities.
About a decade ago, they said, Quiboloy turned his birthday into a grand Disneyland-like affair, with his so-called “pastorals,” especially Ukrainian women, often leading the parades.
The KOJC pastorals hold a special place as some of Quiboloy’s closest female aides. They do special tasks and errands for him, seeing these duties as both privileges and acts of service to God.
April 25 became KOJC’s magnet for VIPs. During election years, the attendance swelled with politicians seeking favor. Almost always, Rodrigo Duterte graced the KOJC festivities, they said.
The grandeur didn’t end at the KOJC compound gates; it transcended borders through the group’s media arm – television, radio, and internet platforms – which painted Quiboloy’s birthday as an epitome of extravagance. Simultaneously, KOJC groups overseas held synchronized celebrations.
Amid the festivities and aside from Quiboloy, the youth, particularly children, took center stage, showcasing their talents and performances.
Former members said the previous celebrations, purportedly dedicated to children, were funded through extensive fundraising efforts conducted year-round in the Philippines and overseas.
Stephen Wood, an American assisting former KOJC workers and who spoke before a Senate committee at the start of its investigation into the religious group’s activities in January, said he was aware of ongoing fundraising efforts by Quiboloy’s followers in Tennessee.
In 2022, the US government imposed restrictions on Quiboloy, including freezing properties and interests in the US belonging to him or held by US citizens. There, giving or receiving money, goods, or services to or from Quiboloy has been prohibited.
Two years before he went into hiding in the Philippines, Quiboloy was already placed on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) list of the most wanted after he was indicted by a federal grand jury in California for sexual abuse, human trafficking, and money laundering, among others. This year, he was ordered arrested by regional courts in Davao and Pasig cities for sexual abuse of a minor, child abuse, and human trafficking.
Despite the freeze order against Quiboloy in the US, Wood said the preacher’s group found ways to circumvent the prohibition, one of which is by sending funds to their family members in the Philippines who are also KOJC members. These family members, in turn, remit the money to the religious group.
“They are continuing here. I can only speak [about] my experience in Nashville, Tennessee, but if it’s happening in Nashville, it’s happening all over the country. They send their money to their families in the Philippines. That’s how he’s getting around it,” Wood told Rappler on Wednesday, April 24.
He said the KOJC fundraisers in the US were also using online payment and remittance platforms like PayPal and Remitly.
“There’s no way the US can stop that money,” Wood said.
The former workers’ narratives point to a pattern of financial exploitation, with funds collected under the guise of charitable initiatives ultimately being diverted for personal gain.
They also claimed that KOJC workers were subjected to psychological coercion and disciplinary measures, including forced prayer and fasting, physical punishment, and psychological manipulation in connection with the fundraising efforts.
Another former KOJC worker recounted how he was punished for his failure to meet the fundraising quota imposed on him.
“We were forced to account for every centavo. I was sent to a mountain in Davao for prayer and fasting for a month. Then, I was hit on the head many times by microphones and books. I was ‘disciplined’ multiple times. The psychological torture was beyond belief,” the former KOJC worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, recounted.
He added, “Although they won’t have a celebration like before, their expenses are mounting, and their need for money is ever-growing.” – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
Let no stone go unturned in finding this predator and bringing him to justice.
The capacity for idiocy in a large chunk of people is remarkable. Disneyland Jesus Quibus must be one of the biggest frauds in the Philippine history. Aided by a group of trapos and power hungry thugs centered around the Big Bad Bear from Dabao himself. What a shame.
I appreciate the creativity of the illustrator of the drawing used in Sir Herbie Gomez’s article. It shows how powerful Pastor Quiboloy is. Just by praying, the Appointed Son of God can bring a rain of money. Unfortunately, all that money goes to him alone.
Two people are happy today. The first one continues receiving gifts from his exploited and brainwashed religious followers, and the second one is going to receive a “secret” gift from the first one. That “secret” gift is believed to be greater than what he will receive from his retirement.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/mindanao/apollo-quiboloy-birthday-cash-keeps-coming-gifts-april-25-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1wXJYz1RwA2whUjlbackStTtCR1YTyO_ViR9tGhovjG8QkJ26p2LOApa0_aem_7zw6dBSPfd6yudEr2e1Rlg
|
1
|
How this film festival is supporting the ‘#NoToJeepneyPhaseout’ campaign
|
jreyes0314
|
26/04/2024 18:45
|
MANILA, Philippines – Like millions of Filipinos around the country, Jetri Bolintiam’s life relied heavily on public transportation – both the infrastructure and the people who make a living out of transporting others. So when the transport strike was announced, he took it as an opportunity to understand what was happening.
Volunteering for independent media and research collective Mayday Multimedia, Jetri’s short stint of documenting the transport strike in 2023 with the jeepney drivers became a deep dive into the conditions that forced them to be on the streets, sacrificing their wages to protest the inhumane conditions of the jeepney modernization program and placing the burden of “modernization” on the already financially cornered drivers.
Recording only with a phone and a tripod, Bolintiam “spent months interviewing drivers and their families; experiencing firsthand how the people behind the movement expressed themselves and educated others through their own experiences.”
Spectatorship was no longer sufficient. Something else had to be done. Bolintiam reached out to his friend, film critic and filmmaker Red Sales, and the other administrators Kinoise PH – a close-knit group of film enthusiasts and progressives who initially met in a Facebook group of the same name – to figure out possible solutions.
“After talking to Tanggol Pasada Network, they needed funds for their jeepney drivers who were going on strike. If they are on strike, they are actively choosing an activity aside from work. That act of resistance must be supplemented by the community and we’re doing our part by doing a fundraiser-centric approach for this first leg,” Bolintiam explained.
In the two to three months since their first conversation, the group was able to organize Sinepasada, a community film festival and flea market that hopes to raise funds for the No Jeepney Phaseout Campaign.
The decision to hold screenings was partly motivated by the group’s own proclivities but was rooted in a two-pronged realization: that documentation was already crucial to the survival and persistence of labor movements, but that screenings also enabled this education through film to be grounded, attracting audiences regardless of age and literacy levels.
“The image has so much power in transporting, [in making us examine] how we should feel about what’s happening in society around us. It has a certain joy but it doesn’t fall off the relevant cliff of what’s actually happening with the people on the ground,” said Sales.
Taking inspiration from advocacy and community-driven festivals such as Cine Maralita, Sinepasada, in the words of Bolintiam, was “a celebration of a labor movement, the transport strikes, on film and the people behind it; a film festival centered around a community of real people behind movements like this and how conversations open up around their films.”
The Diliman area was ideal for attracting not only the student population and the art market, but also the communities on the ground – activists who stick it out at Mendiola and rallygoers who were both the subject of the films to be screened and of the legislation slowly pushing their livelihoods to the peripheries. But when options inside UP Diliman were exhausted, Bolintiam found Maginhawa to be the next best place.
“When we were doing the ocular, there were three different PD/labor mass org events happening within one block,” said Bolintiam.
It was a sign. Both Bolintiam and Sales decided early on that it was a non-negotiable to make the event free of charge.
“We didn’t consider screening at cinematheques. It had to be something closer to the streets,” Sales added.
Beyond the financial advantage of a non-theatrical setup, the outdoor alternative film space enabled the removal of any supposed hierarchies that hinder discussions and community interactions.
“We wanted every donation to count towards the fundraiser [for the No Jeepney Phaseout Campaign],” Bolintiam declared.
The films initially programmed were more experimental and included works by Bolintiam, Sales, and other admins from Kinoise PH, partly to reduce cost. But as the program developed through conversations with community organizers and filmmakers, Bolintiam expanded the selection, in part thanks to the help of film critic and educator Epoy Deyto, who would later serve as the moderator of the festival’s forums.
“I realized that it would be a little narrow to be in that mindset,” Bolintiam admitted.
The updated program includes documentaries such as Gabo Pancho’s Tatay Elmer, James Magnaye’s Baon sa Biyahe, and Jayson Santos’ Para sa Pasada, all of which give a face, body, and weight to the movement by centering stories around older jeepney drivers who have become more involved in the labor organizing, chronicling their day-to-day resistance against the car-centric culture and legislation of the Philippines.
It parallels these with Yugantar’s 1982 proletariat masterpiece Tobacco Embers, which peers into the dehumanizing conditions in Indian tobacco factories and depicts the intersections of both leftist labor movements and women’s liberation movements. The screening was made possible by a partnership with Yugantar Film Collective and Arsenal Berlin.
Taking it a step further, Sinepasada has created opportunities for the community to not only engage with the filmmakers who created these films but also with the subjects of the camera’s gaze, in part as an acknowledgement of the limits of the screen arts as a political vehicle and concession of its existence as mere starting point of discussion.
“[The subjects of the documentaries] have a lot to say and share about their experiences beyond what can be put onto screen. But still, [filmmaking is] such an effective way to share those feelings and experiences to anyone. Because anyone can watch a short documentary and feel sympathy and empathy,” Sales said.
Most notably, the festival closes with National Artist Kidlat Tahimik’s Mababangong Bangungot (Perfumed Nightmare). Released in 1977, Mababangong Bangungot is widely considered a masterpiece in Filipino cinema, demonstrating through a combination of humor and docufiction how the jeepney, in the words of American literary critic Fredric Jameson, “crosses back and forth between the First and the Third World.”
“It was our white whale and a dream scenario for us. We wanted something that could draw an audience without betraying the event. Something ideologically and thematically aligned that could be a fun watch without making light of any of the issues. There’s not really any other film that could fit the mold,” Sales explained.
Sales had met Kidlat four years ago and had emailed but hadn’t received a response. So when he tried again, he didn’t expect a reply. Surprisingly, a notification popped up from the National Artist.
“It was such as long email,” shared Sales, who relayed that Kidlat opened the email by saying he was “kilig to the bones” (over the moon) at the request, later sharing that the first vehicle he learned to drive was a Sarao jeepney and how he documented the factory of Sarao jeepneys in Mababangong Bangungot.
“He showed a lot of passion for fighting against the jeepney phaseout and called it a ‘cultural genocide’. He really took pride in saying he was the most famous jeepney driver in the world because of Mababangong Bangungot,” Sales said.While Kidlat couldn’t go to the event, he showed solidarity with the movement by granting free use of his film.
Film festivals around the world have become elite spaces that struggle to respond to the politics of the times. Under the stranglehold of its many stakeholders of competing political and financial interests, prestigious international film festivals such as the Berlinale, Sundance, and IDFA have failed to respond to the genocide of Palestinians, buckling under the weight of expectation despite their claims to be spaces for nuanced political and artistic discussion.
How then can cinema be more than mere distraction from the atrocities happening around us? Sinepasada, in its modest scale but deep political ambition and anchorage, shows us the way by springing from the grassroots movements, creating spaces that do not have a cost to entry, and attracting an audience not only with quality films but also a clear political challenge to take on; using cinema as a means of unlocking the political imagination.
While Bolintiam and Sales are unsure about calling Sinepasada a “template” for community-driven film festivals (especially ones that can be organized by the youth), they are already in talks with other labor organizations and communities around the country for additional screenings; ones closer to the movement, conducted through makeshift cinema setups to build morale at rallies and strikes.
“Hopefully when it travels, it takes on the identity of the community that holds it. I can imagine Sinepasadas that are education-centric in communities where the jeepney phaseout coverage doesn’t quite capture the depth and breadth of the issue. Community organizers could even program films for children or those who don’t have formal education,” Bolintiam said.
“It’s a beautiful thing because I could’ve never done this without community,” shared Bolintiam who, along with Sales, is making the final preparations for Saturday.
The initial partnerships have expanded to other organizations such as SIKAD and Rural Women Advocates (RUWA), creating a more intersectional movement. “It’s the people I met along the way that helped me build a community film screening with an educational arm and a mass-centered leaning. Meeting people came first, but it’s what gave me the ambition to carry it out with their help.” – Rappler.com
Sinepasada will be held on April 27 from 8 am to 10 pm at 92 Maginhawa Street, Quezon City. Entrance is free. The film screenings will begin at 4 pm. For more details, click here. To donate through Sinepasada, click here. To donate directly to the Tanggol Pasada Network, click here for details.
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/movies/sinepasada-film-festival-supporting-no-jeepney-phaseout-campaign/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1vb0rFfVwD39WvuGQO72MB0MWVVH3ZlRSKQyi4x3Ft1Kh_r3cVBPc2HiU_aem_RLm43pGDNSwZHFZiI1WvPg
|
1
|
Filipino fencers get one last crack at Paris Olympics
|
delfin.dioquino editor
|
10/04/2024 22:22
|
STALWART. Noelito Jose of the Philippine fencing team.
Noelito Jose Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – It has been over three decades since a fencer represented the Philippines in the Olympics.
Noelito Jose and the national fencing team hope to end that prolonged drought as they compete in the Asia-Oceania Zonal Qualifying Tournament set to run in Dubai from April 27 to 28 for one last crack at the Paris Olympics.
Together with Jose (men’s epee), Samantha Catantan (women’s foil), Nathaniel Perez (men’s foil) and Hanniel Abella (women’s epee) seek to clinch the lone Olympic berth up for grabs in their respective categories in Dubai.
“It will not be easy but it is not impossible,” said Jose in Filipino on Wednesday, April 10. “We’ve prepared well for this competition.”
The four have been hard at work as they look to follow in the footsteps of Walter Torres, the last Filipino fencer to reach the Olympics when he took part in the 1992 Barcelona Games.
Former national team standout Maxine Esteban already punched her ticket to Paris, but she is now representing African nation Ivory Coast.
Jose and Abella are currently in South Korea for training, while Catantan gears up in the United States after recently wrapping up her campaign in the NCAA Fencing Championships, where she finished 10th for Penn State University.
Perez also saw action in the United States in a Grand Prix last March.
As the four fine-tune their skills with the remaining time they have left before the Olympics, Jose said being in the right frame of mind will also determine their fate.
“It is not just about what you can do physically. Your attitude during the competition will create a huge impact,” Jose said.
Qualifying for the Olympics is the only feat Jose has yet to tick off his bucket list as he already achieved his other goals.
Once only dreaming to be part of the national fencing team, Jose accomplished that and then some as he won medals in the last three Southeast Asian Games, bagging bronze in 2019 and a pair of silvers in 2021 and 2023.
Jose said he is determined to reach Paris before he hangs up his spurs.
“Before I retire – because it is exhausting to train every day, not just physically but also mentally and emotionally – I told myself I want to make the Olympics. Of course, I also want to medal,” said Jose.
“I need to achieve that because you train to become better and to achieve your goals. That is my next goal: to make the Olympics.” – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/filipino-fencers-get-one-last-crack-paris-olympics-april-2024/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2eG4qduUWmyNXG4AzvQ6rj2jgBTBvV0l8WqjS2lTFPt1kTyWJNtzjF1uo_aem_cYJ2bn4p4aLRWGmWwFSc2Q
|
1
|
MPBL suspends Germy Mahinay indefinitely for ‘deplorable act’
|
delfin.dioquino editor
|
24/04/2024 20:02
|
ON BALL. Germy Mahinay in action for the Negros Muscovados in the MPBL.
Negros Muscovados Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) slapped Negros Muscovados big man Germy Mahinay with an indefinite suspension for his “deplorable act” after he undercut an opposing player.
Also set to pay a P100,000 fine, Mahinay caused Zamboanga Master Sardines guard Joey Barcuma to hit his head on the floor in the fourth quarter of Negros’ 88-73 loss on Monday, April 22.
Instead of going for the ball, Mahinay extended his legs and changed the landing trajectory of an airborne Barcuma, who fell head first and needed medical attention.
A post shared by HOOPJUNKIE (@hoopjunkie)
Mahinay got ejected from the game after receiving a flagrant foul penalty 2.
“Negros center Germy Mahinay has been suspended indefinitely for undercutting Joey Barcuma of the Zamboanga Masters Sardines while in the air,” the MPBL said in a statement on Wednesday, April 24.
“This outcome takes into account the dangerous nature of the play, as well as Mahinay’s reaction immediately after the deplorable act.”
Videos of the incident made the rounds on social media and elicited impassioned response from fans and basketball players.
Gilas Pilipinas big man Kai Sotto commented on an Instagram post that Mahinay should be banned.
Zamboanga said Barcuma underwent all necessary medical tests and is now on his way to recovery.
“We will continue with follow-up checkups to ensure his safety for his eventual return to play in our succeeding games,” said Zamboanga in a statement.
Barcuma averaged 6.5 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals through four games of the young MPBL season, which tipped off on April 6. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/germy-mahinay-suspended-indefinitely-mpbl-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0_IFXAOhAz_-ghg40pD5fqyBd1ZvbFytm4stlsenBk-990IHDU_iWe1c4_aem_SMVgs1xhowK5l6y2iyIPww
|
1
|
Marcos downplays Liza-Sara rift, shrugs off calls to sack DepEd chief
|
Dwight de Leon
|
23/04/2024 14:29
|
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is sworn in as the 17th President of the Philippines, at the National Museum of Fine Arts on June 30, 2022. Alecs Ongcal/Rappler
Rappler.com
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, April 23, appeared to douse the fire caused by First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos’ revelation that she is not on good terms with Vice President Sara Duterte.
In an ambush interview in Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday, Marcos also brushed aside suggestions to remove Duterte, the Department of Education (DepEd) secretary, from his Cabinet.
“Any of the Cabinet secretaries will be replaced kapag hindi nila ginagawa ang trabaho nila. All the other things are not part of the discussion. Kapag hindi na kaya, nagkasakit, sabihin mo lang, papalitan ka namin. Kapag hindi talaga marunong o korap, tatanggalin ka talaga namin. Hindi naman ganoon si Inday,” he said.
(Any of the Cabinet secretaries will be replaced if they don’t do their job. All the other things are not part of the discussion. If they are sick or can’t take it any longer, just say so and we will replace you. If you are incapable or corrupt, we will sack you. Inday Sara isn’t any of those.)
The rare tell-all interview with broadcaster Anthony Taberna on Friday, April 19 saw the President’s wife lambast Sara for supposedly laughing when his father – former president Rodrigo Duterte – accused Marcos of being “bangag” or under the influence during a rally against charter change in Davao City in January.
It is unclear if Sara indeed laughed at the joke, as video feeds of the event didn’t cut to her reaction during the controversial moment, but she came out with a video statement on Monday, April 23, saying that the First Lady’s “personal feelings have nothing to do with my mandate as a government official.”
Marcos claimed there is no need to patch things up, believing that the country’s second-in-command understands where his wife is coming from.
“I think that she also understands how the First Lady feels, when you have to sit there and listen to these attacks that are being made against your husband,” Marcos said.
“But mag-uusap kami ni VP Sara tungkol diyan. Huwag niya masyadong dibdibin, hindi naman siya ang mga nagsabi tungkol sa kung anu-ano. Madali naman sigurong plantsahin lahat ng naging isyu,” he added.
(VP Sara and I will talk about that. She shouldn’t let it get to her, since she was not the one who said bad stuff about me. All these issues can easily be ironed out.)
Marcos also said he is a lucky husband for having a protective wife who always comes to his defense, but offered an explanation on why Liza reacted that way.
“Ang First Lady, hindi sanay sa pulitika ‘yan e. Kami, manhid na kami diyan, sa insulto. Siya, hindi siya galing sa political family, kaya siguro she still has to learn, magpalagpas nang kaunti ng ibang masasakit at maaanghang na salita,” he added.
(The First Lady is not used to politics. We have been numb to insults, while she still has to learn to ignore the hurtful accusations because she did not come from a political family.)
The Marcoses and the Dutertes – two major political families in the Philippines – teamed up in the 2022 elections, a partnership that resulted in a landslide election victory both for the dictator’s son and the outgoing president’s daughter.
It was, according to analysts, a “marriage of convenience” that has been difficult to maintain.
The Vice President has a feud with the President’s cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez. The House of Representatives under Romualdez denied Vice President’s confidential funds in the 2024 budget.
The President also once said his government was studying the possibility of rejoining the International Criminal Court, which is investigating Mr. Duterte’s bloody drug war. He had also said, however, that his government will not recognize ICC jurisdication over the Phiippine.
In January, the former president accused Marcos of illegal drug use, a claim that the incumbent chief executive laughed off and attributed to Mr. Duterte’s continued fentanyl use. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
This is a good tactic by President Marcos Jr. He is developing an image of “psychological invincibility” against the tirades of the Duterte political dynasty. This will make the latter complacent until President Marcos Jr. executes his real plan against them. Philippine Presidential theatrics (with PBBM as lead actor) have leveled up.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/marcos-downplays-sara-duterte-liza-rift-shrugs-off-calls-fire-her-deped-april-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0QU1m7a2oaMm01mFo11m1LGqf1BNMZ5rSZnAnNVTRzxS1HvJtOUqxj33U_aem_fPlcrAXkZXVGlDw5q-uxzQ
|
1
|
Doctors in pyramid schemes? DOH reminds medical professionals of ethical code
|
Kaycee
|
23/04/2024 11:28
|
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) emphasized the “unethical” nature of medical professionals accepting gifts and any form of profit from biopharmaceutical companies after doing them certain favors.
On Monday, April 23, the DOH released Department Circular 2024-0141 outlining ethical codes for medical professionals prescribing products to patients. The circular comes after reports of doctors allegedly taking part in a pyramid scheme and profiting off of the medicine they prescribe.
“Medical professionals are expected to uphold professional and ethical standards,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said.
“Societal pressures, financial gains, and administrative exigencies shall not compromise the rights of the patient to quality healthcare services,” he added.
"Societal pressures, financial gains, and administrative exigencies shall not compromise the rights of the patient to quality healthcare service," DOH Department Circular No. 2024-0141 reads. pic.twitter.com/mGnDwa9V18
Over the weekend, Philippine STAR columnist Alex Magno wrote about a pharmaceutical company that allegedly acts like a multi-level marketing company for doctors by doctors. Those at the bottom of the pyramid allegedly receive payment in the form of cash, plane tickets, and luxury vehicles, while those at the top receive a fraction of profits from drug companies they work with.
Magno said the doctors in the scheme also allegedly have their patients pay for more expensive medicine to cover their treatment. On top of this, patients are advised to also take supplements from the same drug company.
Doctors are only allowed to prescribe medicine based on scientific data and pharmaceutical companies are not allowed to engage medical workers to promote their products.
Physicians in the country and all over the world follow several regulations for their professions and a code of ethics is among them.
The DOH also cited Section 7 of Republic Act No. 6713 which does not allow those working under public trust to accept any favors that may influence them in doing their jobs. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
This is an internal conflict of the Code of Ethics versus Money. Which of these two will Doctors choose?
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/doctors-pyramid-scheme-department-health-unethical/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1daFYdydajmRaeYqvj9BM3dwaisyKjUmmtNEdFzVSkFrSv9_xdHf32M6w_aem_fT-jPRk1YhJ3G-yRK4Nk6w
|
1
|
Feeling bookish? What to expect at the Philippine Book Festival in April
|
Steph Arnaldo
|
04/04/2024 15:58
|
Dennis Mendoza
MANILA, Philippine – So many books to read, so little time! Let the book hoarding begin again as the Philippine Book Festival returns for its second year from April 25 to 28 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.
The festival is organized by the National Book Development Board (NBDB), a government agency tasked with advancing the country’s literary industry. They said that the four-day event is meant to “promote a culture of reading and develop the publishing industry in the Philippines.”
“It’s an engaging activation space that brings together large-scale procurers of books and learning materials and the Philippine publishing industry with Philippine creatives at the heart of it,” said NBDB Chairman Dante Francis “Klink” Ang II at a media launch held on Wednesday, April 3.
“We’re going to have more than 160 exhibitors [and] hundreds of [programs] for everyone,” said NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade.
Aquino-Tugade also emphasized the importance of events like these for Filipinos. “The country needs more reading spaces that encourage conversation, creation, and collaboration.”
The event will feature a variety of talks, workshops, and events catered to people of different interests, as well other highlights bookworms can look forward to at the 2024 edition!
Fans of author and historian Ambeth Ocampo can look forward to his book signing session called Ambeth Without the Overcoat. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a book signing and meet-and-greet with author Gwy Saludes in A Day with Gwy Saludes.
Trip to Quiapo will be presented by National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee. You can also look forward to Dahling Nick: A Tribute to National Artist Nick Joaquin.
Festival-goers can also participate in sessions like Comics Can Change the World with Patti Ramos and Zine-making 101 with Bunny Luz.
The festival will feature the Rare Book Collection by the National Library of the Philippines, with new additions for the public to view. The Philippine Book Festival’s Book Bar, a curated collection of award-winning books, will also be available to attendees. The exhibit Guhit Pambata will display works by Filipino children’s book illustrators.
The event also offers attendees the chance to participate through Cosplay Filipiniana for fans who want to cosplay as characters from Filipino literature.
The festival will highlight works divided into their four popular realms: Kid Lit for children, Komiks to showcase our country’s komiks industry, Booktopia for lovers of fiction and non-fiction, and Aral Aklat for textbooks and educational materials.
Attendees can participate in talks, activities, and workshops based on their interests at the Creators Lab, Main Stage, and Kids-at-Play sections.
The Philippine Book Festival is intended to support not only the Philippine literary industry but Filipinos themselves. Ang emphasized the agency’s plans to “improve access for every Filipino reader, democratize distribution, and enable our publishers and authors to keep producing Philippine books.”
The Philippine Book Festival was first held in 2023 from June 2 to 4 at the World Trade Center. It was then brought to SMX Davao City from August 18 to 20.
The four-day festival will be open this year from 8 am to 8 pm, April 25 to 28. Entrance is free of charge. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/literature/what-to-expect-philippine-book-festival-2024/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0a1YdvDFSu860MdcErxJkW7ZkhsQZGUVAD-thTPbJnVaCLt2NKxfaQGHs_aem_kmxXLcmEN-u6Kj9NrMeMWA
|
1
|
At peace: Roma Doromal leaves Ateneo with no regrets after final UAAP game
|
jisaga0269
|
24/04/2024 18:03
|
ONE BIG FINISH. Ateneo spiker Lyann de Guzman (left) and graduating captain Roma Mae Doromal sing the Ateneo hymn in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – Leaving Ateneo with no regrets, Blue Eagles team captain Roma Mae Doromal will now head to the pros armed with lessons in leadership.
Doromal, who had exhausted her eligibility, said after her final game that she had no qualms in extending her collegiate stint for one more year in UAAP Season 86.
Although not making the Final Four for the second straight season, Ateneo ended in the outskirts of the playoff picture, completing their campaign at fifth with a 5-9 record.
“I’m so proud since I saw the progress of my teammates, we were solid as a team from the preseason through the (UAAP) second round, I saw the lessons learned,” said Doromal after the game, a 25-13, 25-17, 25-21 triumph over the Adamson Lady Falcons on Wednesday, April 24, at the Araneta Coliseum.
“I saw how they improved and I’m very proud and thankful that I stayed (for Season 86),” she added.
In her final contest, the team captain had 9 excellent digs, capping off a four-season stint, which included an abridged Season 82 cut off in mid-March 2020 due to the pandemic.
Doromal, sister of former NU standout Roma Joy, shared that it was her dream competing for the Blue Eagles, and graduated with a Communication degree in July 2023.
In her only year as team captain, she remarked that she grew rapidly, especially in terms of leadership.
“That’s why I decided to stay, to find my purpose and staying (with Ateneo), my purpose was to help (my teammates),” told Doromal.
“As a libero, that’s the only thing I could do, I couldn’t rack up points but I was with them all the time, so that was the biggest success for me, I helped them acclimatize to the new system (of coach Sergio Veloso).”
Veloso, also the Philippine men’s national team head coach, praised his wards for stepping up.
“I’m so happy because this is our last match and the team played very well,” said Veloso.
“We cannot progress further, but we maintained our position in fifth place, which is better than last year,” noted the Brazilian head coach.
Lyann de Guzman led all scorers with 14 points as she contemplates returning for next season with two more eligible years, while Sobe Buena chipped in 8 markers.
For Adamson, which ended its season with a 3-11 record, no player exceeded 4 points, and turned emotional following the final singing of their alma mater hymn.
Adamson skipper Lucille Almonte, faced with the problem of a mass exodus of the Season 85 core, ended her collegiate career with a loss.
Libero Karen Verdeflor also concluded her stint in the UAAP.
The Lady Falcons committed 32 errors, as the match ended in a mere 85 minutes. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/women-volleyball-game-results-roma-mae-doromal-ateneo-blue-eagles-adamson-lady-falcons-april-24-2024/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0A7sJvrBB-1LL2g5DRpH4Fi6vyr4YxGdUGet1QNaOVMc_phTvuz9VRmK0_aem_BRhEI0mDt1J2DSS59sxlyg
|
1
|
Dough not miss out! These ‘crookies’ are a croissant and chocolate chip cookie in one
|
Steph Arnaldo
|
23/04/2024 11:36
|
CROOKIE. Croissant meets chocolate chip cookie.
Nono's Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Have you tried Nono’s new Crookies yet? No, no? Make that a “yes, yes” soon, because the local bakeshop’s newest pastry is the sweet and flaky hybrid your croissant-loving sweet tooth may need.
Launched in April, Nono’s new Crookies feature the restaurant’s signature buttery, flaky, and huge croissant, encasing a generous serving of chocolate chip cookie dough – the filling is soft, chewy, chocolatey, and warm.
On top of the croissant is a chocolate chip cookie topping, baked and slightly melted too on top (but a tad firmer). Everything is dusted with powdered sugar on top.
It’s a filling snack, perfect for breakfast, merienda, or a heavy dessert. You’re getting the best of both baked worlds, and even with the indulgent amount of chocolatey goodness all around, it doesn’t come off as overwhelmingly sweet.
Each Crookie costs P195. There are two available variants: Chocolate Chip Crookie and Brownie Cookie.
They’re best enjoyed warm and fresh out of the oven – feel free to toast it in the oven at 180 degrees for 2-3 minutes. For storage, you can keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or in a chiller for 7 days.
Nono’s Crookies are available to order in store at all branches, for takeout, and for delivery via Grab and foodpanda. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/food-drinks/nonos-crookie-croissant-chocolate-chip-cookie/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2jgljNsS2JvJAHtf1ERMscWswITE2UId9mOg3CbUAAJoeKZ5r-iuGqV8g_aem_tXre5F3IQ6DFN0rLRP0e2w
|
1
|
It all started with ‘bangag’: How rift between Liza Marcos, Sara Duterte began
|
Dwight de Leon
|
19/04/2024 10:25
|
RIFT. Vice President Sara Duterte and First Lady Liza Marcos. Photos by Eloisa Lopez and Angie de Silva/Rappler
Photos by Eloisa Lopez and Angie de Silva/Rappler; Graphics by David Castuciano/Rappler
This ongoing telenovela in Philippine politics has a new episode after First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos broke her silence to attack Vice President Sara Duterte in a revealing, no-holds-barred interview with broadcaster Anthony Taberna.
“She crossed the line,” she said in the YouTube video uploaded in the wee hours of Friday, April 19.
The rift began after Sara attended a protest in Davao against charter change in January. In a rally that saw former president Rodrigo Duterte accuse his successor Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of drug use, the First Lady couldn’t take it anymore.
At one point during that rally, Mr. Duterte rambled onstage, saying: “Si Bongbong, bangag ‘yan (Bongbong is high on drugs).”
According to Liza, she saw the Vice President laugh at her father’s jab in one of the video feeds, a response that did not sit well with her. (It is unclear if Sara indeed laughed during that exact moment, as the professional livestream from Rodrigo Duterte’s Facebook page did not pan to the Vice President.)
“You are getting suweldo (salary) from the government, you are supposed to be the alter ego,” Liza said. “That’s not right. That’s entitled politics. You’re in the government. You’re the vice president. Bad shot na ‘yan sa akin (I already have a bone to pick with her), unless she says sorry. She crossed the line.”
“Nasaktan ako, because my husband will do everything to protect you. You ran together, ‘di ba? Sama-sama tayong babangon muli. Pupunta ka sa rally, tatawagan iyong presidente mong bangag, you’re going to laugh. Tama ba ‘yun? Even Leni Robredo never did that,” she added.
(I was hurt, because my husband will do everything to protect you. You ran together, right? Our motto was we would rise together. Then you will attend a rally where your president is being called high. Then you’re going to laugh. Is that right? Even Leni never did that.)
The tensions between the First Lady and the second-in-command are not exactly surprising, as their body gestures in the past months have indicated a rough patch in their relationship.
During the departure ceremony for Marcos’ trip to Vietnam a few days after the Davao rally, Liza and Sara were seen ignoring each other despite being seated next to each other.
The two had also ignored or declined requests for comment on the status of their relationship since January.
The alliance between the Marcos and Duterte families resulted in a landslide victory in the 2022 elections, but maintaining that “marriage of convenience” – as some analysts call it – has been everything but easy.
Sara has feuded with the President’s cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez, whose House of Representatives later denied Sara’s request for P650 million in confidential funds.
President Marcos also once said the government was studying the possibility of rejoining the International Criminal Court, which is investigating Mr. Duterte’s bloody drug war.
The former president accused Marcos of being part of a drug watch list; the incumbent chief executive fired back by saying the old man from Davao was suffering the longterm effects of continued use of fentanyl.
President Marcos has still defended Sara publicly, and shrugged off calls to remove her (she is concurrent education secretary) from his Cabinet.
When asked earlier this week about his relationship with the Duterte family, Mr. Marcos could only describe it like a Facebook status: “It’s complicated.”
– Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/how-rift-between-liza-marcos-sara-duterte-began-rodrigo-bangag-comment-bongbong/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1daFYdydajmRaeYqvj9BM3dwaisyKjUmmtNEdFzVSkFrSv9_xdHf32M6w_aem_fT-jPRk1YhJ3G-yRK4Nk6w
|
1
|
[Rappler’s Best] Patricia Evangelista
|
lfangeles0309
|
22/04/2024 16:43
|
PATRICIA AT RAPPLER. Patricia Evangelista reads excerpts from her book, Some People Need Killing, at the Rappler office on April 19, 2024.
Angie de Silva/Rappler
Patricia Evangelista, Rappler’s former investigative reporter and author of the acclaimed book, Some People Need Killing, was back at her home for seven years on Friday, April 19 – in the jam-packed Rappler newsroom, where she spoke about her book and her writing with activists, lawyers, members of the diplomatic community, and press freedom advocates.
Below are excerpts from my introduction of her during the event:
You can’t imagine our joy in seeing Patricia conquer the world through a book that, in many ways, began in this newsroom – where she told us stories fresh from the battlefield and where she engaged her editors in prolonged and sometimes difficult conversations on story forms, risks, resources, and… beating deadlines.
To many of you, Patricia is a trauma journalist. But she is more than that to us, much more than the unhappy endings that we read in her book. In one corner of the newsroom is where Patricia worked long hours with our production specialists, video editors, and graphic artists to come up with compelling documentaries and video stories.
This was her comfort zone, because Patricia, for many years, was also a TV producer who found joy working behind the cameras. She had a life before Rodrigo Duterte, one that enabled her to shoot and profile the likes of John Lloyd and Angel Locsin, Heart Evangelista, Cherie Gil, Ellen Adarna. Even Ramon Tulfo.
The area in the newsroom which we call the bridge, is where Pat has huddled and collaborated with Rappler reporters and staff. It must be said: she did take one for the team – many times. When Rappler was just starting out (she was our employee No. 6), we would hold roadshows nationwide and drag her to speak before students in Davao, Baguio, the Bicol region, Leyte, Zamboanga City, Laoag City, among others. She inspired many students to join what was then an unknown news site called Rappler.
When our Sales team re-imagined advertising via creative content and video executions, Patricia, the producer, set up fantastic shoots for them. She would come to the aid of reporters who struggled in editing their videos or who faced roadblocks in their investigations. In her book, she refers to Rappler’s desks, where we often found her sleeping under them after her drug war all-nighters. On page 14, you will see this quote, “I could write about the afternoon the editors finally bought a couch after discovering one too many reporters sleeping under desks.”
Patricia also sat down for hours with our tech team for the special executions of her drug war stories and series.
At the other end of the newsroom is the corner of the manangs, Rappler’s founders, where the most intense ideation, discussions, and negotiations took place between her and myself, investigative editor Chay Hofileña, multimedia and video head Beth Frondoso, and Maria Ressa. It’s in that corner where, I’d like to believe, some magical moments happened that have helped shape Some People Need Killing.
What the book does not say but proves is Patricia’s brand of discipline as a journalist and as a writer. Some People Need Killing is a testament to four qualities that, to me, are her legacy that we hope journalists today recognize, and will imbibe.
In a Q&A with her former professor Butch Dalisay at the University of the Philippines, Butch asked Patricia about hope. “My faith is in journalism,” she said. “Not that it will change the world, but it keeps a record of it, so we don’t forget.” Read the full story here. – Rappler.com
Rappler’s Best is a weekly newsletter of our top picks delivered straight to your inbox every Monday.
To subscribe, visit rappler.com/profile and click the Newsletters tab. You need a Rappler account and you must log in to manage your newsletter subscriptions.
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/voices/newsletters/patricia-evangelista/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0QU1m7a2oaMm01mFo11m1LGqf1BNMZ5rSZnAnNVTRzxS1HvJtOUqxj33U_aem_fPlcrAXkZXVGlDw5q-uxzQ
|
1
|
La Niña may happen in 2024. Here are the flood-risk areas in Metro Manila.
|
Chay Hofilena
|
22/04/2024 13:36
|
MARIKINA FLOODING. In this file photo, Marikina Disaster Response team members and residents monitor the water level marker at the Marikina Riverbanks, after it rose to second alarm due to the continuous monsoon rains as Typhoon Egay exits the country, on July 27, 2023.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
The Philippines can expect more storms in the latter half of this year due to La Niña, according to state weather forecasters. For several areas in Metro Manila, a heavy downpour means there will be floods.
In the Philippines’ densest region, analysis of government data showed that barely one in 100 evacuation facilities are permanent shelters. At least 60 in every 100 of Metro Manila’s “evacuation centers” are schools and basketball courts.
Rappler mapped the evacuation centers in the capital region and looked at the facilities’ and people’s exposure to floods. In our months-long investigation, we found that one-fifth of Metro Manila’s land area are high-risk flood zones. Several evacuation centers are built in these areas and there is not enough space for the surrounding community.
According to a disaster resilience expert, the Philippines has made significant strides since strong typhoons battered the country in recent decades. But Metro Manila still has a long way to go.
In the past three decades, nearly 107,000 Filipinos in Metro Manila have been affected by typhoons each year. Among cities in the metro, Marikina City has always been the hardest hit, where nine in 100,000 Metro Manila residents have died from typhoons since 2003.
Flooding is a fact of life in Marikina City. Essentially a catch basin, it lies in the Marikina Valley, bound by the Sierra Madre mountain range to the east and the hills of Quezon City to the west. The Marikina River cuts through the western portion of the city.
The Torres family lived near the Marikina River for as long as they can remember. Arlene, 33, and Reizan, 31, grew up in houses apart from each other when they were young. When they got married, Reizan moved into his wife’s house.
Just like the Torreses, their home has endured tough times. Repeated flooding has stained the wall and left a musty smell inside. From blue and green walls, they have since repainted them to white.
Of all the typhoons she has lived through, Arlene said Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) in 2009 and Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) in 2020 were the ones she could not forget.
“I remember it very well. It was on September 26, [2009],” she said. Within six hours from landfall, Ondoy brought a deluge of rain equivalent to a month’s volume in the country.
Arlene, a high school student at the time, was left stranded at her school due to Ondoy’s downpour. She said the students were asked to go home because the flood had been rising, but they were unable to leave the premises.
“It was my older sister who rushed home. The water was already so high that she had to use a boat to reach our parents. They made a hole in the roof on the second floor of our house to avoid the flood,” Arlene recalled.
“We laid our father on a table to prevent him from getting wet again,” she said. But because of runoffs from the mountains and the trash that blocked access to roads, we could not get anyone to bring him [to the hospital]. He was cold and was coughing up blood. Days later, when we finally arrived at the hospital, he was declared ‘dead on arrival.’”
Ondoy was the deadliest typhoon that Metro Manila had faced in recent decades, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) data showed. At least 464 people were killed due to the onslaught of the typhoon, and more than half of them were from Metro Manila.
For many Filipinos, Ondoy was a turning point. It exposed Metro Manila’s vulnerabilities and lack of preparedness. A year later, lawmakers passed Republic Act No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.
The Torreses are among millions of Filipinos who face the risk of having their homes flooded during typhoons or heavy downpours. According to government data, at least eight in 10 Manileños live in flood zones.
More than a decade since Ondoy, Arlene and Reizan still live in the same house where the latter survived the deadly typhoon.
Having lived through strong storms, the Torreses knew what they had to do when Ulysses made landfall – get all the essential items and documents, prepare for evacuation when the Marikina River reaches 15 meters above sea level, and move their appliances and furniture to the second floor.
Living near the river, Reizan had to regularly monitor the updates on the city government’s social media feeds during Ulysses. He knew that once the river’s water level rose to 15 to 16 meters, his wife and children had to evacuate to his in-laws.
So they did. Arlene and the children went to her sister’s house but Reizan was left at home to guard their belongings. Then, the flood reached the second floor. Reizan said he was fortunate that rescuers went to their area.
“When the water reached the second floor, the refrigerator was knocked over. I lost the will to guard our things. There was no use in staying. I just left,” he recalled.
Ulysses made landfall in the middle of the pandemic, in November 2020, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometer per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 205 kph as it crossed Central Luzon.
During Ulysses, the Marikina River’s water level rose to 22 meters, breaching Ondoy’s record of 21.5 meters. While Ondoy brought more rain than Ulysses, PAGASA noted that it was possible that Sierra Madre was unable to absorb them – three storms had hit the country within three weeks before Ulysses – resulting in a runoff.
According to UN OCHA [United Nations for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs],, over 40,000 houses in Marikina were partially and fully submerged under flood water. All evacuation centers were packed, leaving residents to seek temporary shelter in the homes of their families and friends.
Evacuation centers are supposed to provide refuge from disasters. However, not all evacuation centers in Metro Manila are located in safe areas. They are not enough for everyone.
Analysis of the data from government hazard portal HazardHunterPH showed that one-fifth of Metro Manila’s land area is at high or very high risk of floods.
Among cities in Metro Manila, Navotas will be the most affected when flooding hits. About two-thirds of Navotas’ land area will be submerged by floods, while half of Malabon, Marikina, and Pasig will be swamped with water.
Latest shelter data from OCD and the Department of the Interior and Local Government showed that over 1,300 evacuation centers were listed as evacuation centers in the capital region. Rappler mapped these facilities to see which of them are in high- and very high-risk flood zones.
Areas with a high risk of flooding may be under one to two meters of water for over three days, according to the environment department’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau, one of the government offices involved in the creation of HazardHunterPH. For an average Filipino, this depth is already waist- to chest-deep.
Those with a very high flood risk may face over two meters of flooding. This height is taller than the average Filipino.
According to our analysis, one in five evacuation centers in the metro are built in high-risk areas. Several of them are in Quezon City, Valenzuela, and Pasig.
Aside from the risk, the designated evacuation centers in the metro could not possibly cater to every resident.
Small cities San Juan and Navotas have the lowest evacuation center-to-population ratio in Metro Manila. San Juan has one evacuation center for every 2,200 residents, while Navotas has one for every 5,600 residents.
In the capital Manila, only two evacuation centers were in official government lists for a population of over 1.8 million people. According to OCD, the Delpan and Baseco evacuation centers can fit 3,700 people. (To be concluded) – Rappler.com
NEXT: La Niña: What ought to be done to be better prepared
*$1 = P56.60
All quotes were translated into English.
Vianca Jasmin Anglo is a data analyst pursuing a postgraduate degree in Human Development and Services. She was part of the public health, pandemic management, and response in the Philippines. Her years of experience in social development demonstrate her commitment to human well-being through data analysis.
Reporting for this story was supported by the Environmental Data Journalism Academy – a program of Internews’ Earth Journalism Network and Thibi.
METHODOLOGY
This data story examined the link between evacuation centers and flood risk in Metro Manila. We obtained the latest evacuation center data from the DILG – which appeared incomplete – and supplemented it with 2021 data from the OCD. Capacity information from these lists are incomplete, limiting our analysis to the evacuation center-to-population ratio.
Using spatial software and Google Sheets, spatial analysis was conducted to pinpoint the intersection between evacuation centers and their corresponding flood susceptibility category from HazardHunterPH. For the full description of our methodology, please read it here. Data cleaning and analysis can be accessed here. This story was a result of collaboration between the author, and the data and story mentors from Thibi, Thet Win Htut, and Aika Rey, respectively.
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/la-nina-may-happen-2024-flood-risk-areas-metro-manila/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0gsZvAILgODm2mSqZbKGGNv6tM22Pa1U0r9DlKrf-ZYaopdQzQUzDjAiE_aem_NIFnF5PCkEKI9jF2QNe2kA
|
1
|
On-fire NU not taking twice-to-beat bonus for granted after UAAP 2nd-round sweep
|
jisaga0269
|
24/04/2024 20:41
|
SURPRISE. NU spiker Bella Belen reacts in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – Peaking when it matters.
After stumbling through the first round of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament, the NU Lady Bulldogs breezed through the second with a 7-0 sweep, capped off with a methodical 25-21, 25-19, 25-22 sweep against fellow playoff contender FEU Lady Tamaraws to claim the first semifinal bonus.
“For me, modesty aside, I think we’re having the right timing, we’re just coinciding with the rise in our performance but we must not be complacent,” NU head coach Norman Miguel said after the game.
“We must take care, until we can sustain our great condition, not only in terms of skills, but in terms of peak physical form, that’s what we need to maintain, and we hope to sustain,” he added.
NU saw four of its players score in double figures, led by Alyssa Solomon’s 13 point built on 12 attacks and a block, as well as eight excellent digs.
UAAP MVP contender Bella Belen followed it up with 12, all stemming from attacks, while libero Shaira Jardio had 11 excellent digs.
Lams Lamina distributed well with 14 excellent sets, while Vange Alinsug chipped in 11 for last year’s runners-up.
Ending the eliminations on top with a 12-2 record, the Lady Bulldogs will enjoy a Final Four twice-to-beat advantage against No. 4 FEU.
Meanwhile, the La Salle-UST match on the last day of eliminations on Saturday, April 27, will be a winner-take-all duel for the No. 2 spot that comes with the last twice-to-beat bonus as both hold an 11-2 record.
“Having a twice-to-beat advantage lightens the mood but as what coach said, we cannot be forced to use that twice-to-beat advantage,” Belen said after the game.
“We need to wrap it up in the first game, go all-out despite having that advantage and we should not go there,” she added.
Rookie Faida Bakanke led FEU with 14 markers, as the Lady Tamaraws face the possibility of facing NU once again in the Final Four.
The loss also saw FEU snap its five-game win streak , which was jumpstarted by the Lady Tamaraws’ huge upset victory against then-frontrunner UST. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/women-volleyball-game-results-nu-lady-bulldogs-feu-lady-tamaraws-april-24-2024/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1WqcraaU2fHuk8Bp5zFwh_MlhAqd4AqIvlfRQwkbNawxBohqyzE7sygOw_aem_xFAxfub0P4fP_km6JCl5yQ
|
1
|
[OPINION] If it’s Tuesday it must be Belgium – travels make over the Marcos image
|
Glenda Gloria
|
24/04/2024 22:07
|
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he wanted to “reintroduce the Philippines to the world,” and he has been jetting all over the globe to do so. What he’s actually doing is making over the tarnished Marcos image in the international mainstream on the people’s dime, or more aptly, weak peso. And he has China to thank for the project’s success.
Our peripatetic president is flying friendly skies. Diplomatic protocol gives him automatic entry into world circles of power as a duly elected head of state. But more significantly, geopolitical stakes leave major allies like the US, Australia, Japan, Britain, France, and Canada with no choice but to host him warmly, thanks to China’s unwitting gift of maritime aggression.
If it’s Tuesday this must be Belgium. As of this writing, Marcos has made 28 trips abroad in 22 months in office (4 of them last month alone), meeting with world movers and shakers from Singapore to San Francisco to Prague and Davos. He’s back again in the United States this week in an unprecedented trilateral summit with Biden and Japan’s Kishida to mull ways of tackling China.
World leaders would be viewing Marcos as a mere political oddity, a specimen of a discredited family’s unbelievable comeback, were it not for China’s atrocious claim to 90 percent of the South China Sea through which passes 30 percent of the world’s ship-borne trade, valued at $3 trillion. So instead, he’s lauded as a pal of the Free World and treated as a valuable peer.
By contrast, Rodrigo Duterte, a Beijing pawn, was accorded only formal welcome in international gatherings. Besides, intimidated by his own lack of social graces, he shied away from diplomaticsmall talk with more polished counterparts anyway. Marcos may not have finished at Oxford and Wharton, but thanks to his parents’ penchant for plunder, he was eminently trained in jet-setting and cosmopolitan ways, enabling him to comfortably hobnob in select gatherings of world leaders today.
Of course, the major powers’ toasts to Marcos as an “iron-clad” ally in the effort to check China’s adventurism is good for the Philippines’ sovereign interests. There’s just an off-putting aftertaste to swallow.
Arguably, Marcos’ anti-China stance is also yielding better results for family rebranding domestically than his petulant sister Imee’s full-frontal historical revisionism. His position dovetails with popular sentiment, asnearly 80 percent of Filipinos strongly oppose China’s unabated incursions. This tends to soften the hard edges of his presidency, like his failure to pull down the high prices of basic goods, and it can slow down his falling approval rating.
Besides forging political alliances, the trips have supposedly yielded P4 trillion in foreign investment pledges, but they’re mostly just that – pledges. Expect more of the same if corruption, red tape, weak infrastructures and broadband connections, and high power costs persist. No endless foreign travel, or constitutional amendments, will change these realities on the ground. The boon has been mainly in gloss for the Marcos image.
All this frequent flying costs a pretty peso. By the end of his first six months in office in 2022, Marcos had racked up P403 million in travel expenses, a 1,000% hike over Duterte’s travel tab in his last full year as president. Marcos did say he loves to travel (but not on Economy Class, excuse me). So, expect more jaunts by our high-flying president. His 2024 travel budget is P1.5 billion, double last year’s.
So, there he is, greeted with open arms in the Olympia of world leaders, the Marcos stigma conveniently set aside and diminished. That’s why it’s bracing to see that sometimes his flights hit sudden air bumps.
Australia’s Senator Janet Rice’s protest during Marcos’ address to the parliament was a welcome jolt. So was Australian news anchor Sarah Ferguson’s on-air question about his family’s ill-gotten wealth. When the flustered Marcos responded with a nervous laugh, Ferguson followed up sharply with “May I ask you why that’s funny?”
Yes, at times it’s good to blow away the fairy dust to remind the world that despite Marcos’ welcome role in forging multilateral alliances against China’s wolfish territorial aims, his family’s history of human rights abuse and plunder is no laughing matter. – Rappler.com
Rene Ciria Cruz is an editor at PositivelyFilipino.com. He edited the book A Time to Rise: Collective Memoirs of the Union of Democratic Filipinos (KDP), (UP Press), and was Inquirer.net’s US Bureau Chief 2013-2023. He has written for the San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Chronicle, Pacific News Service, and California Lawyer Magazine.
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
I strongly agree: “… his family’s history of human rights abuse and plunder is no laughing matter.” That is why he uses People’s Money for his family’s rebranding. For PBBM and the “bobotantes,” it is a laughing matter; for the socially concerned critical Filipinos, it is not.
Like his parents, BBM loves to hobnob with those in power while doing it on the backs of tax-paying Filipinos all while these heads of states pinch their noses when he meets with them.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-travels-make-over-the-marcos-image/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2Du23T9MmR7yE_tLYPsE4Q3T6QCXPIbM_1zl6uv06ZNwvnoT6un63QpBA_aem_KKn93K0V5o1o9_oJWKdICA
|
1
|
Much ado over nothing? Balikatan sinking of China-made ship ‘coincidental,’ says Navy
|
Bea Cupin
|
23/04/2024 22:10
|
BALIKATAN. Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Andres Centino and United States embassy Chargé d’affaires Heather Variava, lead the kick-off of Balikatan 38-202 during ceremonies at the AFP Command Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo on April 11, 2023.
Angie de Silva/Rappler
That by early May 2024, joint forces of the Philippines and the United States will be sinking a decommissioned China-made Philippine oil tanker is not a “ludicrous performance” or a show of “provocative intent” – it’s simply a coincidence, the Navy said.
Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesperson of the Philippine Navy for the West Philippine Sea was quick to dismiss malice behind choosing the MT Lake Caliraya as the subject of a sinking activity for the 2024 Exercise Balikatan, or the yearly military drills between Manila and Washington.
The sinking exercise is among the last and biggest of the three-week-long war games and will see the militaries and assets of the two treaty-allies working together to sink the oil tanker.
“It’s not complicated, it’s coincidental,” said Trinidad, who just happened to be celebrating his birthday on Tuesday, April 23, a day after Balikatan was officially kicked off.
His boss, Navy Chief Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr. said the same.
“Any attachment, if ever there is any, doesn’t matter…. It’s an old Navy vessel that was decommissioned,” explained the three-star general during a press briefing at the Navy headquarters.
The Philippines had earlier confirmed that the MT Lake Caliraya, once called the BRP Lake Caliraya, would be the subject of the Balikatan drill. The choice has ruffled feathers in Beijing, with state-run Global Times calling it, in an editorial, a “ludicrous performance by Manila” that supposedly “[shows] clear provocative intent.”
What the hawkish Global Times leaves out is that the Caliraya, which was once a Philippine National Oil Company vessel, had long been scheduled to be the star of a sinking activity – way back July 2023, before tensions between China and the Philippines increased in the West Philippine Sea.
Caliraya was decommissioned by the Navy in December 2020, alongside other older vessels.
“We found it appropriate to decommission [the Lake Caliraya] so as not to incur expenses on its maintenance,” said Adaci. Besides, decommissioned Navy ships are routinely used in sinking exercises, be it Balikatan or other military exercises, added Adaci.
In the 2023 Balikatan, Philippine and US forces jointly sank a decommissioned Philippine Navy corvette in Zambales. This year, the sinking activity will be happening in Ilocos Norte.
That the Global Times is reacting strongly to the planned sinking of a ship that was built back in 2007 should be no surprise. Beijing has been stepping up its rhetoric on the West Philippine Sea, on the Philippines’ defense and foreign policy decisions, and many other things, really, as tensions have ramped up between the two countries.
China claims almost all of the South China Sea, totally ignoring a 2016 Arbitral Award that deemed its claim invalid. Chinese vessels are regulars across the vast South China Sea, especially in features within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Beijing’s reaction to Balikatan goes beyond editorials posted on its state-run news outfits.
The Navy also confirmed an increase in Chinese ships – mostly its maritime militia fleet – in the week leading up to Balikatan. The Philippines, US, and France are set to sail in the West Philippine Sea for maritime drills under Balikatan. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/navy-says-sinking-china-made-ship-balikatan-2024-coincidental/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3UERafUILE6fYHbddtpqIqlAbu8C9wGI-ZrKKPXyQFuqCJBwy5i8Jnfyw_aem_kE1kGnGNkZFjrHVLeVhfPA
|
1
|
Philippines bars its seafarers from some vessels in Red Sea, Gulf of Aden
|
Michelle Abad
|
24/04/2024 19:55
|
INFILTRATION. A Houthi military helicopter flies over the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea in this photo released November 20, 2023.
Houthi Military Media via Reuters
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines has barred the deployment of Filipino seafarers to passenger and cruise vessels traversing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced on Wednesday, April 24.
The Gulf of Aden and the southern Red Sea were earlier designated by the International Bargaining Forum as warlike zones.
“All Filipino seafarers to be employed for passenger/cruise vessels shall not be allowed to traverse on the abovementioned zones effective immediately,” the DMW’s Department Order (DO) No. 2 reads.
The two areas have been sites of violence amid conflict in the region, particularly the war between Israel and Hamas, coupled with incidents involving the Yemeni Houthi rebels and Iran.
At least two Filipinos have been killed so far in the tensions. They were seafarers aboard bulk carrier True Confidence, which Houthi rebels attacked in the Gulf of Aden in March.
The DMW directed all licensed manning agencies of Filipino seafarers to write an affirmation letter that the ship their workers will board will not pass through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, and indicate the itinerary every time the agencies document employment contracts of their crew prior to deployment.
The seafarers employed by the manning agencies must also sign these letters, confirming they know that their vessel will not traverse the warlike zones.
LOOK: The Philippines bars its seafarers from being deployed to passenger and cruise vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. These two areas have been the site of violence amid conflict in the region, with at least two OFWs killed so far. @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/990xSrm39H
While the DO covers passenger and cruise ships, cargo ships are excluded. Cargo ships with Filipinos are the usual vessels that have been reported attacked or affected by the regional conflict.
The Galaxy Leader cargo ship, for instance, has on board 17 Filipino seafarers who have been hostaged by the Houthi rebels since November 2023.
DMW spokesperson Toby Nebrida said a subsequent advisory for vessels that are not passenger or cruise ships isn’t expected yet.
Filipino seafarers working on cargo ships that will traverse the designated high-risk and warlike zones have the right to refuse sailing. If they choose to embark on the journey, they are entitled to double compensation, bonuses, and other benefits like repatriation covered by their company.
The DMW earlier said that manning agencies not reporting ships with Filipino seafarers passing through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden will face sanctions in the Philippines. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/overseas-filipinos/philippines-bars-seafarers-passenger-cruise-vessels-red-sea-gulf-aden/
|
1
|
Groups tell DENR chief: ‘Shape up or step down’
|
Iya Gozum
|
24/04/2024 20:32
|
Representatives from different organizations call on the resignation of DENR Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga if she "cannot reform."
Iya Gozum/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Environmental groups on Wednesday, April 24, called for the resignation of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga for a slew of reasons, including the supposed inability to directly engage concerned parties over destructive infrastructure projects.
The groups, Balagbag Environmental Society, Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc., Sibuyanons Against Mining, Zambales Ecological Society among them, released a manifesto outlining 10 demands from Loyzaga.
“It’s time for Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga to either shape up her act radically or step down for someone committed and capable of making the necessary changes,” the manifesto read.
These are the demands from the manifesto:
Groups shared a grievance about the environment secretary’s alleged inability to engage communities and civil society organizations directly.
Heidi Fernandez, executive director of Zambales Ecological Society, said they have witnessed “a disturbing pattern of neglect.”
“People’s consultations are not done thoroughly,” Fernandez said during the press briefing on Wednesday.
“The DENR, especially the Environment Management Bureau and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and their partners [in] private sector [have] failed to explain the negative impacts of projects such as the massive building of private ports for sand mining along the shores of Zambales,” Fernandez added.
The day before, the Philippine Misereor Partnership Incorporated (PMPI) released an open letter to Loyzaga.
“Our calls have seemingly landed on deaf ears. Is our DENR Secretary deaf? Or is she just pretending to be one? Regardless, we reiterate and echo: kung hindi po ninyo kayang gampanan ang inyong trabaho, baka panahon na po para magbitiw kayo?” the letter said.
(Regardless, we reiterate and echo: if you can’t live up to your role, maybe it’s time that you resign?)
PMPI, a network of religious and non-governmental organizations, had a representative during the press briefing on Wednesday.
In their open letter, PMPI demanded the cancellation of the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) extension of Hinatuan Mining Corporation in Manicani Island and the Kaliwa Dam project.
They also called for the DENR to “punish oil polluters in Verde Island, rehabilitate Boac River in Marinduque, stop seabed dredging in Zambales,” among others.
Meanwhile, anti-mining advocates from Sibuyan Island, Romblon, continue to call for the cancellation of Altai Philippines Mining Corporation (APMC) ‘s MPSA. In January 2023, Sibuyanons formed a human barricade to stop APMC trucks from transporting nickel ore.
Elizabeth Ibañez of Sibuyanons Against Mining said they were initially hopeful about Loyzaga’s appointment because of her background.
“Kami po ay kahit na bahagya eh nagpipilit magbigay pa ng tiwala dahil noong huling pakikipagusap sabi niya– last year pa po ito– nasa discerning stage siya sa issue ng Sibuyan. Ano pa po ang dapat i-discern?”
(We are still trying to give a bit of our trust because the last time she talked to us– last year– she said she was still discerning regarding the issue in Sibuyan. What’s left to discern?)
Besides the various experiences of groups, many civil society organizations were sidelined in the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) held in Dubai when they weren’t given space in the Philippine Pavilion.
The DENR led the Philippine delegation to COP28. Loyzaga served as head of the delegation after President Ferdinand Marcos canceled his attendance at the last minute. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/groups-message-denr-chief-loyzaga-shape-up-step-down/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0G5TZGZdu3Pnhn3AOgemUYy4Stz6-qctknNMQYO_LVSO1hMvkxyOpFYbw_aem_K3TVf8bX03MaHdyEvANDzA
|
1
|
Marcos urged to make ‘explicit’ order stopping bloody drug war
|
Jodesz Gavilan
|
24/04/2024 20:58
|
PRESIDENTS. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with former president Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang on August 3, 2023.
Presidential Communication Office
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. needs to double down and make true his rhetoric that his approach to the illegal drug problem in the Philippines has changed significantly.
Amnesty International Philippines on Wednesday, April 24, said that Marcos has to make a “categorical, explicit, public policy pronouncement” that would stop the violent drug war that continued well into the new administration.
“[His silence] says a lot, silence means complicity, right?” Amnesty Section Director Butch Olano said during the launch of the group’s annual The State of the World’s Human Rights report.
“What is preventing the President from stopping the war on drugs or the punitive approach, the killings?,” Olano added.
There have been at least 612 drug-related killings across the Philippines between July 1, 2022 and April 15, 2024, according to monitoring conducted by the Dahas Project of the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center. Out of this number, 264 were killed by state agents, or members of the police force.
In its report, Amnesty highlighted the continued killings in the Philippines and the culture of impunity “remained entrenched” as evident in the lack of justice for drug war victims.
There were at least 6,252 individuals killed in police operations alone under Duterte’s drug war, according to official numbers. The death toll rises between 27,000 and 30,000 if victims of vigilante-style killings are included, according to estimations by human rights groups.
Out of the thousands of deaths, less than a handful of cases led to police convictions. This is why many families are pinning their hopes on the International Criminal Court, which is now investigating drug war killings for alleged crimes against humanity.
According to Amnesty’s Olano, it is already a big deal if the Marcos government cooperates with the ICC if more developments occur. But Marcos on April 15 said that he will not turn Duterte over to the ICC, adding that the government will not “recognize the warrant that they will send to us.”
“So our question is, is President Marcos afraid of former president Duterte?” Olano said. “Why is he not doing anything about it?”
The alliance between the Marcos and Duterte factions are on thin ice, following public spat between members of both families.
Aside from the drug war killings, Amnesty’s report also focuses on the continued rampant red-tagging done mostly by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, as well as the rising number of victims of enforced disappearances.
“We feel that the President has turned his back on human rights,” Olano said. “That the Marcos administration has failed miserably in its state obligation to protect, respect, and fulfill human rights.”
Amnesty’s report was launched days after the US State Department released its 2023 country report that stated that “no significant changes in the human rights situation in the Philippines… although the number of incidents of arbitrary and extrajudicial killings and of some other abuses by government agents decreased.”
It, however, emphasized that “extrajudicial killings, largely by police but also by other security forces, remained a serious problem.”
In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said it is serious in its effort to stop extrajudicial killings, and that they are “taking all necessary steps” to strengthen the justice system to hold accountable those responsible for the abuses.
“We remind those in charge of the administration of justice that there are no shortcuts in enforcing peace and order,” the DOJ said. “It is of primordial consideration that we, as responsible State enforcers, uphold the rule of law and resolve to protect and promote human rights.” – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/amnesty-international-urge-marcos-explicit-order-stop-bloody-drug-war/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2O1dJ_MQACtRdmLiBQdV8wTe_UxB6h-abAep3Ez9YBzBb2yUgPjR-lyNM_aem__NaGmQrBX743Sm-tdjWrgw
|
1
|
Comelec again disqualifies Cagayan’s Mamba from 2022 gubernatorial election
|
Dwight de Leon
|
24/04/2024 22:06
|
LOCAL EXEC. Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba during Day 2 of the Agos Summit on Disaster Preparedness at SM Aura Premier's Samsung Hall in Taguig City on July 8, 2017.
Alecs Ongcal/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) again moved to disqualify Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba from the electoral race he had won in 2022, the latest blow to the embattled politician who had recently lost an important Supreme Court battle.
In a ruling dated Wednesday, April 24, the Comelec’s 1st Division said Mamba, during the campaign period in 2022, released public funds despite the 45-day period of prohibition under Comelec Resolution No. 10747.
Petitioner Victorio Casauay had claimed that Mamba and other respondents in the case “provided financial aid, scholarship grants, and various transport vehicles to the constituents of the province of Cagayan using public funds,” and did not report the activities to the Comelec.
Mamba had argued that Comelec Resolution No. 10747 only refers to public works projects, not social welfare programs of the provincial government, but the poll body did not accept his excuse.
“It has been settled that the prohibition in Comelec Resolution No. 10747 clearly applies to local government units and that it includes ongoing, non-infrastructure programs,” the ruling read.
“While Manuel indeed has a duty to serve his constituents, it does not mean that he can do so as he sees fit. Regardless of the position held, a public official does not have an unbounded freedom to exercise their powers, more so if these are restrictions set by law,” it added.
The ruling was signed by commissioners Socorro Inting, Aimee Ferolino, and Ernesto Maceda Jr.
The decision is appealable, which means Mamba can elevate the matter to the Comelec en banc, allowing Chairman George Garcia and three other commissioners to weigh in on the case.
This is not the first time that the Comelec moved to nullify Mamba’s election victory in May 2022.
In December that year, the Comelec’s 2nd Division – composed of commissioners Marlon Casquejo, Rey Bulay, and Nelson Celis – already disqualified Mamba for the same offense, in relation to his “No Barangay Left Behind” and “No Town Left Behind” programs.
The petitioner that time was not Casauay but Zarah Lara, whom Mamba defeated in the 2022 gubernatorial race.
When the case reached the Comelec en banc, it overturned the division ruling in March 2023, saying that Lara’s petition was filed out of time. All but Commissioner Bulay voted in favor of that move.
On Monday, April 22, the Supreme Court said the Comelec committed grave abuse of discretion when it junked Lara’s petition. It sent the case back to the poll body for proper disposition of the disqualification case.
Mamba’s election win has been challenged not just in the Comelec and the Supreme Court, but also in the House of Representatives.
Numerous hearings have been held – initiated by Zarah’s husband Cagayan 3rd District Representative Joseph Lara – to investigate alleged 2022 election irregularities in Cagayan.
In August 2023, the House ordered his arrest over his failure to justify the absence of provincial hall officials from one of the earlier hearings.
He was released within the same day of his surrender after the Supreme Court stopped the chamber from enforcing the arrest order. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/luzon/comelec-again-disqualifies-cagayans-manuel-mamba-2022-gubernatorial-election/
|
1
|
SC: Int’l organizations immunity only covers acts done in official capacity
|
Jairo Bolledo
|
24/04/2024 22:12
|
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) has ruled that the immunity granted to officials and staff of international organizations applies only to acts done in their official capacity.
This was the SC’s ruling in the case involving the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In a decision penned by Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda, dated April 16, the High Court affirmed the dismissal of the complaint for damages filed by a certain Matthew Westfall against ADB officials Maria Carmela Locsin, and others.
In the ruling, the SC said the acts in question, committed by the ADB officials, were done in an official capacity, so they were covered by functional immunity.
The High Court explained that international organizations enjoy almost absolute immunity. The immunity ensures that international organizations’ affairs will be protected from political pressure or control by their host country. It also prevents local courts from exercising jurisdiction over them.
Courts should also assess the application of immunity on a case-to-case basis, the SC added.
The case started when Westfall applied for the position of technical advisor in the ADB, but was not selected. He later claimed that the statements made in the panel notes and interview report by Locsin and her companions, who are members of the ADB screening committee, were allegedly defamatory and damaging to his professional reputation.
Westfall later filed a complaint for damages with the Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC). The lower court dismissed Westfall’s complaint on the ground of functional immunity. The decision was later affirmed by the Court of Appeals (CA), and the case reached the High Court.
In a resolution dated April 27, 2022, the SC noted that before applying immunity, tribunals must first conduct a factual inquiry to determine if the acts in question were done in the performance of official duties. Both the RTC and the CA did not thoroughly do this inquiry, the SC said, so it remanded or returned the case back to the RTC for further proceedings.
Later, Locsin and her companions filed a motion, arguing that there was no need to return the case to the lower court. The SC partially granted the motion and resolved the issue by itself. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/supreme-court-ruling-international-organizations-immunity-only-covers-acts-done-official-capacity/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR20MW9qrFFUzyVYUzaLbzJwwK2byKaSc7uZnXBm8GSR5ERduGG0vY6R4-w_aem_7zsnMO6bCqi2EBf45XM0ww
|
1
|
Art is…pre-approved? Filipinos online slam BGC for Banksy Universe promotion
|
pfkahanap0307
|
24/04/2024 13:47
|
MANILA, Philippines – Bonifacio Global City (BGC) caught heavy flak from netizens after it promoted its upcoming exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila featuring graffiti artist and political activist Banksy.
“Art is not a crime,” it said in a now edited post.
A commenter asked BGC if artists can now paint the walls within the business district in Taguig without repercussion, to which it initially replied “We do not condone any form of vandalism around BGC. All our wall art, murals, and exhibits are pre-approved and permitted.”
BGC later on edited its comment, which now says that the Banksy Universe will just be an exhibition at The Met Museum, and that “art murals and executions in and around BGC remain to be curated and permitted.”
Individuals online took this time to call out BGC for its treatment towards artists, particularly photographers, who were allegedly stopped from taking photos within the area.
In its website, BGC said that “It’s okay to take photos and videos for personal use, but shot permits are required for professional sessions.”
Banksy in Manila Punta kaya mga politiko na nagsampa ng kaso laban sa mga aktibistang artista?Punta kaya mga artsy na galit sa operation pinta ng mga aktibista?Banksy sa Met? sa Maynila na persona non grata ang Panday Siningsa BGC? na bawal ang rali
Banksy? Bgc? pero pag may artwork sa pader ng bgc , hule.
Banksy’s fans have also pointed out that the artist would never announce if they were to make art in a certain area.
Pest Control, the organization that handles Banksy, said in their website that they are “not involved or associated” with any exhibition of Banksy work in different countries.
In a statement sent to Rappler, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila confirms that the Banksy Universe exhibit “is not authorized or endorsed by Banksy,” and “will feature over a hundred works that trace the trajectory of Banksy’s career.”
“It’s almost impossible to see Banksy’s original art outside of the specific locations in which they were created. BANKSY UNIVERSE | MANILA 2024 is a unique opportunity to learn more about Banksy’s art and explore the universality of the many piercing social, political and domestic issues it raises,” it said.
Social media users said that the exhibition defeats the essence of the artist’s works.
Banksy, whose real identity remains unannounced, creates sculptures and spray paintings on various socio-political issues, including capitalism.
The artist also used art to slam brands and institutions that use his work to gain profit. In 2022, for instance, Banksy called on shoplifters to steal from clothing brand Guess after it used their artwork “without asking.”
💔 pic.twitter.com/ECDPrwkrwu
BGC sweeps the poor under the rug, an epitome of an urban dystopia.Time and time again, it is an illusion. It is not a model for urban planning. It is a bubble in an economy of poverty. Its walls, while immaterial, are higher than that of Intramuros. https://t.co/K1vSbhs1GD
Just the chef’s kiss into what BGC really is: a place for the rich to parade their pretentiousness. Showcase Pinoy artist? Nah. A Banksy? Hell yeah! https://t.co/INtXVFGXzK
Some people have long pointed out that BGC is a “capitalist dystopian,” like a “bubble” for foreigners and the country’s elites.
Banksy’s latest artwork, which he confirmed in an Instagram post back in March 2024, features green paint sprayed on a wall behind a cut-back tree in London.
What do you think of this issue? – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/arts-culture/filipinos-online-reaction-banksy-universe-bonifacio-global-city-april-2024/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2jgljNsS2JvJAHtf1ERMscWswITE2UId9mOg3CbUAAJoeKZ5r-iuGqV8g_aem_tXre5F3IQ6DFN0rLRP0e2w
|
1
|
Scorching heat pushes Pangasinan town to adopt 4-day work week
|
Ralf Rivas
|
24/04/2024 8:00
|
Shutterstock
DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan – Officials of Binmaley, Pangasinan moved to implement a four-day working schedule in its government offices, as the heat index in the province has continually sizzled to dangerous levels in the past three weeks.
The revised working schedule has been implemented since Monday, April 22, and will last until June 30 this year.
From its usual Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm schedule, working hours are now from Monday to Thursday, from 8 am to 6 pm.
Government offices are closed during Fridays, with the exemption of essential and necessary services.
Among those exempted from said revised working arrangement are the following:
Pangasinan, particularly Dagupan City and its neighboring towns, has continuously recorded dangerous heat levels. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/luzon/heat-pushes-binmaley-pangasinan-adopt-4-day-work-week/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0gsZvAILgODm2mSqZbKGGNv6tM22Pa1U0r9DlKrf-ZYaopdQzQUzDjAiE_aem_NIFnF5PCkEKI9jF2QNe2kA
|
1
|
Former senator Rene Saguisag dies at 84
|
gdecastro0289
|
24/04/2024 10:09
|
PUBLIC SERVANT. Former Senator Rene Saguisag attends a UAAP game with his son Rebo and daughter-in-law Jackie at the Mall of Asia Arena in November 2023.
Rebo Saguisag Facebook
MANILA, Philippines – Former senator Rene Saguisag has died, his son, University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) executive director and lawyer Rebo Saguisag, posted on his Facebook account on Wednesday, April 24.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our dear Papa and Lolo,” the post from the family of Rene Saguisag reads.
“As we mourn his loss, we take solace in the enduring impact of his legacy. Rene Saguisag was a dedicated public servant, and his tireless endeavors as a human rights advocate, senator and writer stand as a testament to his unwavering commitment to justice, truth, and democracy,” the family added.
Saguisag, a human rights lawyer, served as presidential spokesperson of Cory Aquino prior to running in the 1987 senatorial elections. He was one of the prominent lawyers of the Movement of Attorneys from Brotherhood, Integrity and Nationalism or MABINI, which provided free legal aid to human rights victims.
Even though he would likely have been reelected in 1992, he chose to serve for only one term.
Saguisag was one of 12 senators who voted against the proposed Philippines-US military bases treaty in 1991, which ended permanent American military presence in the Philippines.
“For him expertise in law was a means to serve the poor and disenfranchised, and he provided free legal aid to those in need. We are grateful that, in his final months, he was able to spend time with relatives, friends, and countless supporters. He passed away knowing that he was much loved and respected,” the Saguisag family said.
Although they were both graduates of San Beda College of Law, Saguisag was critical of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“I think he has to go back and reexamine what we try to teach in San Beda dahil ‘yun nga, fellow Bedan ko siya (because he is my fellow Bedan). Doon tinuturo sa amin (We were taught there) – lo cortes no quita lo valiente; courtesy does not detract from valor,” Saguisag told reporters in June 2017, a year after the foul-mouthed leader was swept into office, after showing support for then-detained Senator Leila de Lima in a hearing.
Saguisag was particularly critical of Duterte’s drug war.
“If you’re going to ask me about the plusses, maybe give me another year because the human rights violations – it’s terrible. The way he’s conducting his private population reduction program is unacceptable to the human rights community,” Saguisag said in a mix of Filipino and English.
One of the last public engagements of Saguisag was when he was honored by the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation as one of 13 Haligi ng Bantayog or Pillars of the Bantayog, on April 9, Araw ng Kagitingan.
Saguisag served as Bantayog foundation trustee from 1998 to 2000. The nonprofit honors martyrs and heroes who fought the Marcos dictatorship.
In November 2023, he attended a UAAP game in a wheelchair in the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, with some netizens calling him a “true patriot.”
Saguisag defended many political detainees in his long career as a lawyer. He was also a prolific columnist, often sharing wise opinion on various current affairs and sports developments.
He and his wife, Dulce, and two others were seriously injured when a truck rammed their van on November 7, 2007 in Makati City. His wife died on the way to the hospital, and he was only told about his wife’s passing days later.
“We request that our family be granted a few moments of privacy as we grieve. We will soon announce details of the service honoring his life, and we look forward to the opportunity to gather and pay tribute to a life lived with integrity and purpose. Papa/Lolo has passed on, but his spirit will continue to inspire us to strive for a more just world,” the family said.
The Senate flew its flag at half-mast on Wednesday to mourn the passing of Saguisag.
In a statement, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Saguisag was a “man of true honor, dignity, and integrity.”
“He may have just served one term in the Senate, but his entire life was devoted to pursuing justice and fairness for every Filipino, particularly through such initiatives as the Free Legal Assistance Group,” Zubiri said.
He cited two of the important laws Saguisag co-authored, namely the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees or RA 6713 and the Ombudsman Act of 1989 or RA 6770.
Saguisag was chairman of the Senate Ethics and Privileges committee as well as the Ad Hoc Committee on the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.
“Sen. Saguisag leaves behind a legacy of service and excellence that continues to be a benchmark for many young lawyers and public servants,” he said.
Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros paid tribute to Saguisag and cited instances when he continued to be a staunch defender of human rights even after he left politics, such as when he stood alongside those who opposed the extension of martial law in Mindanao in 2017.
“He was steadfast in defending our democratic values and protecting the rights of all citizens. His passing represents a very sad loss to our country, as we bid farewell to a true champion of human rights,” Hontiveros said.
“While we mourn the loss of such a great leader, we must also honor his life and dedication to public service. He will always be remembered as one of the ‘Magnificent 12’ whose bold choice to terminate foreign military bases reshaped our history and affirmed our sovereignty. Even in his absence, his legacy will continue to live on,” she added.
Senator Loren Legarda said Saguisag “served as a voice of the voiceless, fearlessly speaking up in a time when people were afraid to and defending them with all his might at risk of his own life.”
“I also admire him for continually standing up for human rights up until his final breath – wanting to make every Filipino is viewed the same under the 1987 Constitution,” she said.
“In his lone Senate term, he made sure that there would be accountability of public officials and civil servants, and was one of those who vehemently opposed the stay of the US military bases in the country.”
Human rights lawyers Chel Diokno said that “the country has lost a remarkable, kind and patriotic man with the death of Saguisag.
“His legacy as a senator and human rights advocate will forever remain etched in the hearts and minds of Filipinos,” Diokno said.
The Concerned Lawyers for Civil Liberties (CLCL) mourned the death of Saguisag, describing him as “an indefatigable, incorruptible, and principled Filipino” who represented “a generation of activist-lawyers who fought during the most dangerous and most destructive era in our recent history – and surviving and continuing to chase away the darkness thereafter.”
Saguisag was among the convenors of CLCL which was established in 2006 to help combat the spate of extrajudicial killings during the Gloria Arroyo administration. He was also a founding convenor of the Manananggol Laban sa Extra-judicial Killings which was formed at the height of the killings and abuses under Rodrigo Duterte.
CLCL said that Saguisag also joined their petition against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 “despite limitations of health and age.”
“Through the years, Sen. Rene with his signature wit and humor was a core of movements for free and impactful legal aid, for the rule of law, against disinformation and revisionism, and against all assaults on human rights,” CLCL said.
“Obsta principiis. Resist the first encroachment. Sen. Saguisag showed us how to recognize the insidious approach of anything dangerous or evil, and more importantly, how to slay it. He led by example, and there is no other way to honor his enduring legacy but to continue his work for the poor and the disenfranchised inside and outside the courtroom,” the group added. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
I appreciate former Senator Rene Saguisag’s work upholding our country’s laws. Rest in peace.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/former-senator-rene-saguisag-dies/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3QUx_2SFZ7LqyDkuE9Egw1Jpskm06pIoVAxFAYtjfyEGAbh5_MPU6M148_aem_t6YcEIgoZnMgSqeLAPI41Q
|
1
|
PNP firearms office recommends revocation of Quiboloy’s gun license
|
Jairo Bolledo
|
24/04/2024 9:38
|
PREACHER. Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church and a friend of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Quiboloy's Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP FEO) has recommended to revoke the gun license of embattled doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy.
PNP FEO public information office chief Major Lady Lou Gonzales confirmed to Rappler that the FEO Firearm Revocation and Restoration Board recommended the revocation of Quiboloy’s license to own and possess firearms (LTOPF), a requirement to legally hold firearms.
The PNP FEO has submitted its resolution to PNP chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil for approval, Gonzales added.
The PNP FEO is the unit responsible for the issuance of gun-related licenses and for ensuring that rules in possessing firearms would be followed.
On Monday, April 22, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros called out the PNP for its supposed slow action in revoking the Quiboloy’s gun licenses despite the warrants against the preacher for his alleged abuses.
A Rappler investigation discovered that Quiboloy has at least 19 firearms with an estimated value of about P2.3 million ($41,000). Thirteen of these licenses will expire in April 2033, which meant that the licenses were issued only in April 2023. Earlier this month, the PNP said Quiboloy could not be considered “armed and dangerous” as yet because there were no indications of prior violence.
Two Philippine courts, in Davao City and Pasig City, have ordered Quiboloy’s arrest. Although Quiboloy can post bail for his Davao City case for alleged sexual and child abuse, his human trafficking case lodged before a Pasig City court is non-bailable.
Aside from local cases, Quiboloy is also wanted in the United States for sexual trafficking. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in a US District Court in Santa Ana, California, in 2021, and landed on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most wanted list.
On top of these, the Senate has also ordered Quiboloy’s arrest. The Senate order stemmed from the upper chamber’s inquiry into the alleged abuses committed by the doomsday preacher. The Senate issued an arrest order after Quiboloy was held in contempt for snubbing the summons of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality, chaired by Hontiveros.
Quiboloy recently went to the Supreme Court to seek the suspension of the Senate order, but the High Court has yet to decide on the petition. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
On March 19, 2024, the Senate issued an arrest order against preacher Pastor Quiboloy. On April 22, 2024, Senator Risa Hontiveros inquired about the delay in revoking the firearm licenses issued to fugitive preacher Apollo Quiboloy. There were around 19 working days between these two dates. However, when Senator Hontiveros asked the PNP about the delay, it took only two working days for the PNP FEO to submit its resolution on revoking the licenses to PNP Chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil for approval. So, I appreciate the said action of Senator Hontiveros, without which the PNP FEO would have continued delaying that action.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/national-police-firearms-office-recommends-revocation-apollo-quiboloy-gun-license/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2jgljNsS2JvJAHtf1ERMscWswITE2UId9mOg3CbUAAJoeKZ5r-iuGqV8g_aem_tXre5F3IQ6DFN0rLRP0e2w
|
1
|
Malacañang flags deepfake audio of Marcos ordering military attack
|
Bea Cupin
|
24/04/2024 8:05
|
BRP BENGUET. The BRP Benguet issues a radio challenge to a Chinese Navy ship, which the AFP said used dangerous maneuvers against the Philippine vessel, in October 2023.
Armed Forces of the Philippines file photo
MANILA, Philippines – The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Tuesday, April 23, warned against a “audio deepfake” that made it appear that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the military “to act against a particular foreign country.”
“It has come to the attention of the Presidential Communications Office that there is video content posted on a popular video streaming platform circulating online that has manipulated audio designed to sound like President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.,” the office, which handles the administration’s communications, said in a statement.
“The audio deepfake attempts to make it appear as if the President has directed our Armed Forces of the Philippines to act against a particular foreign country. No such directive exists nor has been made,” the PCO added.
A version of the video features audio designed to sound like the Philippine President ordering the “armed forces and special task groups” to act however they deem appropriate should China “attack” the Philippines.
Photos of Chinese activities in the West Philippine Sea – including publicly released images from the Philippine Coast Guard – flash in the video as a slideshow as the audio plays. Rappler will not be linking to or embedding the video to help curb its spread online.
Deepfakes are usually made using techniques from machine learning and generative artificial intelligence to fabricate media. Prominent personalities worldwide – politicians, businessmen, and even celebrities – have been victims of deepfake videos and audio.
The PCO said it was working with various agencies, including the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National Security Council, the National Cybersecurity Inter-Agency Committee, as well as the private sector, “to actively address the proliferation and malicious use of video and audio deepfakes and other generative A.I. content.” It also highlighted its Media and Information Literacy as among its “”measures to combat fake news, misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation.”
“We ask everyone to be proactive in exposing and fighting against misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. Let us remain and be more mindful and responsible of the content we choose to share in our shared digital spaces,” said the PCO.
“Let us all be more vigilant against such manipulated digital content that are deployed by actors to propagate malicious content online and advance a malign influence agenda. We encourage everyone to work with us in fostering a more aware, resilient, and engaged citizenry in our digital commons,” it added.
Defense and security officials in the Philippines have long expressed concern over the country’s cyber and information security. The Navy, in implementing the country’s Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, has said that disinformation and misinformation campaigns are also among its concerns.
The fake audio recording comes at a particularly tense time for Philippine and Chinese bilateral relations.
Ties are at a “crossroads,” as the Philippines becomes more assertive in its sovereign rights and claims in the West Philippine Sea, or part of the South China Sea that includes its exclusive economic zone. China has answered back with harassment of Philippine vessels in some features.
Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea and refuses to recognize a 2016 Arbitral Ruling that deemed this claim invalid.
Under Marcos, the Philippines has grown even closer to treaty-ally the United States while also building defense and security ties with countries in and beyond the Indo-Pacific. In early April, Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio met with US President Joe Biden for the first-ever trilateral leaders’ summit between the three nations.
The fake audio release also comes just as the Philippines kicks off 2024 Exercise Balikatan, or the yearly war games between the Philippines and the United States. Over 11,000 American soldiers, and hundreds of Australian and French troops, will be participating in the exercises alongside over 5,000 Filipino soldiers.
The West Philippine Sea has previously hosted numerous joint sails – at least three between the US and the Philippines, one between the Philippines and Australia, and one multilateral sail between the Philippines, US, Japan, and Australia.
The Philippines, US, and France will be holding war games in the West Philippine Sea as part of the 2024 Exercise Balikatan. French and Philippine Navy ships will then sail the West Philippine Sea after the Balikatan activities. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
Can the Philippine Government pinpoint who made such an “audio deepfake”? Have it then penalized the said maker? If the Government cannot do this, then perhaps we can say that the maker has better ICT skills than our government ICT personnel.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/malacanang-flags-deepfake-audio-marcos-ordering-military-attack-april-2024/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1PH1J02txBWwWjexB7RUKq3VvKlarbtt95ACrvl4-Wy7ATrHM6I_oGTBI_aem_xdIYdwbxZJ0ijpT2n25eIw
|
1
|
NGCP raises alert level in Mindanao, too
|
Ralf Rivas
|
24/04/2024 21:21
|
ENERGY. Power lines and electricity meters.
LeAnne Jazul/Rappler
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) raised the alert level for a few hours in Mindanao on Wednesday, April 24, as nine power plants went on a forced outage while five others ran on derated capacities.
The Mindanao power grid was placed by the NGCP under “yellow alert” from 10 am until 3:09 pm, a situation when “the operating margin is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement.”
In an advisory, the NGCP said 673.98 megawatts were unavailable for the Mindanao grid.
The NGCP said the peak demand in Mindanao on Wednesday was 2,761 MW with only available power at 2,614 MW, leaving an operating margin of only 147 MW.
“As of 3:09 pm, [the] yellow alert has been lifted by NGCP for the Mindanao grid,” read a text message sent by NGCP corporate communications officer for Western Mindanao Beth Ladaga.
The NGCP gave no explanation about how the power supply in Mindanao was stabilized. Neither did it identify the power plants affected by the forced outage and those which operated on derated capacities.
The red and yellow alerts have been raized in the Luzon and Visayas grids since last week, with the Department of Energy attributing it to extreme heat. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/mindanao/ngcp-raises-yellow-alert-level-mindanao-april-24-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2K4w-h4ej9TLlfEfjrgkILplfRiUjnR0Y3SDiXhfewYvIV1bRIhIdq9mw_aem_9iU_vueJnaKNCN8c5URHJg
|
1
|
Rice, rice, baby! Champorado among top rice puddings in world, according to Taste Atlas
|
Steph Arnaldo
|
24/04/2024 16:25
|
CHAMPORADO. Chocolate rice porridge with tuyo (salted dried fish) and milk.
Jean Claudine Panel via Wikimedia Commons
MANILA, Philippines – There’s nothing like a warm, comforting bowl of champorado, am I right? The Philippines’ famous sweet rice porridge has been recognized by Taste Atlas, as it was named one of the best-rated rice puddings in the world for 2024.
The global food and travel database ranked the beloved Filipino porridge in 14th place out of the top 23 picks, with 3.7 out of 5 stars. In first place is Turkey’s fırın sütlaç, and in second is khao niao mamuang (mango sticky rice) from Thailand.
Made from glutinous rice, cocoa powder (sometimes native tablea), and sweetened with sugar, champorado is a testament to the Philippines’ love affair with both rice and chocolate.
According to Taste Atlas, the thick Filipino rice pudding’s origins are derived from the Mexican chocolate-based drink known as champurrado, which was introduced during the colonial period.
“Usually enjoyed as a hearty breakfast or a sweet afternoon snack, Filipino champorado can be served hot or cold, drizzled with condensed milk, or accompanied by salted dry fish (tuyo),” they added, highlighting its sweet-salty combo that many Filipinos love as well.
The website states the “best places to get champorado in”: Max’s Restaurant, Kanto Freestyle Breakfast, Tapa King, and The Sunny Side Cafe in Boracay, which uses extra rich, Malagos chocolate from Davao City.
Other Filipino dishes have ranked on many Taste Atlas lists. Isaw, bopis, dinuguan, papaitan, and proben all landed a spot in the 2023 list of the Best Offal Dishes in the World. In the same year, sinigang was recognized as one of the Best Dishes in the World. The gastronomic database also deemed tortang talong as the Best-rated Egg Dish in the World in 2022.
Taste Atlas is an online gastronomic database that promotes the local culinary culture of countries all over the world. The website contains over 10,000 specialty dishes, drinks, recommended restaurants, and local ingredients for anyone to check out before an international trip. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/food-drinks/champorado-best-rice-puddings-world-taste-atlas-april-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2Uy0IK9hBquXvfXzTDJPAuSdiRtH4-WYQT2t5AB1-nVuQQMzZKbFz0ijM_aem_RYMz-npU7nm6fSZp4AiVog
|
1
|
From big surprises to special performances, Lola Amour’s album concert is one for the books
|
jreyes0314
|
24/04/2024 19:10
|
MANILA, Philippines – Lola Amour didn’t really have a huge outpouring of success in mind when the band was formed during its members’ high school years.
“It wasn’t something we were aiming for. Actually, for the past few years, we just keep making songs until there’s something that we like, and then we release it. If you actually backtrack our discography, one song a year lang kami halos, minsan tatlo (we pretty much only release one song a year, sometimes three). But we’re happy we got this far,” lead vocalist Pio Dumayas told Rappler.
It’s clear that Lola Amour has already made its mark on the local music scene. Besides having numerous chart-topping hits under its belt and being able to put on countless iconic performances at big gigs, the band just recently released its first full-length album aptly titled Lola Amour.
The album, which features nine tracks, was five years in the making.
“Whatever was ready at the time. That’s the real response. And then we just ordered them in a way that would feel like a full body of work,” the band’s members admitted when asked how they decided which songs would make the final cut.
“Hindi naman sa gusto namin mag-rush ng (It’s not that we wanted to rush an) album, but what was really important for us was that Raymond would be able to make it. We wanted him to be part of the release of the album,” Pio added, referring to Lola Amour’s longtime bassist Raymond King, who announced in March he was leaving the band.
To celebrate the release of the band’s self-titled album and to send off Raymond, Lola Amour held a concert at the Circuit Event Grounds in Makati City on April 13.
But it wasn’t just a concert, really. It was a grand display of a good time that fans will remember and carry with them forever.
If there’s anything Lola Amour has mastered outside of making great music, it’s definitely knowing how to make an entrance.
When the members began stepping on stage one by one during the opening, a hooded figure stood at the center, but he wasn’t carrying an instrument like the rest of the band. It turned out to be internet sensation Dante Gulapa, who treated concert-goers to a live performance of his iconic eagle dance while the band’s horn section took the lead for the instrumentals.
As if Dante’s guesting wasn’t enough to wow the crowd, PLAYERTWO made a surprise appearance during “Sundan Mo Ko.” While audiences already knew that the Davao-based hip-hop ensemble would be headlining the after-party, nobody was expecting them to appear during Lola Amour’s set. Cheers erupted the moment PLAYERTWO set foot on stage to put their own spin on the 2019 track.
PLAYERTWO comes onstage early to perform “Sundan Mo Ko” with Lola Amour. #LolaAmourTheAlbum | @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/ZQeOAZg2tA
More than anything, however, it was a night of great music – and Lola Amour made sure to deliver on that until the very end. The band’s long set was filled with all the songs from its new album, as well as some of its older hits that have proven to become timeless classics.
When it came time to perform “Namimiss Ko Na,” audiences were able to witness a full-blown production leading up to the song’s performance. A Wild West-esque video featuring Pio was flashed on the big screen, while the frontman played foley artist for a night to produce the sound effects to go with the quirky clip, and Manu Dumayas and Raffy Perez took on the trumpet and the drums, respectively, to recreate a classic cowboy standoff track.
Lola Amour performs “Namimiss Ko Na.” The band released the music video for the song just 10 days prior. #LolaAmourTheAlbum | @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/laSCb265iL
But the surprises weren’t over yet that night. Lola Amour’s original keyboardist Martin Kim flew in from Korea to serenade fans with the Korean version of one of the band’s earlier releases, “Pwede Ba.” According to Pio, only two members of the band knew about Martin’s visit, so it was a treat for Lola Amour itself, too!
With a remarkable entrance also comes a noteworthy exit. When the band said it was already down to its last song, everybody knew what it would be: “Raining in Manila” – arguably Lola Amour’s most popular hit. It virtually “rained in Manila” during their performance as a rainfall simulator poured on stage.
Other than the music acts who helped make the Manila leg of the concert memorable, a special guest was also present: the real Lola Amor – Pio and Manu’s grandmother who inspired the band’s name.
In an interview with the band’s record label, Lola Amor smiled the entire time she was explaining how proud she was of her grandsons, and how proud they were of her.
It was a special night for the fans, too. For many of them, the concert was a full-circle moment. In between the opening acts’ sets, the concert’s hosts interviewed several members of the crowd, who each began listening to Lola Amour at different points in their lives. Some fans were there from the moment the band had only been playing at cramped bars, while others only began following the band fairly recently.
But no matter when they were first drawn to Lola Amour, one thing’s for certain: the band played an integral part in these fans’ lives.
An audience member shared that the first time she ever watched Lola Amour live was when she was studying for her board exams. At the April 13 concert, she was already a registered medical technologist.
It was a beautiful display of how music really does have a way of moving people – and Lola Amour is one of the bands that has proven that since its debut. – Rappler.com
Lola Amour is set to perform at the Cebu leg of its album concert on Saturday, April 27, at Draft Punk.
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/music/lola-amour-album-concert-review-april-2024/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2jaeZj8kfpKOMVJhOdOsC355gpzMH0D73szDIiOVj5so0DvJhp77IlwBw_aem_p_Rf9fcrZEgMT2eENTRJuQ
|
1
|
On-fire NU not taking twice-to-beat bonus for granted after UAAP 2nd-round sweep
|
jisaga0269
|
24/04/2024 20:41
|
SURPRISE. NU spiker Bella Belen reacts in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – Peaking when it matters.
After stumbling through the first round of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament, the NU Lady Bulldogs breezed through the second with a 7-0 sweep, capped off with a methodical 25-21, 25-19, 25-22 sweep against fellow playoff contender FEU Lady Tamaraws to claim the first semifinal bonus.
“For me, modesty aside, I think we’re having the right timing, we’re just coinciding with the rise in our performance but we must not be complacent,” NU head coach Norman Miguel said after the game.
“We must take care, until we can sustain our great condition, not only in terms of skills, but in terms of peak physical form, that’s what we need to maintain, and we hope to sustain,” he added.
NU saw four of its players score in double figures, led by Alyssa Solomon’s 13 point built on 12 attacks and a block, as well as eight excellent digs.
UAAP MVP contender Bella Belen followed it up with 12, all stemming from attacks, while libero Shaira Jardio had 11 excellent digs.
Lams Lamina distributed well with 14 excellent sets, while Vange Alinsug chipped in 11 for last year’s runners-up.
Ending the eliminations on top with a 12-2 record, the Lady Bulldogs will enjoy a Final Four twice-to-beat advantage against No. 4 FEU.
Meanwhile, the La Salle-UST match on the last day of eliminations on Saturday, April 27, will be a winner-take-all duel for the No. 2 spot that comes with the last twice-to-beat bonus as both hold an 11-2 record.
“Having a twice-to-beat advantage lightens the mood but as what coach said, we cannot be forced to use that twice-to-beat advantage,” Belen said after the game.
“We need to wrap it up in the first game, go all-out despite having that advantage and we should not go there,” she added.
Rookie Faida Bakanke led FEU with 14 markers, as the Lady Tamaraws face the possibility of facing NU once again in the Final Four.
The loss also saw FEU snap its five-game win streak , which was jumpstarted by the Lady Tamaraws’ huge upset victory against then-frontrunner UST. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/women-volleyball-game-results-nu-lady-bulldogs-feu-lady-tamaraws-april-24-2024/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR00pgqE75LwcRd5FKujmsDX7j6hHMwquOg_oZH-9n1Wgv34sYQXHZU8738_aem_BZ3AMrfXapkXlS_RDidL_A
|
1
|
MPBL suspends Germy Mahinay indefinitely for ‘deplorable act’
|
delfin.dioquino editor
|
24/04/2024 20:02
|
ON BALL. Germy Mahinay in action for the Negros Muscovados in the MPBL.
Negros Muscovados Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) slapped Negros Muscovados big man Germy Mahinay with an indefinite suspension for his “deplorable act” after he undercut an opposing player.
Also set to pay a P100,000 fine, Mahinay caused Zamboanga Master Sardines guard Joey Barcuma to hit his head on the floor in the fourth quarter of Negros’ 88-73 loss on Monday, April 22.
Instead of going for the ball, Mahinay extended his legs and changed the landing trajectory of an airborne Barcuma, who fell head first and needed medical attention.
A post shared by HOOPJUNKIE (@hoopjunkie)
Mahinay got ejected from the game after receiving a flagrant foul penalty 2.
“Negros center Germy Mahinay has been suspended indefinitely for undercutting Joey Barcuma of the Zamboanga Masters Sardines while in the air,” the MPBL said in a statement on Wednesday, April 24.
“This outcome takes into account the dangerous nature of the play, as well as Mahinay’s reaction immediately after the deplorable act.”
Videos of the incident made the rounds on social media and elicited impassioned response from fans and basketball players.
Gilas Pilipinas big man Kai Sotto commented on an Instagram post that Mahinay should be banned.
Zamboanga said Barcuma underwent all necessary medical tests and is now on his way to recovery.
“We will continue with follow-up checkups to ensure his safety for his eventual return to play in our succeeding games,” said Zamboanga in a statement.
Barcuma averaged 6.5 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals through four games of the young MPBL season, which tipped off on April 6. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/germy-mahinay-suspended-indefinitely-mpbl-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2jyKPdUBrNuGLu4mo67jABrA-KpJytcd-dW3F83kOey30oYnvioIhCx7U_aem_R7ws73BZkDLy66nj7wIAqw
|
1
|
At peace: Roma Doromal leaves Ateneo with no regrets after final UAAP game
|
jisaga0269
|
24/04/2024 18:03
|
ONE BIG FINISH. Ateneo spiker Lyann de Guzman (left) and graduating captain Roma Mae Doromal sing the Ateneo hymn in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – Leaving Ateneo with no regrets, Blue Eagles team captain Roma Mae Doromal will now head to the pros armed with lessons in leadership.
Doromal, who had exhausted her eligibility, said after her final game that she had no qualms in extending her collegiate stint for one more year in UAAP Season 86.
Although not making the Final Four for the second straight season, Ateneo ended in the outskirts of the playoff picture, completing their campaign at fifth with a 5-9 record.
“I’m so proud since I saw the progress of my teammates, we were solid as a team from the preseason through the (UAAP) second round, I saw the lessons learned,” said Doromal after the game, a 25-13, 25-17, 25-21 triumph over the Adamson Lady Falcons on Wednesday, April 24, at the Araneta Coliseum.
“I saw how they improved and I’m very proud and thankful that I stayed (for Season 86),” she added.
In her final contest, the team captain had 9 excellent digs, capping off a four-season stint, which included an abridged Season 82 cut off in mid-March 2020 due to the pandemic.
Doromal, sister of former NU standout Roma Joy, shared that it was her dream competing for the Blue Eagles, and graduated with a Communication degree in July 2023.
In her only year as team captain, she remarked that she grew rapidly, especially in terms of leadership.
“That’s why I decided to stay, to find my purpose and staying (with Ateneo), my purpose was to help (my teammates),” told Doromal.
“As a libero, that’s the only thing I could do, I couldn’t rack up points but I was with them all the time, so that was the biggest success for me, I helped them acclimatize to the new system (of coach Sergio Veloso).”
Veloso, also the Philippine men’s national team head coach, praised his wards for stepping up.
“I’m so happy because this is our last match and the team played very well,” said Veloso.
“We cannot progress further, but we maintained our position in fifth place, which is better than last year,” noted the Brazilian head coach.
Lyann de Guzman led all scorers with 14 points as she contemplates returning for next season with two more eligible years, while Sobe Buena chipped in 8 markers.
For Adamson, which ended its season with a 3-11 record, no player exceeded 4 points, and turned emotional following the final singing of their alma mater hymn.
Adamson skipper Lucille Almonte, faced with the problem of a mass exodus of the Season 85 core, ended her collegiate career with a loss.
Libero Karen Verdeflor also concluded her stint in the UAAP.
The Lady Falcons committed 32 errors, as the match ended in a mere 85 minutes. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/women-volleyball-game-results-roma-mae-doromal-ateneo-blue-eagles-adamson-lady-falcons-april-24-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1vSDIwkQwAiOCuwZFxEorjyqPY1I1EEp9n0joBg7IBf9ahZckeQEUca-U_aem_EQgee1sGhbAGrwyDR-9YEw
|
1
|
#WalangPasok: Class suspensions, Thursday, April 25, 2024
|
Acor Arceo
|
24/04/2024 15:50
|
MANILA, Philippines – Some areas suspended face-to-face classes for Thursday, April 25, due to high heat index levels.
The heat index is measured using the air temperature and the relative humidity in a place at a given time. It is also called the feels-like temperature, and it typically soars during the Philippines’ warm and dry season from March to May.
This list will be updated once local or national authorities make announcements.
– Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/class-suspensions-walang-pasok-april-25-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1b3sgVHl3KVk0CCRUT9N8b9mwWCFZkmymbHuIF_FludvgMVARrq5a_K7Q_aem_u_NO-bZHLcD2pY_J2E7Kvw
|
1
|
Let’s give it a shot: Free vaccines available at local health centers
|
Russell Ku
|
24/04/2024 17:43
|
GET VAXXED. The Provincial Health Office of Negros Occidental ramps up the vaccination of infants and children against pertussis in EB Magalona town amid rising cases in the province.
Photo from EB MAGALONA PIO
MANILA, Philippines – This World Immunization Week, the World Health Organization marks 50 years since it launched the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) to ensure vaccine accessibility and availability to all children.
With the rise in whooping cough and measles cases across the country, the Department of Health (DOH) encourages the public to participate in its immunization campaign against vaccine-preventable diseases, reminding them to get a variety of free vaccines from their local health centers.
In the Philippines, the Expanded Program on Immunization was established in 1976 to ensure that infants, children, and mothers have access to age-recommended vaccines.
According to Republic Act No. 10152 or the “Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011”, mandatory basic immunization is to be given for free at any government hospital or health center to infants and children up to five years of age.
Here is a list of the different vaccines available for free in the Philippines.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine be given to infants at birth for protection against tuberculosis (TB), an infection that most often affects the lungs.
It also protects them against meningitis and disseminated TB in children, as the disease can affect other parts of the body like the brain, bones, joints, and other internal organs.
The Hepatitis-B vaccine should be given at birth for prevention against the virus, which can develop into long-term infections in the liver, such as liver damage and liver cancer.
The Pentavalent vaccine is a 5-in-1 vaccine that protects children against these five diseases: Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenza type B. This vaccine is given in three doses, from 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age.
Pertussis or whooping cough causes coughing spells, which can easily spread among people through coughs and sneezes because of airborne droplets. With recent reports of pertussis outbreaks across cities and provinces in the Philippines, immunization through the Pentavalent vaccine is pertinent.
The PCV or Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine prevents pneumococcal diseases which are infections caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus. Examples of such diseases are pneumonia and meningitis, which are common causes of sickness and death among children below 2 years old. This vaccine is also given in three doses, at a recommendation of 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age.
The two vaccines serve as protection against the poliovirus, a disease that causes permanent paralysis or loss of mobility in the limbs and, in severe cases, the paralysis of the breathing muscles which can lead to death. The oral polio vaccine is given in three doses, recommended at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age while the inactivated polio vaccine is given at 14 weeks.
The MMR vaccine is a preventive vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella and the complications that come with these diseases. It must be given in two doses: at nine months and one year old.
Measles is a highly contagious disease with symptoms that include high fever, runny nose, cough, red and watery eyes, and rashes. After the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao health ministry declared a measles outbreak within the region, a free measles vaccination campaign was launched in the region.
Aside from children, the government also provides immunization healthcare to its senior population. In 2020, the DOH issued Memorandum No. 2020-0384, announcing the senior citizens’ free access to pneumococcal and influenza immunization services.
The memorandum also states that all senior citizens who are 60 years old and above are provided with one dose of pneumococcal vaccine throughout their lifetime and one dose of influenza vaccine every year. All eligible senior citizens are to be assessed and interviewed before immunization for precautions. – Isabella Baldado/Rappler.com
SOURCES:
Isabella Baldado is a Digital Communications volunteer at Rappler and a speech communication student at the University of the Philippines Diliman. This article was done under the supervision of Rappler staff and her copy was vetted by editors.
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/list-free-vaccines-local-health-centers/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1wXJYz1RwA2whUjlbackStTtCR1YTyO_ViR9tGhovjG8QkJ26p2LOApa0_aem_7zw6dBSPfd6yudEr2e1Rlg
|
1
|
Galing Pook: Here are the most lauded towns and provinces in the Philippines
|
jpcruz0306
|
24/04/2024 18:07
|
Local governments, despite their scale and resource limitations compared to their national counterparts, wield significant influence within their communities.
From fixing roads, ensuring clean streets, and maintaining peace and order, they are the frontline responders to the needs of their residents.
The impact of local governments, however, stretches far beyond these basic responsibilities, with many innovating to deliver better services to their constituents.
To recognize the best practices of local governments, the Galing Pook Awards was launched on October 21, 1993.
Since then, the Galing Pook Foundation has recognized 357 programs from 230 local government units.
Rappler looked at which cities, municipalities, and towns have the most number of Galing Pook awards, exemplifying best practices in local governance.
Bulacan stands out with 11 Galing Pook awards, making it the most recognized province as of 2023.
One of the province’s programs awarded by Galing Pook is the Lakas ng Kabataan sa Bulacan through the Provincial Youth Development Council. This initiative fosters capacity-building for unemployed adults, out-of-school youth, and high school graduates, enhancing their competitiveness and employability.
Galing Pook Executive Director Georgina Ann Hernandez Yang linked the province’s multiple awards to the exceptional leadership of its local chief executives former Governor Obet Pagdanganan and Governor Josie Dela Cruz.
She said they empowered the bureaucracy, overseen by Ma. Gladys Cruz-Sta. Rita, former provincial administrator of the Provincial Government of Bulacan, whose 17-year tenure ensured the sustainability of the programs.
Yang said that having a long-term “provincial administrator gives that continuity and stability and also that culture of excellence in local governance.”
“Local chief executives cycle in and out after each election year but it’s good to have that stability of a local government manager, like a COO,” Yang said.
“It gives us an insight into professionalizing the local government bureaucracy,” she added.
Based on the Local Government Code, the term of a provincial administrator is coterminous with that of his appointing authority, the governor.
Following Bulacan, Bohol claims seven awards, while Nueva Vizcaya holds six. Davao del Norte and Negros Occidental both boast of five awards, and Negros Oriental has four.
Several other provinces, including Albay, Bataan, Cotabato, Iloilo, Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Zamboanga del Norte, have been recognized with three awards. Guimaras, Misamis Oriental, and Quezon Province have earned two.
Naga leads among Philippine cities with 11 Galing Pook awards.
Under then-mayor Jessie Robredo’s tenure, the city earned 10 awards, including recognition for the People Empowerment Program in 2002.
This initiative enables public participation in local governance across various areas such as procurement, budgeting, and policy deliberation through the Naga City People’s Council. This was institutionalized through a city ordinance.
Representatives of the council gained authority to propose legislation and participate in committee-level voting within the Sangguniang Panlungsod or city council.
Marikina City trails Naga with nine Galing Pook recognitions, mostly under the late Mayor Bayani Fernando. One of its outstanding initiatives is the “bicycle-friendly city” program.
Its bike-friendly initiatives date back to 1999, “building a network of dedicated bike lanes within its boundaries.” In 2005, Marikina’s biking program received recognition from Galing Pook.
Quezon City, another top awardee, holds eight recognitions. One of its latest programs to be recognized is the Intelligent, Resilient, and Integrated Systems for the Urban Population or iRISE UP.
This system provides real-time monitoring of weather, gives rain forecasts, updates on the level of flooding, heat index, and temperature per barangay, and detects earthquakes.
Among the most lauded cities, Yang noticed a pattern of the mayors of these cities mostly coming from the same family like the Gathchalian brothers of Valenzuela (Rex and Win) and the Fernando couple of Marikina (Bayani and Marides).
She also cited former Quezon City mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and his daughter and incumbent local chief executive Joy Belmonte as another example.
“Perhaps we could say that the continuity of that excellence (in the city) was in the sense because they came from the same family so somehow the program continues,” Yang said.
She noted, however, that beyond family ties, shared values concerning excellent service delivery, positive impact, and people empowerment are ultimately crucial in maintaining good local governance.
Among the 1,486 municipalities in the country, the Municipality of Malalag in Davao del Sur boasts of four Galing Pook awards.
It first secured recognition from the foundation in 1995 for the town’s development program to transform Malalag into a “provincial agri-industrial center.”
Following Malalag, several towns, including Alimodian in Iloilo, Goa in Camarines Sur, Guagua in Pampanga, Irosin in Sorsogon, and Magsaysay in Davao del Sur have each earned three Galing Pook awards.
Since its inception, most of the programs recognized by the Galing Pook Awards are environment-related, totaling 66.
This trend, according to Yang, stems from the different environmental concerns of different communities across the country.
The winners of the Galing Pook Awards are pulled from applicants across the country.
Each program undergoes “rigorous screening” by the foundation’s secretariat and the National Selection Committee. Those with high potential are chosen.
The final step involves the presentation of programs by local chief executives and/or program officers before the Final Board of Judges.
After the first screening, the program is validated and deliberated on by the Galing Pook panel.
To qualify for the Galing Pook Awards, a program must:
Qualified programs are evaluated based on the following criteria:
Yang underscored the crucial role of local governments in addressing community issues and serving as models for national leadership.
“The local governments have the most direct impact on people in the communities, especially on addressing issues on poverty inequality, and promoting economic development, addressing issues on climate and disaster risk reduction,” the Galing Pook executive director said.
Aside from the leadership and governance of the local chief executives, Yang also highlighted the importance of empowering the local government workers and the citizens.
“We have so much to learn and so much to benefit from when we give more spotlight and when we learn more from our local chief executives and their teams and their communities,” Yang said. – Rappler.com
Do you know any programs of local government units that deserve recognition? Share the best practices of your town or province in the Liveable Cities chat room in the Rappler Communities app.
Rappler also has a dedicated space for stories and reports about liveability in Philippine cities called #MakeManilaLiveable. Learn more about the movement here.
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/data-documents/most-lauded-towns-provinces-philippines-galing-pook-foundation-awards-2024/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2jgljNsS2JvJAHtf1ERMscWswITE2UId9mOg3CbUAAJoeKZ5r-iuGqV8g_aem_tXre5F3IQ6DFN0rLRP0e2w
|
1
|
Let’s give it a shot: Free vaccines available at local health centers
|
Russell Ku
|
24/04/2024 17:43
|
GET VAXXED. The Provincial Health Office of Negros Occidental ramps up the vaccination of infants and children against pertussis in EB Magalona town amid rising cases in the province.
Photo from EB MAGALONA PIO
MANILA, Philippines – This World Immunization Week, the World Health Organization marks 50 years since it launched the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) to ensure vaccine accessibility and availability to all children.
With the rise in whooping cough and measles cases across the country, the Department of Health (DOH) encourages the public to participate in its immunization campaign against vaccine-preventable diseases, reminding them to get a variety of free vaccines from their local health centers.
In the Philippines, the Expanded Program on Immunization was established in 1976 to ensure that infants, children, and mothers have access to age-recommended vaccines.
According to Republic Act No. 10152 or the “Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011”, mandatory basic immunization is to be given for free at any government hospital or health center to infants and children up to five years of age.
Here is a list of the different vaccines available for free in the Philippines.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine be given to infants at birth for protection against tuberculosis (TB), an infection that most often affects the lungs.
It also protects them against meningitis and disseminated TB in children, as the disease can affect other parts of the body like the brain, bones, joints, and other internal organs.
The Hepatitis-B vaccine should be given at birth for prevention against the virus, which can develop into long-term infections in the liver, such as liver damage and liver cancer.
The Pentavalent vaccine is a 5-in-1 vaccine that protects children against these five diseases: Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenza type B. This vaccine is given in three doses, from 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age.
Pertussis or whooping cough causes coughing spells, which can easily spread among people through coughs and sneezes because of airborne droplets. With recent reports of pertussis outbreaks across cities and provinces in the Philippines, immunization through the Pentavalent vaccine is pertinent.
The PCV or Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine prevents pneumococcal diseases which are infections caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus. Examples of such diseases are pneumonia and meningitis, which are common causes of sickness and death among children below 2 years old. This vaccine is also given in three doses, at a recommendation of 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age.
The two vaccines serve as protection against the poliovirus, a disease that causes permanent paralysis or loss of mobility in the limbs and, in severe cases, the paralysis of the breathing muscles which can lead to death. The oral polio vaccine is given in three doses, recommended at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age while the inactivated polio vaccine is given at 14 weeks.
The MMR vaccine is a preventive vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella and the complications that come with these diseases. It must be given in two doses: at nine months and one year old.
Measles is a highly contagious disease with symptoms that include high fever, runny nose, cough, red and watery eyes, and rashes. After the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao health ministry declared a measles outbreak within the region, a free measles vaccination campaign was launched in the region.
Aside from children, the government also provides immunization healthcare to its senior population. In 2020, the DOH issued Memorandum No. 2020-0384, announcing the senior citizens’ free access to pneumococcal and influenza immunization services.
The memorandum also states that all senior citizens who are 60 years old and above are provided with one dose of pneumococcal vaccine throughout their lifetime and one dose of influenza vaccine every year. All eligible senior citizens are to be assessed and interviewed before immunization for precautions. – Isabella Baldado/Rappler.com
SOURCES:
Isabella Baldado is a Digital Communications volunteer at Rappler and a speech communication student at the University of the Philippines Diliman. This article was done under the supervision of Rappler staff and her copy was vetted by editors.
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/list-free-vaccines-local-health-centers/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR34JU0uVlwMqlz5GTOQqrc94uByDLQd_BOK-MwXae6lCCGf4bSMWbVBuEg_aem_TBn9P5P9NDC-KkMeMSf9xA
|
1
|
Results, team standings: UAAP Season 86 volleyball
|
Jasmine Payo
|
05/05/2024 21:02
|
ROARING. NU's Bella Belen (left) and Alyssa Solomon react in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball finals
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournaments reach a tipping point with the men’s and women’s finals!
LOOK: UAAP volleyball championship schedule
Here are the results in the men’s and women’s divisions:
MAY 15
May 11
MAY 8
MAY 5
MAY 4
MAY 8
MAY 5
MAY 4
** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated
APRIL 27
APRIL 24
APRIL 21
APRIL 20
APRIL 17
APRIL 14
APRIL 13
APRIL 10
APRIL 9
APRIL 4
APRIL 3
MARCH 24
MARCH 23
MARCH 20
First round
MARCH 17
MARCH 16
MARCH 13
MARCH 10
MARCH 9
MARCH 6
MARCH 3
MARCH 2
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 25
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 21
FEBRUARY 18
FEBRUARY 17
** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated
APRIL 27
APRIL 24
APRIL 21
APRIL 20
APRIL 17
APRIL 14
APRIL 13
APRIL 10
APRIL 9
APRIL 4
APRIL 3
MARCH 24
MARCH 23
MARCH 20
First round
MARCH 17
MARCH 16
MARCH 13
MARCH 10
MARCH 9
MARCH 6
MARCH 3
MARCH 2
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 25
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 21
FEBRUARY 18
FEBRUARY 17
– Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/volleyball-game-results-team-standings-men-women-season-86-2024/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR18YlGO0tWsioFbP6M_fAmLWINvAh4kcZO23JkuQLFdAeqgBg_SB6dobFg_aem_tIwq5oLH9zUIkK6fI6-IdQ
|
1
|
Let’s give it a shot: Free vaccines available at local health centers
|
Russell Ku
|
24/04/2024 17:43
|
GET VAXXED. The Provincial Health Office of Negros Occidental ramps up the vaccination of infants and children against pertussis in EB Magalona town amid rising cases in the province.
Photo from EB MAGALONA PIO
MANILA, Philippines – This World Immunization Week, the World Health Organization marks 50 years since it launched the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) to ensure vaccine accessibility and availability to all children.
With the rise in whooping cough and measles cases across the country, the Department of Health (DOH) encourages the public to participate in its immunization campaign against vaccine-preventable diseases, reminding them to get a variety of free vaccines from their local health centers.
In the Philippines, the Expanded Program on Immunization was established in 1976 to ensure that infants, children, and mothers have access to age-recommended vaccines.
According to Republic Act No. 10152 or the “Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011”, mandatory basic immunization is to be given for free at any government hospital or health center to infants and children up to five years of age.
Here is a list of the different vaccines available for free in the Philippines.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine be given to infants at birth for protection against tuberculosis (TB), an infection that most often affects the lungs.
It also protects them against meningitis and disseminated TB in children, as the disease can affect other parts of the body like the brain, bones, joints, and other internal organs.
The Hepatitis-B vaccine should be given at birth for prevention against the virus, which can develop into long-term infections in the liver, such as liver damage and liver cancer.
The Pentavalent vaccine is a 5-in-1 vaccine that protects children against these five diseases: Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenza type B. This vaccine is given in three doses, from 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age.
Pertussis or whooping cough causes coughing spells, which can easily spread among people through coughs and sneezes because of airborne droplets. With recent reports of pertussis outbreaks across cities and provinces in the Philippines, immunization through the Pentavalent vaccine is pertinent.
The PCV or Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine prevents pneumococcal diseases which are infections caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus. Examples of such diseases are pneumonia and meningitis, which are common causes of sickness and death among children below 2 years old. This vaccine is also given in three doses, at a recommendation of 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age.
The two vaccines serve as protection against the poliovirus, a disease that causes permanent paralysis or loss of mobility in the limbs and, in severe cases, the paralysis of the breathing muscles which can lead to death. The oral polio vaccine is given in three doses, recommended at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age while the inactivated polio vaccine is given at 14 weeks.
The MMR vaccine is a preventive vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella and the complications that come with these diseases. It must be given in two doses: at nine months and one year old.
Measles is a highly contagious disease with symptoms that include high fever, runny nose, cough, red and watery eyes, and rashes. After the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao health ministry declared a measles outbreak within the region, a free measles vaccination campaign was launched in the region.
Aside from children, the government also provides immunization healthcare to its senior population. In 2020, the DOH issued Memorandum No. 2020-0384, announcing the senior citizens’ free access to pneumococcal and influenza immunization services.
The memorandum also states that all senior citizens who are 60 years old and above are provided with one dose of pneumococcal vaccine throughout their lifetime and one dose of influenza vaccine every year. All eligible senior citizens are to be assessed and interviewed before immunization for precautions. – Isabella Baldado/Rappler.com
SOURCES:
Isabella Baldado is a Digital Communications volunteer at Rappler and a speech communication student at the University of the Philippines Diliman. This article was done under the supervision of Rappler staff and her copy was vetted by editors.
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/list-free-vaccines-local-health-centers/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2r2osFAEZUVVdpi7rlhXqkjz1RzEkcjxW3FHuaYCIP5JrE6g7CpcgdaHI_aem_sGzPNVbuy0icph6gagEaCw
|
1
|
Marcos rejects proposal to increase illegal parking fine in Metro Manila
|
Dwight de Leon
|
24/04/2024 15:49
|
TRAFFIC. Heavy traffic builds up on the southbound section of EDSA in Quezon City on August 24, 2023.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday, April 24, that he has nixed a Metro Manila Council (MMC) directive that sought to raise the fines for illegal parking in the National Capital Region.
According to the Presidential Communications Office, MMC’s Joint Traffic Circular No. 01 would have increased the financial penalty for violators from P1,000 to P4,000 beginning April 15.
“While I understand the intention behind the proposal, I’ve decided to prioritize discipline over penalties,” Marcos said in a video statement. “Ang Bagong Pilipino ay disiplinado (The New Filipino is disciplined.)”
“By focusing on individual responsibility, we can create long-lasting solutions to our traffic challenge,” he added.
The logic is reminiscent of Marcos’ earlier directive not to penalize yet e-bicycles and e-tricycles plying national roads in Metro Manila once the ban on such vehicles took effect on April 15.
Marcos had said more time is needed to educate the public about the ban.
On April 10, Marcos led a town hall on the capital region’s traffic woes, an apparent effort to show the government’s commitment in addressing a perennial problem in Metro Manila.
During the summit, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority unveiled adjusted working hours for all local government unit employees in Metro Manila. San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora later said this policy will take effect on May 2. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/metro-manila/marcos-rejects-proposal-increase-illegal-parking-fine-metro-manila-april-2024/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2zpe29fY1cVrLQeFNR7VEwC42twU1T9Y_1Gw8NkqnCaySDxTyXAhvCIJw_aem_I5uf1V40T3LbqC8iNFZgdA
|
1
|
#WalangPasok: Class suspensions, Thursday, April 25, 2024
|
Acor Arceo
|
24/04/2024 15:50
|
MANILA, Philippines – Some areas suspended face-to-face classes for Thursday, April 25, due to high heat index levels.
The heat index is measured using the air temperature and the relative humidity in a place at a given time. It is also called the feels-like temperature, and it typically soars during the Philippines’ warm and dry season from March to May.
This list will be updated once local or national authorities make announcements.
– Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/class-suspensions-walang-pasok-april-25-2024/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0lyklKH4XWmpxkWzg3iQiQ5r3r-4AF0TdNVL3a-Lmn6pxYnFg6sRBdBHs_aem_wv8bTEMinUesOtIFYS_TrQ
|
1
|
Results, team standings: UAAP Season 86 volleyball
|
Jasmine Payo
|
05/05/2024 21:02
|
ROARING. NU's Bella Belen (left) and Alyssa Solomon react in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball finals
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournaments reach a tipping point with the men’s and women’s finals!
LOOK: UAAP volleyball championship schedule
Here are the results in the men’s and women’s divisions:
MAY 15
May 11
MAY 8
MAY 5
MAY 4
MAY 8
MAY 5
MAY 4
** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated
APRIL 27
APRIL 24
APRIL 21
APRIL 20
APRIL 17
APRIL 14
APRIL 13
APRIL 10
APRIL 9
APRIL 4
APRIL 3
MARCH 24
MARCH 23
MARCH 20
First round
MARCH 17
MARCH 16
MARCH 13
MARCH 10
MARCH 9
MARCH 6
MARCH 3
MARCH 2
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 25
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 21
FEBRUARY 18
FEBRUARY 17
** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated
APRIL 27
APRIL 24
APRIL 21
APRIL 20
APRIL 17
APRIL 14
APRIL 13
APRIL 10
APRIL 9
APRIL 4
APRIL 3
MARCH 24
MARCH 23
MARCH 20
First round
MARCH 17
MARCH 16
MARCH 13
MARCH 10
MARCH 9
MARCH 6
MARCH 3
MARCH 2
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 25
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 21
FEBRUARY 18
FEBRUARY 17
– Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/volleyball-game-results-team-standings-men-women-season-86-2024/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0U2kfltQymPnSrDrgQW-1cQpXN4xnCZPMgwMePd8yA0n2mraatdaYuzkE_aem_lNcu4pn0qR3K0PYR6ofCPQ
|
1
|
Prabowo vows to fight for all Indonesians, calls for unity among political elites
|
Victor Barreiro Jr.
|
24/04/2024 14:17
|
THE NEW LEADERS. Indonesia's president-elect Prabowo Subianto and vice president-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka wave after the country's election commission officially announced them as the presidential election winners at General Election Commission (KPU) headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 24, 2024.
Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana/Reuters
JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesia’s president-elect Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday, April 24, vowed to fight for all Indonesians and called for unity among political elites to take the country forward, as he seeks to strengthen his parliamentary clout ahead of taking office in October.
Speaking at a ceremony where he was being confirmed as the winner of the February 14 election, Prabowo, who won by a huge margin, said he was talking to elites in the country and it was vital parties could get along together for the common good.
Prabowo, who was tacitly backed by popular incumbent Joko Widodo, is seeking to broaden his coalition in the new parliament and is in talks with parties who backed his election rivals.
“I will prove that I will fight for all Indonesians, including those who did not vote for me,” Prabowo said.
“If Indonesia wants to survive, becoming a prosperous country, all elites must work together. If we dare to leave our differences aside, let’s leave our feelings, let’s find our love for the country, let’s sacrifice together for our people.”
The confirmation comes two days after the Constitutional Court rejected challenges from both losing candidates seeking a re-run of the presidential election and the disqualification of Prabowo and his running mate, ending all election disputes.
In his speech, Prabowo vowed to end poverty and corruption, adding he intends to bring improvement to all Indonesians.
He also said a free press was vital in Indonesia, describing it as “the absolute requirement for democracy”.
Defense Minister’s Prabowo’s current alliance comprises 48% of seats in the parliament but his seniors aides have said that he aims to expand his coalition to secure a majority of seats. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/world/asia-pacific/prabowo-statement-confirmation-indonesia-elections-april-24-2024/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3LtlW9k3oaYLpnuYkXzPNwCQHyR3wSCUmReJrRq6ZiUeXcHQKA-yMW30s_aem_X3wmPGy5SmwMjH92oSot_g
|
1
|
Former senator Rene Saguisag dies at 84
|
gdecastro0289
|
24/04/2024 10:09
|
PUBLIC SERVANT. Former Senator Rene Saguisag attends a UAAP game with his son Rebo and daughter-in-law Jackie at the Mall of Asia Arena in November 2023.
Rebo Saguisag Facebook
MANILA, Philippines – Former senator Rene Saguisag has died, his son, University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) executive director and lawyer Rebo Saguisag, posted on his Facebook account on Wednesday, April 24.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our dear Papa and Lolo,” the post from the family of Rene Saguisag reads.
“As we mourn his loss, we take solace in the enduring impact of his legacy. Rene Saguisag was a dedicated public servant, and his tireless endeavors as a human rights advocate, senator and writer stand as a testament to his unwavering commitment to justice, truth, and democracy,” the family added.
Saguisag, a human rights lawyer, served as presidential spokesperson of Cory Aquino prior to running in the 1987 senatorial elections. He was one of the prominent lawyers of the Movement of Attorneys from Brotherhood, Integrity and Nationalism or MABINI, which provided free legal aid to human rights victims.
Even though he would likely have been reelected in 1992, he chose to serve for only one term.
Saguisag was one of 12 senators who voted against the proposed Philippines-US military bases treaty in 1991, which ended permanent American military presence in the Philippines.
“For him expertise in law was a means to serve the poor and disenfranchised, and he provided free legal aid to those in need. We are grateful that, in his final months, he was able to spend time with relatives, friends, and countless supporters. He passed away knowing that he was much loved and respected,” the Saguisag family said.
Although they were both graduates of San Beda College of Law, Saguisag was critical of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“I think he has to go back and reexamine what we try to teach in San Beda dahil ‘yun nga, fellow Bedan ko siya (because he is my fellow Bedan). Doon tinuturo sa amin (We were taught there) – lo cortes no quita lo valiente; courtesy does not detract from valor,” Saguisag told reporters in June 2017, a year after the foul-mouthed leader was swept into office, after showing support for then-detained Senator Leila de Lima in a hearing.
Saguisag was particularly critical of Duterte’s drug war.
“If you’re going to ask me about the plusses, maybe give me another year because the human rights violations – it’s terrible. The way he’s conducting his private population reduction program is unacceptable to the human rights community,” Saguisag said in a mix of Filipino and English.
One of the last public engagements of Saguisag was when he was honored by the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation as one of 13 Haligi ng Bantayog or Pillars of the Bantayog, on April 9, Araw ng Kagitingan.
Saguisag served as Bantayog foundation trustee from 1998 to 2000. The nonprofit honors martyrs and heroes who fought the Marcos dictatorship.
In November 2023, he attended a UAAP game in a wheelchair in the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, with some netizens calling him a “true patriot.”
Saguisag defended many political detainees in his long career as a lawyer. He was also a prolific columnist, often sharing wise opinion on various current affairs and sports developments.
He and his wife, Dulce, and two others were seriously injured when a truck rammed their van on November 7, 2007 in Makati City. His wife died on the way to the hospital, and he was only told about his wife’s passing days later.
“We request that our family be granted a few moments of privacy as we grieve. We will soon announce details of the service honoring his life, and we look forward to the opportunity to gather and pay tribute to a life lived with integrity and purpose. Papa/Lolo has passed on, but his spirit will continue to inspire us to strive for a more just world,” the family said.
The Senate flew its flag at half-mast on Wednesday to mourn the passing of Saguisag.
In a statement, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Saguisag was a “man of true honor, dignity, and integrity.”
“He may have just served one term in the Senate, but his entire life was devoted to pursuing justice and fairness for every Filipino, particularly through such initiatives as the Free Legal Assistance Group,” Zubiri said.
He cited two of the important laws Saguisag co-authored, namely the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees or RA 6713 and the Ombudsman Act of 1989 or RA 6770.
Saguisag was chairman of the Senate Ethics and Privileges committee as well as the Ad Hoc Committee on the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.
“Sen. Saguisag leaves behind a legacy of service and excellence that continues to be a benchmark for many young lawyers and public servants,” he said.
Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros paid tribute to Saguisag and cited instances when he continued to be a staunch defender of human rights even after he left politics, such as when he stood alongside those who opposed the extension of martial law in Mindanao in 2017.
“He was steadfast in defending our democratic values and protecting the rights of all citizens. His passing represents a very sad loss to our country, as we bid farewell to a true champion of human rights,” Hontiveros said.
“While we mourn the loss of such a great leader, we must also honor his life and dedication to public service. He will always be remembered as one of the ‘Magnificent 12’ whose bold choice to terminate foreign military bases reshaped our history and affirmed our sovereignty. Even in his absence, his legacy will continue to live on,” she added.
Senator Loren Legarda said Saguisag “served as a voice of the voiceless, fearlessly speaking up in a time when people were afraid to and defending them with all his might at risk of his own life.”
“I also admire him for continually standing up for human rights up until his final breath – wanting to make every Filipino is viewed the same under the 1987 Constitution,” she said.
“In his lone Senate term, he made sure that there would be accountability of public officials and civil servants, and was one of those who vehemently opposed the stay of the US military bases in the country.”
Human rights lawyers Chel Diokno said that “the country has lost a remarkable, kind and patriotic man with the death of Saguisag.
“His legacy as a senator and human rights advocate will forever remain etched in the hearts and minds of Filipinos,” Diokno said.
The Concerned Lawyers for Civil Liberties (CLCL) mourned the death of Saguisag, describing him as “an indefatigable, incorruptible, and principled Filipino” who represented “a generation of activist-lawyers who fought during the most dangerous and most destructive era in our recent history – and surviving and continuing to chase away the darkness thereafter.”
Saguisag was among the convenors of CLCL which was established in 2006 to help combat the spate of extrajudicial killings during the Gloria Arroyo administration. He was also a founding convenor of the Manananggol Laban sa Extra-judicial Killings which was formed at the height of the killings and abuses under Rodrigo Duterte.
CLCL said that Saguisag also joined their petition against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 “despite limitations of health and age.”
“Through the years, Sen. Rene with his signature wit and humor was a core of movements for free and impactful legal aid, for the rule of law, against disinformation and revisionism, and against all assaults on human rights,” CLCL said.
“Obsta principiis. Resist the first encroachment. Sen. Saguisag showed us how to recognize the insidious approach of anything dangerous or evil, and more importantly, how to slay it. He led by example, and there is no other way to honor his enduring legacy but to continue his work for the poor and the disenfranchised inside and outside the courtroom,” the group added. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
I appreciate former Senator Rene Saguisag’s work upholding our country’s laws. Rest in peace.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/former-senator-rene-saguisag-dies/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2XqBtCKmIEIHV6qneBXRQ8N2DO24GwSVj8hX6DW1NjS_PrFVWhJ2YJZos_aem_yIddXO7zwLc9ioX_hrMaLg
|
1
|
Art is…pre-approved? Filipinos online slam BGC for Banksy Universe promotion
|
pfkahanap0307
|
24/04/2024 13:47
|
MANILA, Philippines – Bonifacio Global City (BGC) caught heavy flak from netizens after it promoted its upcoming exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila featuring graffiti artist and political activist Banksy.
“Art is not a crime,” it said in a now edited post.
A commenter asked BGC if artists can now paint the walls within the business district in Taguig without repercussion, to which it initially replied “We do not condone any form of vandalism around BGC. All our wall art, murals, and exhibits are pre-approved and permitted.”
BGC later on edited its comment, which now says that the Banksy Universe will just be an exhibition at The Met Museum, and that “art murals and executions in and around BGC remain to be curated and permitted.”
Individuals online took this time to call out BGC for its treatment towards artists, particularly photographers, who were allegedly stopped from taking photos within the area.
In its website, BGC said that “It’s okay to take photos and videos for personal use, but shot permits are required for professional sessions.”
Banksy in Manila Punta kaya mga politiko na nagsampa ng kaso laban sa mga aktibistang artista?Punta kaya mga artsy na galit sa operation pinta ng mga aktibista?Banksy sa Met? sa Maynila na persona non grata ang Panday Siningsa BGC? na bawal ang rali
Banksy? Bgc? pero pag may artwork sa pader ng bgc , hule.
Banksy’s fans have also pointed out that the artist would never announce if they were to make art in a certain area.
Pest Control, the organization that handles Banksy, said in their website that they are “not involved or associated” with any exhibition of Banksy work in different countries.
In a statement sent to Rappler, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila confirms that the Banksy Universe exhibit “is not authorized or endorsed by Banksy,” and “will feature over a hundred works that trace the trajectory of Banksy’s career.”
“It’s almost impossible to see Banksy’s original art outside of the specific locations in which they were created. BANKSY UNIVERSE | MANILA 2024 is a unique opportunity to learn more about Banksy’s art and explore the universality of the many piercing social, political and domestic issues it raises,” it said.
Social media users said that the exhibition defeats the essence of the artist’s works.
Banksy, whose real identity remains unannounced, creates sculptures and spray paintings on various socio-political issues, including capitalism.
The artist also used art to slam brands and institutions that use his work to gain profit. In 2022, for instance, Banksy called on shoplifters to steal from clothing brand Guess after it used their artwork “without asking.”
💔 pic.twitter.com/ECDPrwkrwu
BGC sweeps the poor under the rug, an epitome of an urban dystopia.Time and time again, it is an illusion. It is not a model for urban planning. It is a bubble in an economy of poverty. Its walls, while immaterial, are higher than that of Intramuros. https://t.co/K1vSbhs1GD
Just the chef’s kiss into what BGC really is: a place for the rich to parade their pretentiousness. Showcase Pinoy artist? Nah. A Banksy? Hell yeah! https://t.co/INtXVFGXzK
Some people have long pointed out that BGC is a “capitalist dystopian,” like a “bubble” for foreigners and the country’s elites.
Banksy’s latest artwork, which he confirmed in an Instagram post back in March 2024, features green paint sprayed on a wall behind a cut-back tree in London.
What do you think of this issue? – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/arts-culture/filipinos-online-reaction-banksy-universe-bonifacio-global-city-april-2024/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3UERafUILE6fYHbddtpqIqlAbu8C9wGI-ZrKKPXyQFuqCJBwy5i8Jnfyw_aem_kE1kGnGNkZFjrHVLeVhfPA
|
1
|
PNP firearms office recommends revocation of Quiboloy’s gun license
|
Jairo Bolledo
|
24/04/2024 9:38
|
PREACHER. Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church and a friend of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Quiboloy's Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP FEO) has recommended to revoke the gun license of embattled doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy.
PNP FEO public information office chief Major Lady Lou Gonzales confirmed to Rappler that the FEO Firearm Revocation and Restoration Board recommended the revocation of Quiboloy’s license to own and possess firearms (LTOPF), a requirement to legally hold firearms.
The PNP FEO has submitted its resolution to PNP chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil for approval, Gonzales added.
The PNP FEO is the unit responsible for the issuance of gun-related licenses and for ensuring that rules in possessing firearms would be followed.
On Monday, April 22, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros called out the PNP for its supposed slow action in revoking the Quiboloy’s gun licenses despite the warrants against the preacher for his alleged abuses.
A Rappler investigation discovered that Quiboloy has at least 19 firearms with an estimated value of about P2.3 million ($41,000). Thirteen of these licenses will expire in April 2033, which meant that the licenses were issued only in April 2023. Earlier this month, the PNP said Quiboloy could not be considered “armed and dangerous” as yet because there were no indications of prior violence.
Two Philippine courts, in Davao City and Pasig City, have ordered Quiboloy’s arrest. Although Quiboloy can post bail for his Davao City case for alleged sexual and child abuse, his human trafficking case lodged before a Pasig City court is non-bailable.
Aside from local cases, Quiboloy is also wanted in the United States for sexual trafficking. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in a US District Court in Santa Ana, California, in 2021, and landed on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most wanted list.
On top of these, the Senate has also ordered Quiboloy’s arrest. The Senate order stemmed from the upper chamber’s inquiry into the alleged abuses committed by the doomsday preacher. The Senate issued an arrest order after Quiboloy was held in contempt for snubbing the summons of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality, chaired by Hontiveros.
Quiboloy recently went to the Supreme Court to seek the suspension of the Senate order, but the High Court has yet to decide on the petition. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
On March 19, 2024, the Senate issued an arrest order against preacher Pastor Quiboloy. On April 22, 2024, Senator Risa Hontiveros inquired about the delay in revoking the firearm licenses issued to fugitive preacher Apollo Quiboloy. There were around 19 working days between these two dates. However, when Senator Hontiveros asked the PNP about the delay, it took only two working days for the PNP FEO to submit its resolution on revoking the licenses to PNP Chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil for approval. So, I appreciate the said action of Senator Hontiveros, without which the PNP FEO would have continued delaying that action.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/national-police-firearms-office-recommends-revocation-apollo-quiboloy-gun-license/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR28WS74K6R7xPmt1Okr4mnWhah4_-nxbOST3KRejiEI71sI0-kAGeMdArY_aem_xUy3VqGoYUOnegaET_4mRg
|
1
|
Maguindanao del Sur in state of calamity due to El Niño
|
Mia Gonzalez
|
24/04/2024 10:39
|
FILE PHOTO. A view of dry rice fields due to an extended dry season as a result of the El Niño phenomenon, in Tangerang Regency, Indonesia, on September 7, 2023.
Kevin Herbian/NurPhoto via Reuters
KORONADAL CITY, Philippines – Maguindanao del Sur in the Bangsamoro region has been placed under a state of calamity due to the effects of El Nino phenomenon, rendering losses in crops and livestock worth nearly P346-million over the past weeks.
On Monday, April 22, Governor Mariam Mangudadatu approved Resolution 039 passed by the provincial legislative board, placing the entire province under a state of calamity.
Mangudadatu said 20 of the 24 towns in her province have been severely affected by the prolonged dry spell and dwindling water sources. Nearly 6,000 farmers lost livelihood opportunities due to the prevailing harsh weather, she said.
Mangudadatu said the intense weather condition has taken its toll on corn and rice farms, banana plantations, livestock and poultry. “The supply of fresh water fish was also affected,” the governor added.
Maguindanao del Sur is the second province in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to declare a state of calamity.
On April 17, the provincial board of Basilan passed Resolution no. 01-2024, declaring the entire island province as under a state of calamity following losses in agriculture amounting to P315-million.
Basilan governor Hadjiman Salliman said people in Basilan rely mainly on agriculture as a source of income.
The long dry spell has destroyed hundreds of hectares of corn and rice fields and has affected the latex production of rubber plantations, which the island is known for, the governor said.
The island province consists of 11 towns and two cities – Isabela and Lamitan, the capital.
Since a month ago, local officials reported six incidents of bushfires destroying around 500 hectares of forest and rubber plantations.
In Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao del Norte, local legislators declared the entire town as in a state of calamity, with Resolution No. 01- 2024 that was approved by Mayor Lester Sinsuat on Tuesday, April 23.
The town’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that the long dry spell has affected 17,548 households, 2,039 farmers lost their livelihood.
At least 1,370 hectares of farm lands – “40% rice farms, 40% corn farms and 20% high value crop farmers are affected,” the report said.
An official of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) in the BARMM said they received reports that at least 26,000 farmers in the region were affected by the El Niño phenomenon.
Bahrain Piang, head of MAFAR Field Operation Division, said they are currently validating the report using the Registry System for the Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA), a listing of farmers in the region that they use for monitoring and extending assistance.
“We are looking at a possibility that the number of affected farmers will increase,” he said, pointing out that the agency has a ready stock of buffer seeds that will be given to the farmers.
In initial assessments made in early April, BARMM rendered livestock losses worth around P60 million due to El Niño and around P1.5-million in agricultural crops, Piang said.
Most of the affected animals were goats in backyard farms. The grazing areas of these free-range goats have been damaged by the long drought, he said.
In their initial assessment, Piang said the prolonged dry spell has so far destroyed 19,731 hectares of corn farms and 5,472 hectares of rice land. It also affected 690 hectares of vegetable farms, 45 hectares of fruit trees and 56 hectares of cassava, a known staple in several communities in the region.
The Bangsamoro’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) has placed BARMM under a “blue alert” status in mid-April, when intense heat was observed to have been affecting farmlands.
A blue alert status sets into motion the region’s action plan on El Niño, said Minister Mohammad Yacob of the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR).
He said the alert status activates the Bravo Emergency Preparedness and Response Protocol or the Bangsamoro Action Plan on El Niño.
This protocol requires that all disaster response councils of local government units conduct Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis in their respective areas. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/mindanao/maguindanao-del-sur-state-of-calamity-due-el-nino-april-22-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR37pOewFEmmitqVi3eghxlKeck-YQLpNfq8xeBuOyx_YbxthC2PpZ6ftIk_aem_pzRg5JIhf_PSi5kfOucLSw
|
1
|
GAME SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball
|
jisaga0269
|
08/05/2024 20:35
|
It’s down to the last two teams standing as the University of Santo Tomas and National University battle for the UAAP volleyball championship in both the women’s and men’s divisions!
The league’s best separate themselves from the pack as the Final Four showdown kicks off! Here’s the schedule:
UAAP Season 86 volleyball action intensifies as the second round of the men’s and women’s divisions begins on Wednesday, March 20.
The contenders will separate themselves from the pack, with each game determining which teams will make the Final Four. Here’s the schedule:
Volleyball action is back in the UAAP!
Stars from both men’s and women’s divisions are set to ply their growing skill sets once again in front of thousands of fans, beginning on Saturday, February 17 and Sunday, February 18, both at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Here are the first-round schedules for both divisions:
*The March 13 games will be played at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Notable matches include women’s champion La Salle’s debut against contending Adamson on Saturday, 4 pm, at MOA, while men’s three-time defending titlist NU rolls into an immediate finals rematch with UST on Sunday, 12 pm, also at the same venue.
La Salle and NU – finalists in the last two women’s tournaments with one title won each – will wrap up their first-round schedule on March 16, 2 pm at Araneta. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/men-women-volleyball-games-schedule-season-86-2024/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0DpSeFfFYPFPPxefMRbuRFypjXwpw1FObZJrTydwb7Sy_88dAbEDdO-vM_aem_crjM2IdO39E0iLu5LQhnAA
|
1
|
GAME SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball
|
jisaga0269
|
08/05/2024 20:35
|
It’s down to the last two teams standing as the University of Santo Tomas and National University battle for the UAAP volleyball championship in both the women’s and men’s divisions!
The league’s best separate themselves from the pack as the Final Four showdown kicks off! Here’s the schedule:
UAAP Season 86 volleyball action intensifies as the second round of the men’s and women’s divisions begins on Wednesday, March 20.
The contenders will separate themselves from the pack, with each game determining which teams will make the Final Four. Here’s the schedule:
Volleyball action is back in the UAAP!
Stars from both men’s and women’s divisions are set to ply their growing skill sets once again in front of thousands of fans, beginning on Saturday, February 17 and Sunday, February 18, both at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Here are the first-round schedules for both divisions:
*The March 13 games will be played at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Notable matches include women’s champion La Salle’s debut against contending Adamson on Saturday, 4 pm, at MOA, while men’s three-time defending titlist NU rolls into an immediate finals rematch with UST on Sunday, 12 pm, also at the same venue.
La Salle and NU – finalists in the last two women’s tournaments with one title won each – will wrap up their first-round schedule on March 16, 2 pm at Araneta. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/men-women-volleyball-games-schedule-season-86-2024/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3m1m7PvgIlCA4f1gdfWQkB_98Znimsms94m1YYwhW3RQn2DGpHPfzKA28_aem_PiqioKd3uDWJ4-DBqNxr0A
|
1
|
QCPD sues transport group Manibela for ‘disruptive behavior’ during strike
|
Jairo Bolledo
|
23/04/2024 20:06
|
TRANSPORT. In this photo, jeepney transport group Manibela head Mar Valbuena, along with jeepney drivers, file a petition at the Office of the Ombudsman accusing the top officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board of violations of the anti-graft practices act in pushing for the government’s PUV Modernization Program and its push for consolidation of franchises to hasten the phaseout of the traditional jeepneys, on February 7, 2024.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said on Tuesday, April 23, that it filed complaints against transport group Manibela over the latter’s “disruptive behavior” during a two-day strike in Quezon City earlier this month.
The QCPD said it filed complaints against the group led by Mar Valbuena for three counts of alleged violation of Batas Pambansa 880 or Public Assembly Act of 1985, alleged violations of article 155 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) (alarm and scandal), article 151 (resistance and disobedience), and direct assault upon an agent of person in authority.
Those who face the complaints are the following:
Valbuena countered the police’s claims and said they did not violate any law. In fact, it was QCPD personnel who blocked the road, causing Manibela members to get stuck in the traffic, Valbuena said.
“Isinagawa po namin [nang] mapayapa ang aming transport caravan at programa [nang] wala po kaming pinerwisyo at sinaktan. At sa napag-usapang oras between Manibela and QCPD, ay kusa po kaming nag-disperse [nang] maayos at mapayapa kasi ‘yan po ay gentleman’s agreement namin sa lahat po ng dinaanan naming programa,” Valbuena told Rappler.
(We peacefully held our transport caravan and program without hurting or disturbing anyone. And on the agreed time between Manibela and the QCPD, we dispersed on our own and peacefully because that’s our gentleman’s agreement in all programs we’ve held.)
The QCPD said the complaints stemmed from Manibela’s transport strike on April 15 to 16, where the group opposed the phase out of public utility vehicles. The police claimed the “rally caused grave public inconvenience and disturbance” and the group “refused cooperation and ignored directives to relocate their protest to a freedom park.”
The police also said that Manibela failed to secure a permit from the Quezon City local government, which they said violated the law. The group’s actions also “disrupted traffic flow, inconveniencing commuters and plunging the streets into chaos.”
The QCPD has a history of filing complaints against those who hold rallies. In 2023, the QC police also filed complaints against Max Santiago, the artist behind the effigy of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that was set on fire during a State of the Nation Address protest rally last year. The police claimed the artist violated environmental laws.
The cops also said that the burning of the Marcos “Doble Kara (Two-faced)” effigy was a “deliberate disrespect” to Marcos and the country. The burning of the effigy “greatly contributed to air pollution which grossly negates the government program in ensuring the protection of public health and the environment,” the police added.
In November last year, a Quezon City prosecutor dismissed the complaints. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/quezon-city-police-district-sues-manibela-disruptive-behavior-transport-strike/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2YhhuRlkJG0K14tBQXhKDqoKlXvjp15wvSydJVux2_UfjiS_yTCk2EnzQ_aem_1_Pa1fZZOwhoXB8vVqgqTw
|
1
|
Feeling bookish? What to expect at the Philippine Book Festival in April
|
Steph Arnaldo
|
04/04/2024 15:58
|
Dennis Mendoza
MANILA, Philippine – So many books to read, so little time! Let the book hoarding begin again as the Philippine Book Festival returns for its second year from April 25 to 28 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.
The festival is organized by the National Book Development Board (NBDB), a government agency tasked with advancing the country’s literary industry. They said that the four-day event is meant to “promote a culture of reading and develop the publishing industry in the Philippines.”
“It’s an engaging activation space that brings together large-scale procurers of books and learning materials and the Philippine publishing industry with Philippine creatives at the heart of it,” said NBDB Chairman Dante Francis “Klink” Ang II at a media launch held on Wednesday, April 3.
“We’re going to have more than 160 exhibitors [and] hundreds of [programs] for everyone,” said NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade.
Aquino-Tugade also emphasized the importance of events like these for Filipinos. “The country needs more reading spaces that encourage conversation, creation, and collaboration.”
The event will feature a variety of talks, workshops, and events catered to people of different interests, as well other highlights bookworms can look forward to at the 2024 edition!
Fans of author and historian Ambeth Ocampo can look forward to his book signing session called Ambeth Without the Overcoat. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a book signing and meet-and-greet with author Gwy Saludes in A Day with Gwy Saludes.
Trip to Quiapo will be presented by National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee. You can also look forward to Dahling Nick: A Tribute to National Artist Nick Joaquin.
Festival-goers can also participate in sessions like Comics Can Change the World with Patti Ramos and Zine-making 101 with Bunny Luz.
The festival will feature the Rare Book Collection by the National Library of the Philippines, with new additions for the public to view. The Philippine Book Festival’s Book Bar, a curated collection of award-winning books, will also be available to attendees. The exhibit Guhit Pambata will display works by Filipino children’s book illustrators.
The event also offers attendees the chance to participate through Cosplay Filipiniana for fans who want to cosplay as characters from Filipino literature.
The festival will highlight works divided into their four popular realms: Kid Lit for children, Komiks to showcase our country’s komiks industry, Booktopia for lovers of fiction and non-fiction, and Aral Aklat for textbooks and educational materials.
Attendees can participate in talks, activities, and workshops based on their interests at the Creators Lab, Main Stage, and Kids-at-Play sections.
The Philippine Book Festival is intended to support not only the Philippine literary industry but Filipinos themselves. Ang emphasized the agency’s plans to “improve access for every Filipino reader, democratize distribution, and enable our publishers and authors to keep producing Philippine books.”
The Philippine Book Festival was first held in 2023 from June 2 to 4 at the World Trade Center. It was then brought to SMX Davao City from August 18 to 20.
The four-day festival will be open this year from 8 am to 8 pm, April 25 to 28. Entrance is free of charge. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/literature/what-to-expect-philippine-book-festival-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR12U8_EUeA_J2mE7n0D99KDJgVFPf19w21KtHpvsyLwhSYlnzNBN_w1CQc_aem_XXoGIdbwfjsOSoDkItI-2Q
|
1
|
PNP firearms office recommends revocation of Quiboloy’s gun license
|
Jairo Bolledo
|
24/04/2024 9:38
|
PREACHER. Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church and a friend of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Quiboloy's Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP FEO) has recommended to revoke the gun license of embattled doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy.
PNP FEO public information office chief Major Lady Lou Gonzales confirmed to Rappler that the FEO Firearm Revocation and Restoration Board recommended the revocation of Quiboloy’s license to own and possess firearms (LTOPF), a requirement to legally hold firearms.
The PNP FEO has submitted its resolution to PNP chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil for approval, Gonzales added.
The PNP FEO is the unit responsible for the issuance of gun-related licenses and for ensuring that rules in possessing firearms would be followed.
On Monday, April 22, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros called out the PNP for its supposed slow action in revoking the Quiboloy’s gun licenses despite the warrants against the preacher for his alleged abuses.
A Rappler investigation discovered that Quiboloy has at least 19 firearms with an estimated value of about P2.3 million ($41,000). Thirteen of these licenses will expire in April 2033, which meant that the licenses were issued only in April 2023. Earlier this month, the PNP said Quiboloy could not be considered “armed and dangerous” as yet because there were no indications of prior violence.
Two Philippine courts, in Davao City and Pasig City, have ordered Quiboloy’s arrest. Although Quiboloy can post bail for his Davao City case for alleged sexual and child abuse, his human trafficking case lodged before a Pasig City court is non-bailable.
Aside from local cases, Quiboloy is also wanted in the United States for sexual trafficking. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in a US District Court in Santa Ana, California, in 2021, and landed on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most wanted list.
On top of these, the Senate has also ordered Quiboloy’s arrest. The Senate order stemmed from the upper chamber’s inquiry into the alleged abuses committed by the doomsday preacher. The Senate issued an arrest order after Quiboloy was held in contempt for snubbing the summons of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality, chaired by Hontiveros.
Quiboloy recently went to the Supreme Court to seek the suspension of the Senate order, but the High Court has yet to decide on the petition. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
On March 19, 2024, the Senate issued an arrest order against preacher Pastor Quiboloy. On April 22, 2024, Senator Risa Hontiveros inquired about the delay in revoking the firearm licenses issued to fugitive preacher Apollo Quiboloy. There were around 19 working days between these two dates. However, when Senator Hontiveros asked the PNP about the delay, it took only two working days for the PNP FEO to submit its resolution on revoking the licenses to PNP Chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil for approval. So, I appreciate the said action of Senator Hontiveros, without which the PNP FEO would have continued delaying that action.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/national-police-firearms-office-recommends-revocation-apollo-quiboloy-gun-license/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0QU1m7a2oaMm01mFo11m1LGqf1BNMZ5rSZnAnNVTRzxS1HvJtOUqxj33U_aem_fPlcrAXkZXVGlDw5q-uxzQ
|
1
|
GAME SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball
|
jisaga0269
|
08/05/2024 20:35
|
It’s down to the last two teams standing as the University of Santo Tomas and National University battle for the UAAP volleyball championship in both the women’s and men’s divisions!
The league’s best separate themselves from the pack as the Final Four showdown kicks off! Here’s the schedule:
UAAP Season 86 volleyball action intensifies as the second round of the men’s and women’s divisions begins on Wednesday, March 20.
The contenders will separate themselves from the pack, with each game determining which teams will make the Final Four. Here’s the schedule:
Volleyball action is back in the UAAP!
Stars from both men’s and women’s divisions are set to ply their growing skill sets once again in front of thousands of fans, beginning on Saturday, February 17 and Sunday, February 18, both at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Here are the first-round schedules for both divisions:
*The March 13 games will be played at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Notable matches include women’s champion La Salle’s debut against contending Adamson on Saturday, 4 pm, at MOA, while men’s three-time defending titlist NU rolls into an immediate finals rematch with UST on Sunday, 12 pm, also at the same venue.
La Salle and NU – finalists in the last two women’s tournaments with one title won each – will wrap up their first-round schedule on March 16, 2 pm at Araneta. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/men-women-volleyball-games-schedule-season-86-2024/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3ZK6AIw3d5nuLLc4_ir7pD2-ALGO0z_M-iv1E0bkP2u4-ufubShlSgdNw_aem_sflQnlnaM3WvafRDwqEWTg
|
1
|
GAME SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball
|
jisaga0269
|
08/05/2024 20:35
|
It’s down to the last two teams standing as the University of Santo Tomas and National University battle for the UAAP volleyball championship in both the women’s and men’s divisions!
The league’s best separate themselves from the pack as the Final Four showdown kicks off! Here’s the schedule:
UAAP Season 86 volleyball action intensifies as the second round of the men’s and women’s divisions begins on Wednesday, March 20.
The contenders will separate themselves from the pack, with each game determining which teams will make the Final Four. Here’s the schedule:
Volleyball action is back in the UAAP!
Stars from both men’s and women’s divisions are set to ply their growing skill sets once again in front of thousands of fans, beginning on Saturday, February 17 and Sunday, February 18, both at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Here are the first-round schedules for both divisions:
*The March 13 games will be played at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Notable matches include women’s champion La Salle’s debut against contending Adamson on Saturday, 4 pm, at MOA, while men’s three-time defending titlist NU rolls into an immediate finals rematch with UST on Sunday, 12 pm, also at the same venue.
La Salle and NU – finalists in the last two women’s tournaments with one title won each – will wrap up their first-round schedule on March 16, 2 pm at Araneta. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/men-women-volleyball-games-schedule-season-86-2024/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0wfuEDq6v4Y9SrNGnhrekyl9RBgVTPQ1vIn7omlIS5dividRix8zRD-98_aem_40YLzo6XAlOwWOu8cC4TUw
|
1
|
QCPD sues transport group Manibela for ‘disruptive behavior’ during strike
|
Jairo Bolledo
|
23/04/2024 20:06
|
TRANSPORT. In this photo, jeepney transport group Manibela head Mar Valbuena, along with jeepney drivers, file a petition at the Office of the Ombudsman accusing the top officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board of violations of the anti-graft practices act in pushing for the government’s PUV Modernization Program and its push for consolidation of franchises to hasten the phaseout of the traditional jeepneys, on February 7, 2024.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said on Tuesday, April 23, that it filed complaints against transport group Manibela over the latter’s “disruptive behavior” during a two-day strike in Quezon City earlier this month.
The QCPD said it filed complaints against the group led by Mar Valbuena for three counts of alleged violation of Batas Pambansa 880 or Public Assembly Act of 1985, alleged violations of article 155 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) (alarm and scandal), article 151 (resistance and disobedience), and direct assault upon an agent of person in authority.
Those who face the complaints are the following:
Valbuena countered the police’s claims and said they did not violate any law. In fact, it was QCPD personnel who blocked the road, causing Manibela members to get stuck in the traffic, Valbuena said.
“Isinagawa po namin [nang] mapayapa ang aming transport caravan at programa [nang] wala po kaming pinerwisyo at sinaktan. At sa napag-usapang oras between Manibela and QCPD, ay kusa po kaming nag-disperse [nang] maayos at mapayapa kasi ‘yan po ay gentleman’s agreement namin sa lahat po ng dinaanan naming programa,” Valbuena told Rappler.
(We peacefully held our transport caravan and program without hurting or disturbing anyone. And on the agreed time between Manibela and the QCPD, we dispersed on our own and peacefully because that’s our gentleman’s agreement in all programs we’ve held.)
The QCPD said the complaints stemmed from Manibela’s transport strike on April 15 to 16, where the group opposed the phase out of public utility vehicles. The police claimed the “rally caused grave public inconvenience and disturbance” and the group “refused cooperation and ignored directives to relocate their protest to a freedom park.”
The police also said that Manibela failed to secure a permit from the Quezon City local government, which they said violated the law. The group’s actions also “disrupted traffic flow, inconveniencing commuters and plunging the streets into chaos.”
The QCPD has a history of filing complaints against those who hold rallies. In 2023, the QC police also filed complaints against Max Santiago, the artist behind the effigy of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that was set on fire during a State of the Nation Address protest rally last year. The police claimed the artist violated environmental laws.
The cops also said that the burning of the Marcos “Doble Kara (Two-faced)” effigy was a “deliberate disrespect” to Marcos and the country. The burning of the effigy “greatly contributed to air pollution which grossly negates the government program in ensuring the protection of public health and the environment,” the police added.
In November last year, a Quezon City prosecutor dismissed the complaints. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/quezon-city-police-district-sues-manibela-disruptive-behavior-transport-strike/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0kPAqK-T-8mBJjYCCkSrAyYw55EqRot_EIfrXmJ4VUcP93LKknvrNyouA_aem_j9bT-I6Nolopw7KwQ5UjmQ
|
1
|
Marcos downplays Liza-Sara rift, shrugs off calls to sack DepEd chief
|
Dwight de Leon
|
23/04/2024 14:29
|
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is sworn in as the 17th President of the Philippines, at the National Museum of Fine Arts on June 30, 2022. Alecs Ongcal/Rappler
Rappler.com
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, April 23, appeared to douse the fire caused by First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos’ revelation that she is not on good terms with Vice President Sara Duterte.
In an ambush interview in Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday, Marcos also brushed aside suggestions to remove Duterte, the Department of Education (DepEd) secretary, from his Cabinet.
“Any of the Cabinet secretaries will be replaced kapag hindi nila ginagawa ang trabaho nila. All the other things are not part of the discussion. Kapag hindi na kaya, nagkasakit, sabihin mo lang, papalitan ka namin. Kapag hindi talaga marunong o korap, tatanggalin ka talaga namin. Hindi naman ganoon si Inday,” he said.
(Any of the Cabinet secretaries will be replaced if they don’t do their job. All the other things are not part of the discussion. If they are sick or can’t take it any longer, just say so and we will replace you. If you are incapable or corrupt, we will sack you. Inday Sara isn’t any of those.)
The rare tell-all interview with broadcaster Anthony Taberna on Friday, April 19 saw the President’s wife lambast Sara for supposedly laughing when his father – former president Rodrigo Duterte – accused Marcos of being “bangag” or under the influence during a rally against charter change in Davao City in January.
It is unclear if Sara indeed laughed at the joke, as video feeds of the event didn’t cut to her reaction during the controversial moment, but she came out with a video statement on Monday, April 23, saying that the First Lady’s “personal feelings have nothing to do with my mandate as a government official.”
Marcos claimed there is no need to patch things up, believing that the country’s second-in-command understands where his wife is coming from.
“I think that she also understands how the First Lady feels, when you have to sit there and listen to these attacks that are being made against your husband,” Marcos said.
“But mag-uusap kami ni VP Sara tungkol diyan. Huwag niya masyadong dibdibin, hindi naman siya ang mga nagsabi tungkol sa kung anu-ano. Madali naman sigurong plantsahin lahat ng naging isyu,” he added.
(VP Sara and I will talk about that. She shouldn’t let it get to her, since she was not the one who said bad stuff about me. All these issues can easily be ironed out.)
Marcos also said he is a lucky husband for having a protective wife who always comes to his defense, but offered an explanation on why Liza reacted that way.
“Ang First Lady, hindi sanay sa pulitika ‘yan e. Kami, manhid na kami diyan, sa insulto. Siya, hindi siya galing sa political family, kaya siguro she still has to learn, magpalagpas nang kaunti ng ibang masasakit at maaanghang na salita,” he added.
(The First Lady is not used to politics. We have been numb to insults, while she still has to learn to ignore the hurtful accusations because she did not come from a political family.)
The Marcoses and the Dutertes – two major political families in the Philippines – teamed up in the 2022 elections, a partnership that resulted in a landslide election victory both for the dictator’s son and the outgoing president’s daughter.
It was, according to analysts, a “marriage of convenience” that has been difficult to maintain.
The Vice President has a feud with the President’s cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez. The House of Representatives under Romualdez denied Vice President’s confidential funds in the 2024 budget.
The President also once said his government was studying the possibility of rejoining the International Criminal Court, which is investigating Mr. Duterte’s bloody drug war. He had also said, however, that his government will not recognize ICC jurisdication over the Phiippine.
In January, the former president accused Marcos of illegal drug use, a claim that the incumbent chief executive laughed off and attributed to Mr. Duterte’s continued fentanyl use. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
This is a good tactic by President Marcos Jr. He is developing an image of “psychological invincibility” against the tirades of the Duterte political dynasty. This will make the latter complacent until President Marcos Jr. executes his real plan against them. Philippine Presidential theatrics (with PBBM as lead actor) have leveled up.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/marcos-downplays-sara-duterte-liza-rift-shrugs-off-calls-fire-her-deped-april-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0yhrFwhGxBAcSXc2IV0Ze7yPjuSNJ8u73HW4iNztOfyvD_HffSzhvgZ78_aem_4vPj9hVLbXo1TDCChICfOQ
|
1
|
In DENR vs Masungi public spat, conservation takes a backseat
|
Iya Gozum
|
23/04/2024 12:50
|
The long-running animosity between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and conservation group Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc. (MGFI) erupted, with the latter openly calling for the resignation of DENR chief Toni Yulo-Loyzaga.
Tensions rose when Loyzaga said MGFI’s 2017 contract, which gave them conservation work of more than 2,700 hectares in the Upper Marikina Watershed, was “void from the beginning.”
It was a bold move for Loyzaga, who has evaded select highly controversial issues and the media.
Negotiate, groups told the DENR. MGFI, while mum on the call, sent the media a compilation of the statements of groups like Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, Caritas Philippines, and Alyansa Tigil Mina.
But the negotiating table wasn’t exactly uncharted territory for the DENR and MGFI.
In 2021, before the debacle surrounding the 2017 contract or the memorandum of agreement (MOA) erupted, DENR Calabarzon Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria sent a letter to the MGFI, requesting to transform their MOA into a Special Use Agreement in Protected Areas (SAPA) contract.
A SAPA would make MGFI a second party in relation to the use and development of land (ecotourism facilities, camp sites, among other uses) within the protected area for a set duration of 25 years.
This would cure the contested provision in the MOA that gives a private entity “perpetual” claim – unconstitutional under a law that gives only 25 years to project proponents.
“The law requires a certain type of agreement with the DENR on special uses of protected areas. We are bound by this law,” then-DENR secretary Jim Sampulna said in 2022.
“The conversion of a MOA into a SAPA is also an opportunity for the DENR to correct its course and to cure defects in the MOA. Such defects include unconstitutional provisions, and provisions that violate the ENIPAS Act, and the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act.”
MGFI didn’t want the SAPA.
In a response dated September 9, 2021, Ben Dumaliang, president of MGFI, said the MOA is a “joint public interest national government project” between the now-warring parties.
“It is not a SAPA as it is not meant to make a profit but to rebuild and rewild a forest,” the letter read. Dumaliang said MGFI did not engage in the business for profit or give dividends to its members as it is a foundation, unlike private corporations or individuals.
“The advances and progress made by Masungi also stand out against the backdrop of rampant watershed destruction going on around us,” Dumaliang wrote.
“It is disturbing that certain DENR officials are training their guns not at those countless wrongdoings or misplaced MOAs and instruments but at the good, rare, selfless work of Masungi – never mind if the watershed suffers.”
So here’s the quandary: the DENR may have the stronger legal argument, but it’s hard put to convince the public about its stewardship of protected areas. Not with recent issues on Chocolate Hills, Mt. Apo, and the alleged cult in Surigao del Norte, hounding the department.
MGFI, meanwhile, could not see the fundamental conflict in a situation where a private entity manages state-owned land in perpetuity, whether or not they profit from it.
That wasn’t the last time a renegotiation was broached. The Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), under then-director Natividad Bernardino, and the MGFI had a meeting in 2022. A BMB presentation showed that both parties at that time agreed to explore the possible drafting of a revised MOA. This was supposed to include government shares and a definite term. It didn’t push through.
Rappler asked a representative of MGFI if they would pursue a SAPA now, but has yet to receive a response as of writing.
Profit is not the concern, MGFI would say. The issue is that they “use [their] own resources, risk the lives of park rangers and officers” to continue forest restoration.
This is the reason why Blue Star Construction and Development Corporation (BSCDC) is billing the government P1.2 billion for incurred expenses over the agency’s “unrealized delivery” of Lot 10, or the Masungi Georeserve. This is the popular ecotourism destination known for the karst limestone formations, the Discovery Trail, and the iconic sapot where tourists can take pictures.
BSCDC is owned by Dumaliang and is the parent company of MGFI. It is responsible for structures seen inside the Masungi Georeserve, such as the hanging bridges and bamboo house.
BSCDC’s billing, dated April 11, 2024, includes legal and security costs, and a P100,000 monthly rental to a private individual who holds a title over the land where the parking area of the georeserve is situated. The DENR said the billing has no legal basis. The Presidential Communications Office even amplified the press release on its Facebook page.
“The contracts entered into by BSCDC had legal infirmities ranging from unlawful excise of land for housing purposes in a National Park to award of contracts without bidding,” the investigation committee of the DENR said in a statement.
To clarify, the 2017 contract refers to the Masungi Geopark or the conservation effort of 2,700 hectares in the Upper Marikina Watershed.
The billing that BSCDC sent to the government was for the expenses “unnecessarily incurred by Blue Star because of the DENR’s failure to deliver Lot 10 free and clear of illegal occupants and encumbrances” as stated in their contract, said MGFI.
BSCDC was originally contracted by the government in 1997, under a joint venture agreement (JVA), to build a housing project. This is now Garden Cottages, where accommodations and event venues operate.
The contract was later supplemented in 2002, extending land size to 300 hectares, where now stands the georeserve.
“Facilities such as meeting venues and researcher and staff quarters are existing and refurbished structures inside the titled Garden Cottages project, a joint venture development project beside the Masungi Georeserve,” MGFI managing trustee Billie Dumaliang told Rappler on Wednesday, April 24.
“These are used only for small and sustainable events. BSCDC allows MGFI to occasionally use these facilities for trainings and intimate events to help support its conservation efforts. All conservation fees for experiences and services involving these facilities go to the foundation and are used to help the upkeep of the areas MGFI takes care of.”
The BSCDC billing or statement of account was sent by the DENR – not BSCDC – to the press. Besides the copy sent to reporters, the DENR included in its press release the findings of its investigation committee: that MGFI did not have clearances from the Protected Area Management Board, free and prior consent from indigenous people, environmental clearance certificate, and accreditation from the Department of Tourism.
On the same day, MGFI released a statement “daring” Loyzaga to come to the georeserve “to show to the public where the alleged hotel, swimming pool, and resort” are. Neither Loyzaga nor the DENR, however, made any mention of a hotel or swimming pool. But they did refer to the georeserve as a resort with “accommodations” and event venues for rent.
Dumalaing further said that If she cannot come and substantiate the claims, Loyzaga should resign. “The office of [the] DENR Secretary is crucial to the future of our nation and it must have the highest integrity.”
Loyzaga did not respond to the “invitation.”
MGFI said the trails in the georeserve are covered by a certificate of non-coverage, “which is the equivalent of the Environmental Compliance Certificate for projects with insignificant environmental impact as defined by the Philippines Environmental Impact System.”
The simple answer is: the government.
But even that answer has many nuances. A document obtained by Rappler which maps the existing titles and agreements showed overlapping claims of private individuals, indigenous groups in the Upper Marikina Watershed. Thrown in the mix are mineral production sharing agreement titles.
For instance, Lot 10, where the Masungi Georeserve stands, is the same parcel of land that the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) had announced last year to be the site of their national headquarters.
Such conflicts have given rise to episodes of violence, injuring several rangers employed by MGFI. (READ: Under attack, Masungi rangers live to fight another day for the forests)
Yet the question of ownership is also misguided. The assets of, and structures in, the georeserve and the geopark are owned by MGFI and BSCDC. The lands within the protected areas are clearly government’s. Or more accurately, the public’s.
Both camps have decided to take the matter to the court of public opinion, given that claims and other courses of action have been exhausted.
That the DENR prolonged the issue, instead of immediately canceling the contract as they did with the alleged cult in Surigao del Norte, shows that the agency is aware it could easily lose the publicity war.
In a country where pools and resorts in protected areas seem to be unsurprising, the public will tend to empathize with a developer that has shown seriousness in conservation efforts – even if it means overlooking some wrinkles.
On the eve of Earth Day, advocates and artists gathered in Quezon City for a concert in support of MGFI. Some government officials sent prerecorded messages. Even actress Nadine Lustre appeared virtually.
MGFI estimated around 500 people came. It speaks a lot about the public’s hope for their natural resources. And this hope goes beyond warring parties. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
The parties should go to Court. Let the Judiciary decide between their conflicting claims.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/denr-masungi-georeserve-public-spat-conservation-takes-backseat/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR305zumfW-QBxYY-OhWv1nF2Fm0lachwrBH3Y9aoQKTmtF50L-oIN-Vo3U_aem_cUY4EYf2dlszzGi8-4Cvrw
|
1
|
PNP firearms office recommends revocation of Quiboloy’s gun license
|
Jairo Bolledo
|
24/04/2024 9:38
|
PREACHER. Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church and a friend of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Quiboloy's Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP FEO) has recommended to revoke the gun license of embattled doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy.
PNP FEO public information office chief Major Lady Lou Gonzales confirmed to Rappler that the FEO Firearm Revocation and Restoration Board recommended the revocation of Quiboloy’s license to own and possess firearms (LTOPF), a requirement to legally hold firearms.
The PNP FEO has submitted its resolution to PNP chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil for approval, Gonzales added.
The PNP FEO is the unit responsible for the issuance of gun-related licenses and for ensuring that rules in possessing firearms would be followed.
On Monday, April 22, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros called out the PNP for its supposed slow action in revoking the Quiboloy’s gun licenses despite the warrants against the preacher for his alleged abuses.
A Rappler investigation discovered that Quiboloy has at least 19 firearms with an estimated value of about P2.3 million ($41,000). Thirteen of these licenses will expire in April 2033, which meant that the licenses were issued only in April 2023. Earlier this month, the PNP said Quiboloy could not be considered “armed and dangerous” as yet because there were no indications of prior violence.
Two Philippine courts, in Davao City and Pasig City, have ordered Quiboloy’s arrest. Although Quiboloy can post bail for his Davao City case for alleged sexual and child abuse, his human trafficking case lodged before a Pasig City court is non-bailable.
Aside from local cases, Quiboloy is also wanted in the United States for sexual trafficking. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in a US District Court in Santa Ana, California, in 2021, and landed on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most wanted list.
On top of these, the Senate has also ordered Quiboloy’s arrest. The Senate order stemmed from the upper chamber’s inquiry into the alleged abuses committed by the doomsday preacher. The Senate issued an arrest order after Quiboloy was held in contempt for snubbing the summons of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality, chaired by Hontiveros.
Quiboloy recently went to the Supreme Court to seek the suspension of the Senate order, but the High Court has yet to decide on the petition. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
On March 19, 2024, the Senate issued an arrest order against preacher Pastor Quiboloy. On April 22, 2024, Senator Risa Hontiveros inquired about the delay in revoking the firearm licenses issued to fugitive preacher Apollo Quiboloy. There were around 19 working days between these two dates. However, when Senator Hontiveros asked the PNP about the delay, it took only two working days for the PNP FEO to submit its resolution on revoking the licenses to PNP Chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil for approval. So, I appreciate the said action of Senator Hontiveros, without which the PNP FEO would have continued delaying that action.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/national-police-firearms-office-recommends-revocation-apollo-quiboloy-gun-license/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2SAglokLQUqo4ieG8V9K8fNJD1TxvCnszlL_pQ0yMduaxXqj2TVln3UoQ_aem_Wq8o-6SSxcxyBNw1xsGjmQ
|
1
|
FAST FACTS: Why anti-doping compliance in Philippine sports is important
|
jisaga0269
|
24/04/2024 7:47
|
ELITE. The country's best athletes brace for a busy year.
REUTERS, FIBA, PFF
MANILA, Philippines – Last January 26, the usual ebb and flow of Philippine sports was disrupted by a particularly concerning notice from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), saying that the country is in danger of getting banned in international competitions due to alleged noncompliance.
Less than two months since the call-out, the agency cleared the Philippines of all issues after urgent cooperation among concerned government agencies, namely the Philippine National Anti-Doping Organization (PHI-NADO), the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), and even the Office of the President.
Although the ban threat is now over and measures are already being made to maintain WADA compliance, it is still important for the public to know why adherence to its guidelines is important, why its ban threat was a major concern, and what measures are being done today to satisfy the agency.
Per its website, WADA was created in 1999 mainly through efforts of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a response to a massive doping scandal that marred the 1998 Tour de France cycling event, earning it the dubious nickname “Tour de Farce.”
Today, with support from world governments and other public and private organizations, WADA monitors and promotes the enforcement of the World Anti-Doping Code and holds extensive powers.
In the spirit of preserving clean competition, WADA may ban individual violators or suspend entire countries’ athletes if deemed necessary, and conversely may reinstate erring entities who have cleaned up their acts. As of today, the agency has one country-wide ban (Angola) in force.
After being flagged by WADA due to a 2016 positive doping result that PHI-NADO did properly cascade down to the violating athlete, the PSC stressed the need for the local agency to have more funding that, in turn, translates to more manpower and thus, more independent enforcement capabilities.
PHI-NADO gaining more independence in its activities ensures that the Philippines is abiding by WADA Code Article 20.5.1, which states that local anti-doping organizations need “to be independent in their operational decisions and activities from sport and government.”
Additionally, the PSC and PHI-NADO ensured WADA that legislation is underway to help fast-track the implementation of better anti-doping measures, which were eventually discussed in Congress last April 16.
Also last April 16, the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development approved House Bill 7927 or the Anti-Doping in Sports Act. This is the first step in empowering PHI-NADO through lawful acknowledgement of its existence and clear definitions of its power scope, duties, and functions.
Notable sections in the 12-page bill include:
Once the bill hurdles the Senate and the Office of the President, PHI-NADO will finally have legal backing and its actions, if constantly enforced, will satisfy the WADA Code, particularly the aforementioned Article 20.5 (Roles and Responsibilities of National Anti-Doping Organizations). – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/things-to-know-importance-doping-compliance/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0PGXDAQQS9zW0a20QDsQg00PWxeiHCPrMJQ0tRsGQnHqz43oeDlQI9Vak_aem_x55qm2TJmD2RWXQKHRNeYA
|
1
|
Malacañang flags deepfake audio of Marcos ordering military attack
|
Bea Cupin
|
24/04/2024 8:05
|
BRP BENGUET. The BRP Benguet issues a radio challenge to a Chinese Navy ship, which the AFP said used dangerous maneuvers against the Philippine vessel, in October 2023.
Armed Forces of the Philippines file photo
MANILA, Philippines – The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Tuesday, April 23, warned against a “audio deepfake” that made it appear that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the military “to act against a particular foreign country.”
“It has come to the attention of the Presidential Communications Office that there is video content posted on a popular video streaming platform circulating online that has manipulated audio designed to sound like President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.,” the office, which handles the administration’s communications, said in a statement.
“The audio deepfake attempts to make it appear as if the President has directed our Armed Forces of the Philippines to act against a particular foreign country. No such directive exists nor has been made,” the PCO added.
A version of the video features audio designed to sound like the Philippine President ordering the “armed forces and special task groups” to act however they deem appropriate should China “attack” the Philippines.
Photos of Chinese activities in the West Philippine Sea – including publicly released images from the Philippine Coast Guard – flash in the video as a slideshow as the audio plays. Rappler will not be linking to or embedding the video to help curb its spread online.
Deepfakes are usually made using techniques from machine learning and generative artificial intelligence to fabricate media. Prominent personalities worldwide – politicians, businessmen, and even celebrities – have been victims of deepfake videos and audio.
The PCO said it was working with various agencies, including the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National Security Council, the National Cybersecurity Inter-Agency Committee, as well as the private sector, “to actively address the proliferation and malicious use of video and audio deepfakes and other generative A.I. content.” It also highlighted its Media and Information Literacy as among its “”measures to combat fake news, misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation.”
“We ask everyone to be proactive in exposing and fighting against misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. Let us remain and be more mindful and responsible of the content we choose to share in our shared digital spaces,” said the PCO.
“Let us all be more vigilant against such manipulated digital content that are deployed by actors to propagate malicious content online and advance a malign influence agenda. We encourage everyone to work with us in fostering a more aware, resilient, and engaged citizenry in our digital commons,” it added.
Defense and security officials in the Philippines have long expressed concern over the country’s cyber and information security. The Navy, in implementing the country’s Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, has said that disinformation and misinformation campaigns are also among its concerns.
The fake audio recording comes at a particularly tense time for Philippine and Chinese bilateral relations.
Ties are at a “crossroads,” as the Philippines becomes more assertive in its sovereign rights and claims in the West Philippine Sea, or part of the South China Sea that includes its exclusive economic zone. China has answered back with harassment of Philippine vessels in some features.
Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea and refuses to recognize a 2016 Arbitral Ruling that deemed this claim invalid.
Under Marcos, the Philippines has grown even closer to treaty-ally the United States while also building defense and security ties with countries in and beyond the Indo-Pacific. In early April, Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio met with US President Joe Biden for the first-ever trilateral leaders’ summit between the three nations.
The fake audio release also comes just as the Philippines kicks off 2024 Exercise Balikatan, or the yearly war games between the Philippines and the United States. Over 11,000 American soldiers, and hundreds of Australian and French troops, will be participating in the exercises alongside over 5,000 Filipino soldiers.
The West Philippine Sea has previously hosted numerous joint sails – at least three between the US and the Philippines, one between the Philippines and Australia, and one multilateral sail between the Philippines, US, Japan, and Australia.
The Philippines, US, and France will be holding war games in the West Philippine Sea as part of the 2024 Exercise Balikatan. French and Philippine Navy ships will then sail the West Philippine Sea after the Balikatan activities. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
Can the Philippine Government pinpoint who made such an “audio deepfake”? Have it then penalized the said maker? If the Government cannot do this, then perhaps we can say that the maker has better ICT skills than our government ICT personnel.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/malacanang-flags-deepfake-audio-marcos-ordering-military-attack-april-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1CkiCG5MpVkTXgdEBiqnlEuk9qMHjU2qas1XHWFgmwd6jktfCkTD-_FfM_aem_yYTSl2jOk3An_ii4sJfbsw
|
1
|
NEA: 14 NOCECO officers liable for alleged improper spending
|
Mia Gonzalez
|
23/04/2024 17:30
|
NEA CHIEF. NEA Administrator Antonio Almeda.
NEA Facebook page
BACOLOD, Philippines –The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has found 14 officers of the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO) for alleged improper disbursements.
NEA announced this in a virtual press conference and identified 14 as the following:
NEA Administrator Antonio Almeda said the agency audit, which covered the period August 1, 2019 to April 30, 2023, was conducted in June 2023.
“NOCECO’s Board of Directors were found to have unduly granted themselves at least P65,534,504.20, representing numerous allowances and benefits,” NEA said.
“Former GM Discaya was found to have been unduly granted and received at least P20,128,907.28, representing improper increases in his salary and per diems as a CM of NOCECO, excess gratuity pay, travel expenses and other benefits,” the agency added.
In the case of Bustamante, NEA said that he was “found to have been unduly granted and received at least P2,127,111.00 representing undue increase in his salary and per diems as a supposed GM of NOCECO, as well as other unwarranted benefits.”
NEA said its Electric Cooperative Audit Division (ECAD) found that improper disbursements were made by the NOCECO management and the board of directors classified due to the following: “(a) For being above and beyond the allowable thresholds under the relevant NEA Rules and Guidelines; (b)or being made without NEA’s explicit approval; and (c) despite NOCECO’s attention being called in previous audit findings, for being made with the deliberate failure to submit the appropriate Board Resolutions required by NEA to evaluate the fund disbursements.”
On this basis the NEA-ECAD endorsed its findings to the NEA Administrative Committee (ADCOM).
The NEA-ADCOM then conducted a motu proprio investigation on the case in accordance with due process and its Administrative Rules of Procedure.
On the basis of the NEA-ADCOM’s report and recommendation, the NEA Board of Administrators issued a decision on April 18, 2024, which imposed on the NOCECO officers the penalties of removal from service, forfeiture of monetary benefits, and disqualification from reinstatement or reemployment or tp run as candidate for director in any electric cooperative in the country.
Almeda said NEA has referred the matter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) “for the possible prosecution of criminal liabilities.”
Millan, one the 14 NOCECO officers, said in an interview with Rappler on Tuesday, April 23, that they plan to file a motion for reconsideration.
“All our spendings are within the orb of our constitution and by-laws duly approved by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), and such also passed the audit of CDA,” he said. “So, there’s nothing irregular, therefore.”
He also cited the lack of harmony between the Cooperative Development Authority and the NEA, and that NOCECO and its officials were caught in the middle of the current friction between the two.– Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/nea-negros-occidental-electric-cooperative-officials-alleged-improper-spending/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0lPJxPxDdzAzL88YeOlxLbe3IjHmoBXP-4o7GQjXC-iRo-nKZ-eh72ciQ_aem_DhlnprBo8reUWCGYWWMyuA
|
1
|
PH expects China to ‘behave properly’ during Balikatan in West Philippine Sea
|
Bea Cupin
|
23/04/2024 17:43
|
Filipino scientists, accompanied by personnel from the BFAR and PCG, conduct an assessment at cays close to Pag-asa in the West Philippine Sea on March 21, 2024.
Photo by PCG
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Navy said on Tuesday, April 23, that it expected Chinese vessels to “behave properly” during a joint sail in the West Philippine Sea in late April for Exercise Balikatan 2024.
The navies of the Philippines, the US, and France, will venture into the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines in the South China Sea for the multilateral maritime exercise (MME) component of the yearly war games by the Philippines and the US.
The activity, which is taking place beyond the Philippines’ territorial waters for the first time, will see the three navies conducting different operations including search and rescue drills. France is participating in the war games for the first time.
Asked if they expected China to make its presence in those water felt, a Navy official was quick to say no.
“It is an activity between the US and the Philippines. Historically, the illegal, unprovoked, uncalled for actions of China will only be [towards the Philippines]. I don’t expect them to do anything illegal because of the presence of foreign war ships,” said Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy’s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea.
“That has been the call ever since, [for China] to follow international law…. And I expect them to behave properly this time,” he added.
Chinese ships – from its Peoples’ Liberation Army Navy, China Coast Guard, and Chinese Maritime Militia – are constantly present in the West Philippine Sea, or part of the South China Sea that includes the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, even if a 2016 Arbitral Award deemed its 9-dash line invalid. Its claim of the South China Sea has since expanded to a 10-dash line, which still covers features within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, as well as features that other countries also claim.
Over the past few weeks, the Philippine Navy has monitored a steady increase of Chinese vessels, particularly from the Chinese Maritime Militia, a fleet of fishing ships that serve as force multipliers for both the Chinese Navy and coast guard.
From just 78 Chinese vessels in the first week of April and 79 in the second week of April, Philippine officials have monitored over 124 Chinese ships in the West Philippine Sea.
Most were monitored close to Bajo de Masinloc off the coast of Zambales, close to Ayungin Shoal off the coast of Palawan, and in Pagasa Island, a feature inhabited by both civilians and soldiers that is located beyond the Philippine exclusive economic zone. Over the weekend, two Chinese Maritime Militia ships sailed as close as up to 30 nautical miles from mainland Palawan.
Trinidad said most of the Chinese Maritime Militia ships were anchored and “nesting,” meaning they were anchored right next to each other, forming a raft of vessels at sea.
They are not always that calm in the West Philippine Sea. Chinese Maritime Militia often hound Philippine ships during missions in to the West Philippine Sea, especially during military resupply operations to Ayungin Shoal.
Over 16,000 troops from the Philippines and the US, and hundreds from Australia and France. Some 14 countries, including those in Southeast Asia, will be sending representatives as observers. The Philippine Coast Guard will be part of this year’s war games for the first time, to provide perimeter support during the MME. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/expects-china-behave-balikatan-joint-west-sea-sail-2024/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1S1aGRtdYH702DO0WOBLZv-gyBkDd8SF1EK_7ay-sL-Zez2k36ERBcDxA_aem_CsW14rMajp5OwfHMa_wZkA
|
1
|
TOPNOTCHERS: April 2024 Pharmacists Licensure Examination
|
clescudero0258
|
23/04/2024 15:15
|
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced on Tuesday, April 23, that 1,185 out of 2,147 passed the April 2024 Pharmacists Licensure Examination.
Here’s the list of examinees who made it to the top 10 of the examination.
See the full results of the April 2024 Pharmacists Licensure Examination below.
– Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/bulletin-board/examination-results/topnotchers-pharmacists-licensure-april-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1H90z6OLp0AaVi4HXB-KUYV1AdxcSYFFIOH50No5yP5BDcYWjU-jnWhUE_aem_vCKUEwM8jDSmzw35b88CZg
|
1
|
New Siargao-Dinagat sea route promises to bolster Caraga tourism, economy
|
Herbie G
|
23/04/2024 16:30
|
AGREE. Dinagat Governor Nilo Demerey (left), Del Carmen Mayor Alfredo Coro II (center), and Cagdianao Mayor Marc Adelson Longos (right) sign an agreement to start the new sea route for Dinagat and Siargao islands, vice versa.
Municipality of Del Carmen
BUTUAN, Philippines – Local officials are optimistic about a surge in tourism and economic growth for both the island province of Dinagat and Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte in the Caraga region with the opening of a new sea route linking the two.
With an average travel time of one hour and 20 minutes, this is the first and only direct route connecting the two islands, reducing travel time from almost four hours, which usually involved a boat trip to the mainland in Surigao City and then another boat ride to the islands.
Launched on Monday, April 22, the new route from the port in Del Carmen town in Siargao to Cagdianao town in Dinagat, vice versa, is serviced by the M/V French 777 of Nier Shipping Lines.
Authorized by Special Permit No. 2024-04-042 from the Maritime Industry Authority, it has a carrying capacity of 120 passengers, including motorcycles.
Dinagat Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. said the opening of the new sea route is an initiative to bolster local tourism in the province through collaboration with Del Carmen in Siargao Island.
Demerey said their aim is not to compete with Siargao’s tourism but rather to integrate Dinagat into the broader island adventure experience that Siargao offers.
“We copied what Siargao has done so that Dinagat can also become a part of Siargao… We know that tourism in Siargao is really good. They have a nice airport, clear plans, and beautiful surfing spots, making them the surfing capital,” Demerey said during the launch.
Apart from boosting the tourism industry, Del Carmen Mayor Alfredo Coro II said the route would also open economic opportunities for both islands.
“Siargao’s tourism can be expanded to include Dinagat with its own exciting adventures as a mountainous island province and host to Asia’s largest bonsai forest, while Dinagat benefits from access to Siargao Airport for trade and supply chain of agricultural produce,” Coro said.
He added that small island economies must continue to explore collective and coordinated actions to maximize natural assets to promote sustainable development and inclusive growth.
Department of Tourism-Caraga Director Ivonnie Dumadag said connecting the two islands signals the birth of a “new tourism circuit” and paves the way for the promotion of lesser-known but similarly beautiful destinations in the Caraga region.
“We capitalize on the strength of Siargao, which is primarily its accessibility, and use that strength to help nearby Dinagat Island, which also offers world-class yet pristine natural attractions,” Dumadag said.
DOT Caraga’s records showed that Dinagat Island logged a total of 22,832 tourist arrivals in 2023, marking a 35.76% increase from its record in 2022, where it tallied 16,818 tourists.
Meanwhile, Siargao saw the highest number of tourist arrivals in the region for 2023, recording a total of 529,822 tourist arrivals, which represented a 323.56% increase from the 125,088 tourists logged in 2022.
M/V French 777 offers regular trips on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. It departs from Del Carmen at 7 am and from Cagdianao at 1 pm.
On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, it leaves from Del Carmen at 1:30 pm and from Cagdianao at 3 pm.
The regular fare rates are set at P350, with a 20% discount for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and students, and P175 for children ages 4-10. –Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/mindanao/new-siargao-dinagat-sea-route-promises-bolster-caraga-tourism-economy/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0netAg-KJWBsJBna4v99wS-cIo4nDtBl9ihbwYhRgK-rh-Fx36vtf7KZY_aem_IvDJbjxtiWqTYKZy7ZN-Pg
|
1
|
Marcos downplays Liza-Sara rift, shrugs off calls to sack DepEd chief
|
Dwight de Leon
|
23/04/2024 14:29
|
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is sworn in as the 17th President of the Philippines, at the National Museum of Fine Arts on June 30, 2022. Alecs Ongcal/Rappler
Rappler.com
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, April 23, appeared to douse the fire caused by First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos’ revelation that she is not on good terms with Vice President Sara Duterte.
In an ambush interview in Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday, Marcos also brushed aside suggestions to remove Duterte, the Department of Education (DepEd) secretary, from his Cabinet.
“Any of the Cabinet secretaries will be replaced kapag hindi nila ginagawa ang trabaho nila. All the other things are not part of the discussion. Kapag hindi na kaya, nagkasakit, sabihin mo lang, papalitan ka namin. Kapag hindi talaga marunong o korap, tatanggalin ka talaga namin. Hindi naman ganoon si Inday,” he said.
(Any of the Cabinet secretaries will be replaced if they don’t do their job. All the other things are not part of the discussion. If they are sick or can’t take it any longer, just say so and we will replace you. If you are incapable or corrupt, we will sack you. Inday Sara isn’t any of those.)
The rare tell-all interview with broadcaster Anthony Taberna on Friday, April 19 saw the President’s wife lambast Sara for supposedly laughing when his father – former president Rodrigo Duterte – accused Marcos of being “bangag” or under the influence during a rally against charter change in Davao City in January.
It is unclear if Sara indeed laughed at the joke, as video feeds of the event didn’t cut to her reaction during the controversial moment, but she came out with a video statement on Monday, April 23, saying that the First Lady’s “personal feelings have nothing to do with my mandate as a government official.”
Marcos claimed there is no need to patch things up, believing that the country’s second-in-command understands where his wife is coming from.
“I think that she also understands how the First Lady feels, when you have to sit there and listen to these attacks that are being made against your husband,” Marcos said.
“But mag-uusap kami ni VP Sara tungkol diyan. Huwag niya masyadong dibdibin, hindi naman siya ang mga nagsabi tungkol sa kung anu-ano. Madali naman sigurong plantsahin lahat ng naging isyu,” he added.
(VP Sara and I will talk about that. She shouldn’t let it get to her, since she was not the one who said bad stuff about me. All these issues can easily be ironed out.)
Marcos also said he is a lucky husband for having a protective wife who always comes to his defense, but offered an explanation on why Liza reacted that way.
“Ang First Lady, hindi sanay sa pulitika ‘yan e. Kami, manhid na kami diyan, sa insulto. Siya, hindi siya galing sa political family, kaya siguro she still has to learn, magpalagpas nang kaunti ng ibang masasakit at maaanghang na salita,” he added.
(The First Lady is not used to politics. We have been numb to insults, while she still has to learn to ignore the hurtful accusations because she did not come from a political family.)
The Marcoses and the Dutertes – two major political families in the Philippines – teamed up in the 2022 elections, a partnership that resulted in a landslide election victory both for the dictator’s son and the outgoing president’s daughter.
It was, according to analysts, a “marriage of convenience” that has been difficult to maintain.
The Vice President has a feud with the President’s cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez. The House of Representatives under Romualdez denied Vice President’s confidential funds in the 2024 budget.
The President also once said his government was studying the possibility of rejoining the International Criminal Court, which is investigating Mr. Duterte’s bloody drug war. He had also said, however, that his government will not recognize ICC jurisdication over the Phiippine.
In January, the former president accused Marcos of illegal drug use, a claim that the incumbent chief executive laughed off and attributed to Mr. Duterte’s continued fentanyl use. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
This is a good tactic by President Marcos Jr. He is developing an image of “psychological invincibility” against the tirades of the Duterte political dynasty. This will make the latter complacent until President Marcos Jr. executes his real plan against them. Philippine Presidential theatrics (with PBBM as lead actor) have leveled up.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/marcos-downplays-sara-duterte-liza-rift-shrugs-off-calls-fire-her-deped-april-2024/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR21UQ82qPLSCE8X8pJ2dg65iKsYf0hp23_3kXxFftCeIVhIsW9Cb6M0z_U_aem_6-c5QviM2CG3LsG4hLNTxQ
|
1
|
#WalangPasok: Class suspensions, Wednesday, April 24, 2024
|
Acor Arceo
|
23/04/2024 19:15
|
MANILA, Philippines – Some areas suspended face-to-face classes for Wednesday, April 24, due to high heat index levels.
The heat index is measured using the air temperature and the relative humidity in a place at a given time. It is also called the feels-like temperature, and it typically soars during the Philippines’ warm and dry season from March to May.
This list will be updated once local or national authorities make announcements.
– Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/class-suspensions-walang-pasok-april-24-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3DTOOuZyFvPdTYchkuQzxnho_ObxeK7DVfGxBxD98p2hmmIQy3rwbLBrs_aem_t92n0rB5x7VEoCeKTpZkdg
|
1
|
Sultan Kudarat governor suspends town mayor for more than a year
|
Herbie G
|
23/04/2024 16:52
|
SUPPORTERS. Supporters of Isulan Mayor Marites Pallasigue gather for a prayer-rally outside the town hall on June 14, 2023 after the Sultan Kudarat provincial board recommended her suspension. The mayor was ordered suspended on Monday, June 26, 2023.
Isulan municipal government
GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines – The vice mayor of a town in Sultan Kudarat took his oath as acting mayor on Tuesday, April 23, weeks after the province’s governor suspended the municipality’s chief executive for more than a year.
Isulan Vice Mayor Arnold Armada took his oath as acting mayor four days after Mayor Marites Pallasigue received a March suspension order from Sultan Kudarat Governor Pax Ali Mangudadatu. The governor suspended her for 15 months without pay.
The Pallasigues are known political foes of the Mangudadatus, a local political clan that opposed the mayor’s ticket in the 2022 elections.
It was not the first time for Mangudadatu to suspend Pallasigue based on complaints for alleged negligence, dereliction of duty, irregularities in duty, and conduct harmful to public service. In June 2023, the governor suspended her for 60 days based on the recommendation of the provincial board.
With Armada assuming the post of the town mayor, Isulan Councilor Carlo Apiado also took his oath as acting vice mayor.
The period of suspension gives Pallasigue only a few days left in her term to serve when she returns to office in June 2025.
Mangudadatu’s Administrative Order No. 12-2024, suspending Pallasigue for the second time, was a penalty in connection with administrative cases filed against the mayor before the provincial board, said provincial administrator Jimmy Andang on Monday, April 22.
The provincial government said the 15-month suspension includes a penalty of six months for the initial offense in one administrative case, six months for a second offense in another case, and three months for a third case.
Upon the recommendation of the provincial board, Mangudadatu ordered the mayor’s suspension on March 25.
The suspensions will be served successively based on a resolution of the provincial board, Andang said.
The suspension order was received by the mayor’s office on Friday, April 19, according to Pallasigue’s husband Dominador, former mayor of Isulan, in a Facebook post.
On June 26, 2023, Mangudadatu suspended Pallasigue for 60 days based on the recommendation of the provincial board which heard the three administrative cases filed that year by Armada, Apiado, town councilors Jenalyn Mejia, Moises Dolar, Marvin Dalanon, Darlene Lama, and several barangay chairpersons.
In their complaints, they blamed Pallasigue for the delay in the construction of a new municipal hall building. They also alleged that she did not submit copies of her executive orders to the office of the provincial governor.
Pax Ali is the son of Governor Mariam Mangudadatu of Maguindanao del Sur in the Bangsamoro region and Suharto, the former governor of Sultan Kudarat, a province in the Soccsksargen region.
In 2019, the mayor’s husband was convicted of two counts of graft by the Sandiganbayan and sentenced to a maximum of eight years in prison for each charge.
In a 13-page ruling issued on July 19, 2019, the 5th Division of the Sandiganbayan stated that Dominador failed to present compelling arguments in his appeal, affirming his guilt under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The charges against the ex-mayor were related to his decision to demote and dismiss Elias Segura Jr., the municipal planning and development coordinator, in 2007.
Interestingly, Segura ran for mayor of Isulan in the May 2022 elections, with Armada as his running mate, but they were defeated by the wife of Dominador.
Segura and Armada are part of the Kapamilya political alliance led by the Mangudadatus. –Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/mindanao/sultan-kudarat-governor-pax-ali-mangudadatu-suspends-isulan-mayor-marites-pallasigue-again-april-2024/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1hRdWUSas9tug9s8jV974ktgche9ZhytCs3t7bNX0D_Rq5GJSe5As3uXY_aem_W8xO66HoqHTi0qmnntQHyg
|
1
|
Jacob Cortez raring to be part of La Salle’s championship system
|
delfin.dioquino editor
|
22/04/2024 18:10
|
NEW RECRUIT. Jacob Cortez in action for the La Salle Green Archers.
Jacob Cortez Instagram page
MANILA, Philippines – Jacob Cortez reached the NCAA pinnacle with the San Beda Red Lions. Now, he aims to conquer one more quest – to win the UAAP championship with the La Salle Green Archers.
The 21-year-old will be the Archers’ point guard of the future, having transferred to La Salle in January after leading the Red Lions to the NCAA Season 99 title.
Now taking classes at La Salle, Cortez has been slowly integrating himself into the Archers’ system, which has already bore fruit with the UAAP Season 86 crown.
“We know La Salle runs a championship system,” said Cortez. “I’m excited. Everyone here supports me, helps me to know the system, [and] I know it will take me a long time to know all of it. But I have a year or more here to learn before playing.”
Cortez played three seasons at San Beda, the first of which saw him relegated to the reserve list before NCAA Season 97. He then went on to carve himself a spot in the rotation, the starting lineup, and eventually became the team leader in the following two seasons.
Cortez, long courted by La Salle, has been working closely with head coach Topex Robinson since his enrollment, integrating himself as one of the Archers’ cornerstones once his eligibility starts in Season 88.
“So far, coach Topex has been very supportive to me. He teaches me a lot about the team and the culture on the court and off of it. Not only him, other coaches and my teammates as well are also there to guide me. They treat me well here,” he said.
Cortez traces his roots to the green-and-white school, playing for La Salle Green Hills in his early high school years before he transferred to UST and San Beda.
The second-generation player also drew great influence from his father, Mike Cortez, who won two titles with La Salle in 2000 and 2001.
As his surname remains synonymous with the Green Archers, the younger Cortez is steadfast in leaving his own mark on the school, not just for his team but also for his family.
“My family’s familiarity in La Salle has been a big help. My family has been really there behind me, supporting me, even when I was still in high school in La Salle (Green Hills). I know they are excited for me to hopefully finish (college) in La Salle,” Cortez said.
Cortez is on track to play alongside La Salle mainstays Mike Phillips and Season 86 MVP Kevin Quiambao, if he opts to stay with the Green Archers after Season 87.
Cortez will also share the backcourt with former National University star Kean Baclaan, who is also eligible to play in Season 88.
Unfazed by the star power the team already boasts, Cortez promised to continue the grind until he ultimately steps onto a UAAP court.
“There are a lot of great players here that I’ll get to play with. I’m trying not to be satisfied. I’m keeping my routine. I’m working to keep in shape,” said Cortez.
Packed with high expectations coming in, the “Cool Cub” is dead set of his vision – a UAAP title.
“I came here simply to win, to win a championship with La Salle. One of my dreams is to win in the UAAP,” he said.
“But yes, we’re a long way to go. Right now, it’s just about the grind.” – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/jacob-cortez-raring-part-la-salle-green-archers-championship-system/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2UmMhElXsNi0EJELdojN-gnmZ_XCkD8mlQK25ZbPV7qd5ah3TXtG5jRsI_aem_Nu_qWhrtKx4KdtWg3xOlog
|
1
|
Bishop, environment groups file petition against OceanaGold
|
Joann Manabat - CMS
|
23/04/2024 14:18
|
CANCEL. Civil society representatives hold a press conference prior to the filing of a petition to cancel OceanaGold Philippines' mining permit, on April 22, 2024.
Contributed photo
PAMPANGA, Philippines – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bayombong and local environmental groups filed a petition to cancel the mining permit of gold and copper producer OceanaGold Philippines Incorporated before the Regional Trial Court in Bayombong town, Nueva Vizcaya, on Monday, April 22.
Led by the town’s Bishop Elmer Mangalinao, together with the Didipio Earth Savers Multipurpose Association (DESAMA) and Alyansa ng Magsasaka para sa Kalikasan ng Kasibu (AMKKAS), the group filed a petition for certiorari and mandamus to cancel the 2021 renewal of the financial or technical assistance agreement (FTAA) issued to OceanaGold for allegedly violating the constitutional guarantee of local autonomy as well as failure to conduct prior consultation and a new environmental impact assessment.
OceanaGold Philippines’ parent firm is based in Canada and Australia.
Mangalinao, during his homily last Sunday, said there was no environmental impact assessment prior to the renewal, and pointed out that open-pit mining is not permitted in their province. He called on churchgoers to stand behind them for their environment.
“Hindi nagkaroon ng panibagong environmental impact assessment. Mismo ang Environment Code ng Nueva Vizcaya ay hindi pinahihintulutan ang pagkakaroon ng open-pit mining. I am putting myself on the line for our environment. And I ask you to rally behind us,” Mangalinao said in a press release.
(There was no new environmental impact assessment. The Environment Code of Nueva Vizcaya itself does not allow open-pit mining. I am putting myself on the line for our environment. And I ask you to rally behind us.)
In 2018, local officials of Nueva Vizcaya vowed to block the renewal of OceanaGold’s mining permit due to environmental and human rights issues that the company allegedly neglected. Three years later, OceanaGold was allowed by the national government to resume its mining operations despite reports of alleged violation of environmental laws and failure to consult.
OceanaGold Philippines, according to a March 2022 Technical Report on Didipio, said they have all the necessary permits, certificates, licenses, and agreements to conduct its operations, including the renewed FTAA with a 25-year period, an amended environmental compliance certificate (ECC), and a final mine rehabilitation decommissioning plan and fund to pay for end-of-mine-life rehabilitation. The company said in a March 2024 prospectus that its amended ECC was approved on April 26, 2022.
Based on the FTAA, 60% of the net revenue is shared with the national government while 40% goes to OceanaGold.
Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC) said the national government is required to conduct local consultation and secure prior consent for every environmentally critical project, including the renewal of the FTAA.
The group’s legal counsel, Ryan Roset, said their petition also includes an appeal to stop the mining operations.
“Bukod don, may aspeto din kasi na dapat ipatigil yung operation. Kasi nung nagkaroon ng renewal ng FTAA ay hindi nakonsulta yung mga local government units so walang approval, hindi rin nagkaroon ng consultation sa mga communities na alam naman natin na statutorily granted a guaranteed right in process,” Roset told Rappler in an interview on Monday.
(Apart from that, there is also an aspect to stop the operation. When there was a renewal of the FTAA, the local government units were not consulted so there was no approval, nor was there a consultation with the communities that are statutorily granted a guaranteed right of process.)
“Although humihingi tayo ng prayer na itigil ang operation kasi nga hindi nasunod ang tamang proseso,. Napagkaitan yung mga tao and the local government unit,” he added.
(Although we are asking for prayers to stop the operation since the right process wasn’t followed. The locals and the local government unit were deprived.)
Erenio Bobolla, former Didipio village chief, said there have been many complaints regarding the mining company’s operations. He noted that during his term as barangay captain, the council had issued numerous resolutions opposing or stopping OceanaGold’s mining operations.
However, in a statement obtained by Rappler, incumbent village chief Henry Guay said they received thousands of letters from the residents of Didipio in support of the FTAA renewal which were submitted to Malacanañang and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources including the statement of opposition to the renewal.
“Bilang kumakatawan sa mga residente ng Barangay Didipio, nais kong bigyang-diin na suportado ng nakararami sa Didipio ang operasyon ng OceanaGold. Sa katunayan, naghain kami ng Barangay Resolution No. 13, series of 2024 noong ika-5 ng Pebrero na hinihikayat ang DESAMA na tanggapin ang imbitasyon ng OceanaGold para makipagusap na hanggang ngayon hindi ginagawa ng DESAMA,” Guay said in his signed statement.
(As a representative of the residents of Barangay Didipio, I would like to emhpasize that the majority of Didipio residents support the operation of OceanaGold. In fact, we filed Barangay Resolution No. 13, series of 2004 last February 5 to encourage DESAMA to accept the invitation for talks which until now they have not done.)
In a statement sent to Rappler, OceanaGold said they have not received a copy of the petition. However, they said they complied with mining regulations and other requirements prior to the grant of the permit to operate.
“We have not received a copy of the complaint, but we can assure you that OGPI, as a mining partner of the government, goes beyond compliance in adhering to the Philippines’ strict mining regulations, including what is required from us based on our Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA),” the company said.
“We have an Environmental Impact Assessment which was required prior to the grant of an Environment Compliance Certificate for the Didipio Mine. Likewise, we have complied with the requirement of community endorsements prior to the grant of permit to operate the mine. We respect all opinions of our stakeholders and we continue to be open for dialogue and productive engagements.”
The Didipio gold-copper mine was estimated to have 42.2 metric tons of stockpile reserves as of December 2021. Construction of the open pit mining started in 2011 and commercial open pit production in 2013.
Citing data from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, OceanaGold Philippines said it was the second largest producer of gold and copper in 2023. Operations in Didipio Mine were restrained by the local government from July 2019 to July 2021, which forced them to lay off workers.
Philippine mines’ total production value from gold (with silver), copper (with gold and silver), chromite, nickel, and iron reached P214 billion as of December 2022. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
I appreciate Bishop Elmer Mangalinao’s efforts, together with the Didipio Earth Savers Multipurpose Association (DESAMA) and Alyansa ng Magsasaka para sa Kalikasan ng Kasibu (AMKKAS). However, underneath almost every environmental issue is money, which is a strong driving force in the actions of government officials and corporate owners.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/luzon/bishop-environment-groups-file-petition-against-oceanagold/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR30gMSaPTUkMUWJQSltyJQzqXJQewmy6-j4EqLGb60AmIsxpgGmdkpvzas_aem_ASj-piFudLf62HBMobvp9g
|
1
|
Cebu water district resists as Local Water Utilities Administration appoints new chief
|
jsitchon0312
|
23/04/2024 10:05
|
CONFLICT. The power struggle in the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) continues in April 2024.
Jacqueline Hernandez/Rappler
CEBU, Philippines – The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) announced in a social media post on Monday evening, April 22, that it would continue to recognize the board faction led by lawyer Jose Daluz III, ignoring the Local Water Utilities Administration’s (LWUA) new appointee for the water firm’s interim officer-in-charge.
“The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) remains firm in its stance on the status quo and will continue to recognize only the current Board of Directors (BOD), comprised of Chairman Jose Daluz III, Vice Chairman Miguelito Pato, Secretary May Seno, and General Manager Edgar H. Donoso,” the MCWD said.
In March, LWUA administrator Jose Salonga enforced a takeover of the water district, citing MCWD’s high non-revenue water (NRW) rates and failure to fulfill its obligations to the water administration.
On April 12, LWUA appointed lawyer John Dx Lapid as the new general manager of the water district following the suspension of Donoso. Lapid later resigned on April 16, stating in a now-edited Facebook post that he was “being used for politics”.
This time, the LWUA has appointed another lawyer for the job.
“In view of the 90-day preventive suspension of MCWD General Manager Edgar Donoso, the LWUA-installed Interim Board of Directors has designated Atty. Joselito Thomas P. Baena as interim Officer-in-charge,” a statement posted on the Cebu City Public Information Office’s (PIO) social media page read.
Since May 2023, the MCWD has been embroiled over the quarrel between Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama and Daluz. Both parties have exchanged allegations on the “mismanagement” of the water district and attempts to privatize MCWD.
In MCWD’s statement, they said that all of the water firm’s managers and employees would strictly adhere to directives from the Daluz-led board and Donoso.
They stressed that the organization would safeguard its office premises against any potential intrusions, comply with proper government regulations, and uphold its charter as stated in Presidential Decree No. 198.
In a statement on April 16, the MCWD alleged that Lapid and Cebu City government officials “invaded” the MCWD main building, harassed security personnel and forced their way into the general manager’s office on the evening of April 15.
“We have implemented increased security measures to prevent unauthorized access by non-MCWD personnel. Access for consumers is restricted solely to the Customer’s Area on the ground floor,” the MCWD said.
Baena told Rappler on Monday afternoon, April 22, that he had just received the offer to be the interim board’s appointed officer-in-charge and accepted it on the same day.
According to the lawyer, the appointment would only be for the duration of Donoso’s 90-day preventive suspension which was implemented by LWUA on April 12.
In a statement posted on Cebu City PIO’s social media page, Baena said that his first order of business would be to “stabilize the situation” and to coordinate with MCWD officers and employees, and other stakeholders.
“The focus should be on how we can mitigate the effects of El Niño and the water crisis. There’s time for everything but right now our focus should be on the real problem at hand,” Baena told Rappler.
Baena also shared in the statement that he plans to reach out to barangay officials and community leaders in urban and upland areas to address challenges in water supply.
As of this writing, around 50,000 households, mostly in Cebu City, are experiencing severe water shortages due to some dams operating at half capacity.
“Our priority is to bring calmness and reason, to bring some positive energy for a paradigm shift,” Baena said. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/visayas/cebu-water-district-resists-local-utilities-administration-appoints-new-chief/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1ynFuRCaY4bXrqGg4HoJXOiZzinQFW2Evw7RH3gTraOwKRjgZcr51AMiA_aem_IGAed-F62nwkwCSXMb7rXw
|
1
|
Ex-Cebu town treasurer receives probation 23 years after graft conviction
|
Herbie G
|
23/04/2024 12:49
|
Shutterstock.com
MANILA, Philippines – Sentenced to life imprisonment for graft 23 years ago, a former town treasurer in Cebu province was granted probation by the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan and released from jail.
Former Compostela, Cebu town treasurer Dominador Maravillas was convicted in 2001 along with the late town mayor Gilbert Wagas for malversation of public funds, amounting to P367,618, and both were sentenced to reclusion perpetua. They were also fined equivalent to the misappropriated amount and disqualified from government employment.
The Sandiganbayan noted Maravillas’ advanced age as a factor minimizing the probability of flight risk.
Wagas died in 2017 while serving his sentence at the New Bilibid Prison, while Maravillas was only arrested on February 18, 2021, following a bench warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan in December 2020.
The 4th Division of the Sandiganbayan, in a resolution issued on April 7, granted Maravillas probation after a regional court reduced his sentence from 40 years of imprisonment to merely two to four years.
He had filed a petition with the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 29 in Cebu, invoking Republic Act No. 10951, a law which allows penalties for various offenses to be adjusted. The RTC granted his petition on October 12, 2023.
The RTC ruling allowed Maravillas to bring his case to the Sandiganbayan where he invoked the Probation Law, arguing that his reduced sentence now qualified him for probation since it fell below the six-year threshold.
He had also petitioned to be released and placed under the custody of a barangay councilor, Josias Aguanta Peñalosa, who guaranteed his appearance in court when required.
Upon review, the Sandiganbayan granted Maravillas’ application for probation, noting that there were no disqualifications applicable to his case.
The court ordered his release from the Asturias Municipal Police Station jail in Cebu. –Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/visayas/former-cebu-town-treasurer-receives-probation-years-after-graft-conviction-april-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1wXJYz1RwA2whUjlbackStTtCR1YTyO_ViR9tGhovjG8QkJ26p2LOApa0_aem_7zw6dBSPfd6yudEr2e1Rlg
|
1
|
Much ado over nothing? Balikatan sinking of China-made ship ‘coincidental,’ says Navy
|
Bea Cupin
|
23/04/2024 22:10
|
BALIKATAN. Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Andres Centino and United States embassy Chargé d’affaires Heather Variava, lead the kick-off of Balikatan 38-202 during ceremonies at the AFP Command Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo on April 11, 2023.
Angie de Silva/Rappler
That by early May 2024, joint forces of the Philippines and the United States will be sinking a decommissioned China-made Philippine oil tanker is not a “ludicrous performance” or a show of “provocative intent” – it’s simply a coincidence, the Navy said.
Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesperson of the Philippine Navy for the West Philippine Sea was quick to dismiss malice behind choosing the MT Lake Caliraya as the subject of a sinking activity for the 2024 Exercise Balikatan, or the yearly military drills between Manila and Washington.
The sinking exercise is among the last and biggest of the three-week-long war games and will see the militaries and assets of the two treaty-allies working together to sink the oil tanker.
“It’s not complicated, it’s coincidental,” said Trinidad, who just happened to be celebrating his birthday on Tuesday, April 23, a day after Balikatan was officially kicked off.
His boss, Navy Chief Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr. said the same.
“Any attachment, if ever there is any, doesn’t matter…. It’s an old Navy vessel that was decommissioned,” explained the three-star general during a press briefing at the Navy headquarters.
The Philippines had earlier confirmed that the MT Lake Caliraya, once called the BRP Lake Caliraya, would be the subject of the Balikatan drill. The choice has ruffled feathers in Beijing, with state-run Global Times calling it, in an editorial, a “ludicrous performance by Manila” that supposedly “[shows] clear provocative intent.”
What the hawkish Global Times leaves out is that the Caliraya, which was once a Philippine National Oil Company vessel, had long been scheduled to be the star of a sinking activity – way back July 2023, before tensions between China and the Philippines increased in the West Philippine Sea.
Caliraya was decommissioned by the Navy in December 2020, alongside other older vessels.
“We found it appropriate to decommission [the Lake Caliraya] so as not to incur expenses on its maintenance,” said Adaci. Besides, decommissioned Navy ships are routinely used in sinking exercises, be it Balikatan or other military exercises, added Adaci.
In the 2023 Balikatan, Philippine and US forces jointly sank a decommissioned Philippine Navy corvette in Zambales. This year, the sinking activity will be happening in Ilocos Norte.
That the Global Times is reacting strongly to the planned sinking of a ship that was built back in 2007 should be no surprise. Beijing has been stepping up its rhetoric on the West Philippine Sea, on the Philippines’ defense and foreign policy decisions, and many other things, really, as tensions have ramped up between the two countries.
China claims almost all of the South China Sea, totally ignoring a 2016 Arbitral Award that deemed its claim invalid. Chinese vessels are regulars across the vast South China Sea, especially in features within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Beijing’s reaction to Balikatan goes beyond editorials posted on its state-run news outfits.
The Navy also confirmed an increase in Chinese ships – mostly its maritime militia fleet – in the week leading up to Balikatan. The Philippines, US, and France are set to sail in the West Philippine Sea for maritime drills under Balikatan. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/navy-says-sinking-china-made-ship-balikatan-2024-coincidental/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3bIOx-_YdY29yJ7XXMoO0DNyGmJVCtcq9NNmcB_0WoQtOfJrVK2_2-ngo_aem_8kzWEilTPV5g3jqj_oYssQ
|
1
|
President downplays Liza Marcos-Sara Duterte rift | The wRap
|
Nina Liu
|
23/04/2024 22:41
|
Here are today’s headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, April 23, downplays the rift between First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte, triggered by the First Lady’s interview with a radio personality, uploaded Friday, April 19.
The health department reminds medical professionals, accepting gifts or receiving profit from biopharmaceutical companies after doing them favors is ‘unethical.’
Senator Risa Hontiveros says the Philippine National Police should stop making excuses and revoke the firearm licenses issued to fugitive preacher Apollo Quiboloy.
Police arrest dozens of people at a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Yale University. This, hours after Columbia University canceled in-person classes as protesters set up tents at its New York City campus last week.
Star Magic threatens legal action against BINI and BGYO detractors online. In a statement, the two groups’ legal counsel Atty. Joji Alonso calls on online users to ‘be responsible in posting and spreading hurtful content.’ — Rappler.com
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/april-23-2024/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2gx6FsDN3AqBRgovXkiUK-XJMVvfI6E-dgz7hNJvDcV2zjqiaEoUMtIgY_aem_C-Y66EsmGIWBWWxe0Rl3kA
|
1
|
LIST: Filipino athletes who qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics
|
jisaga0269
|
12/03/2024 21:31
|
CHAMPION. The Philippines' EJ Obiena celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's pole vault in the 19th Asian Games.
Dylan Martinez/REUTERS
MANILA, Philippines – The clock is ticking for the world’s best athletes to punch their tickets to the 2024 Paris Olympics, and so far, the Philippines is on track to once again be well-represented in the top quadrennial multi-sport showpiece.
Several Filipino standouts have already qualified to fly the flag in Paris, with many more in the wings waiting for their shot at ultimate sporting glory.
The Philippines will have a lot to prove in the 2024 Olympics after a historic 2021 run in Tokyo, where living legend Hidilyn Diaz won the country’s first-ever gold through a masterful weightlifting display.
Additionally, the 19-strong Filipino delegation also secured the nation’s biggest medal haul ever in a single Olympics, with Diaz’s gold topping a big four-medal tally, boosted by two silvers and one bronze from boxers Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio, and Eumir Marcial, respectively.
Here is the updated list of athletes hoping to make more history for the Philippines in Paris, in chronological order of qualification:
First on the list is one of the Philippines’ best hopes for a 2024 Olympics medal, pole vaulting superstar EJ Obiena.
Ranked No. 2 in the world just behind reigning Olympic champion Mondo Duplantis, the 28-year-old is looking to capitalize on a monumental 2023 season highlighted by notching a new personal and Asian record 6-meter jump on June 10, 2023 and an early Paris qualification on July 3, 2023.
Looking to prove doubters wrong after a controversial split with his old coach, artistic gymnastics phenom Carlos Yulo punched his Olympic ticket on October 1, 2023, and has continuously trained to perfect his craft just in time for Paris.
At just 24 years old, the two-time world champion, six-time Asian champion, and nine-time Southeast Asian (SEA) Games champion is gunning for his first Olympic gold, particularly in his floor exercise pet event.
Prior to even stepping foot in Paris, Aleah Finnegan is already a history maker for Philippine gymnastics, as her qualification on October 3, 2023, marked the first time a Filipina gymnast qualified for the Olympics since 1964.
Only representing the Philippines for two years so far since her 2022 SEA Games debut, the 21-year-old prodigy is out to make herself a household name with a stellar Olympics debut, and perhaps, win even more hearts with her first medal.
Another familiar face in the upcoming Olympics, boxing star Eumir Marcial is up for another round (or two, or three) with the world’s best, and is looking for a better shine to his 2021 bronze medal.
Qualified for Paris on October 4, 2023, the 28-year-old veteran makes a forced jump to the men’s 80kg class after his favored 75kg division was scrapped for the 2024 Games and is now out to prove himself and the world that he can still bring his best foot forward in the ring even in uncharted territory.
One of the Philippines’ best female boxers today, 31-year-old Nesthy Petecio is right in the middle of her athletic prime, and now has a golden opportunity to improve on her historic 2021 Olympic silver with a return trip to the sport’s biggest stage.
After qualifying on March 12, 2024, Petecio returns to the women’s 57kg event in Paris, where she has a chance to make more history for Filipina boxing.
Making her Olympics debut in July, Aira Villegas joins Petecio as the other Filipina boxer who will give the Philippines a much-needed extra medal chance, this time at the women’s 50kg class after also booking her spot on March 12, 2024.
At 29 years old, the Leyte native already has significant experience under her belt to make her go toe-to-toe with other world-class sluggers and possibly snag an Olympic medal in just her first try.
Weightlifter John Ceniza looks all set for an Olympic debut after securing his Paris Games spot after a strong performance in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup men’s 61kg event in Phuket, Thailand, on April 2, 2024.
The 26-year-old rising Cebuano star stayed well inside the qualification cutoff as only the top 10 in each weight category will compete in the sport’s biggest stage.
Elreen Ando sealed her Olympic return after a solid showing in the IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand on April 3, 2024 to secure her place in the women’s 59kg division of the Paris Games.
The 25-year-old Cebuana weightlifter, though, had to do it at the expense of Hidilyn Diaz – the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medalist – as only one weightlifter per country per weight category will advance to Paris. She bested Diaz with a total lift of 228kg in the World Cup to stay inside the top 10 qualification cutoff.
Ando, who shattered the Southeast Asian Games record last year, aims to surpass her Olympic debut performance where she finished seventh in the Tokyo Games in 2021.
Reigning Southeast Asian Games champion Vanessa Sarno secured a spot in the Paris Games on April 7, 2024, paving the way for the Philippines to have its biggest weightlifting contingent in the Olympics in nearly four decades.
The 20-year-old pride of Bohol stayed inside the top 10 of the women’s 71kg class in the IWF Olympic Qualification Ranking after an impressive stint in the World Cup where she shattered her own national record in the snatch event.
Far from the Olympic radar, Levi Jung-Ruivivar pulled off the improbable to become the Philippines’ third gymnastic bet in the Paris Games.
The Filipino-American teen, who narrowly reached the final as the last qualifier, captured a silver in the women’s uneven bars of the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup Series in Doha, Qatar on April 19, 2024.
With her medal breakthrough, Jung-Ruivivar hiked her qualification points to become the country’s 10th Olympian in Paris.
Joanie Delgaco became the Philippines’ first female rower to qualify for the Olympics on April 21, 2024 after a strong performance in the women’s single sculls of the World Rowing Asian and Oceanian Olympic Qualification Regatta in Chungju, South Korea.
Delgaco finished fourth in the 2,000-meter event, staying in the top five to earn her ticket to Paris.
Philippine fencing booked a return trip to the Olympic stage after three decades as Samantha Catantan topped the continental Paris Games qualifiers.
A former UAAP standout, Catantan ruled the women’s foil category in the Asia-Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifier in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates on April 27, 2024 to become the first Filipino fencer to earn an Olympic spot since Walter Torres competed in the 1992 Barcelona Games.
A fourth gymnast joined the Philippines’ Olympic cast as Filipino-American Emma Malabuyo sealed her bid with a medal-winning performance in the qualifiers.
Malabuyo, a varsity member of the University of California, Los Angeles, claimed her spot in the Paris Games after bagging a bronze in the individual all-around of the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships on May 24, 2024 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam made sure to book a return trip to the sport’s biggest stage.
Although the Cagayan de Oro boxer took a longer route after falling short in the two previous qualifiers, Paalam did so convincingly this time, winning all of his five bouts in the the men’s 57kg of the World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand to claim his Paris Games ticket on June 1, 2024.
Paalam, who had a thrilling debut run in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 before settling for silver, hiked Philippine boxing’s Olympic contingent to four.
Make that five Filipino boxers in the Paris Games.
Hergie Bacyadan made Philippine boxing the biggest contingent for the country in this year’s Olympics after earning her spot in the women’s 75kg.
A former world champion in the combat sport vovinam, Bacyadan earned a unanimous decision win over Venezuela’s Maryelis Yriza in the World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand on June 2, 2024 to book her ticket to Paris.
Earning another trip to the Olympics, golfer Bianca Pagdanganan completed the 60-women field after making the Paris Games cut-off in the world rankings released on June 25, 2024.
But the 26-year-old Pagdanganan aims for a better showing this time after finishing 43rd in the Tokyo edition in 2021.
Golfer Dottie Ardina reached the quadrennial showpiece for the first time after making the the 60-women cut-off for the Paris Games released on June 25, 2024.
The 30-year-old Ardina competed in just two LPGA events this year, but looks to rebound in Paris after a tough season.
Filipina-Japanese judoka Kiyomi Watanabe secured a second consecutive Olympic stint after clinching one of the two continental quotas reserved for Asia in the women’s -63kg category on June 25, 2024.
The 27-year-old bet targets a better showing in the Paris Olympics after a first-round exit in the Tokyo Games.
Lauren Hoffman earned her Paris Olympics spot via the world rankings in the women’s 400m hurdles on July 2, 2024.
Hoffman – the Filipino-American who holds the national record in the women’s 100m hurdles – accomplished the feat by the skin of her teeth as she made the 40-entry cutoff at the 39th spot, collecting just enough points to advance.
Another hurdler made it to the Paris Olympics via the world rankings as John Cabang Tolentino qualified on July 2, 2024.
Tolentino, a Filipino residing in Spain, finished 30th out of 40 qualifiers in the men’s 110m hurdles, just a couple of months after setting the Philippine record in the same event.
Swimmer Kayla Sanchez advanced to the Olympics for the second straight edition as she qualified via universality on July 3, 2024.
Helping Canada win a silver and a bronze in the Tokyo Games, Sanchez will represent the Philippines this time a year after her citizenship switch as she is set to see action in the women’s 100m freestyle.
Like Kayla Sanchez, Jarod Hatch formalized his Olympic entry via universality on July 3, 2024.
Hatch, who won three medals in the previous Southeast Asian Games, will compete in the men’s 100m butterfly. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/list-philippine-athletes-qualified-paris-olympics-2024/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR37_pU7xh8nmooJ3jtCraNPKLQ5VHkGtAGCVMe83iLUOMuyaJiV8167nAI_aem_w1jGJ3GePWqCfajhCZfJ5Q
|
1
|
Hontiveros: What’s taking PNP so long to revoke Quiboloy’s gun licenses?
|
Jodesz Gavilan
|
22/04/2024 16:08
|
PREACHER. Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy in an undated photo in Davao City.
Sourced photo
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, April 22, said the Philippine National Police (PNP) should stop making excuses and revoke the firearm licenses issued to fugitive preacher Apollo Quiboloy as he faces criminal cases in the Philippines and abroad.
In a statement, Hontiveros said it is strange how slow the PNP is in taking action despite multiple arrest warrants already out against Quiboloy over allegations of abuse inside the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
“Kung talagang kasangga namin sila sa pagpapanagot sa mga pambabastos ni Quiboloy sa ating mga institusyon, dapat ginagawa nila ang lahat para mahuli siya, at isang mahalagang paraan ang pagbawi ng mga armas, lalo na ng isang pugante,” the senator said.
“Baka kaya ang lakas ng loob magtago ni Quiboloy dahil sa mga armas at baril na pumoprotekta sa kanya,” she added.
(If the PNP is our ally in holding Quiboloy accountable for disrespecting our institutions, they should do everything to capture him, and one key way to do it is to revoke his firearms, especially since he is considered a fugitive. Maybe he has the gall to hide because of the guns that protect him.)
A Rappler investigation found that the doomsday preacher has at least 19 firearms with an estimated value of about P2.3 million ($41,000). Licenses of least 13 of these are set to expire in April 2033, indicating that they were granted in 2023. This means that he benefited from Republic Act No. 11766, signed by his friend, then-president Rodrigo Duterte, which extended the validity of a license from four to 10 years.
But the PNP in early April said that Quiboloy still cannot be considered “armed and dangerous” because there are no indications of prior violence.
Quiboloy is the subject of arrest warrants issued by courts in Davao City and Pasig City, aside from a pending Senate arrest order after he failed to attend hearings into allegations against him and his church.
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation, meanwhile, placed Quiboloy in its most-wanted list in early 2022 for sex trafficking of children and promotional money laundering, among others. An FBI poster indicates that Quiboloy allegedly forced his followers to “solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyle of its leaders.”
“Sa dami at bigat ng pending cases ni Quiboloy, siguro naman puwede nang bawiin ang mga armas niya,” Hontiveros said. “Sa kasong human trafficking pa lang, non-bailable at lifetime imprisonment na ang parusa, kaya ano pa hinihintay ng PNP?”
(With the number and gravity of Quiboloy’s pending cases, they can already revoke his firearms’ licenses. What is the PNP waiting for when the cases include human trafficking, which is non-bailable and can lead to lifetime imprisonment if he is convicted?)
Quiboloy on April 6 said he will not be caught alive, and that he will only respond to the allegations if the US does not intervene. He also accused the Marcos administration of conspiring with the Americans.
“Ako po ay hindi nagtatago sa kasong ito dahil ako po ay may kasalanan. Hindi po,” he said. “Ako ay umiiwas dahil pinoprotektahan ko ang aking sarili.”
(I am not hiding from this case because I am guilty. No. I am avoiding it because I am protecting myself.)
Duterte said he does not want to be caught in the legal issues faced by his friend Quiboloy. The former president, however, admitted that he remains in touch with the fugitive pastor. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/risa-hontiveros-police-revoke-apollo-quiboloy-firearm-licenses/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3UERafUILE6fYHbddtpqIqlAbu8C9wGI-ZrKKPXyQFuqCJBwy5i8Jnfyw_aem_kE1kGnGNkZFjrHVLeVhfPA
|
1
|
Doctors in pyramid schemes? DOH reminds medical professionals of ethical code
|
Kaycee
|
23/04/2024 11:28
|
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) emphasized the “unethical” nature of medical professionals accepting gifts and any form of profit from biopharmaceutical companies after doing them certain favors.
On Monday, April 23, the DOH released Department Circular 2024-0141 outlining ethical codes for medical professionals prescribing products to patients. The circular comes after reports of doctors allegedly taking part in a pyramid scheme and profiting off of the medicine they prescribe.
“Medical professionals are expected to uphold professional and ethical standards,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said.
“Societal pressures, financial gains, and administrative exigencies shall not compromise the rights of the patient to quality healthcare services,” he added.
"Societal pressures, financial gains, and administrative exigencies shall not compromise the rights of the patient to quality healthcare service," DOH Department Circular No. 2024-0141 reads. pic.twitter.com/mGnDwa9V18
Over the weekend, Philippine STAR columnist Alex Magno wrote about a pharmaceutical company that allegedly acts like a multi-level marketing company for doctors by doctors. Those at the bottom of the pyramid allegedly receive payment in the form of cash, plane tickets, and luxury vehicles, while those at the top receive a fraction of profits from drug companies they work with.
Magno said the doctors in the scheme also allegedly have their patients pay for more expensive medicine to cover their treatment. On top of this, patients are advised to also take supplements from the same drug company.
Doctors are only allowed to prescribe medicine based on scientific data and pharmaceutical companies are not allowed to engage medical workers to promote their products.
Physicians in the country and all over the world follow several regulations for their professions and a code of ethics is among them.
The DOH also cited Section 7 of Republic Act No. 6713 which does not allow those working under public trust to accept any favors that may influence them in doing their jobs. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
This is an internal conflict of the Code of Ethics versus Money. Which of these two will Doctors choose?
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/doctors-pyramid-scheme-department-health-unethical/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0QU1m7a2oaMm01mFo11m1LGqf1BNMZ5rSZnAnNVTRzxS1HvJtOUqxj33U_aem_fPlcrAXkZXVGlDw5q-uxzQ
|
1
|
Marcos downplays Liza-Sara rift, shrugs off calls to sack DepEd chief
|
Dwight de Leon
|
23/04/2024 14:29
|
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is sworn in as the 17th President of the Philippines, at the National Museum of Fine Arts on June 30, 2022. Alecs Ongcal/Rappler
Rappler.com
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, April 23, appeared to douse the fire caused by First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos’ revelation that she is not on good terms with Vice President Sara Duterte.
In an ambush interview in Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday, Marcos also brushed aside suggestions to remove Duterte, the Department of Education (DepEd) secretary, from his Cabinet.
“Any of the Cabinet secretaries will be replaced kapag hindi nila ginagawa ang trabaho nila. All the other things are not part of the discussion. Kapag hindi na kaya, nagkasakit, sabihin mo lang, papalitan ka namin. Kapag hindi talaga marunong o korap, tatanggalin ka talaga namin. Hindi naman ganoon si Inday,” he said.
(Any of the Cabinet secretaries will be replaced if they don’t do their job. All the other things are not part of the discussion. If they are sick or can’t take it any longer, just say so and we will replace you. If you are incapable or corrupt, we will sack you. Inday Sara isn’t any of those.)
The rare tell-all interview with broadcaster Anthony Taberna on Friday, April 19 saw the President’s wife lambast Sara for supposedly laughing when his father – former president Rodrigo Duterte – accused Marcos of being “bangag” or under the influence during a rally against charter change in Davao City in January.
It is unclear if Sara indeed laughed at the joke, as video feeds of the event didn’t cut to her reaction during the controversial moment, but she came out with a video statement on Monday, April 23, saying that the First Lady’s “personal feelings have nothing to do with my mandate as a government official.”
Marcos claimed there is no need to patch things up, believing that the country’s second-in-command understands where his wife is coming from.
“I think that she also understands how the First Lady feels, when you have to sit there and listen to these attacks that are being made against your husband,” Marcos said.
“But mag-uusap kami ni VP Sara tungkol diyan. Huwag niya masyadong dibdibin, hindi naman siya ang mga nagsabi tungkol sa kung anu-ano. Madali naman sigurong plantsahin lahat ng naging isyu,” he added.
(VP Sara and I will talk about that. She shouldn’t let it get to her, since she was not the one who said bad stuff about me. All these issues can easily be ironed out.)
Marcos also said he is a lucky husband for having a protective wife who always comes to his defense, but offered an explanation on why Liza reacted that way.
“Ang First Lady, hindi sanay sa pulitika ‘yan e. Kami, manhid na kami diyan, sa insulto. Siya, hindi siya galing sa political family, kaya siguro she still has to learn, magpalagpas nang kaunti ng ibang masasakit at maaanghang na salita,” he added.
(The First Lady is not used to politics. We have been numb to insults, while she still has to learn to ignore the hurtful accusations because she did not come from a political family.)
The Marcoses and the Dutertes – two major political families in the Philippines – teamed up in the 2022 elections, a partnership that resulted in a landslide election victory both for the dictator’s son and the outgoing president’s daughter.
It was, according to analysts, a “marriage of convenience” that has been difficult to maintain.
The Vice President has a feud with the President’s cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez. The House of Representatives under Romualdez denied Vice President’s confidential funds in the 2024 budget.
The President also once said his government was studying the possibility of rejoining the International Criminal Court, which is investigating Mr. Duterte’s bloody drug war. He had also said, however, that his government will not recognize ICC jurisdication over the Phiippine.
In January, the former president accused Marcos of illegal drug use, a claim that the incumbent chief executive laughed off and attributed to Mr. Duterte’s continued fentanyl use. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
This is a good tactic by President Marcos Jr. He is developing an image of “psychological invincibility” against the tirades of the Duterte political dynasty. This will make the latter complacent until President Marcos Jr. executes his real plan against them. Philippine Presidential theatrics (with PBBM as lead actor) have leveled up.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/marcos-downplays-sara-duterte-liza-rift-shrugs-off-calls-fire-her-deped-april-2024/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR30F_6fXpkXbTFGM5YhhDT4hET9YF-wnznCq_Nq8fQNv4BRyYInTdiS8H0_aem_1ILWxSZN0HXabIpK8Ucr4A
|
1
|
#WalangPasok: Class suspensions, Wednesday, April 24, 2024
|
Acor Arceo
|
23/04/2024 19:15
|
MANILA, Philippines – Some areas suspended face-to-face classes for Wednesday, April 24, due to high heat index levels.
The heat index is measured using the air temperature and the relative humidity in a place at a given time. It is also called the feels-like temperature, and it typically soars during the Philippines’ warm and dry season from March to May.
This list will be updated once local or national authorities make announcements.
– Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/class-suspensions-walang-pasok-april-24-2024/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR07q5ZbOAJKXqaNfj2ffNNg32DckN8q_5SJLdE4Vw5HTsKgqm1aHiMGeOc_aem_xwRhLhF-PqNYZO8GTf3Y0Q
|
1
|
CA affirms dismissal of 3 immigration officers tagged in ‘pastillas’ scam
|
Jairo Bolledo
|
23/04/2024 21:00
|
IMMIGRATION. This file photo shows immigration desks at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 Departure area on April 9, 2023.
Bureau of Immigration
MANILA, Philippines – The Court of Appeals (CA) upheld the dismissal of three Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers tagged in the controversial “pastillas” scam.
In a decision dated April 12, the CA’s Special Sixth Division affirmed the dismissal of BI officers Aurelo Lucero III, George Bituin, and Salahudin Hadjinoor. Associate Justice Maximo de Leon penned the decision, with concurrence from Associate Justices Perpetua Susana Atal-Paño and Bonifacio Pascua.
The same decision granted the petition of review filed by Frances Meek Flores after the CA dismissed the grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service case against her for lack of substantial evidence. The appellate court ordered her reinstatement from her former position and ruled that she is “entitled to backwages from the time of her unlawful dismissal on 21 March 2022, at the rate last received by her without qualification and deduction, until the date of her actual reinstatement.”
In early 2020, investigations revealed that Chinese employees of Philippine offshore gaming operators allegedly seamlessly entered the country for a fee of P10,000 per person. The scheme was dubbed pastillas because the alleged payouts were rolled in paper. Later, the payouts became sophisticated and used envelopes and free lunch allegedly provided by the Chinese.
The Office of the Ombudsman, in a decision on March 21, 2022, found the four administratively liable for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. Meanwhile, the Ombudsman junked the gross or serious dishonesty and gross neglect of duty against the immigration officers.
The four filed motions for reconsideration, but the Ombudsman junked the petitions on August 31, 2022. This pushed the petitioners to seek the CA’s intervention.
In explaining its ruling, the CA said the Ombudsman erred when it held Flores administratively liable, and said “there is no substantial evidence which shows that Flores is either a member of the pastillas group.”
The appellate court noted that the Ombudsman found Flores guilty because she was the on-duty immigration officer who processed the entry of foreigners who later found to be part of the pastillas’ VIP list.
“It is clear that Flores’ grant of entry to these four (4) foreign nationals were warranted as she had no reason to prevent their entry in this country,” the CA said in its ruling.
As to the three other BI officers, the CA said authorities were able to prove the allegations against Lucero, Bituin, and Hadjinoor with substantial evidence.
“As the Office of the Ombudsman found Lucero, Bituin and Hadjinoor to be part of the pastillas group based on the overwhelming substantial evidence against them, We see no reason to depart from the same,” the appellate court added. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/court-appeals-decision-affirms-dismissal-immigration-officers-pastillas-scam-april-2024/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2PD78P3bWhWLS8HgrmiTceXEgYBR8TXDPrW-yyY-6ioq_ys-ZEw6SeJqg_aem_nDHwvqVJ3SU_a1UcxqIjpA
|
1
|
QCPD sues transport group Manibela for ‘disruptive behavior’ during strike
|
Jairo Bolledo
|
23/04/2024 20:06
|
TRANSPORT. In this photo, jeepney transport group Manibela head Mar Valbuena, along with jeepney drivers, file a petition at the Office of the Ombudsman accusing the top officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board of violations of the anti-graft practices act in pushing for the government’s PUV Modernization Program and its push for consolidation of franchises to hasten the phaseout of the traditional jeepneys, on February 7, 2024.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said on Tuesday, April 23, that it filed complaints against transport group Manibela over the latter’s “disruptive behavior” during a two-day strike in Quezon City earlier this month.
The QCPD said it filed complaints against the group led by Mar Valbuena for three counts of alleged violation of Batas Pambansa 880 or Public Assembly Act of 1985, alleged violations of article 155 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) (alarm and scandal), article 151 (resistance and disobedience), and direct assault upon an agent of person in authority.
Those who face the complaints are the following:
Valbuena countered the police’s claims and said they did not violate any law. In fact, it was QCPD personnel who blocked the road, causing Manibela members to get stuck in the traffic, Valbuena said.
“Isinagawa po namin [nang] mapayapa ang aming transport caravan at programa [nang] wala po kaming pinerwisyo at sinaktan. At sa napag-usapang oras between Manibela and QCPD, ay kusa po kaming nag-disperse [nang] maayos at mapayapa kasi ‘yan po ay gentleman’s agreement namin sa lahat po ng dinaanan naming programa,” Valbuena told Rappler.
(We peacefully held our transport caravan and program without hurting or disturbing anyone. And on the agreed time between Manibela and the QCPD, we dispersed on our own and peacefully because that’s our gentleman’s agreement in all programs we’ve held.)
The QCPD said the complaints stemmed from Manibela’s transport strike on April 15 to 16, where the group opposed the phase out of public utility vehicles. The police claimed the “rally caused grave public inconvenience and disturbance” and the group “refused cooperation and ignored directives to relocate their protest to a freedom park.”
The police also said that Manibela failed to secure a permit from the Quezon City local government, which they said violated the law. The group’s actions also “disrupted traffic flow, inconveniencing commuters and plunging the streets into chaos.”
The QCPD has a history of filing complaints against those who hold rallies. In 2023, the QC police also filed complaints against Max Santiago, the artist behind the effigy of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that was set on fire during a State of the Nation Address protest rally last year. The police claimed the artist violated environmental laws.
The cops also said that the burning of the Marcos “Doble Kara (Two-faced)” effigy was a “deliberate disrespect” to Marcos and the country. The burning of the effigy “greatly contributed to air pollution which grossly negates the government program in ensuring the protection of public health and the environment,” the police added.
In November last year, a Quezon City prosecutor dismissed the complaints. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/quezon-city-police-district-sues-manibela-disruptive-behavior-transport-strike/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0iBwStTSXRfBUpnnnWFktiQEB1vm-l_Q8cXOBEaCK75l8s3yfEmd7dmL8_aem_YtGy7GXfxFrEXlvqSsqWrQ
|
1
|
Alex Eala scores biggest pro career win in WTA Madrid Open, downs world No. 41 foe
|
jisaga0269
|
23/04/2024 22:37
|
FIGHTER. Alex Eala celebrates a point in the 2024 Miami Open.
ALEX EALA FACEBOOK PAGE
MANILA, Philippines – Alex Eala broke free at just the right time from the rough patch she has found herself in as of late, scoring the biggest triumph of her pro career on Tuesday, April 23, in the opening round of the WTA Mutua Madrid Open.
The 18-year-old Eala showed remarkable poise by coming back from a set down and erasing a third-set deficit to thwart 34-year-old world No. 41 Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine in three pulsating sets, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, at the red clay court of La Caja Magica in Madrid, Spain.
After a sluggish opening set that saw her fall behind early at 1-3, which she could not recover from, Eala jumped to a 2-0 advantage in the second set to show her Ukrainian foe she would not go away easily.
Even as Tsurenko answered back by winning the next two games and keeping the score knotted until the eighth game at 4-4. Eala did not flinch, snaring the next two games to extend the match to a third set.
Eala sustained the momentum in the deciding set by opening another 2-0 lead. But just when she appeared well on her way to an upset, Tsurenko awoke and not only tied the count at 2-2 but also regained the lead at 4-3.
Eala managed to steel her nerves and snatch the next three games to end the match after two hours and 20 minutes.
Receiving a wildcard entry to the main draw of the Madrid Open for the second straight year, the Filipina teen standout found herself pitted against one of the highest-ranked players she has ever faced in her young career.
Tsurenko, known to wield one of the best backhands on the women’s tour, was a quarterfinalist at the 2018 US Open, where she pulled off an upset over then world No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.
She reached the fourth round of both the French Open and Wimbledon in 2023 and the third round of this year’s Australian Open. Tsurenko achieved a career-high world ranking of 23 in 2019.
Eala, meanwhile, had not been in sharp form in her last five tournaments, losing in the opening round three times. She also dropped her last qualifying match in the WTA Miami Open, thus missing out on the main draw.
Her only notable result in singles was when she reached the second round of the ITF W75 3C de Seine in France on the last week of March.
The massive bounce-back result earned Eala a second-round encounter against another tough veteran, Romania’s Sorana Cirstea who is ranked 27th in the tournament.
The 34-year-old Cirstea has made the quarterfinals of both the French Open and the US Open. Another upset victory by Eala could lead to a potential third-round clash against world No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland.
The Mutua Madrid Open is a WTA Masters 1000 event, the third highest level of competition in the women’s pro tour.
This year’s edition features nine out of the top ten WTA-ranked players, including Swiatek, No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, No. 3 Coco Gauff of the United States, and No. 4 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/tennis-match-results-alex-eala-lesia-tsurenko-wta-mutua-madrid-open-april-23-2024/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3pkbcHdqE-GNHMnqqyubF1uOzsoP7PL51E_cdy1efX3islgp5EjPJ5uxo_aem_SakkBYr27Pas9pm8S_VrKQ
|
1
|
Star Magic threatens legal action vs BINI, BGYO detractors online
|
Jaira Roxas
|
23/04/2024 21:46
|
SIBLING GROUPS. Star Magic issues a statement vowing legal action against certain netizens after an issue involving P-pop groups BINI and BGYO began circulating on social media.
MANILA, Philippines – Star Magic on Tuesday, April 23, vowed to take legal action against people who spread rumors about P-pop groups BINI and BGYO.
“BGYO, BINI and its respective members have been the subject of malicious online attacks designed to seriously hurt and damage their reputation. These continuous reckless posting and sharing of harmful, negative, and false accusations are violative of cyberbullying and anti-libel laws,” the two groups’ legal counsel Joji Alonso said in the statement.
Official Statement from BGYO and BINI Legal Counsel. pic.twitter.com/O1AwB3wJXn
Alonso called on netizens to exercise responsibility when posting content online, especially if it is hurtful. She added that the past few months have been “painful” for both the groups’ members as they all learned “the value of personal accountability.”
“Appropriate government agencies and private service providers have been tapped to gather evidence and hold these perpetrators accountable for their unlawful behavior. Filing of criminal cases will be set in motion,” Alonso said.
Alonso also asked the public to reprimand those who engage in bashing and cyberbullying, and requested that they treat everybody with respect, whether online or offline.
The legal counsel’s statement comes after four BINI members were recorded dancing to their hit song “Pantropiko” at what was said to have been BGYO member Gelo’s birthday party.
When the video went viral on the evening of Sunday, April 21, some of BINI’s fans expressed their desire for the girl group to explain why they were present at the BGYO member’s party. They claimed that a member had a history of sexual assault and cheating. Several claims regarding certain BINI members’ personal lives also began to circulate on social media from there.
Some people had also clamored for BGYO to disband.
BINI and BGYO are sibling groups under Star Music. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/music/star-magic-threatens-legal-action-bini-bgyo-detractors-online/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2jgljNsS2JvJAHtf1ERMscWswITE2UId9mOg3CbUAAJoeKZ5r-iuGqV8g_aem_tXre5F3IQ6DFN0rLRP0e2w
|
1
|
Much ado over nothing? Balikatan sinking of China-made ship ‘coincidental,’ says Navy
|
Bea Cupin
|
23/04/2024 22:10
|
BALIKATAN. Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Andres Centino and United States embassy Chargé d’affaires Heather Variava, lead the kick-off of Balikatan 38-202 during ceremonies at the AFP Command Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo on April 11, 2023.
Angie de Silva/Rappler
That by early May 2024, joint forces of the Philippines and the United States will be sinking a decommissioned China-made Philippine oil tanker is not a “ludicrous performance” or a show of “provocative intent” – it’s simply a coincidence, the Navy said.
Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesperson of the Philippine Navy for the West Philippine Sea was quick to dismiss malice behind choosing the MT Lake Caliraya as the subject of a sinking activity for the 2024 Exercise Balikatan, or the yearly military drills between Manila and Washington.
The sinking exercise is among the last and biggest of the three-week-long war games and will see the militaries and assets of the two treaty-allies working together to sink the oil tanker.
“It’s not complicated, it’s coincidental,” said Trinidad, who just happened to be celebrating his birthday on Tuesday, April 23, a day after Balikatan was officially kicked off.
His boss, Navy Chief Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr. said the same.
“Any attachment, if ever there is any, doesn’t matter…. It’s an old Navy vessel that was decommissioned,” explained the three-star general during a press briefing at the Navy headquarters.
The Philippines had earlier confirmed that the MT Lake Caliraya, once called the BRP Lake Caliraya, would be the subject of the Balikatan drill. The choice has ruffled feathers in Beijing, with state-run Global Times calling it, in an editorial, a “ludicrous performance by Manila” that supposedly “[shows] clear provocative intent.”
What the hawkish Global Times leaves out is that the Caliraya, which was once a Philippine National Oil Company vessel, had long been scheduled to be the star of a sinking activity – way back July 2023, before tensions between China and the Philippines increased in the West Philippine Sea.
Caliraya was decommissioned by the Navy in December 2020, alongside other older vessels.
“We found it appropriate to decommission [the Lake Caliraya] so as not to incur expenses on its maintenance,” said Adaci. Besides, decommissioned Navy ships are routinely used in sinking exercises, be it Balikatan or other military exercises, added Adaci.
In the 2023 Balikatan, Philippine and US forces jointly sank a decommissioned Philippine Navy corvette in Zambales. This year, the sinking activity will be happening in Ilocos Norte.
That the Global Times is reacting strongly to the planned sinking of a ship that was built back in 2007 should be no surprise. Beijing has been stepping up its rhetoric on the West Philippine Sea, on the Philippines’ defense and foreign policy decisions, and many other things, really, as tensions have ramped up between the two countries.
China claims almost all of the South China Sea, totally ignoring a 2016 Arbitral Award that deemed its claim invalid. Chinese vessels are regulars across the vast South China Sea, especially in features within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Beijing’s reaction to Balikatan goes beyond editorials posted on its state-run news outfits.
The Navy also confirmed an increase in Chinese ships – mostly its maritime militia fleet – in the week leading up to Balikatan. The Philippines, US, and France are set to sail in the West Philippine Sea for maritime drills under Balikatan. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/navy-says-sinking-china-made-ship-balikatan-2024-coincidental/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0TC9afp810g6nk7d231raT3pVXiy6EJlN1qD-6XMWeCov-krBau-82rQw_aem_edTd2I9A4EjaBjteXkkTkg
|
1
|
Results, team standings: 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference, Spikers’ Turf Open Conference
|
jisaga0269
|
02/05/2024 19:25
|
CHAMPS. The Creamline Cool Smashers celebrate a winning play.
PVL IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines – Hard-hitting volleyball rolls off at the professional and semi-pro levels as the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference and the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference hit the homestretch!
Here are the results and team standings of both leagues:
FINALS
MAY 12
MAY 9
BATTLE FOR BRONZE
MAY 12
MAY 9
SEMIFINALS
Standings (win-loss-points)
Results
MAY 5
MAY 1
APRIL 30
ELIMINATIONS
Wins-Losses (Points | Set Ratio)
* – Semifinalsx – Eliminated
FINALS
SEMIFINALS
Standings (win-loss-points)
* – Finals
ELIMINATIONS
Wins-Losses (Points)
* – Semifinalsx – Eliminated
– Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/volleyball/premier-league-all-filipino-conference-spikers-turf-open-team-standings-2024/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3B3_EefCboyh_DoxaAKavzLq7qxRGwE64IzsKAUPv6WT0ktC2bsq6Se6Y_aem_LwRz5WvFRzu-LzYMqhVXfQ
|
1
|
FACT CHECK: Wala pang anunsiyo ng CHED scholarship program para sa AY 2024-2025
|
Lorenz Pasion
|
23/04/2024 20:29
|
Ang sabi-sabi: Naglabas na ng application link ang Commission on Higher Education (CHED) para sa scholarship program nito sa academic year 2024-2025.
Bakit kailangang i-fact-check: Ang naturang Facebook post ay pinublish noong Abril 16 ng “PRC BOARD News Update” page na may 14,000 followers. Sa kasalukuyan, umani na ito ng 2,000 reactions, 3,000 comments, at 10,000 shares.
Kalakip ng Facebook post ang isang link patungo sa application page umano. Sa pagpindot ng link, mapupunta ang mga aplikante sa isang blog site kung saan hihingan sila ng personal na impormasyon tulad ng pangalan, mobile number, at email. Ang pagbabahagi ng personal na impormasyon sa mga kahina-hinalang site na ito ay maaaring magresulta sa isang phishing o hacking scam. (READ: Phishing 101: How to spot and avoid phishing)
Ang katotohanan: Hindi pa muling naglalabas ang CHED ng anunsiyo sa muling pagbubukas ng Merit Scholarship Program para sa academic year 2024–2025.
Hindi kailanman inendorso ng opisyal na Facebook, website, X (formerly Twitter) account ng CHED ang naturang link.
Matagal nang nagpapaalala ang CHED na mag-ingat sa accounts at pages na nagpapakalat ng pekeng application links para sa scholarship at financial assistance programs ng komisyon.
Bukas na CHED scholarship: Habang hindi pa muling tumatanggap ng aplikasyon ang CHED para sa Merit Scholarship Program nito, maaari pa ring magpasa ng application ang mga mag-aaral sa iba pang scholarship program ng komisyon.
Tumatanggap na ng application ang CHED para sa Scholarship Program for Coconut Farmers and their Families (CoScho) para sa AY 2024-2025 hanggang Mayo 31, 2024.
Ang programang ito ay bukas para sa mga undergraduate na mag-aaral na rehistradong magsasaka ng niyog sa National Coconut Farmers Registry System o ang mga dependent nila na mag-eenrol o kasalukuyang naka-enrol sa agrikultura, agricultural engineering, agribusiness management, agricultural economics, at iba pang mga programang tinukoy ng Philippine Coconut Authority.
Maaaring isumite ang mga aplikasyon sa kinauukulang CHED regional office sa pamamagitan ng mga link na matatagpuan sa opisyal na website ng CHED.
Ilang beses nang naglabas ang Rappler ng mga fact-check para sa mga pekeng scholarship application na kumakalat sa Facebook:
– Kyle Marcelino/Rappler.com
Si Kyle Marcelino ay nagtapos bilang volunteer ng fact-checking mentorship program ng Rappler. Ang fact check na ito ay sinuri ng miyembro ng research team ng Rappler at ng senior editor. Kung may nakikita kang kahina-hinalang Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, artikulo, o mga larawan sa iyong network, i-send ang mga ito sa factcheck@rappler.com.
Maaari ring magsumite ng mga sabi-sabi sa #FactsFirstPH tipline. Ipadala lang ang mga ito bilang message sa Facebook ng Rappler, bilang direct message sa Twitter ng Newsbreak, o bilang message sa aming Viber fact check chatbot. Sa bawat fact check, labanan natin ang pagkalat ng mali o mapanlinlang na impormasyon.
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/no-announcement-ched-scholarship-program-academic-year-2024-2025-april-23/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0HZdSiwy5C9q-R8PgLR15-EL34E6xfYh3VPENrJwVMeHMjQsTcqo1U37k_aem_LK_TVxWYZT5Cfb5h5wPnHg
|
1
|
RESULTS: April 2024 Pharmacists Licensure Examination
|
clescudero0258
|
23/04/2024 14:59
|
The following is a press release from the Professional Regulation Commission.
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 1,185 out of 2,147 passed the Pharmacists Licensure Examination given by the Board of Pharmacy in the National Capital Region, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Koronadal, Lucena, Pampanga, Rosales, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga this April 2024.
The members of the Board of Pharmacy who gave the licensure examination are Hon. Anthony Aldrin C. Santiago, officer-in-charge; Dr. Mildred B. Oliveros and Dr. Adelina C. Royo, members.
The results were released in four working days after the last day of examination.
Starting June 10, 2024, registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be done online. Please go to www.prc.gov.ph and follow instructions for initial registration. Those who will register are required to bring the following: downloaded duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, notice of admission (for identification only), two pieces passport-sized pictures (colored with white background and complete name tag), two sets of documentary stamps, and one piece short brown envelope. Successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.
The date and venue for the oathtaking ceremony of the new successful examinees in the said examination WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER.
The top performing schools in the April 2024 Pharmacists Licensure Examination as per Commission Resolution No. 2017-1058(C) series of 2017:
The successful examinees who garnered the 10 highest places in the April 2024 Pharmacists Licensure Examination are the following:
Check out the full results here:
– Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/bulletin-board/examination-results/pharmacists-licensure-april-2024/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1hjoCC6MBEt-ZnnON9v_YsdkK-TQzp_Cv8dFYJi4C5FwFgXfiOLWx_Q8g_aem_M3rXupVNe1BrbHgGHYn0ug
|
1
|
TOP PERFORMING SCHOOLS: April 2024 Pharmacists Licensure Examination
|
clescudero0258
|
23/04/2024 15:16
|
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced on Tuesday, April 23, that 1,185 out of 2,147 passed the April 2024 Pharmacists Licensure Examination.
Here’s the list of the top performing schools in the examination.
See the full results of the April 2024 Pharmacists Licensure Examination below.
– Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/bulletin-board/examination-results/top-performing-schools-pharmacists-licensure-april-2024/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0Pjn7xUPWXtOYuZnm-qTDZC1AzcB_59LLr7NWxZvSEB4zo-yuOZHEyVp0_aem_tKV8BwJR56eTjV5Y9i9Vqw
|
1
|
NEA: 14 NOCECO officers liable for alleged improper spending
|
Mia Gonzalez
|
23/04/2024 17:30
|
NEA CHIEF. NEA Administrator Antonio Almeda.
NEA Facebook page
BACOLOD, Philippines –The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has found 14 officers of the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO) for alleged improper disbursements.
NEA announced this in a virtual press conference and identified 14 as the following:
NEA Administrator Antonio Almeda said the agency audit, which covered the period August 1, 2019 to April 30, 2023, was conducted in June 2023.
“NOCECO’s Board of Directors were found to have unduly granted themselves at least P65,534,504.20, representing numerous allowances and benefits,” NEA said.
“Former GM Discaya was found to have been unduly granted and received at least P20,128,907.28, representing improper increases in his salary and per diems as a CM of NOCECO, excess gratuity pay, travel expenses and other benefits,” the agency added.
In the case of Bustamante, NEA said that he was “found to have been unduly granted and received at least P2,127,111.00 representing undue increase in his salary and per diems as a supposed GM of NOCECO, as well as other unwarranted benefits.”
NEA said its Electric Cooperative Audit Division (ECAD) found that improper disbursements were made by the NOCECO management and the board of directors classified due to the following: “(a) For being above and beyond the allowable thresholds under the relevant NEA Rules and Guidelines; (b)or being made without NEA’s explicit approval; and (c) despite NOCECO’s attention being called in previous audit findings, for being made with the deliberate failure to submit the appropriate Board Resolutions required by NEA to evaluate the fund disbursements.”
On this basis the NEA-ECAD endorsed its findings to the NEA Administrative Committee (ADCOM).
The NEA-ADCOM then conducted a motu proprio investigation on the case in accordance with due process and its Administrative Rules of Procedure.
On the basis of the NEA-ADCOM’s report and recommendation, the NEA Board of Administrators issued a decision on April 18, 2024, which imposed on the NOCECO officers the penalties of removal from service, forfeiture of monetary benefits, and disqualification from reinstatement or reemployment or tp run as candidate for director in any electric cooperative in the country.
Almeda said NEA has referred the matter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) “for the possible prosecution of criminal liabilities.”
Millan, one the 14 NOCECO officers, said in an interview with Rappler on Tuesday, April 23, that they plan to file a motion for reconsideration.
“All our spendings are within the orb of our constitution and by-laws duly approved by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), and such also passed the audit of CDA,” he said. “So, there’s nothing irregular, therefore.”
He also cited the lack of harmony between the Cooperative Development Authority and the NEA, and that NOCECO and its officials were caught in the middle of the current friction between the two.– Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/nea-negros-occidental-electric-cooperative-officials-alleged-improper-spending/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3pLpmf2IeEXYl7uvNf_zjgNZJyX2ykBNEehamivOvSdgBMsJMBTOZ_I2o_aem_78Zs9dU7XHwlrzJ3NG-7Jw
|
1
|
PH expects China to ‘behave properly’ during Balikatan in West Philippine Sea
|
Bea Cupin
|
23/04/2024 17:43
|
Filipino scientists, accompanied by personnel from the BFAR and PCG, conduct an assessment at cays close to Pag-asa in the West Philippine Sea on March 21, 2024.
Photo by PCG
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Navy said on Tuesday, April 23, that it expected Chinese vessels to “behave properly” during a joint sail in the West Philippine Sea in late April for Exercise Balikatan 2024.
The navies of the Philippines, the US, and France, will venture into the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines in the South China Sea for the multilateral maritime exercise (MME) component of the yearly war games by the Philippines and the US.
The activity, which is taking place beyond the Philippines’ territorial waters for the first time, will see the three navies conducting different operations including search and rescue drills. France is participating in the war games for the first time.
Asked if they expected China to make its presence in those water felt, a Navy official was quick to say no.
“It is an activity between the US and the Philippines. Historically, the illegal, unprovoked, uncalled for actions of China will only be [towards the Philippines]. I don’t expect them to do anything illegal because of the presence of foreign war ships,” said Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy’s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea.
“That has been the call ever since, [for China] to follow international law…. And I expect them to behave properly this time,” he added.
Chinese ships – from its Peoples’ Liberation Army Navy, China Coast Guard, and Chinese Maritime Militia – are constantly present in the West Philippine Sea, or part of the South China Sea that includes the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, even if a 2016 Arbitral Award deemed its 9-dash line invalid. Its claim of the South China Sea has since expanded to a 10-dash line, which still covers features within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, as well as features that other countries also claim.
Over the past few weeks, the Philippine Navy has monitored a steady increase of Chinese vessels, particularly from the Chinese Maritime Militia, a fleet of fishing ships that serve as force multipliers for both the Chinese Navy and coast guard.
From just 78 Chinese vessels in the first week of April and 79 in the second week of April, Philippine officials have monitored over 124 Chinese ships in the West Philippine Sea.
Most were monitored close to Bajo de Masinloc off the coast of Zambales, close to Ayungin Shoal off the coast of Palawan, and in Pagasa Island, a feature inhabited by both civilians and soldiers that is located beyond the Philippine exclusive economic zone. Over the weekend, two Chinese Maritime Militia ships sailed as close as up to 30 nautical miles from mainland Palawan.
Trinidad said most of the Chinese Maritime Militia ships were anchored and “nesting,” meaning they were anchored right next to each other, forming a raft of vessels at sea.
They are not always that calm in the West Philippine Sea. Chinese Maritime Militia often hound Philippine ships during missions in to the West Philippine Sea, especially during military resupply operations to Ayungin Shoal.
Over 16,000 troops from the Philippines and the US, and hundreds from Australia and France. Some 14 countries, including those in Southeast Asia, will be sending representatives as observers. The Philippine Coast Guard will be part of this year’s war games for the first time, to provide perimeter support during the MME. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/expects-china-behave-balikatan-joint-west-sea-sail-2024/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3EPvckDw6CyUxpRaRqwKG9_cOerVUe5jxbfPjD3eDE-1q0hUqmUELoW24_aem_sGRKybl2DneLInykt_0spA
|
1
|
#WalangPasok: Class suspensions, Wednesday, April 24, 2024
|
Acor Arceo
|
23/04/2024 19:15
|
MANILA, Philippines – Some areas suspended face-to-face classes for Wednesday, April 24, due to high heat index levels.
The heat index is measured using the air temperature and the relative humidity in a place at a given time. It is also called the feels-like temperature, and it typically soars during the Philippines’ warm and dry season from March to May.
This list will be updated once local or national authorities make announcements.
– Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/class-suspensions-walang-pasok-april-24-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3BzwBl9MMz_4UVCiYK03EyVN1vd_7cYWP0rd7K-DEdd690EgE9Pjd3OIE_aem_-irfvyhNIbKWEkarPCfBrg
|
1
|
TOPNOTCHERS: April 2024 Pharmacists Licensure Examination
|
clescudero0258
|
23/04/2024 15:15
|
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced on Tuesday, April 23, that 1,185 out of 2,147 passed the April 2024 Pharmacists Licensure Examination.
Here’s the list of examinees who made it to the top 10 of the examination.
See the full results of the April 2024 Pharmacists Licensure Examination below.
– Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/bulletin-board/examination-results/topnotchers-pharmacists-licensure-april-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1JbqXwOdlEkDcPeJwM3MPD9ALsetWSfPPiCppkk7LFAeS-fz1ue5efNc4_aem_-bGGJtb2LH3PN8VWp3J5eA
|
1
|
UP alliance stands against ‘DiliMall’ shopping center, university commercialization
|
Nina Liu
|
15/03/2024 16:54
|
PROTEST. Various sectors join a protest outside DiliMall, the new shopping center of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, on March 12, 2024.
Nina Liu/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Six years after the University of the Philippines (UP) Shopping Center in the Diliman campus burned down, various sectors of the UP community launched an alliance against what it called the “growing commercialization” of the state university.
In a press conference on Tuesday, March 12, the multi-sectoral network UP Not For Sale urged the UP administration to prioritize the concerns of the UP community. Members of the University Student Council, Local College Councils, the Shopping Center Association, UP Academic Workers Union, UP Workers Alliance, mga manininda (vendors) organizations, other faculty, and UP residents were present at the briefing.
This came amid the current plans for the DiliMall, a three-story building that will lead to the opening of the campus doors to private businesses like franchise stores and high-end restaurants. The new structure where the old UP Shopping Center once stood before it was destroyed in a blaze on March 8, 2018 is still being completed.
Representatives of vendors, students, and faculty came together to oppose the floor plans for DiliMall, which they said heightens the state university’s commercialization, while abandoning the needs of the community’s core stakeholders.
Rappler reached out to UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Vistan II on Thursday, March 14, on the issues raised by these groups. As of writing, he had yet to respond.
Rappler also reached out to UP President Angelo Jimenez on March 13, but he still had not sent any response as of writing.
We will update this story once any of them or other officials air the side of the UP administration.
Edward Fernando, president of UP Shopping Center Stallholders Association (UP SCSAI), said the UP Shopping Center, built in the 1970s, was made to cater to the needs of the UP community. The establishment was a one-stop shop for students who needed access to affordable meals, quick photocopying and printing services, and even budget-friendly haircuts.
Vendors and stall owners in the Shopping Center understood their roles in the lives of UP community, thus they also strove to make sure the prices of their services and products were accessible to students, faculty, and those who lived within the university.
Samahan ng mga Manininda sa UP Campus chairperson Narry Hernandez said the high rent required of tenants in the new DiliMall makes it impossible to make the goods and services there affordable to the UP community.
Physical accessibility was also questioned, as vendors lamented the proposed floor plan that places local UP vendors in spaces for rent on the third floor of the new DiliMall. UP SCSAI vice president Hermie Laroa said this directly affects them due to logistical issues, such as difficulty in transporting their large equipment upstairs, and accessibility to students who may be pressed for time when running their errands.
As the students, faculty, and workers chanted “Serbisyo sa tao, huwag gawing negosyo!” (Service to people, don’t make it a business!”), representatives from the University Student Council (USC) held up their take on what the DiliMall floor plan should be.
The alternative floor plan shows the ground floor spaces being allocated to the original Shopping Center stallholders and spots for food stalls of local UP vendors. It also repurposes other spaces on the higher floors into spots for essential services like supplies shops and salons. Academic and recreational spaces were also allotted for students’ needs.
USC Chairperson Mary Sunshine Reyes said the “commercialization tactics” of the state university have “concrete manifestations on the ground.”
“It would mean less food services sa already mataas na presyo ng pagkain, na limited na nga sa ating mga estudyante, faculty, at staff. Mawawalang ng kabuhayang ang ibang mga campus vendors natin,” Reyes said.
(It would mean less food services, amid the already high price of food, which is already limited to our students, faculty, and staff. Our other campus vendors will also lose their livelihood.)
She also said the network requested a dialogue with the UP administration on March 21, and called on the administration to “champion the rights and well-being of the community.” – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/up-alliance-stands-against-dilimall-university-commercialization/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0gsZvAILgODm2mSqZbKGGNv6tM22Pa1U0r9DlKrf-ZYaopdQzQUzDjAiE_aem_NIFnF5PCkEKI9jF2QNe2kA
|
1
|
New Siargao-Dinagat sea route promises to bolster Caraga tourism, economy
|
Herbie G
|
23/04/2024 16:30
|
AGREE. Dinagat Governor Nilo Demerey (left), Del Carmen Mayor Alfredo Coro II (center), and Cagdianao Mayor Marc Adelson Longos (right) sign an agreement to start the new sea route for Dinagat and Siargao islands, vice versa.
Municipality of Del Carmen
BUTUAN, Philippines – Local officials are optimistic about a surge in tourism and economic growth for both the island province of Dinagat and Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte in the Caraga region with the opening of a new sea route linking the two.
With an average travel time of one hour and 20 minutes, this is the first and only direct route connecting the two islands, reducing travel time from almost four hours, which usually involved a boat trip to the mainland in Surigao City and then another boat ride to the islands.
Launched on Monday, April 22, the new route from the port in Del Carmen town in Siargao to Cagdianao town in Dinagat, vice versa, is serviced by the M/V French 777 of Nier Shipping Lines.
Authorized by Special Permit No. 2024-04-042 from the Maritime Industry Authority, it has a carrying capacity of 120 passengers, including motorcycles.
Dinagat Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. said the opening of the new sea route is an initiative to bolster local tourism in the province through collaboration with Del Carmen in Siargao Island.
Demerey said their aim is not to compete with Siargao’s tourism but rather to integrate Dinagat into the broader island adventure experience that Siargao offers.
“We copied what Siargao has done so that Dinagat can also become a part of Siargao… We know that tourism in Siargao is really good. They have a nice airport, clear plans, and beautiful surfing spots, making them the surfing capital,” Demerey said during the launch.
Apart from boosting the tourism industry, Del Carmen Mayor Alfredo Coro II said the route would also open economic opportunities for both islands.
“Siargao’s tourism can be expanded to include Dinagat with its own exciting adventures as a mountainous island province and host to Asia’s largest bonsai forest, while Dinagat benefits from access to Siargao Airport for trade and supply chain of agricultural produce,” Coro said.
He added that small island economies must continue to explore collective and coordinated actions to maximize natural assets to promote sustainable development and inclusive growth.
Department of Tourism-Caraga Director Ivonnie Dumadag said connecting the two islands signals the birth of a “new tourism circuit” and paves the way for the promotion of lesser-known but similarly beautiful destinations in the Caraga region.
“We capitalize on the strength of Siargao, which is primarily its accessibility, and use that strength to help nearby Dinagat Island, which also offers world-class yet pristine natural attractions,” Dumadag said.
DOT Caraga’s records showed that Dinagat Island logged a total of 22,832 tourist arrivals in 2023, marking a 35.76% increase from its record in 2022, where it tallied 16,818 tourists.
Meanwhile, Siargao saw the highest number of tourist arrivals in the region for 2023, recording a total of 529,822 tourist arrivals, which represented a 323.56% increase from the 125,088 tourists logged in 2022.
M/V French 777 offers regular trips on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. It departs from Del Carmen at 7 am and from Cagdianao at 1 pm.
On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, it leaves from Del Carmen at 1:30 pm and from Cagdianao at 3 pm.
The regular fare rates are set at P350, with a 20% discount for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and students, and P175 for children ages 4-10. –Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/mindanao/new-siargao-dinagat-sea-route-promises-bolster-caraga-tourism-economy/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0BihEqe_JNXczBc3NRlmqmbAZwYwcU8HkSnckP_M48hOhJFg71MvKp3i8_aem_g41NxpkIXhgYTjcb9kst4Q
|
1
|
Marcos downplays Liza-Sara rift, shrugs off calls to sack DepEd chief
|
Dwight de Leon
|
23/04/2024 14:29
|
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is sworn in as the 17th President of the Philippines, at the National Museum of Fine Arts on June 30, 2022. Alecs Ongcal/Rappler
Rappler.com
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, April 23, appeared to douse the fire caused by First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos’ revelation that she is not on good terms with Vice President Sara Duterte.
In an ambush interview in Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday, Marcos also brushed aside suggestions to remove Duterte, the Department of Education (DepEd) secretary, from his Cabinet.
“Any of the Cabinet secretaries will be replaced kapag hindi nila ginagawa ang trabaho nila. All the other things are not part of the discussion. Kapag hindi na kaya, nagkasakit, sabihin mo lang, papalitan ka namin. Kapag hindi talaga marunong o korap, tatanggalin ka talaga namin. Hindi naman ganoon si Inday,” he said.
(Any of the Cabinet secretaries will be replaced if they don’t do their job. All the other things are not part of the discussion. If they are sick or can’t take it any longer, just say so and we will replace you. If you are incapable or corrupt, we will sack you. Inday Sara isn’t any of those.)
The rare tell-all interview with broadcaster Anthony Taberna on Friday, April 19 saw the President’s wife lambast Sara for supposedly laughing when his father – former president Rodrigo Duterte – accused Marcos of being “bangag” or under the influence during a rally against charter change in Davao City in January.
It is unclear if Sara indeed laughed at the joke, as video feeds of the event didn’t cut to her reaction during the controversial moment, but she came out with a video statement on Monday, April 23, saying that the First Lady’s “personal feelings have nothing to do with my mandate as a government official.”
Marcos claimed there is no need to patch things up, believing that the country’s second-in-command understands where his wife is coming from.
“I think that she also understands how the First Lady feels, when you have to sit there and listen to these attacks that are being made against your husband,” Marcos said.
“But mag-uusap kami ni VP Sara tungkol diyan. Huwag niya masyadong dibdibin, hindi naman siya ang mga nagsabi tungkol sa kung anu-ano. Madali naman sigurong plantsahin lahat ng naging isyu,” he added.
(VP Sara and I will talk about that. She shouldn’t let it get to her, since she was not the one who said bad stuff about me. All these issues can easily be ironed out.)
Marcos also said he is a lucky husband for having a protective wife who always comes to his defense, but offered an explanation on why Liza reacted that way.
“Ang First Lady, hindi sanay sa pulitika ‘yan e. Kami, manhid na kami diyan, sa insulto. Siya, hindi siya galing sa political family, kaya siguro she still has to learn, magpalagpas nang kaunti ng ibang masasakit at maaanghang na salita,” he added.
(The First Lady is not used to politics. We have been numb to insults, while she still has to learn to ignore the hurtful accusations because she did not come from a political family.)
The Marcoses and the Dutertes – two major political families in the Philippines – teamed up in the 2022 elections, a partnership that resulted in a landslide election victory both for the dictator’s son and the outgoing president’s daughter.
It was, according to analysts, a “marriage of convenience” that has been difficult to maintain.
The Vice President has a feud with the President’s cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez. The House of Representatives under Romualdez denied Vice President’s confidential funds in the 2024 budget.
The President also once said his government was studying the possibility of rejoining the International Criminal Court, which is investigating Mr. Duterte’s bloody drug war. He had also said, however, that his government will not recognize ICC jurisdication over the Phiippine.
In January, the former president accused Marcos of illegal drug use, a claim that the incumbent chief executive laughed off and attributed to Mr. Duterte’s continued fentanyl use. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
This is a good tactic by President Marcos Jr. He is developing an image of “psychological invincibility” against the tirades of the Duterte political dynasty. This will make the latter complacent until President Marcos Jr. executes his real plan against them. Philippine Presidential theatrics (with PBBM as lead actor) have leveled up.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/marcos-downplays-sara-duterte-liza-rift-shrugs-off-calls-fire-her-deped-april-2024/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2xgvPagyU3WuzvjcznpUl6qRH-HY5sH9VwTX4iOXteh9aycH4crKlxO9M_aem_VZom3IIVdIbRid-BtAmV9Q
|
1
|
Sultan Kudarat governor suspends town mayor for more than a year
|
Herbie G
|
23/04/2024 16:52
|
SUPPORTERS. Supporters of Isulan Mayor Marites Pallasigue gather for a prayer-rally outside the town hall on June 14, 2023 after the Sultan Kudarat provincial board recommended her suspension. The mayor was ordered suspended on Monday, June 26, 2023.
Isulan municipal government
GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines – The vice mayor of a town in Sultan Kudarat took his oath as acting mayor on Tuesday, April 23, weeks after the province’s governor suspended the municipality’s chief executive for more than a year.
Isulan Vice Mayor Arnold Armada took his oath as acting mayor four days after Mayor Marites Pallasigue received a March suspension order from Sultan Kudarat Governor Pax Ali Mangudadatu. The governor suspended her for 15 months without pay.
The Pallasigues are known political foes of the Mangudadatus, a local political clan that opposed the mayor’s ticket in the 2022 elections.
It was not the first time for Mangudadatu to suspend Pallasigue based on complaints for alleged negligence, dereliction of duty, irregularities in duty, and conduct harmful to public service. In June 2023, the governor suspended her for 60 days based on the recommendation of the provincial board.
With Armada assuming the post of the town mayor, Isulan Councilor Carlo Apiado also took his oath as acting vice mayor.
The period of suspension gives Pallasigue only a few days left in her term to serve when she returns to office in June 2025.
Mangudadatu’s Administrative Order No. 12-2024, suspending Pallasigue for the second time, was a penalty in connection with administrative cases filed against the mayor before the provincial board, said provincial administrator Jimmy Andang on Monday, April 22.
The provincial government said the 15-month suspension includes a penalty of six months for the initial offense in one administrative case, six months for a second offense in another case, and three months for a third case.
Upon the recommendation of the provincial board, Mangudadatu ordered the mayor’s suspension on March 25.
The suspensions will be served successively based on a resolution of the provincial board, Andang said.
The suspension order was received by the mayor’s office on Friday, April 19, according to Pallasigue’s husband Dominador, former mayor of Isulan, in a Facebook post.
On June 26, 2023, Mangudadatu suspended Pallasigue for 60 days based on the recommendation of the provincial board which heard the three administrative cases filed that year by Armada, Apiado, town councilors Jenalyn Mejia, Moises Dolar, Marvin Dalanon, Darlene Lama, and several barangay chairpersons.
In their complaints, they blamed Pallasigue for the delay in the construction of a new municipal hall building. They also alleged that she did not submit copies of her executive orders to the office of the provincial governor.
Pax Ali is the son of Governor Mariam Mangudadatu of Maguindanao del Sur in the Bangsamoro region and Suharto, the former governor of Sultan Kudarat, a province in the Soccsksargen region.
In 2019, the mayor’s husband was convicted of two counts of graft by the Sandiganbayan and sentenced to a maximum of eight years in prison for each charge.
In a 13-page ruling issued on July 19, 2019, the 5th Division of the Sandiganbayan stated that Dominador failed to present compelling arguments in his appeal, affirming his guilt under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The charges against the ex-mayor were related to his decision to demote and dismiss Elias Segura Jr., the municipal planning and development coordinator, in 2007.
Interestingly, Segura ran for mayor of Isulan in the May 2022 elections, with Armada as his running mate, but they were defeated by the wife of Dominador.
Segura and Armada are part of the Kapamilya political alliance led by the Mangudadatus. –Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/mindanao/sultan-kudarat-governor-pax-ali-mangudadatu-suspends-isulan-mayor-marites-pallasigue-again-april-2024/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3e34qwdB_A8l_UDLukFRjm83xKctpO76Daw_EzeqCpmPPIh9FMQCnoZSg_aem_-3uuV2CyrVShJp5WitorKw
|
1
|
Jacob Cortez raring to be part of La Salle’s championship system
|
delfin.dioquino editor
|
22/04/2024 18:10
|
NEW RECRUIT. Jacob Cortez in action for the La Salle Green Archers.
Jacob Cortez Instagram page
MANILA, Philippines – Jacob Cortez reached the NCAA pinnacle with the San Beda Red Lions. Now, he aims to conquer one more quest – to win the UAAP championship with the La Salle Green Archers.
The 21-year-old will be the Archers’ point guard of the future, having transferred to La Salle in January after leading the Red Lions to the NCAA Season 99 title.
Now taking classes at La Salle, Cortez has been slowly integrating himself into the Archers’ system, which has already bore fruit with the UAAP Season 86 crown.
“We know La Salle runs a championship system,” said Cortez. “I’m excited. Everyone here supports me, helps me to know the system, [and] I know it will take me a long time to know all of it. But I have a year or more here to learn before playing.”
Cortez played three seasons at San Beda, the first of which saw him relegated to the reserve list before NCAA Season 97. He then went on to carve himself a spot in the rotation, the starting lineup, and eventually became the team leader in the following two seasons.
Cortez, long courted by La Salle, has been working closely with head coach Topex Robinson since his enrollment, integrating himself as one of the Archers’ cornerstones once his eligibility starts in Season 88.
“So far, coach Topex has been very supportive to me. He teaches me a lot about the team and the culture on the court and off of it. Not only him, other coaches and my teammates as well are also there to guide me. They treat me well here,” he said.
Cortez traces his roots to the green-and-white school, playing for La Salle Green Hills in his early high school years before he transferred to UST and San Beda.
The second-generation player also drew great influence from his father, Mike Cortez, who won two titles with La Salle in 2000 and 2001.
As his surname remains synonymous with the Green Archers, the younger Cortez is steadfast in leaving his own mark on the school, not just for his team but also for his family.
“My family’s familiarity in La Salle has been a big help. My family has been really there behind me, supporting me, even when I was still in high school in La Salle (Green Hills). I know they are excited for me to hopefully finish (college) in La Salle,” Cortez said.
Cortez is on track to play alongside La Salle mainstays Mike Phillips and Season 86 MVP Kevin Quiambao, if he opts to stay with the Green Archers after Season 87.
Cortez will also share the backcourt with former National University star Kean Baclaan, who is also eligible to play in Season 88.
Unfazed by the star power the team already boasts, Cortez promised to continue the grind until he ultimately steps onto a UAAP court.
“There are a lot of great players here that I’ll get to play with. I’m trying not to be satisfied. I’m keeping my routine. I’m working to keep in shape,” said Cortez.
Packed with high expectations coming in, the “Cool Cub” is dead set of his vision – a UAAP title.
“I came here simply to win, to win a championship with La Salle. One of my dreams is to win in the UAAP,” he said.
“But yes, we’re a long way to go. Right now, it’s just about the grind.” – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/jacob-cortez-raring-part-la-salle-green-archers-championship-system/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3TpGBBF_OTUP32wZb-otPfqtYQfxsq9qElayZZqkOr82qvWqQ1qPnotjQ_aem_yZlPufZIv7yqCdVqELmpUQ
|
1
|
TOP PERFORMING SCHOOLS: April 2024 Pharmacists Licensure Examination
|
clescudero0258
|
23/04/2024 15:16
|
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced on Tuesday, April 23, that 1,185 out of 2,147 passed the April 2024 Pharmacists Licensure Examination.
Here’s the list of the top performing schools in the examination.
See the full results of the April 2024 Pharmacists Licensure Examination below.
– Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/bulletin-board/examination-results/top-performing-schools-pharmacists-licensure-april-2024/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3IAL96ZHetstygZo3MudB2OECETOyzmglmRxBTsIfmat3Nhh9Hojcp1qM_aem_6340itfwK9cdE9t6VBHWHA
|
1
|
Top officials with private interests spoil effort to track big fishers
|
Iya Gozum
|
05/04/2024 14:13
|
EMIL MERCADO
Top officials with private interests spoil effort to track big fishers
EXCLUSIVE: Part 1 | Gamaliel Cordoba, who headed the NTC under Duterte, has a personal stake in commercial fishing because of his family’s business. During his time, the commission stopped issuing service numbers for trackers that would prevent unregulated fishing.
PUBLISHED APRIL 5, 2024 2:13 PM PHTBY Lian Buan, Iya Gozum
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Department of Agriculture (DA) fought hard from 2021 to 2022 to implement a system that would track commercial fishing vessels at sea. It is a worldwide standard to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
A Rappler investigation, however, reveals that those efforts were hampered by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), which, at the time, was headed by a person with private interests in a commercial fishing company.
Gamaliel Cordoba, the NTC chairperson during that period, is married to Monica Elena Cordoba, whose family partly owns the commercial fishing company Mercidar Fishing Corporation (Mercidar). Monica serves as the chairperson and president of Mercidar, which benefited from NTC memoranda.
The NTC’s actions that spoiled rigorous implementation of the tracking system were backed by Cordoba’s fellow Ateneo Law alumnus, then-solicitor general Jose Calida.
When all of this was happening in 2022, Cordoba awarded a P6.2-million contract to Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency to provide security services for the NTC. Vigilant used to be wholly owned by Calida and his family until they divested in 2019, when they were being scrutinized for conflict of interest, but his son Josef Calida remained to be the company’s vice president for legal, their 2022 General Information Sheet shows.
All of these happened under the Rodrigo Duterte administration. The new Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration, which took over the reins of power in mid-2022, has reversed policies and is now pushing for a slightly limited implementation of the tracking system, although this seems to have been influenced in part by international pressure.
Rappler looked at government records and talked to fisherfolk, advocates, and bureaucrats. Our three-month investigation reveals a situation where private and political interests bubble up in a David vs. Goliath fight for rights to fish in Philippine waters.
It’s a desperate situation that sees the “commercial fishing industry successfully pushing back against environmental policies that have been there for decades,” one of our sources said.
The tracking system that regulates illegal, unreported, and unregulated or IUU fishing is called the Vessel Monitoring System or VMS. It is mandated by Republic Act 10645, which amended the 1998 Fisheries Code. Implementation of the VMS was further strengthened by Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) No. 266.
As soon as FAO 266 was passed in 2020, making implementation imminent, commercial fishing companies began preparing to fight the regulation in court. They claim the system violates their constitutional right to protect trade secrets.
On January 22, 2021, Malabon Regional Trial Court Judge Zaldy Docena issued a preliminary injunction against the VMS, giving a Round 1 win to the commercial fishers who filed the case: Royale Fishing Corp (from Malabon), Bonanza Fishing Market Resources (from Navotas) and R.B.L Fishing Corp (from Puyo, Palawan). All companies have a history of being apprehended for fishing violations.
Royale was apprehended in 2021 for illegal use of super lights, while Bonanza was apprehended the same year in Palawan waters for carrying documents that were spurious or not certified true copies. Meanwhile, four commercial vessels of RBL were caught in 2019 for fishing within municipal waters.
In March 2024, the Philippine Coast Guard apprehended two fishing vessels of Royale for purse seine fishing within the municipal waters of Cuyo, Palawan.
Only six days after the preliminary injunction, Cordoba, as the head of NTC at the time, issued a memorandum to all regional directors to suspend the issuance of Maritime Mobile Service Identity numbers or MMSI, unique numbers assigned to identify each fishing vessel. The number is used to track and monitor vessels through the VMS trackers.
“In view of the writ of preliminary injunction…you are hereby directed to suspend the issuance of MMSI until further orders,” Cordoba said in a memorandum dated January 28, 2021.
The Cordoba family owns 40% of Mercidar through Monica and two other members of the family, whom we have verified through family photos they uploaded on their social media accounts. Mercidar is a company also involved in a court case contesting small fishers’ preferential rights over municipal waters.
Rolando Ligon Jr., according to the company’s general information sheet as of 2023, owns 30% of Mercidar. Douglas Michael Mallillin, who was former deputy commissioner of the NTC under Cordoba, owns the remaining 30%.
By June 2021, Judge Docena gave the commercial fishers a decisive win. He declared FAO 266 or the VMS unconstitutional and made the injunction against the system permanent.
Insisting that a lower court injunction was not enough to stop the implementation of a law, the BFAR chief at the time, Eduardo Gongona, continued to write commercial fishers to prepare for installation of the VMS, our documents show. BFAR went to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) for a legal opinion, which they secured favorably.
On June 30, 2021, Assistant Solicitor General Ellaine Rose Sanchez-Corro and Senior State Solicitor Melanie Pimentel told BFAR in a legal opinion that nothing less than a Supreme Court injunction could stop the implementation of the VMS.
Gongona held on to that OSG opinion, and used it later as justification when the commercial fishers went back to Judge Docena’s court to cite Gongona for indirect contempt.
By this time, BFAR was continuing full implementation of the VMS, but Cordoba’s NTC had already suspended the issuance of the transceivers.
On January 18, 2022, BFAR held a consultative meeting and warned of sanctions if the VMS requirement was not complied with. The NTC was present in that meeting, and, based on OSG’s record, the NTC wrote them a letter on January 25, 2022, to seek advice, even though the OSG had already given a prior opinion that full implementation of the VMS was allowed. The NTC’s legal department told Rappler that it “never received” the OSG’s June 30, 2021, legal opinion.
For NTC’s newest request for a legal opinion, Calida entered the picture. Calida reversed his associates and quickly signed a legal opinion on January 26, 2022, telling BFAR and NTC that they should desist from implementing the VMS.
“This departs from the earlier opinion,” said Calida, who told the BFAR and NTC that “the writ of injunction is immediately executory and may not be stayed simply by appeal.” The appeal refers to a petition that, at the time, was already filed at the Supreme Court, challenging Judge Docena’s ruling.
Only a month before this legal opinion, in December 2021, Cordoba awarded a P6.27 million contract to Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency to provide security services to the NTC for 2022.
Calida, his wife, and children divested from Vigilant in 2019 after they were criticized for bagging hundreds of millions of pesos in government contracts while Calida was still solicitor-general.
Vigilant’s new owners are Dominic Edgard Angeles Cabangon and Benjamin del Villar Ramos, the executives of the erstwhile CNN Philippines, but business records show that Calida’s son Josef remained to be company vice president for legal with a .001% share. Vigilant also retained the same corporate secretary.
Armed with Calida’s opinion, Edgardo Cabarios, the NTC deputy commissioner at the time, repeated Cordoba’s orders. In a memorandum on January 31, 2022, he told regional directors not to issue any MMSI. “All NTC regional offices are hereby directed to comply with the permanent injunction,” said Cabarios.
This did not faze the fishing regulators because documents showed that on March 29, 2022, the Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary then, William Dar, issued a memorandum to BFAR and told the bureau to “continue the full implementation of the VMS to prevent, deter, and eliminate illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.”
Dar echoed the earlier opinion of the associate solicitors. “Except the Supreme Court, no court can issue a writ of preliminary injunction against lawful actions of government agencies that enforce environmental laws or prevent violations thereof,” said Dar.
This assertion from Dar, and previously from Calida’s associates, is found in the Supreme Court’s Rules of Procedure for Environment Cases for the extraordinary remedy Writ of Kalikasan, a unique innovation from the Philippine judiciary to protect a Filipino’s constitutional right to a healthy environment.
Cordoba has not responded to Rappler’s requests for comment on this story, particularly his stake in an issue concerning commercial fishers when his family owns a commercial fishing company. We emailed Cordoba on February 29, which his office at the Commission on Audit (COA) acknowledged. We followed up on March 25, and April 1, but did not receive a response. We will update this story Cordoba replies. The NTC’s legal department told Rappler that its “position is self-explanatory.”
Cordoba is now the chairperson of the COA. He was appointed by Marcos to replace Calida, who served there only briefly after his stint in the OSG.
This move by the Cordoba-Calida or NTC-OSG tandem to stop the VMS, even if it ran counter to the position of the agriculture department, is reminiscent of the ABS-CBN franchise issue. At the time, the NTC and OSG insisted on shutting down the broadcast channel even if the Department of Justice indicated there was legal basis for ABS-CBN to continue operating.
The clash was an “atrophy” or a weakening in the government’s will to prevent IUU fishing, public interest lawyers later told the SC when they joined the appeal in the High Court representing the interest of small fishers. The SC case has undergone oral arguments and is still pending.
Rappler asked Calida for comment through representatives on March 26. A lawyer for the family acknowledged our message, but no longer responded.
BFAR and the DA almost got nowhere because Gongona was even cited in contempt by Judge Docena in June 2022, and was fined P30,000. Things only started to change under the Marcos administration.
Now under Marcos’ solicitor general, Menardo Guevarra, the OSG has shifted largely to the side of the DA and BFAR, radically changing the game.
“The OSG advised the BFAR and the NTC as follows: respect the writ of preliminary injunction against the implementation of FAO 266 in areas covered by the injunction order of the RTC until the SC sets it aside; but vigorously implement FAO 266 everywhere else in the country,” Guevarra told Rappler.
“Both BFAR and NTC are now on the same page, and compliance by commercial fishers has vastly improved,” Guevarra said.
This was reiterated by BFAR. “Tuloy naman ang installation namin at ang NTC ay part ng process,” BFAR spokesperson Nazer Briguera told Rappler. (The installation continues and the NTC is part of the process.)
Even the Supreme Court noticed the OSG’s shift. Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh remarked during oral arguments in October 2023 that the OSG was making “new arguments.” Guevarra could only reply: “Please forgive me for doing so, I was not the solicitor general [at the time].”
Inside Malacañang, the shifting of positions was less smooth. Initially in March 2023, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin suspended the VMS, only to backpedal three months later to say what Guevarra is also saying: implement the VMS, except for the companies who won the injunction.
According to Dennis Calvan, a director at the conservation group Rare Philippines and member of the government’s fisheries advocacy council, the VMS is the only cause for small fishers that the Marcos government seems to be willing to stand for “because of the European Union.” Calvan said the EU factor may have provided the incentive to the Marcos administration to stand by the VMS.
In 2014, the EU issued a yellow card to the Philippines over IUU fishing. This is equivalent to a threat to ban fishery products from the Philippines. In 2023, exports of fish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic invertebrates, and meat to the EU amounted to $50.30 million, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
If the Philippines does not do anything to combat IUU, it risks becoming a pariah in the EU – the world’s biggest market for fish. The country then amended the Fisheries Code in 2015 to strictly enforce the VMS, which appeased the EU into lifting the yellow card.
As early as 2015, Calvan said commercial fishers had threatened to challenge the constitutionality of the VMS provision in the Fisheries Code. But due to delays, like budgeting for technology, the enforcement of the VMS only actually began much later, prompting the constitutional challenge from commercial fishers in 2020.
The court cases reached the EU’s radar.
“This issue with the VMS does not align with our commitment to the EU. The EU found out about it, and there is an internal memorandum from the EU that they almost issued us a red card,” said Calvan.
A red card means exclusion of the country’s fish from the EU market. The Alliance of Philippine Fishing Federations Inc. issued a public statement in June 2023, calling on Marcos not to believe that a red card was on the horizon. APFFI is composed of most commercial fishing operators in the country, and its Allfish partylist nominee to the 2019 elections, Arnold Naval, was the lawyer for the commercial fishers in the Supreme Court VMS case.
Arnold Naval is the son of Domingo Naval, former owner of Mercidar. Mercidar was incorporated in 1973 by the Naval family, which includes Monica Cordoba’s mother. We asked APFFI for its side, but got no response. We will update this story once we do.
Was there indeed an internal EU memo and did the Philippine government act because of a possible trade sanction?
“This exchange of letters or documents between the European Commission and the Republic of the Philippines is not public and we cannot disclose it. The European Commission implements the provisions of the IUU Regulation through decisions published in the EU Official Journal,” a spokesperson of the European Commission told Rappler.
Marcos has shown a tendency to please international partners, and advocates have used this as leverage – for instance, the continued call of the human rights community for the EU to dangle GSP Plus, or tariff perks, to compel him to scrap the drug war.
Were it not for the EU, would the Marcos administration still have sided with small fishers? (To be concluded) – Rappler.com
NEXT: Part 2 | Big fishers encroach on small fisherfolk’s municipal waters
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
Thanks to Rappler for this “three-month investigation,” which “reveals a situation where private and political interests bubble up in a David vs. Goliath fight for rights to fish in Philippine waters.” It shows “… a desperate situation that sees the ‘commercial fishing industry successfully pushing back against environmental policies that have been there for decades.'” Such a report is necessary for the Filipino people to know about one of the corrupt practices of the Duterte Administration. Thanks again to Rappler, Lian Buan, and Iya Gozum.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/investigative/officials-private-interests-spoil-effort-track-big-fishers/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3QUx_2SFZ7LqyDkuE9Egw1Jpskm06pIoVAxFAYtjfyEGAbh5_MPU6M148_aem_t6YcEIgoZnMgSqeLAPI41Q
|
1
|
TOPNOTCHERS: April 2024 Pharmacists Licensure Examination
|
clescudero0258
|
23/04/2024 15:15
|
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced on Tuesday, April 23, that 1,185 out of 2,147 passed the April 2024 Pharmacists Licensure Examination.
Here’s the list of examinees who made it to the top 10 of the examination.
See the full results of the April 2024 Pharmacists Licensure Examination below.
– Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/bulletin-board/examination-results/topnotchers-pharmacists-licensure-april-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2NbrVHdiqIeVveWw6XnCz1RxmJRZF7TwrWAgw79AlUozAh0EnICf-Jr1s_aem_ayY8lu8xkCPkNRl-AMPO2w
|
1
|
CALL FOR ENTRIES: Peru-Philippines Friendship Drawing Contest
|
clescudero0258
|
23/04/2024 11:59
|
The following is a press release from the Honorary Consulate General of Peru in Manila.
MANILA, Philippines – In honor of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the enduring bond between Peru and the Philippines, the Peruvian embassy in Thailand and the Honorary Consulate General of Peru in Manila are thrilled to announce the Peru-Philippines Friendship Drawing Contest.
Categories: Divided by age – 6 to 8 years old (Category 1) and 9 to 11 years old (Category 2).
Technique: Free technique with participants encouraged to use any preferred method.
Materials: Participants may use any materials of their choice on A3 size surfaces.
Submission: Artworks can be sent by mail or delivered in person to the Honorary Consulate General of Peru in Manila (CLMC Building, 259 EDSA Greenhills, Mandaluyong City; Landmark: Landbank EDSA – Greenhills). Specific information on submission and presentation may be found here.
Dates: Contest runs until May 20, 2024.
For inquiries, email tourism@peruthai.or.th and copy furnish peruvianconsulate@yahoo.com, with the subject “DRAWING CONTEST: PERU-PHILIPPINES FRIENDSHIP.”
Join us in celebrating half a century of friendship through art and creativity! – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
|
Rappler
|
https://www.rappler.com/bulletin-board/contests-awards/call-entries-peru-philippines-friendship-drawing-2024/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1UCMA8P-UO4o9tbGd3VrMGyD4L97QZK71U0lMe3UO0NhmOrc3KFj07JDs_aem_gfnPQXBXO0C-ve2j_32_wg
|
1
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.